Work Text:
Jacinthe Marchand-Mercier simply did not make these kinds of mistakes.
It wasn't that she was absolutely perfect—she'd had her fair share of reminders that she was just as prone to failure as others— but more that miscalculations on her part were so incredibly rare that fellow SBC members had once said you'd be more likely to find a shiny Pokemon before Jacinthe made such an error.
But this matter, in retrospect, was something she should've predicted and taken the proper alternative course to avoid it occurring in the first place.
It all began as they were preparing for their annual spring event, the Society of Battle Connoisseurs Gala, which despite the name sounding more like an evening for dancing and elegance was actually a structured battle tournament amongst the elite members of the SBC. Jacinthe had, on learning the extent of Lebanne's experience with computer systems, thought it wise to allocate her assistance to Guivre's task of setting up the tournament bracket.
This was perhaps the most egregious mistake.
Ever since Lebanne had joined their ranks as Jacinthe's personal maid, their similar Dragon Type specialization and Guivre's own experience with transitioning had drawn the pair together. Guivre was a bit younger than Lebanne, and clearly admired her prowess in battling, while Lebanne often gravitated towards Guivre when she had a question about her new life as a lady. They seemed, to most, as the perfect set of friends. Similar interests, similar life experiences, it just made sense the two would click.
Up until now, Jacinthe had found the matter nothing more than a sign of goodwill and friendship. But as of this recent task, she felt this strange feeling of discomfort whenever she saw the pair smiling and laughing together. It was unlike anything she'd ever felt before, and unsure exactly what that could mean, Jacinthe reached out to the one person she was certain would have an answer.
» Lady Opal, I have a concern I am worried could be tied to my past situation. Please help me assess the matter at your earliest convenience.
As she anticipated, there was no immediate reply to the text. If she was lucky, she'd receive an answer within the day, but her former Galarian mentor had a habit of not checking her texts frequently so that wasn't unexpected. Still, Jacinthe couldn't shake the feeling that the matter required immediate attention at least on her part; so she excused herself from the ballroom and decided it best to employ her hologram to keep an eye on things.
The great thing about the hologram was using it by now had become second nature to Jacinthe. Sure, her usual success rate with technology was less than stellar, but thankfully she'd found a very easy loophole to exploit that allowed her utilize it without any of her usual issues. Once Quasartico had set up the basics, it left her with full control of what basically amounted to a clone of herself.
And what she needed now was definitely an extra pair of eyes that could be… less noticeable to those she wanted to spy on. So—given the current urgency of her situation, she didn't hesitate to pull out this little trick of hers—she adjusted the brightness of her hologram form, and faded it just slightly into the background.
And as a ghostly apparition of sorts that could still hear and see everything, Jacinthe watched.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
Guivre Cadieux was a young woman with a lot of drive but not a lot of confidence when Jacinthe had first met her. Newly transitioned and still trying to find her footing, she'd come to the SBC with hopes of achieving her dream of having an elite Dragon Type team. But much like her young Pokemon—not a single evolved Dragon amongst them— she had a lot of growing to do now that she had accepted her role as a lady.
Jacinthe had been determined to guide her, even if this was her first foray into a personal instructor role and she had little experience with Dragons outside of battling them. She'd reached out to her mentor Diantha, who had introduced her to Drasna of the Elite Four, and with her kind suggestions Jacinthe had been able to give Guivre some advice.
Yet, similar to how she felt about helping Guivre settle into her life as a lady, Jacinthe still felt like she wasn't quite equipped to give proper assistance. Being raised as a lady herself still didn't qualify her to understand the unique situation of transitioning into one, so she studied all she could on the topics in hope to handle it with the warm acceptance and care necessary. Jacinthe, as always, felt it was her duty as a noble to help as many as she could and Guivre was no exception to that.
But now, as she watched Guivre politely and expertly handling Lebanne's concerns, a grating sense prickled at Jacinthe's spine.
Why did Lebanne never feel comfortable discussing these concerns with her?
