burnt bridges (@phoenixcages)
<Not that.>
Minako guided that hand away, held it still though she kept her grip loose. She’d been set to shivers when Yukiko twisted her shirt, pulled her close. Breath had mingled, blew across her chin and Minako’s stomach was still in tight, pleasant knots.
<I was—I am. Just as selfish and stupid and horrible as you pointed out. I—I want to be more than that person, now. It’ll take work, I know, but I—I want to try.> A deep breath, an exhale. <I want help with Akane’s shadow qualities, yes, because I don’t know how to teach her that. And I want to help you with your memories—>
Honesty, honestly.
<—Because they’re yours. They’re yours and you deserve them. If you decide you want me like you wanted me before, then great, but if not—>
If not? The if not made her knees knock.
<—then I’ll just have to start over from scratch.> She chanced a grin, found it easier and real, if a little small. <I won you over once. Once I remember how to be charming and not a total bag of dicks, I’ll just see if I can convince you again.>
There was already a foundation there, even if Yukiko didn’t remember it.
<Maybe I’ll graduate from knight to prince, huh?> A shrug, a husk of a laugh. <But before any of that—I want to help you. No—no catches. Not anymore.>
She saw the wince, that critical look, and her grin fell into something serious—concerned. Her other hand rose before she could stop it. Something shifted, inside, like a flutter of wings and a soft breath of wind—Titania—and when Minako rested her fingers against one side of Yukiko’s face, curled around the temple, she felt it warm with soothing magic. Nothing too special—she was far from the shadow’s realm and the Dark Hour—but Yukiko was still a shadow, and therefore a beacon and conduit for her magic.
Shockingly intimate. Minako didn’t care. <Sorry. Information overload?>
She raised an eyebrow at the hand on her face, twitching instinctively when it drew close, and looked severely at Minako as fingers ghosted through her hair.
"What, then?" She asked, frowning cautiously. The headache wasn't going away. It didn't feel natural, whatever it was--but the touch was undoubtedly soothing and she wanted to relax into it. It wasn't a normal pain. Shockingly, she could produce incredibly rudimentary healing spells herself--Yukiko was under the impression her Other was capable of more eloquent healing magic, but--so the exchange didn't surprise her as much as it should have.
Minako wanted her, for whatever reason. Don't we all? She wanted to croon, but there was a level of involvement and peculiarity in this case to the extent that she couldn't summon her usual dismissal.
"You want to date?" It was supposed to sound snide, but came out as tired instead. "Fine. Help me. By your very words you understand well that I owe you nothing. Don't cry poo-poo if I'm less than eager to make kissy faces at you over the dinner table."
Yukiko leaned into the palm, unconsciously, like a cat seeking warmth.
"Fucking overload. Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much? Shockingly verbose. Were you a gossip in your funny human school?"












