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Golden hour has no business looking this good on Kleyce.
The gleaming sunlight shimmers over trickling fountains in Reina's office. Through the mirror’s reflection, Reina eyes Kleyce lounging on her chair, long legs propped up on the edge of her desk. Golden light carves out sharp shadows across her outfit, flaring just below the knee and moving up to cinch at her waist. It makes Kleyce look taller than she already is. The light crowns her hair. Dark brown streaks with a golden halo, dusting her shoulders and framing her face. It’s a far cry from her traditional furs, but somehow, she’s still dazzling.
Kleyce catches her eye in the mirror and Reina’s eyes snap away.
“Remind me why I’m on this mission again?” Kleyce teases.
“So I can lure you into the High Commission’s claws, of course.” Reina says lightly, “Get you detained.”
“Really now?” Kleyce retorts, swivelling in the chair from side to side. “And what’s stopping me from turning into a fly and just…” Her fingers snap.
Reina turns, Kleyce sure talks a lot of smack for someone who needs her help. She crosses the room, catching the way Kleyce’s easy smile morphs into a curious one and the swivelling slows. Reina presses one palm on the table and hoists herself up on its surface, looming over Kleyce.
She narrows her eyes, a smile playing on her face. “You’d betray your friends like that? And here I thought your clan valued loyalty.”
Reina scans Kleyce, cataloguing how her body shifts back, her head tilting back into her arms, confident and assured. Heat creeps up Reina’s spine as Kleyce’s eyes trail up her dress. Kleyce’s smile widens and suddenly, Reina feels self-conscious about the ridiculous fabric bunching at her waist that surely makes her look like an overstuffed bird. Her gaze stops when she meets Reina’s eyes. Reina looks away.
“Who told you we were friends?” Kleyce says.
Reina’s smile falters slightly, doubt whispering in her mind.
Then, she pushes it back up. And leans in. “Would you rather be girlfriends?”
Kleyce stills. Reina watches as her face momentarily goes lax, as if she had finally managed to catch her off-guard.
Reina panics. Was that too much?
But Kleyce’s weight shifts and she relaxes, pushing Reina off.
Kleyce laughs. “You’ll make me gag.”
Oh good, she isn’t offended.
“Don’t delude yourself, I don’t marry down,” Kleyce says.
Reina scoffs, her ego sparking at the comment. She’s the youngest apprentice in the High Commission’s history. The best at her craft. Her inventions as an artificer are seen in the lightbulbs of every home, her name is recognised across the city. Kleyce… Reina pauses, she doesn’t actually know what Kleyce is. But it sounded important.
She probably doesn’t mean it like that, though.
So instead of defending herself, Reina settles for, “I’ll have you know you’ll be marrying up, your… Whatever you are.”
“‘More important than you’ seems appropriate.” Kleyce replies, laughter in her tone.
The sound of bells clanging in the distance interrupts them. The evening bell. It’s showtime.
Reina does one last check in the mirror. Anticipation crawls through her veins as she goes through the details of their heist one last time. It should be simple enough. They go up to the High Commissioner’s office, find the dam blueprints and steal them. Reina proves her value to Kleyce, just as she proved it to everyone.
An echo of doubt coils inside her.
Except Reina really has no business trying to steal the blueprints. Or destroy the dam. That dam is the culmination of her life's work, solving the harnessing of magic and bringing it to the common folk. It gave her all the credibility she needed to live a good life, to be recognised, respected and loved.
But Reina can't help her greed. If she does this right, Kleyce will finally teach her shapeshifter magic. A “small nomadic tradition” but so ground-breaking in Reina’s city it could catapult her career to the stars. More than that, Kleyce will finally think of her as useful, as a friend. It's a gamble, but maybe...
Reina turns away from the mirror and accidentally catches another glance of Kleyce. The sun washes over one side of her face, carving out sharp shadows along her jawline and nose.
Maybe it’s worth it.
Reina’s footsteps are a little more certain when she finally pulls away from the mirror and follows Kleyce towards the door. She scans Kleyce’s suit. “You look good.”
“Of course I do. I always look good.” Kleyce grins, preening as she holds the door open.
Reina scoffs, “I look better!”
“Yes, you do.” A hand comes up and tousles her hair.
“Hey!”
Kleyce lets out a huff.
