#kassandra fluff

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

Kassandra does not concern herself with the gods.

She doesn't need to. Not when every trial she's faced has been dealt with by her own hand, with no help, for as long as she could remember.

She doesn't want to. Not when so many of those trials wouldn't have happened if humans had chosen not to act on behalf of the gods.

So, despite the grating debates with philosophers at symposiums and the unrelenting lectures from her mother at family dinners, Kassandra has decided: no gods. No thanks.

That is, until she's faced with beautiful people.

Because when it comes to matters of the heart, Kassandra is— to be frank— completely daft; something you're quite tickled to learn when she walks up to you one evening at a military camp in Lokris the day before your campaign begins.

Her jaw is set. Her gaze, steely. She's all business, marching steadily with her head held high.

Until you take off your helmet.

You're almost certain that you see her trip over air, but you're far too distracted by her wide-eyed stare to give it any more thought.

"Is something the matter?" you ask, your features contorting in growing confusion.

She blinks rapidly— shakes her head twice.

"No! No, not at all. I just… I just wanted to… introduce myself," she finally settles on saying.

You nod. Slowly. Tentatively.

"I know who you are," you reply, lips quirking up into a grin. "You introduced yourself to everyone before we set up camp."

"Right. That's… yes. I did, didn't I?"

You assume the question is rhetorical until the silence between you stretches long enough to suggest that an answer was expected, but just as you open your mouth to give one, she cuts you off.

"Sorry," she chuckles airily. "I just, um… wanted to make sure there wasn't anything you needed from me before tomorrow's battle."

How sweet, you think. The warm smile you give her betrays the thought.

It also makes her face go beet red.

"I'm alright for now," you nod, "but I'll let you know if that changes."

"Yes!" She blurts. "Please do. Just, uh… yeah. Yes. If you need anything at any point, say the word. I'll be right there. I mean— not right there; that makes it sound like I intend on following you around for the entire campaign, and that would be…"

She trails off as she comes to the realization that only two things will save this interaction:

Being struck down by Zeus himself, or shutting the fuck up.

"I understand," you giggle. "You're welcome to follow me around all you like. Thank you, Kassandra."

And with that, you walk away, moving on to sharpening weapons and tending campfires.

Kassandra stays exactly where she is for longer than is natural. How could she possibly act natural after an offer like that? After hearing how pretty her name sounds on your tongue?

When she finally walks back to her tent, she promptly falls back onto her bedroll, stares up at the roof of fabric in horror, and prays to Aphrodite that she won't make an ass of herself like that again.

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

Unfortunately, Kassandra manages to make an ass of herself on three more occasions before the campaign ends.

The first happens during a battle in full swing. You catch sight of her taking a nasty hit and make your way over, cutting down a handful of Athenian soldiers on your way.

"Good to keep going?" You yell over the chaos, one hand on her arm.

Her head snaps toward the sound of your voice in an instant.

She looks down at the shared contact, then back up at you, then down again, then up once more.

"Y-yes," she replies, "I'm alright. Thank you… you didn't have to—"

She's cut off by the roar of a very dramatic opponent diving toward you for what he thinks will be the most epic kill of his life.

You promptly drive a spear through his throat.

She looks down at his leaden body, tsking. "Left himself wide open, am I right?" she asks, shaking her head.

You might begin to contemplate just how strange this woman is— and just how much it's beginning to grow on you— if it weren't for the raging battle taking precedence.

"Right," you slowly nod. "Let's, uh… get back to the fight, yes?"

"That's right— you're right. The fight."

She turns to an approaching enemy and hopes to get skewered.

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

The second occasion happens a few days later. She approaches as you're cooking over a campfire, determined to make conversation that doesn't end in total humiliation.

Technically, she succeeds. The conversation begins with it.

"You alright?" she hears you ask, and her stomach drops as she realizes she's been staring at you as she contemplates what to say.

"Oh— Yes, I'm fine. Just… wanted to come check on the food."

You snort, looking back down at the stake of meat roasting in your hand. "You hungry?"

She finds that your dry wit is still wildly charming, even when at her expense.

"So… are you from Sparta?" she inquires after a moment

You look back up at her, confusion flashing across your features.

