A/N: Chapter eleven—which I promise, was worth the wait. At least I sure hope it is, haha. Thank you all for being so patient with me and thank you again for all the reviews, follows, favorites, and feedback! I so appreciate the time you all take to give me this!
With this chapter, and chapters 9 and 10, we've taken one giant step forward, but we've only just crossed the starting line.
And in this chapter, Elsa is just a little more honest with herself. I don't want to say too much, otherwise I'd spoil you all. So that's why I'm cutting this A/N quick this time. Enjoy!
The sound of hasty footsteps shuffling about was the only thing to fill the apartment's quiet atmosphere. The slam of a cabinet door closing shut soon followed, breaking the still air.
"I see. Yes, thank you for informing me Kai. Yes I would appreciate it if you kept me updated. Thank you and take care. Goodbye Kai."
The phone clicked and ended.
Elsa exited the bathroom, stuffing her cell phone, comb, and make-up kit into her messenger bag. A few stray hairs slipped from her bun, falling on her creased forehead. She rushed into her bedroom, grabbing her coat and scarf from her expansive closet.
There was a grunt from Meg's bed and she turned to see the brunette rising from her covers. "Elsa? What's the rush?"
Elsa walked over to her nightstand and opened the drawer, grabbing several bottles and shoving them into her bag as well. "It's nothing Meg. I'm just running a bit late, that's all."
Meg glanced at their clock and smacked her lips. "It's 7:45 Queenie, don't think that counts as late."
When Elsa didn't answer, choosing instead to make sure her lipstick was applied correctly, the brunette rolled her eyes and said, "What do you even have planned for today? I thought you didn't have any classes."
"Something," Elsa mumbled distractedly. She capped her lipstick tube and brushed the fallen strands of platinum-gold bangs back.
"Wasn't your presentation yesterday? What are you so worked up for?" Meg asked, yawning and flopping back onto her bed.
"It was," Elsa said, deftly doing up the buttons of her coat. She ignored Meg's raised eyebrow and asked, "Have you seen my keys?"
Meg blinked and shrugged to herself. "Think they're on the living room stand." The brunette released a huge yawn and snuggled back into her comforter.
Elsa hoisted her bag over her shoulder and rushed out of their bedroom. She gave an anxious huff as she hurried into the kitchen, quickly rushing over to peek at the boiling pot on the stove.
"Not done yet," she breathed in relief.
Running a shaky hand through her hair, she glanced around. I didn't forget anything did I?
A hiss and whistle from the teapot made her jump.
"Oh, right, right!" Elsa turned off the stove after checking the soup once again and lifted the teapot, fumbling for a towel before she grabbed the handle. She set it on the counter with care and reached for the thermoses she'd put aside nearby.
The blonde unscrewed one of the cups and gently filled it with the freshly made beverage. The scent of honey and lemon wafted up to her nostrils, causing her tense muscles to loosen. Elsa smiled slightly to herself, biting her lip as she screwed the small thermos shut. She turned back to the stove and scooped up the tomato soup into her second, larger thermos. Elsa made sure both canteens were safely sealed before depositing them into her messenger bag.
"What else?" she mumbled to herself, looking around quickly. Soup? Check. Tea? Check. Medicine? Check. Pills—
"Blondie."
Elsa whirled around, blue eyes wide.
Meg was leaning against the kitchen archway, head lolling to the side. Her clothes were still wrinkled from sleep and she was rubbing one violet eye tiredly. In her other hand, she held a small orange and white bottle. The brunette shook it for emphasis and its contents rattled inside.
"Don't forget these," Meg slurred around a yawn. She teetered on her feet and held it out.
"Oh, thank you Meg," Elsa said, flashing her roommate a small, grateful smile. She hefted her bag over her shoulder and crossed the room, taking the bottle and placing it in a pouch carefully.
She tried to ignore the obvious shaking of her hands.
Meg hummed and glanced down at Elsa's hands. The other woman slouched a bit and gently patted Elsa's shoulder. "You know you can talk to me about whatever's bothering you right?"
Elsa breathed in a deep sigh and nodded at her roommate. "I know I can, but don't worry about it." She drew back and wrung her hands together. "It's just one of those days."
"Elsa—" Meg started, frowning.
Elsa cut her off with a dry chuckle and shook her head, laying a hand on her roommate's arm. When Meg glanced down at her trembling fingers, her frown deepened. Elsa removed it and walked away a few paces, busying herself with her bag.
"Hey, Blondie—"
"No, no, really Meg. I'm fine," she said before Meg could say anything more. She turned back around and tried to give Meg an assured smile, but the brunette only continued to frown and Elsa knew she didn't buy it. She brought a curled hand to her chest and felt the anxious pulse of her heart.
"Today is just… It's just a bit more today," she mumbled with a weary smile.
Meg's face softened and she nodded, reaching out to pat Elsa's shoulder again. "Okay Blondie, if you say so. Just know if anything happens today you can call me alright?"
The thumping of her heart eased a bit and Elsa smiled, grateful for her roommate always. She blew at her fringe and glanced at the kitchen clock.
7:55.
She jumped and gripped her bag tightly. "I should be going. I wanted to see Anna as soon as I—" Elsa clamped her mouth shut and blushed hotly.
Meg smirked slightly and straightened. She looked over Elsa's shoulder to the stove and licked her lips at the aroma of breakfast. "Is that why you were running around all morning? Making some home remedies for Wonder Girl?"
Elsa coughed into her hand and strode back into the living room, muttering something under her breath. She passed the living room stand, grabbing her keys off the top and stooped down to pick up her heels.
"I'll take that as a yes!" Meg called out to her.
The tips of Elsa's ears burned and she stammered, "T-there's leftover soup a-and tea. Help yourself before you go to work."
"Sounds great," Meg said, poking her head out from the kitchen.
Elsa bit back a groan and rolled her eyes as she walked to the door. She could practically feel Meg's growing smirk on her back.
"I'll be home around eight," Elsa said, fumbling with the doorknob.
"Have fun with your sweetheart!" Meg cackled.
Elsa huffed and ignored the burning in her cheeks, closing the door harder than she usually would have and hurried down the hallway.
x x x
Elsa rushed out of the elevator as quickly as she could. She dipped her head in apology and muttered an "I'm sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush," when she slipped past the few people who had rode it along with her.
She hefted her bag up higher on her shoulder as she hurried through the hallway, glancing at her silver band wristwatch to check the time again. 8:03. Alright, not too bad. It's still early in the morning, like Meg said. Calm down Elsa, don't panic now. It's not like she's going anywhere.
Still, she didn't slow down her pace as she pushed open the double doors and walked in the direction of the parking lot. Her heels clacked against the cement and she repeatedly checked her bag to make sure neither of the thermos cups had spilled. Her keys jingled in her coat pocket and she felt a brief wave of trepidation wash over her as she made her way to her car.
Driving was not something she did often. Normally, Elsa was content to carpool with Meg, Tiana, or one of her other friends instead. She frowned and glanced down at her watch again as she entered the parking lot. Elsa headed down along the long rows of cars and toward the very outskirts of the lot. Since she didn't drive much, she didn't see fit to keep her car close by.
I'll there in ten, twenty minutes maybe? Sooner if traffic isn't too bad and I—
Elsa looked up from her wristwatch as she passed a sleek car, catching sight of a white and blue vest just before she collided with the person in question.
"Oof!"
Her forehead smacked against the man's back as he exited his car and she stumbled back a few feet. One of her heels slipped out from under her, causing her ankle to bend against the asphalt. She lost her balance and fell against the hard ground, her bag falling from her shoulder and thumping down, the sound of cups clattering inside.
"Ah," Elsa hissed, feeling a sharp, stabbing pain shooting up from her foot and traveling along her leg.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?!"
Elsa looked up to see the young man approach her. He had auburn hair, with surprisingly thick sideburns, and wore a prim suit. When he reached her, he immediately held out his hand to help her stand. She blinked at the extended palm.
