novachrysalia | This is not the time to talk about grandkids, my dear

This is not the time to talk about grandkids, my dear

Lightning had regained her name, and she felt like everything was right in the world now. Her job as a guard was though, but nothing she couldn't handle. So it was a reward to herself to occasionally go around town and looking at what new things she could find. May as well know where to get things in case she ever needed it for something like a mission.

There was a shop she had passed every time she was in town. She passed by it intentionally. There was someone in there she was trying to avoid, feelings she was running from. Light stopped short of the door today. Should she tell Luca she had gotten her name back? Would she even care? It's been weeks since she's seen her...

Taking a deep breath, the enters the potion shop and looks around. The smells of the place were a mix of pleasant to 'I don't want to know what that is'. She couldn't see Luca... the young woman was either not there today, or in the back. She waited for a minute before turning around and placing her hand on the door, more than ready to walk back out and forget this crazy idea.

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Luckily--or unluckily--for Lightning, the doorbell jingles lightly. Aqua's definitely in the back, where most of the smells are strongest. While they bothered her at first, Aqua's realized they're not harmful. And so she's gotten used to them, finds them somewhat of a comfort. It helps her really get into her work, throw herself into it, dedicate all she has for a few hours. Usually this early in the morning, few visitors come in. It's a surprise, then, when she hears someone enter.

"Hello?" she calls, finishing up one of the potions. She caps the little bottle, sets it down, makes sure everything's safe to walk away from. She pushes past practically overflowing shelves of supplies to the front where the shelves are neater (they have to be, in order to showcase all the different potions). It's another surprise when she sees Rose, after not having seen her for a while. Still, she's happy to see her friend, and she smiles at her. "Rose. It's been a while. How are you?"

This is what she was hoping for yet not. Lightning looks back at Luca, trying very hard to keep her face impassive. She nods to her and turns around to face her, now feeling foolish for still wearing her guard uniform. At least she had taken the mask off and hung it on her belt. One of her hands goes to it, gently running her fingers along the rim as a momentary comfort. "Fine. You?"

Oh, why had she given her such a short answer? No matter, what's done is done. Here's to hoping that this conversation is quick so Lightning can admonish herself in her room.

Aqua's apron is fairly clean, so she wipes her hands on them once more before giving Rose a nod. The answer is short, which is strange, so that means there must be something on her mind. Let her go at her own pace, though; Aqua's hoping Rose will be able to confide in her.

"I'm doing well." She pauses, watching Rose carefully. "Are you sure you're okay?"

How to answer that... She takes a moment to force a nod. "Yes. It's just been a while since I've seen you. Just making sure everything it alright."

It was part of the truth. She had wanted to see her, even if it made her heart hurt. She was jealous, even though she hated that she was, of all the people closest to Aqua. They knew her better. They could make her smile. And all Lightning could do was, well, nothing significant.

"Of course." Here, Aqua hesitates and studies Rose carefully. The more she watches her, the more Aqua realizes that, yes, there's something on her mind. She's not sure how to approach the subject other than being forward, but it's with care that she says, "Are you alright?"

Light can feel her eyes widen, so she looks away, touching one of the potion bottles and moving it around in a circle. Luca knew how to keep control of herself. She was always so composed. Lightning could barely tell what the young woman thought of most of the time. She had to judge her expressions.

"... as far as I know." As soon as those words left her mouth, she chided herself. This was turning into a disaster. Why couldn't she be better with her feelings?

Aqua knows enough about Rose to tell that she's trying to stall. Her eyes follow the motion of the potion bottle, and she looks at Rose. Her expression is firm. Aqua knows how to read someone, she has for a while, and she locks eyes with the older woman.

"If it's something I did, please don't hesitate to tell me." Because Rose was her friend. Yes. Her friend--that was it, nothing more. Ignore the way their locked gaze made her heart quicken, the way she felt like she wanted to take Rose's burden and help carry it no matter what. "We're friends, aren't we?"

When Lighting looks Luca in the eyes, her breath hitches. She can feel her body tingle, her spine shivering as if it was cold in that shop. Those blue eyes... like water... but they were firm, like the young woman's expression. That is enough to make Light's heart sink with a deafening crash in her ears. She tries desperately to not let her face show this anguish. She's gotten good at keeping up her mask.

"You didn't do anything. I've just been dealing with some things that I don't know how to deal with." That was the truth. She didn't know what to do with the feelings. She wanted to crush them, burn them, seal her heart so she wouldn't be so torn up by the way Luca was looking at her. She forces herself to nod. "Yes."

"Hm." Aqua crosses her arms, presses her hand lightly against her lips. (Absently, she wonders how it would feel to have Rose's lips against her own, but she pushes that down into the box labeled never going to happen.) Her hand, the one touching her mouth, shakes ever so slightly.

