#icesis x pythia

[artificialqueens]

You Must Be My Lucky Star (Rosnali) - Athena2

Summary: Rosé heads off on a journey to capture a fallen star so the man she loves will marry her, only to grow closer with the star than she imagined.

A/N: Hi everyone! It's been a while (working full time sucks), but I'm so happy to finally finish this. It's based on Stardust, with a lot of the plot simplified, so you don't need to be familiar with it. I first had this idea last year and never thought I would finish it, but I brought it up on a tumblr ask a few months ago and got some amazing support that encouraged me to work on it again!

Thank you so much to haiplana for letting me talk to you about this last year. Thank you to Juno for letting me brainstorm with you, and thank you Writ for letting me brainstorm with you and for beta-ing. Also, thank you to everyone who sent in asks and support for this on tumblr! Without you, I probably never would have finished this.

Title from Lucky Star by Madonna.

---

Ever since Rosé can remember, she’s loved looking up at the stars.

She would lift her window and perch on the sill, watching stars twinkle long past her bedtime. The stars made her tiny village seem as big as the sky, full of life and excitement, when during the day it was mostly filled with horses neighing and people arguing in the marketplace.

Stars were magic to her. A magic she always wanted.

—

Rosé fixes her hair, making sure it’s perfect for tonight with Jack. He seemed disinterested when he invited her, but part of her hopes it was to cover up the proposal she’s expecting.

Rosé’s been crushing on him and his dark blue eyes for years, and eight months ago, when it was raining and he offered her a ride on his horse so she didn’t have to walk home, he told her that he admired her too. They’ve been dating since then, and Jack was always buying her chocolates and complimenting her dresses and taking her to his manor for picnics.

But there were other moments that made her question things. Like when she spent an hour picking flowers from her garden, and he said he liked them, then carelessly stuffed them in his pocket. Or when he complimented her singing, then told her to stop being so noisy. But he had invited her over to watch tonight’s shooting star, and she burst with excitement that he would finally propose, and the idea follows her on the walk to his manor.

The plaid blanket is soft beneath Rosé’s back, and she eagerly points up to the sky. “There’s the Big Dipper, and over there is–”

“That’s nice.” Jack checks his watch with a sigh. “Don’t you think it’s late? Maybe you should go home.”

“But we didn’t see the shooting star!” Rosé says. She can watch it at her home through her window, but it wouldn’t be as exciting.

“But is it that exciting? I have to go to bed or I’ll have terrible eye bags.”

“Of course it’s exciting! Some people believe that a shooting star means a star really falls to earth.” Rosé heard tales about fallen stars as a child, and since then she’s dreamt of finding one and seeing that magic herself. To have something she admires from afar right in front of her.

“Only fools think that.”

Rosé goes still on the blanket, her chest hurting like she’s been punched. Could she have misread tonight’s intentions?

“Hey, I didn’t mean that,” he says, voice soft as he strokes her shoulder. “I like that you believe it. And it gives me an idea.”

“What idea?”

“What if you found the star and brought it here? Wouldn’t a star look wonderful at our wedding?”

Rosé gasps. A wedding. Jack loves her too, loves her so much he wants to marry her. She’ll be able to leave her small cottage and live in his manor, and she and her family will always be taken care of. And she’ll have love, like in the stories. But how will she find a fallen star?

“Well?” he asks.

“I–I’d love to,” Rosé says quickly. “But how do I find it?”

Jack shrugs. “Well, you’ll just have to, and you’ll have to do it quickly. I’d marry you now if I could, so I can only wait until Sunday.”

Rosé leaps to her feet. “I’ll go now.”

“You should. You can even take my horse. And I have this.” He hands her a silver chain with a cuff at one end. “This will hold the star to you. My mother’s had it for years.”

Rosé runs to her house, changes into riding clothes, and hops on Jack’s horse. Her heart is leaping in her chest, because not only will she get to live one of the adventures she’s always wanted, but she’ll marry Jack at the end.

She pauses on the horse to watch the shooting star overheard, dashing across the sky like a dance. The star’s trajectory shouldn’t take it more than a day or two from the village, and she sets off to find a fallen star.

—

Two days into the journey, Rosé wonders why none of the stories ever brought up the awful parts of adventures. Her legs ache from riding, and the sun keeps soaking her with sweat that her canteen of water can’t relieve. She should’ve known that she wouldn’t magically arrive at the star, that she would have to work for it, but the stories make everything so exciting. The most excitement she’s had was that pond she passed hours ago.

She puts her head down and keeps riding, even though she has no idea if she’s going the right way. Some part of her feels like she is, like she just knows which turns to take, which paths will lead her to the star. She hopes that part is right.

She rides for hours and hours, the world just a green blur around her. Her back burns with each gallop of the horse, and the fear is starting to rise. It’s getting dark, and maybe she should stop for the night. Maybe she’ll never find the star. Maybe—

A sudden trail of light appears in front of her, white and wispy. Rosé rubs her tired eyes in case it’s her imagination, but the trail is still there. It’s glowing softly, and something tugs in Rosé’s chest, some sense that she needs to follow it. So she does, following the glow across scorched patches of grass.

The light ends with a giant crater in the earth. The ground around it is cracked and dirt has erupted in all directions. Rosé inches closer, holding her breath, until she can see into the crater. She gasps.

In the middle of the crater, there’s a woman.

—

The woman is beautiful, with hair so blonde it's white, glowing faintly and matching her long white dress. She has rosy cheeks and deep brown eyes that seem confused.

Rosé’s heart races. The woman is real. Shooting stars are real, and magic is finally in her grasp. For a second, she forgets about why she’s here, forgets all about Jack. But then she rushes forward. “Excuse me, I—Are you—Are you a star?”

The woman jumps back from her, but steadies herself a few seconds later. “I…I was,” she says, turning over her hands like she isn’t sure what to do with them. “But now I’m…” she trails off again, still staring at her hands.

“Do you have a name?” Rosé asks. She’s starting to feel bad for the star, fallen to earth without a warning.

“Denali.” She seems a little steadier on her feet, and Rosé can’t take the chance that she’ll run away. She dashes in with the chain, looping it around Denali’s wrist. She holds the other end in her hand. She’s holding onto a star, but if she thinks about that, it makes her forget the wedding waiting at home. The love Jack will shower her in when she returns with a star.

“What are you doing?” Denali tugs at the chain, but it doesn’t give. “Who are you?” She grabs Rosé’s arm and her eyes glow with an intensity that makes Rosé shiver.

“I’m sorry,” Rosé says, and she means it. “My name is Rosé. I came here to find you.”

“Why?” Denali asks. “And what’s this for?” She tugs at the chain again, fighting with the silver.

“I…I came to help you,” Rosé says, the idea coming to her suddenly. “And I have someone to bring you to. Someone who might be able to make you a star again. You could go back up in the sky and do…whatever you do.” She tries to make it enticing, so Denali will come with her without any more of a fight.

“We don’t do much,” Denali says, and it seems like the thought takes the fight out of her. “But I don’t know anything about being human. So it’s probably better if I was a star again.” It oddly sounds like she's trying to convince herself.

“Being a star is way better than being a human, trust me.”

“Really?” Denali seems a little happier now, and Rosé knows it’s because of lack of human experience. She has no reason to suspect Rosé is lying, and it makes things easier and harder at the same time.

“Really. You get to see the world when you’re a star, and you light up the sky,” she says, feeling awful a second later. But she loves Jack. He’s her future, he’ll take care of her and her family. And she loves him. She can’t expect Denali to understand that. People wishing on stars for love all the time didn’t mean the stars themselves understood love.

“Well, fine,” Denali says. “But I’m not going now. It’s dark.”

“You’re a star!”

Denali nods. “A tired star.”

Rosé sighs. One night won’t hurt. As long as she’s back by Sunday. “Fine. There’s a village that way. We can stay at an inn.”

“In what?”

Rosé stares in confusion, then holds back a laugh. “An inn. It’s like a house with rooms for travelers.”

“Oh.” Denali grabs Rosé’s hand as she helps her out of the crater, the touch making Rosé’s whole arm tingle. “Will there be people there?”

“Probably.”

“Will they be like you?”

“Like me, how?”

“Will they be nice like you?”

Rosé almost tells the truth right there. But losing Jack is losing the first person she’s ever had a relationship with, the first person she’s truly loved. “Most of them will be, yes.”

Denali just nods and then moves on. “A horse!” She yells, reaching out to pet him. Jack’s horse never seemed to like anyone, but he bows his head and lets Denali stroke his mane.

“You know about horses?”

“I know a lot of human stuff. But only from far away.”

“Oh.” She helps Denali on the horse, trying to ignore the chain around her wrist, telling herself it’s a necessary evil. They make the trip in minutes, Denali’s hair whipping into Rosé’s face, her laugh ringing through the night.

The inn is three stories tall, with clean red brick and ivy crawling all the way to the top. A beautiful garden sprawls across the front lawn, all the way to the door, where The Dark Horse is engraved in the wood.

Rosé grabs the doorknob, but Denali is still shining. “Can you maybe not shine so much?”

“That’s what stars do, you know,” Denali mumbles. But she closes her eyes and takes a breath, and then her glow disappears as they step inside.

