Chapter Text
“By the way, just out of curiosity…” Vodyanitsa asks one day while they’re both alone backstage, “…what’s the Rokot policy on dating a member of the Fatui?”
Alyosha looks at her like she’s just grown an extra head. “…It’s inadvisable,” he says, deadpan.
Vodyanitsa nods. “Right, right. That makes sense.”
A handful of seconds pass before Alyosha sighs, leans his broom against the wall, and looks her in the eyes. “Is this about Odette?”
“No!” Vodyanitsa immediately blurts.
Alyosha raises a single incredulous eyebrow.
“…Maybe,” Vodyanitsa corrects herself. “It’s not not about Odette.”
“Right,” Alyosha says, clearly unconvinced. Still, he turns and reaches for his broom again.
“She’s just so pretty!” the words spill from Vodyanitsa’s mouth before she can stop them. “And she’s so graceful, and cool, and… and the way her brow kind of furrows whenever she’s working on a really difficult routine, or how she doesn’t smile much but I can just tell she’s having a good time when she meets a really nice fan, or when I help her find a new dress, or… or…” she trails off, having finally run out of breath.
Alyosha, to his credit, simply nods understandingly. “Right, I think I get the picture.”
Vodyantsia slumps her shoulders and hangs her head. “…I’m so doomed.”
Alyosha sighs. “Look, I’m sure I don’t need to remind you: Odette is your colleague, yes. But she’s also no ordinary Fatuus.”
“I know.”
“She’s a high-level agent, and was personally trained by The Fair Lady.”
“I know.”
“She’s probably going to become the next Harbinger.”
“I knowwwwww,” Vodyantsia whines, drawing out the end of the word for longer than is strictly necessary. “You’ve made your point. I’ll make sure to keep things professional between us.”
Alyosha looks at her skeptically.
He’s not wrong to. Historically, Vodyanitsa has never been great at denying her own passions. She’s the sort of person who feels everything at a thousand percent, letting her purest emotions guide her way through life. Maybe it’s because of her Water Imp heritage, or maybe it’s just a product of her personality, she’s never been completely sure. But what matters right now is this: Vodyanitsa is definitely not going to be able to keep her attractions to Odette under wraps for long.
Back in the real world, Alyosha sighs again. “Look, I know better than to think I can stop you once you’ve set your mind on something,” he says. “Just… promise me that you’ll know what you’re getting into.”
“I promise,” Vodyanitsa replies firmly. Time will tell whether it’s a lie.
“What do you promise?” Odette asks, poking her head around the corner.
Vodyanitsa almost jumps out of her skin. “O-Odette! I though you had ballet practice?” she stammers, desperately trying to appear normal.
“I did. And now it’s finished,” Odette replies simply, walking over to join them. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But I thought I overheard you talking about a promise?”
“Um, yes!” Vodyanitsa says, wracking her brain for a plausible-sounding excuse. “I was promising Alyosha that, um…”
“…That she would do a better job of cleaning up after herself backstage,” Alyosha finishes. “Makes less work for me, you know?”
Vodyanitsa nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, that’s right! Apparently, I forgot to put away some props after my last show… pretty silly of me, huh?”
“Hm.” Odette looks back and forth between them, her trademark stony expression not giving anything away. Finally her eyes settle on Vodyanitsa. “Personally, I’ve never found an issue with your tidiness. But if you wish to work on improving yourself, then don’t let me stop you.” And with that, she turns and walks past them, proceeding down the hallway towards her dressing room.
As soon as Odette is out of earshot, Vodyanitsa lets out a massive sigh of relief. “I looked normal back there, right?” she wonders to herself.
Alyosha simply pats her on the shoulder. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.” Then he retrieves his broom and continues on his way.
(Vodyanitsa spends the next eight minutes whimpering and repeatedly banging her head against the wall. She’s officially the worst covert agent ever.)
. . .
