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She awoke to a shifting beside her, blinking into a blurry consciousness. A hum escaped from her throat with a short breath, followed by the feeling of a tender kiss pressed just above her brow. The simple action made her heart flutter, and a soft smile came to her face. She turned her head, tired eyes locking with amber ones, and she was greeted by a subtle dilation of pupils, paired with a warm smile mirroring her own.
“My treasure,” Golden cooed, a hand tracing across Lily’s chest when she turned to face the sovereign. The queen was laying on her stomach, wings comfortably resting on her back. One stretched, falling to rest on Lily’s side, hugging her closer.
Lily didn’t bother to respond, instead reaching up and weaving her fingers through Golden’s hair. She didn’t miss it when the other let out a low hum of approval, closing her eyes and melting into the simple touch. She buried her face into the pillows, arms crossed above her head, only prompting Lily to trail her hand further down. Her fingertips grazed over delicate feathers with careful attention, as she adjusted to lay on her back.
After a few moments, her gaze travelled back up to the sovereign’s head, where she now was met with just one eye, peering over the queen’s arm and out from under her golden halo of hair. She studied Lily with an infatuation, and further, a subtle tease. Lily had forever known people as hard to read – never straightforward, never open. And yet, Golden had always been so simple to figure out. Well, there wasn’t much to “figure out” in the first place. She didn’t typically bother hiding her emotions (nor was she really good at it, to be honest). She was expressive… and sometimes a little blunt, sure. But that just meant Lily, among everyone else, knew what she was thinking.
She owed that to Golden’s upbringing, she supposed. A cookie, raised and rounded by none other than a dragon – which was clearly something she took pride in (she could tell by her fluffed up feathers and constant boasting anytime the topic was brought up). Yet, she was still taken off-guard when she had first met her father: Ananas. They were… intimidating, to say the least, as any dragon would be, but in no way unkind. Golden clearly took after them, knowing exactly what she wanted at any given moment, and not being afraid to make her needs or even just presence known.
Lily, however, tended to be the opposite. More timid, compliant, quiet. Despite that, Golden knew exactly what Lily needed. Every time, without fail. Whether food, sleep, time alone, anything… she always got it right. It was something so… amazing. Unexplainable.
The two had forever been in perfect parallel. What either lacked, the other provided. What either wanted, the other had. A dance neither had to rehearse. One that came naturally with the synced rhythm the two shared.
She’d have dived further into her thoughts and drifted back into sleep if not for the sound of sheets shuffling and the loss of weight draped over her side. Her eyelids, which she now realized weighed heavy, fluttered back open.
Golden had pulled herself up, sitting on the edge of the bed, stretching her wings behind her. Lily turned her head, peering at the (needlessly ornate) analog clock on the bedside table.
Six. Six in the morning. She let out a groan, earning a hushed laugh from her lover. “You’re insufferable, Cheese,” she muttered, no real malice in her tone.
The sovereign stood, before turning to face her with a gentle smile. She leaned over, pressing her lips to Lily’s own, her eyes falling closed once again. “I know, my flower. You’ve no obligation to leave bed. You stayed up far too late last night for an early wake up to be remotely acceptable, anyways,” she mumbled, not bothering to pull back as she spoke.
“Now, how exactly do you know that-?” Lily asked, interrupted by a chuckle. Golden moved away, leaning onto her arms, gaze flickering around her lover’s face.
“You’re going to lay here and tell me you didn’t stay up unreasonably late? Don’t bother, Lily, I know your disastrous habits all too well,” she spoke, a teasing scold in her tone.
White Lily laughed, hand moving to cover her mouth, before she reached up, fingers brushing over one of Golden Cheese’s cheeks.
“You won’t stay with me? Just for a little while?” Lily’s tone turned gentle, eyes half-lid, purposefully, in hopes of luring her lover back into bed (she never understood why she always awoke at such ungodly hours, anyways).
Golden’s gaze softened, wings slacking behind her. Then, she snickered. “A tempting offer…” She hummed, as if considering.
