#misdelia

The constant chatter the past two days about Misty and Cordelia getting married spread like wildfire. The two couldn’t go outside without being bombarded by questions from the islanders. Even the kids were asking the questions. Cordelia tried to stay within her hut most of the time, but she was always asked by the kids to play with her like usual. Misty would always be off doing her own things like usual but when asked about Cordelia, she would act like she normally did when she talked about the other.

            Misty poked her head inside Cordelia’s hut one night, seeing that the other blonde was reading through something, and she slowly snuck up on her. She then wrapped her arms around the other’s shoulder and giggled. Cordelia jumped a bit and looked at Misty with a smile on her face. “Jeez, you scared me a bit Misty.” She said with a light laugh at the end.

“Sorry! I thought I’d scare you a bit.”

“Well it worked. What brings you here?”

“Well since we’re getting ‘married’ I figured we could stay in the same hut!” Misty said happily with a bright smile. Cordelia had a blush on her face and she just slowly turned to really face Misty. “Hm? What’s that look on your face, Delia?”

“You really think we can go through with this?”

“Yeah, why not? I mean… I do love you…”

“W-W-What? What did you just say?”

“…. Nothing! Nothing! Forget what I said. We should probably go to our fishing job!” Misty started to get up, but Cordelia pulled her back down. Misty and Cordelia stared at each other for a moment before Misty started to lean close to Cordelia’s lips.

“Princess-ja! Delia-ja!”

The two pulled away quickly and they looked towards the entrance of Cordelia’s hut, seeing Chiyo run inside. “Naene, Chiyo?” Misty said, rubbing her cheeks as if to make the blush go away.

“Moaki Jeo-saent holab?” Chiyo asked. Misty nodded and said something about how they would go fish in a bit and Chiyo smiled happily and ran off. Misty and Cordelia were back in there gaze again and this time nothing interrupted them as Misty moved forward and kissed Cordelia gently. Cordelia was shocked, but instantly kissed back. Misty pulled away and gulped a bit before she stood up. “We should go and do our fishing job now, Delia.” Misty whispered towards the other. Cordelia nodded and instinctively took Misty’s hands in hers and then the two walked out in silence. The two were both thinking about the kiss and what it meant to both of them. After they made it towards the river, Cordelia turned Misty towards her and she bit her bottom lip as she spoke. “Do you really love me, Misty?”

Misty gulped and nodded a bit, “Since I first met you.”

“… I love you too, Misty.”

Misty gasped a little.

“Ever since the first day, it just… it just happened. I fell in love with you and I thought… I didn’t have a chance.”

“Well now we do, don’t we?” Misty had a soft smile on her face as Cordelia nodded, “Although we are getting married to not let me get married to Marther, we can take this long time to really build a relationship, you know?” Misty blushed a little before she grabbed the fishnet and threw it out in the river as she jumped into the water that she could stand in. Cordelia got in too and grabbed the other end of the fishnet. The pulled it close together and they put the fish into a big basket. After an hour of them doing this, they grabbed enough fish to feed their tribe for a week. Misty was so happy about this that she was jumping up and down with joy and giggling while Cordelia watched her. They brought the basket towards the tribe area, singing a tribal song together as they did so. Then they got stopped at the sound of a man’s voice in Misty’s native tongue.

“Well if it isn’t the Aero Princess and her soon-to-be wife.”

Misty and Cordelia turned around, seeing Marther. “Marther… What do you want?” Misty said with such anger in her voice that her face showed the anger.

“Oh don’t be so hostile, Princess-ja. I’m only admiring the love that is you two. I mean, you picked her over me. Of all people! Why? What does she have, that I don’t?” Marther started walking closer.

“She actually listens to me for one and two: She loves me for who I am, not by the way I look. That just gives her extra perks.”

Marther growled lightly and looked at Cordelia. “You stole what was mine. You’re going to steal my crown and I won’t have that!” Marther pushed Misty out of the way, making the basket of fish fall and he tried to charge at Cordelia, but Cordelia had a secret that she hadn’t used since coming onto the island. She flicked her wrist up and Marther flew back a few feet. Misty saw this and her eyes widened as she watched it happen before her eyes. Cordelia glared a little at the Prince as he scrambled to his feet. “Don’t you ever try to hurt me or Misty again, you understand? Now get out of here!” Marther ran off quickly in shock and in fear before Cordelia looked over at Misty. Misty gulped a bit and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Y-You…”

“I… I have a gift too. Two gifts rather. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, Misty. I didn’t know how you’d take it.”

