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Even the SPDM'S most talented and tolerant student had her breaking point. Her deskmate's antics fueled Sonetto's resolve as she marched to the instructor's office. The sound of rain echoed through the empty hall and memories reflected in its wavering windows.
“Vertin! Why are you covered in mud? The instructors are going to give you extra duties again if they see your uniform!”
“Where did you come from? It’s past midnight! It's dangerous at night–what are you hiding behind your back? Don't tell me you were catching fireflies again…”
“Another nightmare? …Well, you can sleep next to me–is that a Carbuncle? No it can't sleep with us! It could bite! Wait, are you bleeding? It already bit you!?”
She expected Vertin to settle down after she told her to stop bringing her things, but the stubborn rascal still found ways to drive her crazy. She's had enough! Her next step ended with her in the instructor’s office. Sonetto looked around to reorient herself. How did she get here so quickly?
“Is this about Vertin again?” The instructor asked with a rare smile for her ace student.
Sonetto clasped her hands behind her back and straightened her posture. “I'd like to change deskmates.” A clap of thunder reverberated through the room but she focused on the task at hand.
“Did you have someone else in mind?”
“I spoke to Matilda and her deskmate.”
Her instructor slumped in her chair. “Always one step ahead. I'm not surprised! However, we assign deskmates based on their arcanum and combat compatibility. You and Vertin cover each other's weaknesses.”
“But Vertin can't use arcane skills…”
Her instructor chuckled. “I'm aware, but she has great perception. Her insight is the perfect match for your mastery of arcanum.”
Sonetto couldn't deny that. Vertin didn't grasp the principles of arcanum, yet she seemed to hold all the answers on the field. Her guidance led them to a streak of victories, though Sonetto was the one credited since she was the caster.
“Did something happen between you two?” The instructor pried with a malicious glint in her eyes, not unlike a vulture eyeing scraps of meat.
“Not really,” Sonetto replied. They have a way of punishing Vertin for the smallest offenses and saying more would increase the risk of that happening.
Bored by her answer, the instructor went on complaining about her troublesome student.
A voice slipped in between the raindrop’s ruckus and the instructor's mumblings about her deskmate's recent crimes.
“I don't need arcanum anyway since I have you. Leave the strategies to me and I'll leave all the arcane stuff to you.”
She shook her head, freeing herself from Vertin's confident voice and warm gaze.
“On that note, do you have any idea where your friend is?” The instructor asked, tapping her ruler against her palm. “She skipped class again but she's nowhere to be found.”
Sonetto frowned. “I haven't seen her since this morning.” She's probably getting into trouble again. Sonetto fidgeted with her fingers behind her back. Vertin better not be by the lake again. Last time she fell in, freshwater Critters nearly got her before she could reach her. What if she's in a tree? Just because she can climb to the top doesn't mean she should, but that never stopped her. Heaven forbid she fell and she's waiting in a crumpled mess for someone to get her–
The instructor sighed. “As her deskmate, could you please hand off the extra assignments to her when you do see her. She needs to do them to make up for the time she lost in class. And let her know she'll be shoveling the Critter Pens again when I get my hands on her!”
Green eyes flit to the stuffed folder, “I will.” She placed the packet in her bag and set off to find the trouble maker.
She took one step of the office only to find herself outside. The sound of rain continued but there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Before she could process her surroundings, she noticed a familiar silhouette hidden in the shadow of George the Oak tree. Sonetto let out a sigh of relief once she confirmed Vertin is still in one piece.
Her pace slowed as she neared the oblivious girl. Her original plan to drag Vertin home came to a halt due to yet another one of her deskmate's distracting talents. The longer Sonetto's eyes lingered on her, the more lines of poetry she recalled. Vertin depicted a world she's never seen before, but it’s a world she quickly found herself familiar with against her will.
