sana’s inhibitor is on the fritz again, and kronii tries her best to get her in tip top shape for the very important council meeting.
Fluff, powers going out of wack, i just need to post something so i can finish this, this is an attempt at something light hearted because ive been doing angst forever, this will only have minor conflict i swear, or at least conflict that is par for the course with council, Humor, Height Differences
chapter 1 2 3
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
chapter 3 of 3: catch a break
Sana approached the council once more, Fauna still leaning against her slightly, only with her shoulder this time. The council all turned to look back, smiling at their companions and ushering them over.
"All back in one piece, I'm impressed!" Bae quipped, snickering to herself as Kronii jabbed at her side. Sana chuckled at the sight, her smile sticking with her as she gestured for Fauna to sit first, "And so gentlemanly! What dirt did she get on ya, Sana?"
Fauna chimed in quietly, kneeling onto the picnic blanket, "Nothing that she would be ashamed of," she grabbed at the remnants of her sandwich, hiding her amusement with a bite.
Sana raised up her hands in surrender, "Guilty as charged," her smile softened as she sat down back in her spot. She jumped at the now ice cold ground, squeaking a bit at the little needles of chill pricking her legs.
Wordlessly, Mumei unclipped her cape, her expression dripping with neutrality as she held it out for her. Bae stretched her words out long in front of her, "Oooh," she sing songs, "looks like Sana's not the only one being chivalrous!"
"Leave 'em be, Bae," Kronii chided, "Not in front of my sandwich,"
"Oh, I see how it is! You're only caring about your food when Sana's around, huh?" Bae pointed accusingly at Kronii, brows furrowed and tail whipping with the motion, "What about when you were tryin' to smack me with it earlier!"
Fauna shook her head incredulously, shooting a look towards Kronii, "You what?"
"She's lying!" Kronii yipped, taking a conveniently big mouthful of sandwich-
As the three bickered, Mumei bounced her offered cape back out to Sana. Her face was still devoid of expression, all except for her eyes. They flickered between Sana's own, a silent plea to accept her offer.
Sana hesitated, her face delving into a pinched smile, "I don't want to sit on your pretty cape,"
Mumei bounced it once more, "Then, wear it," she conceded, the same look in her eyes growing just that little bit bigger.
"It won't do me much good on my arms, my legs are what's cold-"
"It's still better than sleeveless,"
"My gloves can count as sleeves!"
"You have goosebumps,"
Sana opened her mouth to argue, only to receive a gust of wind whipping at her back. It stung as she bit down the quiver in her voice, "You'll be cold too…" Mumei was already leaning over to wrap it around Sana's shoulders. The cape was already warm and pillowy against her skin, bringing with it the smell of down and coconut.
Mumei lifted herself up onto her knees, looking at her in the same watchful way owls like her were known for. A layer of soft and warm blanket was swaddled around Sana's heart as she spoke, "I have feathers," she stated plainly, a chuckle catching in Sana's throat, before she was given the quickest peck on the lips.
Sana's lips buzzed, watching as Mumei leaned back into her spot, leaving only a light pink dusting on her cheeks as the only evidence of her crime. Sana's heart thumped against her chest, hardly having the time to process anything before seeing the looks of shock sparking off the council. If it weren't for all the emotional turmoil, Sana would've laughed. It was the first time they all had been silent all day, only the shaking of leaves filled the air as Sana shifted.
Of all people, Fauna raised her voice, "Mumei!" The owl shot up at the sound, everyone's eyes on Fauna.
"What? Didn't you have your turn?" Mumei asked genuinely, her eyes warily skittering away from Fauna's gaze.
"My turn?!" Mumei flinched, watching as Fauna yanked Sana closer, "We were supposed to do it together-"
"What!? What the hell are you two talking about?" Bae cut in, nearly shriveling back in on herself at the sting of Fauna's gaze, "I- uh, I mean-"
Fauna huffed, looking back towards the council, "We just-" She paused, taking a deep breath, "We wanted to ask… with words," Mumei curled in on herself.
Kronii leaned forward, "What did you want to ask?" her words were brittle and quiet, her eyes never leaving her lap.
"I- We just," Fauna wilted, "I'm sorry, I really shouldn't have yelled," She looks at Mumei, "I just wanted to do this together…"
Mumei relaxed, tilting her head
slightly as she spoke, "We still
can…"
A few beats of quiet passed, everyone’s eyes trained on Fauna, "We just wanted to know… if you all wanted to be… more?"
Mumei flushed, hands fidgeting as she yelped, "Wait- weren't we going to do this one by one? I-I mean I guess it doesn't matter now, but answering as a group-"
"Yeah, alright." all eyes stuck to Bae, her ears twitching as she looked from side to side, "I er- uh- I've kinda been thinkin' about that too, for maybe a, uh, century or so…" She gripped at her tail, the silence etching into Bae's speeding heart, "Someone else talk or I'm gonna explode!"