“Do you feel it's weird that I don't want to dress more like… well, feminine?” Lebanne asked quietly. “Like pinks and frills and stuff?”
Guivre shook her head. “You're a punk at heart, of course your sense of fashion will sway more that way. Plus, I've seen some of your off-work outfits. You've been leaning into having a bit more cleavage lately, haven't you?”
Lebanne seemed to flush a bit at the question, a nervous hand coming up to rub at the back of her head.
“…Yeah. If you can call this little bit cleavage.”
Guivre placed a reassuring hand on Lebanne's shoulder.
“You've only started your journey, Lebanne. I personally didn't opt for surgery, but if you're interested in it, it's definitely an option to help you look the way you feel you should.”
A tentative smile tugged at her lips. “I know. It's just… I never expected to be in a position where I could even consider such a thing. It's silly, but when I was little I just kept hoping I'd evolve into my true form like a Pokemon does.”
She matched Lebanne's gentle smile.
“If only it was that easy. But thankfully, with current advancements, it's almost possible. Just takes a few months of recovery.”
“Is there a reason you never opted for surgery? I mean, I doubt money was an issue for you. No offense.”
Guivre waved her off. “None taken. But I guess given my supportive family and friends, I never felt the dysphoria others experience over that. I'm happy with the changes I've gotten and that's enough for me.”
Jacinthe crept a bit closer, hiding her hologram behind the curtains just to be safe. Lebanne had usually avoided talking much about her past, something Jacinthe had decided to respect and hope she would open up about in time. But if she was willing to tell Guivre…
But Lebanne had fallen into a thoughtful silence, then on noticing Guivre looking at her, she offered a rushed smile.
“Well, thanks. I suppose we should get back to our task.”
“Of course. I'm always here for you if you have any questions, Lebanne. I pester you with enough about battling with Dragon Types, it's only fair I help you too.”
The two shared a smile that felt secretive somehow. Like something only those who understood each other so well could share. And in response, a burning fury bubbled up in Jacinthe's chest.
Why were they so well suited for one another?
Before she could think better of it, she moved her hologram out from behind the curtain and crept up behind them. Frustratingly, they weren't doing anything but sharing that smile, and feeling an odd desire to interrupt that, she loudly cleared her throat.
Both of them jumped, turning with wide eyes towards the hologram behind them.
Jacinthe smiled, perhaps a bit coldly.
“How is the bracket coming along?”
Guivre and Lebanne shared a worried look before they both began to answer.
“We…”
“Well, we…”
Jacinthe held up a hand.
“One at a time please.”
The pair shared another look before Lebanne stepped forward.
“I've gotten the basic bracket into the computer system and we're just working now to make sure it advances each winner properly.”
Her tone clipped, Jacinthe replied. “Well then, that shouldn't take much longer, should it?”
Guivre nodded. “No, it shouldn't.”
“Wonderful,” Jacinthe said, feeling anything but that. “I shall be back to check in soon.”
And without another word, the hologram disappeared.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
Back in her room at her desk, Jacinthe sighed heavily and put her face in her hands, honestly unsure what exactly had come over her.
Social matters had never been something Jacinthe felt that emotionally involved in, despite knowing how important maintaining them properly could be. She would treat people with respect and generally received respect in return; and the rare instances in which someone looked down upon her were the few times she felt such a strong emotion in return.
But this, this was something entirely new.
New, and frustrating; as if something precious was slipping away with ever single word the two others had exchanged. Yet, she couldn't put a name to this feeling at all. It wasn't true anger, and while certain people like Lumiose City's mayor definitely had earned her ire from time to time, this was a distinctly different irritation.
Unsure what else to do, she picked up her Rotom phone to see if there had been any word from Lady Opal. A great relief washed over her when she saw she had responded.
» My dear child, what has you so distressed at this time? I thought you'd made peace with your Galarian side, but if those folks have been troubling you, I'm more than willing to go have a word.