The young man before her wore a pair of white, fine leather gloves. They would have stuck out like a sore thumb with his dark blue trousers and black shoes—if it weren't for his pristine white suit. Elsa felt a shiver crawl up her spine at the sight of them. She glanced up at him, biting her lip.
He was watching her, brow creased and hazel eyes darting over her figure. "Are you alright?" he repeated, concern evident. "Did you hurt yourself?"
Elsa was about to retort that she hadn't caused her fall, but then she remembered she hadn't exactly been looking where she was going. She brushed down her skirt and pushed herself off the ground, smoothing out any wrinkles in her outfit. She pointedly ignored the hand extended to her and watched it drop back to the young man's side. Elsa looked up and smiled politely at him. "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, um—"
She paused and he smiled at her, a mouth full of straight, white teeth. "Hans Westerguard," he said, dipping in a small bow at her. She was reminded then of so many formal young men her parents had introduced to her over the years. However, her unease dimmed when—instead of the composed expressions she was used to from those men—he gave her a wide, bright grin. Its sunny nature was so like the genuine friendliness of Anna's own sweet, beaming smile that Elsa instantly softened.
"Elsa Arendelle," she replied and didn't hesitate to shake his hand firmly when he offered it to her. "I don't recall seeing you around here Mr. Westerguard."
He straightened and clasped his arms behind his back. His smile only grew and she wondered if it would touch the large, thick sideburns he had. "Please, call me Hans. Mr. Westerguard is my father," he joked, a glint in his hazel eyes.
Elsa chuckled. "Alright Hans." She tilted her head and squinted. "Forgive me, but I really don't ever recall seeing you here before. Are you visiting someone?"
Hans shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. "No actually. I recently moved in a little while back. I used to dorm at the college campus nearby." He frowned, looking her up and down. "I'm not sure if you would know it though."
"No, I do know it. I go there actually. I prefer it over other colleges." Ones that I would have been expected to go to.
"Ah," he said, grin returning. "Well I wanted a change of scenery and this was one of the best places I could find. Though as you can see," he gestured to the parking lot, "I'm still finding my way around here."
"I'm sure you'll feel right at home soon enough," Elsa said. She glanced at her wristwatch again and noted the time. "I apologize, but I'm in a hurry if you don't mind."
"Not at all," Hans said. He glanced at the ground beside her. "Do you need help with that?" he asked, pointing at the fallen bag.
Elsa whirled around to stare at it, mouth dropping open. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, quickly snatching it up off the floor and opening it.
He frowned as she frantically searched through her things. "Is everything alright? Nothing broke right? If so, I can replace it easily."
Elsa checked her thermos cups, relief washing over her when she felt that they were still sealed tight. There wasn't a hint of any spilled liquid anywhere and she rearranged everything delicately. She flashed Hans a reassuring smile. "No, it's quite alright. It was just a simple mishap. Everything's fine."
He grinned and she was reminded yet again of Anna's smile. "I'm glad to hear that." He folded one arm behind his back and held out his hand again.
Elsa took it and they shook. He bowed again when she let go.
"Are you sure your ankle is fine?" His hazel eyes trailed down to her foot, brow furrowed.
Elsa gently pressed her foot against the ground and pursed her lips when she felt a flare of pain race up her leg. Her jaw tightened and she smiled thinly. "It's fine."
"Are you sure?"
Elsa nodded, smoothing her tense expression. "Yes, I am. Thank you for your concern though."
He beamed at her and she relaxed.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Miss Arendelle," Hans said.
"The pleasure was all mine," Elsa replied, dipping her head. "If you'll excuse me Hans, I have to go now."
"Of course. I hope we can talk again soon though. It'll be nice to see a familiar face."
Elsa just nodded as she turned away and said, "Good day."
He waved to her as she walked away. Her eyes momentarily glanced at his silvery-white car and her mind flashed back to what Meg had told her a while back.
Oh, Meg's expression is going to be priceless when I tell her I ran into the person that took her spot. She chuckled as she finally neared the end of the parking lot. And he actually seems like a nice guy.
Elsa pushed the thought of Hans and Meg from her mind however when she approached her dark blue car. She unlocked it and slipped inside, placing her bag on the passenger seat. The snowflake air freshener dangling from her rearview made her smile, it's mint scent calming her nerves. Her hands only shook a little bit as she revved the engine and began to pull out, glancing at her mirrors and then over her shoulder.
Just before she turned onto the road she glanced at her bag and her smile grew tender. I'll be there in a little bit Anna.
x x x
Elsa slipped into the dorm building, muttering an "Excuse me—" as she brushed past several students. Her heels clacked against the steps and echoed in the air as she rose to the fifth floor. To her relief, the amount of students she saw greatly lessened as she ascended.
For once I'm thankful for morning classes.
However, to her displeasure, her ankle throbbed and ached as she climbed the stairs.
Maybe next time I should consider the elevator.
Elsa huffed and wiped away a bead of sweat on her forehand when she reached the fifth floor. Her fingers trembled as she did up a loose button and then smoothed out the wrinkles in her coat and skirt. She pushed back a lock of hair behind her ear and strode down the hallway toward Anna's door.
The blonde paused and fiddled with her bag, glancing up and down the door. Her heart picked up speed and she tightened her grip on her bag strap.
Why am I so nervous?
Elsa rubbed her forehead and sighed, leaning against the door. She shut her eyes and her mind flashed back to yesterday's evening.
x x x
The door opened abruptly, startling Elsa and making her jump in place. She looked back at the entrance sharply to see a short-haired brunette struggling with a tool kit and a small pet carrier. She shifted both things in her arms, trying to keep her drawing pad tucked between her neck and shoulder.
"Okay, here we are Pascal. Home sweet home—"
The brunette paused, eyes wide and blinking when she finally noticed Elsa sitting on one of the beds.
Elsa felt her cheeks flame up when the other woman tilted her head to the side, forehead creasing in thought.
"Oh, uh, hello?" she said, eyes darting to the side and back to her in uncertainty.
Elsa sat up straighter, shoulders tensing, and delicately folded her hands in her lap, clutching the edge of her skirt. She fought down the burning sensation on her face and coughed. "Good afternoon. I'm sorry, this all must seem very confusing. I'm—"
"Oh, let me guess! You're Elsa Arendelle!" the brunette exclaimed, her expression lighting up in obvious delight and recognition. Her bright green eyes grew so wide they reminded Elsa of a young deer. She dropped the tool kit down by the door and placed the carrier onto the other, empty bed. There was a small squeak from inside and Elsa glanced at the dark interior, momentarily distracted.
She jerked her head back to face the brunette when the young woman quickly crossed the room to stand beside her, grabbing her hands and shaking them wildly. Elsa's fingers twitched and she gave the brunette's hands a firm shake before pulling back as discreetly as she could. The other woman didn't seem to mind—thank goodness—and instead held up her hands in front of her shirt, fists shaking excitedly.
"I'm Rapunzel! Anna's cousin and roommate," she said, grinning with green eyes bright and sweet. Elsa relaxed her shoulders a bit and she returned the smile with a small, reserved one of her own. "I've been wanting to formally introduce myself to you ever since you and Anna started—" Rapunzel stopped when she noticed the sleeping figure next to Elsa.
The blonde's shoulders tensed again and she couldn't stop herself from slowly reaching out and taking Anna's still hand in hers.
"Oh." Rapunzel's grin vanished from her face and she frowned. A sad—Expectant? Elsa wondered—expression crossed her face when she took in Anna's sleeping, ill form. "She ended up getting sick after all, huh?" Rapunzel said. The brunette sighed and all the shine left her body as she sat down next to Elsa.
Elsa shifted back a bit, fiddling with the edge of her skirt. She clenched Anna's hand when she saw Rapunzel glance down at their joined fingers before looking up at her. She smiled knowingly for a brief moment and Elsa's heart skipped a beat.
She loosened her grip, letting only the tips of her fingers graze the back of Anna's hand. Her nerves spiked under her skin and she bit her lip.