The nightmare student inspired some of her favorite– her instructors’ favorite work. As a martyr, her art served no purpose but her arcanum depended on poems and paintings. The Foundation encouraged her to create in order to strengthen her skill, a privilege only few in her class enjoyed. Her natural talent provided her more leniency.
Vertin’s long silver hair manifested as moonlight reflecting off the lake. Full, ashen eyelashes turned into shimmering moth wings. Freckles became constellations.
Sonetto tilted her head. The sunlight filtering through the trees gave Vertin a warm glow around her petite frame. She’s on the verge of seeing another painting in her mind’s eye.
Until Vertin lifted her arm to hold something up to the light.
Vertin failed to notice her visitor, too busy examining the object in her hands. However, Sonetto's sole concern was the new wounds on Vertin’s arms. Scrapes and scratches ran up her arms and disappeared under her folded up sleeves. The bruises on her hands contrasted sharply with her pale complexion.
“Vertin,” she called.
The smaller girl tensed. Guilty gray eyes met Sonetto's stern stare. “Hello, Sonetto.” She adjusted her sleeves over her new injuries. It looked like the work of Critters by the teeth marks and clawed flesh.
Nausea gnawed at Sonetto's stomach and frustration hardened her stare. If Vertin joined her in class today, she might not have gotten hurt. She should have hunted her down. “Why weren't you in class today?”
“Because I was busy here. I can’t be in two places at once.”
She should be used to Vertin's dry humor by now. “Nevermind, the instructor wanted me to give you your make-up work. She's going to make you clean the Critter Pens again too.” She held Vertin’s hand to prevent the sneaky girl from running off again. “Let’s go home and have Tooth Fairy take a look at those injuries.”
A hopeful spark flickered in Vertin’s eyes and a grin followed. “Can I…show you something?”
Sonetto kept her focus on the path back to the school's white walls as she guided her back to safety. “We talked about this. I don't want to waste my time with meaningless things.”
“I know, but this one is different.” Her voice is softer now. Hesitant.
Sonetto turned sharply to face her. “Vertin–”
“Could you please show me your hand?” She caressed Sonetto's clenched fingers with her free hand. The tender touch coaxed her fist open like a creature opening its reluctant maw to accept the object.
Vertin placed a smooth, green stone in her hand. It held the warmth of her hands and twinkled in the sunlight. She was tricked! Of course it'd be another pebble. “You said this was going to be different. It's just a rock…”
Vertin’s smile fell to the floor and her eyes followed suit, “It matches the color of your eyes.”
“And?”
“It's pretty,” Vertin continued without looking up.
Sonetto handed the rock back to her. “Vertin, please…” She begged. “Enough. I'd prefer it if you came to class instead of–”
“Wasting your time,” Vertin finished quietly. She placed the rock in her pocket.
Sonetto touched her shoulder. “If you understand, then why do you keep bringing me these things?”
Vertin back-stepped out of her touch and deeper into the tree's shadow. She tilted her head forward, covering her eyes with her bangs. Sonetto's hand fell limply to her side. Vertin's never done that before…
The rain’s song grew louder.
“I'm sorry.”
Sonetto rubbed her arm. Vertin never apologized for giving her something until now either. “It's alright. Just don't do it again, ok?”
“Ok.”
The following days were full of peace. Vertin didn't bother her or wait for her to save her from her own consequences. There were no more late night visits. No more surprise gifts.
No more hugs. No more hand-holding. No more cheeky smiles.
Sonetto started avoiding her first but her chest ached whenever Vertin lowered her gaze after hearing her voice. It's been so long since their eyes met, she was scared she’d forget their color.
Not that such a thing mattered. It's all meaningless.
Time lurched forward. Sonetto found herself in the infirmary. She blinked away confusion and tried to sit up in bed. Only then did she notice the bandages on her left arm and leg. The injured arcanist absent-mindedly rubbed her arm as she tried to recall how she got here.
She and Vertin were in a combat training session against their peers.
Their opponents kept targeting Vertin since she couldn’t use arcane skills to defend herself. She was great at avoiding them though.
