#skywriting

Just in case, she scrolled her email’s promotions tab for anything helpful. Chocolate. There was a new Swiss chocolate confectionery in their university town’s adorable little historic downtown. Classy, new, European chic, and gourmet enough to count. This was no grocery store, last-minute, cheap “oopsie” gift. But she’d need to put in the order ASAP before they sold out, the most recent email advertisement said. She clicked and did just that.

However, as luck would have it, the website was obnoxiously slow. Probably all the university students putting in last minute orders. She grew impatient and ever-more tired waiting for it to let her scroll through the options. She finally just picked one: a heart that said My Sweetheart on it, a beautiful 20 centimeters of Swiss chocolatey goodness. It was pricey, as expected for last minute gifts at a trendy new confectionery that imported all of their ingredients. Worth it, though, for the availability, quality, and convenience. And frankly, she knew it was a cliche gift to give, but she was out of ideas and she knew for sure that Carol would appreciate and enjoy the chocolate. 

Bleary-eyed and ready to collapse into bed, Daisy made sure the “order confirmed” page appeared and shut her laptop. Her body and brain were going to sleep, whether her to-do list was ready or not, so she might as well be under the covers and comfortable instead of laying her head on her desk.

---------------

Carol Danvers hummed as she walked down the sidewalk. It was a sunny morning, and she practically felt like skipping. Southern California in February was heaven. Just chilly enough for a soft hoodie this early, but with blue skies and green hillsides all around campus. 

She greeted the florist with a telltale cheery “good morning!” 

The florist laughed. “The only people this happy this early on Valentine’s Day are here to pick up an order.”  

“A bouquet for Danvers, please,” Carol confirmed. 

“I’ll get it from the back. In the meantime, pick a card and envelope, free with all Valentine’s Day orders.” 

Carol perused the selection: some too plain, some too specific; some too heteronormative, some too presumptive for a first Valentine’s Day together. She saw a group specifically labeled “From Her to Her” with an interlocking Venus symbol, and Carol’s attention focused. Her fingers traced lightly over one with “To my wife” and another “From both of us” and another with a long message about being together for decades but the love was stronger than ever. Carol wasn’t sure if she believed in prayer, but whatever it was, she sent one to the Universe or Fate or whoever was listening that she’d still be buying Valentine’s Day cards for Daisy decades from now, maybe like that one, with a silver-haired couple on the front and a nostalgic message about keeping each other young.  

Carol snapped out of her daydreaming as she saw one with a superhero wearing a cape, eye mask, and a dark ponytail. “You’re super sweet,” it said. Carol made sure the inside message wasn’t a kids’ card, but nope, it said “Your kisses make me fly.” with a blonde superhero girl on the inside kissing the first one in mid-air, cartoon capes flapping in the 2D wind. It was too perfect. She made sure the envelope behind it on the display did, in fact, fit, and returned to the checkout counter.

“This one.” Carol handed the card to the florist, who scanned it to keep inventory, and handed it back to Carol. 

“Here you go,” the florist said, handing over the bouquet of red roses and little white flowers and leaves for artistic flourish. Carol didn’t know much about flowers, and she knew red roses were cliche, but it seemed like a safer bet than daisies, just in case that was a too-obvious connection she resented. She didn’t want to go too over the top for a first Valentine’s Day, but Daisy clearly wanted it to be special, given how she’d been hinting about it for a week now. 

Carol headed back to campus to her apartment, already picturing the bouquet in the perfect vase she’d found at the art department’s fundraiser sale. Now all she had to do was get them to stay this pretty until tonight and safely transport them to Daisy’s for dinner, along with the chocolate raspberry cupcakes that were next up on her to-do list. They were going to have Greek food delivered and watch a silly 2000s rom-com. Nothing too fancy or expensive, just two university students on a budget making their first Valentine’s a chill, fun, romantic night in.