Stop it, she tells herself, and the hand mercifully conceals her light blush.

"Well, my ears are always open for you, Rose." Her voice, thankfully, is even.

Watching Luca's fingers touch her lips sent another shiver down Lightning's spine. Were they as soft as they looked? She has to force herself to swallow. She nods again, her hand wandering and fingering the lock on the door.

She tries to stop, but she really has the urge to just lock the door, turn around the door closed sign... that would be stupid. Luca doesn't feel that way about you. Just leave. Even that thought couldn't stop her from fiddling with the lock.

Aqua lowers her hand. She watches Rose with more than a hint of concern. Had she done something wrong? She'd certainly not meant to, but if Rose can't tell her what's on her mind...

She tries not to take it personally. So she takes a deep breath. "Rose. I mean it when I say you can tell me anything. Really."

Light opened her mouth, but no words came out. She closed it again and bit her lip. This was much worse than she could imagine. She was ruining a friendship- wait... she had one more thing she could use!

She turns back to Luca and nods. "I... I want to tell you my real name."

Oh. Well, that's sure a reason to hesitate. Though, Aqua can't help but think that Rose isn't exactly being truthful. Still, she nods once. Come to think of it, Aqua hadn't told Rose her own name.

"Funny, I want to tell you the same thing."

That made Lightning start, her hand slipping, and an audible click coming from the lock. She gasps and turns around, trying to undo the lock. She was in panic mode. She was composed enough not to let it show but if Luca could see her fingers, she'd notice the nervous fumbling. Light couldn't get the door to unlock!

"Here."

Aqua steps over, smiling slightly. The lock was pretty tricky, honestly, and Aqua knew the trick. She gently brushes Rose's hand away. In one hand, she grips the doorknob and pulls up deftly. Her other hand works at the lock, and with the doorknob lifted up, she's able to unlock the door.

"There. I had the same problem when I first started."

Lightning's breath hitched again, and if Luca listened, she would be able to hear it so close. With the door unlocked, Light feels less anxious. She could still get out. Push Luca aside... touch her again... her hand felt warm and soft just from the light contact.

She forces herself back to the present and nods. "Right. I'll remember that."

The contact had affected Aqua, too: a rush of blood to the cheeks, even if it is a bit subtle. Aqua looks up at Rose, hesitating; they're so close, it makes her a little dizzy.

"Yes. Well. My name." Deep breath. "It's Aqua."

So Luca was a bit shorter than Lightning. From this close, she could really admire how beautiful Luca's blue eyes were. They were so clear, even more like water up close. Her own eyes might look curious, and more than a little interested.

Aqua. That sounded better than Luca. Sounded right. "Aqua..." She shakes her head a bit as she chuckles softly. "Seems we're meant to be at odds. I'm Lightning."

How does the saying go? Opposites attract? The thought makes her blush a bit more, and she ducks her head away, embarrassed. It's not you, Lightning, it's her. It takes her a moment, but she looks up at Lightning, and she lets a smile stretch across her lips.

"It fits you." Of course it does, silly. "I'm glad you remembered it."

Light saw that blush, her head moving with Aqua's to see more. She snaps her head back into place. That smile...

"I've been told that quite often." It's taking all of her willpower not to do something stupid right now. Please let a customer try and come in before she just grabs this girl... and now she's the one looking away as she blushes.

"If you've heard it often, it must be true."

Honestly, Aqua feels more than a little awkward. She's not exactly a pro when it comes to romance--the last time someone had asked her out on a date she'd been so flustered. While she has a soft spot for it, it's still... new, and--

Is Lightning blushing?

"... Lightning?"

Lightning put a hand over the lower part of her face and walks off deeper into the shop, keeping her back turned. Great. This was embarrassing. She will not be able to live that one down. She can't, won't, answer. She was good at denying things. How to deny...

There is no way to deny a blush. Dammit.

Well.

This is awkward.

The only thing she can do is follow Lightning. Try to figure out what's wrong. Aqua's concerned for her friend, but there's also a lot of confusion there--that blush is undeniable, hard to ignore.

"Lightning?"

She is so mad at herself for being this damn bad about feelings! She grumbles softly as she finally feels the blush die down. So she finally moves her hand down and looks at her. Aqua will see a serious face, which is what Lightning wants her to see. Though her eyes showed what she truly felt. Fear, loneliness, and a hint of desire. Aqua would have to know how to read eyes to see that.

"Yes?"

Aqua knows how to read someone. Her judgment and perception is good like that. What she doesn't expect to see is that third emotion. Toward her. It seems hard to believe. It makes her heart race, her mouth dry, her palms a bit less dry. Her mind blanks out for a moment, and then she regains hold of herself and reaches out tentatively. Places her hand on Lightning's.

"... Confusing, isn't it?" Her voice is soft. She's sure she doesn't have to elaborate.

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