The sound of trickling water fills the empty hallway. Reina makes a nod at Kleyce and the two slink towards the lift.
Reina presses the call button, her hands fidgeting by her side. Somehow every shifting shadow of the plants in the wind seems to set her on edge. But the doors finally slide open, their quiet hum a mismatch for Reina's feelings. She steps in and Kleyce trails behind her. Distantly, she notices Kleyce’s eyes widen at the geometric metal etched into the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Reina swipes the access key to the top floor and the pulley whirs to life, the pressure changing slightly before it steadies into an even motion.
“That’s not yours,” Kleyce says.
“It will be. Eventually.”
Kleyce scoffs, “I’d be proud to congratulate you. High Commissioner Reina Dugael, in charge of progress, development and destroying everyone’s cities.” She lets out an amused chuckle, “Has a nice ring to it.”
Reina's brows furrow together. “Don't be like that.”
She loops her arm through Kleyce's, dragging her towards the red and amber landscape. Reina says, “being High Commissioner comes with the freedom to really… Change things around here.”
It comes with status, mostly, but it also comes with the freedom to help smaller clans. If everything goes according to her plan, she could help Kleyce’s clan and keep her position.
“After stealing all our magic?” Kleyce jokes, resting on the handrail beside Reina. “Will you give the savages back their land in a show of generosity?”
Reina looks down.
An awkward feeling creeps up on her. Kleyce’s clan is losing their abilities, rife with sickness without the magical properties of the water. All thanks to the dam that put her up in a gleaming office overlooking the city. She’ll make sure that changes. She’ll fix it. In time.
How long will that be?
“I think Apprentice Reina suits you. More approachable. Like someone with a bleeding heart that’ll help us poor villagers before it gets to that.” There is a smirk in Kleyce’s voice. In Reina’s periphery, she knows Kleyce is looking at her for a reaction.
But will she? Does she even want to? Reina would hate to disappoint, but she has a job to keep. And selfishly, all she can think about is that her current title doesn’t earn her enough respect to do a thing like that. It would get her demoted at best. If she just waits…
If she just waits, she won’t have to see the day she’s no longer well-recognised. When her supervisors finally tire of letting her make mistakes, and leave with the rest of her society. Her inventions will be the laughing stock of the industry, labelled the dying cry of an artificer long past her use. Then, she’ll have to face a fact that grips her in her sleep and makes her want to curl up on the ground, hide so no one can find her. The fact that, at the end of the day, the only thing really worth loving about her are her inventions.
If she were High Commissioner, no one can revoke their love, or tell her she’s worthless. She would have the freedom to change things.
But by the time she’s appointed High Commissioner, will it be too late?
What is the cost of waiting?
“It’s not that simple. I…” Her mouth stops working. How can she even begin to describe how being stripped of her position will feel?
“It’s a heavy decision,” Kleyce says softly.
But Kleyce has every right to hate her for being useless.
“What if I just… Took it away from you?” A hand slides past Reina’s, stealing the key card.
“Hey! Give it back!” Reina swipes at Kleyce, pushing her. Kleyce sidesteps, backing against the lift panel as she dangles the key card above Reina’s head. Reina’s arms reach upwards, pressing far closer to Kleyce than she intended.
When Reina finally catches herself, she’s in an awkward position. One leg straddles Kleyce against the lift railing, the other slightly off balance. This close, she can feel the warmth of Kleyce’s body heat, the pressure of her body against hers. A prickling heat creeps up Reina’s face.
Kleyce leans in.
Reina stills for a beat, a jolt running through her. What is she trying to-
“Reina, are you sure you want to help me?” Kleyce’s breath on her face sends tingles down her spine.
“Of course I do.” Though even as she says the words, Reina knows her unsteady resolve is leaking through her shaky voice. She can’t even look Kleyce in the eye as she says it.
Kleyce’s face softens. “I’m not going to think less of you if you don’t.”
She pauses for a moment. Then adds, “We’ll still be friends.”
Reina ignores the way her stomach flips when she hears that word. Liar. She desperately tries to stamp down the false hope it sparks. Kleyce said so herself, they’re not even friends. If Kleyce can’t even call her a friend when she’s useful, why bother hoping they can be friends when she isn’t?
“Who told you we were friends?” Reina spits. Her words come out sharper than she’d intended.