That was the spoken plan, at least. But there was one more thing Carol was hoping would happen tonight, after the dinner, the movie, dessert, and anything else Daisy wanted. Carol had been getting impatient with their decision to take things slowly physically. When they first started dating, Daisy had confessed she’d been disappointed by past hookups and sleepovers with now-exboyfriends, so sex just wasn’t a big priority for her early on. She’d rather build up to it in their relationship. But then they had been busy with school, work, activities, friends, dates to see plays and concerts and festivals and the beach. They went on nature hikes and learned new hobbies and took daytrips all around the LA area.

But it never really worked out for them to be alone, together, at home, while “in the mood,” with enough time to turn a makeout session into more. There was always a project due, a friend in need, a study group to meet with, an early morning the next day… But tonight, Valentine’s Day, would be the perfect timing. A Friday night just the two of them, no other deadlines or plans or mood-killing phone calls. 

Carol just hoped Daisy was as ready as she seemed from their increasingly intense and extensive kissing when they did have a moment alone. That is, before the buzz of a text, calendar alert, or doorbell ring. It was almost comedic how reliably they were interrupted. 

Just in case, Carol made sure all of her phone apps and sounds were on silent before heading over to Daisy’s. The last thing they needed was the infinite chimes of a  “Happy Valentine’s Day” extended family group text all evening or a spammy sales phone call.

----------------------------

Daisy’s nerves settled. Her essay was done and turned in. One more class and she’d be free for the weekend. With a click of the “Submit assignment” button, she relaxed into her chair like melted chocolate. 

CHOCOLATE. 

“Damn.” Daisy muttered under her breath. She had just enough time to go downtown to pick up Carol’s gift, but she wouldn’t have much time to sit and chat at lunch with their friends. She needed to leave right now. 

Daisy rushed into the chocolate shop and groaned as she saw the long line. As she suspected, it was mostly young adults. 

A woman in an apron behind the counter shouted at Daisy. “Welcome in! Are you here to order or pick up?” 

“Pick up!” Daisy shouted back. 

“I can get you over here!” The woman headed to a separate check-out counter, which sat in front of a shelf of packages. Daisy followed, in great relief. 

“Name?” The woman barely looked up from her clipboard, clearly working as fast as possible to get through all the orders of the day. 

“Daisy Johnson?” 

“Oh!” The woman did meet Daisy’s eyes then with a smile. “You’re the one!” 

“The one what?” Daisy asked, but the woman was already bustling to the back, past the shelf of ready orders and into the kitchen. 

“Here it is!” The woman put a box on the counter that was much larger than Daisy expected. “The 20-inch heart, all authentic gourmet Swiss chocolate made right here with our family’s traditional recipe. We call this one the Grand Gesture.” 

“20… inches?” Daisy blinked at the box. It was, in fact, about 2 feet wide and 2 feet long. With padding to protect it, that made sense. “But it’s European. Don’t you use centimeters? On the website, it said—or I thought it said centimeters?” 

The woman laughed. “Oh man, I really need to get them to change that. It’s centimeters in most places on the site that are images, like the homepage, but if you go to the individual product pages, it converts both the measurement units and the currency to your location. So. 20 inches.”

“The Grand Gesture,” Daisy finished for her. The humor of the situation settled in. She’d already paid for it, and Carol would be delighted. “Sure, why not.” 

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” the woman said, handing the box over to get Daisy moving so she could help the next person in line. “If you post photos, tag us in the captions!” 

Daisy mumbled in affirmation as she walked past the line and out the door, almost on autopilot. On the way home, she remembered someone said chocolate was an aphrodisiac. Maybe that was just a myth that horny students passed around, but it was a sufficient conversation starter, which is what Daisy needed. She’d been the one who wanted to take things slow, but at the rate Carol was going, they’d reach their one-year anniversary before ….

No. Daisy just had to be clear and not. awkward. about it. Sexy. She’d been sexy before. She could do this. She just needed a way to bring it up in a way that didn’t sound pathetic or anxious. It was her first time with a girl, but so what. Big deal. She was a girl herself; it couldn’t be that different, right? 

-------------------

Daisy’s heart raced as she saw Carol on her doorstep. 

“Wow.” Daisy fought to keep her gaze on Carol’s face and loose waves, held back on the side by a silver and gold star pin, instead of Carol’s black silk blouse’s deep, deep V cut. 