"I am," you reply. "It's, um... It's a requirement for being one of their soldiers, if I'm not mistaken."

Your lips quirk up into a grin. Hers press into a thin line.

"Right," she blushes. "That's, uh… that is correct."

"You haven't lived here for a while," you mention. "When did you leave?"

"After I was thrown from Mount Taygetos as a child."

"You were what?"

Kassandra's eyes go wide upon seeing the horror on your face.

"No! It's… It's okay, really. I'm okay. No big deal."

"That's a big deal, Kassandra."

There it is again. Her name on your tongue. She hardly gathers herself in time to respond after hearing it.

"I suppose I've come to regard the whole ordeal a bit too flippantly after all this time," she chuckles breathily. "I apologize."

A soft, warm smile appears on your face.

"You've nothing to apologize for. Speak of it however you'd like. I'm sorry it happened, though."

She isn't able to reply before another soldier beckons you over. You ask if she wouldn't mind roasting the meat for a moment, and she almost drops it entirely when her fingers brush your own as you hand it over.

As you walk away— poorly concealing an amused giggle— she finds herself praying once more.

Dear Aphrodite, grant me one conversation that doesn't make me want to crawl into a hole and die, and I'll start going to temples to do more than spy and steal.

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

It's after the third and final moment of indignity that Kassandra decides enough is enough.

The two of you join a small group going down to the river for a wash when she notices you hesitating to take a steep step.

She's thrilled at the opportunity to extend a hand to you, ascends when you take it, beams when you finally make your way to solid footing.

And then, she promptly loses her own.

It's as she's looking up at the sky after having slipped and fallen on an acorn that Kassandra realizes the gods don't seem to be listening to her pleas for suave.

So she seeks out the next best thing.

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

"Mater?"

She steps foot into her childhood home, the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air.

She calls out for her mother again, making her way to the kitchen where Myrrine is furiously chopping vegetables. Kassandra has long since given up on trying to correct her mother's questionable knife skills, but her habit of opening her arms to hug Kassandra while still clutching said knife? That much has got to stop.

"Mater," Kassandra says once more, chuckling in exasperation as she promptly takes the blade from Myrrine's hand and sets it down on the counter before stepping into a hug. "No knives in hand when you're greeting someone, eh? It's threatening."

"We're threatening women, Kassandra," Myrrine argues before pressing a kiss to Kassandra's cheek. "What's the matter with that?"

Kassandra walks over to the kitchen table, sighing as she sits down.

"We're off-putting women," she grumbles, picking at a hangnail.

"Off-putting?" Myrrine echoes, offended. "Who's off-putting? I do quite well for myself… Can't you see my glow?"

Kassandra's face twists in disgust at the sight of her mother's cheeky smirk, her wiggling shoulders.

Myrrine, for one, is highly amused by her ability to embarrass her daughter, giggling to herself as she watches her daughter shake her head.

Her laughter softens when Kassandra's eyes drop down to her lap.

She doesn't see this version of her daughter much. The one that looks unsure, defeated, smaller. So much smaller that for a moment, Kassandra looks like an awkward teenager.

Myrrine's chest goes tight with a familiar grief as she remembers that an awkward teenage Kassandra is not an image she can actually conjure.

But Kassandra's here now, and even after nearly 20 years apart, it took Myrrine hardly any time at all to learn to read her.

"There's someone you fancy, hm?" Myrrine knowingly inquires.

Kassandra looks up at her mother through her lashes.

"Possibly…"

"Well, that's a good thing," Mryinne chimes, "isn't it?"

"It would be if I knew how to talk to the people I fancy!" Kassandra complains, gesturing wildly.

Myrrine laughs, her head thrown back and her himation swishing at her feet as she pads over to Kassandra. She sits down across from her, offering her hand palm-up on the table.

"It surely can't be that bad."

"It is that bad, Mater."

Kassandra reaches out, but only to grasp her mother's thumb. Myrrine smiles to herself. Kassandra held her hand this way as a child, too.

"You've at least tried to make easy conversation with them already, I hope. That's the first step, isn't it?"

A harrowed look settles into the lines of Kassandra's face.