“That… That was so interesting!” Misty said as she got up, picking up the fish and putting it in the basket as she did so, “I didn’t know someone was really like me until you just…” She picked up the basket and smiled more.

“Yeah… I guess this is a good surprise then?”

“It’s the best! I won’t tell the others though. I know you wouldn’t want me to do that, right?”

“If… you don’t mind doing that.”

“Of course not, Beatu.” Misty said with a playful wink and placed a kiss on Cordelia’s cheek, which caused the other to blush more, “I wouldn’t want to give you the same amount of stress I get when it comes to something like that.”

“Thank you.” Cordelia smiled a bit at the other as the two walked back to the tribe. They brought the fish to Jeo and he was thrilled and soon they went over to Cordelia’s tent and it was quiet. Misty was drawing something as Cordelia was reading. It was almost as if they were avoiding each other and when Misty realized this, she lifted her head up. She slowly put her pencil down and went over to the corner Cordelia was sitting at and sat next to her, resting her head on her shoulder. Cordelia briefly looked over and smiled a little before going back to her reading. After an hour, the two girls were laughing at each other from Misty telling a funny story. Cordelia playfully pushed the other and smiled softly. “You’re so silly, you know that?”

“Only for you!” Misty said playfully before she rested on the ground. Cordelia laughed a bit and ran her hand through the curly blonde’s hair. “You think Marther is going to come back with something worse?”

Cordelia tilted her head and shrugged. “I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“I’m just asking. I’m worried for you, for us, for the whole tribe.”

“Why are you worried?”

“Marther can bring an army here and story us if he could. That’s why I’m worried. Things could happen with the tribe that we shouldn’t have right now.”

Cordelia sighed heavily.

“So you’re just as worried as I am, aren’t you? That doesn’t settle my worries.”

“Hey…” Misty looked up at Cordelia, “Yeah, I’m just as worried as you. I can’t help it, but the problem is we can’t fix this thing. It was going to happen eventually since he does not like me marrying you, the Princess of the Aero Tribe.”

“What are we going to do?”

Those words Cordelia said to Misty really hit her. The two were marrying on with the fact that their parents could make an alliance with one another. Did Misty love her, truly? A little. She was starting to. Cordelia in fact loved Misty, but Misty had a heart that was locked so tight due to the fact of having to being made fun of and other things that just made her lock her heart up. They were young anyway. Both eighteen, being forced to marry to the ‘enemy’s’ child, both made fun of as a kid… Is there any more connections needed for this?

“We should have children, Misty.”

“Well who’s gonna carry it? You know that an Elemental can’t have—“

“They can have a child with a Mental, Misty. It’s just… harder.”

“Then what’s the point then? I don’t… I don’t think it’d be right to make you suffer like that.”

The first of many caring words from Misty to Cordelia. Misty was always kind and gentle, but that just really made her all the more happier to hear that Misty really cared for her well-being. They ended up having two kids, one from Cordelia and one from Misty: Luna and Alina. Their two girls were a mixture of them both and the two women loved them. Although Cordelia worked within the courts with their parents as Misty was at home doing her own little things with getting money for them as well, she always had time for her children.

“You’ve soften around them, you know.”

“I have to, you know. They deserve a soft mother that can be strict sometimes. Not totally strict.”

“Mm… That is true… Your mother talked to me today.”

“… What does she want?”

Misty always got along with her mother until recently. They somehow always were at each other’s neck about Misty’s way of doing things. It was almost as if her mother had changed once the alliance was made. She was also worried, even Cordelia was worried. They felt a war between their mothers was going to start another Great War again.

“We can’t have that happen…”

“I know…”

“What are we going to do?”

Cordelia knew only one thing could happen…

They had to talk to them.

3 years into their marriage

              Cordelia ran her hand through her blonde hair and let out a heavy sigh. The stress was getting to her. Her being a part of the alliance court and trying to please her mother in some way just brought it up a lot higher. Cordelia looked through many papers as she was tapping her pencil against the table, humming to herself as she heard wife’s music out from the other room. It made her smile a bit as she heard giggling and laughing from her family. She could only wish she was there to play with them yet she had a bunch of work to do. Cordelia heard footsteps and she looked up, seeing little Alina running to her side. “Hey my Light. What brings you in here, hm?”

Alina grabbed her mother’s arm and pulled it a bit. “Mama said come.” Alina was a year old turning two soon and she was smart to speak a full sentence.

