Anna relished the feeling of sunlight that heated her skin. Even though she was no longer trapped inside a sewing shop all day, she'd never get sick of it. The warm reminder of freedom from a life she would never have to go back to.
She walked along the cobbled path, her sights set on the market. Her needles were beginning to grow dull, so she needed to source some replacements, She also wanted to look for something for Elsa. She hadn't seen her since Kai caught them off guard when they returned from the festival the night before. Anna knew the prince of Germonia was arriving today and Elsa was not looking forward to it. She hoped that a gift would lift her spirits.
Now she just had to find something worthy enough to give to a princess.
Down the mainstreet, probably just a couple of blocks away from her intended destination, Anna got distracted, drawn to a storefront by the tantalising allure of roasting cacao beans. Stopping by the chocolatier was a rare luxury for her. She remembered how she would spend months scraping together her wages to be able to afford the smallest box, and having to savour each morsel to make it worth her effort. Now, she felt the weight of all the kroner in her satchel. One detour couldn't hurt, she thought as she stepped inside.
A little bell rang at the top of the door, announcing her arrival. There were a few people milling around the shop, but Anna had her eyes set on her goal. The free samples at the front of the store.
Arendelle was small enough that everybody was more or less recognisable. The shop owner, Mrs Blodget, was sharp and eagle-eyed, always on the lookout for freeloaders. If you kept coming in and taking samples without making a purchase, you were looking at the threat of a lifetime ban.
"Morning!" Anna greeted cheerfully.
"Hello, Anna," Mrs Blodget replied, smiling that doting smile she only saved for her favourite customers. "How long did you have to save for this trip, my dear?"
"Actually, not long!" She felt that warm rush of joy flood her body once again. "I've found new employment and the pay is generous. I think you'll be seeing me a lot more often."
"Well that's lovely to hear. But remember to still be smart about your expenses. You're an adult now and I'd hate to see you spend all your savings at my shop, even if it does mean more business for me."
"Yes, Mrs Blodget," she laughed. "Don't worry. I'll be sensible."
Mrs Blodget excused herself to check out another customer while Anna helped herself to a small piece from one of the sample trays. It was dark chocolate, more bitter on her tongue. She had always been more of a milk person, drawn to its sweet notes, but any taste of that delicacy was enough to make her smile, bringing back fond memories of someone she knew long ago. She reached for the milk chocolate samples, but right before her fingers could brush against its smooth surface, a familiar voice spoke.
"Anna? Is that you?"
The redhead spun around at the mention of her name, eyes searching for its source.
"Oh my God, it is!"
A woman was standing before her, dark hair cut almost jarringly short. She stood a couple of inches taller than Anna, inspecting her closely with her attentive features. There wasn't a doubt in either of their minds. This was Anna. And that was…
"Robin!"
That voice, that face sent her catapulting into a memory, and suddenly, she wasn't in the chocolate shop anymore. She was in her old attic bedroom, in her cramped scratchy cot, feeling the warmth of another body pressed against hers. It was late, dusk having long since passed. Moonlight shone through the multitude of windows, bathing the room in a dull glow. A single lantern burned on the bedside table.
"Tell me about the rest of us," Anna whispered into the semi-darkness.
"What do you wanna know, Feisty Pants?"
Her eyes were wide with curiosity and wonder. "Everything."
The older girl's laughter was hot on her cheek. She smelled like dark chocolate. "That would take a very long time."
"We have all night," Anna insisted, seeking out Robin's hand. Robin took it and squeezed.
"Then let me tell you a story." Brown eyes found blue ones, blown wide with innocence and interest. "Once upon a time, a little Robin came from a land far far away. She knew no one, and had nothing, and had to make friends along the way. All sorts of friends, even those a little… strange. A little different." She booped the end of Anna's nose with her finger. "One day, little Robin met a girl she wanted to kiss. And she did. And it was the most wonderful thing she ever did."
"And it wasn't wrong," Anna added.
"No." Robin laughed. "It wasn't wrong. It opened up a path she never knew existed before. After that, Little Robin went on to kiss more girls. And do other things too."
"Other things?" The younger girl yelped when she felt a hand tweak her nipple. "Right. Those things. Carry on."
"But Arendelle was too small for her, and little Robin decided that one day, she was going to travel beyond the kingdom, and find more people like her. More friends like her."
"And find her true love?" Anna fluttered her lashes teasingly. Robin's brow furrowed and she propper herself up on one elbow.