She hastily typed a reply with a polite request to call. With her gloves typing out everything would simply take too long and she had enough problems without dealing with technological inexperience on top of it all.
Thankfully, only a handful of minutes ticked past before the jazzy notes of her ringtone began to play. She answered it promptly and hoped the relief she felt at hearing her mentor's voice wasn't too obvious.
“Lady Opal, I am so grateful for you taking time out of your busy schedule to call. But I truly felt no one else could truly help me answer my problem.”
The older woman let out a soft chuckle.
“Now child, you know without the gym to run I've got more time than I know what to do with. So dear, tell Miss Opal what's troubling you. We'll get you sorted before teatime.”
And so, knowing the woman wouldn't hold back any hard truths from her, Jacinthe began to explain her current predicament. By the time she finished, Opal was chuckling warmly and reassuring her it was a totally normal emotion.
“But Lady Opal, if it is normal, then why haven’t I ever felt this way before?” Jacinthe had asked.
Opal’s tone had obvious amusement to it as she replied.
“My dear child, because you’ve never had such a special person to be jealous about.”
Jacinthe let that idea settle, her confusion slowly coming around to understanding.
It wasn’t that she’d never been envious of someone, and she'd certainly seen plenty of Diantha’s movies where a jealous lover sought revenge. But as Opal had noted, Jacinthe had never had someone so precious to her that it triggered this emotion before.
Was it because she viewed Lebanne as her dearest friend? Did she fear someone taking that place beside her?
“So… what do I do about it?”
Opal chuckled once more, clearly endeared.
“My advice is if you’ve found someone you want to hold onto to let them know before they slip away.”
Jacinthe considered that, still unsure. It wasn’t as if they were children who might exchange friendship trinkets or the like.
Seeming to sense her worries despite being so far away, Opal added.
“If in doubt, lean into your strengths dear. You've got a lot of natural charm, after all.”
She blinked. Her strengths? What about that could be used to show Lebanne how she cherished her?
Then, it dawned upon her.
If she considered their shared interest in battling, and her own strengths in it, it should be a perfect venue for such a gesture. Yet, she highly doubted Lebanne losing against her again would earn any goodwill.
Simply put, it needed to be a battle they could enjoy the outcome of together.
“Oh,” she murmured softly, the idea crystallizing in her mind. “We could battle together, like a multi battle style team.”
Opal's warm laughter echoed across the line.
“Ah, but of course. That would be quite befitting of you two.”
Jacinthe's mind was already swirling with ideas. First, they'd need to restructure the Gala into double battles as opposed to one on one. Then, they'd definitely need to practice together to ensure their teamwork was cohesive. And lastly, and most importantly, they needed to have a way to unify them.
“Lady Opal, I'm afraid I must let you go. I have an important phone call to make.”
“Oho? I take it you’ve got a plan?”
“Quite. I dare say it's magnifique!”
She thanked Opal once more for her assistance and advice and then bid her farewell. Then as quickly as she could manage she dialed in the number and waited for a reply.
A woman's voice answered.
“I take it this is a matter of importance, given you've called directly to my personal line Miss Marchand-Mercier.”
Jacinthe sat up and used her sweetest tone.
“We both know your dedicated secretary would only delay my request. He hates to trouble you with anything.”
The woman politely chuckled.
“I suppose I cannot argue that. Now what can I do for you?”
She leaned forward, then remembering she'd not bothered with the hologram for this, quickly made her request.
“I have a favor. And if it's able to be handled in a timely fashion, I could definitely see myself making a donation to your cause.”
The surprise in her voice was obvious in reply.
“It must be a rather important favor, if you've gone right to making a deal.”
Jacinthe smiled, hoping that this would show Lebanne how important she was to her.
“I'm in a need of two special stones.”
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
Perhaps the members of the SBC were used to Jacinthe's whims altering events at the last minute. This certainly wasn't the first time it had happened and she knew well enough it wouldn't be the last time either. Whatever the reason, she was thankful to see that the majority of them seemed excited by her decision to change the Gala tournament into a duo battle style.
