chapter 1: doc, there’s a hole where something was
late, but nonetheless inspired by rarepair week 2022 day 5, prompt: wish
words: 3.5k
relationships: minerva orland x yukino aguria
summary: Minerva adjusts to life in Sabertooth after joining Tartaros. Pity she no longer was the woman she had been when she left. (Or perhaps not.) – minerva-centric.
Minerva’s room was the same as she had left it. Sting and Rogue left all her finery up to collect dust. They had likely considered not touching her room a form of respect. She didn’t know how to feel about that. She was a different person from then, but also the same.
“Is everything alright, My Lady?” Minerva turned and there stood Yukino, dressed all in white. The white: it blinded against the deep purples and gold of her room. That’s the thing with celestial spirit mages – they shone. And while beforehand she could simply say it was a trick of the light, now, with the demon still stirring inside Minerva, it knew how different celestial spirits felt. It did not itch the way it had in Silver’s (and now, Gray’s) presence, but it could feel that light.
Minerva realized that she had not spoken. If she were anyone but her father’s daughter, she would blush. Instead, she said: “What are you here for?”
Summary: After Tartaros, Minerva begins to get to know her guildmates better. In particular, thanks to a piano she will discover something that she had never known about Yukino. [Minerva/Yukino]
Link: AO3
Notes: This was written as part of the Femslash Fairies 2022. Prompt: Song. Hope you like it!
Melody from the past
Since she had returned to Sabertooth, Minerva didn’t know how to deal with her guildmates. All of them had forgiven her in some way -Minerva still struggled to understand how- but it was no longer what it used to be. The guild with Sting in charge was completely different, there was no longer that aura of terror, nor that competition between wizards. They were all more relaxed and happier.
The only thing that remained the same was that people continued to respect her, Sting often asked her for opinions on how to lead the guild and she was happy to help him. Sting was good as a Master, but he was still young and sometimes he was too impulsive. Nonetheless, Minerva admired him for the commitment he dedicated. Rouge looked slightly more expansive than he used to be, while Orga was definitely louder than usual. Honestly, Minerva had yet to understand why Sting allowed him to sing in the guild, if it were for her, she would have stitched his mouth in unkind ways.
And then there was her. Yukino.
Minerva struggled to admit it even to herself, but being in her company was pleasant. Yukino had helped her most of all to integrate into the new guild, she encouraged her to spend more time with the guildmates when Minerva tended to isolate, but she wasn’t intrusive or annoying. Her presence was discreet, she understood when Minerva wanted her spaces and she understood how much she could push by dragging her to Sabertooth’s parties. They had also done a few missions together and she was certainly the best companion Minerva could wish for. Brutal in battles -Minerva loved to see Yukino fight- smart at devising plans, and honestly a good company.
Besides, she was beautiful.
Minerva had known that from the first time Yukino had set foot in the guild but she had never thought about it too much, busy getting stronger, but now that she was close to her and taking time to get to know her, it was hard to ignore it. It was also difficult to ignore the feelings that grew inside her every time Yukino smile or talk. Minerva knew she had feelings for Yukino, but that didn’t mean she would admit it, or that she would show it.
She walked towards her friend’s house with the mission paper in hand. Minerva had chosen it because she imagined that with the magic of Yukino’s star spirits they would easily complete it. But when she reached her friend’s apartment, she heard notes coming from inside. For a moment Minerva stood listening, surprised and amazed. They were undoubtedly piano notes, but she had no idea that Yukino could play, nor that she was that good.
For a moment she imagined the elegant figure of the girl sitting in front of the instrument, imagined her fingers running along the keys and her lips folded in the usual smile that warmed something inside her. Then, not resisting the temptation, she opened the door slightly and observed Yukino sitting in front of the piano.
Unfortunately, Yukino immediately noticed her and stopped.
“Hi, I didn’t hear you knock, sorry, I was focused on playing” she said with the usual sweet smile. She hadn’t heard her because Minerva actually hadn’t knocked, but she decided not to tell her and went into the small living room.
“I just wanted to show you a mission,” she said closing the door and showing the flyer. Yukino took it, read it and nodded immediately.
“It’ll be easy, Libra will be very useful”.
“Yes, I thought so too,” Minerva said and she frowned a bit when Yukino started to close the piano. “I didn’t know you could play”. Yukino stopped her hand for a moment and her expression became melancholy.
“I did it with my sister,” she admitted. Minerva raised an eyebrow, she had no idea that Yukino had a sister. Before Tartaros she had never taken much time to get to know her guildmates. However, something must have happened to her from the girl’s expression. “She sat next to me and we improvised something. I mostly followed the score, and she... she was more enthusiastic and preferred to sing. We had fun” Yukino said, continuing to observe the frets of the instrument. “She was the only one who encouraged me to play even if I wasn’t good, because she knew I liked it. While my parents criticized me, she defended me and helped me.”
There was a moment of silence.
“At least, we did it before she disappeared,” she said with bitterness and tears in the eyes. Minerva found herself short of words, and Yukino ran a hand over her face, wiping away tears. “Sorry, I didn’t want to spoil the mood”.
“You didn’t,” Minerva said and sat down next to her before she could change her mind. “I had no idea, I’m sorry,” she said softly, letting out all her sincerity, something she only did with Yukino.
“I don’t even know if she’s still alive or not. She was captured by some of Zeref’s followers,” Yukino said. “I know it’s impossible that she survived but... I prefer to think that she’s alive, somewhere out there, hoping that one day I’ll be able to meet her again.” A sob escaped and her cheeks bathed in more tears. Minerva stood motionless, not knowing what to say or do. She had never put up with people crying, but now she just felt uncomfortable because she had no idea how to behave and she just wanted to help the friend in some way. But she didn’t know how.
“Sorry,” Yukino murmured again.
“Don’t apologize,” Minerva said placing her hand on the keys, next to Yukino’s fingers just to massage the back of her hand with the thumb. She remained silent without saying anything, but fortunately Yukino wiped her face and stopped crying, just squeezing her fingers a little between those of Minerva, who at that gesture felt her heart quicken the beating.
“Does it bother you if we leave in the afternoon?” Yukino asked.
“No, it’s okay”.
“Thank you”.
There was a moment of silence, then Minerva spoke again.
“If you like, you can play something, I like the music” she proposed cautiously, not knowing if that would actually improve Yukino’s mood. Her friend smiled slightly.
“Can you play?” she asked.
“No, and not even sing,” Minerva replied immediately.
Yukino raised an eyebrow. “I once heard from Rufus that he heard you play the piano.” Damn Rufus and damn his memory.
“I don’t remember how to do it anymore,” Minerva lied.
“Please,” Yukino asked with a small smile. Minerva rolled her eyes a little, but in the end, she decided that she could do it. Only because it was Yukino. She put the fingers on the keys and composed herself.
“Not a single word about my ability” she warned in a threatening tone and Yukino nodded immediately. Then Minerva began to sound a bit awkward, since she hadn’t done it for years and since she had never done it in front of other people. It was more something she did for herself when she felt melancholy, something that reminded her of her mother. She hated showing that vulnerable side of her to other people, but… well, Yukino seemed happy, so Minerva could make an effort.