Maybe it is "that bad," Myrrine thinks.

"I tried, yes," Kassandra responds solemnly. "It ended swiftly after I told them I was thrown from a cliff 20 years ago."

A bark of laughter escapes Myrrine before she can clap her hand over her mouth to stop it.

Definitely "that bad."

"Stop," Kassandra whines, burying her face in her hands. "It's not funny…"

"I'm sorry, moró mou," Myrrine chuckles, getting up to wrap her arms around Kassandra's shoulders; to place chaste kisses upon her dark hair.

"What do I do?" Kassandra pleads, words muffled. "I swear, every moment I've had with them has gone to utter shit."

"Oh, Kassandra," Myrrine coos. "Have you considered that it's part of your charm?"

"Mater," Kassandra chides, hands dropping to reveal narrowed eyes, "don't make fun of me. I'm serious."

"I'm serious," Myrrine argues, looking down at Kassandra with a smile.

"Consider this: you're incredibly strong. So valiant. Smarter than most philosophers and strategoi alike."

Kassandra chortles at her mother's obvious bias, but lets her head fall against her chest, anyway.

"All those brains and all that brawn… but you still wear your heart on your sleeve. You stumble over your words—"

"And my feet," Kassandra adds, cringing as she recalls her very first interaction with you.

"And your feet," Myrrine chuckles, squeezing Kassandra's shoulders, "all because you laid eyes on someone you care for. Isn't that all anyone wants? Someone who trips over their own feet for them?"

Myrrine may have a point. Kassandra has always found awkwardness rather inviting herself.

"Well… not everyone wants that. What then?" Kassandra ponders aloud.

"Then," Myrrine begins, sitting back down across from Kassandra and taking both of her hands in her own, "you wait for someone to come along who doesn't ask you to be anything you aren't. If this person you fancy is at all deserving of a wonderful girl like you, then they ought to like you exactly as you are, eh?"

A reluctant smile pulls at Kassandra's lips.

"Okay… so I just… keep being awkward, then?"

"Keep being awkward," Myrrine shrugs, standing to make her way back to half-sliced vegetables. "But, perhaps… save the cliff story for the first date."

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

"Keep being awkward."

Not quite the input Kassandra was expecting to receive.

But, she heeds the advice, anyway. Takes every stumble— physical or otherwise— in stride, and hopes you'll happen to find it charming.

Correction: she prays that you'll find it charming, because— Gods— she's only fallen harder with every passing day.

And now it's the last day. Everyone's packing up after a successful campaign, clasping each other on the shoulders, bidding each other well on their journeys home.

And she's shitting bricks as she walks up to you; a mirror of your very first interaction.

"Y/n?" She calls, seemingly having lost every ounce of confidence she just led this army to success with.

You turn to face her, a wide smile spreading across your face as you rise from where you were folding up a bedroll.

"Kassandra."

Please, Aphrodite, don't let that be the last time I hear them say my name.

She takes a deep breath, willing herself to tell you just how fond of you she's grown, to ask where you're going, how to reach you, when she can see you again—

"Heading for Korinth, I hear?"

Kassandra blinks twice as your words cut through her thoughts. She nods, her words breathless as if she'd been running as quickly as she was spiraling.

"That's right."

You hum in consideration.

"That's quite a long trip."

"It is," she winces.

You hum again.

And then, you lock eyes with her, your lips pulling up into a smirk.

"Some company would be nice, don't you think?"

Kassandra may be categorically dense when it comes to romance, but she is not dense enough to miss the way your eyes just swept up and down her figure.

"A-are you… is this— was that—"

"I'm flirting with you, Kassandra."

Her eyes go wide. Her jaw goes slack. Only after a silence that lasts so long it leaves you biting the inside of your cheek in an effort not to laugh does she incredulously repeat,

"You're flirting with me?"

"I've been flirting with you the entire campaign…"

"You've been flirting with me the entire campaign?!"

You finally burst out into laughter.

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes!" She exclaims. "Yes, because I've done nothing but make a fool of myself around you!"

You laugh even harder— because it couldn't be truer— but still, you assure her,

"I think it's cute," you shrug.