Calm down. Try to conceal it.
"Yes she wasn't feeling well when we met up and after we had lunch her fever worsened." Elsa blushed and glanced sideways at Anna when Rapunzel frowned. "I'm sorry."
"Hm?" Rapunzel looked back at her, eyebrows receding under her hairline. She blinked. "Sorry? For what?"
Elsa gnawed on her lower lip and released her grip on Anna completely. A slow twisting feeling started in her stomach and rose up to her throat. She wrung her hands together and said, "I- we were having lunch when she started to feel worse." Elsa stared at Anna, watching her sleeping face. Her chest rose and fell with each breath and Elsa felt something inside her constrict.
"I should have noticed sooner..." she whispered, almost to herself. Her mind flashed back to the frustrated expression she had seen on Anna's face just before she had called out to her on campus.
I wonder if something happened...
Rapunzel's light laugh broke her thoughts.
Elsa blinked and stared at the brunette, the knowing smile back on her face.
"You don't need to be sorry," she said, and her words and tone reminded Elsa of Anna. The brunette tucked a short strand of hair behind her ear and leaned over to peer at Anna's face. She frowned—though it lacked some of the earlier worry from before—and clicked her tongue. "Anna would have insisted she was fine even if you had noticed sooner."
Elsa brought her hands close to her chest. "She's stubborn, isn't she?" she asked.
Her mind flashed back to the way Anna had leaned into her when they had exited the café and walked back to her dorm. Anna's shuddering breath, ghosting over her ear, had made her stomach twist in worry. Even now, she still couldn't push away the anxiety crawling over her skin.
Again, Rapunzel's soft chuckle broke her from her reverie.
"Yeah she's really stubborn, sometimes to the point of being reckless." Rapunzel shrugged and smiled. "But she'll be back on her feet in no time. Don't worry Elsa, she's been through worse than this."
The smile on the other woman's face was kind and she felt a bit reassured, but still, Elsa couldn't stop the frown forming on her face. She looked down once again at the redhead's face. Anna did say she used to get into all sorts of accidents. I hope she slows down a bit.
"You like her a lot don't you?"
Elsa jumped, head snapping up. She blushed when Rapunzel's smile turned into a tiny grin. "I—" Elsa started only to close her mouth when Rapunzel just giggled. Her blush darkened and she turned away.
"It's okay, you don't have to say it," Rapunzel said, expression softening.
I could admit it to Anna. Somewhat. Why can't I show it to others?
Elsa coughed once. She was sure her face resembled a tomato as she continued to wring her hands.
"Stoicism is your greatest tool Elsa. The less people can decipher what you're feeling, the better your guard will be from them."
Her father's firm, aloof voice rang in her head. Elsa mentally winced and rose abruptly from her spot.
Rapunzel looked up, eyes wide. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
Elsa smoothed down her skirt and shook her head. "I'm fine." She glanced at her wristwatch, more because she needed something to do and less because she actually wanted to know the time. Elsa turned back to Rapunzel and smiled calmly, reserved. "I'm sorry, but it looks like it's time I left."
"Oh," Rapunzel said, taken aback. Nevertheless she smiled at Elsa. "Alright, thank you for taking care of her until I came back."
Elsa picked up her bag and nodded slightly. "You don't need to thank me—"
I wanted to.
"—it was nothing. I honestly didn't do much. I merely gave her some water and medication."
Rapunzel blinked at her, slowly. Something flickered in her green eyes and she glanced from Anna to Elsa. A gentle smile spread along her face. "You brought her home."
Elsa stiffened and her mask slipped. "I…" The heat returned to her cheeks and she gripped her bag until her knuckles turned white. "It was nothing. Anyone would have done it."
But in my case I wanted to do it.
Rapunzel stared at her for a long moment, the look in her eyes unreadable. A shiver ran up Elsa's spine and she fidgeted on the spot.
Then, the brunette just smiled again and nodded. "Even so, thank you for that." She turned to look back at Anna and grinned. She giggled and added, "Like I said, Anna's a stubborn girl."
"That, she is," Elsa whispered. She stared at Anna as well, ears picking up the whistle of her breath, watching her chest rise and fall. Warmth bloomed in her stomach and a small, genuine smile curled on her lips. Stubborn, but sweet.
She couldn't help the almost inaudible, dreamy sigh from escaping her lips. Elsa's fingers loosened around her bag's strap and she tilted her head, eyes falling to half mast as she continued to watch Anna. The warmth in her stomach spread outward, rising to her chest and pumping her heart with blood and emotion.
Out of the corner of her vision she saw Rapunzel lean over Anna and brush back the hair from her forehead. Elsa paused, wintery blue eyes trailing the movement of the brunette's hand. Rapunzel fluffed Anna's pillow a few times before pulling up the covers to the redhead's chin. Anna shifted in her sleep when the other woman stroked her head. The edges of Anna's lips quirked up a bit and Elsa watched as a glow lit up in Rapunzel's green eyes. She leaned down and placed a short, meaningful kiss on Anna's forehead.
The complete and utter affection—love—in her eyes made something in Elsa twitch. The blonde shifted on the spot and the warmth inside her drained from her fingertips. She bit her lip and looked away, feeling her stomach do a small flip. Unease settled low in her belly and her hands shook.
She felt like she was intruding on a private moment, the longer she stayed.
Elsa cleared her throat and Rapunzel turned to look back at her. The compassionate smile on the brunette's face made her cringe, guilt—oddly—lancing through her.
"I'm sorry, but I think it's time I left," Elsa said, fighting to not stumble over her words.
Rapunzel nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Of course." Green eyes darted to Anna and then back to her. "I already said this, but really, thank you for taking care of her for me. She means a lot to me."
Elsa nodded once, neck stiff. She almost reiterated that it was nothing, but found that her throat was clogged, a lump preventing her from speaking. She swallowed thickly and mumbled, "You're welcome," and strode toward the door. Before she could open it though, Rapunzel suddenly spoke up.
"Um! Excuse me?"
Elsa paused, one hand raised for the door knob.
"If you'd like to visit her tomorrow, you can come anytime. I've got classes in the morning, but I'll leave the door unlocked for you!"
Elsa felt that feeling in her stomach twist further. She swallowed again and glanced over her shoulder. "I… Thank you, I think I will. Good day… Um, it was a pleasure to meet you."
Rapunzel beamed. "Likewise."
Elsa felt her lips twitch and turned back to the door. She opened it, exited, and felt a pang in her chest when the wood shut behind her, the click resounding in her ears.
Elsa inhaled and then exhaled, hand pressed against her front. She glanced over her shoulder at the door, her mind flashing between the obvious affection on Rapunzel's face when she had stroked Anna's forehead to Anna's face when they had been so close, Elsa's lips pressed against the corner of Anna's mouth. She cursed her own cowardice.
Elsa sighed and turned to walk down the hallway, heels clacking against the floor.
I wish...I wish I could be that open. Feel that free.
x x x
Stop it. Don't think like that. Don't feel—
Elsa inhaled sharply and shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the memory. She stiffened and her neck muscles twitched.
Or maybe...
Elsa inhaled slowly and reached for the door knob. She tested it with a turn and was relieved when it gave way. Rapunzel did leave it unlocked. The door creaked as she stepped inside and she winced. Elsa shut it quietly and looked around.
The room was empty save for the sleeping form on one of the beds.
Elsa's shoulders dropped and she smiled slightly. Looks like it really is just us for now.
Her smile grew as she approached the bed and set down her bag, taking care to place it down quietly. Elsa sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned over.
"Hi there," she whispered, brushing back strawberry-blonde bangs.
Anna continued to sleep, breath raspy and whistling through her lips. To Elsa's amusement, the redhead's hair was a mess, strands sticking out everywhere. She giggled and tucked a lock of hair behind Anna's ear, bending down to press a short, soft kiss against the younger woman's temple.
There was a small sigh and she felt the bed shift.
Elsa drew back to watch teal eyes flutter open, the irises dark and hazy with sleep.