Cordelia chuckled and shook her head. “I can’t though, Alina. I have—“

“Mommy!”

Cordelia looked over and saw Luna running in with her signature happy smile that melted Cordelia’s heart instantly. “What is it sweetheart? Come to talk to me too?”

“Mama said you’re not allowed to be stuck in your office anymore or else she’ll put you over her shoulders and bring you out.”

Bringing the kids to help her plans I see… She really wants me out there. Cordelia sighed and nodded, getting up and hearing her kids cheer as she was pulled by them into the living room area. She then saw her blonde wife singing to her music and twirling. Cordelia and her two daughters giggled to themselves before Misty had looked back and smiled at them.

“I see my plan was a success.” Misty walked closer to Cordelia and placed a peck on her cheek, “Just be with us for an hour, hm? I can sense your stress from here.”

Cordelia sighed and shyly laughed a little. “Was it that bad?”

“I told you. Once we got married, we’ll share a link and that link will make us sense each other’s mood and everything else.”

Cordelia had a smirk on her face and Misty rolled her eyes.

“Stop it. The kids are here.” Misty playfully pushed her wife before looking at her kids, “Okay kiddos. Who wants to dance with who?”

“I wanna dance with you, Mama!” Luna said, jumping over to her mother and jumping into her arms almost.

Alina looked up at Cordelia and smiled. “Will you dance with me, Mommy?”

“Why of course, Alina.” Cordelia picked up the young child and she held her close as the two mothers were dancing and humming and even giggling as they were having a good time with their children. Just them and their kids. Not a care in the world and no stress at all at this point. Several minutes later, their kids were off in their rooms playing as Cordelia and Misty were dancing with each other in a warm embrace. Misty was singing softly in the other blonde’s ear as Cordelia just sighed happily. “Thank you…” She whispered towards Misty.

“No need to thank me, you know. Just the caring wife that knows when the other is stressed.”

Cordelia sighed gently and pulled away a bit. “Our parents were fighting today in the court meeting.”

“What?”Misty sighed and lowered her gaze a bit, “What about this time?”

“You know how our parents don’t see eye to eye…”

“They never did. My mom is the Elemental Kingdom, Aether, and your mother is the Mental Kingdom, Gento, or rather the Queen of all gifts considering she’s taking over everything.”

“She is not!”

Misty sighed and the two shared a gaze of not wanting to fight but a gaze of ‘We’ll see who’s right’. “You know she is considering she took over the kingdom of the physical gifts, Phys, and even the one of Necromancy where my father was ruling until he died, Knight. Let’s not fight about this, continue the conversation.”

Cordelia let out a breath before she continued. “Your mother, Queen Stevie, suggested that we shouldn’t go to war with the Voodoo Kingdom. You know, the one that—“

“—Is basically taunting us and your mother wants to demolish them and let them become part of the poor people of the city, which by the way is totally wrong and immoral.”

“I agree it is, but… That is what’s happening and my mother-” Cordelia sighed and shook her head “-she’s thinking of sending out a declaration of war and if that happens your mother wants to cut all ties with my mother and become two separate kingdoms again.”

“I can’t say I don’t agree with my mom. She’s already taken enough crap from your mother.”

“We all have.” Cordelia sighed, “I think people are trying to form a rebellion.”

“Again? Shouldn’t they know that—“

“Misty, think about it: My mother is a tyrant. I can’t change her mind, she basically treats me like crap and everyone else as well, and she barely leaves her castle to tend to her people. Have you seen how the kingdom looks now? It’s almost dead.”

“… Why don’t we go find the rebels and lead ‘em?”

“What?!” Cordelia pulled away fully and lowered the music a bit, “Why on Earth would we do that?”

“Don’t you want to take your mother’s throne?”

“No. I don’t. I don’t want that power.”

“Yet you’re going to take it eventually anyway…?”

Cordelia sighed. “Misty we can’t risk that. We have kids. We can’t go… off into adventure mode anymore.”

There was silence and Cordelia hated it so she turned around, seeing Misty’s expression of somewhat hurt and sadness.

“Misty… I--”

“I don’t want to be restricted of just being a mother and hard-worker like that. You know I don’t like that.”

“I do know that, but Misty… We can’t go doing that. What if my mother finds out? Especially me being a part of her court, she would have my head for sure!”

