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It’s just another day, Seele thinks to herself as she boredly patrols the outskirts of Boulder Town. Ever since Bronya’s rise to the position of Supreme Guardian, the amount of incidents around here have greatly lessened. Of course, that’s great for the everyday people of Boulder Town. It’s definitely a relief to Natasha. That poor doctor has definitely been way too overworked for these past few years.
However, the part of Seele that yearns for some exciting action is… not pleased with this change.
When she wrote that in one of her letters to Bronya, Bronya had responded with something like, “I knew you would say something like that, Seele. I would invite you to join the Silvermane Guards; after all, your combat capabilities far exceed that of most of our soldiers. However, I have a feeling that you do not wish to be bound by the strict rules by which the guards live.”
And, well, Bronya’s right. Seele definitely wouldn’t want to be stuck patrolling the freezing, snowy plains under blinding sunlight in a stiff uniform with a bunch of wimpy men for eight hours every day. She’d much rather patrol Boulder Town for eight hours, even if it’s boring as hell.
Speaking of Bronya, it’s been forever since Seele visited her. Probably at least two months. Still, Seele supposes she doesn’t really have a good reason to visit her girlfriend. Bronya’s probably busy as always, so Seele definitely wouldn’t want to distract her from her work.
Besides, Seele is technically also busy, so–
Something moves in the corner of Seele’s vision. She immediately stops her idle walking and narrows her eyes to get a better look at the disturbance.
After a brief, tense moment, she sees it again.
Something red, with white hair and–
Oh, Seele realizes. That’s just Clara.
“Clara?” Seele says, trying her best to look and sound approachable. She’s often been told that her “sharp gaze” and “fierce voice” make her really scary. That’s usually a good thing, but not always it seems.
“Oh, Miss Seele!” Clara chirps, stepping out from behind the stack of crates that had blocked her from Seele’s view. Her red hood briefly hides her wide pink eyes before she pushes it back to reveal her face, “Your jacket is new, so I didn’t know it was you… It looks nice, though. Oh,” she says, turning back to the crates. “Perkins, you can come out. There’s no one dangerous here.”
The automaton beetle scuttles out from behind the crates and looks up at Seele. “Beep-boop. Clara’s friend found. Polite mode, on. Hello, Seele.”
“Oh, hey there, Perkins,” Seele says. “Thank you for watching over Clara. I was just about to scold her for wandering out here alone.”
Clara quietly laughs at that while Perkins lets out a series of beeps that Seele assumes is the robot’s version of a chuckle. Or maybe he’s cussing her out for threatening to scold Clara. Seele has no idea.
“Wait, Miss Seele?” Clara suddenly asks, looking at Seele with wide, pleading eyes. “Since you’re here, I… I have a favor to ask you.”
Seele tilts her head in confusion. “Go on.”
“Okay…” Clara says, seeming to have a bit more confidence now. “It’s… been a while since I went to the Overworld. When I was there last time, Big Sis Pela showed me some really cool stories she wrote! And I also heard a lot of cool music. Even though I have the recordings, I really wanna hear them live again…”
“So you want me to take you to the Overworld,” Seele summarizes. She tries to quiet her excitement of maybe finally getting to see Bronya. It doesn’t work.
“I can do that,” she says instead. “I’m assuming Perkins is coming, too?”
“Correct,” Perkins responds. “I will join Clara and Clara’s friend on Clara’s trip to the Overworld. Beep-boop.”
“Thank you, Miss Seele. Mr. Svarog said that if I wanted to go to the Overworld, I could count on you.”
“You’re welcome,” Seele says because she doesn’t know what else to say.
She takes her phone from her pocket and quickly shoots a message to Natasha requesting some backup Wildfire members to patrol for her, citing an “urgent emergency” as the reason for her absence. “Well, if you’re ready, let’s go.”
– + –
Clara gasps in delight the moment they step out into the Administrative District. Even though she’s been here before, she looks awestruck at the gentle flurries of snow and the bustle of the city. “Perkins, look! It’s so pretty here.”
The robot beeps in agreement.
