Chapter Text
Drift really didnt know what it was like to be rebel. Afterall she was an ex-princess. Thankfully, or actually unthankfully, AJ offered some help.
Drift:
Hey. You free to teach me some rebel stuff?
AJ:
Oh? You're willing to actually commit to this? That must be a first on your side, huh?
Drift:
Shut up. You free or not?
AJ:
Of course I am.
Drift:
Where do you wanna meet up then? Outside?
AJ:
How about my dorm? People could easily see us outside.
Drift:
Fine.
AJ:
Don't keep me waiting, princess
Drift:
Ive told you to stop calling me that.
AJ scoffed at Drifts reaction, it was so easy to get under her skin. So easy. And the reactions Drift gave never became less entertaining. AJ got up fairly leisurely. Her room was a bit of a mess but Drift had probably seen it in a worse state. No need to clean it.
The hinge of her door creaked slightly, causing AJ to habitually speed towards the pressure plate to step on it to let the engraved stick fly out before Drift entered. 'Get Out Of My Room' wouldn't be a nice message for Drift after AJ so lovingly invited her in (also because of the fact Drift wont enter if the stick ejected infront of her face). AJ's eyes watched Drifts carefully as she entered, tracking her as Drifts eyes swept over the place.
"Do we really have to do it in your dorm?"
"Jeez open book.. I know you're a, well, open book but you dont need to be that open. Do you really wanna expose to everyone about our arrangement?" AJ spoke condescendingly, poking and teasing at Drifts idiocy over something such common sense.
Drift looked down away from the other's gaze in embarrassment. AJ was, as much as she hated to say it, right.
"No.."
AJ watched her counterparts expression, her stupidly smug grin widening "Good then, because as convincing it would be that we just started fighting... I wouldn't be able to explain much about what you need to know for being a rebel, would I now?"
Drift's embarrassment quickly turned into anger. She got the point loud and clear. How much more stupid did AJ want her to feel. "I get it man! Just shut up and get on with it... the more I stay in your dorm the faster I want to get out."
"Oh come...on you don't mean that, open book."
"I really do."
"Ok then. Your dorm?"
"Nice try."
"A try is a try."
The more AJ kept speaking, with her stupid, stupid, stupid, smug grin widening, the more Drift wanted to shut her up and wipe the smile straight off her face. That grin of AJ's where the corners of their pale pink lips curved up into the skin of their freckled cheeks to reveal their teeth, canines slightly sharp (something Drift had noticed from her copious exposure to the shorter ones smile), denting the straight scar which travelled from their jaw to the side of their nose, that grin of AJ's which caused her eyes to wrinkle at the corners, imitating the shape of their familiars feet (a crows feet), that grin of AJ's which always, always, showed up when teasing Drift. It's not like AJ doesn't grin when bothering their other unfortunate victims, but the way they smiled when teasing specifically her– that smile just seemed different. That smile was something that made Drift's heart skip a beat, ambiguous to knowing if it skipped a beat out of her liking for AJ or her hatred for AJ. Drift snapped out of her minor trance to cut off the others high pitched giggling.
"You gonna teach me how to do rebel sparring now or what."
AJ stopped laughing, looking at Drift with curious eyes. Letting silence settle before speaking.
"Yea yea of course open book.."
AJ turned on her heel towards their chests, taking out two daggers– one for Drift, one for themselves. She was about to turn on her heels again but paused, turning back to take an armour stand out from under her bed, the armour stand they would use as a practice dummy for fighting. AJ set it up infront of Drift before chucking a dagger at the branch-crown adorned girl.
Drift being Drift, clumsily caught it, almost dropping it and causing the dagger to slice against her palm before correctly handling her grip on it. AJ's face displayed a subtle look of fear as the blade of the dagger neared too close towards Drifts palm. An imperceptible sigh left their mouth as the earth mage held the dagger correctly, mumbling curses under their breath.