“She won’t. Not if everyone keeps their mouth shut about it and you don’t go sneaking around.” Cordelia sighed heavily and walked passed her wife, getting her arm caught by the other and she looked back. “Cordelia, you can’t go off being the goody two-shoes forever. Your mother hasn’t noticed you and used you to get what she wanted. You know she is.”

“Misty… Just stop…”

Misty could feel the tears build up and even feel the mood drop from the other and she just pulled Cordelia into a tight embrace. “Don’t cry, Delia. Please don’t. I can never forgive myself for the tears you spilled because of me… Directly or indirectly.” Cordelia sighed heavily and let herself accept the embrace. As much as she hated being weak in front of Misty, there were times where it was needed. They both heard a pair of footsteps coming and Misty looked over, seeing their two children.

“Mama? Why is Mommy crying?” Luna asked quietly.

“Did Grandma hurt her?” Alina added.

That just made Cordelia whimper and Misty whispered in Cordelia ears for a moment before she looked over at her children.

“Hey, why don’t you to go and fix up a nice little snack for mommy, huh? That’ll cheer her up.” Luna grabbed her younger sister’s hand and the two quickly left to the kitchen. Misty slowly moved to walk to their bedroom. She let Cordelia lay down in their bed and she gently stroked the other’s hair as Cordelia just continued to sob. Misty sighed heavily and lowered her gaze. “I’m so sorry, Cordelia. I… I didn’t mean to make you cry to begin with. I didn’t—“

“S-Stop…” Cordelia managed to say before she looked up at Misty, “Don’t blame yourself, okay? I know you’re trying to help and what you were saying was right… I just have to get used to you being right about things like this.” Misty smiled gently and she leaned over and kissed the top of Cordelia’s head. Their two girls walked into the room with a bowl of strawberries and cup of their cold tea they had in their fridge. Cordelia and Misty looked at them and a smile just appeared on their faces. Cordelia sat up and took the bowl and the tea, giving her girls a peck on their cheeks and a thank you before they skipped off to their room. Cordelia and Misty shared a glance before they shared the bowl of strawberries since it was a common thing they liked. The last few months, the two have gotten closer, a lot closer. The feelings of love was really starting to form a lot more that Cordelia was slowly shying away from Misty and she was almost starting to think the idea of what her mother had said to her was right.

“Misty doesn’t love you. If she acts like that, it’s just to get under your skin and then rip your heart out.”

Was her mother really right about that? Misty was too kind for something like that. They had children, they’re living together, laughing and being there for each other… Was her mother right?

“You’re worthless, Cordelia. Useless! You’ll never be a great Queen if you’re weak. That’s why I want you to marry Princess Day.”

“But Mother—“

“No buts! Get out of my sight. What’s said is now set in stone.”

The tears slowly appeared and Misty had noticed them coming up without Cordelia even noticing and she wiped them away. “Hey…” Misty whispered softly.

Cordelia looked over to the blue eyes staring at her warmly and she bit her bottom lip to contain her sobs.

“You are the greatest gal I’ve ever met, you know? And… And I’m glad you’re my wife. Even… Even if we aren’t lovey-dovey like anyone else.” Misty whispered as she kissed Cordelia’s forehead gently, “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise that you’re not great. You, Cordelia, are amazing at everything you do.” Cordelia rested her head on Misty’s shoulder and just looked up at her. The two shared a glance and Misty slowly moved closer as Cordelia did as well…

Then they were interrupted by a knock on their front door. Misty looked over out of their bedroom door before she slowly got up, telling Cordelia she’d be right back. The curly blonde walked out of the room to get the front door and Cordelia just ate some of her strawberries before she got up and walked out of the bedroom. She could hear Misty’s voice and two other recognizable voices: Queen Stevie and her mother’s advisor, and who she considers an aunt, Myrtle. She walked into the living room area and the three women looked up at Cordelia. “My dear Cordelia you look like you’ve been crying.” Stevie got up and walked over to Cordelia, placing her hands on her cheek before looking at Misty, “Misty…”

“We were talking and her mother was brought up and she was cryin’. I didn’t mean to do it, mom.”

Stevie sighed gently and looked back at the brown eyed princess. “She didn’t do it on purpose did she?”

Cordelia shook her head. “No, not at all. She’s been helping me feel better, comforting me and making sure the children are alright.” She moved over to Misty’s side and sat next to her, “What brings you two here?”

“Your mother.” The two women in front of her said in unison.

“What about her?”

“She has started the writing of the declaration of war.” Myrtle said with a soft sigh, “With this, well… Misty, you know what’s going to happen.”