Anna blinked a few times, brow knitting in confusion.
Elsa grinned shyly and caressed Anna's cheek with the back of her hand. "Hi," she whispered again.
"Am I dead?" Anna asked, eyes narrowing. She tilted her head at Elsa, lips pursed in thought. The blonde's eyes widened and she was about to speak before Anna added, "Because an angel came down to see me."
Elsa almost snorted but bit her lip to keep from sounding crude. Laughter and warmth bubbled in her chest and one side of her lips curled up. "Anna are you alright? I think your fever is getting to you."
Anna grinned lazily, a twinkle in her eye lighting up the sea-green hue. "I don't think it's the fever. I'm just stunned by the gorgeous woman in front of me."
Elsa laughed, covering her mouth. "Flattery will get you nowhere Miss Bjorgman."
Anna's grinned stretched her cheeks, the smile closely resembling the Cheshire Cat. "I think it can get me quite a few places Your Majesty."
"Oh hush," Elsa scolded, lightly smacking the redhead's shoulder. Her hand lingered to stroke the light, summery-yellow pajama top. Her fingers dug into the fabric when she noticed the corners of Anna's eyes were red. She frowned and moved her hand to caress Anna's cheek, thumb brushing along the freckles splattered there. Her frown deepened when she felt how hot the skin underneath her palm was. "Your skin is even warmer than yesterday. How are you feeling?"
Anna opened her mouth to respond when her chest seized up. Elsa watched pain flash in her eyes before Anna shut them, grabbing a fistful of her own shirt while clutching her bed sheets with the other. A series of strong coughs wracked her body as she turned away from Elsa's hand.
"Anna!" Elsa scrambled farther onto the bed as the redhead curled in on herself, shaking and tensing from the force of her spasms. Elsa rubbed Anna's back with one hand and reached to squeeze the one on Anna's chest with the other. "There, there," Elsa whispered, pulling Anna closer to her. "It'll pass."
For the next few moments, she cooed and shushed into Anna's ear until she felt the younger woman relax.
Anna groaned and rolled onto her back again. The edges of her eyes were wet from exhaustion. She squinted at Elsa, forehead creased in obvious pain. "I hate getting sick. Breaking bones isn't as bad as lying around in bed feeling so utterly, utterly—"
She paused and Elsa frowned at the slight hitch in her voice.
"Bleh," Anna finished, blowing at her bangs.
Elsa laughed and cupped Anna's face, stroking a freckled cheek, thumb brushing tenderly over flushed skin.
Anna sighed and leaned into the gentle touch, nuzzling Elsa's hand with her nose. "That feels great. Nice and cold," she murmured.
Elsa smiled and felt her chest flutter. She reached up briefly to brush back Anna's fringe, lips pursing for a second when she felt the sweat lining Anna's temple and forehead. "How are you feeling? What hurts?" she asked, smile dropping and brow pinching with worry when she returned to stroking the redhead's face.
"I'm hot all over and my throat is sore. Scratchy." Anna sneezed roughly, the sound ending in a choked cough. "And I can't really breathe through my nose," she grumbled, grimacing. Her neck muscles tensed and then loosened. "Also tired."
Anna wheezed and Elsa inwardly cringed. She could practically hear the congestion within Anna's chest and throat. Her frown deepened and she turned to pick up her bag. "You need to rest soon."
Anna grunted and pushed herself onto her elbows. She watched her curiously, saying, "But I've been resting since you left yesterday. I've been asleep all day, barely got out of bed." Her point was ruined when she coughed again.
Elsa chuckled and smiled sympathetically, bringing out the thermos cups. "Well bed rest is one of the best remedies, dear Anna." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Anna glance at her sharply. "Now here," Elsa continued, unscrewing the larger thermos. "I prepared some soup for you this morning. I hope it didn't get cold already and—"
Anna was staring at her, cheeks burning a furious red. Her mouth was hanging open and Elsa was sorely tempted to reach over and lift up her jaw.
They blinked at each other, the cup in Elsa's hand steaming lightly.
"What?" Elsa asked, blue eyes wide.
"Oh, uh, you said, you said- you called me..." Anna trailed off, biting her lip.
Dear.
Elsa blushed, her face mirroring Anna's. She looked away and fiddled with the canteen. "I, uh, yes. Yes I did," she mumbled. Her fingers trembled and it was a surprise that she didn't spill any soup over Anna's bed and carpet. She handed the steaming meal to the redhead and smiled shyly, "Here."
Anna glanced down to the cup, the blush on her own face receding a bit. "You didn't have to," she said.
"Now don't start," Elsa said, blue eyes flashing to ice. "I thought we were already over this."
Anna giggled and rolled her eyes, smirking at her. Nevertheless, she took the cup and blew over it. Elsa reached into her bag to pull out a handkerchief and spoon.
"Wow, you're giving me the four star treatment," Anna joked as the blonde handed the spoon over, amusement glittering in her teal eyes. She giggled again when Elsa wrung her hands, looking down at her lap.
"Eat your soup," Elsa retorted, sticking out her lower lip in a pout.
"With pleasure!' Anna dipped the spoon in and scooped up a generous amount, slurping loudly. "Ack! Hot, hot!" The redhead waved her hand at her mouth, tongue lolling out.
Elsa found it was her turn to giggle now, covering her mouth with both hands. She brushed a lock of hair from her face and grinned. "Careful," she said, reaching over to take the cup from Anna's hands. "I guess it didn't cool as much as I thought." She blew over it gently, lips puckering up.
This feels—
Elsa lifted her eyes to see Anna staring at her. The redhead had leaned over until she was about a foot away from her. Her comforter had fallen and pooled around her waist. She was watching the blonde with rapt fascination, her eyes glazed over. When she noticed Elsa had looked up, Anna's eyes darted to meet hers. Elsa's brow knitted together, a timid smile curling her mouth. She poked her tongue out and licked her dry lips nervously, shivering when Anna glanced down quickly. Elsa bit her lip and blew over the soup again, not taking her eyes off the heated gaze in front of her.
Anna gulped and Elsa's eyes trailed the way her throat moved. She felt pleased for a reason she couldn't quite place.
This feels nice. Wonderful, even. Elsa handed the cup back to Anna, the redhead taking it distractedly. "I think it's fine now."
Anna blinked, startled out of her stupor and dipped her spoon into the cup with a frenzy. "O-oh! Right, of course!" She shoved a mouthful into her mouth and hummed, eyes screwing up in obvious delight.
Elsa beamed and scooted onto the bed. "Is it good?" she asked despite the happy noises rising from her girlfriend's chest.
Anna nodded and even squealed as she continued to down the soup. "Yeah! It taste great! I can't believe you made this for me. It's better than most of the things around here."
Elsa blushed and ducked her head at the compliments. She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, eyes flicking between her lap and Anna. "It-it's not that good," she mumbled.
"Yeah, you're right, it's even better," Anna said around another scoop. Her cheeks puffed up and her usual vigor glimmered in her eyes. "It's delicious!"
Elsa flushed more vividly, heat traveling fast down her neck and her heart jumping in place. She wrung her hands together before picking up her bag again. "I also brought you some tea."
Anna looked up from her soup. "Tea?"
Elsa nodded and produced the smaller thermos. "It'll help with your fever and congestion. And you need to stay hydrated." She glanced discreetly at Anna's neck, noticing a bead of sweat roll down.
Anna huffed and grabbed the front of her pajama shirt, fanning herself with it. "Right," she said. Her shoulders dropped and she wiped her forehead.
Elsa smiled half-heartedly and unscrewed the second thermos, pouring the tea. Anna's nose twitched when the scent of lemon and honey wafted into the air. "Drink," Elsa said simply, handing it over.
Anna grinned, but Elsa saw the fatigue along the lines of her face. The redhead accepted the cup gratefully, inhaling the steam.
"Thanks," Anna said, drinking a large gulp down.
