Disclaimer: Frozen is copyright to Disney


Through Windows: Chapter III

Elsa hummed quietly to herself as she strode up Arendelle street. Most wouldn't have noticed, but there was a modest spring in her step. It was abnormal for her, as cheerful was a word that she would have never used to describe herself; but over the course of the past three weeks, she had surpassed cheerful and was downright giddy (by her standards, at least).

Although her first voluntary interaction with the redhead had left her grinning like a fool for the remainder of the day, Elsa found that her curiosity had not been sated. Rather, it had the opposite effect, fueling curiosity into a roaring inferno of unquenchable inquiry. However, unlike before, it wasn't so much distracting as motivating. She finished each job at record speed, and with impeccable manners, to boot.

At first, she considered returning the next morning, but quickly corrected that line of thought.

"No, don't do that. That's weird. 'Play it cool', right? That's what Hans would say."

Three days later, on Thursday, the woman concluded that it had been a reasonable amount of time to wait. On Friday morning, after they waved to one another, Elsa smiled back awkwardly, one corner of her lips turned upward in a small, lopsided gesture. She wasn't sure if she looked the part of the idiot she felt like, but that concern was wiped clean when the redhead beamed ecstatically, flashing pearly whites, pools of aqua lambent.

"Oh, wow..."

If that was the reaction she'd get for making herself feel a little awkward, it was beyond worth it. She made a note to make sure she did it again next time. And possibly the time after, for good measure.

So she did.

At their fourth encounter, however, there was a man at the checkout when she arrived. Unable to help herself, she became aware of her lips pulling downward into a hint of a frown, brows knitting together. She clenched the rubber grips of her handlebars until her knuckles turned white beneath her gloves when he smiled a most winsome smile and shot the girl a flirtatious wink. A surge of jealousy reared it's ugly head, causing her eyes to narrow slightly. Mentally, she berated herself.

"What the Hell, Elsa? She's not your freakin' girlfriend. Pipe the fuck down."

That was when the man startled, digging a hand into the pocket of his overcoat to check his phone. He glanced back to the redhead, and held up a finger, mouth moving in an obvious request to excuse him for a moment. As he stepped deeper into the shop, the girl turned and looked out the window, grinning and waving discreetly.

Elsa had been so focused on the guy, that she hadn't realized that she'd been noticed. Despite trying to will away her frown, it wouldn't leave. She waved back listlessly. The young woman must have caught on to the blondes concern, because her own expression fell slightly as she sat up straight on her seat for once. When the redhead glanced momentarily over at the man now talking away on his cell across the store, Elsa felt her worries root themselves a little deeper.

Oceanic eyes widened when the redhead switched her blue-green ones back to hers, and then gestured with her thumb at the guy, rolling her eyes and putting on her best "I'm annoyed" expression. With the other hand she made a "yak yak yak" motion out of his line of sight. The hopeful smile written on her lips afterward sealed what she had meant to communicate.

"She's not interested in him."

Elsa's face finally cracked a lopsided grin, relief spilling over her, cooling her temper.

The pair continued to simper at one another until the man stepped back up to the register. The blonde took her leave, confidence renewed. For whatever reason, she felt invincible for the rest of the day.

That had brought her to today. Another Monday. This would be the fifth time she could take in the intoxicating sense of happiness the girl from "Thrifty Things" bestowed benevolently upon her. Or it would be, if the lights were on. The blonde stopped humming.

"Bummer."

Elsa was awash in disappointment as she simply stared into the dim, cloudy darkness of the shop. It took her a few minutes to pull herself away from the storefront (and sense of displeasure), but as she began to walk away, she was abruptly halted by a voice behind her gasping aloud.

"Oh, God."

"Oh my gosh! It's you!"

"Maybe she's not talking to you."

The sound of footsteps quickly approaching prompted her to very slowly crane her neck to look over her shoulder, turning at a snails pace to face the redhead who was now arms length away. She stared like a deer in headlights.

"I mean, of course it's you, you're you, but you know, I wasn't really expecting to run into you." Blue-green oculars stared up into her blue ones, shining with exuberance and admiration. Elsa almost choked on her tongue.

"Well, fuck."

"I mean, I guess it was bound to happen eventually, seeing as-" the girl began to babble again after a beat, her voice like a choir of bells in the blondes ears, the words themselves fading as the superb sound poured into her head like so much smelted metal. It made her face warm to the point of searing.

Elsa had never seen the redhead up close before. Her heart was pounding with renewed vigor, kicking harder against her chest than she had ever known was possible. The young woman was a few inches shorter than herself, and she had that ("quite fitting") green sweater on again. The copper locks that had entranced the fair skinned woman in the first place were tied off low and to the side, wrapped around to the front of her shoulder. She clutched a cardboard box in her arms that was folded shut, and wore a backpack slung over her back.

The girl had been stunning, breath-taking even, at a distance, but now...

"I think I'm gonna pass out."

She began to come back down from space as she realized the girl was nearing the end of her rambling. The angelic choir that was the girls voice became pronounced again, words forming where there had been an undistinguished, but pleasant melody before.

"Because, really, the odds- um," the girl giggled nervously, "I'm rambling. Sorry." Her bright, vivacious smile faded somewhat as she pressed her lips together tightly, trying to smother some of her enthusiasm. With her head tilted down, her eyes flicked to the blondes shoes, then back up at Elsa, peering at her through long lashes as her freckled cheeks grew pink. She held the box in her arms a little tighter and raised it to partially obscure herself.

The moment was punctuated by an awkward silence.

"Say something, for fucks sake! Before she thinks you're a deficient. Or worse, before she thinks that you think she's a deficient."

"Uhh... um," Elsa croaked dumbly, accurately portraying how stiff and blundering she felt.

"Smooth, dipshit. Real smooth."

"I-it's," she started, her words tripping over her own tongue. "It's okay," she flashed a clumsy half-smile.

"Laaaame."

The blondes toolbox rattled and clanged against her bike as it wavered. At this point, Elsa was fighting just to remain upright.

Another agonizing pause of quiet.

"Soooo," the smaller girl began cautiously, lowering the box to reveal a coy little grin, "Would you like to get a coffee with me?" She bit her lower lip, eyes radiating hopeful expectation.

"OhGodOhGodOhGodOhGod! What's happening!?"

Elsa completely floundered.

"Words. Need. Words. Speak, fool!" she commanded her brain.

"I..." the blonde worked her jaw stupidly, absent of sound for a few seconds, "I have to go to work."

"Coward." Elsa had thought she could handle this (whatever "this" was) somehow, but she couldn't. She needed to leave. Now.

She only caught a glimpse at the morose change in the redheads eyes before she spun on her heel, ran off the curb, and jumped onto her bike. She never peddled so hard in all her life.