Chapter Text
Vasilia walked nervously into the kitchen of the Sharp Tank. She was really out of it, so out of it that she didn't even notice when Champaign put a panini on her plate.
“Ok, what's wrong?” Champ asked bluntly. She jumped slightly hearing that, but quickly composed herself,
“Nothing is wrong, Doctor Champaign,” Vasilia assured him.
“Come on Sili, you barely said hi to us and you haven't touched your panini. We know something's off.” Benny insisted. Vasilia sighed, too confused and exhausted to even try and keep up the charade.
“How did you two know you were gay?” She asked suddenly. Benny and Champaign looked at each other,
“Well for me it was kinda trial and error,” Champaign explained,
“My folks didn't tell me that gay people existed, so I dated the most masculine girl at my high school, and my friends said that because of that and the fact that they were all gay, there was a good chance that I was too. Turns out they were right.” Benny piped up next with a much less in depth answer,
“I've just always been into guys y'know.” Vasilia nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then,
“I think my were-jaguar side might be a lesbian.” She finally blurted out. There was no response for a while. Her friends just blinked at her in shock. Eventually,
“How'd you figure that?” Benny asked. Vasilia told the story, that the others were surprisingly quiet for, of how she'd come to this conclusion.
It had been a rough day. Vasilia was used to difficult customers, but today was next level. It had taken pretty much all she had not to yell at him. What business does a grown man have to get his mother to complain about the price Vasilia was charging. A growl rumbled out of her throat just thinking about it. She immediately looked around to see if anyone had noticed, then realized that she was alone in her own house. She growled again, this time at herself. She was trying to stop being so self-conscious about her other side. She knew how to control it, all her friends had accepted it, so why did it still bother her so much?! She took a deep breath. While she could always control herself while in her were-jaguar form, sometimes if she got too emotional, whether good or bad emotions, she did transform involuntarily. It hadn't happened for 5 years or so, but it wasn't impossible that it could happen again. It probably wouldn't since she was thinking about it, but maybe she should call someone to vent to or something. Her first thought was Benny, since he could probably relate, but as she thought about her other side more, she realized she could call the one who'd talked her off the proverbial ledge last time she'd involuntarily transformed. She switched on her watch and called. Luckily she picked up.
“What's up évmorfos?” Astra asked, turning her full attention to the watch. Vasilia smiled at the term of endearment, even though she had no idea what it meant.
“I had a customer today that was…” Vasilia struggled for a word that was strong enough, but her face said it all.
“Oof sorry, you want me to come over so I can run my fingers through your hair while you vent?” Astra practically read Vasilia's mind,
“Yes, that sounds amazing.”
“Alright, I'll be over in 5,” Astra chuckled. Vasilia knew it was probably less than 5 minutes in actuality, but it felt like years had gone by. Luckily Astra didn't bother knocking and met Vasilia in the hall that led to her bedroom. Vasilia flopped dramatically onto Astra,
“That took far too long.” She informed Astra.
“Sorry sweetie, I came as fast as I could.” Astra assured her. When Vasilia half scowled half pouted at her, Astra raised her hands defensively,
“My apologies, your majesty, I'll just move in for next time you feel bad.” Astra sarcastically remarked.
“Is not bad idea actually,” Vasilia thought out loud.
“Reeealy?” Astra inquired.
“Yes, you could make breakfast in the mornings, bake me cookies every day, and carry me to bed when I have a bad day at work. Like now.” Vasilia put her arms around Astra's neck and kicked her feet up. Astra caught her and started walking towards her room.
“So you just want me to be your housewife?” Astra asked amused. Vasilia shrugged,
“I could use housewife, I love Brother Voslo, but is not like he does these things for me.” she grumbled. Astra smirked,
“Don't expect me to do chores.”
“Don't worry, I won't,” Vasilia reached out to open her bedroom door. Astra brought them inside and dropped Vasilia on the bed before turning back to close the door. Vasilia let out a yelp as she was dropped, but didn't bother complaining. She just wanted to get out of her sweaty clothes. As she was getting changed Astra piped up,
“Oh, here.” A pair of pants that were softer than anything she had in her closet was held up in her peripheral vision. She grabbed them and asked,
“What is this?”