"Okay open book.. I want you to hold the dagger like this, grip it so your hand is around the handle, almost like your making a fist around it. Okay?" As AJ spoke, all she could think was; 'Gosh, why did my voice have to sound so soft there.'
Her eyes tracked as the other's head moved up and down hesitantly, letting out a small "Yea.." as to seem confident but the definite uncertain tone in her voice betrayed her true feelings. Her hands fumbled with the knife, eyes flicking from AJ's grip to her own to replicate it and understand truly holding it.
"Yeah yeah– you've got it open book. Just like that."
Drift looked away from her hand around the handle up to meet AJ's eyes, seeing the approval on the others face made the tension in her shoulders relax which AJ almost missed – something AJ almost missed. Hm, interesting.
"Ok.. now I want you to.. uhh.. gosh. Just show me a basic hit with the dagger.. ummm like a basic slash to the chest." AJ perhaps wasn't the best teacher, and she probably should've made some sort of lesson plan. But that’s not how AJ is. Organisation or planning - that just isn't how AJ works. Drift eyed AJ, always ever so unprepared, she shook her head before moving to the punching dummy -movements stiff and hesitant. Bringing the dagger up then—
"Ah ah ah. Not like that open book."
"You just said a basic hit, what do you mean not like that!"
"Okay okay calm down.. dont get all pissy with me open book.."
AJ snickered before they placed their dagger down onto her bed before approaching the taller one, their hand snaked up from Drifts tricep to wrist, supporting her arm with theirs underneath it and wrapping her hand onto Drifts wrist to help her movement. Her other hand slid against the small of the back to wrap their arm around Drift's perfectly grabable waist. Supposedly there for 'support during motion' but in reality AJ's shallow intentions are as you imagine. Getting a feel of the others back muscles caused them to raise their eyebrows in silent appreciation. Their olfactory senses flooded with the smell of pine and a near sweet rainy scent– it was...intoxicating. AJ was slightly shorter than Drift, but it wasn't completely bad, instead of looking down at Drift she found it more satisfying to let her breath to ghost against Drift's ear and across her neck, or lean up abnormally close to her lips, or look up at Drift through their lashes— enough. AJ was letting their mind wander. She cleared her throat as they began moving Drift's hand, which was considerably stiff since Drift had frozen the moment AJ began to touch her hand
"Relax Drift."
'Shit, why did she say Drift?!' AJ panicked. They cleared their throat again, as if trying to get the name Drift out of their throat before she said it again.
"Okay open book. I stopped you because you were gonna go up and down. That would cut through the shoulder graze the collarbone etcetera etcetera. But thats not what I said is it?" She waited for the taller one to shake her head, taking in on how some of the curly locks of Drifts tangled amongst the glow-berry crown. Drift began relaxing into the others touch. "Good good.. you know what you did was wrong. I want you to slash across the chest. And also your movements are so stiff– pretend you're in an actual battle, moving so stiffly, slowly, hesitantly," AJ watched Drifts reaction as she continued to ramble, purposely letting her breathing graze against Drift's ear and speak in that all-knowing tone she used to irritate Drift with. "It just isn't pract-"
"I GET IT!" Bingo, so easy to get under her skin. "I don't know to spar or anything that well generally, so how about before you teach me stuff with daggers.. you teach me sparring. Help me get my footwork." Drift sounded exasperated, pulling away from AJ's touch as soon as she snapped, the touch which she had just gotten used to. AJ felt her arms feel colder, missing the others body heat, the usually sardonic 'You've wounded me' face plastered on already (Despite the fact AJ did feel something tug at her chest as Drift pulled away from them). They dramatically sighed before returning to that god forsaken, irritating, lazy, crooked smile.
"Ok.. ok.. Put the dagger down somewhere and Ill teach you then. What do you wanna do, some basic sparring and roughhousing?" Drift had dropped the dagger in the time AJ was speaking, kicking it to the corner of the room, hands gripping onto her cloak and bringing it up to her face. AJ waited for Drift to do or say something, leer having gradually left her face, as fear crept upwards her spine— as if Drift was suddenly going to storm off and leave. Staying sedentary as if trying not to scare a cat away. The silence was palpable in the room before Drift sighed, the tension in her shoulders decreasing as she found the time to decompress, from AJ's relentless taunts and meaningless banter, calming to herself.
