Work Text:
(the doodle that started it all)
“hey. where’s the baby?”
maybe it is not the most appropriate question to ask someone who had just overturned their vehicle in a car accident, but the moment firefly sees the ‘baby in car’ tag stuck to the rear window of the car, her heart is already pumping wildly in fear.
“...what?” the person on the driver's seat, bleeding profusely on her head questions back, eyes unfocused, and then she quickly squints them close; either because she is in pain, or maybe it is just the blood flowing freely through her eyes that forces her to squint them into tiny slits. the red staining the light blue violet of her smooth tresses looks horribly out of place; as if the hair should never be tainted at all.
“i saw the tag placed on the rear window but i don’t see any child seat in this car, or aeons forbid, outside of the car. did you actually bring your baby?”
“o-oh—” she paused, biting her lips. firefly could not quite see the reddening cheeks of the driver due to her bangs and the cuts already on her face, and that is actually good for the injured woman. it is embarrassing enough as is without the firefighter judging her. “i’m—i’m the baby.”
“what?” firefly echoes back the question, eyebrows knitted together, somewhat in disbelief.
the other occupant of the overturned car, the passenger with dark raven hair and chopped bangs, chimes nonchalantly; as if everything is just right in the world even though she is also stuck in her seat belt, and most probably injured as well. “she said she’s the baby.”
“you’re the baby.” firefly repeats, directing it at the overturned car's driver.
“i’m baby?” the driver then turns to her passenger, struggling to blink her eyes tightly, open and then close, open and close again, hopeful.
the passenger nods slowly. “yes, you are. you are baby,” she then hums, her tone playful and teasing. “if i'm not mistaken sunday was the one to place that sign, because you're his baby sister~”
“okay,” firefly sighs, feeling a little hopeless at carrying on with the ‘i’m baby’ agenda her two patients are seemingly on. “i’ll leave you to that. just—just let me see?” after asking for permission and getting a stiff shrug, firefly carefully peels away at the driver’s hair, sticky with fresh blood, but still so soft to touch. once she sees the split cut, she lets out a bated breath. “alright, the cut up here isn’t too bad. but we definitely need to check you in the hospital for concussions later.”
“i have a concussion?”
"you might. but you can speak and process my words well enough, so i don’t think you’d have to worry—well—at least, not by much, it does look like it is just a simple cut, but it is a head injury, which is worrying by any degree—so you should definitely get it checked,” firefly then watches as stelle finally manages to tug off the other side of the car’s door, and then swoops in to check on the shotgun passenger. firefly questions the passenger first as stelle busies herself. “how about you? doing good there?”
“yeah, just… a bit difficult to breathe right now. i think the seatbelt is too tight, but i can’t seem to get them off… i’ve tried several times…” the passenger moans softly in pain when stelle feels her way around her chest and ribs.
stelle’s voice eventually pipes up, worry quite evident in her tone (firefly wonders just how she could stomach this sort of work sometimes, stelle always exudes a feeling as if she cares a little too much—beyond the level of empathy that suits their already stressful job). “i think she’s just bruised from both the seat belt and the impact from the airbag. thankfully this side of the door crumpled well enough to absorb most of the damage from their collision,” she then gives her full, undivided attention to the injured car driver. “alright, just hang in there. the rescue truck will be here soon, they’re more well equipped than us fire trucks. once they’re here we’ll get you out of that seatbelt.”
“how about the other car?” firefly asks, remembering how stelle had rushed to it first because the visible damage from the car’s exterior is much worse than the overturned car they are currently assisting.
“driver’s a goner, when i got to him, he was already not breathing. i think he was driving too fast and didn't have the time to brake and slow down enough at the corner. captain welt said there’s several long skid marks from the car’s tires right over there,” stelle points beyond firefly, further down the road where there were obvious skid marks from sudden, hard braking. “then, from what i gathered from other witnesses who stopped just a bit ahead and called in the station, he hit the road’s barrier and spun out of control, hitting this trailing car and another vehicle, a one tonne lorry, before he finally came to a full stop.”
firefly scrunches her nose as she takes it all in, then turns her head to study the tire marks on the road. her head already imagining the accident from what she could observe. obviously it was a terrible incident, as the marks visible on the roads went as far as over fifty metres of burnt rubber, and bits of steel, glass and plastic shrapnel from all the vehicles involved in the crash are also littered along the lanes. “a sole driver? was he alone in his car?”
“yeah, and hopefully the only casualty too. earlier, i saw the lorry driver exiting his lorry with just some minor bruises, limping a bit with his leg. i've checked his condition and it's not too bad. it should be safe for him to get on a later ambulance, i think.”
“everyone else is also dispatched then? i didn’t realise, our paramedic unit must’ve stopped further down the road with the fire engines from other stations… anyway, what did the captain say?”
“the captain said he’s coming in a bit with the rescue folks. hang in there, he ordered. fire’s got to clear the road first or more innocent people could be a victim of this accident. the corner of this exit from the highway doesn't have the best visibility from afar.”
firefly cranes her neck over the car’s underbody again, eyes flashing every way. even with the police officers blocking one of the exit’s lanes, it does look like there’d be probabilities in which more cars could pile into the accident scene. the longer they take for rescue the higher the chance things could get worse. she digs in again only to be met face to face with the driver, who seemingly got curious about firefly’s actions.
“o-oh—” she gasps softly, the sound barely audible, only the close proximity making it possible for firefly to catch the low gasp. firefly is similarly surprised to see the woman’s face so close—her lashes are long, her neat bangs cast a shadow over her pretty emerald eyes, and in a moment firefly is utterly in her thrall.
“my apologies,” firefly manages after she dutifully swam out of being trapped in the sea of green. she blinks and shakes her head, studying the situation again. the passenger looks like she’d need the rescue truck to come in, but the driver’s side is not as damaged. perhaps firefly could... she swoops in after a moment of thought, still held captive by the driver’s eyes as she follows firefly’s movement. smashed glasses be damned, firefly lied down to cover for the driver’s fall. stelle is quick to follow—adjusting firefly’s legs from the other side of the car and once firefly is certain, she reaches for the driver’s seat belt. unbuckled, the driver falls with a thump on firefly’s body, the firefighter letting out a small grunt as she cushioned the fall. “got you.”
with much effort, firefly manages to wiggle both of them out of the car into relative safety. “okay,” firefly wheezes, helping the driver to sit, the right side up this time around. “let me look at you,” it is easier to see just how much blood is oozing out of the open wound on her forehead now. firefly gently pads it with a gauze. “it really looks like it’s just a cut on the surface. you were upside down, so blood must’ve just rushed out of you… let me get our paramedics.”