Kronii tucked her hands in her lap, "Uh… I guess the only fit for someone as perfect as me would be gods, or whatever-" She huffs, confidence not quite reaching her words as the council collectively smiled, "I guess I wouldn't mind…"
Bae grabs ahold of one of the hands Kronii has in her lap, giggling as her face colored two shades darker. Fauna turned to Sana, offering her hand out to her. A moment passed between them, "You don't have to say yes, Sana, we're still your friends either way."
Sana looked at Fauna's hand, turning her eyes up to her expression. It was so hopeful, a small smile curling her lips, brows raised with glass in her eyes. Sana turned to Mumei, her face was nearly identical. Bae and Kronii were the same, maybe a little less obvious on Kronii's face, but the way she leaned a little too far forward gave her away.
Sana took her hand into Fauna's, the collective relief in her heart and mind washed over her. Even if it was such a relief to not have to hide from her emotions anymore, Sana's pulse rivalled Bae's bombs in her throat. Her voice was hardly able to stumble out of her mouth before she gave up on talking.
Sana decided that the next best thing would be to just kiss her. A hum slipped out of Fauna's lips before they both closed their eyes. Sana thought that Fauna's lips would taste more like fresh cut grass if she was honest with herself, but the pleasant hint of golden apples and berries hit her more than any lawnmower flavors. It was warm and slow, Fauna was too tentative to give anything more, and Sana was far too happy with what she was receiving.
They parted, both puffing out little gusts of air as they looked at each other. Sana smiled, goofy, giddy, and full of teeth, and all Fauna could do was laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled against Sana's collarbone, Sana rubbed at her back, her heart leaping at the feeling.
She looked back towards the council, Kronii's hand silently laid onto Mumei's, her lips pursed as she stared down the ground. Bae, obviously, was holding back a cackle to preserve some of Kronii's dignity, while Mumei just turned her hand and squeezed Kronii's.
Mumei tilted her head at Sana, her expression the exact same as when she had offered her cape, "What were you doing with Fauna out there then?" She asked slowly.
"Um…" Sana hesitated as Fauna leaned back up, "bird watching?" Fauna gave her a soft shove followed by a stern look, "What? I said that we already have a pretty bird at the picnic to watch!" Sana chuckled, Mumei flushing lightly at the compliment, her eyes skittering to the side.
"Save the flattery for later, Sana." Fauna scolded, her eyes flashing with a hint of danger,"Truth, now."
Sana shrugged, "Ah, right… Fauna was checkin' up on me cause I'm just a bit taller than usual." she paused to adjust her inhibitor, "It's, um, just a bit finicky today. Kronii fixed it up earlier today." She smiled at Kronii, watching as she scrunched in at the attention.
She shrivelled even farther as something seemed to click behind Bae's eyes, "KRONII!" she practically squealed, Kronii yanks her hands away from Mumei's and Bae's grip, covering her face with shame, "You said you didn't know what I was talking about-" She stopped… the picnic went near silent as the enevitable turning of gears clicked in Bae's mind. All Kronii could do was sink her head low and avoid eye contact, "AND YOU THINK SANA IS HOT!"
Kronii snapped up, slapping at Bae's shoulder, "You said it first-!" she yelps as Bae strikes back.
Bae's face heated, but the grin on her face grew three times as she laughed, "So you admit it!"
"What- no! I never said that-"
"But you just did-!"
"Girls!" Fauna's voice gave both of them pause, their eyes flickering between the other members, then between themselves. Both of them slowly lowered their hands, folding them neatly in their laps, not unlike a child in time out. Fauna couldn't help herself, she let a giggle cut through her serious façade. it wasn't long until they all succumbed to laughter, letting it ride out until it died.
Sana let herself feel a little smug, giving Bae and Kronii both a look that they shied away from, "So that's what you two talk about when I'm not around." Both of them fidgetted, almost beginning to argue before Sana cut them off, "I'm kidding! You have to talk about some other beautiful council ladies sometime-"
This time, Mumei elbowed her side, the feathers under her clothes ruffled up at the praise, making her look like she had put on puffy winter wear, "Shhhut up…" She mumbled.
Sana smiled, patting her head lightly as she spoke, "Alright, pretty bird, we'll leave you be…" Mumei grumbled, but let herself tilt her head into her hand.
Bae leaned towards the two, "Hey, wait a second-" both of them looked towards the rat, "Mumei, did you know Sana was taller?"
"Oh, yeah, when she sat on the blanket her legs didn't fit all the way."
…
Bae threw her arms up into the air, "AUGH! I was the ONLY ONE?!" She let herself go limp on the blanket, groaning as Kronii laughed mockingly. Sana patted her back sympathetically, she's kinda embarrassed herself, honestly. She thought she'd be able to hide it way better than she did.
"She does look cute when she's tall, doesn't she?" Fauna remarked to Mumei, electing to ignore the newly made Bae wall between the two of them.
Mumei nodded, "She does, I couldn't really help it when I saw her with my cape on-"
"OKAY! That's enough of that!" Sana flailed in front of the two of them, chuckling nervously. She usually would be able to handle all this if she didn't know that they meant every word.