Elsa merely smiled in return, opting to remain silent. She shifted farther onto the small bed until she was settled right next to Anna. Her girlfriend beamed for a moment and their shoulders brushed. Then, Anna returned to her meal. Elsa leaned against the headboard, content to just watch.
The minute hand on her wristwatch ticked, the only sound in the room aside of Anna's continued slurping. The pair settled into a comfortable silence. In Anna's small dorm room, Elsa couldn't even hear the sound of other students passing by. It was as if they were in their own little bubble.
Their own little world.
Elsa blinked slowly and, blue eyes darting to watch Anna's face every now and then, she scooted over until their thighs brushed. Anna didn't flinch, barely even reacted. Elsa was amused that her girlfriend was so enamored with the meal she had brought over.
I wonder how hungry she was before I got here. Then again, she did say she hasn't done anything but sleep since yesterday. She was probably starving.
Pride and affection burst in her chest. Elsa sighed and her breath stirred a few strands of strawberry-blonde next to Anna's ear. The blonde hesitated before laying her head down on the shoulder next to her. Again, Anna didn't flinch. She merely shifted, moving her shoulder so that Elsa could rest her head more comfortably against it. Elsa's eyes fluttered closed and she nuzzled her nose against Anna's neck.
"Comfy?" Anna asked, sipping her tea. The grin was evident in her voice.
Elsa hummed and chuckled. "Quite," she said.
"You should take off your heels," Anna teased. "I'm impressed you wear them day in and day out. I don't think I've ever seen you in anything but heels."
Elsa frowned and blew into the ear next to her. Anna squealed and jumped, clamping her hand on the side of her face. Elsa giggled and said, "I'm quite fond of my heels. You get used to them after wearing them for so long."
Anna grumbled and rubbed her ear, shooting her a playful glare. The redhead stuck out her tongue and Elsa pinched her cheek. "Ack!"
Elsa laughed and sat back on the edge of the bed. She bent down and pulled off her shoes. "But if you insist, I'll take them off."
She felt Anna shift excitedly behind her back and bit her lip to keep from grinning.
"Cuddling is much better without shoes." Anna's voice was light, but Elsa could hear the hope underneath.
Cuddling. Elsa prayed her cheeks were only a light pink. She placed her heels to the side and pulled off her coat. "Do you mind?"
Anna shook her head. "Nah, go right ahead and leave it wherever you want."
Elsa draped her coat delicately over the headboard, brushing out any wrinkles. She reached up to her bun and pulled out the pins, shaking her braid loose. A quick hand through her hair insured her bangs stayed in their signature place.
Elsa turned around and stopped. The dreamy grin that she was greeted with made the bright blush on her face darken. She ducked her head shyly and crawled back to her spot next to Anna, curling up next to the redhead. Elsa settled her head in the crook of Anna's neck.
She could feel the dimples of Anna's cheeks as she turned back to her soup and tea. Elsa bit her lip and flexed her toes, secretly grateful for the freedom.
A short twist of her foot caused a searing pain to race up her ankle and leg.
"Nh!" Elsa hissed and winced, shutting one eye.
"You okay?" Anna turned her head, blinking worriedly. She placed the empty thermos lids to the side. "Did you hurt your foot getting up here?"
Elsa shook her head and rubbed her ankle. "No, I fell bumping into someone. I guess I twisted my ankle harder than I thought."
Anna frowned and reached down. Her overly warm fingertips—when they touched her bare skin—sent a tremor through Elsa's body. She pressed down lightly and Elsa hissed again. "Is it bad?" she asked, rubbing the pads of her fingers in a slow circle above the bone.
Elsa shook her head. "No, I don't think so. It did hurt a bit walking to my car and getting up here, but it's not too bothersome."
Anna clicked her tongue before pulling her hand back. "I have an idea."
Elsa tilted her head, blinking. Her brow furrowed when Anna gestured her to move. "Mind telling me what this idea of yours is?" she asked, quirking her eyebrow when the other woman pressed against the small of her back, pushing Elsa over her lap to sit on the other side.
"Lean against the wall," Anna said.
"Okay fine, don't tell me," Elsa teased. Her eyes glinted in amusement when Anna stuck out her tongue.
"Just trust me," she said, grinning wildly.
Elsa felt a flutter in her stomach and nodded mutely. She leaned back against the wall and looked at Anna pointedly.
Her cheeks flared up when Anna reached down and grabbed her legs, placing them in her lap.
"Anna, what—"
"Elevation helps for sprained ankles," Anna said. She propped up Elsa's ankle gently and rubbed her thumb over her foot soothingly.
Elsa gasped softly and clutched the sheets beneath her. She bit her lip and her blush darkened at the look of concentration on Anna's face. Her tongue poked out from her mouth and the blonde shivered when she saw Anna wet her lips. "It's not sprained," Elsa said and her voice sounded far away. "Just sore."
Anna hummed and didn't look up. Her other hand distractedly brushed along Elsa's other foot. The blonde's toes curled and her calves flexed. "You could have just used a cushion," Elsa pointed out, shifting in place.
Anna stared up at her and her freckled cheeks turned pink. "Oh." She tucked her hair behind her ear and laughed nervously. "Y-yeah, I could have done that, but I- it's just I'm used to these kind of things." She gestured to Elsa's ankle. "You know, knowledge from experience and all that! Not that I'm saying you get into accidents like I do because you're so, so much more graceful than me. But I wanted to help—y'know since you're taking care of me and not this is out of obligation or anything!" Anna slapped her forehead, cheeks puffing up in frustration. "I'm just going to shut up now."
Elsa giggled, covering her mouth daintly. She had watched the entire display with growing amusement. "Don't worry," she said, reaching over and pulling off Anna's hand to reveal her face. She tilted her head and smiled encouragingly. "I know what you mean."
Anna grinned shyly and turned back to Elsa's ankle. Elsa leaned her head back and closed her eyes, sighing at the attention. The next several minutes passed in silence.
Elsa cracked one eye open when she heard a hitch in Anna's breathing. The redhead was frowning, thumb working over the bone of her ankle. Elsa could see her neck muscles tense and sweat dotting her forehead.
Oh. Elsa started and cupped Anna's forehead. The heat she found there made her nerves spike. "You're burning up again."
Anna grinned at her, but Elsa could see the discomfort in her eyes. The blonde pried her legs off Anna's lap and sat up, stroking Anna's cheek with the back of her hand. "You shouldn't push yourself."
Anna giggled and leaned into her touch. She closed her eyes and her shoulders slackened. "It's okay, just feeling a little lightheaded and nauseous."
Elsa frowned and scooted over the bed to grab her bag. She took out a bottle of medication, a water bottle, and turned around to push them into Anna's hands.
Anna glanced down at the bottle, twirling it in her hands. "This, you didn't have to do. I had some ibuprofen here."
Elsa was about to retort that it would work better than whatever Anna currently had, that her doctor was one of the finest in the country, and that she was well-versed in certain types of medication, but—
Anna blinked up at her, a timid smile curling her mouth, biting her lower lip.
I don't want to—not just yet.
Simply, she said, "Trust me."
Anna laughed once and uncorked the bottle, taking the instructed amount of pills and downing it with one large gulp of water. She blinked rapidly and Elsa noticed the redness of her eyes again. The blonde pushed back her sweat-matted bangs and caressed the skin behind her ear.
"You should go back to sleep," she whispered.
Anna rubbed one eye and ran a shaky hand through her hair. "I think that's a good idea." She glanced at Elsa as she shuffled under the covers. "Do you have anything to do today?"
"One thing." Another appointment with my therapist. "But it's not until later today."
"Oh." Anna bit her lip and turned on her side. "Er-" She flushed and looked away.
Elsa set herself on the edge of the bed and reached into her bag. She brought out a textbook, a notebook, and her fountain pen. She clicked it against her paper and smiled at Anna. "I thought I'd get some work done in the meantime."
The way Anna's whole face lit up—from a shy, hopeful expression to a grin that rivaled a crescent moon—gave her just enough courage to lean down and press a corner kiss to her mouth.