“ah, please…” the driver quickly takes hold of firefly’s hand stemming the bleeding on her forehead, grasping it. “d-don’t. please stay with me.”
“u-um…” constellations appear in firefly’s vision as she meets the woman’s star studded eyes, teary in distress, yet still a show of dazzling light. she pauses, unable to move nor think—how this woman impairs her! she has a job to do, but the driver’s grip is surprisingly powerful, to a point that firefly knows even without the disarming qualities of her startling eyes, she is not going anywhere. “m-miss… you need to have the paramedic assess you.”
“why don’t you do it, firefly?” kafka’s voice chimes in seemingly out of nowhere, jolting firefly slightly out of her trance. “you’re trained as a paramedic as well,” she chuckles, light and airy, kneeling down and placing her kit near firefly’s feet. “you can assess her as well as i could, and it would help her much. she seems to have placed her trust in you.”
“kafka,” firefly tries as the senior paramedic circles around her, heading to stelle. “wait, you’re not…”
as if on cue, the rescue truck and their second ambulance unit arrive, and a flurry of activities happen. yet, all firefly could focus on is the hesitant grasp the woman has on her—a gentle hold of her gloved hand.
“firefly, right?” the woman questions, she slowly blinks the blood away from her eyes and shivers. “i’m sorry, you’re kind of… the only one i can see right now.”
“it could be shock,” a softer voice this time—himeko’s. her hand carefully massages firefly’s shoulder, giving it an assuring squeeze. “see to her needs, firefly, we’ll tend to everything else.”
firefly does not turn to follow himeko’s movement like she did for kafka this time. instead, her sole focus is on the injured driver. they are both fully absorbed in each other, drowning out any other noise and activity around them. “yes, it’s firefly, miss…”
“...robin.”
“miss robin.”
“firefly, you’re hurt.”
“huh?” a light tap on her dominant hand urges firefly to look there, and robin is right, firefly is hurt. her glove is torn apart and fresh blood can be seen dripping out of the tear. she must’ve gotten cut from the shattered glass during the rescue. “oh. that’s alright. no big deal. let’s get you patched up first, okay?”
“uh-huh…” still robin doesn’t seem convinced, but firefly gently tilts her head to the side, and sets on working on the rather troubling head injury.
“you’re in shock, it doesn’t help that you hit your head hard enough to bleed. like i said, it could be a concussion, so please, you shouldn’t be concerned about me, miss robin. worry about yourself first.”
“mmm…” a gentle hum, sing-songy and pleasant, leaves robin and firefly almost falls into yet another form of constellations, storing the lovely hums preciously in her memory—as robin leans into her hand that's busy cleaning the wound. under normal circumstances, firefly would probably enjoy such a touch, surely she would, but this is far from what one would call normal—but still, entranced, firefly keeps working. water, pad, alcohol, then, wrapping one last gauze around robin’s head, covering the wound. finally, firefly settles by moving stray tresses out of robin’s emerald eyes, her beguiling gaze still set on the firefighter.
then…
her head drops on firefly’s shoulders, and stays.
firefly petrifies on the spot. her hands, one of them with its own injury, hovers over robin’s still body, not knowing what to do. “uh—”
“firefly, you look so stupid,” silver wolf cheekily comments. she’s been watching the whole time, wanting to jump in but also not feeling churlish enough to break the bubble the firefighter and her rescuee are in. she was ever so tempted, though. “she’s out for the count, now get your filthy hands off of her and get her on my stretcher.”
“wolf, i’m not even touching her.”
“she’s definitely touching you,” silver wolf points to the top of firefly’s head all the way to her torso, where most of robin’s weight rests securely. “semantics, firefly. come on. help me get her on the stretcher already.”
“ugh, alright.” firefly grumbles. her hand cradles robin’s head gingerly, the other to her waist, and together with silver wolf, she moves robin to the paramedic’s stretcher, watching intently as silver wolf secures her in with the stretcher’s straps. robin’s face, pretty, looks peaceful. the whirlpools of anxiety firefly swam in are gone with her eyes fully closed. yet firefly couldn’t shake off the feeling like she’d want to look into it again, to drown in it again.
“you need help with that?” silver wolf questions firefly, nudging at her hurt hand.
“oh, no. i think i’m good. i’ll go help stelle.”
silver wolf tips her head, but doesn’t push. “you sure? alright, march and i will go first.” as if on cue, march appears on the other side of the stretcher.
“oh! we’re going?” march’s bubbly voice questions, almost hopping into firefly’s personal space. firefly doesn’t mind it one bit. “stelle, blade and dan heng got the passenger out, so you’re good, firefly! she’ll ride with the first ambulance.”
“huh, okay.” her hands drop uselessly to her side. suddenly left without anything to do, she looks around again, noting just how much activity is happening around her. there is a lot going on, and yet, having robin in her arms earlier… firefly couldn’t see anything else either. she blinks. fire captain welt, firefighters from other stations and police officers alike are clearing the debris, so she took a quick look towards where kafka is—the senior paramedic assisting himeko with the injured passenger, silently asking for permission to join the rest of the other units. kafka raises her jaw slightly once she notices firefly’s stare and off she goes.
firefly clenches her injured hand and spares the second ambulance unit—march and silver wolf’s—a last glance as it drives away with its sirens blaring.
robin’s soft hum still plays in a tranquil loop inside her mind.
----
“whuh, look who it is... it’s baby.” silver wolf has her legs propped on the office’s table the moment robin walks in the fire station. the name strikes her like a lightning would, paralysing her on the spot. she feels goosebumps forming in her arms because—no way.
“oh my, if it isn’t baby!” kafka announces to the whole entire office and robin’s wings, more energetic now that she is not in utter shock, curls around her face to cover her embarrassment.
yes way—robin concludes. it seems the fire station has her dubbed as ‘baby’. she unfurls her wings, and braces her shoulders. she’s a performer—something like this shouldn’t faze her. she puts on her best smile and goes around the office, trading greetings and relays her gratitude for the station’s part in saving her in her accident a few days back.
march gives her a tight, warm hug, with stelle joining slightly after. the passionate girl lures robin in for a quick chat, and robin indulges her. it turns out march is a fan of her theatre troupe, and she gushes about how excited she was to be able to help her idols somehow, but also saddened that they were caught in such an unfortunate accident. stelle, seemingly attuned to march’s unease, simply gives her hand a few squeezes. robin watches this closely, then assures march that she is quite alright, and that march had done everything she can—to a point she and sparkle had gotten out of the accident in (mostly) good shape.
robin huddles with the two of them for a few more minutes, before her curiosity got the better of her. she’s said her greetings with everyone—even the fire captain, welt, robin is sure—whom she has not had the pleasure of meeting at the crash site, but…
“if it’s firefly you’re looking for, she’s in the gym,” silver wolf, always watching, pipes up helpfully. “i don’t know if you’d want to see her right now.”
