Day 4: Crossover/AU
"So, you're going to MIT?"
"Yeah… I just got my acceptance letter last night."
Croix looked up to see bright red eyes staring at her, glimmering in the sunlight.
"Croix! That's amazing! Congratulations!"
Croix suddenly found herself lifted off the ground, trapped in the arms of the girl one year her junior.
"Th-Than- Char, you're crushing me."
"O-Oh!" Chariot blushed as she slowly put the lilac-haired girl down."Sorry. I'm just so happy for you! You worked really hard to get accepted there."
Croix softly smiled. "Thank you…"
Chariot looked into Croix's green eyes. Those green eyes she could always look to for help whenever she found herself in trouble. Those green eyes that always managed to calm her down when she panicked over something she had accidentally caused.
Those green eyes that far too often struggled to hide the stress that builds up after trying so hard for so long.
"Croix, is something wrong?" Chariot looked up, taking hold of Croix's hand.
"I'm sorry… America is just so far from here… I'm not sure when I'll be able to come back here... if I'll be able to come back here."
"Oh…"
"And you know as well as I do that… we can't continue this while I'm there."
"… I know." Chariot squeezed Croix's hand, mood sobered by that tidbit of crushing reality. "We'll keep in touch though right?"
Croix looked up and saw red eyes staring at her.
Red eyes that never failed to stand out in a crowd. Red eyes that usually meant trouble, trouble which she never shied away from. Red eyes that usually meant that she was about to be dragged out into some adventure chasing wild rabbits or climbing up some mountain in search of the perfect place to watch the stars.
Red eyes that could always see right through her and knew just when she needed support.
It's going to really suck not being around this anymore.
"O-of course. As much as I can."
The two girls stood there, hand in hand.
Minutes, maybe hours rushed by as they stayed in that spot, the soft breeze blowing between them, their shadows extended far towards the east.
"Hey Croix…" Chariot was the first to break this silence. "Want to make a promise with me? For the next time we see each other after college?"
Green eyes looked down at wooden table, a cup of coffee to the side. A gentle breeze blew past lilac hair as the sounds of idle conversation hit her ear.
It had been ten years since she graduated high school. Ten years since she had to leave behind the person who had meant almost everything to her.
Eight years since she'd lost contact with her.
While a day never went by she didn't think of her, it had been far too long, and she had lost any hope of ever seeing Chariot again. So when she got that email from someone claiming to be her estranged friend, Croix had not hesitated at all to respond back.
And so here she was, outside a café, waiting for Chariot. Who was five minutes late.
Croix chuckled. Some things never change.
"Croix?"
At the call of her name, Croix looked behind her and-
Woah.
The world stopped. Everything faded beyond what stood directly in her sights.
Looking at her were those same red eyes she'd spend hours a day thinking about. Obscured behind an odd pair of glasses, sure, but no less radiant than they were ten years ago. Her fiery red hair, now significantly longer than it was all those years ago, able to hang over her left shoulder, still held all of its beauty and impact.
What had changed was…
Chariot had always looked cute. A beautiful girl by any measure as a teenager.
But now?
She was absolutely gorgeous.
She was dressed modestly, wearing a maroon cardigan over a button up white blouse and a pair of black slacks. Despite that, Croix could still see just how much the young girl had grown.
"Chariot." Croix stood out of her chair, almost shocked by how light her voice had sounded.
Almost as suddenly as she had gotten up, she found herself wrapped in a tight embrace.
Followed by an immediate push and several quick apologies.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Chariot quickly sputtered out. "Was that too informal? It's been over ten years, and I missed you… but it's been over ten years and I don't know if that's oka-"
Croix laughed out loud.
Yup, many years may have passed, but this was still Chariot.
"It's fine, it's fine." Croix assured, placing her hand atop the woman's head. "Let's get you a drink, and we can sit down and catch up alright?"
"So Croix," Chariot sipped her cup of tea, "what've you been up to?"
"You know, nothing much."
"'Nothing much'?! You're the talk of everyone in the technologies field! It's always something about how you found a more efficient way to convert renewable energy or the most efficient way to bring energy to more remote places around the world. That sounds nothing like 'nothing much.'"
"Oh? And how do you know so much about me? I doubt you entered the tech field yourself." Croix grinned, stirring her coffee absentmindedly.
"U-Uh well… you know… I sometimes see articles about you on the internet… just reading the news every day… something every teacher should do." Chariot laughed nervously.
