Ch 38: Masks
It was well into the afternoon before anyone emerged from any of the rooms. Down in the pool house kitchen, Sterling started some coffee with Indi at the table messing with her scroll when Jin and Spadix entered the room. Spadix looked tired, eyes worn from tears but sleep had mostly helped.
Luckily, now that emotions weren't being strained and no one was under the influence of alcohol, Jin and Spadix didn't seem to have any issues sitting with Indi, though Jin was acting protective. She hovered close, keeping Spadix near herself. Spadix fidgeted with her talons and looked over at Indi, "It wasn't okay what you did Indi, but it's been sorted out. And we talked about it today and you can't stay with me during my heat anymore. But otherwise, things are fine…"
Indi bit her lower lip but nodded, "I really am sorry. I really did think she knew already."
Spadix just shrugged, getting up at the smell of the ready coffee to go grab a cup, "it doesn't matter now. Just let it go."
Indi sighed but nodded. Jin was watching her very carefully and Indi held up her hands in surrender. That seemed to satisfy Jin as her attention went back to the returning owl, taking the coffee being offered to Jin as Spadix sat down next to her with her own cup.
Sterling handed over a very sweetened cup to Indi before he sat down himself quietly. The room was silent in general, the team all out of their usual comforts with each other now. The tension broke when Loki walked in with a big smile on her face, stretching before grabbing some coffee for herself.
She leaned back against the counter staring at the team, "Geez who died?"
The door down the hall opened and closed indicating Dove had slipped into a bathroom, confirmed when the shower could be heard. Loki drank from her coffee as she set a glass up for Dove. Indi rested her head down on the table and Spadix just frowned before Loki chuckled, "You all need to lighten up. You have two more years of being stuck with each other. Shit happens yea? Doesn't seem like anyone lost anything out of it and everyone still has each other so chalk it up to a mistake and move on why don't ya? Really you wouldn't be the first faunus to fuck up during a heat cycle and I promise you won't be the last. It's pretty common when you're still new to it all, trust me. Seen lots of buddies in your same shoes."
Spadix sighed and felt Jin relax. After a while, the team was chatting about what they might do with the rest of the day like nothing had happened. Dove came into the room looking rough but the shower helped. Loki simply handed over the coffee, "Oh thank god I need this right now."
The woman held the coffee under her nose and took in a deep breath of the smell before drinking it, Loki snickering next to her. Dove frowned, "Oh get over yourself. You aren't that great."
The woman could only wink at Dove under Dove's warning glare. The team at the table just laughed. Finally things felt better. The entirety of the household decided today would be a shut in movie marathon day since most of the day was gone already. They all picked a movie and pulled straws for the order. Indi sat in a recliner alone and Sterling sat on the end of the couch near her. Spadix curled up with Jin on the couch and Dove sat in the other recliner, Loki on the floor leaning back against her legs in front of her.
The rest of the trip was uneventful with days at the pool and nights either at the fire pit or inside with more movies. By the time it was over, Loki and Dove were packing their things. They were headed off straight to their first official mission together. The team, ruby and Weiss saw them off.
By the evening, Jin had been picked up by Blake and Yang and Autumn was returned to her family in exchange. Weiss got a driver to take Spadix and Indi to an airship bay so they could go visit Indi's family, Spadix being dragged along as insisted by Indi's parents. Sterling had rode with them to see them off before returning home to spend the rest of his summer with his parents and sister, joining in as Weiss began teaching the basics to Autumn who had wanted to take up a sword.
—-
On the airship to go back to Indi's home, Spadix was nervous. She didn't want to go back to anywhere around Mystral but also the dynamic of her friendship with Indi was still slightly strained from everything so she didn't really feel comfortable now with this.
Indi sighed and sat next to Spadix, "Hey… I can tell you are still upset with me…"
Spadix sighed, "Ever perceptive as usual aren't you?"
Indi flinched at that, feeling the sting in Spadix's words. Indi hugged a knee pulled up to her own chest, "I just wonder… why didn't you ever tell your girlfriend about all that? I figured you had because that seemed like the right thing to do. I mean it was wrong of me to assume anything and say anything like that but I really was drunk and I wasn't thinking."
Spadix frowned and nibbled a talon, looking out the vast window, "I just didn't have a clear memory of everything and just figured it was best to not worry about right now. We have had a lot of struggles and I know she wasn't your biggest fan so I was worried to say anything right now. It's not like I did any of it intentionally with a clear head."
Indi was messing with the shoelace of her hugged leg quietly. She knew that was true and she didn't want it to be different but she still felt that ever present pang of rejection inside again, "Right, we are just friends and I was just trying to help you. It's not like there's any reason you would want anything with me anyways. I'm sure Jin knows that."
Spadix watched Indi in silence for an unbearably long time, "Indi… are you… bothered that I wasn't actually interested in you?"