“the gym?” robin questions. she almost rushes to where silver wolf is perched on kafka’s office desk. almost. the tone is a warning, and she’s curious as to why it’s used.
silver wolf puts her hand up in surrender, taken aback by the sudden lack of serenity in robin’s body language. “whoa, hold on now. i thought i should give you a heads up.”
the cautious flutter of wings is all silver wolf gets for her reasoning.
“firefly’s a bit intense when she’s in the gym,” kafka supplies. she removes silver wolf’s legs off her desks and leans in closer to robin, propping her chin up with her hand. “but really she’s quite delicate, miss robin. you must be ready to forgive her.”
“where is it?”
kafka’s lips twitch to form an elegant smirk. her eyes twinkle as she looks to the side, towards the general direction of the gym. she watches robin leave in haste, and in the dim office her eyes seemingly lit the way. she is a seer, of that, himeko is certain. still, himeko quivers. “are you sure you’d want to do that?”
“dear himeko, i’m sure you agree firefly needs a friend, outside of all of us, desperately so, and miss robin is surely capable.”
----
robin pokes her head into the gym and is close to faint on the spot. the heat inside the gym is something she could manage, yet the person inside it is almost unrecognisable. firefly throws a barrage of quick hooks on the punching bag. with every powerful connection throwing robin’s senses off, her hold on the gym’s door tightens to a point blood stops flowing into her pale hand.
the heavy atmosphere inside the gym slowly dissipates with one last punch that sends the punching bag a good inches off the floor, the impact so loud an audible crack is left ringing in robin’s ear. firefly stumbles, reeling from the hit, the muscles in her back still tense. robin's wings flare out. “firefly…”
and all the tension is gone with firefly turning her head towards the door so fast robin is surprised she does not dislocate her neck. “...miss robin?” firefly gasps loudly, moving to hide behind the punching bag—in severe shock by the sudden appearance of the woman.
undeterred, robin circles around the punching bag in record speed, grabbing the hand she is sure firefly had hurt during her effort in rescuing robin—her head throbs with worry, perhaps even anger, as she utters loudly, surprising even herself. “you…!”
her eyes set on the clearly injured hand, and softens almost immediately. the bandage is thick, but most importantly the firefighter is shaking. like she had been pushing her body beyond its physical limits. she tightens her grip on firefly’s slightly trembling hand, before letting them drop to firefly’s sides. “you're hurt, and you're not even wearing boxing gloves, and you shouldn't be doing… n-no, i'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice.”
slightly breathless, all firefly could manage is, “miss robin, what're you doing here?” she reaches for her towel on the floor, proceeding to wipe her face and neck, avoiding the glimmer in robin's eyes should firefly have locked eyes with her instead. “the crew knows not to bother me when i'm at the gym.”
“silver wolf warned me.”
that grabs firefly's attention. “i see. and yet you still came?”
“yes.” robin answers with her whole chest, and braces herself for firefly's anger—fiery and anguished—to wash over her. she's seen this sort of fury through characters portrayed by her colleagues, all desperate, all looking for the soothing comfort her characters could provide. it strikes her that, even on stage, she's never had to play such despairing herself, only ever meant to lull it.
but nothing ever comes. robin is still in firefly’s space, only that firefly is no longer avoiding her searching gaze. the vermilion shade is however, hardened, the colour had only reminded robin of her favourite hill to trek near her home, where she could gaze at the sunset which always comes in with its boldest blaze; yet at this very moment, the vermilion could only communicate firefly’s wariness of her.
she takes firefly’s injured hand again, gently clasping it. thankfully, firefly does not pull away, though she has all the right to—as surely robin is not welcomed in the space firefly chooses to be vulnerable.
with care, robin unwraps the bandage, reddened now with blood unlike the pristine dressing on her own forehead. her wings droop at the state of firefly’s wound—bruised and ugly with blots of fresh blood. it is evident to robin that firefly never allows herself to take some time to heal.
firefly is still tense, her strong biceps strained, but she allows robin to study her injury close, stepping backwards as robin gently guides her to the bench press machine and sits her down.
a non verbal question is thrown into the mix, as firefly’s sunset eyes meet the deep starburst shades of robin's dewy own—her concern palpable—that it is almost teary. firefly’s brows rise in a daze before she points to where the gym’s first aid kit would be, and watches as robin scurries over to that corner of the gym. her wings flutter with every anxious step, and when she returns with the kit, they're hanging down sadly again. firefly watches every single movement of the wing. it twitches with each scrunch of robin’s brows, flaring under robin’s smooth tresses as she gets to work. it is as telling as robin’s eyes—a window to her soul, it would seem. robin's touch is soft and fleeting, and as firefly's mind is still away, hyper focused on the wings that curls around robin’s features, her touch is all firefly could physically feel, until even that stops after a while.
“you're good at this.” firefly comments softly as robin clasps the fresh bandage together, finishing up. firefly tests her hand, feeling it move with good flexibility, unlike before with her hasty bandage work that didn't leave her with much possible range of motion.
“i think you're just expecting too much out of yourself to be able to treat this without help.” robin guesses correctly that firefly had in fact tried to bandage her hand by herself, and not doing a very good job at that.
“did you have a concussion?”
robin chuckles. firefly snappily trying to get the attention away from herself is clumsy, but also a rather adorable feat. “a mild one, yes, so the doctor kept me under his observation for two days before i was discharged. i’m okay now though. i don’t feel dizzy or anything.”
“how about… the other woman?”
“mm, sparkle did hurt her ribs. thankfully it was just a minor crack and some bruising. her stay at the hospital will be a bit longer. i fear she’ll be back before i even know it, though.
“you don’t like miss sparkle?”
robin laughs again. a hearty and warm sound. this too, firefly preciously stores in her memory. “aeons, no, firefly,” robin answers, wiping a tear that had been threatening to fall for so long, relieved that it chooses this moment to burst. if it had happened any earlier robin would have been inconsolable. “sparkle is a good friend. but she is quite the menace. i’ll still miss her.”