Then they fired an ultimate.
Sonetto jumped in front of Vertin since there was no time to cast a counter. Her brows furrowed and a sense of deja vu meandered around the edges of her mind.
“You’re awake,” Tooth Fairy greeted, seemingly spawning from nowhere. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m alright,” Sonetto replied, slowly getting out of bed. “Is Vertin ok?”
“She’s mostly uninjured. I can’t say the same for your opponents.” Tooth Fairy sighed. “Vertin was worried about you but the instructors wouldn’t let her skip- miss anymore class.” She handed Sonetto a biscuit dabbed with Fairy Jam. “Now that you’re awake you can eat this. You’ll be as good as new in no time.”
Her eyes flit to the window briefly before focusing on Sonetto. “Unfortunately, I need to restock on a few supplies, but you can rest here as long as you’d like.” Sonetto nodded and Tooth Fairy patted her head before leaving.
Sonetto savored the jam. It tastes like plum and mint.
“Sonetto!”
The redhead nearly choked when she turned to see Vertin on a branch outside the infirmary window. She dashed toward the window and threw it open. “Get down from there before you get hurt!”
Vertin jumped.
Sonetto panicked and drew her wand but her mind blanked on what spell to cast in such a situation–
Vertin perched on the windows edge like a cat.
She wobbled.
Sonetto's breath hitched.
“Oops‐ I'm ok!” Vertin said, steadying herself. “I came down like you asked.”
Sonetto gripped the intruder and drew her in against her front. “You know that's not what I meant!” Her hold tightened. “What if you fell?”
Vertin tentatively returned the hug. “I knew I wouldn't. More importantly, how are you feeling?” She gingerly touched Sonetto's bandaged arm. “You were hurt because of me.”
Sonetto released her. “It's not your fault, it's Henry and Haddon's! Ultimates aren't used during training for a reason.” She flexed her bandaged arm. The pain was already subsiding. “Honestly, it was pretty weak anyway.” It's embarrassing how much they botched their desperate attempt at winning. She examined Vertin for injuries.
Bandaged knuckles, busted lip, bruise under her jaw…
She cupped Vertin's cheek. “Did they do this to you?” She asked coldly.
Vertin shrugged. “Sort of. I bruised my knuckles when I broke Haddon's nose.” She tilted her head and pointed to her jaw. “And I let Henry land a hit so I could hit him harder. Tooth Fairy has two new teeth for her collection now and they aren't mine.”
“How?” Sonetto awed.
“I punched them. You know I can't use arcane skills,” she replied. “I guess this is why they want us to use arcanum when we fight. Everyone here is made of glass.” She poked Sonetto's nose. “Except you, of course. You were amazing, Sonetto.” The admiration dripped from her tone like viscous honey; it's so thick it's hard to swallow.
“Thank you,” Sonetto replied awkwardly. “We couldn't have won without your…ability to adapt.”
“I brought you something–it's not another useless rock,” she added quickly. She pulled out a few candies from her pocket. “These are toffees! They always make me feel better after I get hurt.”
Sonetto accepted the toffees. There's no reason for her to reject them since they fall under policy. “Thank you.”
Vertin cracked a smile but it faded just as fast. She looked at the floor. “I better go before Tooth Fairy comes back. See you later!” She watched Vertin's retreating back. Perhaps she was too hard on her deskmate.
The warm scene melted into raindrops and fell into a nightmare.
A cacophony of screams surrounded her. Vertin continued to lead the choir through the chaos.
The adults ordered Sonetto to stop them.
Vertin locked eyes with her at last. Deep grays embodied the storm, the smoke, and the fire that they ignited in the arcanist children around her. Is this really the Little Vertin who brought her frogs and toffees? The ringleader’s voice rang out over the violence and her classmates listened, protecting one another.
BANG
Vertin fell–
The world bled into the next scene through Vertin's wound and past her unresponsive body.