"Oh, so you're a teacher now?" Croix raised a brow.
"That's correct. I teach music to high school students."
"Hm, you always did have a lovely voice," Croix snickered as she saw Chariot's face beginning to redden. "Not to mention you were always wonderful with instruments. But a teacher? I bet some of our old teachers would have a heart attack knowing that now."
"… You wouldn't be wrong." Chariot chuckled. "Some of our teachers still give me weird looks in the faculty lounge. Especially Ms. Finnelan."
"Wait?" Croix laughed aloud. "You're teaching at Luna Nova?!"
"Yep!" Chariot brightly smiled, a sight that warmed Croix's heart.
Croix leaned back in her chair. "Wow... But you a teacher? I always imagined you'd go into something more… flashy. A rock group perhaps?"
"A-A rock g-group? C-Croix, how much do you know?!"
"Not sure." Croix shrugged. "Why don't you tell me?"
Chariot huffed. "Well…a couple of years after college, a couple of friends and I tried to start a band… We had some success, got one hit song actually… but it was already falling apart before we finished our first album…"
"Oh… I, I didn't realize…"
"No, it's fine." Chariot assured. "We're all still friends. We just had some very different opinions about how we wanted to go forward. It all worked out for the best though."
"How so?"
"Well, if that never ended, I wouldn't have ever found out how fun it was teaching others the joys of music." Chariot began chuckling. "I even have a student in my class who's apparently the group's self-proclaimed 'biggest fan'."
"No way."
"Yup. She still hasn't realized I was their lead singer though." Chariot giggled audibly. "There's a betting pool in the teacher's lounge on whether she'll find out before the end of the year."
"Seriously?" Croix found herself chuckling alongside the teacher in front of her.
"Uhuh. She's really passionate about music though." Chariot smiled. "I'm probably going to tell her when she's finished with my class, if she hasn't figured it out by then."
"That sounds really great actually." Croix leaned forward, admiring the way just a few strands of red hair rest on Chariot's face. "I'm glad you found a way to spread smiles even now."
"Yeah, it's really nice." Chariot chuckled before trailing off into silence.
As Croix's eyes drifted down Chariot's face, she found herself staring into red orbs. Those same red orbs that often sneaked their way into her day dreams.
Those same red orbs that were… staring right back into her eyes?"
"Chariot, is there something on my face? You're staring."
"Eh.. Eh?!"Chariot blinked before immediately turning a light shade of scarlet. "I was-wasn't… I just, was wondering where your glasses went?"
"Laser eye surgery." Croix shrugged. "Had it a while back… though I see you picked up a pair of glasses yourself."
"Y-yeah well, you know… sometimes grading papers is a strain on my eyes."
"Well, they look good on you." Croix complimented.
"Aw thanks." Chariot giggled.
Another moment of silence. Chariot fidgeted in her seat as Croix tapped nervously on the table.
"So Cha-"
"Croi-"
"You go first." The teacher offered.
"No, I insist you do Ms. Du Nord." Croix counter-offered.
"No no, I couldn't. After all, you're older than I am. I should let you go first."
"Perhaps, but you're also supposed to respect your elders, and I absolutely think that you should go first."
Chariot sighed. "Fine… uh… Croix… do you uh, have a special someone?"
Croix smiled upon hearing the question.
That question? With that nervous tone of voice? Could only mean one thing.
"I do not. Haven't had one in almost a decade in fact."
Chariot's heart jumped, but she tried to play it cool.
"I-I-Is that s-so?" she failed. "I-I can hardly believe that. Look at you! You look absolutely amazing in that white suit. And I'm sure you're every bit as wonderful as a p-person as you were in high school. How could someone like you still be single?"
Croix snickered. "I've been far too busy with my work to think about romance… and a girl who could manage to pull me away from that hadn't come along yet." Croix looked straight at the nervous teacher. "How about you Ms. du Nord? I'm sure you've had someone special at least once in ten years."
"E-eh, no. Nope." Chariot looked away nervously. "None."
"Really?" Croix laughed. "I can hardly believe that, considering you had that brief stint as a rock star."
"It's true!"
"Is that so…" Croix trailed off, looking around as more and more people left. People who had arrived at the café long after Chariot herself did. "I think we may have overstayed our welcome here Char."
"P-perhaps…" Chariot muttered, trying to hide her disappointment. Something Croix had not failed to pick up.