“Can I come in?” Carol’s lightly glossed lips turned up in a wry smile that left Daisy speechless. She nodded and stepped aside, looking down at her own red minidress. She checked her red lipstick as they passed the entryway mirror, and Carol noticed. 

“You look amazing, by the way.” Carol held out a vase with six picture-perfect red roses, clearly professionally arranged. “These are for you, obviously. And here’s a card.” 

“Thanks.” Daisy blushed despite the predictability of the gesture. It was the most greeting-card-advertisement Valentine’s Day stereotype, but something about getting roses from a girl made it feel completely new. And receiving them from Carol in particular made it plenty romantic. “Your gift is on the table.” 

They reached the dining area, and Carol spotted the large box. 

“Open it,” Daisy urged before Carol could say anything. She couldn’t hold in her grin any longer.

Carol lifted the lid and burst out laughing. “Oh my god! It’s huge!” 

“I know!” Daisy giggled. “I meant to get a more normal sized one, but I was ordering online and didn’t realize, and then they handed me this at the store.” 

“My sweetheart,” Carol read on the chocolate. “Aww. I certainly hope my sweetheart is planning on helping me eat this or we’ll be serving it at the wedding.” 

Daisy’s giggles faded, “Wait, whose wedding?” 

Carol’s frozen horror told Daisy everything she needed to know, and Daisy laughed again. “Oh!!” 

“I didn’t mean… It’s just an expression. I’m not saying WE will. I meant a long time, long time, like years from now, this chocolate… oh my god.” Carol’s face was a shade of red Daisy had never seen, and unfortunately, Daisy couldn’t stop laughing until tears were rolling down her cheeks. 

“It gets better. Do you know what they call this thing?” Daisy pointed to the very large heart. “The Grand Gesture.” 

Carol laughed again too. “I guess we’re stuck together then.” 

“In sickness from eating all this chocolate or in health.” Daisy picked up an empty glass from the table settings she’d laid out, and Carol did the same. They clinked the glasses in a toast, and short of anything to drink in them, they kissed, savoring the moment.

That is, until the doorbell rang. As usual. They were grateful this time, however, as it was the delivery of their dinner from the Greek restaurant. From then on, the laughter and familiar food made it easier to let go of their Perfect First Valentine’s Day jitters and awkwardness so they could be themselves again.  

Hours later, as they cuddled on the couch and the credits rolled on their movie, Daisy brought up her “fun fact” about chocolate. 

“Hmm interesting,” Carol mumbled between kisses to Daisy’s neck. “And would you say it works for you?” 

Daisy pulled back and Carol met her eyes, concerned that she was pushing Daisy too far. 

“Seems true to me, what about you?” 

Carol’s hand pushed up the skirt of Daisy’s dress and caressed her soft skin. “I don’t need any help wanting you.” 

“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Daisy began seriously but squeezed Carol’s ass for clarity. “I think we need to speed up. I said slow before, but not this slow. I need… oh fuck.” 

Carol had slotted her thigh between Daisy’s and pressed up, rolling her whole body against Daisy’s. 

“Anything you need. Just tell me what you like.” 

Daisy panted. “Bed. Clothes off. No, wait. Bedroom, clothes off, then bed. Yeah.” 

“Bed.” Carol nodded. She disentangled herself from Daisy and stood up with an offered hand. “C’mon, sweetheart, I have so many things I want to show you.” 

Daisy took her hand but paused before standing. “Remember, I might not be good at this at first. Or I might have beginner’s luck.” 

“I’m confident you’ll be a natural. And every couple’s first time is a first time. You’ll have to tell me what you like too. I want to know how it feels, every move and touch and gesture.” 

Carol’s attempted seduction was interrupted by Daisy holding back a giggle. 

“You mean like a GRAND gesture?” Daisy couldn’t help but laugh about the large chocolate heart one last time. 

Carol grinned. “Oh, I’ll show you a grand gesture.” 

In one smooth move, she scooped Daisy up from the couch and carried her bridal-style to the bedroom, where she set about turning those giggles into moans of pleasure. Not a single second of disappointment or regret was felt that night, nor any time after.