The rain roared as it returned with a vengeance, only disrupted by growling thunder. The phantom storm drenched her and threatened to drown her under its burden. She was alone without shelter from the storm. It chilled her blood and battered her bones.
Suddenly every pebble, frog, and toffee mattered. Vertin's delicate fingers slipping into her own. Her random and sincere praises. Her little body curled up against Sonetto's after a nightmare.
She'd lost these things long ago so why does it hurt so much now? It shouldn't matter! It's not supposed to matter!
Artificial Somnambulism Deactivated. May peace be with you.
Sonetto gasped for air. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall.
“Sonetto, you're OK now! The dream is over,” Vertin assured.
Sonetto wrapped her arms around the Timekeeper’s neck. “S-sorry, Timekeeper,” she hiccupped through sobs. Sonetto buried her face against her shoulder.
Vertin squeezed her tightly. “It's alright, don't apologize. Why did you spend so long in Artificial Solumnbalism? You know it's dangerous.”
Sonetto gripped the back of her navy jacket. “I wanted to strengthen my Psychube. I need to be ready next time we face Arcana.”
The Timekeeper turned off the machine and helped her out of bed. “I understand how you feel, but this isn't the way to do it. Let's take this one step at a time.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I called her,” Mesmer Jr. interrupted. “You were suffering too many derailments per session.” She opened the door to let them out. “I can't believe I'm saying this, but listen to Vertin.” She prodded Vertin's shoulder with her device. “And you keep an eye on her for side-effects. Understood?”
Vertin smiled and nodded, “You have my word.”
The Timekeeper took Sonetto's hand and provided support. Vertin held her with the same gentleness she used for all the tiny friends she caught outside–
Sonetto ripped her hand away before she could burst into another fit of tears.
Vertin immediately put space between them like a startled rabbit. “Sorry, do you want to use my umbrella instead? I’ve used it as a cane before–”
“It's not you, it's the memories! My emotions are everywhere right now.”
The Timekeeper placed an understanding hand on her shoulder. “Artificial Somnambulism is taxing on the mind but having an anchor helps me differentiate dreams and reality when I wake up.”
“An anchor?”
“An object that grounds you.”
“What's your anchor, Timekeeper?”
“It's…silly. You're better off finding something that works for you.”
Sonetto perked up. “I will, but I think an example might help me.” She needs to see this “silly” object with her own eyes.
Vertin sighed and rummaged through her pocket. She hesitated before revealing a shimmering green stone. “It's not something you'd find meaning in.”
It looks similar to the one in her memories but considerably smaller in the current pianist’s slender hands compared to Vertin's bruised ones all those years ago. “This is–”
The anchor disappeared back into her pocket. Vertin lowered her hat over her eyes. “–Pointless. I know…”
“It's pretty,” Sonetto said, touching the Timekeeper’s wrist. “Could I please see it again?”
Vertin handed her the warm smooth stone. The small stone held the weight of every unspoken apology, every rejection, every averted gaze. “It's just a rock. You can find these everywhere, usually in Critter nests.”
“But this one is different,” Sonetto muttered. “You must have gone through so much to retrieve it.”
Vertin shrugged with false indifference.
“It matches the color of your eyes.”
Guilt clawed at her throat at the memory of broken smiles and bruised arms.
The Timekeeper turned to leave. “You can keep the stone since you seem so fond of it.”
Sonetto’s mouth fell open as she gawked at her retreating back. “But this is your anchor!”
“You need it more than me. I don't understand why you care about it so much, but it might work for you after all.”
Sonetto charged after her and grabbed her shoulder. She spun Vertin around to face her. “Clearly this stone means a lot to you or you wouldn’t be carrying it around!”
“I carry lots of things. Stones, toffees, a Suitcase full of arcanists…” When Sonetto refused to release her, the Timekeeper firmly but gently gripped her wrist. “Stand down, Sonetto.”