“Please submit your partnered team, along with the three Pokemon each of the members is using for battle, as soon as possible,” she had finished, leaving the room to quiet murmurs as various members asked around for a partner.
Jacinthe wasted not a moment sweeping down the step from where she was speaking to approach Lebanne where she stood near the back with Guivre.
“Lebanne, I would like to request that you be my partner for this event.”
Both Lebanne and Guivre reacted in surprise, although Guivre at least had the poise to keep her shock subdued.
Lebanne, on the other hand, let out a brash, “What?! Me?”
“But of course,” Jacinthe replied. “Why would I not seek out the person who knows my style better than anyone else?”
She blinked, clearly still in disbelief.
“It is true,” Guivre cut in politely. “You've surely battled Lady Jacinthe more than anyone else here.”
“Precisely,” Jacinthe added. “Les contraires s'attirent, do they not?”
Lebanne's cheeks flushed pink, her eyes darting to the floor as she mumbled a response that was more a whisper than anything else.
“Pardon, I couldn't understand you.”
“If you think it wise…” she repeated. “Though I don't want to hold you back.”
It was Jacinthe's turn to then be surprised. She'd thought Lebanne's reluctance was due to her already having plans to team up with Guivre, not that she felt unable to match Jacinthe's skill.
“Why would you think that?” she practically snapped back, fully aghast.
Lebanne blinked, before dipping her head.
“Isn't it obvious? I can't even beat you once.”
Jacinthe closed the space between them, then reached out with a gloved fingertip to tilt Lebanne's chin back up. Her eyes widened and she froze in place.
“My dear Lebanne, I can think of no one better suited for this. I meant opposites as in we are trainers of opposing types, not that your skill was beneath mine. In fact, despite your team's natural weaknesses to mine, you always hold your own quite spectacularly.”
And unsure why she felt so completed to do so, she reached out with her other hand and gave Lebanne a gentle pat to the side of her head.
“Don't listen to your silly doubts, you are the perfect partner choice for me.”
Lebanne's cheeks burned red— and Jacinthe wondered if her own face fared much better off—and she took a deep breath. Then, with that soft smile Jacinthe had grown so fond of, Lebanne replied.
“…I'll do my best to live up to that, Lady Jacinthe.”
“Wonderful.”
She withdrew her touch, but lingered in Lebanne's space, both of them sharing a smile and some sort of unspoken message in the moments that ticked past. Jacinthe hoped Lebanne understood how much faith she had in her, but gauging by her gentle expression, at least some of the sentiment must've gotten through.
Finally, Guivre awkwardly cleared her throat.
“The bracket is set up well enough I can modify it for the new format myself, so if you want to practice some before tomorrow, I can handle the rest.”
Jacinthe turned, having momentarily forgotten they had someone else there.
“Oh, that would be wonderful Guivre. I thank you for volunteering.”
“It's no problem at all,” she said, beginning to turn. “And good luck you two. I have a feeling you'll sync up better than you expect.”
She walked away before Jacinthe could react, but for that brief moment she felt almost a bit guilty she’d been so jealous of Guivre before now.
Looking back to Lebanne, she smiled.
“Are you ready to practice?”
And seeming to have her confidence restored, she eagerly replied.
“Yeah, let’s do this.”
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
The holographic practice arena shimmered into existence around them, elegant chandeliers casting a warm golden glow over the wide battlefield. While it was certainly true that they could have used the ballroom battle court, Jacinthe wanted their team strategy to remain as secretive as possible, so they were using the luxury “gym” she’d convinced the hotel to build with a hefty donation towards its construction.
Standing side by side after Lebanne finished entering their parameters for the battle into the simulator, Jacinthe felt something pleasant curling in her chest. Before now, she’d always taken position across from Lebanne on the battlefield, but something about standing beside her was exciting and new.
“Together,” Jacinthe said softly, “your Dragons’ power and my Fairies’ precision. We must act as one. A perfect complement to one another. We must try to communicate with our very souls and read each other's strategy as if we are of one mind. Are you ready, Lebanne?”