“oh, i see,” firefly sets her eyes away again, looking past robin to the punching bag that she had just taken her anger out on. “i’m sorry, i’m not…”
“it’s alright,” robin smiles. she’s still holding onto firefly’s injured hand, so she gently squeezes it. “i’m sorry too, for forcing myself inside here. i-i’ll go now.”
“miss robin?” firefly tugs at her hand before she could go. “thank you.”
firefly’s sunset eyes stretch far and wide, and they come to robin’s starry eyes as a settled heart, and in that very moment robin’s own chest grows perhaps tenfold.
----
“good, you didn’t die,” silver wolf chimes playfully as robin returns to the fire station’s main office. “sorry about firefly, really. we had a bad call early this morning and she has been like that ever since.”
“oh,” robin has inferred that something must’ve happened, but the mention of a ‘bad call’ could be anything in their treacherous careers. she does not push her luck, only nodding in understanding. “would it be alright for me to come visit again—ah!”
something brushes along her legs, and robin looks down to see bright yellow eyes gazing at her. “a black cat?”
“oh man, elio likes you. now you have to come back,” silver wolf chortles with glee. “he’s the station cat. on a very good day, he’d even come with us in the fire truck to the scene.”
“i-is that allowed?”
silver wolf shrugs. “he’s the boss.”
just then, the door to the main office opens, revealing himeko, who wears a gentle smile when she notices robin’s presence. “robin, you’re still here. good. won’t you please join us for lunch?”
“it’s blade’s turn to cook today, robin, you’re a lucky gal,” silver wolf gets up from her chair to give robin’s back a quick pat. “come on, take it as our thanks for helping out with firefly. she’s been at it for hours. i was afraid she won’t ever calm down.”
kafka comes into the office with a flurry. “oh, wolfie, baby, darling,” she calls especially fondly at the ‘darling’ part, making robin blush as the paramedic leaves a quick peck on himeko’s cheek. “go on ahead without me, i’ll go get the child.”
robin immediately guesses firefly to be ‘the child’, and wonders exactly how the fire station works familiarity-wise. it feels like it is run like a tight ship, but there is enough camaraderie and obviously she’s seen enough love, as if the fire station as a whole is just one complete family. she watches as elio the cat steps away from her to trudge along kafka’s hurried steps. she then gets tugged to the station’s pantry by both himeko and silver wolf, and himeko gently sits her down at an empty seat at the end of the long dining table, where a delicious looking spread is being served. already there is a lot of hubbub happening round the table. robin watches with ardour in her eyes. the crew reminds her dearly of her own theatre troupe. it has only been three days without rehearsals for her, but she knows she misses them so much.
a plate is served in front of her by himeko, but robin doesn’t dig in until…
“miss robin,” firefly says as she joins her, her hair is slightly damp fresh out of the shower, her service issued tee sticking to parts of her still wet skin. elio jumps into her lap the moment she sits down. “i’m sorry, i don’t look very presentable, but kafka quite literally yanked me from the shower room and—”
robin thinks firefly looks perfect.
----
“come on over and play with us again, okay, robin?” silver wolf says, standing with kafka and firefly at the entrance to the fireman’s hall, the wind blowing inside the garage housing all of the ambulances and fire engines is light and airy. an ideal scene for a goodbye.
“you’re always welcome to.” kafka adds.
the both of them set to leave, but before that they either smack or pat firefly on her head. “ow!”
robin giggles lightly, and then she’s once again disarmed by the intensity of firefly’s gaze.
“so…”
“so,” robin echoes with a smile. “thank you for everything. i don’t think i managed to say that to you yet. i just came here to thank the crew, yet i got roped into having lunch with everyone as well. i apologize for overstaying.”
“no, that’s not true, like kafka said… you’re a welcomed guest,” firefly twiddles with her fingers. “w-we don’t get a lot of visitors, really. i’m sure the others would welcome you with open arms, always.”
“what about you?”
“huh?”
robin tips her head, a curious finger on her jaw. “won’t you welcome me? with open arms? always?”
firefly sputters. “miss robin—”
robin laughs. it rings melodiously in the large garage’s chamber. her wings flap about, merry. “i’m just teasing. i’ll see you again, firefly.”
“...see you…”
firefly watches robin’s retreating form until she turns the corner, and at that moment, another hand comes to meet her head, a softer hit this time.
“miss himeko, you too?”
----
“...and so she didn’t say anything?” bronya recounts as she pours robin her favourite whiskey and then a touch of vermouth to make her manhattan, garnishing it with a flourish.
the brandied cherry garnish is immediately eaten, and robin uses the garnish pick to anxiously poke at her hand. “not like i expect her to, she did have quite the long day,” robin sighs. “i was nosy, so i reached out to black swan. i know she does journalism on the side for the local paper, and her girlfriend is with the police… she did say there was a major accident out on the same highway i got run into recently. that must’ve been the bad call the station experienced.”
“ah…” bronya sets the vermouth and whiskey bottles away, thinking if she should mention that the fire station frequents her bar too, and today should be...
she does not need to think about it too long. as if it is on cue, a group barrages through her bar’s doors, and she gets greeted by familiar faces. she watches intently as robin too turns at the noise, only to immediately be stunned by the new arrival.
firefly similarly pauses at the door even as the rest of the fire station's crew filter in after her to find their own space inside the bar—it is crowded as the small but comfy establishment is already being occupied by the theatre troupe celebrating sparkle’s release from the hospital.
seele bursts into the dining area carrying a spread of greasy fried foods, and curses at the new arrival. “not you guys too! as if the theatre kids aren’t enough to make this place so busy. bronya wouldn’t want y’all to be too loud now, catch my drift?”
a chorus of ‘catched!’ and yesses ring, but still seele gestures that she’s watching all of them closely. the presence at the still opened door grabs her attention. “firefly! close the door, you’re letting the chill in!”
“right!” firefly immediately shuts the door, but couldn’t find it in herself to move.
seele serves the troupe their foods, then trots to the still firefly. “what’s up with you…” she follows firefly’s gaze to the counter, where a lonely robin sits, with only bronya keeping her company. “hmm?” she sees bronya gesturing to her urgently, and catches on quick. she grabs firefly around her back and nudges her towards the counter. “all of the seats are taken, so you just sit down here. let me know what you want, if you want food, that is. i’ll take the others’ orders now!” she announces the last sentence to everyone inside the bar, and a loud chorus responds to it—barraging her with orders of ‘chips!’, ‘onion rings!’, ‘fries!’ and other greasy temptations the bar serves—”one by one, you idiots!”
seele leaves to attend to the new group, and bronya allows a small smile to grace her as firefly slowly sits down next to robin, both of them still in a trance—their eyes locked together, open and honest as any child. bronya feels bad for taking that stillness away, but she should get a move on before orders from the large group get to her and she’d be too busy to keep an eye on firefly and robin. “what will you have, firefly?”