“However, I have many important things to tend to,” she declared, raising her chin (and wings) slightly in jest. “Queenly duties.”
“More important than I?” Lily asked, feigning upset, with a lack of genuine disappointment. A sigh came a moment later.
The sovereign's mouth twitched at the corners, turning from a smirk to a gentle smile. “Never,” she replied. Despite the joke in her tone, it was clear she genuinely meant it. She would drop anything for Lily in an instant, and the other woman knew that.
“However, more important than lazing around in bed all day, yes.”
“Are you implying that’s what I spend my time doing?”
“...You’ve always plenty of energy to expend at night, when you stay up until four reading,” she answered, although avoiding the original question, glancing aside.
Then, suddenly, she sneezed – small, quiet, and rather cute. Her feathers ruffled up, and she shook her head.
White Lily hummed, amused. “Are you alright, my dear?”
Golden Cheese chuckled. “Good as ever, stickbug.”
“‘Stickbug’?” Lily scoffed, before turning back to her side and laughing into the sheets she clutched before her face.
“Yes, stickbug.” The floorboards let out weak creaks, and she heard the rustling of fabrics, peeking over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her lover, faced away from her. She watched with admiration as the sovereign unclipped her top, allowing a full view of the perfect curves of muscle that traced along her back.
If she ever got to meet the Witches… she’d personally thank the one who oversaw Golden Cheese’s creation.
The queen grabbed a roll of bandage from atop the short dresser, before beginning to wrap it around her chest, leaving enough empty space on her back for her wings to move comfortably. She stretched them about, twisting them this way and that, ensuring her freedom of movement.
White Lily raised a brow. “What on Earthbread are you up to?” she mumbled out. Golden Cheese usually didn’t bother going through the effort of wrapping her chest on casual days, the usefulness of binding being limited to fighting and training.
Perhaps it was training. Even then, she didn’t typically train this early in the morning, reserving such activities for evening routines. She could just bind then.
“Training, of course. What else, my flower?”
Okay, so it was… Lily hummed. “You never bother with training this early.”
“I’m tired, my flower. Some activity will do me wonders, I’m sure,” Golden offered, with a shrug. The other woman shifted, closing her eyes as she rested her head down finally. But still, she spoke:
“You know what could also make you less tired?”
“Sleep?”
“Sleep.”
“Right.”
“‘Right’?”
“Right, but this works as well, so…”
White Lily huffed out a laugh, before letting out a contented sigh. There was the sound of metal sliding against stone, and she felt a thrum through her own souljam when a finger brushed over her lover’s – presumably her ridding of a speck of dust or dirt before slotting the headdress onto her head. (Lily had always adored how their souljams reacted to each other – as silly as it was to say. She assumed it had somewhat “evolved” from a defense mechanism within the magic of the souljam, a warning when there was harm nearby. Yet, not all five received the same signals from such simple actions. That was reserved separately for the pairs within the Ancients.)
“Off you go, then, my love…” White Lily mumbled after a few moments of comfortable silence, a smile still playing on her lips, eyes still resting closed.
Then, her smile began to soften as her body almost immediately fell into sleep. Faster than she anticipated…
A moment before she drifted off, her ears caught a small whisper, spoken so gently and with an affection unparalleled:
“I love you, my Lily.”
——————
Lily sat, legs swung over the edge of the bed, hands carefully moving in a practiced rhythm as she braided her hair. She breathed comfortably in the silence, glancing over at the clock for the fifth time since she’d woken up – nine-forty-six.
She’d been preparing for the day for a little over ten minutes.
A more reasonable time to wake up, she thought, rather than sunrise.
Maybe a little late. But still.
Suddenly, a loud knock at the door startled her from the quiet. Who…?
She held the half-complete braid in place over her shoulder as she stood and made her way to the door.
Upon opening it, she was greeted with a familiar scowl.
“Smoked Cheese,” she greeted, bowing her head just slightly, to which he rolled his eyes. “Is everything alright?”
“Your winged nuisance – er, her Radiance, is acting… off,” the general answered, before sighing.