“Yeah,” Lebanne nodded, eyes bright. Perhaps Jacinthe was imagining it, but it appeared she was equally fired up. “Let’s show these holograms what we can do.”
The system chimed and two translucent trainer holograms appeared opposite them, one an imitation of a lady and one a gentleman.
“Multi Battle: Two trainers versus two trainers. One Pokemon per trainer active. Begin.”
The holograms released their leads: Sylveon for the Fairy specialist and Dragonite for the Dragon specialist.
Jacinthe moved first with calm authority, granting a kiss to her Luxury Ball before tossing it out.
“Mawile, let’s dazzle them!”
Lebanne struck right beside her, her Great Ball arching into the air before opening.
“Noivern, let’s go!”
Mawile materialized coyly, turning to face her back toward the opponent, while Noivern spread her powerful wings with a screech. They wasted no time on going on the attack, Lebanne ordering her Pokemon to open with a howling Hurricane aimed at their opponents, the fierce winds ripping across the arena. At the same time, Mawile lunged forward and delivered a heavy Iron Head straight into Sylveon.
The Sylveon took heavy damage and fainted, leaving the Dragonite who answered with a fast Dragon Claw on Noivern. But before their opponents could recover, Jacinthe directed Mawile to use Play Rough on the Dragonite, easily knocking it out and preventing it from finishing off Noivern.
Lebanne looked to Jacinthe, an unspoken agreement passing between them. They would retreat with their first Pokemon and face their new challenges with their next Pokemon.
“Noivern, good job!” Lebanne said, recalling her before tossing her next Great Ball.
“Mawile, fantastique my dear, come back!” Jacinthe flowed with her seamlessly, recalling while tossing out another Luxury Ball.
Garchomp burst onto the field with a roar, and at Lebanne's instruction, immediately began a Swords Dance, her power rising sharply. Gardevoir landed next to Garchomp, and at a nod from Jacinthe, she quickly used a Calm Mind, sharpening her focus and attack power.
Across the field, the Dragon trainer hologram sent a Salamance speeding forward with an attack directed at Gardevoir, while the Fairy trainer hologram brought out Klefki which let out a Metal Sound to lower defenses.
“Garchomp, Dragon Claw that Salamance before it reaches us!” Lebanne commanded, her Pokemon quickly cutting in front of Gardevoir to protect her. She swiped across the Salamance and it fainted.
Jacinthe took the created opening. “Gardevoir, Mystical Fire!”
The flames seemed to catch the Fairy trainer off-guard, her Klefki fainting after the heavy hit.
The pair turned to one another with blossoming smiles on their faces, their synergy thrumming between them as if a tether had been tied.
All the countless battles they’d fought against one another meant they could read each other well and predict moves and switches with ease. They didn’t need words, just a look, for they truly were moving and acting as one.
They shared a subtle nod, recalling their Pokemon once more to allow their final teammates a chance to shine. The holograms countered with a Florges and Goodra.
“Dragalge, let's destroy these punks!”
“Clefable, let us show them our grand finale!”
Their opponents didn’t hesitate. Florges set a Misty Terrain while Goodra charged Dragalge with Dragon Pulse. The pressure was intense, but their coordination had sharpened beautifully. All it took was one glance at Jacinthe, and Lebanne’s resolve seemed to recover.
“Dragalge, Sludge Bomb,” Lebanne said with confidence, as if she knew in her heart Jacinthe would read her correctly.
And Jacinthe had.
“Clefable, Protect!”
The poisonous sludge shot across the battle court, enveloping all the Pokemon surrounding Dragalge. Clefable had a shield and wasn’t harmed, but the opponent’s Florges did not fare as well and faltered, fainting as its holographic trainer flickered out.
This left just Goodra on the field.
Jacinthe looked to Lebanne, and on receiving a smirk and a nod in response, she swiftly called out her final move.
“Clefable, Moonblast!”