"Do you?" she questions, brow raising. "Well, then… I suppose my mater was right."

You tilt your head. "About what?"

"She, uh... she said my awkwardness is charming," she snorts, rubbing the back of her neck. "That if you were the right person, you'd 'like me exactly as I am.'"

You pause for a moment. Your eyes narrow. And then, you smirk again.

"You were talking to your Mater about me?"

──˚₊୨ৎ‧₊˚──

୨ৎ Settling down was not in the plan for Kassandra of Sparta

୨ৎ In fact, it wasn't an option; she had decided this years ago after narrowly making it out of a military fort in Mykonos, and she knew, she couldn't-wouldn't- ever put someone through the stress of never knowing which contract would be the one she didn't make it home from

୨ৎ So, despite being the hopeless romantic she was, she resigned to settling for a few good lays here and there and overworking herself in the meantime 

୨ৎ Still, that didn't mean that there weren't moments- moments like this one- where she'd watch a mother cooing down at her babbling child and grieve what her life could have looked like one day

୨ৎ She sat on the edge of a fountain in Athens on one of her only days off, a sad smile on her face as she watched the chubby-cheeked toddler pluck a piece of bread from their mother’s hands, and couldn't help but get lost in her own imagination 

୨ৎ What it'd be like to come home to a family; to her wife walking out to greet her with a baby on her hip, to see her child’s gummy smile beaming up at her

୨ৎ It was so vivid- so close she felt as if she could reach out and grab it- until, suddenly, she’s broken out of her trance by the the excited shriek of her name coming from her left

୨ৎ It's then that she whips her head around to see,

୨ৎ “Phoibe?” 

୨ৎ She stands up to meet the small girl who's barreling towards her with a familiar toothy grin, nearly tripping over her own feet

୨ৎ “Kassandra! It’s you!” Phoibe exclaims, wrapping her arms around the woman’s waist

୨ৎ Kassandra stares down at the child now glued to her hip in disbelief 

୨ৎ “How are you- what are you doing so far from home?”

୨ৎ “You said you weren’t coming back to Kephallonia,” the girl begins, “so I decided to leave, too!”

୨ৎ Kassandra is exasperated- but frankly, unsurprised- to learn that in the year since she’d left the small island, the rascal had managed to sneak onto a ship heading to Athens from Kephallonia, and had since found work as a servant for a woman called Aspasia

୨ৎ “Right,” Kassandra begins wearily, “And where does this Aspasia live, hm?”

୨ৎ “In the leader house, of course! She and Perikles like to kiss!”

୨ৎ Of course

୨ৎ So she had also managed to land one degree removed from the leader of Athens

୨ৎ “By the Gods, Phoibe,” she sighs, “you are… a handful.”

୨ৎ The handful had now taken Kassandra by the arm, dragging her towards Perikles’s residence with an earful about how big the estate was, how nice Aspasia had been to take her in, how pretty the leader’s daughter was…

୨ৎ That’s when you come rounding a corner; hand flying to your heart as you exhale in relief at the sight of the 10-year-old

୨ৎ “Phoibe,” you pant, “how many times have I told you: you pick one spot for hide and seek, not a new spot every time you think I’m going to find you…”

୨ৎ Kassandra told herself that her interest was only piqued because you seemed to have a relationship with the girl she’d practically considered her own for so many years, and not because you were breathtaking

୨ৎ (It was because you were breathtaking) 

୨ৎ “I’m sorry, Y/n,” Phoibe mumbles, scratching at the back of her neck, “but look! It’s Kassandra! After all this time! I knew I’d see her again!”

୨ৎ Your eyes lift from the dark-headed child to the dark-headed woman beside her; whose heart was officially breaking at how overjoyed Phoibe was to have crossed paths with her

୨ৎ You were suddenly finding yourself quite pleased to have crossed paths with her, too…

୨ৎ She was tall- a little over six feet- her stance wide and strong. Her armor did little to conceal her muscled arms and legs, her skin nearly as golden as the armor itself. Her wavy locks of deep chestnut were settled over her shoulder in a braid, stray tendrils framing her features; her strong jaw, the scars above her soft lips and on her freckled nose, her piercing tawny eyes…

୨ৎ It was safe to say that your interest was piqued, too

୨ৎ You’re snapped out of your trance by an excited tug on your Chiton

୨ৎ “Kassandra, this is Y/n, the leader’s daughter! Didn’t I say she was so pretty?”