“Or what?” Sonetto challenged. Her words hovered in the air. The tips of her ears burned and she broke eye contact. “I don’t know what came over me. I'm sorry,” Sonetto apologized.
“I should be apologizing since I started it,” the Timekeeper replied. “Why are half of our conversations apologies?”
Sonetto relaxed. “Is this the same stone you tried to give me back then?”
Vertin flinched. The air around stilled them as if offended by her question. If she didn’t know better, she’d assume it's an arcane fluctuation coming from Vertin.
“It is. I found it in an Olitau nest in one of the old buildings.”
Sonetto inched closer. Vertin's eyes widened when her assistant hugged her the same way she did when they were children.
However, they weren't children anymore.
A lean arm wrapped around her waist and the other entangled itself in bright red hair. These are the arms that carried her to safety on the island. These are the hands that guided her through the end of eras. “Sonetto?” Vertin whispered into her ear.
This is the voice that haunted her dreams.
“I saw so many memories of us during Artificial Somnambulism. When I found out you weren't reversed, I cried. I was so scared to lose you even though I never treated you right…”
“Don't say that,” Vertin replied curtly. “I gave you so many reasons to dislike me when we were kids.”
Sonetto pulled back to look into her eyes. Vertin's irises were the same ensnaring gray as the London fog that swallowed wanderers who ventured into its depths. “You make it sound like I hated you.” She touched Vertin's cheek. “Vertin–”
“I know it's not like that anymore.” Vertin released her slowly and took a step back. “Sonetto, it's alright. It's in the past.”
Sonetto shook her head. “This is exactly what I mean. We never talked about it. I was so happy you came back that I didn't address the issues we had before.”
Vertin hid her eyes with her hat. “We were children. It wasn't serious.” She began walking off again. “Regulus and the others are waiting for us outside with the Suitcase. We're almost there.”
Sonetto rushed to walk beside her. “I want to talk about it. We left so many things unsaid–” The sudden movement made her dizzy again. “Timekeeper, I think I–”
Her eyes snapped open. She was back in the Suitcase in Vertin's room. The aroma of incense settled her nerves and cleared the fog in her brain. She felt around the bed for the rock she had earlier.
“Nhn.”
Sonetto recoiled. The Timekeeper's kneeling on the floor beside her bed. She's resting her head on her folded arms. There’s a clipboard with observations the Vertin kept, most likely to monitor her symptoms. Sonetto read some of her notes. The incense was supposed to help her manifest good dreams.
She wanted to skim more of the notes to get an idea of her condition but the doodles in the margins were extremely distracting. “Why do I have dog ears and a tail?” Sonetto mumbled, scrutinizing the drawing. She fiddled with the Timekeeper’s loose hair. For a split second, Sonetto saw her Little Vertin again. Her long silver hair used to spread across her pillow. It was impossible not to touch.
The smirk on Vertin's face made her pause.
Sonetto rolled over in bed and braced herself for the inevitable teasing.
“You couldn't help yourself.”
“You baited me. Why are you pretending to be asleep?”
“I actually dozed off but then you touched my head and I woke up.” The bed shifted as Vertin sat on its edge. “How are you feeling? I didn't want to burn incense in your room so I brought you to mine.”
“Better, thank you for being so considerate.” Sonetto replied, turning to face her. As much as she loves candles and incense, her sensitive nose picked up on their lingering scents days after use. It can be overwhelming, especially with the stronger scents like this one. Where's your anchor? I remember holding it…”
“I put it on your desk. Like I said, you can have it. Although, I'm curious as to why you're so interested in it now.”
Sonetto tugged Vertin's white shirt, inviting her to lay next to her. It's the way Vertin used to ask her to stay when they were kids. “I didn't appreciate it then but it was a gift from you. That itself makes it invaluable.” Vertin stiffened but didn't accept her offer. “Why did you want to give me the stone after you went through all the trouble of getting it?” Sonetto continued, refusing to give up.