“oh, any porter would do.” firefly manages, finally breaking out of the hold robin’s eyes—glimmering even in the dimly lit bar—had on her.
bronya nods. “understood,” and with that, a glass of dark, draught beer is served in a timely manner. firefly nurses it, as does robin with her cocktail. “you take your time, now.”
“thank you,” firefly drums her fingers on the counter, flushed with how intently robin stares at her. “m-miss robin… you’re kind of… staring.”
“oh!” robin gasps, unaware of herself fixating on firefly, but how couldn’t she? firefly is wearing casual clothes, and she’s seeing it for the first time. she looks cosy—clad in a soft cardigan with a shade not far off robin’s own eyes, her white shirt neatly tucked into high waisted casual pants. it’s a stark contrast to firefly wearing her full firefighter gear, or her sweaty self with compression shirt stuck onto her skin, muscles tense… robin blinks the visions away. under the warm lights of the bar, the slightly fading scar on firefly’s lips pulls all of robin’s awareness. “i’m sorry. you look good, firefly.”
what robin is not expecting is firefly sharing a similar sentiment.
“so do you, miss robin, i couldn’t take my eyes off of you.”
it occurs to robin that she’s styled properly today as it is the night of the last rehearsal. a full makeup dons her face, and she’s wearing clothes that a socialite would wear for a transitional fall-to-winter—an oversized black blazer atop a fringed white dress, making for a well-polished silhouette. “you’re so kind, firefly. i don’t usually wear this sort of clothes.”
“you don’t?”
“mhmm, it is for a character i’m playing for tomorrow’s performance. i kind of don't want to let her go, yet. you could say i’m psyching myself up for tomorrow.”
“so you’re a performer, miss robin. i didn’t know that.”
“i never told you,” robin giggles cheerily. “oh, i know! won’t you please come and watch? i do have tickets for family and friends.”
“ah, i really shouldn’t, you should prioritise your family, miss robin.”
robin’s eyes and wings both droop. “unfortunately, my brother lives far away, and he’s the only family i have.”
“oh, i’m sorry, miss… i didn’t—”
“it’s alright, firefly.” robin moves her hand to rest it on top of firefly’s bandaged hand. “i insist though. i-if you’re not working your shift, that is…”
“i-i’m free tomorrow.”
“you are? that’s great!”
“yeah, just worked a double shift, that’s why we’re all here. we get to lay low a bit. if i am not mistaken, march has plans to watch your performance tomorrow as well. i don't know if she has managed to persuade stelle to accompany her yet.”
“oh but wouldn’t you rather rest?” robin’s wings flutter about, her brows raised in concern. she does not want to be too pushy with her approach.
“nothing really happened during my double shift so i was all tuckered out. i’ve had enough of sitting around doing nothing.” firefly assures robin with a laugh.
robin likes it. firefly’s laugh isn’t melodious or anything like robin’s theatrically formed ones, but it feels like her—low and chesty. robin would’ve liked lying down on firefly’s torso as she laughs, to feel the merry vibrations. well. bronya’s manhattan is getting to her faster today—is the whisky stronger? she stores the thought immediately for another time. future robin can deal with that. now, she just wants to have the present firefly all to herself. “alright…”
“talking about your brother, wasn’t he the one to place the ‘baby in car’ sign at your car’s rear window?” firefly sips her dark beer while watching a pretty flush colouring robin’s cheeks.
“ah, that is… the car is his as well, actually. he said he’d just be taking the metro at the new city where he’s needed, and he wouldn’t want to drive hours long across the country to bring his car with him, so i should use the car to get around instead,” robin pouts. “it’s totaled now, but that car has a lot of sentimental value to me… and my brother, i'm certain. it’s quite the loss.”
“i’m sorry.” firefly remembers the state of the car on that fateful day. it is indeed miraculous for robin to have gotten out of that with just a mild concussion. her eyes trail across robin’s pretty features to her forehead, where a smaller bandage has replaced the gauze dressing circling her head. she almost reaches out to it but stops herself in time.
robin sees the hovering hand and nudges her shoulder with firefly’s. “thank you for your concern, little bug.”
the hovering hand twitches. “little bug?”
“oh, that is… my bad,” robin covers her mouth with her hand, accusing eyes staring at the glass of manhattan in front of her, now empty. liquid courage or tipsy mind? robin couldn’t be sure but the fact of the matter is that her fondness for firefly is out, and maybe robin should simply make good use of the chance. “that just came out of me in a flurry. i just think you’re so adorable, little bug, hovering over me like that. do you think i am your light? you could rest your cute little hand on me anytime.”
“miss robin i think you have too much fun teasing me…”
“that i do, but i’m also telling you the truth,” robin leans fully on firefly now, huddling close together. “i like you, firefly,” at the priceless reaction of firefly’s blown eyes, robin chuckles lightly. “maybe you’d say i’m having a sort of saviour complex, and that might be true. or that we don’t know each other enough yet for me to say this sort of thing. that’s also true. but, no, i’m not tipsy enough to say this drunkenly. all of me is here, and all of me wants you.”
robin slides the ticket for tomorrow’s stage performance towards firefly. “before you say anything, please come watch me.”
with that, she slides away from the counter, firefly watching her approach a dark haired woman among the people in the theatre troupe, and then embracing her. she remembers her as the shotgun passenger in the wreck, then her eyes were put in a timeless lock with robin’s again. robin shyly waves at her and then goes through the door without much of a flair.
at the door to the kitchen, both bronya and seele watch the lone firefighter at the bar counter, not moving even a single muscle, the latter commenting. “oh robin broke her.”
bronya in turn rolls her eyes. “she’s always so dramatic.”
----
firefly could barely catch a wink last night, but thankfully her body clock is used to her demented work schedules, as well as her tumultuous past, so even missing a whole night of sleep barely does anything to her conscience. however, she is sure her emotions are on overdrive, reeling from robin’s soft confession the night before. the very moment replying in firefly’s mind without a break in between.
all of me wants you.
firefly sighs, looking down at the ticket in her arm. it seems like all of the performers’ significant others get good seats. it’s close to the start time so there is much hustle and bustle in proximity to the theatre. the energy is good, but still firefly should move out of the main entrance before someone—
as if on cue, firefly gets bumped from behind. she’s sturdy, but so is this person. “pardon me.”
firefly turns to meet a familiar face looking down at her, an officer from the police station servicing the same area as her fire and rescue station. acheron, they have met a couple times on scene and worked together. “officer acheron.”
