Promises Woven in Red and Gold
The end is in sight! And I made sure to do my best with sticking close to the prompt this time!
… Although admittedly this probably wasn't what they had in mind when they created the prompt of 'shell'...
Anyway, the show (story?) must go on!
Part 6: Strong and Weak
Prompt: Shell
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Celica could feel Faye shivering in her arms as she continued to hold her. For an endless moment, Celica could only wonder if she would pull away and leave, or if she would stay.
"... Why?" Faye finally said, her voice muffled by Celica's shoulder. "Why did you fall in love with me? Why did I... fall in love with you?"
"Why?" Celica closed her eyes and let out her breath in a soft laugh. "I don't know. Why does anything happen? Why did we manage to find each other again so suddenly, after so many years? Why did I happen to meet Uncle just when I was on the verge of giving up hope? Maybe it was fate, or it was the Mother. Either way... right here, and right now, I love you, Faye. And that won't change."
"I..." Faye took a deep, shuddering breath. "I... care for you too, Celica. So much. I want to love you. But I, I can't..." she broke off with a soft gasp. "I'm scared, Celica. If I ruin everything again, I'd-"
"No, you won't." Celica tightened her grip on Faye, trying to communicate without words that it was okay to trust her, to trust in their bond. "You're better than that. I know you are."
"And if I'm not?" Her voice was softer but no less tremulous. "How can you know? You haven't seen me when I'm at my worst."
"No. But I have seen you." She began running her hand up and down Faye's back, trying to offer her comfort through her small actions. "I've seen the sweet, kind, gentle person called Faye. I've seen you when you've just stumbled out of bed, eyes bloodshot, hair a mess, barely able to form a coherent sentence. I've seen you when your work keeps you back late and you're so exhausted you can barely keep your eyes open. I've seen your with your eyes sparkling with delight when you think about sewing a birthday present for Genny and asking me about what designs she would like. I've seen you angry, frustrated, excited, terrified, bored and overjoyed. And I love all of it. I love all of you.
"If you're worried that you could do something to lose my love, then like I said, let me love you." She closed her eyes and buried her face in the softness of Faye's hair. "Let me cover you from head to toe in it, and let me wash away any doubt. And let me say it to you, as many times as you need to hear it." She paused, just for the briefest of moments. "I love you."
A shudder passed through Faye's body, and she heard her swallow. "Please, say it again."
Celica gladly complied, holding her tighter, her hands pressing into Faye's body as if she could imprint the words into her very soul. "I love you. I love you. I love you."
After a moment, Celica realized that Faye was speaking as well, mouthing the same words back to Celica, her voice nearly inaudible.
Celica continued to hold her close as felt the warmth of tears running down her cheeks.
"Hey, Celica?" They were on Celica's couch now, an old beat-up thing she'd once picked up from a garage sale. Faye was lying down, head on her lap, and Celica was idly running her hands through her hair.
She felt... exhausted. Tired to the bone But there was a satisfaction that had settled deep within her as well. If asked to describe the situation the two of them were in, Celica wasn't sure she could give a detailed response. But for now, the two of them together, like this – it was enough.
"Yes, what is it?"
"It feels..." Faye took a deep breath. "Funny, you know? I know you just promised to look after me and everything, and I'm happy – I really am! But at the same time, I don't want to end up... well, all take and no give."
"You don't need to worry about that." Celica said as she reached out to take Faye's hand in her own. "You give so much to me just by being you, Faye."
"You're sweet, Celica." Faye smiled up at her for a brief moment before the troubled expression in her eyes returned. "But... I don't know. It's just – you're such a strong person. So accomplished. I guess I feel like I don't know how to measure up."
"Me? Strong?" Celica raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"
"Are you kidding?" Faye twisted slightly from her position so she could look Celica in the eye. "When you left your – when you left that man, came all the way here and started a new life. I'd never be able to manage something like that. The way you just – took charge of your own life like that."
"You think that was 'taking charge'?" Celica almost laughed at the absurdity of the statement. "I told you already. I ended up lost and alone with nowhere to go. My one plan of finding you was a bust. If I hadn't ran into Uncle one dark, rainy night, who knows where I'd be right now. I was lucky. Don't confuse that with actually knowing what I was doing."
Faye didn't respond, her gaze thoughtful.
"And what about you?" Celica continued. "You've a steady job that pays okay. A circle of close friends all the way from childhood. You suffered a horrible breakup and managed to move past it. I'd say you've taken charge of your own life pretty well."
"That wasn't me," a sigh escaped her lips, "if it wasn't for everyone pulling together to help me work my way through it, I'd still just be a mess."
"And you think I'm any different?" Celica brought Faye's hand up to her mouth and pressed a long, slow kiss to the back of it. "We've always relied on others to help us through the tough times, Faye. And we do what we can to help them through it as well. Like that time Boey and Mae had that big fight and we stayed up with her while she got all drunk and weepy..."
"Or that time Alm lost Sir Purr and we spent four hours searching for him."
Celica giggled. "Yes, exactly. My point is, it's okay to lean on others when times are tough. That doesn't make you strong or weak."
"It's okay to lean on others, huh?" Faye smiled up at Celica, and she felt her heart flutter again. The way Faye was looking at her now – it was the same open warmth and satisfaction she'd shown her before it had been replaced with fear and worry. "Does that include you?"
