Mx. & Mrs. Valiente
Fandom: Little Witch Academia | Pairing: Allyn (Allisandra/Edlyn)
Word Count: 2,007 | Read Time: ~10 Minutes
“Marry me...”
Edlyn was examining the browning spots on the leaves of an unhealthy betony hedge when Allisandra had broken their train of thought. The poor floral plant had reached the end of its life cycle, and Edlyn had been doing all they could to salvage it. “I’m sorry?”
“Marry me,” Allisandra repeated, arms crossed. She’d been standing over Edlyn for quite a while, waiting for Edlyn to drive their attention away from the plant before them. Seeing how that wasn’t happening any time soon, Allisandra took matters into her own hands.
“Allisandra, are you alright?” Edlyn had finally stopped preening the plant long enough to make eye contact, yet still searching for a cause of illness.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Then why the heck--”
“Edlyn, how long have we been friends?”
“Well- since Freshman year so... over seven years now?”
“And what have you learned about my family?”
“They’re... Wait- is this a money issue? Allisandra, you don’t have to marry me t-”
“This isn’t a money issue,” Allisandra huffed, almost surprised Edlyn hadn’t picked up on the reason. “My mother keeps asking the same questions she’s been asking me since I turned eighteen. ¿Cuándo vas a casarte, Allisandra? When is Papi going to walk you down the aisle? Te verías tan hermosa en un velo, can you imagine? I’m sick of it.”
Edlyn hadn’t been able to pick up everything Allisandra said, especially when she spoke so fluidly, but they understood enough of what she was implying. They stood, removing their gardening gloves, and placed a hand on Allisandra’s shoulder. “I understand that much. My mother can be the same way. We’re the only Valientes left and she’s worried about the family legacy. But what about yours? What’s changed now?”
“She wants me to start dating.”
Silence. Edlyn let that sink in, corners of their mouth sinking as well.
“She tried to hook me up with some men from my home town. I keep telling her no but she’s getting more and more insistant. I’m only in my 20′s, Mamá. ¡Tengo otros cien años!” Allisandra groaned and Edlyn’s frown deepened.
“Why me?”
“I can’t imagine anyone else I’d want to marry.”
Edlyn’s face flushed up with that. And they stumbled to ask another question. “W-what about--”
“Seraphine has Adamina. Edlyn, it has to be you! You’re my best friend, and there’s no one else who would be able to convince them to back off. Please,” Allisandra’s interruption seemed more desperate, pleading. “It has to be you...”
Edlyn took a deep breath. “Allisandra... I love you, I really do. You’re the belladonna of my nightshades, breathtaking in multiple senses. But we’re friends. I know neither of us cares about the whole romance thing but I don’t know if I want to take away that possibility from you if you’re not--mpfh...” Edlyn had been interrupted once again but this time by Allisandra’s lips on their own.
“There. No sparks, nothing. Just like every other time I’ve kissed someone. I’m pretty sure. Now will you please marry me?”
‘Nothing, huh?’ Edlyn thought, touching their lips as if to check them in the absence of the slight tingling feeling that had shot through their nerves a moment before. ‘Must have imagined it....’
“Eddy?” Allisandra waved her hand in front of Edlyn’s face, bringing them down to earth once more.
Edlyn took in a deep breath, speaking through an exhale. “Where’s the ring?”
“That’s the last of them,” Allisandra said as she assisted Edlyn with the boxes she was carrying into Valiente manor. Their wedding was less than a few months away and by Edlyn’s own suggestion, Allisandra was moving in.
“Can I get you two Lovebirds anything? Some water?” Laurel, Edlyn’s mother, asked as she turned a corner to see her child wheezing, sweaty palms pressed to their trousers as they bent over to breathe easier.
“I-I’m okay, Maman, merci beaucoup. Et toi, Alli?
“I’m fine,” Allisandra said, stretching her arms up, not that she really needed a break from the boxes. The hem of her shirt tugged up when she stretched, and Edlyn caught a view of her stomach and and the dips and curves of her muscles.
Edlyn had seen them many times, there was no need for sheepishness, and yet the faint pink in Edlyn’s cheek wasn’t entirely from being breathless. “W-why didn’t Adelmo help? He’s your familiar.”
“He’s lazy, you know this.” It was true. Adelmo had spent the past half hour sitting cross-legged chewing cud on the front lawn of the estate, flicking his tail every so often to show his mild enthusiasm for the new environment. Allisandra hadn’t minded all that much, especially since he had Zorro in his lap, who was all too exhausted from travel. “Besides, what do we need him for when you have me?”
“All too true, Love.” Edlyn beamed back, moving to kiss Allisandra’s cheek, a display of affection that had grown in appearance since the two had announced their engagement. It was almost customary every other moment a member of the opposite’s family was present. All the more to add to the façade.
“No, no, ¿Estás tonto? Aquí, aquí, stir the pot while I roll the potato. I want an even cook on that Chicken, Querida.” Isabella, Allisandra’s mother, had been teaching Edlyn how to make stewed curanto or pulmay as they called it. Edlyn had never had such a complex ‘surf-n-turf’ dish before, and was surprised to find it to be one of Allisandra’s favorites.
“It’s an old family recipe,” said Maria, Allisandra’s grandmother, as she walked through the kitchen. “Make sure you layer the nalca evenly. You wouldn’t want the layers to touch.”