The blast hit hard and knocked out the Goodra, its trainer disappearing along with it. Then, the arena lights softened.
“Practice Battle Complete. Victory goes to Jacinthe and Lebanne.”
For a heartbeat there was silence—then both women let out bright, breathless laughter that echoed through the hall.
Lebanne pumped her fist, flushed with excitement. “We won! We totally won!”
Jacinthe stepped forward with graceful strides, stopping close enough to see the sparkle in Lebanne’s eyes and the slight sheen of sweat on her brow.
“You were magnifique,” Jacinthe murmured, voice warm with pride. “You created every opening my Fairies needed. And the way you trusted me...”
Lebanne’s usual boldness softened into something gentler. She rubbed the back of her neck, cheeks deepening in color. “Y-Yeah well, you believed in my Dragons, my instincts, and me.” She gestured lightly between them. “Battling side by side like this… it's… nice.”
Jacinthe reached up and tenderly brushed a stray lock of hair from Lebanne’s forehead, her gloved fingers lingering with quiet affection. “Then we will only grow stronger. Tomorrow at the Gala, the Society will witness something extraordinary. And afterward…” Her voice dropped to a softer, more intimate tone. “I would very much like to continue these private practices. There is still so much more for us to explore as a team.”
Lebanne took in a shaky breath, and for a moment Jacinthe feared she’d overstepped some invisible line. Then, with eyes downcast and face still flushed, Lebanne replied.
“I-I’d like that,” she said softly.
As the hum of the holographic arena powered down around them, Jacinthe wondered if now was the time to surprise Lebanne with her gift. She’d secured it solely in hopes it would give Lebanne a boost of confidence and remind her that Jacinthe saw endless potential in her battle skills.
Well, and because she knew someone like Guivre could probably not procure such a gift. But before she could find the words, Lebanne held out a hand.
Jacinthe blinked.
“Together, I really think we can win this tournament.”
She smiled, reaching out to clasp Lebanne’s hand with a gentle firmness.
“I believe the correct sentiment is that we will definitely win it.”
Lebanne’s smile brightened and she gave Jacinthe’s hand a timid squeeze.
“Yeah. We will.”
And confident in their abilities, Jacinthe decided she’d save her gift as a reward for winning. Because with a team like this, she knew they’d definitely win.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
The grand ballroom of the Society of Battle Connoisseurs Gala shimmered under crystal chandeliers, the air thick with anticipation and the lingering scent of powerful moves. As the last of their opponents’ Pokemon fainted—Lebanne’s Dragalge delivering a decisive Sludge Bomb that swept away the opposing team’s final Fairy Type in perfect sync with Jacinthe’s Clefable blasting the last opponent Dragon with a powerful Moonblast— the crowd erupted into cheers.
“Victory to Lady Jacinthe and Lady Lebanne!” Guivre declared as the tournament bracket displayed them as winners on the screen behind them. “They’re the inaugural Duo Battle Champions of the Spring Gala!”
Jacinthe stood tall beside her partner, gloved hand brushing Lebanne’s as they took their polite bows and received praises from their peers. Lebanne’s face was flushed with triumph, her usual edge softened by breathless joy, while Jacinthe’s smile was serene, radiant with pride.
They had moved as one the entire tournament— Fairy and Dragon in flawless harmony— and every switch, every covered weakness, every shared glance had proven what Jacinthe had known from the start. No one knew her the way Lebanne did.
As the applause faded and the other pairs offered gracious congratulations, Jacinthe excused themselves and guided Lebanne toward a quieter alcove draped in velvet curtains. A small table waited, prepared in advance.
“You were extraordinary,” Jacinthe murmured, turning to face her. “Truly, my dear. You surpassed my expectations.”
Lebanne laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. “We were extraordinary. I couldn’t have won without you.”
Jacinthe reached into a small box seated on the table beside them and withdrew two items: a sleek, polished Key Stone nestled in a custom gold setting designed to clip onto Lebanne’s bowtie, and beside it, a radiant Mega Stone of violet with a swirl of pink and brown: Dragalgite.
