A/N: HAPPY THANKSGIVING (if you celebrate!)
was hoping to have this out today so here we are!
Anne hadn't been keen on going out, not for lack of trying. Meeting guys from friends or dating apps, despite reservations. But usually things would not pan out beyond that initial first date. Something would go wrong. Either Anne would blow it like be a complete mess and say the wrong thing, or the date would turn out to be a jerk or a creep.
Thinking back to Sasha's coming out to her and Marcy, she saw how serene she looked in her face to seek acceptance and get it. Anne figured Sash knew deep down that the Calamity Trio would be totally open to the idea so there was nothing to worry about. But Anne hadn't been in the closet before. She could only imagine what it was like.
You see crazy people on the news doing terrible things to others that just wanted to live their lives. If two people were happy and willing and nobody was getting hurt, what was the damn problem? Even telling her best friends must have taken all of the courage Sasha had. She made quite the turnaround when Grime and the toads made her their lieutenant. But this was different. This took years for her to figure out and work up the nerve to express.
Sasha has changed but it wasn't until recently that Anne noticed this sadness about her. It usually came when Sasha didn't think anyone was looking. Especially at a crowded party and others would talk while Sasha kind of retreated into herself. Today leading up to this first kiss, that sadness disintegrated and those fierce cerulean eyes returned. Those eyes that never missed what they wanted and let you know that nothing was getting in the way.
Anne wondered how long these feelings were permeating through Sasha's head. Maybe back in Amphibia?
Could that mean...
It seemed like whenever Sasha did something nice in those days a destructive thing would follow. Maybe she couldn't process her emotions when it came to Anne. That wasn't an excuse and current Sasha would be adamant about that. But they were all teenagers, kids. Their minds were going in all directions and then you thrust them into a strange land and ultimately become involved in an interdimensional war?
Anne admitted to herself that things felt differently between the two of them after Sasha's confession years ago. Now the openly bi blonde would look her way and new emotions would emerge. Was this "gay panic" as people called it? Assuming that someone would be into you but you might not feel the same? It was alarming in the beginning but the more Anne let it fester in her mind the more it made sense.
Again, she had only dated dudes and nothing came of it. Maybe bi or pan people have the right idea. Why not leave yourself open? Your soulmate could come from anywhere, right? Why close the door on the chances of finding the person in this world that gets you.
Seeing Sasha at the restaurant would send those warm feelings flooding back. Maybe in the beginning she could shrug it off as nostalgia but not anymore. Not since Sasha began invading her dreams, like a thirsty incubus who just wanted to cuddle. And being cornered by her mother to go out and have some fun, she called Sasha almost in a panic. Part of her was really hoping she wouldn't say yes despite her wanting the opposite.
Anne had planned on seeing the movie anyway and saw this as the ideal ruse to hang out with Sasha without her catching wind of anything. Sasha knew that Anne was cool with her the way she was. But maybe having her admit to having a crush on her would be too much to take.
But she got it off her chest and at her most vulnerable Anne was saved by the realization that Sasha felt the same.
Now they had closed the gap between them in more ways than one and kissed. It wasn't Anne's first and she was certain it wasn't Sasha's either.
But it felt nice, everything moving so fast and yet time standing still. When they connected they were in their own world, ignoring the other customers, staff, everybody. No one else existed in this moment. It was just them.
Eventually they had to pull apart and remember how hungry they were.
Sasha ordered some enchiladas while Anne asked for a plate of nachos with all the trimmings: quac, sour cream, melted cheese, etc. Conversation was more muted as they eagerly ate their food. Occasionally they would steal a glance of the other. One doesn't look particularly dignified or alluring when chowing down on some Mexican cuisine with such gusto. That didn't matter. Anne and Sasha couldn't help but look.
On those times when they looked across the table at the same time and their eyes met, immediately both girls blushed.
Things were still awkward but now they were in that good kind of awkward, when you are over the moon for somebody and you simply cannot function.
The way Anne would have some of her nacho toppings dripping from her mouth was just precious to Sasha and couldn't help but smile.
"You want to get out of here?" asked Sasha.
Anne looked down at both of their plates.
"But we didn't finish," she said despite feeling full.
"Let's get these wrapped to go," the blonde suggested as she traced Anne's hand with her finger. "Let's go somewhere...private."
The Thai girl's eyes widened and she aggressively flagged down the nearest server; they weren't even their server.
"CHECK PLEASE!"
It was getting dark so they didn't want to be out of town for long so they decided to head back to L.A. and keep the rest of their day out local.
"So where are we going?" Anne asked in the car, stretching.
"Well, I realized that I haven't invited you over to my place yet."
Anne thought about it.
"No, I've been there!" she protested.
"Yeah when it was a sea of boxes. I officially unpacked my last one...two months ago."
"I remember helping," Anne said.
Sasha shook her head.
"I remember you building a box fort. I couldn't find you for like a half hour."