A fire crackles in the fireplace, and most of the wooden tables are occupied by guests drinking ale and slurping stew. There’s two women behind the bar, a redhead and a brunette. The brunette gives the redhead a spoonful of stew to try, love in her eyes shining across the inn. Rosé tries to think if Jack has ever looked at her that way, and pretends that he has.

“Hi,” the brunette greets. “Do you need a room for the night?”

“Yes.”

She nods. “We have some tables if you’d like to eat. Stew’s been cooking all day.”

Rosé nods as her stomach rumbles, and the woman leads them to a table in the corner.

“I’m Angeria if you need anything. Camden’s at the bar.” She points to the redhead and leaves, returning moments later with steaming bowls of stew.

Denali touches the edge of her bowl skeptically. “What do I do with this?”

“You eat it,” Rosé mumbles.

“This is human food? I’ve never seen it so close.”

“This is one kind of human food. Just try it.”

Denali nods, gripping her spoon for dear life. She watches Rosé, then dips her own spoon in the bowl and eats the stew. “This is amazing!” Her eyes light up like the stars outside, and dimples flash when she smiles.

Rosé tries to ignore those dimples, but she can’t. She lets Denali talk about how stars don’t need to eat, and that while being a human hasn’t been fun so far—her back hurts for no reason and walking still feels weird—this food thing might be the best part. Rosé can’t bring herself to disagree.

It’s a brilliant thing, that smile. Like a star all its own.

But Rosé shouldn’t be noticing Denali like that. She needs to bring Denali to Jack in time, and the sooner they sleep, the sooner that can happen. She heads to the bar to pay for the room and get the key from Angeria, who’s handing glasses to Camden that the redhead fills with ale. It’s nothing special, but there’s something about how they do it, how natural and easy it is to be alongside each other in comfortable silence, that makes Rosé’s chest hurt.

Angeria gives her the room key, and Rosé’s hands run along the old iron as she hovers, wanting to talk more. Love stories are part of the magic tales she’s always loved, and there’s magic in the way Camden and Angeria are together. “How did you two meet?” she asks.

Camden’s eyes roll fondly at the same time that Angeria’s light up. “She loves telling this story,” Camden says.

“And you love hearing it,” Angeria teases. She clears her throat and begins. “It was storming one night and Camden ran inside, soaking wet. She had a huge trunk and two bags. I teased her about bringing her whole life with her, but she started crying. Whatever it was, I figured she didn’t want to talk about it, so I gave her a room and just let her have some quiet.”

Rosé nods for her to go on.

“She didn’t come down the next day, but I thought she needed time. I was worried when she was still up there the second day, so I checked on her and she was sick. I don’t know what she expected after running around in the rain,” Angeria adds, shaking her head fondly. “But I couldn’t just leave her, so I brought her soup and extra blankets.”

“She put so many blankets on me I almost suffocated,” Camden mumbles.

Angeria swats at her. “Anyway, she told me she ran away from an arranged marriage and asked if she could stay here for a while. Paid for the room for a few months, and I wasn’t gonna argue with that. Then things just kind of happened. Every night, we’d have tea and stay up late talking for hours. She started helping me around the inn. That garden in the front, she did it all.” Angeria smiles. “After a while I stopped charging her for the room. Then I asked her to share mine.” Her hand wraps around Camden’s, and Camden leans in to kiss her cheek with a love Rosé can’t even pretend Jack has shown her.

But it’s fine. Not every marriage is from a storybook. Some are just normal, but it doesn’t make them less meaningful.

Rosé can’t help but think of the similarities between her and Camden, turning up at this inn because of marriage in some form. But Camden ran here from a marriage she didn’t want. Rosé is here to ensure her own marriage, one she does want.

Denali and Camden were alike too, both lost and scared and happening to find someone who helped them. Though Rosé isn’t really helping Denali. Not like Angeria had helped Camden, taken care of her, fallen in love with her.

Rosé puts it out of her mind and leaves with the room key.

—

“Do you think people are sleeping in the other rooms? How long do people sleep for? Do all the rooms look like this?” The energy from the food seems to be running through Denali, who asked a question for every stair they climbed on the way to the third floor, and is still going strong.

“Some people are probably sleeping. Everyone sleeps for different amounts of time. And the rooms all look like this,” Rosé answers, pinching her nose and trying to keep her patience.

The room is nice, with a sturdy oak trunk and a small fireplace across from the bed—

“Oh.” Somehow it hadn’t occurred to Rosé that the room would only have one bed. She hadn’t specified two; doesn’t even know if any of the inn’s rooms have two beds. But she needs to keep an eye on Denali anyway, so this is fine.

It’s fine.

“This is the bed?” The chain flies out of Rosé’s hand as Denali runs to the bed, jumping on it and laughing. “This is nice. I’ve never slept in a bed.”

“Do stars sleep?”

Denali shrugs. “We kind of…rest during the day. It’s really boring. The stars are there in the day, you just can’t see them.” She flops on the pillow and sighs. “How do you fall asleep?”

“Well, first you stop asking questions,” Rosé mutters. It comes out a little meaner than she intended, and she reins herself in. “But you just lay in bed and close your eyes and relax, and eventually you…fall asleep.”

“Sounds weird.”

Rosé can’t help but laugh. She likes telling Denali about the world, answering all her questions, but she likes hearing Denali’s thoughts even more. “Sometimes peppermint tea helps me sleep, I’m sure we can get some downstairs if you want to try—”

But Denali is already asleep. The transformation from star to human must have taken a lot out of her, and Rosé softens at the sight of her, arms curled in protectively, hair thrown back on the pillow. Denali is a star, but she feels so human right now, and Rosé wants to be near her—well, she has no other choice but to be near her, and she’s tired enough that it feels like want. She carefully pulls the blanket out from under Denali, then drapes it back over her. She slides under the blanket next to Denali, making sure to keep space between them.

Gentle warmth radiates off Denali, and Rosé sighs in content. This is the best night of the journey so far, in this soft bed, and she falls asleep a minute later.

—-

“Rosé. Rosé, wake up.”

Rosé blinks until her sleepy vision clears. The sun is shining through the windows, and so is Denali, the shining so natural for her that she probably forgot not to do it. She’s staring at Rosé, telling her to wake up again. “Huh?”

“I think I’m—what do humans call it?—hungry.”

Rosé rubs her eyes, suddenly angry. “You woke me up for breakfast? I’ve been riding for two days to find you, and this was my first night in a bed the whole trip—” She trails off when she sees Denali sitting up in bed, chewing her lip.

She wanted to leave right away, but she’s hungry too, and she can’t deny Denali breakfast. “Okay, okay, we’ll have breakfast. Just don’t shine.”

After making sure her shine is gone, Rosé stumbles behind Denali as she bounds down the stairs, taking a seat at the bar. Angeria pours tea and greets them, and Camden brings over two plates of eggs, bacon, and toast, the smell almost good enough to make the early hour worth it.

Denali enjoys it all just as much as she did last night, crunching on bacon and slurping her tea.

“Can you chew more quietly?” Rosé asks, still lamenting her lost sleep.

Denali grumbles and chews even louder.

It’s a quiet breakfast, one where Rosé questions if dealing with Denali for two more days is worth it. But it has to be for Jack. People in stories always put up with horrible things for love. And Denali is far from horrible—she’s just annoying, though she made Rosé laugh a bit.

Rosé stands the second they’re done. “Are you ready?”

Denali nods. “I’ll wait by the horse.”

She leaves, and Rosé hands Camden the key.

“Can I tell you something?” Camden asks nervously.

“Sure.”

“You seem like someone who loves fairy tales and love stories,” Camden starts. “I can tell, because I’m the same way.” She bites her lip, weighing her words. “I just want to say that Angie and I—I know we had kind of a dramatic meeting, but the love part was a lot quieter. We were washing dishes, and she was humming this song I always hummed around her, and I realized I loved her. Sometimes love is the small things.”

Rosé nods. They might have come here with different feelings about marriage, but clearly Camden feels that similarity too, and understands Rosé somehow. “Thank you,” she manages hoarsely, heading outside.

—

They ride in silence for a few hours, and Rosé is trying to remember if the endless fields of green are the same ones she saw on the way here. Nothing looks familiar, and there haven't been any landmarks for miles. The thought that they’re lost sits like lead in her stomach.

“I think we’re lost,” Denali says, like she’s reading her mind.

“We’re not lost. I know where I’m going.”

“But you don’t know how to get there, so we’re lost.”

“We’re not lost!” Rosé yells. “And shouldn’t you know where we’re going, since you literally see the world from the sky?”

“I don’t see the whole world.” Denali mumbles before falling silent, and Rosé knows she’s won this round.

They continue until nightfall, when it’s even harder to figure out where they are. They’re in a tiny, run-down village that Rosé is certain she didn’t see before. Denali has been yawning in Rosé’s ear for an hour now, and they could both use some sleep, so Rosé leads them into the village’s only inn, with broken shutters and cracked bricks. It has none of the charm or warmth of Angeria’s place. It’s drafty, the floor is covered with mud and spit from the customers, and it reeks of wet horse.

“I liked the other place better,” Denali says meekly as the door opens to their room with a dirty blanket on the bed.