Lebanne’s eyes widened. “Lady Jacinthe…what is this?”
“Your reward,” Jacinthe said simply, pressing both into Lebanne’s hands. “For being a winning member of the team. The Key Stone is now yours. And this… will be your first Mega Stone, Dragalgite.”
Lebanne stared at the stones, turning the Dragalgite over in her fingers as it caught the light. Her voice came out hushed with disbelief.
“You had these ready… How did you know we’d win? I mean, I hoped, but to have the exact right reward prepared like this…”
Jacinthe stepped closer, her expression softening with rare, open affection. She reached up to gently tuck a strand of hair behind Lebanne’s ear, her gloved fingers lingering.
“Because I knew we would win,” she replied, voice warm and certain. “I knew you and I would win because you, Lebanne, are the perfect complement to my battling style. You know me well and...”
She took a deep breath, pressing the words out despite how silly she might feel to say them aloud.
“…and you’ve become such a dear companion to me. I truly could ask for no better partner.”
Lebanne’s cheeks flushed pink, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she closed her fingers around the gifts, a shy, genuine smile breaking across her face—that same fond smile that had first begun to unravel Jacinthe’s careful composure weeks ago.
“I… don’t know what to say,” Lebanne admitted. “Except… thank you. For believing in me. For this.” She glanced down at the stones again, then back up, eyes bright. “And for choosing me.”
Jacinthe’s own smile deepened, a quiet thrill blooming in her chest. The strange jealousy that had once gripped her felt like a distant memory now, replaced by something far sweeter and more enduring.
“If I might be so bold, may I?” she managed, extending a hand out.
Lebanne blinked, momentarily unsure, before nodding.
With gloved fingertips, Jacinthe reached out and gently lifted up the Key Stone. Then, hoping her heartbeat wasn’t as loud as it felt, she closed the distance between them, and began to pin the clasp to Lebanne’s bowtie.
Once done, she took a step back to appreciate the view. Lebanne had swallowed nervously, but quickly straightened her posture into a more proper stance before asking in a breathless voice that was clearly struggling to maintain composure.
“…W-Well?”
“It suits you,” Jacinthe replied.
Lebanne’s face softened into something gentle and— dare Jacinthe think it so— almost adoring.
“You uh… should get a reward too, ya know?”
Jacinthe’s shock overrode her wanting to correct Lebanne’s less than proper wording.
“Pardon?”
“Well, I mean, you're one half of the team, right?”
She blinked, but before she could answer, Lebanne had stepped forward into her space.
Then, as if it had taken a great deal of courage to muster up the action, Lebanne pulled Jacinthe into a tight hug. Her words breathy and whispered near Jacinthe’s ear.
“I might not have the means to offer more than words, but… thank you, Lady Jacinthe. For everything. I’ll make it up to you someday.”
Jacinthe felt her face growing warmer and yet, she didn’t want to pull away. So, unsure if it was proper, she tentatively reached her arms around Lebanne’s waist and gave her a returning tight embrace.
“I’m just happy to make you happy, Lebanne. You deserve it.”
They lingered long enough nestled together that Jacinthe knew there’d be talk, but for that all too brief moment she felt so incredibly happy she cared not for what others might say.
Finally, they pulled back, no more words but an unspoken understanding passing between them. Together, they stepped back toward the celebration—champions, partners, and something far more precious beginning to bloom.
Lebanne was her dearest friend, her most cherished companion, and yet all those epithets didn’t seem quite enough to express all that she’d begun to mean to Jacinthe.
If she wasn’t wrong, the word that felt the closest to correct was partner. But Jacinthe deep down had to admit, it was no longer just as a battle partner she felt drawn to her.
Somewhere along the line, she’d begun to think of a future with Lebanne always by her side.
Jacinthe Marchand-Mercier did not make these kinds of mistakes; and so she knew with absolute certainty that this new feeling of affection was no mistake at all.