“Okay, Clara,” Seele says after a moment. “Did you want to see Big Sis Pela?”
The girl nods with enthusiasm. “Yeah!”
“Okay. Let’s check Qlipoth Fort first to see if she’s working there. If not, then she might also be at the museum.”
After some walking and navigating through the people, they make it to the front entrance of Qlipoth Fort, where they’re immediately greeted by a Silvermane Guard. “Please show your iden– oh, it’s you, Miss Seele? My apologies. The Supreme Guardian has been talking nonstop about you.”
“What?”
“Oh! Er– um. What I meant was uh… this red-hooded girl and the robot must be your friends, right?”
Seele sighs. “Correct.”
“Alright, I see. Miss Seele and her guests may pass. The Supreme Guardian is in her office as usual.”
“Thanks. One more thing, though. Do you know where Officer Pela is?”
“Miss Pela is currently on a field mission in the far plains. It’ll be a few days until she returns.”
“Oh…” Seele looks down at Clara. “If Big Sis Pela is busy, do you want to go somewhere else? We could look around or something.”
Clara shakes her head. “I want to see Miss Bronya, too! Then we can come back to see Big Sis Pela later, right?”
“Of course, Clara,” Seele responds.
She quickly thanks the guard before entering Qlipoth Fort with Clara and Perkins. As they enter, the guards and other officers quickly step out of the way, allowing the three of them to pass undisturbed. Being close with the Supreme Guardian certainly has its perks, Seele thinks.
Then, at last, they finally reach Bronya’s office. Seele is about to knock on the large double-doors, but before she can, they’re opened on their own.
As it happens, the entire office is empty, save for Bronya herself. The Supreme Guardian sits behind her desk, just as majestic and royal as Seele remembered.
“Hello,” Bronya says. “It’s been a while. Please, come in. There’s no one to disturb us.”
The Supreme Guardian stands up and elegantly makes her way over to greet her guests. To Seele’s surprise, Bronya embraces her. Seele briefly stiffens in surprise before quickly returning the hug. “I’ve missed you,” Bronya murmurs into Seele’s shoulder.
Seele blinks in surprise. “Me too– I mean, I’ve missed you, too, princess.”
After a moment, Bronya releases her and steps back, clearing her throat. “Hello, Clara and… this is Perkins, correct?”
“Yes. Hello, Miss Bronya,” Clara says.
“Beep-boop. Clara’s friend found. Polite mode, on. Hello, Miss Bronya. I am Perkins,” Perkins says.
Bronya smiles. “I see. Well, what are you all visiting for?”
“Clara wanted to visit Pela, but since Pela’s busy, we came here instead,” Seele explains. And I’ve also been thinking about you so much, she doesn’t add.
“Oh? Well, my office probably isn’t the most interesting place to be then,” Bronya says. “Clara, is there somewhere more fun you’d like to go?”
Clara looks up at Bronya. “I…” She pauses. “I saw some cool shops on the way here. Is it okay if we visit them?”
Something about Bronya’s smile makes Seele’s chest feel warm. “Of course, Clara. Do you want to go now?”
“Ok!”
– + –
They end up at a cute clothing shop. The racks are filled with colorful dresses and coats, just the type of stuff that Clara would love.
“Clara, look,” Bronya says, showing her a lovely little pink coat. “Seele, don’t you think it suits her?”
Seele nods. “It does. Well, what do you think, Clara?”
“I really like it,” the girl says, taking the coat and examining it.
“Awesome,” Seele says. “Also look– How about these fluffy earmuffs?”
“I like those,” Bronya agrees.
“Me too! Can I… ?”
“Yeah,” Bronya says. “You can get whatever you want.”
They let Clara and Perkins wander around the store on their own for a while.
“Um, Bronya, y’know…” Seele starts as they watch Clara try on a pair of mittens that are way too big for her. “It’s been so long since I visited. Uh…”
“Don’t worry, Seele,” Bronya responds. “I know you’re busy.”
“I guess…” Seele sighs. “Honestly, I was mostly worried about if you were busy.”
“Oh,” Bronya laughs. It’s a sound Seele has definitely missed. “You really are considerate. I have been busy, but I can usually make time for you.”