When the blonde-haired stranger arrives in Snezhnaya, Vodyanitsa assumes she’s found the solution to her love-related problems. Just from the way that the ballerina describes her new acquaintance, Vodyanitsa can tell that Odette greatly respects the Traveler’s steadfast dedication, skill with a blade, and ability to keep calm under pressure. What’s more, as Odette recounts the battle she and the Traveler fought side-by-side in the caves beneath Svetloledovka, Vodyanitsa notices a slight hitch in Odette’s voice – a sign that she’s holding something back. A burgeoning crush, perhaps?
The path forward is blissfully clear. All Vodyanitsa has to do is subtly hint to the Traveler that Odette has feelings for her, then quickly make herself scarce while the two of them talk things out. Once that’s done, she can just kick back and allow her feelings for Odette to gradually fade! She most definitely will not stew in boiling jealousy that Odette is dating someone else. Surely.
So when the Traveler unexpectedly drops by backstage the next day, Vodyanitsa wastes no time in letting her know exactly how much Odette has been talking about her.
It… doesn’t go as expected. Vodyanitsa was prepared for Odette to be a little flustered, but the ballerina immediately disengages from the conversation, locking down all emotion even more tightly than usual. And when Vodyanitsa offers the Traveler a photo and an autograph, Odette simply makes her excuses and leaves.
(Of course, then Alyosha brings up the Rokot, and Vodyanitsa has other things to worry about.)
She doesn’t get a chance to address the elephant in the room until later that evening, when she and Odette are both packing up to go home for the night. “By the way… I’m sorry if I embarrassed you earlier,” Vodyanitsa says. “You know, with the Traveler.”
Odette hums in acknowledgment as she returns one of her dresses to the hanger. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean any harm.”
Vodyanitsa purses her lips and taps her pointer fingers together, trying to figure out how to phrase this delicately. “Is there any specific reason you reacted the way you did?”
That makes Odette stop, and slowly turn to face Vodyanitsa. Her expression is unreadable. “…Have I explained to you how Rosalyne died?”
Well, that’s something of a non-sequitur. “It was a duel before the Raiden Shogun’s throne, right?”
Odette nods. “The Traveler was the other combatant,” she says matter-of-factly.
The realization of how badly she’s messed up hits Vodyanitsa like a crashing wave – all at once, with enough force to crush bones into powder. “Oh my god I am so sorry,” she breathes, hands in front of her mouth. She just wants to curl up into a ball and disappear.
Odette shrugs. “It’s alright, you didn’t know. And it’s not that big of a deal. The duel was years ago, I’m over it by now.” She pauses. “I’m mostly over it,” she corrects herself.
“Still, I am sorry,” Vodyanitsa persists – then mutters to herself, “Wow, that was probably the worst wingmanning attempt ever.”
That gets a reaction. Odette tilts her head to the side inquisitively, in a way that reminds Vodyanitsa of a cute little animal. “Wingman-ing?” Odette wonders. “You were… trying to set me up with the Traveler? Romantically?”
Vodyanitsa giggles awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. “…Maybe?”
“I… see,” Odette murmurs. She’s frowning now. Why is she frowning? “What about your romantic relations?” she asks pointedly.
Well, now Vodyanitsa is just plain confused. “What about them?”
Odette raises an eyebrow, as if the answer should be obvious. “You and that stagehand, Alyosha. Aren’t you dating? I always see you two together off in the corner, talking to each other in hushed voices.”
“W-what!? No, no, I—” Vodyanitsa stammers out a protest, her face warm. “We’re just friends! He’s not… I’m not… I mean, I don’t even swing that way, so…!”
“Hmm,” Odette notes, a hand on her chin. “My mistake, then. Apologies for the assumption.” Then, in a single swift movement, she turns on the tip of her toes and lifts her coat off the nearby hook, swinging it over her shoulders. “I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow, Vodyanitsa.”
Odette’s almost out the door before Vodyanitsa can string a set of words together. “Have a good night, Odette!” she calls after her colleague.
Odette nods. “You as well.” And just as she leaves, the evening glow happens to illuminate her face, and Vodyanitsa swears she can see the corner of Odette’s mouth curl up a little.
Then the door shuts, and Vodyanitsa is left alone in the dressing room.
“What was that about…?” she wonders to herself.
. . .
Three days later, Odette confesses to being the renegade Rokot agent, Lelek. This makes things both less and more complicated.