"Don't do that you'll get sick too!"
"Oh hush up and sleep," she laughed.
x x x
An hour and a half later, Elsa shut her notebook and placed it back in her bag. She slipped her pen back into a pocket and shifted to rest her legs on the bed. The blonde peered down thoughtfully at her girlfriend, drumming her fingers on the bed. After a moment, she nodded and smiled to herself.
I think I've earned a break.
Hesitating for just a bit, Elsa lifted the covers and sidled under. She laid her head against the pillow and sighed. She checked Anna's temperature, found she wasn't too hot and snuggled closer.
Elsa stroked Anna's head, routinely brushing her bangs back. She sighed when Anna shifted closer to her, mumbling in her sleep and snuggling against her side. The blonde wrapped her arm over Anna's chest, her hand threading through strawberry-blonde hair. Elsa dig her fingernails lightly into the redhead's scalp and was rewarded with a pleased groan. She giggled and nuzzled her nose against Anna's cheek. Elsa shut her eyes and blew over the flushed ear next to her. She opened her eyes and grinned in amusement when Anna jerked in her sleep. The redhead whined and squirmed. Elsa bit her lip to keep herself from laughing, shoulders shaking from the effort. She trailed her hand down from Anna's head to her shoulder. Elsa pulled the younger woman closer to her, emboldened by the sight of the slow, dreamy smile spreading on Anna's freckled face. The blonde sighed and kissed her cheek, eyes fluttering shut when she felt Anna relax in her arms.
God, I don't want to move from here at all.
A loud, incessant tune suddenly rang in the air.
"Reindeers are better than people."
"Huh? What in the world?" Elsa jumped, jerked out of her trance, and pulled herself from the warm cocoon she had settled into with Anna. She looked around wildly, trying to discern the location of the noise.
"Sven, don't you think I'm right?"
Her blue eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and she felt Anna whimper beside her. The redhead shifted and Elsa turned to see her stirring.
The blonde glared. Oh, I'm not having any of that.
She stood up from the bed and looked around Anna's dorm. The ringing came again and she spied Anna's bag in the corner. "Aha," Elsa whispered excitedly. She walked toward the redhead's backpack and immediately began searching.
The bright screen of Anna's phone flared up in a small pocket and Elsa snatched it up. She frowned when she read the flashing message.
Incoming call from Kristoff Bjorgman.
"Oh, it's her brother," Elsa said to herself. She glanced over her shoulder at Anna and bit her lip when she saw her turn on her side.
I don't want to wake her, but maybe this is important. Elsa gnawed on her lower lip and tapped a manicured fingernail against the screen. The phone continued to ring in her hand so she turned down the volume. Her blue eyes darted back to Anna when she heard another groan.
The redhead's forehead was creased and she had curled in on herself. Her breathing had quickened again. Elsa walked back to the bed and leaned over, placing her hand atop Anna's brow. The skin underneath her palm felt hot again. Elsa bit her lip in worry and looked at the message once more. She nodded to herself and pulled the disrupted covers up to Anna's chin.
But even so, she needs her rest. I'm sure her brother won't mind. He can just leave a message for her when she wakes up.
She was about to put Anna's phone back when it rang again, startling her. Elsa jumped and the object slipped from her grasp. She snatched it before it could fall to the floor, but in the process her finger pressed down on the accept button.
Oh no.
It buzzed and she could hear static on the other end before a disgruntled voice sprang to life.
"About time Anna, what took you so long? I almost thought you weren't going to answer or you forgot your phone again somewhere!"
Oh no! She thought again, clutching the object tightly. What do I do? Elsa looked around frantically, staring at Anna with wide, puppy-dog eyes. "S-should I wake her?" she whispered, biting her nail.
As if to answer her, Anna curled up even tighter until she resembled a ball. Elsa mentally cringed at the thought of waking up her girlfriend when she was obviously tired.
"Anna are you there?"
Elsa stared at the phone. Should I just wait until he hangs up? But no, that would be rude of me and who knows how that would make him feel, how that would make Anna feel. That would be an awkward conversation later wouldn't it? Ugh, why is this situation so unnecessarily difficult?!
"Anna? Are you still mad at me for that time I ate your chocolate? I swear I didn't know it was yours!"
Elsa sucked in a breath. What would I even say to him? How do you go about introducing yourself to someone's brother? Hi! I'm Elsa! Your sister's girlfriend. Elsa frowned to herself. Wait that doesn't sound too bad.
"Look, you weren't mad last time we talked so what's the problem? Are you okay?"
The blonde paused, feeling a pang in her heart when she heard the obvious distress in the man's words. Elsa could still hear him speaking on the other end, his voice rising higher now.
"Hey. Seriously Anna. Are you alright? You picked up the phone so you have to be there. What's wrong?"
Elsa lifted the phone to her ear and breathed in quietly, clenching her other hand into a fist tightly. She had faced an entire board of directors before. She could deal with a possibly overprotective brother.
"Um, excuse me?" She mentally scolded herself for the falter in her voice.
There was a sudden pause on the other line. Elsa couldn't even hear him muttering now. She bit her lip before continuing. "This is Kristoff Bjorgman right?"
The silence, ironically, rang in her ears.
Elsa gripped her skirt, clutching the fabric with white knuckles. "Er, hello? I'm sorry, I should—"
"Who the hell is this?"
Elsa jumped and held the phone out, staring at it with wide eyes. Her mouth dropped open a bit at the abrupt change in tone.
"This is my little sister's phone I called for sure. So who the hell are you? Why do you have her phone? I know every single friend she has in college and I don't recognize your voice."
Elsa frowned and brought the device back up to her ear. She cleared her throat, back straightening. "I'm sorry sir, but Anna isn't available right now."
"Huh?"
"This isn't her as you can see. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Elsa Arendelle—"
"Elsa you said? What are you doing with her phone?"
"—and I'm answering your call on behalf of the fact that Anna's asleep."
"Wait, what's going?"
Elsa fiddled with the hem of her blouse. Would he get mad if I told him? "She's sick and in need of bed rest. I'm looking after her right now."
"Oh."
There was another long pause on the other end before she heard him inhale and exhale deeply. She gripped her elbow with her free hand and waited. When he spoke again, he sounded resigned.
"How'd she get sick?"
The sound of rain falling and their feet hurrying over the ground echoed in her ears. Elsa squeezed her elbow and said, "She thinks she overworked herself."
I still think getting soaked didn't help.
Kristoff grunted on the other end. "That sounds like her. Has she eaten anything?"
Elsa glanced over at Anna's sleeping form. The wrinkles in her face had smoothed out and her posture had relaxed somewhat. She swallowed and nodded before she remembered he couldn't see her. The knowledge of that made her shoulders loosen. "Yes, she just ate and she took some medication. She's sleeping it off."
He heaved a sigh of relief and she could hear it in his voice. "Okay, thanks for looking out for her then."
She did it for me. I want to do the same for her. Even if Anna hadn't completely understood the situation at the time, Elsa had been grateful for the act itself. Her skin tingled and buzzed with the memory of Anna holding her hand in the rain.
"Um, can you tell her I called?"
"Yes, of course," Elsa said readily. Her stretched nerves began to ease.
"Alright, thanks." To himself she heard him mutter, "Man, I hope she doesn't push herself again."
She was about to tell him goodbye when he added:
"So you said your name was Elsa right?"
Oh no.
Elsa stiffened, inhaling sharply when she heard the change in tone. She cleared her throat and tried to say in her most professional voice, "I did. Elsa Arendelle."
Of Arendelle Corporation, she almost added.
"So I was right. You are that Elsa. The one my sister's dating?"
What other Elsa would there be? She bit back the retort. This is the brother she wants you to meet. I need to make a good first impression. This, she was used to. She had needed to make a good impression on many other people before. She slipped into the role easily.
"I am." A part of her inwardly cheered that she could admit this so easily. The only part that trembled was her core. "It's a pleasure to meet you Kristoff."
