KOI NO YOKAN | SUCCUBUS | WC: 893
When Gianna set out to find someone who would love Sally as she deserved to be loved, she honestly hadn't thought the whole thing would slip out of her hands. Gianna—succubus as she was—knew love. And she liked it structured. And if Sally really wasn't interested in her, she might as well find her someone good… she just hadn't expected an English teacher.
"Paul is just so kind," Sally sighed wistfully, her whole figure softening as she thought of the man Gianna hadn't intended to love her. Really, all the work Gianna put into finding someone wealthy and charming and all the other things men were good for, down the drain because of a writing seminar.
"Are you sure about him?" Gianna grouched, pushing Sally aside to take over the vegetable cutting, shooing the mortal woman to sit down at the counter, dreamy-eyed and awfully in love with the man.
"I think so," Sally said, cupping her chin in her hands and leaning her elbows on the counter. Her gaze twitched nervously between the tight grip Gianna had on the paring knife and the vegetables being pulverized. "I can—"
"No. Tell me about Paul."
"He…" Sally hesitated a moment longer as she pulled her gaze back to Gianna's face. "He's a teacher, I've told you that. We met at the writing seminar, he's also interested in writing a book… he's the first person—besides you and Ahmed, and I know you just asked to humor me—who really showed interest in my book," Sally continued over Gianna's protest, "and he just… Gianna he's such a smart man. He's witty, and clever and just… he has a whole different perspective to things I never would have thought of… and he cares so much, about me, about writing, about all of his students and being a supportive teacher. And Gianna, his love of learning…"
"Good gods, woman," Gianna muttered under her breath, smiling in encouragement when Sally looked over in question.
"I mentioned we met in a writing seminar, right? Even though he's working as a teacher already, he keeps taking classes at the college because he enjoys learning so much…" Sally's voice sweetened into something desperately enamored. "And because he wants to be the best teacher for his students, too. He's so sweet around kids, too. I told him about Percy and—" she laughed, eyes crinkling as she practically melted "—gods, he was just so invested in learning about everything Percy loved and wanted to be. He offered to help tutor him, too, once he learned about Percy's dyslexia and difficulties in school… I've been thinking I might send Percy to his school, try to get him in Paul's class. Maybe he'll finally have a teacher who helps him succeed."
"You're hopeless," Gianna said honestly. She laughed as Sally buried her face in her arms, aware of how in-love she had to sound. The succubus couldn't help but think that it sounded terribly exhausting to be as in love with someone as Sally was. Now she just had to find out if Paul was as in love with her as she was with him. If he wasn't… Well, Gianna was a succubus.
"I know, Gianna, I can't—it's been so long since I've felt like this," Sally muttered into her folded arms. "I thought—with Poseidon, it was all so… it was all so fast. He felt like the center of my world. It was like I revolved around him. Even with… Poseidon always liked to tell me how wonderful he thought I was, and how much he cared about me. Paul hasn't told me anything like that. I think he's too embarrassed, honestly. He's caring, and he brings me coffee every day and checks up on me whenever he has the chance, and… a friend of mine sent me a video of him talking about me. His smile, Gianna. His smile…"
Gianna set the paring knife aside, washing off her hands and stepping around the counter, putting one hand and rubbing little circles on her friend's back. Sally sniffled quietly, rubbing her eyes against the fabric of her shirt.
"I feel like—" Sally choked on her words, stammering for a moment. "I feel like it's real. With Poseidon… it felt like a dream. I knew he was going to leave. With Gabe—there was nothing with Gabe. But gods, Gianna. Paul is so—he's so present. He's always there, and he gives as much as I do, if not more. I feel—"
Gianna wrapped her arms around Sally's front, giving her a clumsy hug. "You feel loved?" the succubus guessed. "Appreciated? Like someone cares about you for you, like he sees you? I love you, you know that, but it's not… as much as I joke, I'm not in love with you. But it sounds like this Paul of yours is, and you with him. I'm a succubus—your ex was a god. By nature we'd never be able to give you what you deserved, never be able to give you that stability and love and honesty that Paul clearly wants to."
"What do I do?" Sally gasped for air, and Gianna hugged tighter. "What do I do, Gianna?"
"What do you want to do?"
Gianna practically draped herself over the other woman as Sally thought, holding her close. She deserved love, she really did.
"I want to love him."
a/n: wanted something sappy
