Work Text:
It was fall, bright leaves and crisp air. Chloe’s hair was put up, out of her face with a claw clip. It was one gifted to her by Red. She loved it. Just like she loved the locket placed right above her heart, nestled gently between her breasts. It held a scared photo, one of Chloe and Red and their secret proposal month earlier.
It had been a spur of the moment decision on Red’s part(not shocking). It was the night before their last day of high school. It was sloppy, but theirs. Chloe insisted on taking a photo of them kissing and bought matching heart-shaped lockets to place it in. Red loved it, it was better than a ring to the two of them. They hadn’t told anyone, intent not to until they graduated from college with their degrees in hand and a wedding to follow. But that was the future, today was now.
It was a chilly November day, one that called for Chloe wearing a white sweater with little blue hearts embroidered on the sleaves. In her hands where two cups from a local coffee shop, one a latte with a double shot of espresso and peppermint extract and the other an americano with a sprinkle of cardamon and cinnamon and the lightest hint of lavender and vanilla. She pressed her body against a door to open it, the way to their shared dorm.
A few flights of stairs and the door was opened by Red, expectantly waiting for her drink. She graciously took the americano from Chloe’s hands with a small kiss to her cheek and walked back over to her desk. “You are an absolute life saver, mi vida,” Red remarked. Chloe simply gave her a small smile in return and sat on her bed, lightly sipping her drink. “So, how is studying treating you?” It was perhaps a slightly snide remark from Chloe, namely because the entire time they were in high school Red detested studying for the most part.
Red gave her a deadpan look before quickly looking back to her papers. “Much better after you gave me those tips and this coffee,” she raised it as if it were baby Jesus, “I genuinely think I would have died without this.” Chloe laughed, a light airy sound that was so different than the one before she fell for Red. These days, breathing and living were easier. Red had gained some sense of discipline and Chloe had gained the ability to have fun every once in a while.
“You are ridiculous, ma cœur,” she teased lightly. “Mm, yes, but you love it.” “You’re right, I do.”
~~
Chloe almost found it funny how quickly they had ended back on a stage after coming to college. Red immediately bugged her about it because the theater department was putting on The Phantom of The Opera, an extremely popular musical but it was Red’s favorite. She loved that it mirrored them……. in a way? It didn’t really matter, just that they got to be on the stage again. Red had insisted on being Christine, and Chloe happily obliged. They had been trading who got to play the male role since Romeo and Juliet. It felt fair considering neither of them were really femme nor butch. More like futch.
Either way, it had been fun doing so. Chloe enjoyed played male characters sometimes as she got to reach into the deeper parts of her range. She’d do anything if it meant being side by side Red on a stage, the very thing that helped them fall in love. And on that stage every time she looks into her eyes she sees the future. A house, a daughter, laughter and love and every thing they could ever want. Both leading successful careers. Both happy. Something Chloe could have never pictured for herself before she let herself give into temptation and realize it was not sin but something more beautiful than she could describe.
Their wedding wouldn’t be held in a church or chapel. But it didn’t need to be. All Chloe needed was Red’s hand in hers. Between all the fear and hatred in the world, there was eternal love and resilience in their love. And Chloe was more than happy to spend the rest of her life looking into those hazel eyes for the future she knew she would be able to have.
“I seem to have lost you bluey,” Red mused lightly, taking her hand in the December air. “Sorry, you know how I get lost in my thoughts on our late night walks,” She breathed lightly, her warm breath slightly misting Red’s hair. Red reached up with her other hand and brushed a few strands of hair from Chloe’s face, as easy as breathing. “You just make me happy of the future we get to have together is all.” “Well, I’m glad you think so. Because our families are going to be so mad we kept our engagement a secret for as long as we plan for it.” Their laughs combined into a song, bringing warmth to the pair despite the biting air.
It transitioned into a light kiss and then Chloe’s head nestled in Red’s neck. “You are a sap, Red Hearts.” “Only for you, Chloe Charming. Only for you.”
~~
“So should I go for Oxford blue or Prussian?” Chloe asked tentatively, holding up identical dresses. “They look the exact same to me, boo,” Red quipped which caused Chloe to let out an annoyed ‘ugh’ and place the dresses on her bed. “They so aren’t.” She pouted. “Oxford leans purple while Prussian leans green or teal.” “I can totally see the difference.” “That is so not funny.” Red rolled her eyes fondly and enveloped Chloe in a hug. “You look fantastic in both, mi vida. It’s not the end of the world if your father’s business partners insult your outfit. They are all a bunch of bumbling old men anyway.”
Chloe breathed out lightly, letting Red’s arms and voice soothe her. She was right, as per usual when it came to things like this. Just like how Chloe was right every time Red stressed about a detail in her studying to become painter. Chloe always told her what specific detail her paintings always needed. Well that and the projects she had to do for her music minor. They completed each other beautifully.
“You’re right. I think I’ll got for Oxford though, I see it as a more royal color due to it leaning purple. Exudes power and such.” “You always say the most sexy things,” Red teased, leading her to her bed.
~~
Their engagement was brought to light during their junior year, a small mess up on drunk Red’s part. A family member of the Charmings hadn’t been caught up on all the details of Chloe’s life due to her siblings lives being supposedly more interesting. That was, until the question was asked.
“So, Chloe. Found a husband yet?” The question nearly made Chloe spit out her drink. Her gaze immediately went to her parents for help, and then to Red to gauge how she was going to respond. “She doesn’t need a husband. She has a perfectly good fiancee right here!” Red proclaimed perhaps a little too loudly. It was enough for her mother, sisters, and Chloe’s siblings to hear from the other room. Chloe put her head in her hands in defeat, knowing she couldn’t stop the tirade that Red was about to go on let alone all the questions from her family.
“Oh.” Was all the family member could get out before Red started again. “I have been by her side throughout the worst of her doubts and made sure she felt happy with herself and her future.” “I’m sure you have, but-” “Not to mention I so happily let her keep as many secrets as she wants because telling other people about updates on our relationship is on her timeline, not mine. I love Chloe more than words can express.”
“Red….” Chloe peaked up from her hands, voice laced with exhaustion. “Yes, mi vida?” She looked at her innocently, completely oblivious to what her little tantrum revealed. “You…… you just told everyone love.” “Did I?” Chloe simply got up from her seat and began ushering Red to her room. “Yes, and I think you need to go to bed. And someone please remind me to keep an eye on how much alcohol she consumes ever.” Chloe simply sounded exasperated. It was a fond exasperation, knowing Red was so happy to defend their love, it just so happened to come with a few consequences.
“Goodnight everyone.” “Chloe.” Her mothers voice carried softly through the air, meeting the couple halfway up the stairs. “We’ll talk about it in the morning, mom. I love you.”
It ended up taking a few hours, but everyone understood why they kept it. And were fully onboard for letting the wedding happen after they graduated. Pink was extremely excited at hearing they had planned to have her be the flower girl. She so much as threw little paper hearts in the air in excitement.
So, they were all content. And the wedding even went of without a hitch. Well, other than when later in the reception Red drunkenly went on a whole rant about how much she loved Chloe and how happy she was to start their life together fully. But that those are all a story for another day. For now, all Chloe wanted was to sleep away the embarrassment of Red spilling their shared secret.