“It doesn't matter anymore,” Vertin replied. “Back then, I didn't respect your wishes. You didn't want things like that and I didn't listen. I was pushy and I kept making things hard for you.”
“You wanted to show me the beauty of the outside world–”
“But you didn't care about things like that. All I did was make you mad…”
“Vertin–”
“Sonetto, please,” Vertin begged. She stared at the floor, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “You were always nice to me in your own way. You put up with me even though you couldn't stand me. I was the problem, not you.”
“First off, I never hated you. Secondly, I'm the one who kept hurting you…” Sonetto sat up in the bed and rested her cheek against Vertin's back. “I never understood why you tried so hard when you kept getting hurt. Was it because we were deskmates?”
Vertin stayed quiet for a moment before responding in a tone Sonetto heard too many times when they were kids. “You were special,” Vertin replied with the same pure sweetness she couldn't tolerate in her confused younger days. However, she's developed a sweet tooth since then. “I think I wanted to be special to you too, but I couldn't do anything right. Couldn't cast a spell, pay attention in class, or make you smile.”
“I was happy to have you–”
“You weren't. You smiled with Matilda and the others but you stopped whenever our eyes met. You avoided me in the halls. You stopped approaching me unless you had to.” Sonetto bit her lip. Vertin knew everything. “You'd be happier if we weren't stuck with me. You didn’t want me as a deskmate or a friend...”
“That's not true–”
“Did you feel sorry for me? Is that why you put up with me?” There's a slight tremor in her voice.
Sonetto strained to find a response. “I only realized how much I needed you after I thought I lost you! I'm the one who took you for granted!”
“But didn't you want to get rid of me? You even went to the instructor…”
“Who told you that?”
“Everyone knew. I was the last one to find out. I didn't want to believe them.” Vertin didn't face her once during their conversation. “Despite all that, you were always there for me. Thank you, Sonetto.” Vertin took a deep breath. “This is all water under the bridge now.”
She tried to leave but Sonetto kept her shackled in her embrace. “W-wait! I'm sorry, Vertin. I didn't know what I wanted back then! But I know now. I want to stay by your side.”
Vertin finally glanced back over her shoulder. “Is that because you feel guilty about what happened before?”
Sonetto's stomach churned. Hearing Vertin's doubts about her sincerity stung, but she had every right not to believe her. “You were special to me too, but I failed to notice. Vertin, don't go. We need to talk about this…”
Vertin peered at the green stone on her desk. “There's nothing left to be said.”
Sonetto placed her chin on Vertin's shoulder, her pleading lips spoke directly into her ear. The Timekeeper tends to remove herself from the situation when she's upset but if she lets her go now, they may never find closure. “I need you, Vertin. I needed you then and I need you now. Please don't do this.” How can she tell Vertin how much she means to her? This coldness isn't like her Vertin–
Vertin pushed her back against the bed.
–Definitely not her Little Vertin.
A thunder clap on a clear day.
A lighting bolt from the blue.
Arcane fluctuations exploded throughout the room.
Sonetto felt them ripple through her blood, travel up her nerves, rattle her bones, and tense her flesh. There's a musicality to its madness. The arcanum played Sonetto like an instrument and she felt every heartbroken tear she never witnessed. Tears began to spring in her own eyes as the loneliness burdened her body and the hope for something more tightened her throat.
Vertin was around her, in her, embracing her, suffocating her–
The source of the arcanum spoke. “Enough,” Vertin said with her signature stoicism as if she wasn't disturbing the world around them. Sonetto found herself staring up into tumultuous gray eyes. While her fluctuating arcanum gave her emotions away, Vertin's eyes could have said everything for her. Sonetto burned them into her memory.
“What do you want from me, Sonetto? I already told you everything is fine now. Let it go.”
Sonetto's hair stood on end. The amount of fluctuations Vertin's emitting was reminiscent of Arcana, but that's impossible. Vertin's arcane is almost nonexistent.