“… thanks,” Seele responds, ignoring the rising heat in her cheeks. She determinedly turns away from Bronya, but the lovely sound of Bronya’s laugh tells her that her attempt failed.
“Oh, by the way, the jacket looks really good on you,” Bronya says, gesturing to Seele’s jacket. “I knew I chose a good one.”
“Yeah,” Seele says, not trying to hide the flush of her face anymore. Bronya had sent the jacket to her a couple weeks ago, and Seele had worn it nearly every day since, not only because it was super comfortable and durable, but she had just been touched that Bronya made time in her busy schedule to get her the jacket. “I really like it. I wear it super often now, so thanks.”
It’s (finally) Bronya’s turn to look embarrassed. “Look at the two of them,” she says, gesturing to Clara and Perkins and obviously changing the subject. Even the Supreme Guardian could lose her eloquence sometimes, it seems. “It warms my heart to see them so happy. In a way, though, I also feel a touch of bittersweetness. As a kid, when I saw other children my age getting to explore everything around them, even if it was a place as simple as a clothing store, I’d feel a bit wistful. Mother never would’ve let me wander around. I was always to remain under her supervision, following her orders or studying for my role. We never did anything like–” Bronya pauses, suddenly looking apologetic. “I’m… sorry. I got carried away. I shouldn’t bother you with trivial matters like this.”
“Hey, don’t apologize,” Seele says. “In a way, I think I get what you mean. I mean, when I was little, like Clara’s age, we were all too poor to think much about getting new clothes when just finding enough to eat was a daily battle. I’m happy for her, though. When she grows up, she’ll be an amazing person."
“I think so, too,” Bronya agrees.
Their chatter becomes something more casual after that. They talk about their daily lives, strange rumors, funny animal sightings, and everything in between.
Clara and Perkins return with a dress, a cozy sweater, and some mittens that are the correct size for her hands. They’re also holding a bundle of festive socks.
“Is this everything you want?” Bronya asks, carefully taking the items from Clara.
“Um, yeah,” Clara responds. “But uh, Miss Bronya? I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“What… are these?” Clara asks, showing her the bundle of socks. “I wasn’t sure, and Perkins didn’t know, either…”
Bronya smiles. “These are socks. You can think of them as mittens for your feet.”
“I see…” Clara responds, looking at the socks. “Can I get these, too?”
“Of course,” Bronya says.
– + –
After they pay (which took way longer than it should because the shop owner kept insisting on giving Bronya a discount that she refused) and leave the store, they visit a quaint, cozy little cafe. While they’re waiting for their drinks to arrive, Seele notices Clara eyeing the socks in Bronya’s shopping bag.
“Are you curious about those?” Seele asks her, gesturing to the socks.
Clara looks up at Seele in mild surprise but nods.
“You can try them on now while we wait,” Bronya says. She takes out the socks and tears the packaging. “Here. Which one do you want to try?”
“Hmm… the striped one,” Clara responds.
Bronya hands the socks over to Clara, who puts them on after a brief moment of hesitation.
“What do you think?” Seele asks.
“They’re… very comfy,” Clara says, experimentally standing up and walking in a circle. “And they’re not clunky the way shoes are. I really like them.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Bronya responds. “They look cute on you, too. Can I get a picture to show Mr. Svarog?”
Clara nods.
“Perkins, you wanna be in the photo, too?” Seele asks.
“Beep-boop. I want to be in the photo with Clara,” Perkins beeps, standing next to Clara.
“Okay, 3, 2, 1…” Click!
“Alright, you guys can sit down now,” Bronya says.
At that moment, their drinks arrive. Black coffees for Bronya and Seele, and a frothy mug of hot chocolate for Clara. (The cafe unfortunately didn’t have machine oil for Perkins.)
The delight on Clara’s face after tasting the sweet drink is more than enough to keep Seele smiling for days.
So even if Seele didn’t get the adrenaline-filled fight she’d been craving, maybe this kind of peaceful outing with her girlfriend, a little girl curious about the world, and that girl’s robot friend isn’t so bad either.