A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I have been so busy! But I have some time on my hands now so here is the next chapter! I finished the latest AC game and I have to be honest and say I was disappointed :( oh well!
Santana and Brittany walked along the canal, arm in arm. They chatted about simple things like the hot weather and the artwork that they had looked at yesterday. Santana admitted to the blonde girl that she did not have a great deal of interest in art which baffled Brittany to no end, why was she in the gallery in the first place? She did not voice her question however because she thought Santana might take offence by her prying. And she did not want to make Santana not like her, not when they were having such a nice time.
Brittany was distracted by a quacking sound, "oooh! San look!" Brittany squealed dragging the darker girl closer to the water to show her what had excited her. A family of ducks were swimming on the water's surface. Brittany's face lit up as she watched the birds go about their business, leaning over the small wall to get a closer look at them.
Santana stood and watched Brittany overcome with feelings, she felt strange. Brittany had just called her San. Santana had never been called anything affectionate apart from when her father called her "little one". She smiled, she liked the name.
Brittany glanced back at Santana with a smile on her lips as the sunlight made her eyes shine. The brunette's heart lurched in her chest.
After a few minutes of watching the ducks, Brittany took Santana's arm again slightly snuggling into her. Santana jerked slightly in surprise and prayed that the blonde didn't notice her reaction.
"Sorry" Brittany mumbled, and straightened herself out breaking their link. Santana could detect a hint of disappointment in the blonde's voice, "I just get really excited when I see ducks, they are my most favourite animal in the world" she looked back to Santana and smiled apologetically.
Shit Santana thought She thinks I'm pissed at her, she only caught me by surprise, if it was anyone else I would have punched them already out of impulse. In fact she had nearly flicked out her blades, but thankfully she stopped herself. Damn these assassin instincts Santana cursed internally, now how to make this right so she won't be offended?
"For what?" she smirked boldly taking Brittany's arm again, the blonde looked down at their linked arms and grinned widely. Santana's world seemed to slow down while inside she was dancing, leaping, flying all at the same time. The assassin thought she might burst.
Although Santana was a bundle of nerves around the girl because she hated the thought of making a fool of herself, she felt strangely at ease plus despite being out in the open was terrifying it was exhilarating at the same time.
She was able to fully appreciate things she never could before when she was in the shadows. Like watching people buy things from merchants, it fascinated her to see what people were interested in and the interaction between the sellers and buyers. She enjoyed the banter had between them as they tried to agree a price.
It made a nice change from tracking a corrupt merchant and slitting his throat.
The Pierce girl brought her back to the present. "I like your dress by the way". She fingered the material along Santana's arm, "where did you get it?"
Santana was too distracted by the blonde's fingers trailing along her arm, so close to her skin to answer her question. The brunette swallowed and concentrated on slowing down her breathing with a technique she had learned. Although it was to be used to conserve energy when fighting enemies, not from a girl's touch. What would it be like to hold her, to embrace her...
"San? Earth to Santana" Brittany chuckled bringing the brunette crashing back to earth, "What? Sorry, i was uh...distracted" Santana flushed.
"I could tell" Brittany said patting her arm and putting her own back to her side, "I said where did you get your dress?"
"Ah, my dress, it was eh.. crap! ..a gift" Santana shrugged hoping not to go into the matter further, as if she was going to tell her she got it from a wardrobe in an assassin's hideout.
Probably from a boy Brittany thought sadly, she most have some sort of suitor, she is so beautiful.
They spent the rest of the day by the canal seated on one of the many stone benches watching the world go by and commenting on various people. As the sun began to set, Santana walked Brittany to her house, despite the blonde's protests, the assassin wanting to ensure she got back home safely. Brittany could not help but be flattered by her chivalry.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Brittany exclaimed reaching inside her pocket and pulling out a coin of silver and placing it in Santana's hand. The brunette examined the coin closely a look of confusion on her face.
Brittany giggled and before she could stop herself she reached out and touched the crease between Santana's eyebrows, causing them to shoot upwards as Santana looked into her eyes.
"Don't frown San" Brittany breathed, "it's just an invite to this party, it's on the night after tomorrow, sorry for the short notice but my cousin only gave me them today and it's fine if you don't want to-"
"I'd love to go" Santana smiled.
