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They’re going to be late.
Yellow paces in the living room, checking the clock for what may have been the tenth time in five minutes.
“Blue, are you nearly done?”
She huffs when she gets no reply, making her way to Blue’s room.
“Green would be dressed faster, you-”
The sight before her stops Yellow in her tracks. Next to her standing mirror, Blue is crouched on the floor with her head between her knees, quietly weeping in a short dress Yellow doesn’t recognize.
“Baby?”
Yellow closes the door behind her before racing to kneel next to Blue, threading a gentle hand in her hair.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt? I’m so sorry if I was rude.”
Blue meets Yellow’s gaze, eyes wet.
“I’m- I’m okay. I just…”
Embarrassment flushes Blue’s cheeks and she looks back down; Yellow can’t recall the last time she’s seen this look on her. Blue’s shaking hands fidget with a loose string.
“Just what, sweetheart?”
“I- I just… ugh, it’s stupid!”
Yellow cups Blue’s chin to gently prompt her to look back up, cheeks pink and wet with tears.
“Please tell me. I’d like to help you.”
Blue takes a shaky breath, taking a moment to collect herself.
“I’m- I feel like… my scars…” Blue trails off again, biting her lip, timid and shy in a way Yellow isn’t used to seeing out of her.
“Do they hurt?” Yellow tries to supply an answer, but Blue shakes her head.
“They’re-” Blue sniffs, voice unsteady, “they’re ugly. They make ME ugly.”
The confession causes Blue to sob, and breaks Yellow’s heart. She has the most beautiful girlfriend ever, the kindest soul that doesn’t deserve an ounce of this insecurity.
“Usually I’m fine with it, I- I don’t know why I cuh-care so much,” Blue cries. Yellow scoots closer, taking Blue’s trembling hands in hers.
“Oh, sweet thing. You’re so beautiful to me, so gorgeous. Eternally.” Yellow punctuates her point by bringing one of Blue’s hands to her lips, placing a soft kiss to each of her fingertips.
“I- I know… I just, I wish I felt it, I guess…” Blue averts her gaze, blinking a few tears from her eyes. “I wuh-was excited for our date, I got this new dress and I thought it was cute and I just wanna be pretty again,” Blue rambles, words tumbling out before she has the chance to catch them.
Yellow pulls her into a tight embrace, kissing her temple. “You’re the prettiest thing I’ll ever lay my eyes on. I’m aware that it doesn't simply change your feelings, but it’s certainly true to me.”
Yellow pulls back, wiping Blue’s tears away. “Turn around, lovely,” she calmly directs. “I’ll do your hair.”
Blue shifts to face herself in the mirror once again, frowning and giving a scar on her leg an unfeeling poke.
“What about our reservations…? Your schedule… I-I’m not even close to ready…”
Yellow positions herself on her knees behind Blue. “You’re more important to me than keeping time. We can go anywhere, so long as you’re smiling.”
She pulls a few pieces of Blue’s hair back, careful fingers cool against her temples before Yellow speaks again, soft and steady.
“What do your scars mean to you?”
Blue’s brows draw together in confusion. “Like how?”
Yellow continues her precise hairstyling as she explains, “To me, they show your endless compassion. Few others would have made the sacrifice that you did.”
Blue soaks in the words, letting her eyes roam over the splotchy red skin that mars her lower body.
“I guess… I was really set on saving that baby Piglin.”
“Your determination,” Yellow fills in, tying off a small braid. “What else?”
“Uhm… it was so scary, but I couldn’t just leave him to- to burn…”
“Your bravery.”
Biting her lip, Blue trails a finger across a large portion of tight flesh on her thigh, red and numb. Maybe Yellow has a point. Her scars are noticeable and painful, but she got them by protecting someone else: an innocent child. I would do it again, she realizes. A hand squeezing her shoulder and a calm tone pull her from her thoughts.
“Finished. Do you like it?”
Blue finally takes the time to look up at their reflections, dragging her eyes away from her scarred legs. Her hair is mostly kept down, but Blue can see the small, intricate braids that keep her hair from her face. Behind her, Yellow wears a hopeful smile that Blue can’t help but return.
“It’s so pretty…” Blue’s reflection locks eyes with Yellow’s. “Thank you, Yel.”
“I thought it would suit this wonderful dress you’ve picked,” Yellow says as she stands, pulling Blue with her. She reaches around to tug and adjust the dress for her, smoothing any wrinkles caused by Blue’s time curled up on the floor. When she finishes, she lets her hands run slowly up and down Blue’s arms.
“You truly look stunning, sweetheart. How do you feel?”
“Better,” she sighs heavily, shoulders relaxing. “Much better.” She turns in Yellow’s hold to face her instead of their reflections. “Thank you so much, honey. I really- I don’t know why it feels so awful sometimes. How they look shouldn’t matter to me…”
Placing a kiss to her forehead, Yellow tells her, “That’s quite alright, and you’re welcome. It’s not always going to be easy, Blue, and of course it matters. Just because they changed you doesn’t necessarily make it for the worse.”
The familiar blunt honesty from her girlfriend causes Blue to lean up to put her arms around Yellow’s neck in a tight hug. She swiftly wraps her own arms around Blue’s waist in return, holding her securely against herself.
“My gorgeous, magnificent, pulchritudinous Blue.”
Blue giggles and pulls back to lock eyes with Yellow with a growing grin. “Huh? That one sounds mean!”
Yellow returns the laugh, re-adjusting the strap of her dress. “No baby, it means beautiful. Why would I sneak in a mean one?”
“Mmm, I guess I’ll trust you. Uhm…” Blue shuffles foot to foot, “how bad did we miss those reservations?”
Yellow checks the time. “Well… there’s plenty of other places to eat. Try not to fret.”
Anticipating her girlfriend’s next words, Yellow continues, “And no apologies from you. I’m sorry you felt so awful. I hope I was able to alleviate some of it for you.”
Blue isn’t sure how she got so lucky. She made them late for their reservations all because she didn’t feel pretty enough, and of course her girlfriend isn’t mad. Yellow’s extended patience for her will always strike her soul.
“You did,” she affirms. “I feel…” Blue turns once again to look in the mirror, seeing the tight red scarring of her body in a brand new light. Yellow was always so good at that, recontextualizing. She was right; these are a testament to her character, not an unsightly thing to be hidden. She knows Yellow will always be there to remind her of that when she needs it.
“I am pretty.”
“That’s my girl,” Yellow congratulates, leaning to plant a kiss to her lips. She slips her hand in Blue’s, intertwining their fingers with a squeeze before leading them out.
“Let’s go. We’ve gotta pick what restaurant I get to show you off at.”
That pulls a bright laugh from Blue. “Yel! Now you’re being ridiculous.”
Yellow shrugs, full of love and amusement. “You’re right. They’d be lucky if I let them even lay eyes on you. You’re so beautiful I bet they’d turn to stone, like some sort of gorgon.”
“Did you just call me a gorgon after all that?”
Yellow’s face flushes with embarrassment, free hand slapping against her own forehead. “Well- I didn’t mean to imply- shit, I’m sorry.”
Blue giggles. “That’s okay honey. I think I know what you meant.” Yellow smiles sheepishly in thanks.
“And Yel?” Blue looks up slightly to meet her eyes.
“Yeah?”
Blue leans up to softly kiss Yellow’s cheek.
“You’re beautiful, too.”
Yellow beams, overcome by the love in her girlfriend’s sapphire eyes.
“Thank you.”