Less; because this means that Odette and Vodyanitsa are, and always have been, on the same side. There’s no longer any need for Vodyanitsa to hide her true affiliation from Odette – in fact, now the two of them might be able to go on Rokot missions together! The mere thought of it creates a warm, bubbly feeling in her chest.
More; because this means there’s another side to Odette that Vodyanitsa was completely ignorant of, another struggle that her love colleague was keeping all to herself. Vodyanitsa has got to be the worst friend and covert agent of all time.
“She's my coworker — specifically a ballerina — and also a Fatuus, a member of the Rokot, now Lelek... it must be so exhausting. I just want to give her a hug.”
She doesn’t get the chance, because she’s a little busy trying to keep everyone around her from dropping dead. Soboleva and Torgov are already gone, but the situation doesn’t feel completely real until the next morning, when Vodyanitsa wakes up to Kulish and Rampana’s cooling bodies. Two people she’s known for years now, who were smiling and laughing just hours before… gone, in the blink of an eye. The whole affair just makes her want to sink into the earth.
In some sick, selfish way, she’s almost glad when Shram decides to stoically walk out into the snowstorm. He was the only one of the group who could tell just how terrified Vodyanitsa has become.
But she can’t allow herself to give in to fear. Panic won’t solve anything – and besides, she has to stay strong for little Tonia. Before she’s even realized it, she starts watching the way Odette is acting, the way the ballerina seems completely unflappable in the face of all this despair and death.
Vodyanitsa decides to take some comfort in this. If Odette is still calm, then surely things can’t be that bad. And now that Shram is gone, there won’t be any more deaths… right?
It’s this mood, one of simmering doubt and cautious optimism, which Vodyanitsa is feeling on the afternoon of their third day at the theater. She’s so lost in her own thoughts that she doesn’t even notice Odette’s approach, not until the other girl is waving a hand in front of her face.
“Hello? Vodyanitsa, is everything alright?” Odette asks.
Vodyanitsa snaps back to reality. “Y-yeah, I’m fine!” she claims, waving her hands reassuringly. “What’s up? Did you need something?”
Odette takes a seat on the bed beside Vodyanitsa. “I just wanted to thank you, again, for the consideration you showed me yesterday,” she explains. “You knew my identity as Lelek, but chose not to reveal it to the others.”
“There’s no need to thank me. It was the right thing to do,” Vodyanitsa replies – though, privately, she allows herself a little bit of satisfaction at Odette’s gratitude.
“Still. I was the most likely suspect for the killings, at that point,” Odette points out.
Vodyanitsa shakes her head. “No. I know you, Odette. You’d never kill an innocent person like that. It just isn’t who you are.”
“But how could you have been certain of that?” Odette counters. “Previously, you’ve only interacted with me in my capacity as a performer, as your colleague. For all you knew, my entire personality could have been a fabrication designed to conceal my true nature.”
Vodyanitsa hadn’t even considered that possibility. “That’s… true,” she admits. “But… still, I’d like to think I can trust you. I choose to trust you.” She giggles awkwardly. “Maybe that makes me a bad Rokot agent, hehe.”
There’s a faint shine in Odette’s eyes, so subtle it could easily be a trick of the light. “Thank you. That means quite a lot,” she says. “And I appreciate the stability you’ve provided for all of us over the past few days.”
Vodyanitsa has to do a double take. “Stability? Me?”
“Yes,” Odette replies, like it’s obvious. “I can tell that you’re trying very hard to stay calm and collected for the others. It’s… comforting, to have you here.”
“Oh,” Vodyanitsa murmurs, as she feels a gentle fluttering in her chest. Her face is warm. “Well, it’s no problem, really. I know we’re gonna make it through this. And if someone else tries to make any trouble for you, like that jerk Chugunov, we’ll teach him a lesson!” she declares.
“Of course,” Odette nods. She opens her mouth to continue, but seems to think better of it. Instead, she stands up from the bed. “Anyway, I should get going.”
She’s holding something else back, clearly. “Is something wrong?” Vodyanitsa asks.