Anne tried in vain to cover her mouth but she instead made more noise than if she let herself laugh. Sasha couldn't contain it any longer and let it out. She remembered the image of Anne popping out from her castle of cardboard like a fuzzy-haired jack-in-the-box.
"Why do you love jumping out and scaring me?" asked Sasha.
Anne shrugged, "Because you're Sasha Waybright!"
The blonde blinked.
"What does that mean?"
"You're so cool and have it together. But when you're surprised, you drop your armor and let out your silly side."
Sasha raised an eyebrow.
"So, I'm silly now?"
"As long as you promise that only I see your sweet silly side," Anne flirted.
"Deal."
They pulled up at Sasha's apartment building and used the key fob to unlock the main door and get inside. Reaching the third floor, Sasha led Anne to the end of the corridor to her door. She fished out the keys and opened the door.
Anne was startled when the door shut completely on its own after Sasha let it go. Then she noticed it had one of those springs attached to the wall so that it would always swing shut unless you prop an object against it.
She looked around, taking in Sasha's interior decorating. Nothing fancy, just very minimal and comfortable. But something unusual on the wall caught Anne's eye and she walked to the other side of the living room to get a better look.
"Is that...is that Grime?"
Sasha came up behind Anne.
"Yep"
It was a rather good likeness of the commander of toad forces, immortalized in a portrait.
"You painted that?" Anne asked, astonished.
"Yeah, I think it's my best one" Sasha non-nonchalantly shrugged.
Anne turned to Sash.
"Whoa, so we're an artist too?"
"Well back in college I had to take an elective to fill my credit quota so I thought why not an art class. Next thing I knew I began taking Drawing I and II and even dabbled in painting. Spoiler alert: I hate to paint."
The drawing was really good. Anne was impressed by how close it was to the real thing. She could see by the look in Sasha's eyes when she regarded the picture that it was more then an exercise in her creativity. This portrait on her wall in her living space was a kind of shrine. And why not? They were comrades in battle more than once.
"You still draw?" asked Anne.
"Yeah, sometimes. Only for fun. Again I only hung this one because I think its my best and...you know..."
She didn't say much beyond that but Anne understood. This prominent image of Grime was presented proudly while you would be hard pressed to find a single photo of Sasha's mom or dad around here. Of all the people out of her life, he was the one she missed most.
"Sash?"
"Huh, what?"
"I said do you still draw?"
The blonde nodded.
"Where do you keep them?" asked Anne. "Are they in a drawer, a box [GASP!] do you have a portfolio?"
"I have some notebooks..." Sasha replied nervously.
Anne started scanning the room like and eyes grew at the sight of a shelf.
"Is that them?"
The blonde blushed bright red.
"No?"
A devilish grin sprouted on Anne's face and she took off, with Sasha barely keeping a grip on her.
"No, Anne! No its private!"
She grabbed one of the yellow pads and began flipping through it. She stopped at a picture of a cardinal in a nest full of eggs. Anne showed it to Sasha.
"Why are you hiding this? It's beautiful!"
Sasha tried reaching for the book but Anne walked briskly around the room, evading her.
"Anne! I'm serious! Give it back!"
"Sash, I'm being serious! You're wicked talented! You nothing to be ashamed of..."
Flipping over to several pages ahead; Anne stops dead in her tracks, her sights on the current illustration.
Sasha made a low guttural growl. It was what she feared.
She found it.
The drawing was Anne as she is now. Only she was looking directly at you with her arms crossed in a self-hug position. But it served a function. The Anne here was not wearing anything. She was naked, at least halfway since the portrait only shows her from the waist up. However there was a modesty about it, very tasteful. Her hair was wet so it wasn't quite as poofy as it usually sat. What tied the whole thing together was the come hither look in her eyes and half smile. This is what her grandmother would've called a "boudoir" scene.
Anne's eyes glanced down to the lower left corner and it read S. Waybright, June 2022.
She drew this months ago.
She finally looked up from the sketch pad and locked eyes with Sasha, who was mortified beyond belief.
"Yeah," sighed Sasha.
"You're...hahaha," blushed Anne. "Really good, heh...heh..."
Sasha looked like she wanted to find the nearest hole, crawl into it and die.
"Is this...is this how you see me, Sash?"
A single tear formed and slid down her cheek.
"Yeah," she shrugged.
"How long have you felt this way?" Anne asked.
The blonde cleared her throat.
"A while."
Anne stood there in awe and nicely put down the book like it was the most precious thing in the world. Now with her hands free she wrapped them around Sasha and kissed her much longer than back at the restaurant.
Stunned, Sash lost her footing and fell backward, Anne still holding on for dear life. As luck would have it they landed safely on the couch. Now their minds flashed back to when they were having their game of hide and seek at the studio. Only now their positions are reversed.
"You okay?" Anne asked, concerned.
"Never better," grinned Sasha as she ran her hand through her brown hair.