A look of confusion crosses Kleyce’s face. Then, her eyes widen. A slow simmering feeling rises in Reina’s chest. She tilts her head to look away into the distance, averting her eyes. Kleyce doesn’t even recognise the comment.
“Reina, you know I was just kidding ab—”
How does anyone “just kid” about something like that?
“I don’t care.” Reina bites out. “Deal’s a deal, okay? I’m going to help you.”
“Reina.” A finger nudges her chin, the gentle action matching her tone as Kleyce turns her face back. Through hazy vision, Reina peeks up at Kleyce’s face. Surprise washes over her. There’s no trace of her smug smile from earlier, no comment waiting to mock. Instead, she sees Kleyce’s yellow eyes. Steady, concerned and genuine. Awaiting her response.
“Why?” Reina breathes.
Kleyce cocks her head. “Why what?”
Why joke like that? Why say we’re not friends then turn around and correct yourself? Why tell me that we’ll stay friends when we clearly won’t because…
“...I won’t be of use to you.” Reina spills, her voice soft enough to disguise its waver. Then, even softer, she says, “Why stay friends?”
“If you’re digging for compliments,” Kleyce smiles. Not a mocking one, but the kind that crinkles her eyes and makes her look like she endears Reina, “I enjoy your company. I trust you. You don’t need to be of use to me, we’re friends.”
Friends. She said it again. And if Reina lets herself trust Kleyce, friends even if Reina doesn’t help her. A tension slips from her shoulders, inch by inch, down her spine. Reina relaxes, letting herself slump into Kleyce as her arms reach up to rest on Reina’s shoulder.
The corners of Reina’s lips lift. She forces out a chuckle. “Not girlfriends? Shame.”
She looks up and catches a complicated look in Kleyce’s eyes. Kleyce laughs, though it doesn’t quite land. It sounds almost awkward. Or guilty?
Reina feels a sudden pressure on her arm, pushing her away.
“Just friends.”
Just then, the elevator dings.
Terror grips Reina when she sees a figure standing behind those doors.
“Supervisor Olchean!” Reina clears her throat, her voice sounding more alarmed than she intended it to be. She scurries into a presentable position, shoving herself off the wall to make the scene look like… Whatever it wasn’t.
What even was it?
“Apprentice Dugael. And…” Supervisor Teagan Olchean considers Kleyce in their usual stern manner before giving her a stiff nod. “Friend. Why are you here?”
A grin splits across Reina’s face when she hears the word. She steers Kleyce towards the entrance, letting her sidestep Teagan. “I’m submitting some papers to Supervisor Avindra. You know how she loves papers on her desk before the next day.”
Teagan cocks their eyebrow and says mildly, “She really doesn’t.”
“Nothing like…” Reina gestures at the air between her and Kleyce, “...that. We’re headed to the party at the lobby later. That’s why-”
Teagan coughs. “Don’t tell me.”
“Yes, supervisor.”
Thankfully, Kleyce already made her escape. She moves down the hallway in long strides, giving Reina the perfect excuse to leave. But before she can crawl out of the situation, a cold hand rests on Reina’s shoulder.
“Apprentice. Word of advice?”
Chills crawl up Reina’s spine. She stops, turning back slowly. “Yes… Supervisor?”
Teagan’s voice is low as Reina leans in, “If I were trying to be Head Commissioner, I’d be more careful when picking partners.”
Reina swallows and nods her head meekly, her cheeks flushing at comment. “Yes, supervisor. Thank you.”
“Have a good evening, Apprentice Dugael.”
She wishes the supervisor likewise, the words still ringing in her head. By the time she joins Kleyce, her footsteps are shifty and uneven. Stale yellow light illuminates the empty hallways, washing out the velvet curtains that line the windows. The hairs in Reina's neck stand, she feels too conspicuous, as though she just got caught colluding with the enemy and there’s nowhere to hide. The hum of the magical lights is interrupted by sloshing water beneath the glass-panelled floor, the sounds colliding with Reina’s thoughts.
"They just wished me a good evening.” Reina says, hoping the excuse will hold up.
Kleyce makes a non-committal sound in response. Reina doesn’t notice, too busy eyeing the hallway for any trace of movement. Despite the confidence she had in the elevator, the reality of having to face disapproving looks and be told she is worthless still chills her. If Teagan spreads the news- No, she insists to herself as they duck down the hallway past the supervisors’ offices, Teagan isn’t the type to gossip.