Cordelia looked at Misty who was looking at her mother. “You’re breaking away from the Gento Kingdom.”

“I have to Misty. Fiona has become more of a tyrant and her draining her own kingdom is starting to drain my own. I look after the people before myself.”

“Unlike my mother…”

Everyone looked at Cordelia, who was sighing.

“If that happens, wouldn’t that mean she’d declare war on you, Queen Stevie?”

Stevie chuckled bitterly and nodded.

“I don’t want that for you.”

“Well I don’t want her to suffer another draining day with your mother either, Cordelia.” Misty and Cordelia looked at each other, “Think about it: Your mother is going to build an army. If my mom stays with yours, she’ll demand my mother’s army and combine them.”

“And she’ll win for sure with both of our armies.” Stevie said with a soft sigh, “If I separate from her, she won’t have much of a chance. She’ll fight two enemies.”

“What if the Voodoo attacks you and her?” Cordelia ask gently.

“I’m going to declare neutral ground in the war. Plus, they know of the little… rebellion that’s sparking. Your mother thinks the group is super small, but it’s not.”

“You know of it?”

“’Course I do. They came to me to talk about it. They know Fiona and I don’t see eye to eye, so it’ll fuel the rebellion a lot better with a Queen—“

“Like Stevie there. If your mother is overthrone…” Everyone looked at Myrtle as she spoke, “Stevie will take her place.” The two princesses looked at each other before the conversation continued. The idea of a rebellion against her mother scared Cordelia. Stevie and Misty were on the same page about it: Joining to give people the rights they deserve, but what of her mother? Although Cordelia hated her and was always emotionally and psychologically abused by her mother, she still had an ounce of care in her heart. The three other women in the room knew of that though and they weren’t talking harsh about Fiona, just the things she was doing.

That worried Cordelia a bit.

“Spalding?! SPALDING!” Fiona yelled as she rang her bell for him to come in.

Spalding came in with a look of curiosity. His tongue was cut out due to talking back to Fiona. He was a symbol of what could happen if you talk back to the Queen.

“Did you bring what I asked you?” Spalding pulled out the bottle from behind him and Fiona smirked almost devilishly and patted his cheek. “Good boy. Now, has my declaration of war been sent?”

Spalding nodded.

“Good… Good. Queen Stevie wants to break away and be her own kingdom again. I can’t have that. We can’t have that, can we Spalding?” He shook his head, “Exactly. I think I know the perfect plan… I’ll kidnap her, hide her well and presume her dead and take over both the kingdoms. I’ll make sure my child and her wild wife don’t gain that throne. Those two don’t deserve that kind of power.” Spalding just smirked to himself as Fiona just continued to rant on before a knock came on the door. They both looked at the door and saw Myrtle slowly walking in. “… Myrtle. Come to change my mind about everything?”

Myrtle sighed as Spalding was dismissed. “You know what you’re doing is going to be your downfall.”

“Downfall?” Fiona laughed. Her downfall? It wouldn’t be that, oh no! Fiona had done this many times and what happened? She always won, got on top, taken over and ruled the kingdom with an iron fist. What made this time so different? Nothing did! If Stevie wanted to leave, fine. She’ll just take her throne and call it hers. End of story. Why did that even matter about her rule over every territory possible? It didn’t matter and neither did Myrtle’s words to her. None of that mattered to Fiona. Not one bit. “It’s going to bring me up only high, Myrtle. It will not be my downfall. Not when I have something to do with it.”

“M’Lady, to be quite frank with you, this move is only going to make matters worse for you. That is all I’m saying.”

“Why don’t you go tend to your plants Myrtle instead of coming to me with these… theories of yours?”

“Fiona.”

Fiona actually turned to look at Myrtle, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m being very serious with you, Fiona. I don’t want you to fall down when you’re so high. You can change to be good, you know?”

“Good? Good?! Good gets you nowhere other than people appreciating your kindness. Nothing more. Why would I sacrifice the idea of power and authority when I can just be a dictator and do this? I rule everything, I have every power! Almost every power. Stevie is giving me hell and burning our alliance bridge and not sharing her power with me before that. You know how dangerous that is for her?”

“M’Lady, I’m telling you: You should be careful with what you do.”

“And I’m telling you to get out of my damn room this instant! You’re making me upset and I don’t need to be.” Myrtle sighed heavily and just nodded, leaving Fiona’s quarters and going down the hall. Why won’t she just listen for once… She thought as she continued down the hallway and then turned right, walking down another hallway.