"Mhm.. yea..."
Relief. So much relief washed over AJ, and as much as she tried to hide it, it seeped through like water through cracks, causing her eyes to soften as she looked at the woman infront of her. She hoped her attachment hadn't noticed the look she gave before returning her typical cocky mask.
"Hmm, how about we just do some basic defence? Like um.." She snapped her fingers as she thought "Defence stuff, like how to protect yourself from hits and holding people in chokeholds?"
"Yea. That sounds fine."
"Sounds good? Good good... take off your cloak–"
"Pardon you?"
AJ looked up from the floor which they had absent-mindedly began looking at. Confusion over her face
"What? Cant understand simple instructions? Need me to talk you through it? Want me to do it for you?" Their tone had drifted from condescension to baby talk, in an attempt to again embarrass Drift
"What–?! No! Shut up! Its just so odd for you to randomly say! What do you want to see me with less articles of clothings? You want to see me undress infront of you?"
"Oh wow! See I wasn't even thinking that, how far is your mind in the gutter? Wow Drift I mean if you really want to you know.. do stuff with me just say so. Im not that against it, especially if its with you."
"No-no! Ugh! Just shut up AJ!" AJ had somehow managed to stalk back towards Drift, invading the others proximity with practiced eased as she had done many times before, knowing exactly how and where to stand to get close to Drift in ways she didn't like. Like how now their fingers pinched the fabric of Drift's cloak, tugging at it before bringing their hand up to where the cloak rested on her shoulders. Movements interrupted as Drift's hand grasped at their head to shove them away, fingers threading through the mess of hair which she honestly found attractive.
AJ's laugh cackled throughout their dorm, entertained by Drift's fluster and.. and her, just her. Being around Drift was more than just fun. She was just. Fuck.
The sour expression on Drift's face had melted off as her eyes became cresent shaped and a small smile appeared as she giggled, a shudder escaped her slightly at AJ's cold hand wrapping around her wrist. And how AJ's cheeks had turned red slightly along with the tips of her ears, something that would've been overlooked and covered by the unruly hair of AJ's
"You're such a freak!" She managed through chuckles
"Me? So pure and innocent little me?"
"Pure and innocent are the complete OPPOSITE of how I'd describe you.. oh I know some words to describe you. Impure and a FREAK."
"Oh you wanna prove me being a freak so bad, right?" AJ let her last few words drawl out, managing to look up at Drift past her arm.
"Shut up! Just teach me the stuff!" Drifts hand pulled away, pulling at the others knotted hair slightly before managing to detach from them.
"Yes ma'am–"
"SHUT UP!" Drift's playful giggles echoed across the room. Causing AJ's eyes to soften as she looked at her. Blissful. She was like a ray of light that escaped the gaps of darkness AJ surrounded and thrived in. Jeez! AJ was feeling down-bad for her. To be saying such poetic and cringe things.
Drift finally remembered AJ's previous request(?) and took off her cloak, finding the bagginess of her lantern sleeve also impractical, not thinking twice before taking the full sleeved shirt off aswell. AJ had turned to her chest taking out a small bottle of alcohol, as they found drinking might prove well to hold back the thoughts of attachment she had. Turning back around though she began choking, the burning of alcohol down her throat amplified as it had went down the wrong way. Seeing Drift clothed only in a vest which hugged at her body so well had AJ reeling in surprise and appreciation. The muscles she had skimmed over before with the pads of their being showed on full display- unasked- was something she could only thank the Gods for, which whom they didn't even believe in.
"Woah woah– you okay?!" Drift had ended up on AJ's side, tapping their back to attempt to calm the coughing
"aueh- Augh- Yea yea!" She pushed Drift back a bit, eyes trailing against how her biceps and triceps were quite defined and her laterals, for someone of her status such defined muscles was not something she expected. She knew Drift was big, but they thought it was just how her clothes hung off her body, considering most of the gorgeous body of hers is hidden by the cloak.