୨ৎ You choke out a laugh as your face heats up at the child's straightforwardness, and Kassandra knows that the flutter in her stomach means she needs to be careful around you

୨ৎ But as much as she was a hopeless romantic… she was a flirt; she just couldn't help it

୨ৎ She shoots you a smirk before looking back down at the girl- who now has her arm in one hand, and your chiton in the other- with a raised brow

୨ৎ “I’ve never known you to tell a lie, Phoibe.”

୨ৎ Naturally, Phoibe insisted on spending as much time as possible with the Misthios now that she was in Athens, so you'd grown quite accustomed to seeing Kassandra

୨ৎ Which meant you'd also grown quite accustomed to being shamelessly flirted with

୨ৎ The way she'd scan your figure when Phoibe wasn't looking, the way she'd place a guiding hand on your lower back if she needed to walk past you, the way she'd taken to calling you agapi more than she’d call you your own name

୨ৎ At first, it was all fun and games, and considering that the most action you got these days was dinner with some obnoxious suitor, you were more than happy to entertain her lighthearted advances

୨ৎ But eventually, Phoibe became insistent on spending time with both of her favorite people, and now you were spending your days strolling the streets of Athens with Kassandra as you watched over the young girl who had you both wrapped around her finger

୨ৎ And suddenly, this felt far too much like the life she'd already accepted she couldn't have

୨ৎ When the two of you weren't keeping Phoibe out of trouble, you were exchanging witty banter (leaving the misthios impressed by your ability to keep up with her sarcasm), doubled over in laughter at each other's jokes, or listening intently to each other's ramblings

୨ৎ It was comforting, warm, domestic 

୨ৎ And that was dangerous

୨ৎ She knew that she needed to reign her feelings in now, or it'd be too late

୨ৎ But when she walks in on you comforting a wailing Phoibe- rubbing soothing circles onto her back, speaking to her gently and sweetly- she feels a familiar fluttering in the pit of her stomach

୨ৎ Kassandra knew what that meant; and now, she was cursing herself for not listening when her mother told her the story of Icarus

୨ৎ It was too late; she'd flown too close to the sun, and now, she was officially in too deep

୨ৎ She forces one foot in front of the other, hoping that whatever the situation at hand was would distract her from the realization she'd just made

୨ৎ “Everything alright?” she asks, kneeling down in front of you and the girl perched on your lap

୨ৎ “Y/n is leaving us forever!” Phoibe sobs, “For a man she doesn’t love!”

୨ৎ You press your lips together in a thin line in an attempt to hold back a laugh, but Kassandra’s worried eyes shoot up to meet yours before she can help it

୨ৎ “Please tell me that's not true,”  They read

୨ৎ “I’ve got a suitor visiting today,” you explain to Kassandra, before turning back to the inconsolable girl on your lap, “which does not mean that I am going anywhere. He only wants to meet me.” 

୨ৎ Relief replaces the anxiety that had begun to stir within Kassandra, and she kicks herself again for letting herself get this attached

୨ৎ “Why do you have to get married to a boy and leave me, Y/n? You don’t even like boys!”

୨ৎ Kassandra snaps out of her thoughts with a snort 

୨ৎ “She’s got a point,” she teases, looking up at you with a smirk

୨ৎ You sigh in mock annoyance, but the smile on your face works to soothe them both

୨ৎ “It's going to take a lot more than some stupid suitor to drag me away from the two of you.”

୨ৎ Phoibe wraps her small arms around your neck, burying her head in your shoulder

୨ৎ You're glad to see that you've finally managed to console her, but when you look to Kassandra, there's a longing in her eyes that you don't miss

୨ৎ Before you can ask what's on her mind, she's standing up to leave

୨ৎ “I've, uh… I’ve got to get going. Barnabas has some errands for me to run today,” she states casually, hoping to avoid your inevitable prying (it hadn’t taken long for her to discover that you could see straight past her aloof exterior)

୨ৎ Because you can read her like a book, you know she doesn’t want you to question her sudden change in mood; so, instead, you invite her to the upcoming symposium you’ll be attending

୨ৎ “My pater insisted I go to represent Athens, but he doesn't want me going on my own… I was wondering if you wouldn't mind accompanying me?”