“Aunt Myrtle…?” A female voice called.

Myrtle turned and saw Cordelia walking towards her. “Ah Cordelia. Darling Sparrow, what are you doing here? You should be at home with your children.”

“I had to come by to see what my mother was up to… To see if everything you said was truly written down.”

“So you went to the archives then.”

“Of course I did. I needed to know Myrtle… I didn’t realize what my mother has done to these people, our people. It’s sickening!”

“I know Cordelia, but you shouldn’t be here right when your mother is fuming. I… I upset her and she might come find someone to take it out on.”

“I don’t care, auntie. I need to talk to her. Listen, Misty is down the hall. She took Luna and Alina to her mother’s kingdom for a while. Tell her to come to my mother’s quarters please ad wait for me outside.”

“But Cordelia—“

“Auntie Myrtle please. Just… Let me be a big girl and do this, alright?” the young blonde walked away from Myrtle. She had to do this for two reasons: To get the truth and to face her mother for once. She had to be strong, be tough just like Misty had told her. Misty had always told her how there was a fire within her and she hoped to the heavens that the fire her wife was talking about was in fact true. She knocked on her mother’s door before slipping in. Fiona turned around and saw Cordelia standing there and she chuckled. “Don’t tell me Myrtle didn’t go to you to tell you to talk to me about this issue of my ‘downfall’.” She said, air quoting the word downfall.

Cordelia rolled her eyes a little and shook her head as she walked closer. “No mother. I came to talk to you about everything that has transpired in the past up until now. It’s true, isn’t it? You’ve destroyed our people to make yourself rich and happy and take it from most of our people to put a big wedge between the poor and rich, you’ve only taken the other kingdoms because you wanted their power and that’s why you want Queen Stevie’s kingdom for her power and you’ll be the ultimate dictator of the world, right?”

Fiona laughed and smirked at her child. “You have me all figured out, don’t you? Took you so damn long didn’t it?”

“That’s because I do not want to believe it, mother. You really have gone dark. What made you this way?”

“The idea of power, that’s what. You wouldn’t understand because you are just like Myrtle: Wanting the good and honest truth rather than ruling with an iron fist.” Fiona laughed and moved away to go to her mirror to check her new attire she had to wear for the evening. “Is that all you wanted? To find the truth in what I have done since you were born, child?”

“… Is that why dad’s dead? You killed him, didn’t you?”

Fiona laughed and turned, walking closer to her child and placing a hand on her cheek and patting it lightly. “What makes you think I killed him?”

Cordelia lowered her gaze and then moved away a bit. “No one had a bad thing to say about him other than he made the mistake of marrying you. The fact that you also were his own enemy: fighting with him within court meetings and whenever you were just with him because there are witnesses for that, Fiona.”

Fiona chuckled and moved away. “What if I did? You can’t do anything now.”

The young blonde’s eyes widened. “M-Mother…”

Fiona slapped Cordelia on the face and her eyebrow twitched. “You really are a waste of space. Your goodness is going to suck the life out of our people, don’t you understand that?” She then pushed her daughter across the room with her mind, “You are just like your father: Weak, too good, and idiotic.”

Just then, Misty pushed the door open and looked over at Cordelia, running over to her and touching her cheek lightly. “Delia…”

Cordelia’s lip was quivering to hold in her tears as she looked up at her wife. “Misty…”

Misty’s anger slowly boiled over and she looked up over at Fiona. “Just because you’re the Queen doesn’t mean you can throw your daughter around like some damn doll!”

“Oh Misty, you shouldn’t raise your tone at me. What you do here is going to affect your precious mother.”

“You won’t do shit to her. My mother is stronger than you and you know it.” Misty said as she was helping Cordelia up. Fiona was furious and flicked her wrist to throw Misty, but it didn’t work. Instead, Misty flicked her wrist a bit and blew Fiona away a bit and Misty just raised an eyebrow as she clenched her jaw. “Don’t ever hurt, my Delia again like you can get away with it…” She said before pulling Cordelia with her out of the room before her mother could do anything.

              Cordelia was silent as Misty was tending to her wounds, watching the younger one, by a few months, cleaning her wounds from when she was pushed across the room and the slap. Misty would occasionally look up and their eyes would meet and smiles would be exchanged before the silence would continue. Then after a few minutes, Cordelia finally spoke. “Thank you.”