“So did I.” Rosé’s too tired to be mean right now, and it’s not Denali’s fault. “It’s just for the night. Tomorrow morning I’ll get directions and we’ll go.”

“Okay.” It seems Denali doesn’t have any more fight in her either, and she falls asleep just as fast as she did last night, with Rosé quickly following.

—

After a breakfast of eggs that even Rosé, who knows human food, looks at in suspicion, they head to the fence behind the inn, where Rosé had tied the horse last night.

Except the fence is empty.

“Didn’t I put the horse here?” Rosé asks.

“You did.”

Rosé steps closer, heart sinking at the slashed rope hanging off the fence. Someone stole the horse. It’s Thursday, she has no horse, and no idea where she is. If she’s not back by Sunday, there won’t be a wedding.

“Can’t we get another horse somewhere?”

“Yeah, if we have money. I don’t have enough to buy a horse.”

“Horses cost money?” Denali asks in surprise.

“Everything costs money,” Rosé says bitterly.

“Well, maybe we can get money somewhere.” She’s doing her best to stay cheerful, and it makes Rosé’s stomach twist, especially with how awful she’s been to Denali.

“We don’t have time. I’m getting married on Sunday and—”

“You’re getting married?” Denali sounds hurt over Rosé not telling her.

Rosé’s trying to figure out how—and if—she can bring up the wedding without bringing up Denali’s involvement. But someone else speaks before she can.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear.” A tall woman with long brown braids walks toward them. “If you need a way home, my crew and I would be happy to take you.”

“Crew?” Rosé asks in confusion.

The woman nods. “We’re flying pirates.”

Rosé has never said yes faster.

—

The ship, though it flies, is still docked in the town’s grimy water. It’s smaller than Rosé expected, but it’s still the largest ship she’s seen, made of dark wood with three masts and a beautiful mermaid carved on the stern.

The woman—who introduced herself as Kendall—leads them up to the main deck, which shines in the dim sun. Four people stand around, looking much friendlier than the pirates in the stories. One of the crew, a blonde woman with a pink flower behind her ear, waves happily.

“Did you pick up strays again, Kendall?” the blonde asks cheerfully.

“Don’t talk about Pythia and Icesis like that,” Kendall teases. “Besides, you were a stray once, too.”

“I was.”

Kendall wraps her arm around the blonde’s waist, the other reaching for someone with short brown hair. “These are my partners Synthia and Gia. Over there is Pythia, and that’s Icesis.”

Pythia waves, curly hair bouncing, while Icesis nods shyly.

Denali keeps tight to Rosé’s side, maybe uncertain around so many people, and Rosé moves in front of her protectively. “Thank you for helping us,” she says. “My…traveling companion and I need to get to the town of Wall. We’re grateful for your help.”

“No need for all the formalities,” Gia says. “Kendall loves helping people. We can have you there in a day or two.”

Rosé nods, and Kendall leads them to a tiny room with bunk beds. “You can rest here if you’d like. We’ll wake you when lunch is ready.” She leaves, and Denali throws herself on the bottom bunk. The silver chain clinks against the bed, and Rosé knows what she has to do.

“Here.” Rosé reaches for the chain. She hasn’t even been holding it lately; Denali has looped the end around her own wrist, like a bracelet. Rosé gently unlatches it and attaches it to her belt. “I’m sorry. For everything,” she says.

Denali nods, and Rosé almost feels things shift, that the past days' arguments are over.

The boat shifts suddenly, sending Rosé crashing into Denali, her body solid and warm. So human. She quickly pulls away and runs to the port window as the sky moves and treetops sink below them. Denali rushes over too, their shoulders touching as they watch the ship fully take to the air, nothing but sky all around.

“Wow,” Denali breathes, running back to the deck to be in the open air.

“Wow,” Rosé agrees.

And she runs after her.

—

They spend most of the day marveling at the sky as the ship travels slowly through it, and the rest napping in their bunks. At dinner, they eat right in the tiny kitchen with the crew. The others make them feel right at home, asking questions and including them in all the conversations. Rosé can’t help but watch everyone the way she watched Camden and Angeria. They all have that same ease around each other that you get by familiarity, by completely trusting who you’re with.

After dinner, Synthia drags everyone out on the deck to dance under the stars. She spins around with Gia as Denali talks to Kendall and Icesis. Rosé loves to dance—though she never gets to with Jack—but isn’t sure who she should ask, so she just hovers against the side of the ship with Pythia.

“When did you and Icesis get together?”

Pythia smiles. “About six months ago. I actually thought she hated me at first. She seemed so tough, so aloof. She was always getting in fights, and she’d go off on her own when we landed somewhere. Then I found out almost all the fights were with someone who insulted me, and that she went exploring alone because I mentioned this pastry I loved as a kid, and she was always trying to find a bakery that had one.” They shake their head in awe. “Icesis struggles with her feelings. She’s so used to being alone. But she’s still ready to fight anyone who looks at me wrong, and she still goes to every bakery when we land.”

Rosé just nods because she doesn’t think she could manage talking. Maybe love wasn’t always like stories. Sometimes it was even more beautiful. Beautiful in different ways.

“Pyth, come dance!” Icesis calls.

“I’m not much of a dancer.”

“I know, my toe still hurts from last time—”

“Icesis!” Pythia gives in and runs into Icesis’s waiting arms.

Rosé isn’t alone for long, as Denali leaves Kendall and joins her side.

“I’ve never danced before,” Denali says shyly, reaching out a hand. “Will you show me?”

Rosé’s heart leaps. “I’d love to.”

She gently guides Denali’s hand to her waist as they sway gently. Denali is naturally graceful, it turns out, and has no trouble following the steps Rosé shows her. It’s nice to dance with her. Nice to dance at all, really, but even better with Denali’s warm hand in hers. Nice to be this close to her, to breathe her in and savor the moment.

“I like this,” Denali says. “The ship. The crew. I like doing things with you.”

“I do too.”

“Is this what it’s like?” Denali asks, eyes wide as she takes in he purple sky, the smiles and laughs of everyone dancing.

“What?”

“To be…human, I guess.”

“I’ve never thought about it before,” Rosé says. “But yes, I think it is.”

Denali nods thoughtfully. “I think I like it. And I think you were wrong.”

“About what?”

“I think it’s amazing to be a human.” Denali’s hair blows behind her, and something about her seems different. Or maybe Rosé is just seeing her differently. Seeing the beauty in her, beyond the obvious glow when they first met. There’s the dimples in Denali’s cheeks when she smiles, and that softness in her eyes. There’s how much she loves the world, noticing every knot in the ship’s wood and every bird that flies by, how any small thing became magical to her. Beauty in small things, just like Camden and Pythia told her of love in small things.

Rosé looks at Denali. “I think so too,” she says, but she means something else entirely.

—

The next day on the ship is one of the best days Rosé has ever had. She and Denali help Synthia with breakfast, talking and laughing and throwing flour at each other the whole time. Denali doesn’t leave her side for the whole day, asking Rosé her favorite human things to do—singing and going to concerts and swimming and riding horses and trying new foods and picking flowers—and talking about how she wants to do them too. Talking about them is nice. Jack never wanted to do those things, and talking about them lets her pretend she can do it all with Denali.

The green fields below eventually give way to the cottages of Wall, and Rosé shouldn’t feel disappointed. But she is. The past week has been the most fun she’s had in a while, and she doesn’t want to let that go. Jack hated adventures. But it’s fine, because she loves him. Though that thought feels so wrong in Rosé’s head, and instead of her heart feeling light, thinking of Jack makes everything feel heavy. Why did his proposal feel so wrong? Why would he send her on a nearly impossible task just to be able to marry him? Everything about it feels strange, now that she has time to think, and the only way to make those feelings go away is to be with Denali.

“Thank you again,” Rosé says to Kendall, once the ship has touched down outside Wall.

“Of course. If you ever want to sail again, just call us.” She hands Rosé a silver whistle.

Rosé guides Denali off the ship, and the grass beneath Rosé’s feet is both happily and unhappily familiar. “Ready?”

Denali bites her lip. “Rosé?”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad you were the first human I met.”

Denali is so earnest, and Rosé can’t pretend anymore. “I need to tell you something.” She takes a breath. “Denali, the truth is, I—I don’t know anyone who can make you a star again.”

Denali’s smile fades. “You don’t?”

“I don’t. The man I love told me he would only marry me if I brought him a fallen star. So I found you, and that’s why I wanted to get you here so quickly. And I’m so sorry.”

“You were using me to get married?”

Denali hasn’t sounded angry like this since Rosé met her, and it makes Rosé hurt. “I know it was wrong. I know it. But you’re so much more than just a star, and I want to tell you because I don’t think I can go through with any of it. I want you to be free. And the more I think about it, I think—sometimes I don’t want to marry Jack,” she says, finally letting out what’s been burning inside her for so long.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not marrying you.” Jack is suddenly here, a smug grin in place. “Thanks for getting me the star.”

He snatches the silver chain off Rosé’s belt and wraps it around Denali’s wrist. He snaps his fingers, and before Rosé can do anything, before she can feel angry at Jack or try to repair the hurt look on Denali’s face, the world goes black.