୨ৎ She knows that she should say no; that she should be doing everything in her power to distance herself from now on

୨ৎ She also knows that there’s no way in Hades she’s letting you sit in a room full of gross men and endless wine by yourself

୨ৎ So, here she is, standing against the wall of the leader's estate in Boeotia, arms crossed and a scowl on her face

୨ৎ She hates these things- can’t stand the pretentious company and meaningless conversation- but every time her eyes find you in the crowd, she can’t help but quirk her lips up into a grin

୨ৎ You’re sitting with a group of women your age, gossiping about who knows what with a goblet of wine in your hand and a wide smile on your face; one that grows wider when you catch her gaze from across the room

୨ৎ She doesn’t miss the way you nearly trip over your dress as you stand to make your way to her, brows raised in amusement as you approach

୨ৎ “Why are you brooding, Kassandra; come, have some wine!” 

୨ৎ Your hand is on her arm, and she knows you’re probably just steadying yourself, but that doesn’t keep her heartbeat from picking up 

୨ৎ “I think you’ve had enough for the both of us, meli,” she chortles

୨ৎ “Oh, please?” you plead, your hand moving to rest on the breastplate of her armor; and when you lean into her, batting those pretty lashes…

୨ৎ She has to close her eyes, clenching her jaw and taking in a deep breath to settle herself

୨ৎ “No, Y/n; I’m here to look out for you. I want to stay sharp.”

୨ৎ She can’t help the disappointment she feels when you drop your hand and back away

୨ৎ “Fine,” you pout; but then, you’re looking up at her through your eyelashes again, a mischievous smirk playing on your face. “You’ll just have a drink with me when we get home.” 

୨ৎ When we get home

୨ৎ The words echo in her mind as she watches you waltz back to your friends

୨ৎ It wasn’t worth denying anymore that she’d already imagined what going home with you might be like; what coming home to you might be like

୨ৎ She cursed herself again for letting it get this far, but by the Gods, you were a dream

୨ৎ And clearly, she wasn’t the only one who thought so

୨ৎ “I’d put a ring on her finger tomorrow if it meant I could watch her walk away for the rest of my life.”

୨ৎ The scowl Kassandra had on her face moments ago reappears when the voice of one of the sleazebags she’d hoped to avoid tonight cuts through her thoughts 

୨ৎ “Pardon me?” She spits

୨ৎ “Aw, come on,” he drawls, “can you blame me? In fact, I was hoping to get a piece tonight, if you know what I mean.”

୨ৎ She can’t help but laugh in his face. “You’re a real class act, huh?”

୨ৎ“You’re no classier than I am, Misthios. Now listen; just let me have a little fun with her, and then you can escort her back home, no fuss. I’ve even got drachmae to spare.”

୨ৎ The look Kassandra gives the man- icy and threatening- is enough to warn him that if he spoke again, he was leaving with missing teeth; and he when he finally backs away in surrender, she’s making a b-line for you

୨ৎ “Hey,” she calls out from behind you, her expression stony as she watches you rise to meet her, “It’s time to go, agapi.”

୨ৎ “What?” you whine, “but we were just-”

୨ৎ “Y/n. It’s time to go.”

୨ৎ The seriousness with which she spoke was sobering, and you suddenly understand why everyone- everyone but you and Phoibe, that is- seemed so intimidated by her

୨ৎ The two of you are halfway back to Athens before you finally feel her relax

୨ৎ “What happened back there?” You ask, absentmindedly toying with the straps of her armor

୨ৎ “Don’t worry about it;” she asserts. “Did you have fun?”

୨ৎ “I did!” You respond, easily distracted in your drunken state. “The girls were asking about you.”

୨ৎ “Oh?”

୨ৎ “Mhm,” you muse, head falling down onto her shoulder from your place behind her on Phobos, “wanted to know if you were spoken for.”

