Amongst the Stars (1/2)
(AN: An AU Sleeping Warrior fic suggested by an anon prompt I received on Tumblr. AU Future!Storybrooke Sleeping Warrior. In which Mulan and Aurora came through the portal in 2x09 'Queen of Hearts', and have lived in Storybrooke together for almost 5 years. They are currently in a long lasting relationship and are living together in an apartment. The barrier spell has been lifted for almost 4 years. Mulan has a job as deputy sheriff.)
Rated T for Language
Summary: Mulan finds the perfect way to propose to Aurora.
—x—
The tiny slips of glossy paper felt heavy in Mulan's sweaty palms. Her head swam with a giddy satisfaction.
She had done it. Today was the day.
She glanced at the pair of plane tickets, cracking one of her rare smiles before tucking them into the breast pocket of her dark leather jacket. She patted them happily, whistling a tune. It had taken nearly a year's worth of savings, and all the courage the warrior could muster, but she'd finally done it.
'FIRST CLASS' the tickets read boldly 'DUBLIN, IRELAND'
Aurora would be so surprised.
The warrior had planned this day out months in advance: scrimping, saving, and preparing everything in her mind. The trip to Dublin was just the beginning. She had considered every detail meticulously.
Once there, they would explore the beautiful landscapes together. Mulan was already imagining the look on her princess's face as she took her across the sprawling green hills, spread out as far as the eye could see. Together they could explore the proud halls carved of ancient stone, wander the high cliffs of white looming over cerulean seas, and revel in the abbeys with their historic windows of multicolored glass. Aurora would be thrilled. Mulan could hardly wait.
It would be there, in the land that was so verdant and similar to their own long-lost fairytale home, that she would profess her love for her princess.
The warrior was finally ready to take the next step.
If Mulan were not so proud, the lightness in her spirits would have nearly pushed her jaunty, eager pace to a skip. Thankfully, however, the deputy still held tightly to her self-control and maintained a sense of decorum. She strode purposefully up the front steps of Granny's Diner.
The bell above the door tinkled, and the warrior seated herself at the counter, still whistling merrily to herself. Ruby soon arrived at the counter, her apron slightly askew and her hair pulled up into a ponytail, swept high and away from her face. She polished the countertop with an old rag, and arched a dark brow at the deputy sheriff's high spirits. Though the old previous owner had long since retired, leaving her spunky brunette granddaughter in charge, the place still carried on its classic name and legacy.
"You're in an awfully good mood." Ruby purred, already reaching for a mug to fill Mulan's usual order: A piping hot cup of Oolong tea with a shot of milk, no sugar.
"That's 'cause I finally did it. I bought the tickets. I'm gonna take her to Ireland, and then I'll ask her to marry me." Mulan grinned, whispering conspiratorially. Mischief and childlike pride danced in her dark eyes.
Ruby smiled, her crimson lips pulling into a genuine grin. "That's awesome! 'Rory will be so surprised! When's the flight leave?"
"Next weekend. I'm hoping to surprise her later this week."
"Next weekend?!" Ruby's smile melted like snow in the summer sun. Her face went slack, and she blinked in surprise.
"Yeah…why? Is something wrong?" Mulan's dark eyes widened as she leaned forward, hanging on her friend's every word. Panic gripped at her heart, and her sweaty palms clenched on the edge of her barstool.
"Of course something's wrong….How're we going to find a replacement deputy on such short notice?!" Ruby teased, sliding the mug across the counter to her best pal.
The warrior chuckled, her tension relaxing in a slow breath. Mixed relief and mingled excitement were palpable in Mulan's immediate vicinity. "I'm sure Storybrooke'll manage without me somehow…just don't go frightening any pigs or blowing down any houses while I'm gone." She took a long sip of her tea, hiding the smirk that painted her visage.
Ruby playfully swatted the deputy's shoulder. "I'll make no promises." She growled, eyes flashing amber gold before she whirled away to attend other customers.
—-Several Days Later—
"Fuck." Mulan hissed, glaring at the flickering TV screen. She leaned in close, her nose almost brushing the glass. The tiny man on the weather report pointed and gesticulated madly at a large green swirling blob on the map.
The eye of the hurricane seemed to stare back, mockingly, as it angled itself on the projected path towards the green island labeled IRELAND on the weather map.
The deputy swept a hand over her face, growling colorful obscenities in multiple languages.
"It appears that the category 5 storm is scheduled to hit Dublin in the next 12 hours. All flights in and out of the area have been canceled, and all citizens of the isles have been requested to evacuate." The little weatherman chirruped, straightening his tie before flashing an impeccably white set of perfectly pearly teeth. "And keep an eye out for a nice meteor shower tonight, folks! Should be clear skies over Maine tonight."