“ah, officer firefly. sorry for bumping into you, there’s quite a crowd. what a pleasant surprise to meet you here, though... you’re going to see the performance?”
“y-yes. are you… also?”
“yes, my girlfriend is one of the performers.”
firefly feels a spark igniting inside her. surely acheron does not mean… but then… the confession…
seeing the rush of emotions firefly portrays in just a jiffy, acheron feels the need to settle her down. “her name is black swan. i don’t think you’ve met.”
just as quickly, firefly douses the flames. but still she is surprised by how quickly her heart catches alight. “o-oh,” she murmurs, clenching her still bandaged hand. “no, i don’t think i’ve had the pleasure.”
“i’d like to introduce you to her, then,” acheron simply replies. “she’d most probably would love to have someone to contact working for the city’s fire service. unless you’re not keen…”
“no, it’s alright, i do need to make more acquaintances, senior paramedic kafka has been bothering me about that.”
“mm, i do recall you being quite the newcomer to the public service and the city alike.”
“yes, officer.”
acheron chuckles. “please do refer to me by name should you like it, firefly. we shouldn’t be too formal with each other to be considered friends.”
“i’d like that.”
“and it does look like we’re seated together,” acheron’s eyes twinkled at the ticket firefly has in her hand. “perhaps we should enter the hall, then? i’d like to talk to you more but it sure is noisy outside here.”
“of course, miss acheron. lead the way.”
----
firefly’s conversation with acheron flows smoothly, the close solidarity between the firefighter and police officer deep-seated. they share experiences on the job and its woes, places they frequent out of their long working hours, and, most importantly…
“how did you know you were in love with miss black swan, miss acheron?”
“where is this coming from?” acheron tilts her head towards her seat mate. they had a lull in conversation after acheron enthusiastically harks about a small peach farm just an hour’s drive away from the city, a drive that she and her lover enjoys taking just to get their minds off their hectic lives a little. and when firefly speaks again, it is through this question.
“ah, i don’t… i don’t have anyone else to ask that. in the station… march and stelle have always been together since they were kids, so it’s natural to them… himeko and kafka have known in an instance that they simply belong with each other, but they are both so vague about it when i asked them. silver wolf, on the other hand, will tease me to a point i’d want to bury myself in the ground and simply cease to be…”
acheron chuckles. “you’ve always been loved, firefly. i hope you do know that.”
“yes,” firefly nods, aware that her found family of the station crew love her. she loves them back equally. “but i think this is different.”
acheron wants to take her time to think—as it is never easy to put words into love, romantic or familial, and she feels both with black swan—it is different for everyone, and for firefly she may not be able to truly empathise—but before that the curtains are raised, and acheron turns her attention to the stage. “let’s enjoy the performance first, shall we?”
----
firefly has always been entranced in robin’s presence—at mercy of the hold her emerald eyes has, the pools unforgiving and so soul-stirring, yet it also encases her in warmth, rendering her heart inept. the wings behind robin’s ears parallels her maudlin gaze, likely with a mind of their own but still reflective of robin’s emotions… but this is unlike anything else.
on stage, robin shines brilliant even without the spotlight beaming on her—she’s vivacious! her energy setting firefly ablaze. she moves across the stage like she is dancing, but there is no choreography to it—despite being full of life, her gestures are elegant, it is simply infectious as she glides from one scene to the next. firefly naturally couldn’t take her eyes off of robin.
the black wig robin wears exudes extreme picturesqueness, a strange and familiar feeling to firefly all at once—she is another person entirely, but this person firefly takes a similarly quick liking to—she wants to get to know her, wants to hold her in her hands, wants to meet her eyes as they share soft whispers…
oh.
the curtains come down again, and with one look at a stunned firefly, acheron smiles. “you don’t need me to answer that question anymore, do you?”
----
the troupe’s after party is a rowdy one, and everyone from the family and friends seats has access to it—that means firefly is among the excited crowd in the small banquet hall the grand theatre houses, alone now that acheron has to leave to congratulate her lover for a job well done. march and stelle is in the corner of the room together, stelle focusing fully on a very excited march, recounting the plot points that she loved.
thankfully, firefly does not have to be alone for long, as robin hugs her by her side, the dazzling energy still apparent. “little bug!” she cheers, sporting her natural light violet blue tresses again, her wings are as energetic, one of them curling up around firefly’s cheek. “you made it! i’m so happy… hehe, did you see me?”
“yes,” firefly says, supporting both of their combined weight as robin exhales and fully leans on her. “i saw you, robin. you were beautiful.”
“were, little bug? you only like how i look as my character?”
“no, miss robin. i think you look pretty now, too.” firefly studies robin's post-performance fit—a simple grey sweater thrown over a black colored spaghetti strap top—nodding courtly in approval, though she has no doubt the pretty actress would look amazing in just about anything.
“aww, you’re a flirt, i’m glad you really got to come, though. that was so much fun!”
firefly’s eyes softens. “you did look like you enjoyed the stage the most, miss robin. again, i couldn’t take my eyes off of you.”
robin gasps, dramatic, but grateful all the same. “what’s gotten to you, firefly? you’re really laying on the praise here. reminds me of how down bad miss acheron gets for black swan sometimes.”
“ah,” firefly laughs. “might’ve caught it from her then, we sat next to each other during the performance. didn’t know it was contagious.”
“oh! you know acheron?”
“well, it was merely a coincidence that we were seated next to each other during the show, but we are both in the public emergency services. we do run into scenes together sometimes.”
“i see.” robin detaches herself off of firefly’s body, immediately missing the warmth the firefighter exudes. she latches on firefly’s bandaged hand, at least, not wanting to fully let go. her heart throbs a little, unfairly green with envy that firefly has found someone else she could confide into. they even work together sometimes. she mentally hits herself at the thought. yes, robin likes firefly, but she doesn’t want to be possessive about it.
firefly catches the light sourness in robin’s mood and squeezes the actress’s hand, taking her away from her punishing thoughts. “are you… joining the banquet?”
“no, i’m only here to find you.” robin shakes her head, quietly thankful for firefly’s reassurance. “i’m a little tired and not feeling too keen to celebrate.”