—

Rosé wakes up in the grass. Jack and Denali are gone; it’s impossible to say for how long. The pain of lying to Denali and now losing her hit all at once. Though she wasn’t the only one lying—Jack clearly never meant to marry her, and needed the star for something else.

And whatever he needs it for, it can’t be good. Rosé has to get Denali.

She runs to his manor, heart pounding as she opens the door and walks right in. The manor is cold and empty, so different from her warm cottage, and it hits Rosé suddenly that she doesn’t ever want to live here. Although she won’t have to now, and it feels like relief. She slips into the basement, where a woman she recognizes as Jack’s mother stirs something in a cauldron. The walls are filled with specimen jars and sharp tools that make Rosé shiver. The silver chain around Denali’s wrist is attached to the wall at the other end of the basement, and Rosé hates herself for ever using that thing. Star or not, Denali never should have been treated like some prize.

She sneaks over to Denali. Jack’s mother is almost in a trance, with green smoke floating around her, but Jack notices her.

“What are you doing here?” he hisses. “I’m not marrying you. I knew you loved those stupid stories, and my mother needs to sacrifice a star to maintain her power. They work better than sacrificing people. She kills one every few years, for centuries now. I didn't feel like finding one for her. You were just the means to an end.”

“You’re horrible. Both of you,” Rosé spits. It hurts to hear him say it, to know that she was nothing to him. That he and his mother have been killing innocent fallen stars for centuries, and Rosé was just a way to kill another. But it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as lying to Denali. Rosé might not make it out of this basement, but she has to fix things with Denali first. There’s no way she’s letting Denali die for Jack and his mother. Denali means too much to her.

“It’s almost time,” Jack’s mother says.

Jack sighs. “Look, if you want to talk to your little star, just make it quick.”

It’s the same act of minimal kindness he’s always shown her, acts that Rosé saw too much into. She loved him too much to realize he wasn’t worthy of the love she had for him. But it’s clear now, just like it’s clear that she has to help Denali.

Rosé tugs desperately at the chain, but she can’t unclasp it like she did last time. Jack’s mother must have put some spell on it.

“Are you trying to get me out so you can use me for another wedding?” Denali asks coldly.

“I’m getting you out because I never should’ve used you in the first place,” Rosé says quietly. When Denali stays silent, she goes on. “Denali, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that Jack would do this, but that doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have lied to you in the first place. You might be human, but you’re as bright as a star to me. And what do stars do?” she asks, a sudden idea coming to her.

Denali’s eyes light up when she gets it. “They shine,” she breathes, and the glow that bursts off her is the brightest Rosé has ever seen. She covers her eyes as Jack and his mother scream, the pure light and warmth of Denali’s power destroying their dark magic.

When the light fades and Rosé opens her eyes, all that’s left of Jack and his mother is stardust.

Again, all Rosé feels is relief. Relief that they won’t hurt Denali. That all the stars they’ve killed can be avenged in some way.

The chain crumbles away from Denali’s wrist, and Rosé leads her back outside. They stand on the dirt lane, staring at each other. Denali is safe now, and even if things are ruined between them, that’s enough. Though Rosé really hopes things can be okay between them.

“Denali—”

“I don’t think it was entirely your fault,” Denali says first. “Jack kept bragging about manipulating you. And I kind of get why you did it. But you shouldn’t have lied, or tried to use me.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“So I guess I’m human now, huh?”

“I guess so.” Rosé doesn’t know what she can do to soften the blow. But Denali doesn’t seem that upset, and Rosé thinks of how much she loved human stuff, how she was convincing herself to be a star again when they first met, and she has a hesitant hope.

Denali takes a breath. “The truth is, I—I didn’t like being a star very much. We could glow and see the world, but we couldn’t ever go there. I like being human. There’s so many things to see and do, and everything feels like magic,” she adds breathlessly. “And I like being human with you. As long as you promise not to lie to me again.”

“I promise.” The air flies out of Rosé, the relief overwhelming, because Denali still wants to be her friend. She has a second chance with Denali, a second chance to know her more and show her all the human things she wanted to see. “I promise to be honest with you, and never use you like that again. And I promise to show you all those things you wanted to see. If you’ll have me.”

“I would love to have you.” Denali grins. “So, when can we start?”

Rosé smiles. “Now.”

[ellavaday]

RPDR ASK GAME

(international queens edition)

1. rock m sakura what are some of your favorite fandoms

2. bendelacreme tell us a controversial opinion

3. jujubee is there something in life where you keep on trying and trying again? tell us what keeps you motivated to not give up!

4. shea coulee tell us something you like about your best friend

5. aquaria what is your favorite fashion designer?

6. monet x change do you have siblings? what's your relationship with them like?

7. mo heart thoughts on animal print?

8. lemon favorite fruit

9. priyanka do you like your name or prefer to go by a nickname

10. juice boxx favorite drink

11. icesis couture neon or pastel colors

12. pythia do you have a favorite mythological creature?

13. synthia kiss how do people greet each other where you come from? do they kiss, hug, shake hands?

14. blu hydrangea favorite color?

15. cheryl hole if you and your friends were in a girl group what would it be called?

16. divina del campo what is your favorite subject? tell us a fun fact about it

17. bimini bon boulash are you vegan? what do you think about veganism

18. lawrence cheney without telling us the name, tell what's your favorite tv show, try to convince us to watch it

19. tia kofi are you a coffee person or a tea person

20. awhora stone, gold, glass... what is your heart made out of?

21. tayce what is the strangest outfit you've ever worn?

22. veronica green favorite song to sing in the shower, go!

23. cherry valentine what is your favorite flower

24. krystal versace what style icon do you take inspiration from

25. ella vaday what's the first impression people usually get from you?

26. choriza may if you could move to any country in the world where would you go?

27. vanity milan what is the sweetest thing someone has done for you (recently)?

28. river medway favorite childhood show?

29. kitty scott klaus tell us about something funny that has recently happened to you

30. envy peru what are you really good at?

[moonshotsx]

last post before i go to sleep (it’s past 4AM… oh well), would any of you be interested if i wrote some pythia x icesis in the college au with a enemies to lovers kinda vibe as icesis becomes pythia’s new roommate after synthi moves in with kendall and gia

i haven’t gotten any prompts or anything with them but i’ve kinda been vibing with them in the past couple of episode with their little rivalry storyline and i think it would make things interesting

[artificialqueens]

💙 Counting Stars (Icethia) - Athena2

Summary: Icesis makes a cake for Pythia's birthday. Really short and sweet.

A/N: Hi everyone! I wanted to do another little prompt for the Pride challenge, so I did this short drabble for Domestic Fluff. It's set in my Icethia space au, which you can read here. Thank you so much to Juno for encouraging me to do this!

Icesis has never made a cake, but there’s a first time for everything.

She and Pythia had a long day exploring a sea planet yesterday, and Pythia is still asleep in the bottom bunk, curled up under the extra blanket Icesis always puts on them once they’re sleeping.

She had Kendall write down everything she needs to do, and Icesis is good at following instructions, so she should be able to do this. She once smuggled a crate of medical supplies right out from under a guard’s nose. Hell, she rescued Pythia from the biggest ship in the galaxy. A cake should be no problem.

Right?

She’s just lucky Pythia is a heavy sleeper, because the spoon floats away and hits a wall when the gravity stabilizer malfunctions, and then the bowls—she had to get more at a market just for this cake—keep clanging together, even when she tries to be quiet. Leave it to Pythia to turn her domestic—but Icesis will be the first to admit that the ship is more of a home with Pythia in it, helping her cook and watching the stars with her. And the cake is still a list, just like the ones she makes for smuggling jobs, and it’s easy to cross things off one by one as the cake goes from a pile of ingredients to something resembling a cake. It looks edible, at least, and Icesis is so focused on piping flowers—more supplies she’d had to get just for this; filling the empty drawers in the tiny kitchen—that she doesn’t even notice Pythia until they tell her good morning, and she jumps in her seat, dropping the frosting bag.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” they say sheepishly. “Wait, is that—is that for me?”

“Yeah.” Icesis leaps to her feet, wiping frosting off her hands and fixing her hair. She wanted to prepare something, but she took too long on the frosting. “I, uh, I’m not always great with words, as you know. But I know your birthdays always had to be formal and you hated them and just wanted a normal birthday with a normal cake, so I figured I’d do this and then we can explore for the day, or do nothing if you want to.”

Pythia is silent, and Icesis keeps rambling. “I made the cake with ingredients from different planets we’ve been to, so it’s like all of them in one. Half is covered in the stars because I know you like to look at them, and I know you liked those flowers from that forest planet so I tried to make them on the other half. They’re probably hideous, though.”

Pythia still hasn’t said anything, but now tears are running down their cheeks, and Icesis’s heart takes off. Pythia doesn’t cry much, so they must really hate it, and they’re crying because Icesis absolutely ruined their birthday and made it the worst one ever, even worse than the royal disasters Pythia told her about when they were drinking hot chocolate in the cockpit together.

“You don’t like it?” Icesis asks. “It’s okay if you don’t, I’ll just trash the whole thing—”

But Pythia shakes their head, grabbing Icesis’s hand. “Ice, I’m crying because I love it. No one’s ever done anything like this for me.”