Indi laughed and shook her head, "No not exactly. Ok you got me. It's more that I'm just used to always being someone no one wants because of the whole ace thing. And then it was really weighing on me that the only time in years someone wanted to kiss me was just because of something they couldn't control making them want to fuck someone, anyone. So I'm not upset that you aren't interested in my Spadix, I am just your friend. I'm just dealing with my own shit in my head about once again only being desired for something physical and never being wanted for anything meaningful. That's all."
Spadix watched her for a while longer before leaning into Indi's shoulder, "I'm sorry Indi. I never meant to mess with your head. I'm sorry you feel like this. You really don't deserve it."
Indi rubbed a loose tear and chuckled, "it's fine. I accepted a long time ago that I was just going to be alone because no one respects that aspect of me. I know that sounds sad but it's really helped me not be hurt or disappointed by people. So don't apologize. You didn't mean to do anything to me and it's not your fault ya know?"
Spadix just nodded slightly. After that moment, Indi didn't like the feeling of Spadix's pity and forced a grin, "So, Jin bent you over huh? You didn't tell me about that one."
Spadix went red, "Indi!"
The girl laughed and poked at the owl's cheek, "Come on….don't keep me in suspense!"
Spadix groaned, lowering her head on the table, "I was just trying to get her out of her slump ok… it wasn't the most comfortable anyways and she got too rough so I doubt it'll ever happen again. Just let it go."
Indi laughed. The tension had been officially dissolved and they spent the rest of the trip getting back to normal with each other. When they got to their destination, Spadix could easily see Indi's parents in the crowd. She looked just like her dad and Indi had her mom's enthusiasm.
They greeted the girls with excitement, her mother hugging Spadix tight, "My goodness Indi was right you are just a little cutie aren't you!?"
Spadix blushed and politely pulled from the hug. They exchanged greetings and got the girls back home. Indi's two cats quickly adorned their human with affections but they were weary of Spadix at first, warming up to her after a few days, to which Indi joked that they just enjoyed scratches from those talons.
—-
Throughout the summer, Jin messaged Spadix a lot. Spadix knew the dragon was a bit jealous and tried her best to ease her lover's mind. One particular night while the two were hold up watching a movie, Jin sent a message to the owl.
'Hey, what're you up to Little bird?'
Spadix grinned and nibbled a talon, 'oh just sitting around watching a movie with Indi. What about you Golden Dragon, what are you getting into tonight?'
Spadix wasn't prepared for the response she got. She immediately turned crimson and nibbled harder at her talon, causing Indi to glance over for a moment before going back to the film. Jin had sent a picture. When Spadix opened it, not thinking, it was a picture of Jin's entirety, glistening with sweat and muscles tensed as Jin was snapping a photo of herself working out, body in the midst of a single handed pull up at a pull up bar she got recently.
Spadix swore she died inside a bit and cursed under her breath. Indi caught a glimpse and chuckled before ignoring the squirming owl, 'Jin… how dare you…'
Jin responded with a saucy emoji along with the following, 'Got to keep in shape for you of course.'
Throughout the rest of the summer, Jin would randomly taunt Spadix like that anytime the dragon was in a workout routine, Making Spadix squirm and eager for the summer to end.
—-
The girls got through their summer, Indi dragging her to that same annual festival as when she called Spadix last summer. The two had fun and Spadix walked around a few booths, looking to get something for Jin. Her eyes finally landed on a booth with intricate masks. These were made to cover the entire face except the mouth, the sides of the masks going down past the mouth area to the jaw. They had various ones but Spadix's eyes locked onto the ones that were replicas of exotic Grimm in various forms.
She stopped on one for the Sea Feilong, the sea dragon Grimm. The girl running the booth approached her, "Hey you like that one huh? You know we also paint them if you like! Some people like to get them painted so it's not too Grimm-like."
Spadix glanced up and nodded, "Can you make it golden instead of white? The red areas can stay."
The girl nodded, "Come back at the end of the fireworks and it will be ready for you, kay?"
Spadix nodded and paid for it before catching back up with Indi and her parents. They got food and enjoyed a few performances before settling down for the fireworks. Spadix thought the display was pretty even if it was quite loud. When it was over she went by the stand quickly to grab the wrapped before going back with everyone.
In the next few days they would take the long ride back. Indi was curious about the item and Spadix explained it but didn't want to open it before Jin could. She didn't think Jin would wear it but she figured the dragon would end up displaying it somewhere much like the large plush still sat on her bed.
When they got back to the campus, they spent a few days with just themselves before the others returned. Sterling brought dinner like last time. When Jin arrived, Spadix was quick to get the dragon's warm embrace like usual after long stints apart. She gave the gift to Jin after Jin set her down on their bed, sitting next to each other. Spadix nuzzled Jin's arm as the dragon opened it, smiling at the mask inside, "This is super cool! It kind of reminds me of my grandmother's mask too! Thanks Little Bird!"
The dragon kissed her head and leaned back, hanging the mask from a bunk hook for display. Spadix cooed in response happily before Jin grabbed her dinner from Sterling and they all finished food, sharing their summer stories before bed.
Their third year would start tomorrow and they were ready for it.