Misty looked up, curiously.

“Thank you for… coming to save me and tending to my wounds. You didn’t have to—“

Yes, you keep thinking about her hand twisted in your hair, her body so, so close to yours. The feel of Misty's hipbones beneath your fingertips, you might have accidentally left bruises you were holding on to her so tightly. Your mind conjures that intoxicating scent of spice and sweetness that overwhelms you every time she's near you. You literally can't think of anything else but her and her bright eyes and her soft lips and these thoughts ring in your head along with your alarm as the sun rises and winks through the curtains.

A soft sigh leaves your lips as you push yourself up and off the bed, staring forlornly at your phone's screen and its lack of notifications. You're not sure what to make of Misty's silence, and so you leave the phone on the bed and start grabbing clothes out of your closet. When you finish changing, you hear the cell chime and dart over to the device, fumbling with it in your shaking hands. 

All her text reads is 'good morning'. No capitalization, no punctuation. You don't really have enough friends to understand what this means, so you try for casual; you'll let her decide whatever path you two end up going down. 

'Good morning. How are you?'

'I'm fine... hey, can we talk today?'

'Yes, of course. I'm sorry, by the way, for yelling at you yesterday... I didn't mean it.'

'What did you think was gonna come from it? Did you think I was just gonna walk away, abandon you?'

'... can we talk about this in person?'

'Yea, of course we can. Lunch?'

'See you then. Meet at my car.'

'You got it.'

Lunch can't come soon enough.

-x-

Misty is already there when you head towards your car after your class ends. She's leaning lightly against the door, not paying attention, and you watch her, just for a moment, from a distance. The wind tousles her curls and the fringe on her shawl and she is breathtaking. As you move closer, she catches the movement and the way her eyes light up makes your heart stutter. Unexpectedly, she pulls on your shoulders and draws you into a tight embrace without saying a word. You instinctually tuck yourself against her, nose pressed lightly to the smooth skin of her neck. Misty inhales deeply and doesn't let you go, her fingers tracing painfully slowly down and then back up your spine. 

When she finally releases you, you blurt out the words, "I was afraid you would realize I'm really not worth your time. I meant that yesterday. And, yeah... I thought you would end up ditching me, when you caught on to the fact. I mean, why would you stick around, really?" By the time you finish rambling, you're looking down at your Mary Janes, too embarrassed to meet her eye. This time, when her fingers come to rest beneath your chin, she doesn't move them away, but instead cups the side of your face with her palm. It takes everything in you to not nuzzle against her open hand. 

"Delia, I promise I won't ever, ever abandon you. I will always be your friend, as long as you want me with you. You've become real important to me, I hope you know that. I think y'do." Her words make you smile, and you move your hand up to rest against hers. The corners of her lips turn up as well before they suddenly fall and a furrow appears at the edges of her brows. "I did want to talk to you, though, about, y'know. The other thing." The trepidation in Misty's voice makes you drop your hand from hers. She can't even say the words... 

"What is it?" the words sound tight and strained coming from your mouth, and you realize it's because you're holding your breath. The feeling of dread hits you before she starts talking again and you feel nauseated. You shake off her hand as she begins to speak again.

"I-I don't know... I don't know what came over me. I just care about you so much, y'know? But the, kiss, it was an accident. I, we were both so riled up, right? I hope you'll forgive me. And this doesn't mean I don't care, I just, I didn't mean to do that."

Her clear blue eyes try and seek yours out, but you can't look at her face right now. You feel a combination of confusion and disbelief and desperation twist in the very bottom of your soul, and you hate yourself for caring so deeply about her. The fact that you haven't had any food today makes its presence known and you can't help the grimace that crosses your features. All you want to do right now is go home and pick at the scabs that you've let heal for once and let the pain bleed right out of you. 

"I-I... can't believe you."

"Delia..." Misty reaches out and tries to grasp your arm at the crook of your elbow and you pull roughly away from her.

"No! Don't touch me."

"Cordelia --"

Before your name is fully out of her mouth, you're inside your car and you've locked the doors. She shuffles to the side because she can see your hand pushing the car into reverse and you skid sloppily out of your parking space and speed off. 

You don't bother to catch her sad, conflicted reflection in the mirror.

You can't even think straight right now.

Each beat in your chest makes your head hurt and your words stammer. 

"I think it'd be best, Misty, if you went back to your own house for the rest of this project. Of course, we'll still be splitting all the care and we can work together at the library to finish the paper and presentation. But... yeah."