“Oh,” Icesis mumbles, feeling like an idiot. The feeling goes away immediately, though, when Pythia crushes her in a hug. Icesis has gotten used to their hugs, but they still never stop feeling special. She never stops loving having Pythia this close to her, trusting her when they’ve never really trusted anyone. When Icesis herself has never really trusted anyone.

“I love you,” Pythia says.

They’re strange words to Icesis. She’s never heard them, never said them. But she kisses Pythia’s forehead and knows exactly what she needs to do. “I love you too.”

[artificialqueens]

Migraine (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

Summary: Icesis comes over to take care of her partner when Pythia has to cancel their date.

A/N: Here is a fic for the anon who requested an Icethia sickfic! I haven't written one before, so I hope this is up to your standards!!

The second she felt her head start to hurt, Pythia knew she was fucked. It was too early in the morning to deal with this, and they had a painting date scheduled at Icesis’s apartment in a couple of hours. A migraine was not supposed to be on the agenda for the day.

They rolled out of their bed, going to get her migraine medication, downing the big white pills with Gatorade and getting a glass of water to also drink so they could stay as hydrated as possible. Her doctor had given them a whole list of what to do as soon as her head started hurting, which she never ends up doing until it’s too late.

The last time they had a migraine, they delayed everything because she was in class and didn’t want to leave early. Boy, does she regret that! She had to go to the doctor when the headache was still raging five days later, having to get a shot in a place they did not feel comfortable taking out in front of someone who wasn’t Icesis, even though her girlfriend found the situation hilarious. (It was not.)

Not wanting to cancel on Icesis since this was the first time in two weeks that they were both free at the same time, they hoped that she caught it early enough for it to completely vanish by the time that she had to start getting ready to head to her girlfriend’s apartment.

It did not get better. In fact, it got worse as the hours ticked by, which did not make sense in the slightest to Pythia. By the time she had to start getting ready, they didn’t want to remove her head from the pillow she had slammed their face into an hour prior.

Canceling on Icesis was going to be difficult for her. She had wanted to do a painting date for ages now and was telling Pythia all about the painting tutorial she had found on YouTube and desperately wanted to try. Icesis was so passionate and cute about the entire situation; they didn’t want to let her down and break her heart by postponing it; but there was no way they would be able to make it.

The pain had moved its way down to the back of their neck, something that happened whenever Pythia happened to get a migraine while they were stressed out. Finals were approaching, so it made sense, but it didn’t mean she was okay with it.

Lifting their head off the pillow and grabbing their phone, they decided to call Icesis to cancel instead of through text because the light coming off of the screen was far too much light to deal with.

She answered right away. “Hey! I’m so excited about today! Are you getting ready?”

Fuck. Pythia groaned, “I’m dying. I think I have to cancel, I’m sorry.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Migraine.”

Icesis sighed, going into motherly mode. “Did you take your medicine and hydrate?”

“Yes, right when it started but it got worse. If I have to go back to the doctor, I’m going to cry.”

Icesis stifled a laugh. “My poor baby. What if I came over and kept you company?”

That sounded really nice, Pythia thought, “Please do. I’ll get up and unlock my door for you.”

----

Icesis arrived fifteen minutes later, climbing straight into bed with Pythia and spooning them. “Hi.”

“Hi, hun. I’m really sorry about everything.” Pythia felt terrible about having to cancel, but at least they could still spend some time together.

“Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault your body hates you. I’m sure you didn’t choose to have a migraine to get out of our date.” One thing Pythia loved about Icesis was how understanding she was with her. Pythia had a terrible fear of letting Icesis down, but that never seemed to happen.

“Do you think I could talk you into getting my pills and some water? I’m supposed to take more after a couple of hours.” Pythia asked, feeling Icesis kiss the top of their head before sitting up and crawling out of the bed.

“Thank you!”

Pythia opened their eyes again as Icesis came back with two white pills and a glass of water, sitting up as they were handed said things. “You’re so nice to me.”

Icesis cracked a small smile, “Well, we are dating. I wouldn’t do this shit for anyone else.”

“I’m gonna tell all of our friends that you’re a softie.” Pythia teased after swallowing the pills.

“You’re going to be mean to me when I’m taking care of you?”

“I won’t tell anyone if you rub the back of my neck,” The pain in that spot was truly awful, almost as bad as her head hurt, and they wanted it gone.

“Deal.”

Icesis’s hands felt spectacular on the back of their neck, the pain slowly easing as the minutes passed by. The massage made Pythia so relaxed that she ended up dozing off, waking up to no neck pain and only a small headache.

Her girlfriend was still in bed with her, scrolling through Instagram. “I feel better for the most part.” They said, scooting closer to her.

“Well, that’s good, I’m glad.”

“All thanks to you, Doctor Icesis.” She teased, leaning over to kiss her girlfriend on the cheek.

“Does that mean I get to give you the shot in your ass?”

Pythia squealed, “Shut up about that! I was mortified!” It was really not something they wanted to recall, but Icesis loved bringing up.

“It’s not too late in the day, it’s only two, and I might’ve brought the painting stuff with me in case you felt better…” Icesis informed her, nudging her. “Go bring it in. I’ll get my laptop out and pull up that tutorial you showed me.”

[artificialqueens]

A Helping Hand (Icethia) - Athena2

Summary: Five times Icesis doesn't ask Pythia for help, and one time she does.

A/N: I've had this pairing on the brain lately and wrote this. I really hope you enjoy, and please leave feedback if you like! Thank you so much to Audie for looking this over!

1.

“Icesis, are you sure you’ve got all that?”

Icesis nods, then realizes that Pythia can’t see her behind the mound of fabric she’s carrying. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, words muted by the blue and purple tulle scratching against her face.

She’s made the trip to her and Pythia’s sewing room half-asleep and in the dark several times, so getting there without seeing isn’t much of a challenge. She drops her fabric on the desk and spins around to leave, only to find the fabric coming with her. The walk here has left it tangled and twisted down her legs, and an experimental tug reveals she can’t just pull it loose; the thing is knotted around her.

Oops.

“Looks like someone could use some help.” Pythia appears in the doorway, knowing gleam in their eyes.

“I got it,” Icesis says. She’s dealt with worse than tangled fabric, and she’s not going to bother Pythia with something this small, not going to act like a baby who needs help with twisted tulle.

“If you say so.” Pythia retreats, and Icesis twists and turns the fabric, finally freeing her legs. It would’ve been faster with two sets of hands, sure, but she did it.

She’s fine.

—

2.

Pythia opens the apartment door and steps on a pillow. A pillow in the middle of the kitchen. Not to mention that pillow is followed by several other pillows, plus all the chairs from the kitchen table, making a path to the living room. “Icesis? What the hell happened?”

“I can explain!”

Icesis runs into the kitchen, her hair messy and T-shirt stained with something that perfectly matches the red splatters on the counter. Pythia really hopes it’s just ketchup. Their gaze goes instead to the pots and pans piled in the sink, and they cross their arms as they wait for Icesis to explain this.

“The couple next door needed a sitter last minute,” Icesis says. “I figured I could handle two kids for a few hours. They didn’t mention their kids are the spawn of Satan.”

“You could've called me, I would’ve left early to come help.”

Icesis immediately shakes her head. “It was fine. I wasn’t gonna bother you when you were having dinner with your sister. I was in the middle of cleaning just now, when you came in.”

Pythia’s eyes nearly pop out of their head. “You mean this place was even messier than it is now?!”

Icesis laughs. “Oh, yeah, it was way worse. I got them to play the floor is lava, that’s why the pillows and chairs are all over.” She puffs out her chest proudly. “I won too, those little demons didn’t know what hit them. You should’ve seen me, leaping from chair to chair.”

Pythis rubs at their eyes, wondering how they fell in love with this idiot and knowing that they’ll always love her. “I’ll help you clean.”

“No, no, you go get ready for bed.” Icesis’s hands settle over Pythia’s shoulders, gently nudging them to the bathroom. “You shower and get ready, and I’ll have everything cleaned so we can cuddle after.”

Pythia knows Icesis won’t take no for an answer, so they step in the shower and come out to find the apartment back to its normal state, with Icesis waiting for her in bed. Icesis opens her arms for Pythia to slide into, nestling their head against her chest, hoping that someday Icesis will ask them for help.

—

3.

“Ow, you stupid elbow–”

“Icesis?” Pythia follows the grumbling to the bathroom, where Icesis is in front of the mirror, tongue sticking out in that adorable way it does when she concentrates, twisting her arm to clean her elbow, which is covered in a dark red scrape. Her whole forearm is scraped up, actually, and Pythia winces in sympathy, ignoring how their stomach twists at the dried blood staining her skin. “Are you okay?”

Icesis looks up in surprise. “Oh, I’m fine, it’s just a scrape. Some asshole on a bike almost hit me, and I fell getting out of the way.”

Pythis rubs her good shoulder in comfort, hoping it helps a little. Icesis’s face is steady as she wipes her arm, just an occasional wince, but Pythia still wants to comfort her, knowing full well how Icesis hides pain and discomfort. “Let me help clean you up.” Pythia reaches for the cloth, only for Icesis to tug it back.

