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It was quiet morning in Poisson. At this hour, the newly re-built town lacked its usual hustle and bustle, as merchants set up shop in the dim lamplight. The lights were something in Poisson that Clorinde found fascinating. Of course, the technology itself was humble; but compared to the bright, open-aired Court of Fontaine she was used to, she was still adapting to Poisson’s artificial light cycle.
Since her internal clock was unreliable in the small fishing town, Clorinde had to use other methods of waking herself up. One of which being an external clock, set to ring at a specific time each morning.
However, she only got the alarm clock because her previous waker-upper was, well…temperamental. The first few times Clorinde stayed overnight in Poisson—when she was helping organise the reconstruction efforts—her blonde, human-shaped alarm clock worked fine. Clorinde recalled several mornings where she woke to the sweet smell of freshly-baked crepes and macarons. It was adorable, and all-the-more impressive once Navia revealed she went to such effort most mornings.
“Everyone says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” she’d said the first morning. When Clorinde just looked more confused, she elaborated.
“If it’s really that important, then it obviously deserves to be sugary and freshly-baked!” She giggled, and Clorinde swore the room felt brighter.
Navia returned to pouring their teas, and Clorinde felt her heart swell with nostalgia and affection.
***
A few more sleepovers later, and Navia was using this affection against her.
“You do know,” Clorinde said, trying to keep her composure, “that alarm clocks aren’t supposed to keep you in bed? Quite the opposite, actually…”
To that, Navia laughed against her neck, “Maybe you should’ve considered that before asking me to wake you up,” she said. Her hands continued their lazy exploration of Clorinde’s upper body. “There seems to be a conflict of interest here, you see. Next time try choosing an alarm clock that isn’t so—”
“Stubborn and distracting?” Clorinde rolled them over, giving herself room to escape.
“I would’ve used the words ‘maddeningly in love with you’ but sure, stubborn and distracting works too.”
Time froze.
Clorinde froze.
“I…”
“Gotcha,” Navia whispered, and it was only then Clorinde noticed she was back against the pillows.
She didn’t care.
“Did you…mean that, Navia?” She asked, her voice breathy. “That you’re—”
“In love with you? Oh, my sweet girl,” Navia pressed a kiss to her lips, “of course I meant it. I mean, I thought you knew already.” She shook her head a little, golden curls bouncing. “I’m not exactly subtle…”
“I didn’t want to get ahead of myself,” Clorinde responded. She swallowed. “I know it’s been months since the trial, and we’ve been repairing whatever it was we had before everything…but…” she trailed off, trying to find the right words. Navia’s lips returned to her neck in the meantime.
“I guess I was afraid of losing you again,” Clorinde said, running her hand through the other girl’s hair. “We were —are—still making up for lost time; and I…”
She paused.
“I was just glad to be in your company again. In any capacity. I missed you. Missed us.”
Navia raised her head. Smiled with soft eyes.
“How people call you emotionless I’ll never know,” she wondered aloud. Her fingers traced Clorinde’s collarbone mindlessly, until a single laugh from the duellist threw them off.
“Seriously, though!” Navia said, “For Miss ‘I’m sorry, I did not consider your feelings’—”
“I do not sound like that!”
“—you have one of kindest, most considerate hearts I’ve known. I mean it. And, I’m truly sorry it took me so long to remember it.”
“You have nothing to apologise for,” Clorinde said, her hand coming up to brush Navia’s cheek. “I know I can be very matter-of-fact, I have to be in my line of work. So naturally, in my efforts of keeping you safe, I know I acted inconsiderately…”
“If you’re trying to prove me wrong,” Navia said, “it’s not working.”
“Ah, I see,” Clorinde smiled. “Stubborn as always.”
“Fine,” Navia said. “If you refuse to accept me telling you how incredible you are,” she leaned down to whisper in the duellist’s ear, “…I guess I’ll just have to show you…”
Their lips met again, this time with newfound fervour. Bodies pressed together, skin to skin, hands grasping and hearts racing. Whenever they broke apart, it was only for a second, before they found each other yet again.
“I love you so much,” Navia sighed into the kiss. Through half-lidded eyes, Clorinde could see her slightly swollen lips and flushed cheeks as she spoke. Beautiful.
She squeezed Navia’s waist, grounding them both in the present.
“If you couldn’t already tell,” she said, “I’m absolutely, undoubtedly, maddeningly in love with you too.” A kiss to Navia’s neck, jaw, cheek. “But I have a feeling you’ve known that all this time.” A kiss to her lips.
Navia chuckled. “Oh, hush,” she said. She brushed the strands of indigo hair off Clorinde’s face. “I might be able to read you like a book, but hearing you say it is like…like listening to the grandest, most romantic opera.”
“You make everything sound so beautiful,” Clorinde said. She couldn't hide the affection in her words, even if she wanted to. “It's no wonder everything felt dreary and grey these past few years.”
Navia blushed, finding Clorinde’s hands and interlocking their fingers.
“Yeah, well,” she said, “You make me see the beauty in everything.”
Clorinde laughed through her nose, rolling her eyes. “Sweet-talker,” she said. Navia just winked.
“Guilty as charged.”
…
…
…
“Shit! I’m late for work!”
Navia just laughed.
…
…
…
From that day on, Clorinde woke exactly on time, to the incessant ringing of the clock beside her and Navia’s bed. She was never late again.