Winter Strawberries
A/n: For my Laura, for Christmas. Thank you for being my constant Canon-loving, William-bashing, Sissi-bashing, fluff-loving, fan-girling, all around amazing, friend. Writing is always so much fun with you. Have a great Holiday Season. Hopefully Santa will cure that writer's block. Merry Christmas!
I kicked the snow from my shoes and entered the cafeteria for breakfast. To my surprise, Yumi sat among our friends at the usual table.
"Good morning, everyone." They mumbled back a hello as I placed myself between Ulrich and Aelita in the seat left empty for me.
"All I'm saying is if I have to live through one more day stalked by the youngest admirer," Yumi continued from an earlier statement, "I'm going to throw myself to our friendly neighborhood computer virus." Ah, now I see what's going on. Ulrich reached across the table to pat her hand.
"He's nine."
"He's crazy!" Aelita laughed at the display. Princess… she's really become more human than any of us. After all she's been though; she's still so full of life. She's so happy and bright and always smells of… strawberries? No, she always smells of lilac. Why..?
"Aelita? Are you wearing perfume?" Her eyes danced dangerously.
"No," she answered simply. She glanced back to her breakfast. Odd and Ulrich rolled their eyes; Yumi smiled. Lies. She smells like strawberries.
"I'm off. I've go to get to class before Hiroki and Johnny get here." Yumi stood up, retrieving her bag.
"I'll walk you." Ulrich stood up after her.
"Your very own bodyguard, Yumes!" Odd teased. She didn't look amused. Aelita stood next.
"I would like to see the snow before it melts this afternoon." Some things really never change, like her fascination in everything. She slid a pink jacket on and gave me that look. That little pout with a question mark that takes the word 'no' out of my vocabulary. Those sparkling green eyes that focus in on my soul and make me melt from the inside out. It takes absolutely everything I have not to fall at her feet.
"I'll join you," I heard myself say. I hate the cold. Odd said nothing as he started his second breakfast tray, but gave me a look of his own. I could hear his words in my head.
'What ever Princess wants, Princess gets.'
As it should be. I followed her out the door.
"I love this weather," she sighed. "Lyoko was nothing compared to this." She took my hand and I tried to fight the blush rising to my cheeks. The smell of strawberries tickled my nose as we walked a little closer.
"You know, I never apologized…"
"For what?" What could she possibly have to apologize for? Her perfection?
"That day… Embarrassing you in front of our friends." What..? Oh, she meant kissing me stupid in front of our friends.
"No apology necessary, Princess." She grinned.
"Then I guess this is alright?" Before I could respond, she stopped up in the snow covered courtyard and pressed her lips to mine. Sensory overload and all rational thought abandoned. The less thought the better, I suppose. The not-so innocent kiss warmed my frozen body, spreading though every pore. When she finally broke away, I realized,
"Strawberry lip gloss." I fought off the urge to lick my lips. She giggled.
"You like it?" she asked. I rested my hands, bravely, on her waist and smiled.
"I do, but as good as it smells, it tastes even better." Before I could let myself think I stole another taste of strawberry lip gloss.
R&R!