“No, it’s okay, I know you’re not great with blood and stuff,” Icesis says gently. Her lips quickly turn into a smirk. “We don’t need you fainting in here. Then I’d have to be all heroic and carry you to bed even with my bad arm.”

Icesis flexes her good arm, and Pythia swats at it. “I'm not gonna faint!” they insist, though Icesis is right that sometimes they can’t even look at blood without getting dizzy. But they would manage that to take care of Icesis, to give her the help she always refuses. To help her and take care of her the way Icesis always helps and takes care of them.

“I got it, okay? Promise.” Icesis grips Pythia’s arm in reassurance. “I’ll finish up, and then you can kiss it better after.”

Pythia does, and Icesis says it feels better already.

—

4.

Icesis rubs at her eyes, restoring her vision to the puzzle in front of her. A thousand pieces seem like a million when they’re spread out like this, and her eyes scan over them with determination.

“You should just let me help you.”

Icesis looks up to see Pythia watching them from the other end of the table.

“No, you can’t help me,” Icesis says firmly. “Kendall said she and Synthia and Gia did it in a day, and I said I could do it by myself in a day too. This is about my honor, Pythia, I have to do it alone.”

Pythia blinks at her, unimpressed. “It’s literally a Pokémon jigsaw puzzle.”

“Yeah, and my honor is on the line for it!”

“Fine.” Pythia sighs. “It’s okay to ask for help sometimes, you know,” they say softly before retreating to the living room.

Icesis turns back to the puzzle. If she didn’t make a bet to do it on her own, she wouldn’t have minded having Pythia help, spending the day together like this. But she doesn’t want to cheat on what she agreed to, even if no one would know. She’ll do another puzzle sometime and ask Pythia for help on that one.

Somehow, finishing the puzzle early doesn’t bring Icesis the satisfaction she thought it would.

5.

“Icesis!”

The screams are loud in Icesis’s ears as she runs through the apartment. Pythia needs help; their shouts are thick with tears, and Icesis needs to find them, but every room she goes in is empty, and she’ll never find Pythia–

Icesis blinks awake suddenly, her heart pounding and sweat running down her neck. She twists frantically in bed, needing to find Pythia, make sure they’re okay–

She turns to her side and breathes a sigh of relief. Pythia’s okay. They’re sleeping soundly, dark hair falling over their forehead, chest rising gently, and Icesis can’t bring herself to wake them. Pythia is okay. Icesis doesn’t need to bother them, even though all she wants is to hear their soothing voice so she knows they’re okay, feel their hands on her back. But she won’t, because she’s fine. Her heart is finally slowing. She doesn’t need help calming it anymore.

Besides, it would be ridiculous to wake Pythia up just because she had a nightmare. Pythia is clearly fine, safe and fast asleep. Icesis is an adult, not some little kid needing comfort. All her younger siblings ran into her bed after they had nightmares, but Icesis never ran into anyone’s bed after hers; she just held her stuffed tiger and dealt with it.

She slips out of bed to change her sweaty shirt, stumbling on legs so wobbly it’s like she actually ran all over looking for Pythia. She pulls on a new shirt with shaking hands and crawls back into bed, trying to match her breathing to Pythia’s.

It was just a stupid nightmare, she reminds herself. Nothing worth panicking over. Nothing worth bothering Pythia for. What would she even do, nudge Pythia and explain that she woke them at four in the morning all because a stupid dream scared her? It’s okay to ask for help sometimes, you know. Pythia’s words from last week echo in her head. Icesis knows it’s true, and deep down she knows Pythia wouldn’t mind having their sleep disturbed to comfort Icesis, but she can’t bring herself to do it. Not for something so embarrassing. She’ll be fine.

But Icesis doesn’t sleep for the rest of the night, staring at the ceiling until Pythia wakes up and nuzzles against her, and then she finally, finally relaxes.

+ 1.

Icesis chugs the last of her coffee, hoping it’s enough to get her through the long night ahead. She took on one client too many, and even with the time she’s put in this week, she still has so much to do. Fabric covers every inch of the floor, scattered with crumpled paper from designs she’s had to resketch. Her back aches from hunching over the sewing machine, and it hits her in that moment.

She needs help.

The thought settles like a weight in her chest, a weight filled with the thought that no matter how hard she tries, she’s not enough to do this on her own. She’s already accepted that this will be an all-nighter, and she doesn’t even know if that will be enough. She needs Pythia’s help, and shuffles to the living room, where Pythia is curled up with Apollo. Icesis hates interrupting them, but she has to.

“Pythia, I…” Icesis bites her lip, trying to get the words out. Why is it so hard to ask for help? Why does it feel like she’s doing something wrong, like the world is going to come apart? “I need your help,” Icesis says finally. The words don’t hang in the air like she expected; they seem light, and they loosen some of that tightness in her chest.

“Of course I’ll help you.” Pythia gets up from the couch without hesitation, no pity or anger in their voice at all. “What’s going on?” they ask, taking in the mess on Icesis’s side of the sewing room that’s exploded over the whole room.

Icesis turns in circles, tearing a hand through her hair. “I shouldn’t have taken on so much but I thought I could do it, and I need to finish three outfits for that skating collection tomorrow, and then another for a client the day after, and if I don’t, I–”

“Hey, let’s breathe first, okay?” Pythia says softly, rubbing Icesis’s back. “Take a deep breath with me, Ice.”

Icesis breathes in slowly, following Pythia’s lead until her head clears. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” Pythia asks in confusion. Their eyes are so kind that Icesis wants to hide, pretend she never said anything. But Pythia deserves her honesty.

“I should’ve been able to do this myself, I hate that I had to bother you.”

Pythia grips Icesis’s hands and squeezes gently. “It’s no bother, I promise. I’m proud of you for asking me to help you. You help me with stuff all the time, and I’m here to help you too, okay?”

“Okay.” Icesis takes in Pythia’s words and vows that she’ll try to make them stick, that she’ll try harder to ask for help instead of taking everything upon herself.

Pythia grins. “Now let’s do this.”

Pythia’s secret emo playlist thumps through their portable speaker, and Icesis nods along as the two of them work, cutting fabric and running it through the machine, checking each piece for imperfections. It’s almost three in the morning when they finish, but they finish. They finish, and it's done, and Icesis asked for help. She asked for help, and it was okay.

Icesis lowers her head to the table, sketch pad serving as a pillow. “I’m going to sleep, wake me up when it’s morning. Maybe we should get a rooster to tell us when it’s morning,” she rambles in exhaustion.

“It’s technically morning now. And we’re not getting a rooster.” Pythia laughs. “Come on, you don’t want to sleep here.”

“Yes I do,” Icesis grumbles, but she lets Pythia haul her up and trudge down the hall to collapse into bed. She pulls Pythia into her arms, pressing one kiss to their cheek before they drift off together.

[artificialqueens]

Jealousy, Jealousy, Chapter 3 (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

Summary: Gigi announces the new leader of the design club.

Getting a text from Gigi calling for a ‘special’ meeting during lunch made Pythia want to throw up. They had all finished their dresses and in Pythia’s case, her suit, so the reason for the meeting was incredibly clear in their mind; the girl had finally decided who her replacement was going to be.

They knew this was coming as prom was later in the evening and the number of days until summer grew smaller and smaller, but she did not feel prepared for the announcement in the slightest. They had tried their very best to impress Gigi the most, but deep down, she felt like Icesis had been handed the spot since the first day of their junior year.

The members all made their way into Mrs. Hytes’s classroom as the lunch bell rang, no one seemed to be nervous besides Pythia. She silently took a seat next to Kendall, who was busy chatting away with Gia about where they were going to go for dinner later.

Icesis was the last member of the club to roll in, making sure to sit down right next to Pythia. “We’re still going to be friends after I win, right?” She joked, making the blonde swat at her.

Even though it was a joke, she didn’t know the answer to the question and did not want to start thinking about it, “Shut up! I’m so nervous about this and I will not hesitate to puke in your hat.”

The black-haired girl took off the snapback she wore every day and put it on the opposite side of her so Pythia couldn’t reach it without draping herself across her lap. “Good luck vomiting in it now.”

Icesis had a massive case of hat hair, but Pythia thought she looked adorable. They wished everything would stop being so confusing so she could act on her new feelings about the girl. She wouldn’t know what to do with herself if she liked Icesis and resented her at the same time after she got the position.

Gigi wrapped up her unimportant conversation with the English teacher and made her way to the front of the white board to make her special announcement. “I’ll try to make this quick so I don’t take up the majority of your lunch.”

“Gia should really learn from you!” Kendall interrupted her, making everyone laugh. They had a habit of speaking in ten-page essays whenever Gigi asked them what inspired them to make certain looks.

“Thank you, Kendall. Anyway, this was a tough decision, but Mrs. Hytes pressured me to announce it now instead of waiting until after we’re all the best dressed at the prom like I wanted.” Gigi had still not let go of the fact that the prom theme was questionable at best, something that all of the members had gotten used to.

“This club is like my baby, since I’ve been running it for two years. I have so much fun thinking of concepts to have you guys create and love seeing what you guys come up with, and I had to make sure that the most creative person gets the reins next year.” Hearing Gigi say that made Pythia grin. They would call herself the most creative out of the bunch, coming up with out of the box ideas whenever they could.