"Hmmm.. hm.. ah.. yea.. no I'm fine. Uhh.. I'll.. I'll teach you how to do some chokeholds or something..."
"AJ? Are you a lightweight or something why are you stuttering and red.. no but you aren't a lightweight, you're always at the pub and saying how you can drink everyone under the table... Whats wrong–" Drift paused, the concern in her eyes depleted as it became replaced with mischief, something which rubbed on from her from AJ (as much as she hates to admit it)
"Oh~. I get it now. You're flustered! I felt you feeling my muscles earlier and now–"
"No-no- Open book you're just projecting theres nothing–"
"Oh but there is something, AJ! You're flustered because you're seeing something you like, huh?"
"Nooo- no- you're insane, like you are reaching right now, you just so badly want to see me act-acting"
"Come on~ Its fine to admit it!"
"No-"
"–Yes, its fine really, like I mean I guess you can see"
The smugness in Drift's voice was heavy, drinking in the concept of AJ being flustered because of her.
"Okay, yea, whatever open book. Lets not forget what you're here for."
AJ felt the urge to have another drink, blame the warmness and blush on her cheeks on the alcohol. But there was also the risk of choking again from something Drift does.
"Okay, so, turn around"
"What so you can get a better look at my back muscles?"
"Shut up and turn around, open book."
Drift laughed heartily again before turning around, waiting a moment before reflexively flinching as AJ's cold, leather gloved hand rested on her shoulder
"Riiight.. Im gonna teach you how to put someone in a chokehold, okay? Or is that too scary for you, princess?"
"AJ."
The shorter girl snickered before letting out a half assed apology.
"Right, right sorry. So. In a situation where you may need to strangle someone out, you may need to put them in a chokehold. So, bend your right arm into a triangle shape," AJ brought her arm forward, torso against Drifts back, bending her arm into a triangle shape for Drift to see exactly. "Then put your elbow under their chin," AJ again enacted what to do, letting their muscles flex against Drift's neck, feeling her pulse raise.
"Being your left arm onto their other shoulder aswell— basically you should start with both your arms on their shoulders. And then bring your right hand onto your left bicep and left hand onto the back of the head and push forward–" As AJ spoke she continued to do the chokehold on Drift. The ginger-brunettes hands shot up to AJ's arms as they pushed forward, a strangled choke leaving momentarily as AJ pushed her head forward, causing a reflexive decision from AJ to release Drift from the chokehold. Hands left holding up in surrender.
"HEY- hey! Drift, it's okay! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Take deep breaths!" AJ's attempts of calming the spluttering girl were...an attempt to say the least.
"Im fine- Im fine- KCh- hIC-"
Once Drift had calmed down and stopped spluttering, it was her turn to do so on AJ.
"Okay so... right triangle... under the chin... on left bicep... push forward" She mumbled the instructions while trying it out on AJ. Cutting out the airway from the others. Not like AJ was complaining though, she was right where she wanted to be. Face being crushed between some muscles.
"D-damn open book, you've got some muscles yourself.."
"Mhm?"
"Yo-you gonna let me.. uGh- breathe now?"
"Mmm, I dont know AJ, should I? You are a rebel and all... And realistically I should've dubbed you in by now."
"Yea but we both know you're- HKK- too obsessed with me to.. huff.. do so.."
Drift's chokehold tightened.
"I am?" For once she was getting an upper-hand in their flirting- teasing. And just as quick as that upper-hand came, it was swept from under her feet.
Quite literally aswell, as AJ had thrown Drift over their shoulder, hand under the others head to prevent that fragile part from hitting the floor too hard. But the sound of Drift's back hitting the floorboards was loud enough to make anyone under AJ's dorm flinch. The sensation of her spine tingling with pain made her eyes squeeze shut as she winced and ground her teeth to prevent groaning too loud.