“They're called sweatpants. Basically the official pant of having a bad day. And don't worry, I got them like 10 times too big, so they'll be long enough for you. You'll probably have to tighten up the waist though.” Vasilia slipped them on and found them insanely comfortable. She finished changing and sat back on the bed. She glanced over at Astra and realized that her shorts were made of the same material,
“What are those?” She asked, pointing. Astra looked down,
“Oh, those are sweat shorts. They're like sweatpants but shorts.”
“Since you like the long fluffy socks?” Vasilia smirked.
“I do,” Astra replied earnestly. She positioned herself behind Vasilia, undid her ponytail, and threw the long hair over her shoulder as Vasilia leaned back against it. As promised Astra ran her fingers through Vasilia's hair and let her vent. She told Astra all about her stupid client and his stupid mother with their stupid request that they wanted her to make for stupid little. She just let it all pour out in a torrent of animosity.
“I’m sorry you had such shitty clients today évmorfos,” Astra said once she was finished.
“Thanks, it's just so-” she channeled all her remaining anger and roared out, transforming into her other side.
“Y'know?” She asked, flopping back down on Astra's shoulder.
“Yeah, I know.” Astra assured her, as she continued running her fingers through Vasilia's hair. Vasilia realized that, while it was already calming, having her hair played with felt so much better now. It was like her head got 10 times more sensitive in her were-jaguar form. She instinctively leaned back into Astra's hand.
“You want scritches?” Astra asked, moving her hand up between Vasilia's ears. Vasilia nodded, a little embarrassed. Astra complied and it got so much better. A loud purr rumbled out of Vasilia like a jet engine. She was so relaxed that she barely heard Astra's fond laughter. Eventually Astra took advantage of the fact that her head was leaned so far back and added a hand under her chin. It felt so good, but Vasilia wasn't ready for that quite yet. She growled, whipped around, and tackled Astra off her pinning her hands. Astra looked up at her surprised,
“Sorry, too much?” She asked apologetically. Vasilia just stared down at her, realizing what a compromising position she had Astra in. That plus Astra's concern for her, was incredibly hot. Before she knew what she was doing Vasilia had leaned down and kissed her. That had felt just as good as the scritches…until Vasilia had realized what she was doing. She recoiled and put a hand to her lips. Her eyes darted back and forth in confusion. Astra sat up as Vasilia moved off her and stood up to start pacing.
“Vasilia, you okay?” She asked, and goddamnit Vasilia just wanted to kiss her again. She started breathing slowly to transform back. She knew some animals had breeding seasons, maybe that's what was going on. She still felt it when she'd transformed back, but convinced herself it was just residual. She finally looked at Astra. The concerned look on her face was freaking adorable, but she managed to ignore that and replied,
“I'm fine, but I think you should go.” Astra tried and mostly succeeded to hide the crestfallen look on her face, and nodded starting to tap the runes on her arm. That just made Vasilia want to hug her, but that wasn't unusual. That was just because she was a good friend… right? Now it felt different somehow, even though the impulse was the same as it had been. Astra finished opening her portal and tuned back to Vasilia,
“Let me know if you have another awful client you wanna complain about,” with that she smiled and left. Vasilia grabbed a pillow off her bed and screamed into it. What the hell was that!?!
Unfortunately neither Benny nor Champaign had an answer for her. Even Benny was rendered completely speechless after that tale. Surprisingly Champaign spoke first,
“So, you invited Astra over after a bad day, transformed, got scritches, and kissed her,” he recounted. Vasilia nodded sheepishly.
“Yeah, that's pretty good evidence for your other side being gay,” he admitted.
“Wait, couldn't all of her just be bi?” Benny asked, tilting his head at his partner.
“Benny don't -” Champaign tried to warn, but Vasilia was already adamantly disagreeing.
“No, is not possible. I would've known by now!” She insisted.
“I mean sometimes you know and sometimes you don't y'know? Like Champ said, sometimes you have to try things out before you know.” Benny was trying to be helpful, but Vasilia wasn't hearing it.
“Ugh, no! You don't understand! I thought you might, but this is no help!” She growled before storming off.
“Sili wait-” she heard Benny call after her, but she ignored it. She should find Tayrun. He knew more about were-beasts than most, maybe he could help.