“But, if I’m being quite honest,” Gigi continued, “the choice was quite obvious to me, but I didn’t know if Mrs. Hytes would go for it, but I am so persuasive so you’re very welcome. Your new leaders for next year are… Icesis and Pythia!”

Everyone in the room lost their minds, doing the most by cheering and clapping for their new leaders. Pythia turned to look at Icesis, who was just as stunned as they were. Icesis reached out to squeeze their hand, sending a shock through her entire body.

Icesis screamed, “Wow, we did it!”

Pythia couldn’t believe it. They both got the position? Kendall and Gia had gotten out of their seats, making sure to hug both of the new leaders.

“I can’t believe this!” She shouted, the high of the news hitting them as they pulled away from Gia. “We’re going to be the design club leaders!”

“You deserve this so bad. You really do,” Icesis said, grabbing and pulling Pythia into the tightest hug possible. “I’m glad I get to share this title with you.”

Gay thoughts interrupted Pythia’s celebration. Now that they were pressed up against each other, they got to inhale Icesis’s scent, and she smelled like lavender, and she wanted to bury her face into her chest for the rest of the lunch period.

“I’m glad I get to share this title with you!” They squealed as Icesis pulled away from their hug, “We’re going to have the best ideas.”

“We are going to do fantastic things, Pythia. I really can’t wait.”

----

Pythia wouldn’t have gone to prom if she hadn’t made the suit for the project. She didn’t like large crowds for the most part and none of her friends outside of the design club were going, but they were so proud of their creation, they just had to wear it to prom.

As they were getting ready at their desk, they had a wonderful idea. Earlier in the week, Icesis had mentioned to Gia that she didn’t have a date, thank God, so why not find her as a slow song played and ask her to dance?

All of the negative feelings towards Icesis were gone now that they had both secured the position. While she’s sure she would’ve still felt her newer thoughts about Icesis, they would’ve still felt some form of resentment towards the girl if she was the only one Gigi chose. Thank fuck that wasn’t the case.

With all of that out of the way, it was finally time to make a move since Icesis hadn’t done anything that wasn’t platonic.

It was crowded when Pythia arrived at the gym. Right away, they could tell that not a lot of people knew what to do with the goddamn prom theme, no one coordinated with each other, but they still thought that every single person in the cramped room looked fantastic.

They made a beeline straight to the punch bowl, getting a cup of the fruity drink before walking around to see if she could find anyone she knew. The majority of the design club said they would be there, but she had yet to spot any of them.

Walking around, they started to spot everyone. Gigi and Crystal were at the photo booth, taking a silly photo. The girl loved getting her photo taken, so this didn’t surprise Pythia in the slightest. Kendall, Gia and their friend Synthia were huddled in the corner, whispering harshly about something that must’ve happened. Synthia was in tears while Gia rubbed her back to try to calm her down, while Kendall was about to go cuss someone out. Adriana was in the middle of the crowd with her boyfriend, dancing to the song that was playing. It was an overplayed pop song that had been popular on TikTok, but she could tell that Adriana clearly enjoyed it.

Pythia still hadn’t spotted Icesis, which was starting to make them worry. What if Icesis didn’t come because she didn’t have a date? She turned around, debating on interrupting whatever was going on with Gia, Kendall and Synthia to ask if any of them had seen the girl with black hair when they felt a gentle tap on their shoulder.

“Hey! You look great!” It was Icesis. She looked the prettiest Pythia had ever seen her in her red dress. They hoped that she couldn’t tell that their breath was being taken away.

“Hi! You look great too, wow.”

“How’s your punch?”

They looked down, having completely forgotten that she was even holding the red solo cup, “Pretty good. I might have to go back and get more before the bowl is empty.”

“Maybe I’ll have to try it.” Icesis trailed off, and Pythia could tell that she was probably going to wander off, which they did not want.

Not tonight.

“Wait, before you do that… do you… maybe want to dance?” Pythia asked, hands starting to shake.

“I would love that, Pythia.”

Before they knew it, the red solo cup was long gone, and they were very close to Icesis. Their arms were wrapped around the girl’s neck as they rocked back and forth to the slower song that was playing. It felt natural, like her hands were supposed to be there.

“I know I already said this, but you look absolutely gorgeous tonight. I’m literally at a loss for words.” Pythia whispered to fill the silence, grinning like mad at Icesis.

“Thank you! I can never tell if someone is flirting with me or just being friendly. But I’m going to assume that under all of that rage I saw, you’re actually nice.” Icesis replied, starting to laugh nervously.

Could Icesis really not tell what Pythia’s motives were? They were dancing together at prom, after all.

At that moment, Pythia decided to be bolder than they had been the past few weeks, “Maybe we should kiss until you figure it out?” She suggested, giggling as Icesis’s face dropped and her cheeks heated up.

“What? Are… are you fucking with me right now?”

“Why would I do that?” Pythia sincerely asked her. She had never seen bold and confident Icesis so flustered before. “Maybe I want to kiss you. Don’t you want to kiss me?”

“You little shit, of course I wanna kiss you. Been dreaming about it for ages now.”

“Well, now's your chance, silly.”

Icesis leaned in, kissing them for the first time. She was an excellent kisser; way better than all of the boys Pythia had kissed in the past. Her lips were so soft and they didn’t want to pull away.

The song they had been dancing to came to an end, causing Icesis to pull away. Both of their faces were red, both of them grinning. “Not to be dramatic, but I felt like, fucking fireworks.” Icesis confessed.

“Oh, really?” Pythia asked, grinning ear to ear. They didn’t know they wanted this until recently, but now that she had it, she didn’t want this night to end.

Luckily, it was just the start of something special.

[artificialqueens]

Feast For Two (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

Summary: Icesis finally asks out the cute girl in her art class after months of pining.

A/N: I can't find the post on Tumblr to link, but @holywaterzzz is the mastermind behind Icethia McDonalds date, so credit to xem for the idea :D I also tried my best to make this kind of fit so it can be my submission for the Holiday challenge! (I misread the rules and only used two words, which are feast and gift!)

Asking the cute girl from her art class, “Do you want to hang out over winter break?” was the bravest thing Icesis had ever done in her fifteen years of being alive, she thought.

She wasn’t one to get nervous easily, but being sat at the same table as a vibrant and bubbly redhead named Pythia brought out the nervousness in Icesis. She was talented, creative and just pleasant to be around; more pleasant than hearing Kendall and Gia gossip about the other girls in their geography class.

Their first project in class was to draw a portrait of someone at the tables they were all seated at. Kendall and Gia quickly declared themselves partners, why wouldn’t they when they had spent the entirety of their middle school years attached at the hip? That left Icesis to be paired up with this girl she had never seen before, and she found herself stuttering and messing up her sentences while introducing herself to her partner.

It got better as the months passed, but Icesis could never act ‘normal’ in front of Pythia. Kendall and Gia obviously caught on, teasing her about it (luckily) whenever the ginger wasn’t around.

“Have you asked her out yet?” Gia asked one day when the other girl wasn’t there, making Icesis nearly fall out of her chair.

“Ask who out?”

“Don’t play dumb, Icesis. We have less than a week left of this class, who knows if you’ll see Pythia again.” Kendall spoke up, “you should ask her to hang out over winter break!”

Icesis rolled her eyes, like she really needed advice from someone like Kendall and Gia, who had yet to confess their own feelings for each other. She could barely speak around the girl no matter how hard she tried and how focused she was on not fucking up, and she would probably die of embarrassment if Pythia declined her offer.

“I’ll think about it.” She concluded, and thought about it, she did. They did have a point, Pythia had mentioned signing up for a bizarre elective for the next semester that Icesis wouldn’t dream about taking, meaning that she would be the one who got away if the stubborn girl didn’t make a move.

-

Icesis gave herself a pep talk on her way to art class the next day, trying to hype herself up so she wouldn’t chicken out the second she looked into Pythia’s beautiful eyes.

“Hey! What did I miss yesterday? I’ve been sick,” Pythia greeted Icesis as she sat down at their table.

“Nothing much, we just colored and watched a movie. I think our teacher ran out of things for us to do, if I’m being honest.”

“I’m not complaining, I love coloring.” She giggled while Icesis tried to think of something to say to segue to asking Pythia to hang out on their two week break, but nothing was coming to mind.

Fuck, why was asking out a girl so difficult?

“Are you excited for winter break? I can’t wait to just lay around with my cats for days on end,” She started babbling. Pythia loved to talk, which was not something Icesis minded one bit. Listening to her voice was quickly moving up on the list of the top ten of her favorite things.

But holy fuck, here was her chance.

“Yeah, I am. I was actually going to ask you about that. Do you maybe want to hang out with me over winter break? We can go to McDonalds.” Icesis was fifteen and broke, while she thought Pythia deserved a feast, fast food for two was the most she would be able to afford.

Pythia’s dark eyes widened at this, face heating up as well, “I would love to! I actually bought you a gift for you over the weekend, I could give it to you then too?”

Icesis swore that she was floating. Pythia said yes and had gotten her a gift? She swiftly pinched her arm under the table, but she was wide awake.