"Figures." Mulan muttered, turning away and angrily turning the TV off with a click. She stood and began to pace the length of the small living room, thinking.
Perhaps she could go back to the travel agency? Get her cash back or reschedule the flight for another weekend? Surely the kind lady at the front desk would understand if she asked nicely, right?
She made up her mind and snatched her jacket off the back of the couch, haphazardly tossed there after the end of her shift. Shoving her arms roughly into the sleeves, the warrior reached for the door knob, threw open the door, and nearly collided with Aurora.
"Oh!" the princess jumped, slightly startled by the presence of her lover at the door. Her arm was outstretched with key in hand, as if she were just preparing to enter. Blue eyes roamed up and down the warrior's lean muscled form, taking it all in. Mulan was suddenly keenly aware that she was wearing only an undershirt beneath her dark jacket. A dark flush crept up the fair cheeks. "Well, isn't this a nice surprise."
The princess happily wound her arms around the warrior's neck, and laughed lightly.
"Uh…actually, I was just headed out." Mulan mumbled, desperately trying to keep her mind focused on the task at hand. Her senses rebelled against all logic, as Aurora gently traced her lips up the deputy's throat. Soft, sweet, supple skin brushed past Mulan's pulse point and she trembled under the flaring race of adrenaline and desire that sprang to life at the contact.
Damn it. Focus.
"I have to…uh…go to the station. Emma needed something."
A petulant pout graced the lips of the princess. "Can it wait…just a little while?" Aurora's fingers curled into the dark leather of the young officer's jacket, tugging it off her shoulders, and exposing the curvature of biceps and broad shoulders to the open air. Gooseflesh crawled its way across the warrior's tanned skin.
Mulan groaned internally. Logic and lust warred like savage wolves beneath her skin; rolling and snapping, each fighting the other for control.
"Nope. Ihavetogo. Rightnow." Mulan sputtered, her words running together, as she slid out of the jacket, wriggled out of the princess's grasp, and nearly bolted down the stairs. Aurora watched, deeply vexed as her lover tore like a bat out of hell, half falling down the staircase and clamoring out into the streets of Storybrooke in a matter of seconds.
Once Mulan had staggered out onto the sidewalk, a feral growl escaped her. She wanted nothing more than to turn around and toss herself into Aurora's arms with wild abandon…but she needed to attend to these matters first. Her blood still sang with the sweet pull and hungry heat borne of Aurora's sweet kisses.
She sighed, picking her pace up to a jog. Perhaps a little exercise would calm her lurching unquenchable thirsts of the flesh. She decided to run all the way to the travel agency offices, and soon found herself covered in a sheen of sweat. Thankfully, she realized, her carnal hungers had been efficiently calmed…for the moment.
She spent a moment leaning against the outer wall of the tiny brick building, catching her breath, before pushing open the door labeled 'Maine-land Travel Experiences' and marching up to the front desk. She quickly smiled in what she thought was a disarming manner, but truthfully appeared as more of a grimace. Calmly, she measured her words, and tried to explain the issue to the disinterested, pinchy-lipped, redhead at the kiosk.
"You see, I was in here a few days ago and I bought some tickets to Dublin…but there seems to be an issue with a hurricane. All flights are canceled…is there any way I could get a refund, or just switch the tickets to another date?"
The old woman peered critically over the rims of her dark glasses, clearly unmoved by the warrior's plea. She pointed a long lacquered fingernail at the bold lettered sign on her desk.
NO REFUNDS, NO TRADE-INS, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Mulan blew a long breath out through her nose and clenched her jaw, bracing for a long and difficult battle.
—Several Hours Later—
The young officer rubbed her forehead with the flat of her palm. She could feel the subtle pulse of the vein there, throbbing an angry tempo to her thoughts, as she thudded wearily up the stairs. Her undershirt was stiff with the dried sweat from her run, and her limited patience was frayed paper-thin. She had argued, badgered, pleaded and even begged the woman at the counter…but to no avail.
She may as well have been quarreling at the wind for howling through the mountain passes, or disagreeing with the clouds for bringing the summer rains.
The tickets were nonrefundable, and like it or not, she had effectively lost over 2,000 dollars because of a stupid storm. She sighed angrily.
The warrior's stubborn nature resented letting the issue alone, however. She refused to accept defeat at the cruel hands of fate and a terse-lipped secretary. Time for another approach. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, chewing the inside of her cheek.
She would find another way…