Fire and Ice Ch. 06

Bloom waits at the corner of the street, where Icy told her they'll meet. The Fairy of the Dragon Flame really wanted to tone it down a bit with the outfit. But her friends insisted since it was their first date. Stella picked out a nice short seafoam green dress with matching gloves.

"Looking good, Bloom." Icy's voice enters her ear.

"Thanks, Icy," Bloom turns to her, "You look…" the words are caught in her throat. "Wow!"

"Thank you," Icy smirks. The witch has on a white sparkling dress with a blue stripe down the middle and blue gloves. "The sparkles aren't too much are they?"

"Not at all!" the fairy walks up to her. "You look lovely. I have to ask, where did you get that dress?"

"It's a loaner from Mirta," she twirls a bit. "She may be a goody-goody. But she has great taste. Tell anyone I said that, and I'll deny everything," she warns while holding out her arm.

Bloom smiles as she accepts the offered arm. "These lips are sealed."

The two then walk around the corner, arm in arm. Icy leads her to a fancy restaurant.

"This is the Enchanted Dominion?" Bloom marvels as they approach the front.

"Oh really? I hadn't noticed," the witch smirks. When they reached the hostess stand, Icy starts. "Hello. I'm—"

"I know who you are," the hostess glares at the witch. "Now, I'm afraid that we are booked for the evening and are unable to accept walk-ins."

Icy's eye twitched. "But I have a reservation?"

"I highly doubt that."

"You didn't even check!"

"I don't have to for I'm certain someone of your stature would never come here."

Icy's blood is boiling, and Bloom can feel it. The fairy places a hand on her arm. "Icy," she calmy says before turning back to the hostess. "She's with me. Would you please check to make sure?"

"It's not there," she states before looking through the reservation book. "But I'll gladly play along. Name?"

Icy squirms as her face turns red. "It's under Mrs. Icy Peters

Bloom gaps at hearing this.

"See?" hostess says as she stops at a page. "There's no…" she stops herself as she double checks the book. The hostess puts a false smile. "Your table is ready, Ma'am," she picks up two menus. "Right this way."

Icy whispers to her date. "I know that I'm supposed to behave, but would it be going too far if I turn someone's room into an Ice Age?"

.oOo.

Lucy shivers.

Mirta looks at her friend in worry. "Is everything alright?"

The two had decided to hang out in Lucy's dorm to watch the Killer Discord concert on tv.

"I feel like someone just walked over my grave," the green-haired witch tells her.

.oOo.

The two follow the hostess to their seats.

The hostess hands them the menus. "Your server will be with you in a moment," then walks off.

Icy huffs. "She could have apologized at least."

"Uh, Icy?" Bloom says.

"I know, I know," the witch starts looking through their choices of meals. "I probably deserved it given what I've done."

"Actually, I agree with you," the fairy tells her causing the witch to look up. "That was very unprofessional of her. I was just noticing these prices," she looks worried. "How about I pay for my meal, or even half of the check."

The witch waves her off. "Don't worry about the check. I have everything covered. Don't you trust me?"

"I do," Bloom smiles at her date and soon their waiter turns up to take their orders.

For their orders, Bloom gets a salad and Icy a steak while both shared an order of breadsticks.

Icy glances up from her meal, "You really do look great, Bloom. I wish a could say more but I'm not used to giving compliments."

"You're saying plenty, Icy. Not as good as you," Bloom smiles as she notices her date blushing. "I actually had a different outfit, but the weirdest thing happened."

"Really? Like what?" Icy takes a sip of her drink.

"While I was holding it, I sneezed out of nowhere and it burned." When the fairy said that; Icy ends up choking on her drink while preventing herself from doing a spit take. "Strangely, it also happened after a sudden tickle attack."

Icy covers her face. "I'm sorry. I really hope it wasn't a nice dress. I can pay you back."

"Why would you be sorry?"