A voice booms. “Who’s there!”
Reina almost jumps out of her skin. She instantly recognises the footsteps of a guard, the sound of his stomping boots thundering over the soft murmur of water.
Crap.
Reina pushes Kleyce into a nearby curtain, covering as much of their bodies with the heavy velvet as possible. She crams Kleyce close to her, hoping their silhouettes won’t show through the fabric.
“Sorry,” Reina whispers, crowding into Kleyce as she holds them against the window, so off balance she’s practically being held up.
Kleyce stiffens. “How do we…?”
Reina’s mind races. They can’t possibly use the excuse of handing in papers anymore, they’re far past the supervisors’ offices. Being caught here with no excuse would get her reported. Or worse, demoted. But what else can they say?
Hesitantly, Kleyce’s arm pulls around Reina, crushing her further into her chest such that all Reina can think about is the smell of grassy fields and pine trees permeating her senses. Reina’s arms wind around Kleyce’s neck, pinning them closer together.
An idea strikes her.
“Kiss me.”
Kleyce’s eyes go wide. She sucks in a breath, making a loud sound that makes Reina cringe.
Reina runs a hand through Kleyce’s hair, pulling on it slightly and mussing it up. Then she smears the back of her hand across her lipstick.
“Kleyce, hurry.” Reina’s voice strains.
Despite her begging, Reina doesn’t expect it when Kleyce twists them around, her arms caging Reina against the window and leaning in. The length of Kleyce’s body presses up against hers, setting every inch of her skin on fire. Kleyce is so close Reina can feel the thrumming of her heartbeat under the suit. She feels a feather-light touch on her cheek, the barest brush that sends her heart racing. She can’t think beyond wanting Kleyce’s lips on hers, not as a farce but maybe-
Kleyce’s lips are soft against the side of her cheek. Reina can’t help but feel a little disappointed, but she has more important things to worry about. The footsteps pound closer and closer as Reina draws in a breath. As the curtains are pulled aside, she moans loudly.
The two tumble out together to the sound of a surprised yelp. Reina heaves deep breaths in, bracing her hands on her knees to sell the scene. The guard, to his credit, looks a little abashed.
“You-” The guard squeaks. He clears his throat. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Reina responds first, her voice intentionally breathy. “Yeah, sorry. We got carried away.”
Behind her, Kleyce hums in acknowledgement. She lingers for a beat, just a fraction of hesitation before she scoots in closer and holds Reina by the waist.
She presses another kiss to Reina’s cheek, unapologetic. “It was good.”
She smirks up at the guard as she says it, her eyes challenging him to imagine what happened behind the curtain. The poor guard flushes, scrambling to look away from where their bodies meet.
“Get out of here by my next round,” he murmurs, turning away as Kleyce cups Reina’s cheek endearingly.
As soon as the guard leaves the hallway, Kleyce’s hand drops. She shifts away, putting a respectable distance between them, leaving Reina to miss her warmth. Confusion ebbs at Reina as Kleyce clears her throat.
“We should go in.”
The words are terse, with none of the signature smugness that Kleyce carries around. Reina nods, the silence only letting the tension thicken.
Her stomach flips. Did she go too far? She glances over at Kleyce, her jaw clenched tight and shoulders tense. Her eyes meet Reina’s for a taut moment, then Kleyce angles her head away, taking a couple more steps forward. Reina's stomach drops. Oh, Kleyce is definitely mad. Was she the one who made Kleyce mad? Is Kleyce mad at her?
She opens her mouth. Can she even talk to Kleyce anymore? Won't it make things worse? She closes it. Are they even friends anymore?
But Kleyce isn't like that. She wouldn't have promised her friendship just to end it so soon.
But what if she stays mad? Will they still be friends?
As they leave the office, Kleyce stays quiet. The dam blueprints feel like a weight in Reina’s hands, sinking down her even heavier heart.
What if she was lying about them being friends? Reina was being so annoying about it, all sarcasm and harsh words, what if Kleyce just said it to placate her?
No, that’s silly. Kleyce isn’t cruel like that.
Is she?
How well does she even know Kleyce?