“Nothing serious. I shouldn’t trouble you with it,” Odette insists. “I just need to speak with the Traveler. I’ll be back shortly.”
The Traveler, of course. That explains it. “Ah, okay. I’ll see you later, then?”
Odette nods.
And as the other girl departs, a sinking feeling begins to appear in Vodyanitsa’s stomach. She’s tempted to speculate about all the myriad things that Odette could be speaking to the Traveler about… but no, that’s not helpful to anyone right now.
Vodyanitsa just has to stay calm and upbeat, like Odette is expecting from her. That’s how they get through this.
. . .
In the end, a positive attitude and good vibes don’t make much of a difference. Valeriy passes away during the night, to everyone’s shock and horror. The next morning, Odette accuses Mitya of being one of the deceased, and so he walks out into the snowstorm.
Then it’s Vodyanitsa’s turn. It isn’t painful. She feels as though her purpose is complete, so she simply… allows herself to slip away.
. . .
Sometimes, in quiet periods when she doesn’t have practice or performances, Vodyanitsa allows herself to entertain fantasies of waking up in Odette’s arms. In these wistful scenarios, the stoic ballerina takes care of Vodyanitsa, nursing the singer back to health with her trademark diligence and professionalism.
Unfortunately, when Vodyanitsa is resurrected from the dead, she instead wakes up faceplanted on the backstage floor, with a small puddle of drool by her face. Clearly, she made for a rather undignified corpse.
Groggy, disoriented, and more than a little confused, she follows the indistinct sounds of voices out to the stage, where the other occupants of the building are gathering. The Traveler is on the stage, helping Odette back to her feet. Vodyanitsa can’t help the stab of jealousy she feels at the sight – nor the swell of sick satisfaction when the Traveler almost immediately leaves to go seek out Mitya, for some reason. Vodyanitsa quickly swoops in to fill the empty space.
“Are you okay?” Vodyanitsa asks, fussing over Odette. “You look like you had a bit of a fall.”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just… collapsed during my performance, for some reason. But I don’t feel ill,” Odette replies.
“I think I passed out too,” Vodyanitsa reports. “Maybe some of the others, as well. What do you think could have caused this?”
Odette frowns. “I don’t know,” she says, and she clearly hates not knowing. “I just get the feeling that I’m… forgetting something. Something important.” Her eyes flit to the Traveler, then to Alyosha, then back to Vodyanitsa. Then – in a movement both quick and seemingly involuntary – she reaches out a hand and caresses Vodyanitsa’s shoulder, trailing her fingers down the singer’s arm. Her hand then retracts just as quickly.
It happens so fast, Vodyanitsa doesn’t even react until it’s over. Heat rushes into her cheeks.
Odette looks at the floor. “Sorry. I don’t know what—”
Any further discussion is interrupted by the sound of the theater doors opening. Vodyanitsa can just barely spy Mitya exiting the building, right before the doors shut behind him again. He looked like he was in a rush.
The Traveler exchanges quick words with Valeriy, who then turns to the rest of the group. “Attention, everyone! I’d like you all to assemble on the stage for a moment,” Valeriy commands.
“This won’t take too long,” the Traveler adds. “But I have some important information that I think everyone should hear.”
Well, that’s rather ominous. Those present, muttering confusedly, nevertheless follow instructions and join Odette and Vodyanitsa on the stage. The Traveler and Valeriy bring up the rear, and the latter glances around, doing a quick headcount. “Is this everyone?” he asks.
“No, I think we’re still missing a couple,” Vodyanitsa answers on instinct – although, as she thinks about it more, she can’t quite put her finger on the names of those absent, or what their faces look like. “…Right?”
The Traveler looks downcast. “Yeah, well,” she murmurs. “About that.”
The next five minutes are a blur. The sequence of events that the Traveler describes are objectively absurd – yet she recounts them with such confidence that Vodyanitsa has no choice but to believe them.
Everybody died and went to the afterlife. Two centuries-old spirits – a romantic mercenary and a sickly girl – accepted their fates and returned to the ley lines. Odette is Lelek. Chugunov lied to them all. Alyosha was kidnapped and replaced by the literal god of death, and nobody – including Vodyanitsa – noticed until it was almost too late. Odette was murdered with a finger-snap, just to prove a point.