The witch sighs. "I was so nervous about this date and confused on what to do, I went to Mirta and Lucy for some advice. Knut was there also. I ended up telling them about everything," she lets out a small laugh as she subconsciously rubs her ring under the glove. "Lucy wanted to know a little bit about how far our bond goes. So, they did a little experiment. Which resulted in your dress getting burned. Again, sorry."

"Don't worry, Icy. It was an accident. Besides, it's obvious that you weren't at fault. Sounds like Lucy's the one who owes me a new dress," that comment made the witch smirked. "It's nice to hear that you're making friends."

"Friends?"

"Yeah, Lucy and Mirta. You went to them for help, and they willingly did," Bloom then eyes her. "It was willing, right?"

"Of course it was willing!" Icy glares at Bloom before actually thinking about what she said. "I guess that is what friends do. Never thought I would have friends outside my sisters," her face saddens.

Bloom reaches a hand across the table to place over hers. "We'll find them and I'm sure we can extend your protection to them. They're your family after all."

"Thank you, Bloom," the witch smiles. "For everything."

After a while, the two had finished their main course. "Thanks, Icy," Bloom looks over at her partner. "This was a nice dinner."

"It's not over yet," the witch tells her while still looking through the menu.

"Huh?"

"There's still dessert," she waves down a waiter. "May we have the ice cream cake? Thank you."

With that the waiter left.

"Icy, I can't let you do this," Bloom worriedly looks at the witch. "I really didn't want to bring this up. But you're not financially stable. Please let me handle the check?" the fairy feels anger rising in her partner's blood.

"I told you…" Icy's voice started rising, but she took a deep breath to calm down. "I have it covered. I said that I was treating you tonight. So, that's what I'm doing."

A familiar voice enters the conversation. "Your exact words were, I'm gonna rock your world!" Stella giggles as she and Brandon approach them, arms linked. The Specialist seeming unsure about this.

Icy's face redden at the reminder. "What are you doing here?" she growls.

"Brandon brought me here for a date," she leans into her fiancée. "We were actually ready to leave when we spotted you. Isn't he so sweet to bring me here?"

The Specialist rubs the back of his head. "Wish I could take full credit for this. But it was more of a mission, and I just took advantage of it."

"Doesn't matter," Stella insists. "It was still sweet."

Icy perks up. "Mission?"

Brandon looks at each woman. Both Icy and Bloom curious while Stella seems worried. "I'm here to over see Sky's courtship of a potential future queen," his eyes wander over to a table that has the King of Eraklyon is sitting across from a light blue haired woman.

Icy feels her blood boiling but knows it's not hers as she could care less about who the prince dates. She did not have to look at Bloom to know that she's glaring at the scene. That upsets the witch for some reason. However, knowing that it's not her business, Icy just lays her head on the table, doing her best to remain calm.

It was at that moment the waiter returns with their order. "Your dessert, ladies."

"Thank you," Icy tells him. "I think we'll take it to go instead."

"Very well. I shall get a takeout box," he then lays a slip of paper in front of the witch. "Here's your check," the waiter then leaves.

"Check!? What check?" Icy shoots back up, snatches the slip of paper up and her eyes widen at the price. "There shouldn't be a check!"

Hearing this, a different waiter approaches their table, "Ma'am, someone has to pay."

"No! They don't!" her voice raises. "Everything was taken care of in advanced!"

Eyes start to wander over to them.

Bloom does her best to calm her partner down. "Icy, calm down. I told you I'll pay for this."

"You shouldn't have to. Neither of us do!"

"What's the meaning of this!?" a well-dressed man walks up to their table. He excuses the waiter. "I will not have anyone disturb my guests. Especially some witch. Quiet down before I call security. Who even allowed you into my restaurant?"

Icy glares at him, "Your restaurant?"

"Yes. I am the owner of this establishment. Am I correct when I overheard that you're refusing to pay?"

"It's not refusing when everything was paid in advanced!"

Bloom rushes to her side, feeling Icy's anger building up. "Icy, everything's alright," she places an arm around her shoulders in attempt to calm her down. "I'll pay for it. I can spare the money."

