Archive of Our Own ^beta

Back in her home country, when Canna was only 15 years old, she would spend her Wednesdays waiting in line at food reserves for a nice warm meal.

One particular Wednesday, as she was next in line for provisions, her eyes locked with the prettiest pair of round brown eyes curtained by thick long lashes. Canna scans the person in front of her, brown curls up to their ears, wide shoulders, and a slim tall frame.

“We made some warm chicken stew today. Please enjoy and may God give you mercy”, the taller child chimes as they hand the food over to Canna. She takes the styrofoam container in hand and shuffles off to her shelter, fingertips turning red and heart beating rapidly.

This would go on for weeks upon weeks of getting food and exchanging awkward glances until the taller child spoke to Canna again, “I noticed you enjoyed the curry bread the most so I put more meat in this one”.

Blue eyes met brown, “Thank you,” Canna said shyly.

“What’s your name?” The shorter redhead could only look to the ground. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.” The taller brunette stammered.

“It’s alright, street rats don’t have names,” Canna answered, trying to reassure them.

“No, that was rude. But, uh, you can call me Vee. That’s my name,” Vee said extending her arm to shake.

Canna takes hold of this hand, the first warm flesh she’s held for over a year.

“If you want more bread, I’ll be staying at the green tent behind the truck,” Vee points behind her.

Canna nods, followed by a smile, “Thanks”.

—

Canna and Vee continue to meet up. Vee often leaves some bread for Canna after food service and they’d sit down to talk whenever the brunette’s dad was out on another relief project.

Sometimes Vee’s dad would bring back trunks of donated clothes and hand it over to Vee for sorting. One particular pink dress with laced collars caught Vee’s eye. She hands it over to Canna saying, “This would look perfect on you!”

“You kidding? I think it looks better on you, Vee!” Canna says raising her eyebrow.

There’s an awkward shift to Vee’s mood and she looks almost sad, “Nah, dresses don’t suit me. Dad said so, only lovely ladies can wear them.”

“You’re a lovely lady—“ Canna is cut off with the sound of heavy boot steps.

“VIKTOR! Have you shifted through those clothes yet?!” Oh shit, Vee’s dad. Canna see’s Vee wincing at the mention of her name. Canna remembers Vee saying she doesn’t like the name that was given to her at birth.

Vee’s dad peeks inside her tent, he’s a man in his 40’s around 170 cm tall, thick beard, and the same eyes as Vee’s.

“Sorry for disturbing your date little lady but I need to get my son to finish shifting through this,” the man said.

Canna takes this as her cue to leave. She looks at Vee who is now looking at the ground not facing her father.

—

“This is a new one,” Canna runs her thumb over a newly formed bruise on Vee’s cheek.

“Yeah, he caught me wearing a bra”, Vee rests her head on Canna’s shoulder.

“Not that you need it,” Canna pokes at Vee’s chest which elicits a chuckle to escape the brunette’s lips. “Meanie”, she bites back jokingly.

Vee cranes her neck to look up at the redhead. “You’re mean but you’re kind.”

Canna stares back at her, slowly moving her head towards the brunette till their noses touch.

Vee closes the gap and plants a soft peck on Canna’s lips. It takes the redhead a minute to register what happened, but it doesn’t take long until they’re caught in a heated kiss.

Frantically moving closer towards each other, hands roam to the cheeks, and fistful of curls.

They part to catch their breath and rest their foreheads together. Canna looks up first and cups Vee’s face in her palms, “I wish I could come with you”.

It dawns on Vee then, she had to leave with her dad the next week to give aide to another country in need.

She clasps Canna’s hand, “Come with me,” her eyes begging.

Canna can only smile sadly. “He only wants me to be with you if you act like a boy. I don’t want you to live a lie just to be with me”.

“I can do that,” Vee answers back.

“I don’t want that for you. You’re MY lovely lady no matter what,” Canna reassures Vee and pecks her lips one more time. “We’ll find each other again. I’ll escape from here, and you have to find me okay?”

Vee nods as tears that brimmed on her eyes finally fall. She sobs into Canna’s arms, the shorter one embracing her like it was their last, because it was their last.

—

“And you haven’t reconnected with your little lady yet?” Mother Lillian asks while brushing Canna’s red curls.

Canna hums, “I hope she finds me soon.”

The Mother Superior puts down her brush to look down at Canna, “I’m glad you found kindness at some point in your past.

“You remind me of her too,” Canna smiles back, her head rested on Mother Lillian’s lap.

The nun looks taken aback, “How so?”

“I hope you get the love that you truly deserve, Mother. Without the aggression and confusion. You deserve to have a love that is clear,” Canna responds, kneeling towards Mother and laying her head on her lap again.

“Silly girl,” Mother Lillian says as she runs her hand on Canna’s head lulling her to sleep.