"I don't know about that, Anna."
"But it would be so romantic," she swooned, already crafting a fairytale in her head.
"I… don't really do that, I don't think," she slowly said.
Anna blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I love people. I love you dearly." A gentle hand brushed her cheek. "But not in a romantic way."
"I don't understand."
"People say romance is like a pull. Something everyone feels. But I've never really felt that way. I could never see myself courting or getting married, even to another woman. Not yet, anyway. That's why I want to leave Arendelle. I want to give myself a chance to find myself, and see if maybe romance is just waiting for me… someplace else. If some other place will allow me to feel it." She noted Anna's expression, not exactly downcast, but confused. "I'm sorry that this doesn't make sense. I have to ask - do you think this is romance, Anna?"
Robin asked this question genuinely, as if she wasn't even sure what romance was like. There was no malice behind her words. Anna knew she wasn't being mocked. And yet, she didn't have an answer. "I don't know. I don't think so?"
"I don't think so either," Robin agreed earnestly. "I mean, you're still figuring things out too. You're just a baby queer. You're not going to fall for the first woman who shows interest."
"I might."
"I'm more of your teacher than anything."
"So?"
She smiled wryly. "That's a fantasy you should probably look into."
They giggled. Anna snuggled deeper into the crook of her neck, their bodies flush. "Even if this isn't love, I still wish you weren't leaving." She blew out a breath. "I wish I wasn't still under Frosk's guardianship. She's gonna love giving me all your work once you're gone."
"You'll manage," Robin assured her. "And I'm not gonna be gone forever. I'll come back and visit."
"Promise?"
The older girl smiled and wrapped her pinky finger around Anna's. "Promise."
"I didn't expect to see you here! I stopped by the shop and Ingrid said that you aren't working there anymore."
Anna was drawn back to reality when Robin wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a hug. Even after all those years, they still fit together the same way. Robin was still the same old Robin, with her raven black hair, her soft skin that smelled of summer, her comfortable shoulder at the perfect height for Anna to rest her head on. Anna couldn't keep back her smile in the presence of her old friend.
"That's a long story. But look who's talking! Last I heard, you were in Andalasia. What are you doing back in Arendelle?"
Robin shrugged. "I've been around. But I've decided to come back home for a while. I'll be here for a few months until I plan my next move." Her eyes flicked to the chocolate samples nearby. "I should have known I'd find you here. Some things never change."
"It's chocolate," Anna countered. "I never want this part of me to change."
The older girl reached over and plucked a dark chocolate piece from the tray, popping it into her mouth. She released an almost obscene groan which made Anna want to blush. "Oh, that is divine. I'll have a small box of dark chocolate, Mrs Blodget!"
"And a large box of milk chocolate for me," Anna added, not even needing to taste the sample to know she wanted it. Mrs Blodget smiled and wrapped their orders up for them while they fished for some kroner.
"I don't suppose you're busy at the moment?" Robin asked hopefully. "I'd love to catch up. I haven't seen you in forever."
Anna pondered. Elsa had her royal duties to attend to today, and her suitmaker position was relaxed anyway. Surely no one would mind if she slipped away for a few extra hours. "I was about to head to the market to buy some more sewing needles. And I need to find a gift for a friend. You're welcome to come along."
Robin brightened. "That sounds perfect." And together, they walked arm-in-arm towards the village market.
As they perused the stalls, Robin told Anna about all the places she had visited. And all the friends she had met.
"...Atlantica has some of the most lovely princesses," she was saying as Anna picked through needles in a small metal tin. The redhead looked up with wide eyes. Robin's expression told her that she'd done more than just have tea with Atlantica royalty.
"You mean you've… uh… with princesses?" she asked, bewildered.
Robin just winked. "A lady doesn't kiss and tell."
The younger woman was flabbergasted. Robin had always been bold, but would she really risk being intimate with royalty? She knew that queerness wasn't reserved for commoners. Elsa was a clear example of that. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like if she conducted herself that way with Elsa.
Speaking of Elsa…
"Hey Robin, I was wondering… have you ever met somebody who changes who they are depending on the day?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, I know this person, and sometimes she's a girl, but other times he's a boy. And I think that might be queer? That's what I told her… him…anyway. And he… she… said that it depends on the day, and whether she… he… wants to be a boy or a girl."