"Oh" Brittany let out in a huff and smiled the widest she thought she ever could, "Brilliant! Ok so you need a mask, because it's a masquerade ball" she tapped the coin still in Santana's palm, "and I was thinking we could meet at the gallery again and we could go together from there, I'll get my uncle to organise a carriage for us?"
"I have a much better idea" Santana smirked, "how about I meet you there?"
Brittany looked at the darker girl with a puzzled expression, "But how will you know what I look like? We have to wear masks"
"Don't you worry Britt, I'll find you" Santana winked, "and anyway it will add to the theme of mystery, that way it will be more fun".
"Britt?" the blonde girl repeated a smile playing on her lips
"Yeah, well you called me San, so you need a name too, that is if you want one" Santana looked down at her feet, her cheeks taking on a red hue. Brittany giggled and took the assassin's hand giving it a pat before letting it fall back to its owner's side.
"I like it, Britt" she said again tasting it, she liked the name a lot but that had a whole lot to do with the girl who said it.
Santana looked up from the ground and beamed, and the blonde girl found her breath literally stolen away from her lungs. She is so beautiful. Brittany had the urge to reach out and cup the brunette's face in her hands, to touch her dimples as they framed her full lips. But of course she didn't, what would Santana have thought? she would probably freak out and never want to talk to me again Brittany thought fearful, she definitely did not want that to happen, so she kept her hands to herself.
Little did she know that the girl across from her was going through the exact same battle in her own mind.
"Ok, well I'll see you at the ball the day after next" Brittany said excitement lacing her already bubbly voice, causing Santana to chuckle, "but we should have a codeword for if you find me" Brittany teased.
Santana raised a perfect eyebrow "See you then Britt, and whenI find you, you'll know it's me" Santana teased her voice smooth with confidence.
The two girls parted and Brittany went inside her house, only to be greeted by her cousin Artie.
"Who's the fiery lady?" Artie teased "she certainly has you in a blaze" he pointed to her cheeks, which she proceeded to touch, they were hot, great.
"Oh shut up cousin" Brittany swatted at Artie, "her name is Santana and she really is a lovely person"
"I'll bet" Artie said, "I would say those breasts of hers are particularly lovely too, wouldn't you agree cousin?"
"ARTIE!" Brittany whined. Her cousin had always known that she had an attraction to girls as well as boys but being the graceful person he was he never ceased to tease her, but only in private as she had begged him not to tell anyone. The blonde girl did not want to be a source of embarrassment for her uncle as he was doing so well with his business.
"So tell me Brittany, will Santana be accompanying us to the ball?" Artie asked with a smile.
The Pierce girl glared at her cousin before answering, "She will be there cousin yes, I have given her the extra invite that you gave me, we are going as friends" she emphasised the last word.
"Well then that's perfect" Artie grinned, "She may be my next conquest" he looked at her boldly.
"Don't you dare!" Brittany shouted before she could stop herself, she felt her already red cheeks flush a much deeper shade.
"Ah-ha! I knew you liked her, you can't keep anything from me!" Artie grinned wickedly, "And just so you know, if by what I saw is anything to go by, she's infatuated by you cousin"
"What?" Brittany asked incredulously, "you were spying on me?"
"Well you were outside my house, and I just so happened to be at the window...behind the curtain"
Brittany could not help but laugh before stopping short, he said she liked me.
"What do you mean cousin? What makes you say that? She doesn't even like girls" Brittany said sadly remembering the dress that Santana had gotten as a gift.
"The way she looked at you girl, well she was like a blind man seeing the sunrise for the first time, and when she wasn't looking at you, she was glancing around as if to see if there was any danger, protective like".
"And you saw all this from a peep between the curtains?" Brittany asked amused.
"What can I say? I am a master of character" Artie winked, "trust me cousin, she likes you and who wouldn't eh? You come from a handsome family" he whipped his head back causing Brittany to cry with the laughter.
"I think you're very wrong Artie" Brittany said, but she could not shake the little bubble of hope that resided in her heart for him to be true. I guess things will become more clear at the ball.
A/N: what did you guys think? sorry again for the late update, but I'm working on the next chapter right now so hopefully a sooner update :) Please review if you can. I'm also on Tumblr if you wanna check me out, my url is: santanahoney