"Shit, AJ that was uncalled for!"
"Was it now? We're sparring though right, I'm just giving you experience of what could happen when you put someone in a chokehold. They can throw you over their shoulder. You should be greatful I protected your head atleast."
"You're such a piece of shit-"
"Me? A piece of shit, come on Open Book.. you're so mea-" Before AJ could even remotely finish their sentence they had been tackled to the floor. The girl who she was supposed to be teaching to be agile and quick, turning out to be more skilled in those things than she thought. When AJ's eyes had managed to open, she saw Drift on top of her; dagger (God knows how she got it so quickly from the bed while also getting up, post hitting the floorboards) held close to her neck, grip on the handle on it just as AJ had taught her, one leg on top of both of AJ's to prevent her legs from moving, other leg pressed on the wrist of the gloved hand (such flexibility that Drift had unbeknownst to AJ) and the free hand, that wasn't holding the dagger, held AJ's other wrist which was previously placed behind her head to soften the impact of being thrown.
The corner of their mouth quirked up along with one of their eyebrows. "Wow open book... tackled me to the floor, keeping me immobilised, knife to my throat and with less clothes on than usual. I don't think I've ever been more attracted to you."
"So you admit you were looking at my muscles and attracted to me?"
Such a quick response was not expected to AJ.
"Well– Oh no! You have me in the palm of your hand! Please don't kill me dragon rider, please don't dub me to the guards! Im only doing this because I need money!"
Drift's smirk dropped as her eyebrow rose with confusion before understanding what AJ was doing.
"Oh well I don't know, its only right I do so... a rebel in the academy," She brought the knife closer, along with her face subconsciously moving towards AJ's "Who'm poisoned the kitchen and harmed many a students..."
"Oh please dragon rider– I'll do anything!" AJ couldn't hide the laughter escaping through their voice as they acted. Heart rate increased because of how close Drift was to her of the adrenaline high from having a dagger to her throat.
"Anything?"
"Oh-yes! Anything!! Just let me go oh so strong dragon rider!!" AJ's smile remained while Drifts lips began ghosting hers.
"You suck you know that right?"
"Oh, I know. And you know I could make a joke about how much I suck. Especially to you."
"Ugh you're so INSUFFERABLE."
"Mhm? But you love it don't you?"
"Shut up!"
"Yea, I have a way I can shut up"
"Then you'd best do it quick."
Drift was a bit clueless to say the least about what AJ meant, not picking up on the fact that their lips were close enough to be kissing if one of them decided to move even a single bit. That cluelessness was short lived as after AJ replied smugly, "Eager much," and kissed Drift.
The moment caught Drift off guard, unable to reciprocate the kiss as she had to quickly move the dagger from the girl under her's neck. Again throwing it off to the side to free her hand: resting it on the side of AJ's head. Promptly the kiss was broken as Drift began reshuffling, taking her boot off AJ's wrist; noticing the horrific mark left and mentally noting to herself to apologise and tend to it later, and moving her other hand from the others wrist to rest on their shoulder, slightly pressing her shoulder into the floorboards before entangling her fingers into the strap of their tank-top as her legs now straddled across the others.
After the moment of pause, once AJ could tell the girl was ready, they didn't hesitate to bring their lips crashing up to the others again. All the raw mix of emotions from their interaction spilling out into one another; teasing, the care they held but didn't want to admit and the hate for each other which had developed into something more. AJ bit at Drift's lips, tongue prying and begging before she finally gave in. Drift struggled to keep herself up, trying her best not to fully collapse onto AJ on the floor. Drifts curls cascading down to the floor, tunnelling AJ's field of vision to just her face (which she was, honestly, already fixed on). Her fingers which were previously gently entangled in the straps of AJ's tank top were now, also, on the other side of AJ's head as the strap had slid down their shoulder. AJ's hands, acted quite the opposite, maybe it was the alcohol which had decreased her inhibitions and were letting her act recklessly. Her gloved hand on the nape of Drift's neck, wrapping a curl around a finger, as she pressed her lips more into hers– as if trying to let herself suffocate in Drift's mouth. Her other hand scratched against Drift's shoulder blades.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"AJ!" It was Melinks. "You said we could go to the town today and you'd help me get more gems! Lets go!"