"You can say 'they', Anna," Robin suggested kindly. "It's a more neutral word. And it's not even grammatically wrong either. It's a way you can talk about them when you don't know who they want to be that day."
"Oh. Wow, that makes a lot of sense."
"And yeah, I do know someone like that. Why do you ask?"
"Well, the person I'm working for now is like that. I've just never met anyone who feels this way before."
Robin smiled. "There's a word for it. 'Genderqueer'. I've heard it used here and there."
"I wanted to get something for them. I think they're going through a rough time trying to figure everything out on top of other stuff they've got going on."
By now, Anna had finished up getting her sewing materials and the two ladies were aimlessly ambling down the market aisles. Suddenly, Anna felt Robin tugging on her wrist, prompting her to stop by a handicraft stall.
"I have an idea," she said before turning to the person manning the stall. "Do you have any pink and blue accessories?"
XXX
They lost track of time. It was approaching the later hours of the afternoon by the time Anna had the sense to make a move to excuse herself. When she first bumped into Robin, she had no idea where the day would take them, but now they found themselves in Anna's old attic room after Ingrid let them sneak up 'for old times sake'.
Nothing had been moved since she left. All the furniture was in the same place. The stolen mannequin from downstairs hadn't been removed. Even the mattress, sheets and curtains remained. Anna could just about see the cobwebs collecting in the corners of the room from lack of dusting.
"I still can't believe you used to live here," Robin said, perched on the end of Anna's small cot. "Surely that had to have been illegal."
"Oh, it definitely was."
"But you seem to be doing better for yourself now," she observed.
"I am," Anna agreed. "Way better."
"That's really amazing, Anna. Seriously. I always hated seeing you trapped up here."
A moment of silence passed between the two of them, both of them thinking about all the memories they had shared in that attic bedroom. Not just the later, more intimate ones, but even when Anna first moved in. Robin was eighteen and always had a soft spot for her, acting more like an older sister than anything else. It always seemed like Robin had everything figured out. Well, almost everything.
"Robin?"
"Hm?"
"You remember the night before you left?" Anna felt her skin heating up at the memory. "I know what we had then wasn't love. And that it probably isn't gonna be love ever. I mean, now I have my job, and I don't know how long you're gonna be in Arendelle for. But I wanted to know… did you ever figure that out? If you can… feel it?"
For a long time, Robin was quiet, and Anna felt a jolt of fear rush through her system at the thought that she had said something wrong. Then, the older girl smiled. "There are all different types of love, Anna. Everyone jumps to the romantic kind, but there's more to it than that. I gave it a shot. I met lots of people. But I've never felt romantic love towards anyone."
"Oh."
"Don't get me wrong, I still love women. Just not in that way. And I'm totally fine with it. It took a while to get fully comfortable with myself, but that's just who I am."
Anna came forward to hug her dear friend, relishing in those comforting arms that used to hold her on hard nights. "I still love you though. Platonically. And I love that you were able to find yourself out there."
She laughed, fingers stroking Anna's hair. "Platonically love you too."
Just then, the castle's bell chimed five times, its ringing echoing through the kingdom. Anna tensed a little. "Shoot. It's late."
"Need to head back?"
"Yeah. My schedule isn't super strict today, but I should be back by evening meal."
Robin raised a curious brow. "Will I ever be able to hear more about your mysterious new job?"
"Maybe one day," Anna replied with a smile.
"The kingdom's a small place. I'm sure I'll see you around."
"Oh! That reminds me!" Anna patted her pockets before she groaned in frustration. "Damn it, I don't have the schedule. Never mind. Do you remember Olaf?"
"Your childhood friend right? Little guy who kept getting kicked out by Frosk when you first arrived?"
"Yes, him. There's this festival that goes on in the kingdom on some nights. It's kind of a secret underground thing, but I think you'll really love it."
Anna looked at her with hopeful eyes, the same way she did when she was younger and wanted Robin to help her buy chocolate from Mrs Blodget. Much like back then, Robin couldn't say no to her. "I'll keep a lookout for him," she promised.
On the walk back to the castle, Anna reached into her satchel to feel the soft pouch containing Elsa's gift. When she got up that morning, she never would have expected to run into Robin. But now they had reconnected after what felt like forever, and Anna had what she hoped was the perfect present for Arendelle's princess.
This story is also available on AO3. I also have a Twitter where I post behind the scenes content, polls, writing updates and more. I also have a Tumblr! All of them are under the same username kalesalad003 and the links are in my bio!