“‘Off’?” She didn’t wait for an answer, rushing the unfinished parts of her braid. Then, she slipped into the hallway, Smoked Cheese clearing his throat as he followed behind.
“Sneezing and coughing, typical symptoms of sickness. I’ve told her she likely has contracted a cold again, but her stubborn self refuses to entertain that explanation,” he said, voice gradually lowering. Lily could almost hear another eye-roll, based on his tone.
Golden Cheese had been sick just a few weeks ago, could she really have a cold again..?
“She’s refusing to let any of our healers near her. I figured you could be of assistance. She’d listen to you rather than anyone else.”
She let out a puff of air.
Listening wasn’t exactly the sovereign's strong suit. At least, not in these types of situations.
She pushed through the door at the end of the hallway, eyes scanning the large room before she made her way in. It was the throne room, so typically a few denizens and palace keepers hung around the area – luckily, she had come at a time where only a few cheesebirds roamed about the decorated room. So, she made a beeline for the throne, where the subject of her attention sat, one leg hanging over the arm of the golden chair, and she was almost laid down across the seat.
Witches, did this woman ever learn how to sit properly?
“Ah! Here comes my sleeping beauty,” Golden teased, wings unfurling. There was a spark in her eyes as she watched White Lily approach. But her excitement faded when she noticed the concerned look etched upon Lily’s face.
White Lily stopped before her, reaching out a hand to press against the queen’s forehead – but she intercepted, swatting it away. “What has you so worried, my Lily?” she asked, but there was no doubt she knew exactly what the other had approached her about.
“You’re sick,” Lily answered.
“Hah! Says w-” Golden’s denial was cut off by a small, almost silent, sneeze, hand shifting up to cover her nose. “It’s simply dust,” she tried, waving her hand in the air and relaxing back into the throne.
Guilty-looking. That, paired with the sweat that nearly coated her forehead… She absolutely was sick, there was no doubt in Lily’s mind. Nonetheless, she would just continue to deny it.
But she knew exactly how to get her to slip up.
Without hesitance, she climbed upon the throne, with enough room for her to kneel aside the queen, leaning in for a kiss – a simple peck, nothing more.
When instead of a returned affection she was met with a hand blocking her path, she pulled back, giving Golden a soft, knowing smile. She averted her gaze in response.
“What!?” she almost squawked out, eyes snapping back to Lily’s. Her wings fluffed slightly, her face flushing with either embarrassment, or due to her ailment.
“You know, it’s really not that likely…”
“What’s not likely?”
“That I’ll get sick from kissing you. It’s dramatized, the chances are very low.”
"Well, I am not taking any chances!”
“So you are sick?”
Golden Cheese blinked at her, before clearly fighting back a smile. “Absolutely not! I simply forgot to brush my teeth after lunch today!”
White Lily shrugged, giggling. “I don’t mind...”
Golden Cheese let out a groan, failing to kill the grin that spread across her face. “You are far too clever for your own good,” she said, swinging her legs to the front, nearly knocking White Lily off the seat, before the queen secured an arm around the other’s waist.
Lily regained her balance, then slipped off the throne and brushed off her dress – not for cleanliness, really, but rather for the sake of old habits. “And you are far too stubborn for yours.”
Golden Cheese slid from the throne a few seconds later, hovering a few inches from the ground. She hid her face in her arm as she sneezed once again, a bit more forceful this time. She shifted back just slightly in the air, a few coughs crawling up her throat.
Lily tilted her head, before carefully interlocking her hand with Golden’s. Her other moved up to cup the sovereign’s cheek. “Come on, my darling. Let’s get you taken care of. The kingdom will not suddenly collapse if you take a break,” she whispered out, taking a few steps backwards.
Golden’s feet returned to the ground, and she took a few steps with her. Lily offered another soft smile as she turned and guided the two from the throne, back down to the hallway.
“Do you need anything for her Majesty?”
She startled for a second, pulling a laugh from the woman behind her.
Smoked Cheese. Right. She’d forgotten he’d been left in the hallway.