She stood up and offered a hand to her old friend.
"So … wanna continue this conversation at my house?"
"Please make yourself at home. I'm just going to change out of this." Croix said as she went into her room.
Chariot took a spot on the couch and took a deep breath.
She felt herself fidget on the spot, palms beginning to sweat, heart rate beginning to quicken.
Why am I so nervous? I'm just sitting in Croix's house... Alone with Croix…
…
Oh god I'm sitting in Croix's house, alone with Croix. Do-does she remember… she has to right? Why else would she invite me over…
Lost in thought, Chariot failed to notice Croix walk back into the living room, jacket and tie removed, leaving her wearing a black button up dress shirt and white pants. She failed to notice Croix sneaking up to the couch, a mischievous grin on her face..
And she failed to notice Croix pounce atop her.
Chariot gasped as she found herself suddenly pinned down on the couch under Croix.
"C-Croix?" Chariot breathed sharply, heart racing as she stared up at Croix's darkened emerald eyes.
"I've missed you, ma cherie."
Chariot blushed upon hearing the term of endearment, directed towards her with such adoration and desire. A feeling of desire she also shared.
"Croix, I missed you too." Chariot breathed out, beginning to wrap her arms behind Croix's waist.
Not a moment after, both of their lips crashed together, need radiating from both of them.
Chariot's hands roamed around Croix's back before finding exactly where they wanted to be, left arm around Croix's neck and the right hand entangled in lilac-hair.
Croix's hands, originally to the side of those red locks of hair, cupped Chariot's cheeks before maneuvering under her back.
Croix nibbled lightly on Chariot's lower lip, causing Chariot to groan, parting her lips. The sound drove Croix wild, and the two began to grow lost exploring one another as they deepened their kiss.
Ten years had been far too long.
Those years apart had only served to strengthen how they felt about each other, and now they were desperate to make up for lost time, the background fading away as they found themselves growing more and more lost in each other.
The only things either of them were aware of were the person together with them and their ever growing need to become closer.
Although, it might have done them some good to be more aware of their surroundings...
"Woah!" Croix gasped as she fell off the couch, back first towards the ground, Chariot in tow.
When they finally got their bearings, both women sat up and started laughing.
Ten years, and even this was still the same.
"Jeez, it's like I can't pay attention to anything when I'm around you Char."
"I know the feeling." Chariot laughed as she rested on Croix's shoulder and smiled. "I'm glad… You remembered our promise."
Croix wrapped her arm around Chariot. "Of course I did. 'If after college, we meet up and neither of us are dating anyone…" Croix began to quote Chariot from over ten years ago.
"We'll pick up right where we left off." Chariot giggled. "Honestly, I think you ruined other people for me. No one ever had a chance."
"I'll have to agree with you there." Croix smiled as she rested her head on Chariot's, admiring her from above.
Then she got a good look through Chariot's glasses, and promptly removed them from her face.
"Croix! What're yo-"
"These aren't even prescription!" Croix laughed. "Do you only wear these for looks?"
"M-Maybe" Chariot stuttered, looking away from her lilac-haired lover.
"Wait…" Croix noticed the redness on the tip of Chariot's ears. "Did you wear these because you missed me? Aww, that's so sweet." Croix teased.
"T-That's not true! I-It helps me look more d-distinguished."
"Pfft please Chariot. You've always been a horrible liar." Croix smirked.
Chariot stewed in her embarrassment, before something caught her eye under the coffee table.
"Croix, is tha- That is!" Chariot reached out for a CD case. "You have a physical copy of my group's full album?! We only made like a hundred of these. And they only sold here!"
"I bought it off of eBay." Croix shrugged.
Chariot laughed. "Why would you even-"
"What can I say? The lead singer's pretty hot." Croix chuckled.
Chariot swiped at Croix's arm, laughing even harder.
"When did my super serious Croix become such a flirt?"
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me Chariot. Some things change over ten years you know."
"Well as far as I can tell, you're still my Croix Meridies. Buut…," Chariot said, sounding immediately more serious, "I hope you can stick around, so I can find out about all the things that actually changed."
Croix smiled.
"You better believe I'm sticking around, Chariot du Nord. I'm not going anywhere anymore, not without you."
Lol, I'm really bad at coming up with AUs, so I kept their lives basically the same, put them in modern life, but took out all semblance of angst.
Also lol Croy.