The decay mages hand quickly slid from Drift's back to her shoulder, pushing her away (with deep regret and sadness at the fact she had to cut it short).
"Uh!" Their voice was shaky, so shaky. "Just give me 10 minutes, seamstress! Don't come in, I swear I'll be with you! I'll meet you at the great hall okay?"
"Oh okay! 10 minutes, right? I'll be waiting"
Drift was still on top of AJ, panting heavily to make up for the previous deficit of oxygen, not having moved from where the other had pushed her back. And, God, did she look beautiful. Eyes glazed with hunger and desire (and conflict), lips red and raw, even the places around her mouth were swollen, the nude lipstick she had worn (something AJ only just realised she applied) smudged and her cheeks; Drift was definitely blushing to say the least. Not like AJ looked any better anyways; lips also swollen and red and the same nude lipstick applied by Drift smudged over their mouth, eyes in that always lazy-like state but also rich in hunger and far more desire and her left strap moved past where it should be, causing her skin to be more exposed.
Drift cleared her throat and pushed herself off the floor properly, letting her curls rest naturally, practically sat in AJ's lap. While the other propped themselves up onto their elbows to sit up properly, closing the distance Drift had made. Drift flinched back slightly as AJ lifted their hand, causing the decay mage to pause before reaching back up to fix their glow-berry branch crown.
"Sorry open book, seems like we'll have to finish our training another time." They smirked lazily.
Drift reciprocated AJ's gesture and brought their hand up to AJ's mouth, wiping off the smudged lipstick in an aggressive manner— as if trying to express her dissatisfaction.
"Mhm I guess so."
The disappointment was clear as she spoke, such a tone making AJ laugh. She got up afterwards, rummaging through AJ's chests.
"Do you not have any bandages?"
They looked up at Drift, confused.
"Why would I need bandages, Im tough, remember?"
"Yea yea, whatever you say." She walked across the room to where she had thrown her satchel and cloak, taking out a bandage. When she turned back around, AJ was stood behind her like a curious cat.
"Give me your arm." They obeyed. "I was asking if you had one because I messed up your wrist a bit when I was on top of you, see the imprint of my boot?"
AJ noticed it, she had been noticing it since the other had done it, but ignored it as adrenaline and many other emotions overcame that pain. "It will heal."
"Yes, it will. But you also would be questioned about it," She paused, focusing on tying a bow on the bandage. "Im sure you would love that attention though." Drift let go of AJ's arm, reaching down to her satchel again to get a potion of regeneration. Biting on the cork to pull and open the bottle, pouring enough to soak through the bandage, but not enough to leave it dripping.
"You know me so well."
She scoffed, "Yea I do."
"You mad or something, Drift?"
"No."
"I think you are, you're mad that we got interrupted."
"I am not! Shut up!" She let go of AJ's wrist, she had been holding it for longer than necessary anyways.
"You hate me so much that you love me and want to fuc–"
"Hey, seamstress wants to see you, right? So, I guess you better hurry along now!"
AJ smiled, that Cheshire cat smile, letting their eyes become crescents. "But wont people question my swollen lips..? They're gonna wonder who did it!" They let their words drag out, in a low hushed voice.
Drift laughed an almost sarcastic laugh before grumbling out, "Yea? I don't think they would really, considering how you get around. But yea, you should really go now." Drift began putting her shirt back on, bending down afterwards to wrap her cloak around her neck, a small 'clip' sound as she put it on. Meanwhile, AJ put her shoes on, fixing the strap of her top. Letting the awkward silence settle between them until they were both walking out the door of AJ's dorm
"Y'know, open book, I didn't know you could be so agile and strong, especially with suddenly tackling me and holding a knife to my throat in the same moment."
"Yea? Well maybe im not as much of an open book as you think."