It’s a dizzying amount of information. Vodyanitsa can scarcely wrap her head around it all. She would think that the Traveler is just spinning a sadistically tall tale, except that the more she recounts, the more the pieces begin to add up in Vodyanitsa’s mind. Slowly, drip by drip, the memories trickle back. It’s not a trick, or a hoax, or an imaginary tale. She died, and then she came back to life.
Vodyanitsa can’t help the way she curls in on herself, cradles her own trembling body. She’s no stranger to violence or tragedy, but something about all of this just… unsettles her.
There’s a cold hand on her shoulder.
Vodyanitsa nearly jumps out of her skin. She whirls around on the perpetrator – only to see Odette beside her.
The ballerina flinches back. She looks sheepish. “Sorry,” she murmurs, before turning her attention back to the Traveler.
Vodyanitsa takes a little extra time to gaze at Odette. On the surface, she’s as composed as ever. Her dazzling violet eyes stare straight ahead, not wavering. But there’s a tightness in her jaw that Vodyanitsa is positive she isn’t imagining. Odette is hiding something.
What happened to her in that afterlife? What did Vodyanitsa miss, in the time after the Ruler of Death claimed her soul?
“That’s… just about everything that happened,” the Traveler finishes explaining, rubbing her temple in exhaustion. “I’m not sure how we’re all back now, or why Ronova even killed us all in the first place, but… yeah. You should probably all keep an eye on your health over the next few days, just in case there are any side effects, but beyond that…”
“Wait, so… that’s it?” Chugunov asks incredulously. (Vodyanitsa tries not to hold his belligerent attitude against him – it’s been a long day for everyone.) “This ‘Ruler of Death’ just murdered us and trapped us all in the afterlife, and we’re just supposed to… move on? Go about our day?”
“Pretty much,” the Traveler answers. “I don’t see anything else we can do about it right now. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got somewhere else I really need to be.” Without another word, she hops off the stage and hurries towards the exit. She has an anxious expression on her face.
Vodyanitsa turns to Odette. “So…”
“I should go as well,” Odette interrupts. “I promised to take her to the Armory Palace.”
For a date? the spiteful part of Vodyanitsa hisses possessively. Her more reasonable side retorts that no, obviously they aren’t going to a secure Fatui research facility to get frisky, obviously this is connected to whatever investigation they’re doing into Project Stuzha. The jealous part of her then points out that even so, they’re still leaving her out of this investigation. Why? Are they tired of her? Is she not a good enough agent for the job?
On the outside, Vodyanitsa simply smiles. “Right, that makes sense. Good luck.”
Odette hesitates for a moment longer, her brow furrowed. Then she turns and follows the Traveler.
Vodyanitsa watches her leave.
On the stage, the others are still chattering among themselves. Alyosha emerges from the crowd, stepping towards Vodyanitsa, a concerned expression on his face. “…Hey, are you alright? You don’t seem yourself.”
The sheer irony of Alyosha saying this, after what’s just happened, does not escape Vodyanitsa. She giggles at the thought, even as she wraps her arms tighter around herself. “I’m okay,” she lies. “Just a little chilly, you know?”
. . .
The Traveler teams up with Odette to infiltrate the Armory Palace. The Traveler helps to repair Odette’s music box. The Traveler becomes Odette’s manager. The Traveler. The Traveler. The Traveler.
Perhaps the worst part of all this is how sincere the Traveler is about all of this. If she was just another skeevy fan trying to prey on the theater’s primo ballerina, or a womanizer trying to steal Odette out of spite, Vodyanitsa could hate her without issue. But she’s just so kind, so effortlessly charming, so without malice, and it makes Vodyanitsa’s blood boil. And she hates herself for feeling that way.
The Traveler doesn’t deserve to bear the brunt of Vodyanitsa’s selfish jealousy, so she keeps her cheerful face on, always chiming in with a positive remark. Always praying that her true feelings don’t shine through the cracks.