The fluctuations fluttering within her body begged to differ. They responded to Vertin's body and voice; it's fitting for the conductor of their missions.
She's stronger than Vertin in arcanum and physical strength. She can turn the tables but then what? Vertin's not her enemy.
Vertin frowned. She released Sonetto's wrists. “What are we doing?” With a single apology, Vertin's rampaging fluctuations ceased. “I'm sorry I got carried away, but it's time to move on.”
Sonetto wrapped her arms around Vertin's neck, keeping her in place. The fluctuations returned, creeping around her soul for places to hide since they had nowhere to run. Hurt, pining, regret. The “stoic” Timekeeper was nothing but an amalgamation of misty raindrops parading as a sea of calm. Sonetto resonated with every individual drop of emotion, every ripple carrying unfulfilled desires.
“I wish I held you more,” she began. She let Vertin's arcanum do as it pleased, accepting it and her in their entirety.
“Stop–”
“I wish I accepted your gifts and hunted frogs with you.” She yanked Vertin firmly against her. The fluctuations responded to their maestro. All the emotions mixed into a deep longing that synced with her own. Sonetto nuzzled her hair. Vertin melted in her arms like a cold kitten in search of loving warmth.
The fluctuations converged into a harmonious rhythm. Sonetto recognized this feeling since she carried it too. She stroked Vertin's hair. “I missed our sleepovers. I missed your smile. I missed the way I could feel your eyes waiting to meet mine.”
“I can't do this again, Sonetto,” Vertin admitted with a shaky breath.
“Do what again?” Sonetto pushed, both arcanists knowing the answer.
The arcanum fluctuations tapered into a defeated drizzle.
“Love you.”
She peeked up at Sonetto through her long eyelashes and allowed her childhood friend to move her bangs aside. Vertin's adoring eyes, her cute freckles across her nose, the soft curve of her cheek. Sonetto caressed it with a grin. They used to be fuller in the past, like dumplings. She traced along her jawline and admired the subtle furrow developing Vertin's brow.
“I heard you, but I have an idea,” Sonetto clarified. “What if I love you first this time? If you fell for me once then perhaps I can do it again.”
“I'm being serious,” Vertin huffed while still basking in Sonetto's attention.
An awful lie. Vertin's arcanum made it clear she never stopped loving her, thinking about her, longing for her…
“I like you, Vertin,” Sonetto confessed. It felt as natural as saying the sky is blue, yet it took her so long to admit. “I love you.”
The quiet arcanum abruptly fluctuated in one huge, joyous wave. It washed over Sonetto and left a ticklish sensation in its wake like being kissed by dozens of feathers.
However, the sudden increase in Vertin's heart beat stole the show.
“No thanks,” Vertin muttered against her neck. She repositioned herself beside Sonetto so she wasn't putting all her weight on the redhead under her.
“No thanks?” Sonetto repeated. Even when Vertin's “rejecting” her she's ridiculous.
“It's my turn to do the rejecting.”
“What am I going to do? You're out of my league now,” Sonetto said as she adjusted the sheet over both of them.
“I didn't say that. You're smart, responsible, beautiful…”
“I guess I'll be strong competition then.”
“Competition?” Vertin smirked. “With who, the ducks I feed at the park? Last time I checked, you were the popular one.”
Sonetto's eyes widened. Does Vertin not realize how attractive she is? The way some of these girls look at her ignites every nerve in her body! Vertin being so kind and compassionate to everyone only exacerbates the issue–
Vertin brought her back to the current conversation when she held her hand. “If this works, what would it look like?” Sonetto looked at her, puzzled. “For example…Can I kiss you?”
Sonetto looked up at the ceiling. Why is Vertin so– Vertin! Her cheeks and ears flushed red. “Of course!”
“Whenever I want?”
“Maybe not in public,” she replied shyly. “Unless it's a little peck.”
“Fair enough,” Vertin agreed. A pause. “Wherever I want?”