“let’s go, then. i would like to talk, if that’s quite alright with you. but if you’re too tired…”
“i don’t mind,” robin beams. “i know just the place.”
----
the performance ends just as the pleasant afternoon transitions to night—a turning page for another end of day just catching the sun’s presence. the sky aglow with the last of the orange rays is one with the stars, and the light breeze cools them both. robin faces the horizon, her back resting on firefly’s body. they naturally assume this position when robin pulls firefly upstairs to the theatre’s rooftop.
firefly is quiet for a long while, eyes steady on the horizon as well, lips bearing a semblance of a smile, robin is sure, because her presence is kind and warm, albeit lost in the moment. robin gently urges her. “you wanted to talk, little bug?”
“oh, yes,” firefly chuckles, holding onto robin tighter. “i’m sorry. i got distracted. this is quite nice. this city gets bathed by beautiful sunsets.”
“we’re lucky.” robin agrees.
“where i came from, the sun is harsh, never pleasantly warm nor breathtaking as this.”
robin’s wings quiver at that, cold to the admission of truth despite firefly’s warmth enveloping her, in addition to the more chilling breeze blowing past. “...little bug?”
“i’m from glamoth, miss robin. i’m a war orphan,” firefly confesses. “i was born into the war, never knowing anything else. it’s either you fight or you die. kafka and himeko… they were both working with one of the military units this country sent as aid… i saved their lives during one of the largest battles… and after that… they tried their best to get me out of the conflict. i stayed alive as well as i could until they retrieved me, and officially adopted me into their family so i could be a citizen here.”
robin gasps, turning to face firefly, open-mouthed to see the firefighter laying herself bare.
“they protested me wanting to join the fire service. they only wanted me safe now that i’ve taken refuge away from the warring land, insisting that i didn’t have to do anything, that i don’t owe them favours… but without a clear purpose, my past would continue to haunt me. i wanted to live. i wanted to get hurt. i wanted to feel something,” firefly pauses, clenching her injured hand that was resting on the small of robin’s back. “but i feel mostly… anger. because that is all i’ve ever had. my fury kept me alive all this time. you saw me at my worst, miss robin... i didn’t mean for that to happen, and yet… i felt safe to be vulnerable with you. to show you that i was hurt and scared and i—i didn’t know what those feelings of mine meant. w-well. i still don’t know it fully, but i have… an idea of it now...”
firefly pulls robin’s form closer to her. “i would like to learn more about this feeling pounding against my chest. with you.”
robin’s wings flutter and her eyes water. “do you mean…”
“yes,” firefly nods, a timid blush making its way to her face. “if you’ll have me. but i have next to no experience and i’m sorry if that bothers you—”
robin’s moves are quick and resolute, the kiss to the corner of firefly’s scarred lips is just a soft press, but it ignites their entire bodies. in all truths, robin is hesitant to make the move—because goodness has she been forceful with her affection to firefly and surely to others they could be moving too fast but to robin it just seems right. then firefly disperses all of robin’s worries as the firefighter actually meets her touch, and robin is certain she has not invited this fiery prodigy of a scarred lips to reciprocate—she only wanted firefly to know how she feels—but the way firefly cradles her, supports her, her hand moving from her jaw to her earlobe, finally gently preening her wing, leaves robin breathless—overpowering all of her senses.
“oh.” robin murmurs when they parted, both huffing. firefly’s hand gently thumbs at the single tear that escapes robin’s dreamy eyes.
“i’m sorry… too much?”
“no, just perfect.” and robin couldn’t help it, she dips and requests for more; her needs dutifully answered by her inexperienced, but genuinely passionate lover.
----
“attagirl.” silver wolf smirks as firefly recounts the night before with a deep red blush covering her whole face.
“wolfie, your trashy romance novels are such a bad influence on our poor little firefly.” kafka comments with a loud chortle.
“whatever, i’ll still take credit for making firefly a phenomenal kisser.”
-----
perfectly imperfect brownies that look fresh out of the oven—the upper crusts in between burnt and deliciously crispy—greets firefly as she enters robin’s humble kitchen, the enticing smell enveloping her first. she couldn’t help but smile. it speaks of love, of warmth, and her eyes search for its beautiful maker. robin stumbles into the kitchen moments after, pleasantly surprised by the presence of the firefighter inside her kitchen and uttering a hundred words in seemingly seconds. “firefly! my little bug! welcome. when did you arrive? you’re so early! oh, i’m not even done with the baking yet! there's still cookies!”
“okay,” firefly catches robin by her panicking waist and laughs. “breathe, miss robin, yes, i’m here, but i’m in no rush. sorry for coming so early,” a soft kiss follows the apology, in which robin returns in kind. when they part they only allow a few inches to separate their faces. “the brownie looks about done to me, i almost reached for one.”
“that’s alright, you’ll still be my little brownie thief.”
firefly’s chuckles rings alongside robin’s little giggles, a chorus of happiness that spreads a sensation like no other across firefly’s chest. she buries her head into the nook of robin’s shoulders, the actress smelling of chocolate and sugar, the sweet fragrance of fresh baking welcoming her home, uplifting and ever-gentle.
robin nudges her head into firefly’s. while the fragrant aroma of the brownies wafts through the kitchen, she still notices an outlier, the smell of alcohol—antiseptics. it’s sharp once she notices it, especially so with firefly enveloping her whole body.
“sorry, fire captain welt sent me away early, actually. and he specifically told me to return to you and not to my dorm room. i think he might take me off duty tomorrow, too.”
robin searches and finds the source of the omnipresent chemical odour. a large bandage bulges on firefly’s back, the firefighter trembling in robin’s hold as she brushes over the new injury. “oh, little bug.”
“i’d like it if i can just… be with you tonight.” firefly sighs close to robin’s ear, and her wings flits to be buried among firefly’s light bangs.
robin holds the firefighter impossibly closer. “of course, firefly. you don’t even have to ask. you’re home, dearest.”
----
it is like that for a while—their shared life. firefly returns to robin’s home either safe or battered, sometimes she doesn’t bother to spend the night—knowing she’d be needed early in the morning and only joins robin for dinner, keenly aware that robin is incorrigible during dewy dawns; then she was off to return to the fire station’s dormitory.
it works well for the both of them. robin would’ve loved it if she could spend the night at the dormitory as well, but firefly had said her space is tiny, and she also doesn’t want to be subjected to endless teasing from silver wolf, whom she shares the space with. robin chuckles, feeling a similar sentiment with how sparkle sometimes treats her. thankfully, her gremlin of a friend seems to enjoy teasing black swan more as the latter is always up to meet her crazy.