Because sure, Odette and Vodyanitsa still spend time together, both professionally and off the clock, but it’s those limited spots of interaction that just fan the flames of Vodyanitsa’s passions even more. She’s begun to hunger for Odette’s presence, her touch, even her smell. She’s acting less like a friend, and more like a stupid animal in heat. One day, while watching Odette’s performance from backstage, she fantasizes about pulling open Odette’s skin and crawling inside the ballerina’s body, nestling inside her rib cage.
That’s probably not a good sign.
But Vodyanitsa just can’t help it, and it gets even worse when she watches scenes like the one in front of her now: the Traveler picking Odette up from practice, and the two leaving together. And maybe it’s just Vodyanitsa’s imagination, or a trick of perspective, but it almost looks like their hands brush as they depart.
Vodyanitsa comes close to crushing her makeup mirror in her hand.
“Ugh. Why don’t you just marry her already,” she mutters, putting the mirror down on her vanity before she can cause any permanent damage.
Nearby, leaning against the dressing room wall, Alyosha raises an eyebrow. “Marry who?”
“Nothing,” Vodyanitsa shakes her head. “Hey, by the way… are you doing okay?”
“How many times have you asked me this now? I told you, I’m fine.”
“You got possessed by the Ruler of Death!” Vodyanitsa points out.
“I got my identity stolen by the Ruler of Death,” Alyosha corrects her. “I wasn’t even there when it happened. All I did was walk out into a blizzard and die anticlimactically.”
“O-okay, that’s true, but… I still wanted to check in,” Vodyanitsa claims.
“Did you?” Alyosha asks. “Or are you just trying to distract yourself from whatever’s going on with Odette?”
Vodyanitsa crosses her arms and pouts childishly.
Alyosha sighs. “Look, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the concern. I do. But between the two of us, I think you have a lot more going on right now.”
Vodyanitsa stays stubbornly silent.
“…You’re going to have to talk to her eventually, you know.”
“Says who?” Vodyanitsa challenges. “You’re the one who told me it would be a bad idea to get involved with her!”
“That’s true,” Alyosha concedes. “But I think I was wrong to suggest that. I didn’t realize just how… cantankerous it would make you.”
“Are you saying I have a bad attitude?”
“I’m saying that trying to hold back your real emotions has been doing more harm than good,” Alyosha explains. “I’m worried about you.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” Vodyanitsa insists. “I just need to stop being so… weird about all of this. It’s embarrassing.”
Alyosha shakes his head. “Look, I’m not going to judge you for having feelings like that. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think Odette would either. Maybe the solution is just to… be more open with her? Like you usually are.”
“But it’s hard,” Vodyanitsa whines. “Besides, she has the Traveler now, right? It’s too late now.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Alyosha says.
“Alyosha’s right. If you want to resolve these conflicting emotions, you should speak honestly, let your true feelings shine through,” Mitya chimes in. He’s over on the other side of the room, one elbow on the windowsill, thumbing through a book, like he’s only half-listening to the conversation. Truth be told, Vodyanitsa had forgotten he was there. “You know, have you considered that the experience of watching your fellow Water Imps leave you behind during their exodus from Snezhnaya, and the trauma associated with that memory, might be the root cause of this… possessive streak of yours?”
Vodyanitsa blinks, slowly turning her head to look at him. “You came up with all that, but you can’t pay attention to my performances?”
Mitya looks up from his book, then down at the corner of the room. A single bead of sweat trickles down his brow. “Well, ah…”
“What are you even doing here!?” Vodyanitsa exclaims. “You aren’t part of the crew! There’s no signing event today! Why are you still backstage?”
“Oh, would you look at the time!” Mitya chirps, snapping his book closed. “I really must be going. Thank you kindly for the hospitality!” He wastes no time in hurrying out the door.
In the silence after Mitya’s departure, Alyosha turns to Vodyanitsa. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what I told you earlier. I didn’t mean to complicate your friendship with Odette.”
“It’s okay. I was the one who pushed her towards the Traveler, anyway,” Vodyaniysa says. “I’m the one who made my own bed. I guess now I just have to lie in it.”
. . .
