Fire and Ice Ch. 07
Since Bloom and Icy made their relationship public, they have become more affectionate. They would often walk around Alfea hand in hand, sit next to one another in classrooms, and when Bloom is the one giving a lesson; Icy would tease her in front of the students, causing the redhead to blush while everyone else laughs at their instructor's discomfort. The Winx girl actually likes the attention as she knows it's her partner's way of letting everyone know that they care for one another.
Icy soon starts becoming part of the lessons as she assists with explaining differences and similarities between witch and fairy magic.
Many of the students are still uneasy around her. But it lessened after noticing that even Mirta has warmed up to the Trix.
Then one day, the couple were called into Faragonda's office.
Bloom was the first to speak. "You wanted to see us, Faragonda."
"Actually, Bloom, I need to speak with Icy," the headmistress in forms her.
"This isn't about us being a couple is it?" Icy accuses rather bluntly.
This shocked Faragonda. "Not at all. I'm fine with you girls being open with your relationship."
"However," Griselda fiddles with her glasses. "I do wish that the two of you would tone down the PDA."
The couple start blushing. They had been rather public with their affection lately.
"The matter is rather private. Bloom, you should wait outside," Faragonda tells the young fairy.
Bloom went to leave only to be stopped by her partner.
"She'll stay!" the witch tells them.
Faragonda and Griselda looks at each other and the headmistress addresses Icy. "Are you sure, Icy?"
"Whatever you have to say is obviously big," the witch explains. "You send Bloom out; sure, she won't hear anything. But she will still feel what I feel. She'll get worried because she doesn't know the reason behind my emotions. That'll stress her out, which will drive me crazy, and I'll just tell her anyway. This is easier for both of us."
Faragonda smiles at her. "Very well. Griselda?" with that the deputy headmistress hands over an envelope to Icy. "You have a court summons."
Icy looks at the envelope in worry. She can also feel her partner getting upset.
"I thought you said this wouldn't happen?" Bloom turns to the headmistress. "That nothing will happen while she's under Alfea protection?"
"Bloom," Icy calmly says. "I'm not being put on the stand for my crimes," she has opened the envelope, reading the letter. Bloom can feel her partner becoming fearful. Evident by the witch's hands trembling. "I'm being called to testify."
"For what?" the fairy walks up to her partner to read the letter over her shoulder. "Seriously?" now she's angry. "I thought we were done with them?"
"Everyone deserves a fair trial. As even Icy knows," Faragonda tells her.
"But they assaulted her and hurt us!?"
"Calm down, Bloom."
"I will not…" the redhead is cut off as a hand is placed on her shoulder. She turns to find her partner taking a deep breath and slowly release it. Taking the hint, Bloom copies her.
"Just like Flora showed us," Icy tells her. "It will be alright, Bloom. I'll get through this."
In response the Fairy of the Dragon Flame hugs the witch. "You're forgetting something. We're in this together. We'll get through this."
Griselda clears her throat. "Ahem!"
Faragonda just smiles at the display. "Perhaps you two would like some alone time to figure this out. You two are excused from any duties for the rest of the day."
With that, the couple leave the office.
Griselda turns to her long-time best friend. "Shouldn't we tell them?"
Faragonda shakes her head. "I think it would be unwise to tell them the possible extent of their bond. They will question everything they think they know and how they feel. I can't take that away from them. Not until we know for certain."
.oOo.
As the couple were making their way to their room. Bloom can tell that Icy is still afraid. She reaches for the witch's hand and gives it a squeeze. At this, Icy smiles at the fairy and leans onto the redhead's shoulder.
When they walk into their room, Bloom gasps and Icy pulls away from her partner. "Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"
Standing there is King Oritel and Queen Marion. The King glaring at the two, while the Queen is seemingly worried.
"We heard some rumors," Oritel walks up to. "I was inclined to believe them, but now!?" his eyes darts to Icy who shrinks under his gaze.
"Dad!" Bloom steps in front of the witch. "I can explain!"
"Explain what!? That you're dating a witch? Or the fact that you've made it publicly known that you married a wanted criminal. There's not a realm in the Magical Dimension that doesn't want to get their hands on her!"
During this time, Marion was inspecting the beds in the room. "I'm more concerned that there's two beds here," she gestures to the small plain bed that was set up for Icy. "One that has no evidence that it has been slept in for a long time," the Queen then moves over to Bloom's bed. "And the other that hasn't even been made yet."
Bloom glares at Icy. "I told you to make the bed!"
The witch gives he a sheepish smile. "Well, why do I have to do it?"
"Because you're the last one up!"
"Enough!" Oritel walk past his daughter, pushing her away from the witch.
"Dad, don't!" Bloom's shout goes unheard.
The King grabs the witch's arm with a tight grip. "You will not go near my daughter!"
"Stop, Dad!" the young fairy grips her own arm. This did not go unnoticed by the Queen.