She thought for a moment. “Chamomile. Chamomile tea, please.”
The general nodded. “I’ll have someone fetch it and bring it to you.” He slipped past them, walking off.
“And best of luck,” he called. Golden Cheese barked another laugh, White Lily biting back a smile. She had a feeling she’d need that luck.
It wasn’t long before they slid into the comfort of their chambers, and White Lily sat the other down on the bed. She then made quick work of drawing the sets of curtains around the room, plunging it into a soft darkness.
She heard a faint knock at the door, answering it to find one of the palace staff, a tray of tea in their grasp. She muttered “thank you”’s before sending them off and setting the tray down on the bedside table.
Then, she sat in front of the pillows atop the bed, crossing her legs. Golden fell back, head resting in her lap. A few moments of comfortable silence passed by.
“You know, your sneezes are such adorable noises for a grand sovereign such as you, lovebird,” she spoke, the aforementioned giving her a playful glare.
Her hand played through Golden’s hair, tangled and sweaty, as she let out a small giggle.
Her gaze then softened, and she sighed. “You’ve really got to stop overworking yourself,” she scolded, although nothing but gentle care laced her tone.
“Hypocrite. And, please – ” another sneeze “ – it’s just a simple cold! I’ve weathered much harsher storms and wrangled much more intimidating foes! This is nothing a radiant goddess like me couldn’t handle!” The statement was quickly challenged when she entered a coughing fit, sputtering as she brought a hand to cover her mouth. Lily curled over, letting out a small sigh, studying the queen’s reddened features. She frowned, concern etched across her face.
When Golden’s coughing came to an end, her eyes pressed closed, then slowly opened again. “I’ve always been able to complete my duties! Even when sick. I really believe you are far too worried, my flower,” she protested further, rambling on, arms narrowly missing the other’s face as they flung into the air. Her wings rustled aside her, outstretching along the sheets.
White Lily blinked once, before a smile returned to her face. Her hands shifted down, cupping Golden Cheese’s cheeks. She leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“You are not doing anything, my darling, until you’ve rested properly.”
A groan, followed by a shaky breath. Golden Cheese shifted, turning to her stomach and reaching up, arms flopping over White Lily’s shoulders and face resting against her chest. She let out a huff.
She clicked her tongue. “Is this an attempt to guilt trip me?”
“Perhaps… is it working?”
Golden looked up at her, and she pushed the queen off with a grunt of effort. Despite her smaller size, the muscle mass of her body often proved to make her as immovable as a boulder, granted she held her ground… and wasn’t sick. Luckily for Lily, she easily slipped down, although not without more protest.
“Augh… you wound me so…!” she whined as she placed her hands on Lily’s waist, burying her head in her lap again, face tilted to the side. She sniffled – although whether for dramatic effect or due to her sickness, the other couldn’t tell.
White Lily leaned towards the tray set on the table, carefully pouring tea into one of the cups. Golden Cheese sat up, her hands falling to her sides, as she faced the other. “Drink.” She held the cup out, and the queen took it without hesitation. She drank it within a few minutes, while Lily watched her, studying her symptoms, trying to piece together how to efficiently cure her ailment.
At least, that’s what Lily told herself when she realized she’d been staring. She snapped her gaze away, picking at the bandage wrapped around her forearms.
Her admiration of the other wasn’t new by any means. The pair had been together for years. Yet, she had the tendency to occasionally act like an awkward teenager around her.
Sometimes she wondered how she was ever able to court someone with so much majesty and grandeur. (Well, most of the actual courting had been done by Golden… but, still.)
She watched as the sovereign returned the now-empty cup to its place on the tray.
Suddenly, Golden’s lips slotted against hers, the force pushing her back slightly. She hesitated, processing, but quickly closed her eyes and returned the kiss with a fraction of the pressure the queen applied.
When she tried to deepen the kiss, Lily caught on to exactly what she was trying to do. She pulled back, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Absolutely not, you stubborn thing. The last thing you need is more stress on your body. It’s already fighting this sickness,” she scolded, Golden’s grin returning.
