January, 2005.
Love is the scramble to make sure they see you at your best.
This was Dawn's second time, coming through the Lumiose Airport. Stepping out of the cold, sterile steel tubes into the main building was a tad different, this time, compared to the last.
The first time, she'd arrived alone. She knew she wouldn't see Ash for another few days. She had time to make sure that she looked her best. She wasn't stepping off of the tarmac with hair frazzled from ten hours of economy flight, into her boyfriend (and now girlfriend)'s arms.
She'd have to make do, now, strategically clipping her hair into a voluminous bun, along with fastening the two long locks of hair that framed her face. Walking at a ludicrously slow pace, and letting other passengers pass her by. She didn't even notice the odd looks and muttered complaints she got, inspecting herself in her pocket mirror, instead. Perfect.
She'd managed that much, before stepping into the refreshing open air of the terminal. Before spotting the exuberant eyes of a honey blonde, dimmed only by the dark lens of Dawn's sunglasses.
"Dawn!" Serena ran over to meet her, pulling Dawn into a tight, eager embrace. Dawn could barely tilt her chin into the crook of Serena's shoulder, leaving her muffled in her gray turtleneck. Wow. Right. She'd forgotten just how tall she was! "Oh, Salut ma belle! It feels like it's been…!"
"It's been a couple of months!" Dawn giggled, standing on her tip-toes. Serena's bouncy locks brushed her face. Immaculate, and her conditioner even smelled heavenly. She'd prepared. So flawlessly, too. "Salute my bell, yourself," she returned, in a very poor imitation of Kalosian.
Serena pulled back, silencing a giggle with the back of her knuckle. An upturned brow spoke of how clumsy an attempt that was, but Dawn didn't notice those kinds of subtleties.
"You look great!" Dawn chirped, after pulling back. Serena had changed up her style quite a bit, since Dawn last saw her; that sable turtleneck matched her wide brim hat and thigh-highs, accompanied by a red and white plaid skirt and brown boots. Her hair had been coiffed more neatly, discarding her wild bangs for elegant curls that no longer hid her ears. She even sported hot pink earrings, shaped like little bows! "You look so… mature! Like, I know you're grown, but grown, grown!"
"That is the idea!" Serena giggled, absently fluffing her hair with a palm. Her cheeks were dusted cherry, her smile glowing. "And, you!" She gestured to Dawn, who wore an open dark teal jacket, covering up a black blouse, complete with leg warmers, and a black bracelet. Her hair pins matched the color of her jacket. But, there was one thing that Serena found amiss. "Ah… the sunglasses are new, too!" Dawn also wore a pair of cat-eyed shades with rims matching her clips and jacket. "They're nice, but I really would like to see your eyes," Serena pouted. "I know they'd stand out with this look so nicely."
"Oh, that's…!" Dawn stammered, taken aback. "I'd really rather not," Dawn muttered.
Serena frowned. leaning in to be discreet for Dawn's sake. "And why's that, Dawn?"
Dawn exhaled heavily through her nose. "I didn't sleep well," she whispered. "My eyes are bloodshot. No one needs to see that."
Was that all it was? Serena tutted, and reached to gently lift her shades, to Dawn's protest.
"H-hey!" She sputtered. Her deep, steely blue eyes were as striking as ever, but Serena could see what Dawn meant, now. Her sclera were clouded and stenciled with red, just as Dawn feared.
"So it seems," Serena said, setting Dawn's shades back in place to rest her hands on her shoulders. "Where you see ugly fatigue, though," she whispered, "I see the striking red of passion, from a stubborn woman who won't fold even to her own limits, when romance awaits her across the globe."
The stunned, slack-jawed fluster on Dawn's face gave Serena enough time to plant a passing kiss on her lips, and pull back, glowing.
"W…" Dawn shook her head, giggling. "What was that!? Where do you come up with that stuff?"
"Well, if you want my honesty…" Serena sported a blush. "I've had a lot of time to practice."