“would you like to move in?” robin asks firefly one night, belly full of leftover firefly brought home from the station—it had been blade’s turn to cook again, and the chef of the day had remembered how much robin enjoyed his cooking. so he sent firefly off at the end of their shifts with two takeout cases. robin’s hand is mindlessly tracing the scars on firefly's rough yet gentle hand, a stark reminder of their first fateful meeting.
“move in?” firefly echoes the question.
“yeah. i live alone now, and it’s… i know you’re here a lot of times. but i just kind of… gets lonely sometimes,” robin blinks slowly. “s-sorry, i know it’s a selfish request… to make your life revolve around me…”
“i don’t mind. i wanted to live, miss robin, and if that means my life is to revolve around you, like a bug attracted to embers that i am,” firefly says with a small smile, making robin chuckle lightly as well. “i won’t trade it for anything in the world.”
“are you sure?”
“i'm certain, miss robin. you're my light...”
“oh, little bug—” robin is about to plant a smooch on firefly’s ever kissable lips, but a rattling from outside catches both of their attention. the doorknob is quite obviously being budged.
“are you expecting someone else?” firefly questions in a whisper.
“n-no.”
“go to your room, i’ll check it out.”
“no, firefly—”
the door swings open, and all firefly could manage is move robin behind her protectively, assessing the danger that approaches—
“robin, my little baby—!”
baby.
sunday bursts into his house enthusiastically as an avalanche would, snowing in firefly’s fiery defence mechanism. not that firefly could do much but stare at robin’s only other family. robin gasps and cranes her neck over firefly’s protective form, in disbelief. “brother?!”
the siblings breaks into a sprint to close the little gap separating them from the doorway to the living room, and firefly dutifully follows robin, but at the same time also giving them enough space for their precious reunion.
“were you surprised, robin?” sunday asks cheekily, cupping robin’s already teary face.
“oh, brother, you’re so… you should be normal about coming home for once!”
“a-ah,” sunday tuts. “but where is the fun in that?”
“you don’t have to make coming home fun for me, sunday.” robin rolls her eyes.
sunday grins down at his sister, before finally addressing the other presence now in robin’s life. “and you must be firefly, the firefighter my sister can’t shut up about.”
“brother…”
“it’s a pleasure to meet you finally, mr. sunday.” firefly grasps the hand sunday offers her, shaking it lightly. he’s warm and gentle, his energy is so similar to robin. firefly smiles. so siblings are like this—she’s never had one, never actually aware if any of her blood family ever existed. the station’s crew had been the only family she ever knew.
“and you’re as formal as robin mentions, do you still call her miss robin?”
“brother, i beg of you…”
sunday’s laugh is loud and boisterous, but it doesn’t bother firefly a single bit. she receives enthusiastic pats on her back. “sorry about bursting your bubble though. i got a hotel room for my whole stay, so you should be comfortable and talk it over thoroughly. moving in will always pose a challenge, even with the dearly love the two of you share.”
“sunday, you’ve been eavesdropping?”
“what? that doesn’t matter at all at this moment. i’m giving firefly my consent and blessings! this is your house now, dear sister. feel free to do what you’d want with it. but definitely, definitely, strip my room bare for a fresh start. i’m afraid all the fallen angels' aesthetics won’t fit your darling bug’s needs," sunday announces his blessings to robin and firefly, both flushing immediately. "you girls are so cute... now, toodles, my loves! i just meant to drop by real quick to surprise you. to think i managed to catch miss firefly as well is just a sweet bonus!”
“oh, brother, just go. please.” robin pleads, turning sunday back towards the door. "i'll meet up with you properly tomorrow to welcome you home. now leave..."
“wahahah!” sunday’s laughs keep ringing even as he audibly gets into a car waiting outside, however realistic that seems.
“uh—” robin manages as she glances at firefly, who has been sporting a small smile all the while. “sorry about all that. he came in like—”
firefly couldn’t help but let out a few hearty chuckles. “full on dramatic, miss robin. i didn’t think it is possible for anyone to out-drama you.”
“little bug! no teasing!” robin’s wings flares out behind her, a clear sign that she’s upset, triggering firefly’s defence mechanism once again.
“miss robin…”
“never do that again,” robin warns with a dangerous tone, a tone she’s only ever used on stage, and firefly catches on quickly to what was bothering her. “what if that was not my brother? did you honestly plan to keep me safe while getting yourself right into harm’s way?”
“uh—bad habits,” firefly tries lamely. “i’m really sorry.”
“you’re pretty dramatic yourself,” robin wants to get mad; she needs a ghostly cord that had grown from her experiences as a performer to surface, but that’s also not who she is—and the real robin could never get angry at firefly, no matter how much she tries, her resentfulness can’t be another scar firefly has to carry for a lifetime—long or short it may be. “i need you to be with me, little bug. and yeah… i know, i just keep being selfish today. i’m aware that you can’t promise me that, not with how dangerous your work is—and i’d have to live with this over my head as always, but—you can be with me, for as long as it is possible. as long as the aeons still bless us with life, with precious breaths.”
“i can promise you that.” firefly says, resolute.
and the tension spasms away from robin, she rushes to firefly, encases her with all that she is, all that she has. “i love you.”
firefly returns the embrace, feeling robin’s wings tickling her, and bewitched, she also confesses. “i love you too, miss robin. how is it that you breathe life into me like no one else can? that you’d forgive me so when i err, to show yourself bare while i hide… but please know that i am your protector as you are mine, and that i would defend you with my life even if the odds are insurmountable.”
“i can’t negotiate these terms, can i?”
“no,” firefly smiles into the kiss robin initiates. the touch is a whole sweetness of passion, a million loving feelings condensed into a single moment. in that kiss they are both home. “i, too, can be selfish when it comes to you,” firefly shoots robin a serious look when they part, her bright sunset eyes captivates robin every time, without fail. “now, what did mr. sunday say about his room? fallen angel aesthetics?”
robin couldn’t help but laugh, the peals of laughter rumbling from deep within her heart, whole and loved, always had been since the instance firefly shared her mutual feelings with her. all of her worries leave her in a chorus of melody that firefly eventually joins in, the pleasant warmth etching itself in their shared memory—a moment so fleeting, yet they were both ever so sure that it could never be forgotten.
- END _
P.S: 100 kudos waahh (hands you this doodle as thanks for the love...)