The restoration of Rankova Zorya is not a task that Vodyanitsa has chosen to undertake through some flight of fancy, or any selfish desire – it is a wish to genuinely improve the lives of the local villagers that drives her. Such is the mindset of a proper Rokot agent.
…That being said, though, Odette also signing on to the project does give Vodyanitsa a little extra motivation. Just a little.
Best of all, it’s the first thing in a long while that’s felt like it just belongs to the two of them, no outside interference. Okay, granted, Alyosha is also a partner on the restoration project, and the Traveler pops by sometimes to help out, and even Mitya (ugh!) shows up to give the new restaurant some business. But during most of the actual elbow-grease work, it’s just Odette and Vodyanitsa, just like old times. Just the way she likes it.
Maybe that makes her a bad person.
Whatever the case, right now Vodyanitsa is taking a well-deserved rest, watching from afar as Odette continues to instruct Rytova in the art of ballet. Even from what little Vodyanitsa knows of dance, she can tell that Rytova’s movements are lacking in confidence, but growing in technical skill by the day. Odette’s a good teacher – though she could stand to be a little less of a slave driver, in Vodyanitsa’s opinion.
Apparently satisfied with Rytova’s ability to continue with practice on her own, Odette disengages and strolls over to Vodyanitsa’s bench. “I noticed you observing,” the ballerina remarks – not an accusation, just a statement of fact.
“Well, of course,” Vodyanitsa replies cheerfully, despite her shortness of breath. “I always lo— like watching you work.”
Odette takes a seat beside Vodyanitsa (who does a little mental jump of joy). “You look tired,” the ballerina notes.
“I am tired,” Vodyanitsa admits, leaning her head back. “Fixing up that roof earlier took a lot more work than I expected. Plus, I’ve got more Rokot work later today…”
Odette wags her finger, making a tsk sound. “Remember: you’re not supposed to say the ‘r-word’ around outsiders.”
“Oh, come on!” Vodyanitsa whines, less than pleased about her own words being thrown back at her. “You’re not an outsider, Odette. You’re as much an ‘r-word’ as I am.”
“I’m also suspended from duty,” Odette reminds her. “I’m not supposed to be involved in any ‘r-word’ activities if or until I’m reinstated and given a new code-name.”
“Can’t we bend the rules a little bit?”
“It’s already enough of a miracle that no one from the theater has decided to expose my identity to Fatui command. I’m not keen to push my luck. ‘Lelek’ may no longer be officially wanted by the state, but there would surely be consequences.”
“Fine,” Vodyanitsa sighs. Back when she first learned the truth about Lelek, she was excited at the possibility that Rokot work could allow her to get closer to Odette. Now, it just feels like another brick in the wall being built between them.
Odette, apparently oblivious to Vodyanitsa’s internal strife, continues, “As it happens, I also have further work to do today. Nothing classified, though – just monster cleanup.”
“Are you going to get help from your new best friend, the Traveler?” Vodyanitsa asks spitefully.
Odette pauses. She tilts her head to the side, her eyebrows tightening. Hurt and confusion dance across her face.
Vodyanitsa immediately feels terrible. “S-sorry, that just… slipped out. I didn’t really mean it, I promise!” She waves her hands placatingly, before giving up and hanging her head. “Why am I like this…?” she wonders aloud.
“Hm.” Odette thinks to herself for a moment. “Alyosha mentioned that you were feeling… neglected. I don’t think I understood what he meant until now.”
“…He said what?” That snitch!
“My apologies, for being so busy recently. The past few weeks have been very hectic,” Odette says. “It wasn’t my intention to make you feel… unappreciated.”
“No, it’s not… you don’t have to apologize for that. I get it,” Vodyanitsa assures her. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Maybe so. But you still seemed upset.”
Vodyanitsa shrugs, trying to figure out a way to extricate herself from this conversation. “I guess I just got a little bent out of shape that you picked the Traveler to be your manager, instead of me,” she offers. “You know I wouldn’t have actually filled your schedule with rest days, right? I know how much your work means to you.”
“You still would have gone too easy on me,” Odette replies.
