The French were known for romance, their very culture seemingly based in love and passion. The irony was not lost on Amelie as she glanced at the television, a commercial pushing flower delivery on the screen. How could she ever be accused of such emotion when the ability to feel had been stripped from her by Talon's twisted scientists?
And yet, she did feel something for the blonde sitting on the floor in front of her. She shouldn't be able to, the science had worked where everyone else was concerned, but somehow this one woman had broke through. Sometimes Amelie was certain she knew this, treading easily through the mud that clogged her mind and heart, reaching a part that had been dead to everyone else for years.
The woman leaned her head back against the chair, bright blue eyes meeting the gold of Amelie's. "What do you think about a nice dinner out?" The question sounded so natural, so simple, though it was anything but.
"Someone would see. We can't risk that, not when we just got here." The two women had been relocating frequently to avoid their respective teams from finding out about them. The blonde, named Angela, worked for an elite group of people tasked with catching special case bad guys. Amelie belonged to the opposition, working for the bad guys in question. Overwatch and Talon, two sides of the same coin in Amelie's mind, and she wasn't sure which she hated more.
"It is nice to dream though, isn't it?" Angela asked with a soft voice. She didn't seem upset by the response she received, used to being shut down on similar ideas. She was more patient, more understanding than her partner. The balance was very necessary to both women.
"Dreaming is sometimes more harm than good. You get your hopes up for things you can never have." Amelie said in a similarly soft voice. She was cynical and cautious, aloof and calculated. The best parts of her were saved and collected for Angela to enjoy exclusively. To say she truly loved her was an understatement, one she still couldn't fully grasp.
"Sometimes you need something to look forward to though. However, I'd be content with this forever." She smiled, resting her hand on Amelie's knee. "I know what you think, I know you worry I'm not happy with you, with this. But I promise you I am. Aren't you?"
Amelie tsk-ed, irritated that she had been called to question. Angela knew it was a sore spot, but ever the good doctor, she poked gently to make Amelie explore the problem, to try to work through it.
"I want to give you more. You deserve much better than secret hideouts and frequent moves. You should be able to make roots and have a garden. I want to bring you to my chateau, nobody else. You'd love the bay windows." Amelie's hands stretched out as she spoke, as if she could make them appear with simple gestures. "But they know about that property. They know my accounts. I cannot... I cannot risk you. I will not."
Angela sighed, raising her hands to take Amelie's. "I do not need all that. I need you... As long as you are here with me, nothing else matters. I promise."
Amelie forced a small smile, but it was unconvincing. Angela didn't push though, letting the moment surround them. Sometimes silence was more effective than any word could be.
-‐--‐--‐--
Days would pass, turning into weeks, into months, and the women would repeat the same rituals time and time again. Their lives had been this way for some time, where they would relocate, relax, question public daytrips, and relocate once more. On several occasions, Angela would muse that they'd eventually run out of cities, of countries to visit. Amelie hated thinking about it, it felt like a finality she wasn't open to accepting.
They'd decided to see Paris this time, the city of love, appropriate for the time of year. Angela had requested it, and Amelie would never turn her down if she could avoid it, so they had arrived just two days before valentines day. Both women knew there was too much risk for them to be out and about for the holiday, but nobody would bat an eye at a well disguised blonde woman purchasing fine wine and charcuterie trays, loaves of bread or expensive cuts of meat. They could have an exquisite meal all on their own, without prying eyes.
Angela arrived back at their temporary housing, a rental she'd procured privately, and placed the shopping bags on the kitchen counter. Amelie wandered in from the sitting room, eyeing the haul curiously.
"One would think you intend to feed an army, and not two women alone." Her tone had a slight clip to it, ever suspicious of other's motives and moves.
"I may have gone a little overboard, but it is okay. We will indulge and enjoy our night." Angela replied in a soothing voice, very much used to Amelie's concerns.
"Of course we will." Was all Amelie said in response, all Angela needed to hear.
The women spent valentines day cooking together, gentle caresses and lingering smiles as they grazed past one another or handed each other a requested tool. To anyone else, it would look so easy, so carefree. To them however, it was all they could do to push their worries aside.
At around 6 pm, Angela excused herself to take a shower. She had flour in her hair and felt it necessary to clean up, despite Amelie's reassurances that it was fine. Amelie herself stayed in the kitchen to finish up the cooking, and then set the table as well.
At 7:30, Angela re-emerged, the picture of radiance. Amelie could feel her pulse quicken, surprised by the sight she beheld.
"Mon dieu..." she muttered, stepping closer to the other women, eyes slowly scanning down and back up.
"Is it too much?" Angela asked, a blush taking over her face. She was wearing a cream colored dress with gold overlay, shimmering in the lights. Her blonde hair was pinned back with a crystal encrusted barrette, leaving her face free, unable to hide.
"Not at all. I simply wish I had been able to... to do even half as much for you..." Amelie said, aware that she had not gotten dressed up, still wearing her casual day clothes from before. She was not used to being outshined like this, but she found she didn't quite hate it.
Angela took the woman's hand, smiling. "It is fine. Let us enjoy our dinner together." The two walked to the table and took their seats, conversation flowing easily like so much red wine.
At the end of dinner, Amelie began to clear the dishes away while Angela put the leftover food away. Amelie wasn't used to doing these little tasks in her previous life, but she wasn't against doing them now. Everything felt new, better with Angela there. She was willing to take steps she never would have before.
Angela stepped up behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Ma chérie?" Amelie asked, curious what the action was for. Angela was naturally very affectionate, but this was still new.
"I have something for you. I have waited to give it to you until the right moment, and I have to say that tonight feels like that moment. Seeing you against the background of this city, eating this amazing cuisine, drinking this fine wine... I cannot imagine a better time." She linked her arm around Amelie's, turning her around.
Amelie leaned back against the sink, eyes finding Angela's as the blonde picked up a small bag from the counter nearby, holding it up.
"A gift I've been carefully hiding for a few months." She handed the bag to Amelie, who noticed that her lover was now holding her breath in anticipation. A flittering thought crossed her mind to open the gift slowly, as to tease the other woman, to see how long she would keep holding her breath. She dismissed the thought, there would be plenty of time for that later, in the bedroom.
Amelie reached into the bag, withdrawing a small jewelry box. She smiled at Angela, preparing to ask her to help with the necklace clasp, until she opened it and saw what was nestled inside. She gasped, surprised by not a necklace or even earrings, but by a ring, shimmering even brighter than Angela's dress, yearning to be touched and worn.
"Angela... I... I-" Amelie started, raising her eyes to Angela's. She was rendered practically speechless, which ended up working in the other woman's favor.
"I have never been able to see you as my enemy. From the very moment I met you, I yearned for you. I know this is difficult, but it is worth it, and I want to keep us on this path for as long as we can be. I know you cannot wear it, at least outside of our bubble, but I wanted you to know that you are my world. And someday, we will figure things out. We can be happy like this, if you want us to be." She clasped her hands on Amelie's, waiting for the other woman's response.
Amelie felt tears well up in her eyes. Who knew she was capable of such a feeling? Such a reaction? It was all she could do to nod, leaning into Angela for support. She allowed the ring to be placed on her finger, followed by a delicate kiss on her Iips. She placed her hand into Angela's hair, pulling her closer for a deeper kiss. This was undeniably the best valentine's day either woman had ever had.