୨ৎ “And what did you tell them?” She asks with a chuckle

୨ৎ “Said you were, of course.”

୨ৎ “Oh? I am?”

୨ৎ “Yeah. You’re mine.”

୨ৎ You were drunk

୨ৎ That’s what Kassandra repeated to herself, over and over, for the rest of the ride

୨ৎ ‘She’s drunk. She doesn’t mean it. She won’t even remember this in the morning.’

୨ৎ You remember in the morning

୨ৎ And with your heart in your stomach upon remembering your drunken confession, you approach Kassandra while Phoibe fetches her wooden sword for the lessons the misthios promised she’d give her

୨ৎ “How you feeling?” She asks with a hand on her hip, toying with the hilt of her blade

୨ৎ She was nervous; that was her tell

୨ৎ “Not too bad, actually. The snack helped,” you’d say, recalling the small plate of bread and cheese she’d made you eat before seeing you off to bed

୨ৎ “Good,” she nods. “I, uh… I’m thinking of heading off to Messara tomorrow.”

୨ৎ “Messara?” you repeat, your stomach dropping, “That’s… nearly a world away.”

୨ৎ “Yeah,” she sighs, and you notice that she won’t look at you, “it is. There’s good work there.”

୨ৎ “There’s good work in Athens.”

୨ৎ You can’t help the edge of your words, but you know it isn’t fair to take offense; not until she knows how you feel

୨ৎ It was now, or never

୨ৎ “Listen… last night-”

୨ৎ “Don’t.”

୨ৎ The hand previously toying with her blade shoots up to stop you

୨ৎ “You don’t need to explain. It’s alright. It was a meaningless, drunken comment; I get it… but I’ve got to go, Y/n. You make me feel things that I can’t afford to feel. You make me want things that I can’t have. It isn’t your fault- I should have been more careful- but I can’t spend my days with you, I can’t watch you raise Phoibe, and pretend that you, that this, isn’t exactly what I want.”

୨ৎ Kassandra feels time slow down as she waits for you to respond; but when you step closer, your hand reaching out to wipe away the stray tear that had made its way down her cheek, she swears time stops all together

୨ৎ “And if life with you is what I want, what then?”

୨ৎ Her breath catches in her throat, eyes searching your face for any trace of humor, but you’re as serious as she was about getting you the fuck out of that symposium

୨ৎ “You don’t want life with me.”

୨ৎ “You don’t get to make that call.” 

୨ৎ Your hand drops to her arm, your thumb rubbing soothing circles into the muscle of her bicep

୨ৎ “Look,” you begin with a sigh, “I’m getting out of here, too, and I’m taking Phoibe with me. The threat of war is far too pressing for her to work for Aspasia safely, and never mind that a child shouldn’t have to work anyway. My mater owned a small house in Lalaia before she married my pater; I loved visiting, so when she died, she left it to me. There, life will be simple- peaceful- for Phoibe; but you know as well as I do that Phokis is full of good work for mercenaries, so, if you wanted… you’d always have a place to call home.”

୨ৎ When Kassandra finally dares to look into your eyes, her own are filled with a yearning that nearly breaks your heart

୨ৎ “You’d like that?”

୨ৎ “I’m not sure life would feel complete without it.”

୨ৎ And the kiss she plants on your lips says that she’s not sure life would feel complete without you

୨ৎ Her lips are soft, tender, as they move against your own; her hands on either side of your face, your hands on her waist, and-

୨ৎ “Woohoo!” 

୨ৎ You both jump, eyes wide as your heads shoot to the source of the loud cheer

୨ৎ “Phoibe,” Kassandra breathes out; and this time, it’s her turn to place a hand on her racing heart, “Malaka, you scared the shit out of me!”

୨ৎ “I knew you would fall in love with pretty Y/n! I just knew it! And hey… you told me swearing is bad.”

୨ৎ You burst into laughter, and Phoibe is quick to follow suit in her own fit of giggles when Kassandra scoops her up, twirling her around in dizzying circles

୨ৎ And as the sound of laughter from her girls rings in her ears, Kassandra realizes that she’s finally getting the life she swore she never would