“Only because you’re way too hard on yourself!” Vodyanitsa counters. “And even if I had made a schedule you really, truly disagreed with, you could have always told me so. We could have compromised!”
Odette purses her lips. “I’m not certain that would be the case.”
“What? I would have listened, I promise!”
“No, the problem isn’t with you. It’s me,” Odette insists. She sighs, gathering her hands in her lap. “Although I understand it might not be the same for a Water Imp like yourself, I’ve known you for a large portion of my life now. So after all this time we’ve shared, how close we’ve become, I’ve begun to find it… difficult to remain objective around you.” She looks away, off into the distance. A bit of subtle pink dusts her cheeks. “I just… don’t think I would be able to say ‘no’ to you.”
Vodyanitsa feels like someone has stolen her breath right out of her lungs. “…Oh.”
Odette brushes some hair out of her eyes. She looks almost… bashful.
For a while, neither of them says anything.
Then, almost too quick to be perceived, it happens: Odette’s hand shoots out towards Vodyanitsa’s arm. The ballerina’s fingertips just barely graze Vodyanitsa’s bare skin, the feather-light touch sending tingles up her spine. Then, just as quickly, Odette’s hand is back at her side.
Vodyanitsa blinks, double checking her own memories to make sure that really just happened. “You keep touching me like that,” she murmurs to Odette.
Odette glances over at her, then looks down at the ground. “…Apologies. I can stop, if you’d prefer.”
“No, no, it’s fine!” Please don’t stop. “I’m just confused why you’re doing it.”
“Ah.” Odette shifts a little in her seat. “I supposed I’m just… reminding myself that you’re still there.”
Vodyanitsa raises an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“A fair question. I’m aware my behavior is irrational,” Odette sighs. “I suppose it’s a result of our experience at the theater.”
Vodyanitsa swallows. “You mean, when…?”
Odette nods. “I was the one who found your body,” she says simply. “It was… distressing.”
What is Vodyanitsa even supposed to say here? “I’m so sorry,” is all she can manage.
“It’s okay,” Odette replies. “I’m just glad you’re alive.”
“Right.” Vodyanitsa fidgets with her hands in her lap, trying to work up the nerve to say something. “You know, I’d be okay with you… touching me more. If you wanted.”
Odette looks back up at her. “You would be comfortable with that?”
“Yes, of course,” Vodyanitsa answers. “I mean, if it’ll help you feel better, then…”
Odette nods. “Thank you. I’ll take you up on that.” Then – gradually, delicately, like her body is made of porcelain – she leans in, nestling her head under Vodyanitsa’s chin. Her skin is cool and soft. Her hair smells like Frostfairy Flowers.
Vodyanitsa’s heart feels like it’s about to beat out of her chest. Equally as slowly, barely daring to breathe, she brings her hand up and wraps her arm around Odette’s waist, gently pulling her closer.
Odette doesn’t react verbally, and her expression does not change. But one of her hands reaches out to Vodyanitsa’s, tugging the singer’s arm more tightly around her, intertwining their fingers.
Vodyanitsa can’t believe she’s getting away with this.
Odette nuzzles in closer. “Don’t go anywhere,” she whispers against Vodyanitsa’s neck.
“O-okay,” Vodyanitsa swallows. “But you’re not allowed to go anywhere either. Ever.”
A nod. “It’s a deal.”
Vodyanitsa leans back into Odette, letting her muscles relax. “That’s good.”
This moment can only be temporary, Vodyanitsa knows. They’ll part eventually, Odette will go to hang out with the Traveler or someone else, and Vodyanitsa will go back to letting her jealousy and yearning consume her. But that’s just the way it has to be. Even in a world where there were no barriers between the two of them, no Rokot or Fatui to complicate things… if Odette knew the full scope of Vodyanitsa’s hunger for her, she’d find it frightening. This possessiveness, this ache of yearning, is Vodyanitsa’s alone to know.
But none of that changes one fact: Odette feels so good pressed up against Vodyanitsa’s body like this.
So maybe Vodyanitsa really is just a greedy, stupid little Water Imp. But if she’s lucky enough to experience moments like these, then she’ll hold them close as long as she can, savoring every last second before the inevitable parting.