"Hmm, likewise Elsa." Perhaps it was foolhardy to imagine but she thought she could detect the hint of a smile in his words.
"So you and Anna have been dating for what, three weeks now?" Kristoff asked.
"Yes, she's told me a bit about you." She moved to sit back on the bed, free hand unconsciously reaching to stroke Anna's hair. Behind her eyelids, Anna's eyes jumped back and forth. When Elsa threaded her hand through the soft locks she let out a deep sigh. The blonde smiled to herself.
"Good things I hope." Kristoff's words broke her out of her stupor and she tensed again.
Is he joking or? "Yes, good things," she rushed to amend.
He hummed and she cursed that she couldn't quite decipher his mood.
"So how old are you?"
"Er- what?" Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline and she blinked several times.
"How old are you?" he repeated. Now she could detect the smirk in his voice.
"24," Elsa said. What does my age have to do with anything? Is he always this overprotective? Surely Anna doesn't have to be coddled like this…
"You come from a rich family right?"
That, she found odd, but Elsa nodded again before she slapped her forehead. "Yes, yes I do. My parents were the owners of Arendelle Corporation." The word 'were' flashed through her mind several times.
"Ah, I think I've heard of that company before. You guys make houses right?"
Elsa distracted herself with caressing Anna's cheeks, watching the younger woman scrunch up her nose. "We do," she said softly. The mental image of each home she had lived in growing up made an ache throb in her.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Conceal.
Her fingertips shook as she pulled her hand back and rested it in her lap.
"What's your hair color?"
"Excuse me?!"
What did that have to do with anything? Elsa frowned and stared at the phone. Anna's brother is...interesting.
"Any previous relationships?" he went on, not waiting for her to answer.
Elsa glared and stiffly muttered, "I think we should get off the subject Mr. Bjorgman."
"Sure, sorry about that." To Elsa's relief, he had the decency to sound sheepish. "Again, thanks for taking care of Anna and putting up with all these weird questions. I really appreciate what you've done for her."
Elsa's posture slackened and she smiled faintly. "Not at all." Her eyes darted over to Anna and her smile grew. "She—" The blonde swallowed.
Kristoff waited and she wondered if he was smirking again.
"I like spending time with her," Elsa whispered. Her hand played with the white lock in Anna's hair. She pursed her lips, brow knitting together. "Does she," the idea made her stomach twist, "er, is this common for her? Not getting sick, but getting hurt."
The dead silence that answered her made her skin crawl. A shiver ran up her spine and her hand paused in its movements.
"Well," Kristoff began, "look at it this way. She had a broken arm when we first met so you have a firecracker on your hands."
Elsa chuckled, but she couldn't push away the feeling in her stomach. "If Anna is fine dating someone like me then I'll gladly accept everything she gives."
And hope I can do the same for her.
Kristoff laughed once. "I look forward to meeting you in person then Elsa." She could hear the smile in his voice and her own lips curled up slightly. "Will you be coming to the game too?"
"As her date, yes. I look forward to meeting you too Kristoff."
"Cool. I'll see you then." There was a beat and he added, teasingly, "Kiss her goodbye for me would you?"
Elsa blushed furiously and coughed. "I do believe that's private."
He laughed again. "You two take care. Later Elsa."
"Goodbye," Elsa said.
"Goodbye Anna," he whispered, more to himself and she grinned at that. Before he hung up, she leaned down and kissed Anna's cheek, closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of warm skin on her lips.
The phone clicked and Elsa straightened. She heaved a long sigh. Well that wasn't terrible.
"God, I wasn't expecting that to happen." Elsa stretched her arms over her head and heard her back pop. She groaned, pleased, and flopped down next to Anna. The blonde wrapped her arms around her and buried her face in Anna's shoulder. She tangled their hands together and closed her eyes.
She was drifting in and out of a haze when she felt the body next to hers shift.
"Elsa?" Anna's sleepy voice snapped her awake.
"Hi," Elsa said, pushing herself up to one elbow. She grinned shyly at the pair of unfocused sea-green eyes blinking up at her. "How are you feeling?" She brushed back a stray red lock and Anna grinned up at her.
"Better," Anna mumbled. She frowned and turned on her back, reaching up to grasp Elsa's fingers lightly. "You stayed?"
Elsa blinked and she smiled tenderly. "Of course I did." She squeezed Anna's hand.
"How long?" Anna asked, yawning.
"Not long." Elsa leaned down and nuzzled her cheek, breath brushing Anna's ear. The younger woman shuddered and she drew back. "You've been sleeping for a little over two hours."
Anna hummed and brought Elsa's hand to her lips. She kissed the knuckles and Elsa felt heat trickle down from the crown of her head to her toes. She bit back the urge to sigh happily. Elsa laid down, snuggling into the soft pillow and Anna's warmth next to her. The redhead played with their fingers, muttering to herself.
"Your brother called," Elsa said after a while. She giggled when Anna's eyes widened, eyebrows disappearing under her bangs.
"Did you answer it?" Anna asked, blinking rapidly.
Elsa blushed and gave a small nod. "I'm sorry, I was going to let it go to voicemail but I accidently accepted."
Anna quirked an eyebrow, but then shrugged. "It's fine." She reached forward and brushed back Elsa's bangs. Then her face screwed up. "Wait..."
Elsa raised an eyebrow at her, watching a thousand things pass over Anna's face. She entertained herself with counting the freckles on it when Anna didn't immediately continue.
"Ugh," Anna said, grimacing. "If you picked up, did he figure out it was you?"
The blonde's eyebrow rose higher. "Yes, I told him who I was. That's generally what happens when you meet someone."
Anna groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Ugh, please tell me he didn't give you a hard time."
Elsa's other eyebrow joined its twin. She blinked and tapped her chin. "Well, he did start asking me a few questions when he found out I was your girlfriend."
"What kind of questions?" Anna asked. Her eyes were wide and pleading in a puppy-dog look. Elsa pursed her lips to keep a small squeal inside her throat at the sight of it.
Instead, she said, "He asked me what my hair color was."
"Wait, what?"
"That was pretty much my reaction. And he asked if I came from a well-off family."
Anna hummed, brow furrowing in thought. Her eyes darkened for a moment.
What are you thinking? Elsa wanted to ask, but similar to when Kristoff had paused on the phone, something kept her from doing so.
Then the look was gone and Anna focused on her again. "What else?"
"He asked if I had any previous relationships," Elsa deadpanned.
Anna groaned again and shut her eyes. "Damn it Kristoff." She wrapped her arms around Elsa's waist— sending pleasant shivers up and down her spine—and buried her face into the blonde's shoulder. "Please don't take it to heart? He's rough at first, but he's really sweet deep down."
Elsa softened and nuzzled her cheek again the strawberry-blonde hair next to her. "I won't," she whispered. Her eyes fluttered shut. "I figured it was just him being overprotective. I never had any siblings so I wouldn't know how it was."
Anna grunted. She sighed and the puff of hot air that brushed over Elsa's neck and collarbone made her toes curl. "He might seem like a jerk at first but he's the most honest person I know. Besides being my brother, he's one of my best friends so I hope you two can get along."
Elsa chuckled and kissed Anna's temple. "If you can put up with Meg then I can put up with your brother."
Anna laughed and nuzzled her cheek. Out of the corner of her eye Elsa could see her sea-green eyes twinkling.
"Even so, I'm gonna make sure he gives you a proper apology for asking those things!" Anna huffed, cheeks inflating.
Elsa giggled and poked her face. "You don't have to do that. He did apologize himself."
"A proper apology," Anna insisted. "He's my brother, but you're—"
Elsa tilted her head and watched Anna's face flush. She sucked her lower lip between her teeth and glanced down. A slow grin spread on the blonde's face at the display.
My girlfriend is so cute.
The thought sent a warm thrill down to the soles of her feet. Her toes curled again and she wrapped her arms tighter around Anna.