Sonetto still couldn't face her, but she tried to spare a glance in her direction. “What do you mean?”
Vertin snuggled into the sheet and hid her face. “We'll come back to that.”
“I think it's good to talk about these things since I'm new to this.”
Verti peered at her incredulously. “You look like a tomato.”
“Just because it's good doesn't mean it's easy!” Sonetto defended. “And since we're on the topic…” She cleared her throat. “The other day I found something in the attic.”
A beat of silence.
Except for the tiniest arcane fluctuation. A defensive wave that she would have missed had she not let her body tune itself with Vertin's arcanum.
“I'm not surprised. There's a lot of junk up there so I'd advise against going in there unless you really have to,” Vertin replied nonchalantly. “So, what did you find?”
“A few magazines and posters of gorgeous women in, uh, situations and poses.”
Vertin hummed. “It might be one of the crew members. A lot of them are around that age.” She played with Sonetto's hair. She used to do the same thing when she was nervous before a battle. Sonetto's side braid would end up between her fingers. “Are you going to figure out who they belong to?”
“I have an idea,” Sonetto began. Vertin's calm mask remained in place. “I think I found compelling evidence after looking around.” She found a long strand of silver hair in the hidden cabinet. The magazines themselves were part of a series with a page in the back containing collectable but innocuous stickers. The sticker sheets were carefully removed and placed in a binder in the cabinet.
It seems the culprit is very organized when it comes to their collections.
Honestly if Vertin hadn't placed bookmarks between the pages, she would have believed the Timekeeper only collected them for the stickers in the back.
“You looked through them,” Vertin said with disbelief.
“You bookmarked the pages. It was an invitation at that point!”
“I didn't say they were mine!”
Sonetto shook her head. “That's not why I brought it up.” She pulled the sheet over the lower part of her face, muffling her voice. “If you and I are together, will we be doing things like that too?”
Vertin hid her face with the sheet. “I can't say because I have no idea what you saw in those magazines.”
“I know they're yours.”
“I didn't even know they existed until you told me.”
“Should I bring a few to refresh your memory?”
Sonetto finally understood why the Timekeeper likes to tease people. Vertin vanished completely under the covers.
“Timekeeper?” No response from the lump curled against her side under the sheet. “Vertin…” The lump stirred. She felt around under the covers for her. “You still didn't answer my question. I'm only trying to talk about our expectations of one another.”
“You read that exact phrase in one of Jennifer's magazines,” Vertin said, placing her cheek against Sonetto's stomach and within reach of her searching fingertips. They wove themselves into her hair. “I'm establishing a boundary. The magazines in the attic are a forbidden topic.”
“I don’t think that's how it works…”
“You're the one who said you've never done this before.”
“And you have?”
Vertin traced shapes into her abdomen. “When do we get to the part where I kiss you?”
“...I think you need to tell me you like me too. You rejected me, remember?”
Vertin stilled.
“But what if you get sick of me again?”
The true problem finally showed its face. Sonetto lifted the covers. “Vertin, come here.”
Vertin hesitated before inching up. Sonetto cupped her face and brought her closer.
She planned on giving Vertin a kiss the way she's read in novels. The protagonist kisses the pain away from their haunted love interest. It was supposed to be a romantic, symbolic, and meaningful conclusion to this chapter of conflict.
She squeezed her eyes shut and pulled Vertin closer–
Only to accidentally bump their noses together.
Vertin giggled, “A very convincing argument.” Sonetto was too mortified to open her eyes.
Vertin's lips brushed against her's, not with a kiss but with a confession.
“Ti amo.”
Sonetto's eyes flew open. Her pronunciation was flawless!
Vertin smiled sheepishly. Her arcanum revealed an anxious heart. “I've been practicing it in case–”
Sonetto kissed her.
Her mind filled with nothing but Vertin. Her scent, the softness of her lips, her body pressed against hers.
And the thought of Vertin showing her a few things from the magazines.