Work Text:
Countless eyes had been on her — on Stelle. Fans who even had merch made in Stelle’s image sung her praises and cheered in crowds just for her. Some even made inappropriate comments about her and her body. Aelin couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d known Stelle was popular, that was one of the main reasons she couldn’t stand her, but seeing it so blatant and in her face was jarring.
Aelin’s jealousy didn’t feel like the usual kind, though. It felt like there was an extra layer smeared atop the bitter cake. She felt herself having to resist urge to hide Stelle away from anyone’s eyes but hers was tugging at her brain. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. When the crew finally had a chance to rest, Stelle and Aelin decided to head back to the Express for the night per Aelin’s request.
Aelin watched silently from the door as she stretched her arms above her head as she faced away from her, her jacket and shirt removed, leaving just her sports bra on, the second she’d stepped foot in her bedroom. Her back and shoulder muscles were visible from behind. They were always a sight to behold. Those toned, strong arms held her tight every chance Stelle got, eager to nuzzle her face into her shoulder and let cute chirps and purrs erupt from her chest. Aelin had only removed the bow around her waist, hanging up on a hook by the door. She left the mask covering her eyes on.
None of those other people deserved to touch her. They didn’t deserve to even grace their eyes with her skin.
In her dazed state, Aelin had begun taking steps towards her without fully being aware of it. Stelle was distracted, doing something on her phone she’d pulled out of her pockets just moments before. Most likely updating the others, she assumed. Once she got close enough, she dragged her fingers against the flow of the fur on Stelle’s tail, taking notice of her surprised noise and shudder, then bringing both of her hands to glide against her back, across her waist, until she embraced her while pressed against her back. She could peek over her shoulder like this, and, as she thought, she had the Astral Express group chat open.
A familiar smell filled her nostrils. None of them deserved to be close enough to notice it; the scent of honey on her skin from Aelin’s body wash. She’d constantly borrow (steal) it instead of getting her own, but Aelin wasn’t about to complain now.
It was Aelin’s. Stelle was Aelin’s.
“Where’s all this coming from?” she heard Stelle ask.
Aelin shook her head against her shoulder, holding her tighter. She grumbled, unable to get words to cooperate in her mind. She couldn’t just say she wanted to lock her away and never let her see the sun if it meant keeping anyone else’s eyes off of her… Stelle would just make fun of her.
“Am I banned from hugging you?” Aelin forced herself to say.
Stelle kept focusing on replying to messages from Himeko and Sunday who were the only ones currently active. “No, no, you can! You just… normally don’t?”
Instead of replying, she placed soft kisses against her shoulder, then trailed up against her neck, earning her a whine.
“Tickles…” she mumbled, squirming a little when she didn’t stop. Aelin’s puffy hair brushing against her skin likely wasn’t helping.
Aelin let her hands wander lower to where the hem of her shorts were. Stelle’s breath stuttered and her typing paused mid-sentence. She giggled quietly at the reaction. No one else was speed to draw out this shy side of her — this version of her that was nervous about being on the receiving end of Aelin’s affection, but also the version that reveled in it when she let her walls down.
Giving into impulse, Aelin bit down against the back of her neck hard enough to leave a mark, but not to draw blood, making her cry out in pain as she pried herself out of her hold. Holding a hand against the back of her neck, she pouted at Aelin, looking dejected as her tail twitched lightly.
No one else got the pleasure of getting on her nerves either.
“The hell was that for?” she asked. “You were being so nice to me at first.”
Smiling, Aelin closed the small gap between them again and let her chilling hands find their way to her bare waist once again. She began pushing her back, directing Stelle towards the bed. “I just wanted to,” Aelin said.
“Did—“ Stelle’s words fell short when she tripped and fell back against the bed, just barely catching herself on her hands. “Did I miss something? Or am I getting princess treatment from the Wonderful, Puppeteer Lady for no specific reason?”
“You call getting bitten ‘princess treatment’?” she asked, perking an eyebrow she couldn’t see behind the mask.
Aelin climbed onto the mattress, tapping against Stelle’s shoulder to indicate for her to move back and make room. As directed, she began scooting back towards the headboard.
“I dunno... Like Beauty and the Beast? That happens there, right? Or… wait, no I’m thinking of a vampire film…” Stelle averted her gaze, furrowing her brows as she tried to wrack her memory. “I swear there was something I saw that like—“
“You can stop talking now.”
She blinked. “Oh, okay.”
Removing her mask and tossing it aside, she pressed her hands against Stelle’s shoulders until she was lying down on her back. Her rich, golden eyes stared up at her empty and pale ones, wide and adoring, as if she had seen a sparkling gem. That deer-in-headlights look of hers, that Aelin had always despised, was excused, and even welcomed — just this once.
Even if Stelle wanted to say more, cupping her face in one of her hands, Aelin leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss — one that was a bit more eager than she intended it to be. This too, no one else could have. These lips, the way she whined in complaint when Aelin never showed signs of slowing down, the shorts breaths and quick glances between each one, and how Stelle’s own hands were now tenderly holding her waist, giving in… it was all for her and her alone.
When Aelin pushed herself back up, finally giving her a break, Stelle smiled, her grey hair splayed out on the colorful pillows below.
“See? Princess treatment.”
Aelin brushed away some of Stelle’s hair from her face. “That’s some Stockholm syndrome you got there, Starlight. Mind if I pry your skull open to get that checked out?” she joked.
Stelle’s fingers, always warm to the touch, easily snaked under her shirt and felt up her torso. Aelin felt her ears begin to heat up.
“Only if it’s you!” she said with a silly grin.
Aelin again began to ponder the fantasy of locking her away, making sure Aelin was the only thing that made her happy and the only one she saw. How wonderful would that be? Sometimes she was really tempted to take a page out of Evernight’s book, but that wouldn’t look very good on her records, would it? And anyway, she didn’t have that sort of power.
Aelin let her fingers gently trace down her neck, her collarbone, and stopped just above her freckled and scarred chest, drinking in how her body reacted to her touch. Of course, she was aware that her hand being cold likely played a part in her shivers. Stelle’s hands moved down to hold onto her thighs as she breathed her name. A tiny smile of triumph spread on Aelin’s lips.
As long as she could have her to herself sometimes, Aelin would be okay. Even so, she wished she could knit together all of her nerves and veins into a beautiful ribbon so she could take her everywhere with her. She went on into further detail the less than ethical things she wished were allowed. Fortunately, or unfortunately, her mumbling made it hard for any of her words to be clearly heard.
Stelle’s grin faltered as she listened to her go on, looking less confident. “I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, don’t worry... Just thinking.”
“Well, I think that would hurt,” she continued to comment with a slight pout, propping herself up on her elbows, “I can’t do my dailies like that. I’m trying to save up, remember?”
She complained about how much she’d missed out on during their time in Amphoreous, completely moving on from Aelin’s bold, albeit unserious, declaration of affection. It was like she was never fazed by anything. A sigh left Aelin’s lips as she sat back onto Stelle’s waist.
“Right, right. You people and your pain stuff.”
Stelle chuckled at her. “Don’t think that’s the only issue, to be honest.”
“Aw, shucks…” It was her turn to dramatically pout, only drawing out more giggles and chirps from the easily amused raccoon.
This meaningless banter, too, shall be treasured. All of it, she’ll store away in a box deep in her heart and pray the memories within it stay free of corruption — only because caging the wild animal itself away from prying eyes and greedy souls would be frowned upon.