"Y-you're my girlfriend and I'm yours, and wow I still have trouble believing that sometimes and Kristoff's going to learn how to be a gentleman and—"
Elsa pushed her nose against Anna's, halting her stammering. The redhead gasped, tensing.
"Shh," Elsa whispered. "I- I think I understand."
Wintery blue eyes flicked back and forth, searching.
"O-okay." Anna gulped and her back muscles loosened under Elsa's hands. "Good, great. How's your ankle by the way?"
Elsa twisted her foot and it brushed against the soft fabric of Anna's pajamas. "It's better. Barely hurts at all now."
Anna rubbed her big toe against Elsa's ankle and the blonde squealed, jumping back slightly. Anna quirked an eyebrow at her. Elsa clamped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. Her cheeks pinked at the playful smirk on Anna's face.
"Are you ticklish?"
Elsa stiffened. "Don't you dare—"
Fingers darted out and dug into her sides.
Elsa shrieked and tried to twist out of Anna's grasp. The younger woman wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her flush against her body, her free hand continuing its merciless assault.
"No please!" Elsa squealed. She buried her face in Anna's collarbone. "Anna, no! S-stop! Please- ah!" Elsa laughed and writhed, snorting and trying to pull her girlfriend's arms off her. Her face flushed with exertion.
Anna giggled in her ear and her hand slipped around to Elsa's stomach, wriggling above her navel. The blonde shrieked louder. In retaliation, she stopped trying to pull off Anna's hands from her waist and decided to pinch and prod her sides.
Anna's resounding giggles made her smirk despite her shaking shoulders. "Now who has the upper hand?" Elsa teased, nails digging into the redhead's pajama shirt.
Anna grinned and placed a sloppy kiss on Elsa's cheek. Elsa squeaked at the wet feel, Anna's lips murmuring against her skin.
"You are because I'm not as ticklish!"
Anna's fingers tickled her sides while she continuously pressed quick, chaste kisses on her pink cheeks.
"This is- ahaha! Cheating!" Elsa weakly bat at her girlfriend's shoulders, Anna nuzzling her face in return. "How-" one of the redhead's fingers traced down her side, near her hipbone and she yelped, jumping. "H-how are you this strong when you're—ahahaha!—sick?!"
"Laughter is the best medicine," Anna said, brushing her nose against Elsa's face, voice light and teasing.
Elsa blew a puff of cold air in response. Anna pulled back, laughing, and the blonde grinned. Her heart thumped madly—blissfully—in her chest.
Only for it to come to a ramming stop when Anna suddenly released her. "Anna?"
Anna gave a violent cough, chest heaving with the force of it. The younger woman rolled onto her back, clamping her hand over her mouth as her face reddened. Elsa scrambled into a sitting position, hands outstretched uselessly.
"A-Anna are you alright?" the blonde asked, blue eyes flicking back and forth between Anna's flushed cheeks and her shaking torso.
"I'm-!" Anna coughed again, shutting her eyes tight. Tears pricked at the corners and she groaned. The sound ended in a loud, painful hack. "I-I'm fine!"
The nerves underneath Elsa's skin shot off. She scrambled to grab her water bottle and then slipped her arm under Anna's back to pull her into a sitting position. "H-here. Anna, drink."
Elsa tried to force down the trembling in her voice, fingers shaking as she handed over the bottle. Anna coughed and took it, the shaking of Anna's sweaty hands making Elsa's breath hitch.
"Careful," Elsa said—whimpered—as Anna gulped down the water.
Anna exhaled, long and slow—the tremor in her voice causing Elsa to hover her hands over the redhead's back and chest. She grimaced and flashed the blonde a weak grin.
"Coughing is the worst way to end cuddle time."
Elsa laughed—weak and hollow to her own ears—and brushed away Anna's fringe. She smiled and hoped Anna didn't notice the way her lips wobbled. "There are worst ways."
"I guess," Anna said. She caught one of Elsa's hands and rubbed her thumb over the top soothingly.
Elsa let her other hand drop onto the small of Anna's back. She steadied her breathing, but didn't stop searching for anymore signs of her girlfriend's condition worsening.
"Relax," Anna said, nudging her with her shoulder.
"Huh?" Elsa snapped her head back to stare at twinkling teal eyes.
Anna coughed again and bat at her chest. Elsa's fingers tensed over her shirt. "It could be worse."
"Worse how?" Elsa asked, frowning. She gently pulled her other hand out of Anna's grasp and pressed it against her forehead. She bit her lip. "Well, you're not overly warm."
"See!" Anna's grin brightened. "I could be blowing snot all over the place or vomiting, but I'm not. I'm fine now, promise."
Elsa wrinkled her nose at the implications but relented. She stopped rubbing Anna's back and cupped her face. "Promise?"
That dimpled, ear-splitting grin returned. "Cross my heart."
Elsa swallowed—the lump in her throat thankfully less painful now—and nodded. "Alright."
Anna flopped back onto the bed, pulling her along by her wrists.
"Oof!"
One arm wrapped around her waist, fingers trailing lightly over her shirt. The other tucked a long strand of white-gold hair behind her ear.
"I don't think I've ever seen your hair look this messy before," Anna commented, eyes hooded.
"What?" Elsa reached up and ran a hand through her hair, frowning when she found her well-kept bangs had fallen to frame her face. "Ugh, I must look terrible," she grumbled.
Anna's eyes widened and she tilted her head.
"What?"
"If terrible is what you look like when you're a mess then I'd love to see more of it."
The toothy grin made her face flush.
"Stop it you, you're supposed to be resting," Elsa scolded. She flicked the button nose in front of her face and Anna giggled. The blonde softened and laid her head down, eyes falling to half mast.
Anna mirrored her position and sighed.
"You promise me you won't get sick from being so close by all day right?" she asked, eyes flashing with sudden worry.
Elsa grinned and shook her head. "I don't get sick."
"Unfair!" Anna stuck out her tongue and Elsa laughed. The redhead yawned and closed her eyes.
"Go to sleep," Elsa crooned and caressed her cheek.
"Mk," Anna whispered, voice trailing off. "Your hands are the best ice packs by the way," she mumbled.
Elsa merely hummed in response.
Then Anna jerked awake, blinking rapidly. "Wait, didn't you say you needed to be somewhere today? When is that?"
Elsa glanced at her wristwatch. "Not for a while." She rolled her eyes. "Now go to sleep. You tell me to relax yet you won't do the same for yourself."
"Okay." Anna's eyes fluttered shut. "You could rest too then, if you're staying…"
Elsa shifted and kissed Anna's forehead softly. "Shh, sleep."
Anna nodded, eyes darting beneath her eyelids.
Elsa smiled and closed her eyes, content. "Oh!" She nudged Anna with her foot.
"Hm?" Anna shifted, mumbling.
Elsa leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I still need to return your umbrella."
"Umbrella?" Anna asked sleepily, not bothering to open her eyes.
Something in the way she spoke made Elsa's heart thump and ache. She blinked, nostalgia washing over her.
"The one you let me borrow."
Anna's brow furrowed, pouting. "You keep it," she slurred. Anna smiled and her breathing slowed. "Need it more than me…" She trailed off, snoring.
Elsa drew back and opened her eyes, searching Anna's sleeping face. She bit the inside of her cheek, lower lip quivering. Her heart jumped and bobbed in her throat. Elsa leaned over and pecked the corner of Anna's mouth, whispering against her lips.
Then, she reached down and brought the wrinkled covers over them both. When she was sure the redhead had drifted off, she sighed and snuggled closer.
I have time until my appointment. Besides, my therapist is always saying I should find something that makes me happy. This counts right?
Elsa closed her eyes and trailed off to the sound of Anna's soft snoring, the rise and fall of her chest comfortable against her own.
I think this counts.
x x x
Her breath hitched, fists clutching the front of her shirt in a death grip. Her eyes strained to find something in the dark enclosure. The cold, bone-chilling air did little to prevent the sweat rolling down the side of her neck.
"Hey, are you—"
She jumped, heart hammering in her chest.
"—okay?"