Icy just pulls away. "It's not the money!" she snaps. "This is about pride. I set this up to impress you and intended to take care of everything all by myself. And I made sure that I did long before. Do you know how embarrassing it is for it to be pointed out that the girl you're trying to treat has a whole lot more money than you ever will!?"

Brandon comments. "Amen to that! Ow!" then is elbowed by Stella.

The owner has had enough. "Somebody better pay before security escorts you out! You have done enough to embarrass…" he is then cut off as the hostess from earlier taps his shoulder and hands him a slip of paper. He reads it and turns back to the couple with a different tone. "My apologies. I was unaware of the voucher. Perhaps I could offer another voucher?"

Icy takes a deep breath. "That's fine. We'll—"

"No!" Bloom cuts her off. "When we arrived, the Hostess refused to show us to our seats. We had to convince her to check the book for our reservation. And then when it came time for the ticket, no one even bothered to check and see if everything was paid in advanced as my date said. You just assumed that she was lying. You were so worried that we were embarrassing you that not once did you consider that you were embarrassing us. You must be crazy if you think we'll be returning," she links arms with Icy. "Let's get out of here, Icy," with that they walk away from the owner.

As Icy and Bloom were reaching the door, they pass their waiter carrying the box with their dessert. Icy comes back to snatch it. "We're still taking this," then, they were gone.

Stella turns her nose up and walks out dragging Brandon. There was chatter among the other patrons with many of them asking for their checks early and leaving.

.oOo.

"I think I understand why I married you," Icy says as she takes a bite of the cake. She and Bloom found a park bench to sit at with the ice cream cake sitting between them.

Bloom uses her own fork to get another piece. "Really? Why?"

"I had no idea that it was possible to be so vile while being as calm as you were back there. You sure told him."

"I wasn't that bad."

"Oh, please. I know that I was angry myself, but I could feel how upset you were. You may have been kind and polite about it, but you tore him down in front of everyone. His customers, his employees," Icy takes another bite. "I definitely made the right choice."

"Me, or the cake?" the fairy jokes.

The witch gives her a suggestive smile. "Can it not be both?" this causes Bloom to blush, she braced herself for the cackle, but it never came. Instead, Icy had a genuine smile.

Neither of them are sure of what they are doing as they were leaning closer to one another and just when they were an inch apart, Icy pulls away.

Icy whispers, "You still love him, don't you?" and turns away.

"Icy?"

"I felt how angry you were at the sight of him being with another woman. Why would you be that upset if you weren't still in love with him?"

Bloom gently places a hand on Icy's cheek and turns her head, so she can look her in the eyes. "It wasn't the idea that he was seeing someone else. I was mad because we called off our engagement because we had no time for each other. Yet, there he was making time to go out on dates. It feels like he moved on too fast."

"Weren't you the one who got married the same day?" the witch points out.

"I did," the fairy now has a sad smile as she subconsciously plays with her ring under the glove. "And I'm finding myself regretting it less and less every day."

Icy smiles as well but turns away once again. "I'm still not sure I believe that."

"Then, believe this," Bloom grabs Icy's hand and puts it over her heart. "We are connected deeper than anyone in all of Magix. Maybe all of the Magical Dimension and beyond. Feel what I feel and tell me that I am deceiving you in any way. Any love I had for Sky is gone and that's the truth, Icy."

Icy feels like crying and she knows that Bloom knows it. The witch looks her in the eyes as they start inching closer.

"Bloom! Icy!" Stella shouts for them, forcing the two to back away.

"Drat!" Icy cursed.

Stella and Brandon rushes up to them. "Are you two alright? We've been looking everywhere for you," the Princess tells them. She then looks between the two and notices how red their faces were getting. With a smirk, Stella asks. "Did we interrupt something?"

"No," Bloom says at the same moment Icy says.

"Yes!"

"You two are so cute," Stella coos. "Don't you think they're cute, Brandon?"

"You look better together than what I'd expect," he honestly tells them. "I hope—"

"Bloom?" Sky calls from the distance as he approaches the group.