Reina shakes her head as the lift doors open. She’s overthinking. They’re still friends, and Reina can act like friends until tomorrow or whenever Kleyce inevitably snaps. She offers her arm to Kleyce, flashing lights and loud thumping greeting them as they leave the elevator. But all she feels is a hand pressing into the small of her back.
“I’m gonna head home early.” Kleyce’s voice is controlled as they blend into the crowd, the sound of music almost drowning out her voice. “Goodnight, Reina.”
With that, she disappears out the main door.
As the music picks up, Reina’s body bounces to the tempo but she feels like she should be happier. She got away with the heist, Kleyce called her a friend and now, she can party.
That’s right, she’s going to party until her thoughts can no longer whisper terrible doubts to her. Forget Kleyce, she’s going to have fun.
–
Reina doesn’t stay long. She doesn’t even drink.
All night, several people come up to Reina, complimenting her looks and her magic, inviting her to dance. All night, Reina refused them, her mind caught up in soft smiles and a golden gaze.
Reina finds herself outside Kleyce’s door around midnight.
Technically it’s her door, a guest room which she let Kleyce stay in for the time being. Her feet shift nervously. She hasn’t actually knocked yet because she doesn’t know what to say if she did.
Would ‘I’m sorry’ work? But she hasn’t actually done anything wrong, not that she knew anyway. Kleyce had initiated the kiss, if she didn’t want it, she didn’t have to.
What did I do wrong? Why are you angry with me? But those would betray her desperation and Reina isn’t quite willing to share that yet, not after what just happened.
“Why are you pacing?”
Reina looks up. The first thing she notices is that Kleyce has changed out. The brown hand-me-down that was several sizes too big for Reina somehow fit her perfectly, the low neckline deepened by its half-buttoned state. She looks ready to sleep.
Anxiety crawls under her skin. She picked a bad time.
“Sorry, did I disturb you?”
“Yes.” Kleyce opens the door a little wider, her smirk made less convincing by the exhaustion. She leans against the marbled doorframe. “I hear everything in these hallways. I could hear you shuffling around for the past five minutes.”
Reina flushes. She forgot that on top of the ability to transform into animals, Kleyce also possessed the superhuman hearing of a dog.
“I’m sorry.”
Kleyce waves her off as she stifles a yawn. “Don’t worry ‘bout it.”
“No, I…” Reina steels her resolve. She has to apologise. She isn’t sure for what yet, but the kiss is a good place to start. Probably. “I’m sorry about the kiss.”
A surprised hum leaves Kleyce. “What?”
“You’re mad right? That I forced you to kiss me?” Reina cringes at the wording, she doesn’t like how it makes her sound, or that the apology strips her of her pride. It makes it too clear that she was overthinking. Like you’re desperate, her mind helpfully supplies.
Kleyce’s face falls into a realisation. “Oh.” She blinks. A fleeting expression passes across her face, gone before Reina can figure out what it means. She smiles, “It’s alright. It was just a cover. I don’t mind.”
Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re not mad?”
“About the kiss?” The fake smile is replaced with a real one, a glint of mischief surfacing behind it. “Yes, of course I’m mad. I was asked to fake-kiss a pretty girl.”
Reina laughs, trying to ignore how the comment made her heart soar. “You could real-kiss a pretty girl.”
Kleyce rubs her neck, effortlessly beautiful despite the sleepiness. She bends forward, the scent of pine trees lingering in the air around her. A warm rush runs through Reina and she can't remember if she meant that line as a joke or not.
She keeps her eyes closed a little longer than necessary when blinking anyway, just in case.
But nothing happens.
Kleyce stops a hairsbreadth away from her. In the light of the dim orange nightlamp, the look comes back. A look of guilt. Oh. An understanding dawns on Reina: they’re still on different sides. With her clan values, calling Reina a “friend” must be more than a promise to continue talking to Reina. “Friend” is an oath of loyalty. And Reina, much as she’d like to deny, is an “enemy”. One word and Kleyce made an irrevocable stand.
Does she regret it?
"I'll let you know when I'm craving a civil war." Kleyce's hand drops. She flashes another smile, but it wavers. Her expression lingers briefly on Reina. She looks as if she’s about to say something else.
But she pulls away. And swings the door half-shut.
“Goodnight, Reina.”