“It’s not like I haven’t built immunity to it,” the sovereign responded, shrugging.
“You haven’t. You still get woozy everytime!” she laughed out. She leaned in to place a simple peck on Golden Cheese’s cheek. "When you are not sick, I will consider you risking that.”
Golden huffed, wings flaring up for a split second. “How ungrateful.”
“As I recall, you were the one who didn’t want me to kiss you earlier.”
“As I recall, you informed me that there was a slim chance of consequence! I am now prepared to take that risk.”
“Oh, hush you. The “risk” is not about me becoming sick, it’s about ensuring you are safe. Intoxicating yourself is not going to help anything.”
“Please, my most beloved treasure?”
She sighed, offering a small smile. “No, darling. When you are feeling well again.” She then reached out, brushing Golden’s face with her hand. The other leaned into the gentle touch, closing her eyes. Her expression relaxed, and she remained still for a while.
She then let out a short breath, before her eyes opened. Previously hidden exhaustion now weighed down her eyelids, that much was obvious. White Lily’s hands moved upwards as Golden Cheese began to slowly sink forwards. She carefully lifted the headdress from the sovereign’s head as she curled up, the upper part of her body resting atop Lily’s crossed legs.
She pressed a small kiss to the souljam within the crown, Golden stirring in response, her feathers ruffling slightly. Lily set the headdress aside, shifting the cups on the tray to make room for it. Then, her hand found its way back to the queen's soft, golden hair, fingers weaving through it once again.
“If you must… attend to other tasks, I will sleep well enough on my own,” Golden whispered out, eyes just hardly remaining open. Despite her words, her brow furrowed slightly, and her hand shifted to lightly grasp at one of Lily’s, bringing it down to just before her face.
White Lily’s smile returned, and she shook her head, not particularly for anyone to see. Golden Cheese had a tendency to sleep restlessly when alone, an odd trait she’d only picked up when the two had first met. She would sleep much better with Lily by her side. “I’ve nowhere to be… I will be right here when you awake, my dear.”
Golden seemed content with her answer, her grip loosening. Lily reached over her curled form, grabbing onto and carefully slipping the blanket on the bed over the sovereign. “There, darling…” she whispered.
She allowed the minutes to pass by slowly, feeling as Golden Cheese’s fingers further slackened their grip. But, of course, as the queen drifted off, White Lily made no attempt to pull her hand away.
No, she could – would – sit still for hours on end. Watching Golden’s expression, in a perfect ease. Her chest rising and falling in an even rhythm, wings twitching behind her as she slept.
Despite the fact that her sickness flushed her skin, sweat messed up her carefully groomed hair, and exhaustion remained evident in the eyebags that she typically kept well hidden – not necessarily physically, but rather, she drew attention away from them with her habit of being contradictorily hyper – …She was still the most beautiful thing she’d ever laid her eyes upon.
Oh, she would always be so beautiful.
She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of simply existing alongside her. She needed nothing more than the knowledge that she was Golden’s and Golden was hers.
Sitting there, she could just be. They could just be.
Two separate souls, yet hearts beating as one.
Love.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting all sappy again…” the sovereign mumbled, jest in her tone, snapping Lily from her thoughts.
“Witches-! You’re supposed to be asleep!” she responded, laughing as she wiped tears away that she hadn’t realized were building. She could’ve sworn Golden Cheese had drifted off many minutes ago…
Golden wore a sleepy grin, although her gaze filled with affection. She pulled at White Lily’s arms, urging her to lay down. Lily complied, Golden letting out a small coo as her lover settled down beside her. Then, she buried the top of her head in the other’s chest, curling up against her again. In response, Lily wrapped her arms around the sovereign, hugging her close.
Neither of them spoke any further, White Lily’s eyes falling closed as sleep began to tempt her under. She didn’t need sleep, by any means… or perhaps she did.
Nonetheless, sleep took her, quiet peace filling the air as she drifted off once again, her lover cradled in her arms.
How had she ever gotten so lucky?