Through the kitchen window, Edlyn could see Allisandra talking with her younger siblings, which Eddy knew by name. Francisco was the oldest of the bunch at 21, which wasn’t much of a gap between the two of them considering the rest of Allisandra’s family was concerned. Then there was Ramone who was 18, and the twins, Daniella and Dante who were 11. Edlyn couldn’t have even begun to imagine the kind of strength it took for Isabella to raise the two of them alone, let alone all 9 of her children? It was understandable why Family had been so important to her. Allisandra had glanced at the window to catch Edlyn’s gaze with her own. She smiled and waved, a gesture reciprocated for far too long to go unnoticeable because Isabella was instantly shooing Edlyn away from the stew pot.
“Aye, you’re going to let it overcook if you’re not careful.” She warned, stirring in the vegetables. Edlyn’s apology left silence clinging to the air like spilt dye. “I know it’s hard to take your eyes off of her... She’s beautiful, No?”
“Allisandra?” Edlyn blinked, thrown off by the sudden discussion. They glanced out the window once more, watching Allisandra speak, despite being unable to hear her lips form the words themselves. She was laughing now, hands on her stomach, head thrown back to let her hair cascade over her shoulders. “Yeah,” Edlyn said, trying to return their attention to Isabella’s cooking techniques. “She sure is... Takes after her mother,” Edlyn quickly added, earning an elbow from Isabella.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mi hijo.”
Edlyn and Allisandra had attended two weddings prior to their own. The first being Gabija and Nina’s. Gabija had been all too eager to marry the moment that Nina graduated, having been two years ahead meant that the two years without Nina were long and slow and torturous and she couldn’t stand another second. The second wedding had been Yarrow and Amaterasu’s, the likes of which Edlyn felt more comfortable with, despite the Thompson family being somewhat rivals to Edlyn’s own.
Allisandra hadn’t been much for weddings. She thought that the copious amounts of money people poured into the ceremony were almost entirely unnecessary. As such, her and Edlyn’s wedding was going to be one of simplicity. She didn’t want a three layer cake, she didn’t want a fancy champagne waterfall, or a chocolate fondue fountain. She wanted it to be as quick and painless as possible.
And it was, Edlyn made sure of it. Their friends had sat on one side along with Edlyn’s mother and a few of Allisandra’s extended family that hadn’t fit on the adjacent side. There was a short reception after the initial ceremony, one that Allisandra’s mom was fine with, and of course when Allisandra had tossed her bouquet, Seraphine, the intended target, had been clocked in the face... lightly, of course. Allisandra and Edlyn made their way home afterwards with much enthusiasm for the break they would receive from social interaction and party protocol.
Edlyn was the first to plop on the bed, suit and all, sprawling out like a star fish that had been marooned.
Allisandra had followed shortly after changing out of her dress, grateful to be in the freedom of a tank top and boxer-shorts. She crawled onto the bed, hair down now, and caught Edlyn’s glazed over gaze for a moment, before she giggled at their situation. “Here, Cariño, let me help.” She was leaning over Edlyn now, removing the bowtie around their neck.
“Alli,” Edlyn blushed, embarrassed to have her undress them, but not uncomfortable. They’d assisted each other in changing plenty of times, and had even seen each other in the nude. But that was when they were more kid than adult.
“Shh, I don’t mind. We’re married aren’t we?” Allisandra smiled at Edlyn, like warm honey.
“Yeah, we are...” The thought sent Edlyn’s head swimming. They weren’t sure if they were imagining it or not. Had Allisandra always been this beautiful in moonlight?
It was when Allisandra had begun to unbutton Edlyn’s shirt that they snapped back into reality. Since they graduated Luna Nova, Edlyn had been treated by several doctors for their gender dysphoria. Allisandra hadn’t yet seen the scars. She wasn’t aware that there were any to begin with, and upon meeting Edlyn’s bare, flat chest, she paused, as if studying a painting at an art exhibit.
Edlyn wasn’t sure if this was okay. They were comfortable with Allisandra seeing them, sure. But do best friends really drink in all of your features so easily? Even the ones as imperfect as scars?
“Eddy?” Allisandra’s voice broke the tension of still water and Edlyn raised their brows.
“Yeah?”
“You’re beautiful.”
Silence. Edlyn wasn’t sure what to say. Their heart was pounding in their chest and they could have sworn that in the darkness Allisandra could hear it.
“Allisandra?”
“Yes?”
“I love you...”
There was another pause, Allisandra smiled once more though Edlyn’s heart was screaming, beating against their ribs in a violent manner like it had been wrongly convicted.
“I love you too...”
Silence once more, though Edlyn’s head was swimming. They leaned up as Allisandra leaned forward, and despite the fact that no one was watching they kissed because it felt like the right thing to do.
Allisandra watched the way Edlyn played with her younger siblings, leaning with her head against the doorframe to the house as the children all ran through the garden hose with enthusiasm. Isabella stood behind Allisandra, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“You picked well, Mi hija.” She spoke softly. Allisandra turned to see, for the first time, the greys in her mother’s brown hair.
“¿Lo hice ahora?” Allisandra asked, quirking up a brow. “I picked because you wanted me to.”
“Oh?” Isabella raised her brows. Allisandra turned back to look at Edlyn who was showing the kids how to plant hierba del clavos in the garden for herbal treatments. The kids were taking great care not to damage the petals of the flower, following what Edlyn was saying to the letter. Isabella spoke again, “Well, I like them regardless.”
“Yeah?” Allisandra said, making eye contact with Edlyn through the garden mist. Edlyn was smiling, laughing, enjoying themselves, and when they met Allisandra’s gaze, they waved before returning their focus to the twins. “Yo también, Mamá, me too...”