Both Icy and Bloom can feel their blood boiling.

Icy leans into Bloom. "Which of us is actually mad. Cause, I can't tell."

"Don't know," Bloom shrugs. "Can it not be both?" the two share a smile at that.

"I was worried after the commotion at the restaurant," Sky tells them.

Bloom turns away from the prince. "I'm fine, Sky."

"Bloom, you're not still upset about the engagement are you?"

The Fairy of the Dragon Flame jerks her head towards him. "I'm not gonna lie. It hurt calling it off, but I've made peace with it."

"Bloom, I—"

Icy steps up to him, "You heard her, your highness. So, back off!"

The king glares at the witch. "Why are you even here, Trix?"

"For one, I'm a special guest of Alfea."

"I've heard. Saladin made it very clear that you're under protection from not just them but all three schools."

"And two? I was the one who was treating Bloom to this lovely evening," she then huffs. "Well, it should have been lovely."

Bloom places a hand on the witch's shoulder. "Don't worry, Icy. This date was actually nice despite the service."

Icy smiles as she grabs the hand. "Thanks."

Sky looks between them. "Wait!? You went out with her?"

Bloom nods. "Well, yeah!"

"Why?"

Stella lets out an awkward laugh. "That was my fault. I accidentally goaded Icy into it. She took it as a personal challenge. Nice to see it turned out well."

The king is still in disbelief. "I know that I hurt you, Bloom. But dating a Trix? She hates you!"

"I don't hate her!" Icy snaps. "At least, not anymore."

"Come on, Sky," Bloom defends her partner. "She's not so bad once you get to know her."

"I don't want to get to know her!" Sky snaps. "She's obviously messing with you," he grabs the redhead by the arm and starts dragging her. "I need to get you away—" he is then forced away buy a powerful gust of cold wind. The gust pushes him away from Bloom and right into the bench on top the ice cream cake.

Icy shouts. "Don't you, touch her!"

Sky stands back up. "You have any idea how much trouble you can get in for attacking a King? Your protection won't mean anything."

"Even though you were practically kidnapping my date!" the witch accuses as she gets up in his face. "I know that in your own messed up way, you're trying to protect her. But she does not need it. So, do what's best for all of us and scram!"

"I think I have an idea what's best for Bloom. We were engaged!"

"Well, you didn't marry her! I did!" Icy froze as she realized what she revealed.

Sky just stands there, mouth gaping while looking at everyone else in the group. Icy looked worried at her revelation. Stella seems to have brighten up. Brandon is as shocked as Sky as his jaw dropped, only to have his fiancée close it for him.

Icy turns back to her partner. "Bloom, I'm sorry."

"I'm not!" Bloom removes her gloves to reveal her ring. "Frankley, hiding it is causing a lot more trouble than it's worth," she walks up to her partner, and they kiss for all to see.

When they break apart, the witch smiles as she removes her own gloves and shows her ring to the King as to tell him that they match. Her and Bloom then walk away, arm in arm.

Stella jumps in joy. "They're telling people now! Wait until the girls hear this," she pulls out her phone.

As they leave the park, Bloom can tell that her partner is still upset. "I know that you're still riled up about Sky, Icy. But don't let it get to you."

"I never liked his majesty in the first place," the witch huffs. "But that's not why I'm upset."

The redhead thought for a moment before realizing. "Is this about the cake?" her eyes squint.

Icy slouches. "It was good cake. Cake made of ice cream."

Bloom giggles as she leans into the witch. "Look on the bright side. You kept your word."

"My word?"

"Tonight, Icy, you rocked my world."

"Ugh! You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?"

The fairy's only response is to giggle a "Nope!" and gives her a peck on the cheek.

End

NOTE: A Guest had informed me that Icy is a bit of OoC. I apologize as that was not my intention. What I meant was for it to be part of a character progression as Icy was forced to look at things differently given that the situation doesn't allow her to just lash out at things with her magic like she usually does. Plus, there's a bit more going on.