"Oritel!" Marion tries warning her husband.
"I don't care how sacred this school's protection is. I'll make sure that you will be punished for all your crimes. Especially the ones committed while under Alfea's Protection," his grip tightens.
"Everything I've done in the past? That's fair. I deserve what's coming," Icy glares at the King. "But I've done nothing wrong since coming to Alfea. Not unless you count caring for Bloom?"
This made the King snap as he refuses to believe that this witch could care for his daughter. He slaps Icy across the face, letting her fall to the floor.
His wife shouts, "Bloom!?"
Turning, Oritel finds Marion leaning over their daughter as she is laying on the floor.
Icy pushes past him to get by the young fairy's side. "Bloom! Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," she says while sitting up showing a bright red mark on the side of her face. Bloom then reaches up to lightly touch the mark only to hiss in pain as does Icy.
That's when Oritel notices that the witch has the same mark in the same place. He watches as Icy's hand glows and places it over the mark on Bloom's face.
"This feel better?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Icy," Bloom places a hand over hers.
Oritel's eyes then wanders down to his daughter's arm to see the impression of a large hand around it. The realization dawns on him. He might as well have harmed his own daughter himself.
"Bloom," he whispers. "I'm sorry."
Bloom was working on healing Icy's own marks when he said this. "I'm not the one who you should apologize to!"
"I'm sorry that you got hurt due to my action, but I cannot forgive her for what she's done in the past!"
"You don't have to," Icy glares. She's unsure of this anger was hers or Bloom's. But this needs to be said. "I don't deserve forgiveness for anything I've done."
"Everyone deserves a chance at forgiveness," Marion smiles at the witch, causing Icy to gain a look of surprise. "Perhaps you two should explain everything from the beginning.
Ten minutes later.
Marion examines the rings of her daughter and daughter-in-law. "So, because of this enchantment you two are bonded in more sense than marriage?"
Bloom nods her head. "Right."
Oritel looks at Icy in worry. "This makes both of you a victim."
Icy shrugs. "It has its downsides, but we've grown used to it. I just wished she wouldn't stub her toe," she mumbles that last part.
"Hey! That happened once," Bloom defends. "And which one of use walked into a door?"
"I didn't know it was pull to open. There should have been a sign!"
Marion stifles a laugh. "You're definitely married." This causes the two younger women to stare at her in confusion. The Queen turns to her husband. "I remember when not long after your father and I married, we got into petty arguments all the time," she looks over to her husband. "Even who always steals the bed covers. It was your father by the way."
"Marion," the King grunts. Displeased that his wife told them that.
Icy laughs. "Bloom does that too," she turns to her partner. "So, that's where you get it."
"Well, you don't keep the cap on the toothpaste!"
Watching them squabble, Oritel turns to the witch. "Icy, I'm sorry. I overreacted and that's no excuse for what I've done to do."
Icy looks down, "I honestly deserve worse," her partner then grabs a hold of her hand to give a gentle squeeze. She looks over at Bloom who is giving her a smile. The witch smiles in return before returning her attention back to the King. "As I said, I don't deserve forgiveness, but I forgive you. You only wanted to protect Bloom. Besides! For now, we are family. We have to drive each other crazy before getting along."
The King stands there dumbfounded at the explanation while the Queen stifles another laugh.
Oritel clears his throat. "Ahem! I would like to know about a commotion made at an Enchanted Dominion, though. Apparently Icy got the place closed."
Icy huffs. "I can't take credit for that. It's their own fault."
"They didn't treat us very well," Bloom turns to her father. "How did you know that? I don't remember it getting reported."
"And I'm pretty sure someone would have been blaming me directly if it made the news."
"King Sky—" Marion started but is cut off by her daughter.
"Seriously!?" the young fairy growls, "You'd think he'd take a hint by now! He needs to learn that my private life is none of his business."
Icy adds, "You sure I can't freeze him? Maybe send a little snowstorm during a nice and sunny day?"
Bloom sighs. "As tempting as that offer is, it won't solve the problem. It's likely to cause more. Besides, we both know that you don't do small."
"Guilty as charged."
The two share a laugh.
King Oritel then clears his throat once again. "We should be going. We kinda left in the middle of meeting. And again, I am sorry for the trouble I've caused."
"Thank you…" Icy stopped to think for a moment. "Do I call you your majesty or dad since we're family?"
He smiles at her, "Just Oritel is fine."
"Fair enough. We should probably take things slow."
The King wearily glances at the unmade bed. Noticing this, both the young women start blushing.
Bloom holds her hands up. "We haven't done anything yet! At most we cuddle."
"Still," Bloom's mother starts. "Why keep both beds if you're sharing one?"
"Mom!?"
Icy laughs. "That's what I've been telling her," she turns to her partner. "I love your mother."
"Icy!" the young fairy snaps.
At this, Icy, the King, and the Queen laughs at Bloom's discomfort.
End