"I... where is this coming from, Cordelia? Did I do somethin' wrong?"

You don't know what to say here and so you bite down sharply upon your tongue. What can you say, after all? I heard you when I accidentally eavesdropped today and your friends hate me, so you must feel the same? What are you even doing here in the first place? Every thought sounds harsh and bitter inside your head but you can't help but think them anyways. Even about sweet, loving Misty; you just don't know what to make of her. This is the most popular girl in your school, the girl who's probably going to prom with the most popular boy in school. Every boy, for that matter, is pining after her. She has the epitome of a high school clique surrounding her. So, really, what the fuck is she doing with you? What does she even want? 

The questions shatter like breaking glass, pounding the inside of your skull, making your ringing headache from crying that much worse. 

The excuse comes pathetically from your lips. "I just think it'd be best. I don't think our current set-up is, uh, appropriate."

"I don't understand, I just --"

"Misty, I need space! Okay? I need you to leave!" she looks startled when you yell your final words out. You feel the same way, the aggression in your voice surprising you, as well. 

It is in this moment that you realize how jealous you are of the people in Misty's life. The gorgeous, popular girls who are her friends. Girls who are nothing like you. The handsome, athletic boys who will undoubtedly get her attention. All these people you will never be. You realize you're insanely jealous and you want to have her all to yourself and this is terrifying and you cannot help but think that now you really need to push her away. You can't be jealous when you never would have had her in the first place. She's too good for you and she knows it. You're not even sure what exactly you mean by all of that, all you know is you need Misty to get out of your room, immediately.

As you come to this conclusion, Misty has shifted slightly towards you, the baby no longer in her arms, plastic carrier on the ground by the door. While at first she had looked hurt, now she honestly just looks kind of pissed. A small part of you whispers about how attractive she looks with anger and frustration fueling the fires in her eyes. A much larger part of you finally mentally clicks and you have no choice but to accept the fact that, despite telling yourself repeatedly not to do so, you've gone and developed a massive crush on Misty Day. Well, fuck. 

What you were not expecting was for her to get up in your face, crowding your personal space in a way she never had before. 

"Cordelia, I wouldn't mind as much if I actually believed you wanted space from me. But I don't believe you! We were doing great, why are you lashin' out at me now? It's been weeks, Delia! Don't try to act like these two weeks haven't happened, because I can't just erase this time and neither can you. I know we connected, Cordelia. Don't push me away. I deserve better than this, don't I?! Please, I'm sorry for whatever I did, but just don't do this without telling me what I did because that's just not fair and you know it isn't." by the end of her rant, she's more plaintive than angry and she's still so, so close to you that you don't know what to do. Except panic, a lot, and lash out more as you move away from her and back yourself essentially into the corner of your room.

"You want to know what you did? Do you really? You pitied me, Misty. You saw I was... I was broken, or fucked up, or whatever you saw in me, and you pitied me. But I don't fucking need your pity, okay? I heard you with your friends, your real friends, the people you've spent the last two years with? You know? Not just the last two weeks with. They were right. Why are you even bothering? I'm doing this because I'm not worth it, and you're wasting your goddamn time. So just get out and go back to hanging out with your friends. You can go back to them now, okay, and talk about prom and boys and all that good shit. I'm not gonna off myself, I swear, I'll be fine. So just go."

Laughter spills from her lips, bitter disbelief staining the sound as she shakes her head at you. 

"God, how can you be so fuckin' blind?" 

You feel your brows furrow in confusion before all of a sudden she's right in front of you again and her body is pressing yours against the bedroom wall, her lips insisting at yours roughly. This is definitely not what you were expecting and you almost can't react you're so fucking surprised. But then she bites harshly at your lower lip and the spark of pain spurs you into a response, kissing her back, hard, with your hands reaching out to grab at her hips. One of her hands finds its way into your hair, her other hand and her forearm pressed to the wall alongside your head. There isn't even air between you anymore. It's as though your lips and your tongue have a mind of their own because you've certainly never kissed anybody before, but your tongue darts out to run across her lower lip and she's trembling with an emotion you can't place, and then your tongue meets hers and she lets out a noise that is utterly unholy before she tears herself away from you. 

Misty's eyes are wide as they meet yours and she realizes what she's done. The look on her face tells you that this was not something she had been planning either, that she's surprised herself, that her body acted almost upon its own will. 

And with that, she turns away from you quickly, dashing out of your room then the house without saying a word.