"You already know the answer to that."
"I know, but – I want to hear it from you. Please?"
She laughed and nodded. "But of course. You can depend on me, Faye. I'll always be there for you, no matter what. And I'd like to depend on you too, if that's okay. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. That's a promise."
Faye's smile widened. "I'm going to hold you to that."
"Please do."
Her lover giggled, and then, propping herself up on her elbows, she pushed herself up so that she could kiss Celica.
Celica complied, leaning down herself, and she gave a small sigh of joy and delight as she felt their lips press against each other.
"Well, congratulations!" Mae whooped as she held up her drink in a gesture of celebration. Her shout was met and matched by others cheers and claps of the other people assembled.
"I cannot believe you." Despite the complaining nature of her words, Celica had a smile on her face as she regarded her friend. "You say you want to have a quiet dinner at your place and then you ambush us with a full blown party once we step into the room?"
"Well in my defense, you should totally have seen this coming!" Mae continued to beam. "I mean, my bestie finally hooks up with the girl of her dreams and you expect us to not celebrate? Get out of here!"
Celica settled for a sigh and a shake of her head as she looked over at Faye who was currently doing an impressive imitation of a tomato. Gray and Tobin were congratulating her and offering dating tips, and Kliff was standing slightly farther back, one hand rubbing his head as he sighed at his friends' antics.
"Well, thanks then." She smiled and let out a sigh. "It must have been a lot of work to organize this on short notice."
"Oh please." Her friend rolled her eyes. "Once I floated the idea everyone was practically falling over themselves to help. And you should have seen boss! He actually got weepy at the idea that you found a girlfriend!"
"Hah. Hardly surprising. I remember Uncle getting teary-eyed too when you and Boey got together." Celica swirled the drink in her glass as her smile became more nostalgic. "He's a big softie at heart, isn't he."
"Yeah, he is. But tonight isn't about him! It's about you and Faye! So!" With another shout, Mae raised her glass into the air. "Cheers! To Faye and Celica!"
"TO FAYE AND CELICA!" the room resounded with their combined shout.
Later, as everyone continued to enjoy the food, engage in conversation and sip at drinks, Celica spotted Faye slipping out onto the balcony. Placing her drink on a nearby table, she followed after her girlfriend.
"Do you want to be alone?" She asked as she stepped outside. The nights were still cold enough that she was grateful for her jacket, but they were slowly becoming warmer. Spring was on its way.
"No, not really." Faye was hugging herself as she stared up at the night sky. "I mean, I do enjoy these gatherings with everyone, but sometimes you just need to take some time to... step back and recharge, you know what I mean?" She turned to face Celica, and her smile grew wider. "You want to come over? There's plenty of room."
With a small chuckle, Celica walked over and leaned on the railing, staring out at the night sky. "So much has happened this past few days. So yes, I know what you mean."
"It's funny..." Faye closed her eyes as a breeze picked up, and Celica unconsciously clutched her jacket tighter around herself. "If you look at it objectively, I spend about the same amount of time with you now as I did before we... well, got together for real. But being with you now, it feels so much more amazing. More fulfilling, like just hanging out with you gives me so much more energy."
"Well, I'm not an expert or anything. But maybe it's because we just realized that something we wanted came true after all." She lowered her gaze, looking at her elbows that rested on the carved wooden railing. "Suddenly it feels like there's so much we can achieve. And that we can do it together. That part seems important to me."
"Together..." Her girlfriend leaned in closer to Celica, snaking her arm around her to hold her close, and she smiled as she felt hair brushing against her cheek. "Celica?"
"What is it?"
"Thank you," Faye's voice was a breathy whisper. "If it wasn't for you... nothing would have changed."
"Changed?" Celica reached her hand down to clasp Faye's.
"Before this... I'd thought to myself that I couldn't afford to fall in love again." A pause and a sigh. "I didn't want to hurt anyone else. So I guess I... put a shell around myself, if that makes any sense?"
She didn't respond, instead giving Faye time to gather her thoughts and continue.
"I could be friendly with people, get to know them well enough, but I – I refused to let myself ever get too close to them. It was too dangerous – I couldn't afford it." Another sigh. "And then I met you. Again, I mean.
"And you made your way into my heart so easily – without even trying! I just kept getting closer to you, and then one day I realized I was in love with you." A laugh, a single merry note in the silence of the night. "I still don't know how you did it."
"Hm." Celica twisted slightly and planted a kiss on Faye's forehead. "The way you say it makes me sound like I did something insidious or sneaky."
"Heh. That's not it at all. I wanted to say thank you," Faye leaned further into Celica, nuzzling her cheek, "for stealing my heart. Take good care of it, okay?"
"Always."
There was the sound of the door opening behind them, and both girls turned to see Alm in the doorway.
"So that's where you two ended up!" He smiled and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "You two wanna come in soon? Genny's bringing out the cake."
"There's a cake?"
"Well, they said it wouldn't a real party without one. And hey, free cake! I'm not arguing with that."
A laugh was shared, and hand in hand, Faye and Celica returned to the party, where their friends and family were waiting for them.
Chapter End
Author's Notes: Next chapter will basically be an epilogue, where I hopefully get to write some pure, uncomplicated 100% WAFF for the two of them.
Thanks for reading! Comments and critique are always welcome!