Flash forward to winter break, Icesis was standing outside of the McDonald’s closest to Pythia’s house, waiting for the ginger to arrive. It was quite cold, considering the harsh winds and the decision she made to wear a lighter jacket simply because it looked cooler than her winter coat.

She finally spotted Pythia crossing the street, feeling giddy as the girl she had been enamored with since the beginning of her freshman year came closer and closer. Icesis really was brave for asking her out, despite the fact they had yet to discuss if this was a friend hangout or an actual date.

“God, it’s cold. I would’ve told my parents not to move here if I knew this.”

“Hey, don’t say that. If you didn’t move here over the summer I would’ve had a lame partner in art class.” Icesis laughed, opening the door for her crush and following them inside.

“I guess I did luck out, getting paired up with the prettiest girl in the room.” Pythia smirked, catching the girl with black hair completely off guard,

“W-well, are you su-sure you weren’t the prettiest person in that room? Like, I know Gia is convinced that it’s them, but I actually think it’s you?” She managed to get out, watching Pythia’s face, hoping for a good reaction.

Pythia blushed, reaching up to lightly punch Icesis in the shoulder. “What? I’m right.”

Pythia chuckled, “Yeah, whatever you say. I’m starving.”

They ordered, Pythia ordering a quarter pounder with no pickles, and Icesis getting twenty piece chicken nuggets. There was no way she could eat them all, being nervous about hanging out with Pythia, but she was thinking they could share them.

The two slid in the booth Pythia wanted to sit in, both smiling nervously. They made small talk as they waited for their order to be done, both of them not sure what to talk about.

When their order number was called out across the restaurant, Icesis offered to go get it, telling the worker thank you before heading back, trying to think of cool things to talk about with Pythia.

They dug in right away, Pythia making a sour face as they bit into their burger.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, watching Pythia take her burger apart.

“They added pickles.” She whined, disappointed about the workers getting her order wrong on accident.

Icesis stood up, “I’ll go talk to them.”

“No, it’s fine, I can just take them off.” She protested to ears that were not listening to her.

“Lalalala, can’t hear you!” She teased, going back to the counter and explaining the situation to the worker. They apologized and Icesis came back to their booth with a brand new quarter pounder that did not have any pickles on it.

“You’re really sweet for doing that, you know.” Pythia said after biting into her burger, “I’m always too scared to do that.”

“I want you to get what you want. It would be a really sucky date if you didn’t get it fixed,” Icesis shrugged.

“Who cares about the fucking burger? I’m here with you.” She pointed out, stealing a nugget from the box, “I’m over the moon just because I’m spending time with you.”

Having actual confirmation that Pythia felt similar to her made Icesis’s heart melt. “I’m so happy you feel that way. I’ve been crushing on you since the first day.” She shyly admitted.

“Me too!”

“No way.”

They continued eating their ‘feast’, switching from talking about school to flirting with each other. Pythia finished off the last nugget, digging a small bag out of her purse and placing it on the table. “I almost forgot about your present.”

“I didn’t get you anything, though. I feel bad!” She insisted, not knowing to expect from this.

Pythia scoffed, “Did you not pay for our lunch? Open it!”

“Okaaaay.” She dragged out, opening up the bag to reveal a blue crystal necklace. It was absolutely stunning, not something Icesis would usually wear, but for Pythia she would make sure the necklace was in her rotation. “It’s beautiful, thank you so much!”

“It’s kyanite! It just reminds me of you, since you wear a lot of blue. I just had to pick it up when I saw it at the crystal shop. I didn’t know if it was too forward, though.” “I don’t think so. Would you have given me this if I didn’t ask you out?”

Pythia blushed again. Icesis thought she looked adorable with rosy cheeks, “I would’ve gotten to it eventually!”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!” She was starting to get flustered now, making Icesis want to reach over the booth and just kiss her already.

So that’s exactly what she did.

[artificialqueens]

I Just Want to See the Stars With You (Icethia) - Athena2

Summary: Icesis is a space smuggler who rescues the kidnapped royal, Pythia, to earn the reward money. But Pythia isn't quite what Icesis expected, and she's in for a lot more than she bargained for.

A/N: Hi everyone! I haven't done a fantasy au in a while, and I was excited to finish this one up since I start a new job soon and won't have as much writing time. I actually first thought of this idea when I was writing Branjie. Then I almost did it with Rosenali but focused on other ideas I had. I really feel like it fits Icesis and Pythia and I really hope you enjoy!

This is not a super heavy or technical sci-fi au, so I hope you like it even if you're not a sci-fi fan. Please leave comments if you like, I really would appreciate it.

Thank you times one thousand to Writ for betaing and helping me figure out what this needed, you're the best <3.

Title from The Fault in Our Stars by Troye Sivan.

“Did you see the new reward the king and queen are offering to rescue Pythia?” Kendall asks Icesis.

Icesis sips her water. All anyone has been talking about for weeks is Pythia, adult child of the king and queen of Elterash, kidnapped by the king’s enemy, Lord Ather. Pictures of Pythia have followed Icesis from planet to planet, staring at her tirelessly. Even here, on Icesis’s home planet, in her favorite restaurant, Pythia’s eyes burn a hole in Icesis’s head. She’s sick of looking at them.

“How much?”

“Ten thousand gold pieces. You should do it.”

Icesis nearly spits out her drink. She’s never done a smuggling job for that much–-has never dreamt of doing a smuggling job for that much. “I smuggle goods, Kendall, not people.”

Kendall shrugs. “It’s the same idea.”

“I don’t need a risk like that. Besides, everyone in the galaxy will be trying to rescue them and get that reward.”

“Yeah, but you’re good at what you do. You could rescue them first.”

Icesis shrugs, trying to hide how much she wants to attempt this rescue mission. Ten thousand gold pieces means she won't have to do so many smuggling jobs, won’t have to spend weeks at a mechanic’s shop working off repairs her ship needs. She would be set, free to explore the galaxy and do anything she wants. At the very least, she’ll stop seeing that picture of Pythia everywhere.

It would involve sneaking onto the Titan–-the biggest, deadliest, best-guarded ship in the galaxy. But Icesis has gotten herself out of bad situations before. She’s won duels against people bigger and stronger. She once smuggled thousands of jewels off an embassy ship. She really could do this.

Icesis isn’t just good at what she does–she’s the best. So when she decides she’s going to rescue Pythia, it isn’t a matter of if.

It’s a matter of when.

—

The when comes roughly a week later, after Icesis sets a plan. In her travels across the galaxy, she’s done enough to plan any job she needs to do, and this one, though bigger, is no different.

A trade of rare spices she smuggled gets her ship stocked with fuel and supplies. Intercepting a jewel shipment gets her a rough layout of the Titan’s insides. A day of work for the travel commission gets her the Titan’s trajectory, so her ship, Northstar, can meet them between planets. Her ship next to theirs is an ant beside a giant, but small is what she needs. Small means she can go unnoticed, her ship pulling into the docking station the Titan uses for its own ships. From then she has to move through the ship until she finds the cells in the lower part of it. She’s in control now, quick and graceful, with the confidence and stealth that years of sneaking around has given her.

For all the talk about the Titan being the best-guarded ship in the galaxy, she doesn’t meet a single guard until she reaches the cells. There are two at the hall entrance, five more down the hall, and a final two outside a door that must have Pythia behind it. They’re indistinguishable to her, in their identical black uniforms, blaster guns in hand. She can do this. She’s made it this far, after all.

She takes a breath and runs.

Guards fall at her feet as she fires with her blaster gun, dodging their shots. In mere seconds, all the guards are down and she’s at the cell door. It’s controlled by a screen in the wall, and she grabs one of the unconscious guards and presses his hand to it, grinning when it glows green. The door slides open, and Icesis runs inside—

Something slams into her shoulder, pain jolting down her arm. “Ow! What the hell?” She hisses, rubbing her shoulder and spinning around to find who hit her.

Pythia is in the corner of the room, still holding the metal tray they hit Icesis with. Their black hair is messy, hazel eyes narrowed, and they’re much prettier than the photos Icesis has seen. So pretty she forgets the throbbing in her shoulder for a second.

“Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here?” Pythia lowers the tray and crosses their arms. There’s no excitement, or relief, or anything Icesis would expect from someone who’s getting rescued from this suffocating cell.

“I’m Icesis, Your Highness—is it Highness?—and I’m here to rescue you, duh.”

“Well, I don’t need rescuing.”

Icesis gestures to the cell. “You obviously do.”

“I’ve been working on escape ideas.”

“Like attacking whoever came in here with a tray?” Icesis asks, and Pythia at least looks a little sheepish.

“I would’ve gotten out eventually.”

Icesis stops herself from arguing. She’s already been on this ship too long, and it’s growing riskier by the second. She needs to get Pythia out of here and back to their home planet, where that reward will be hers.

Before she can get Pythia out the door, an alarm blares, followed by thudding footsteps.

“More guards are coming. Let’s go,” Icesis says.

Pythia takes a step, then stops. “Why should I trust you?”

Icesis sighs. She never thought convincing Pythia to be rescued would be harder than sneaking onto the damn ship. “Look, those guards are coming, and that’s not gonna end well for you. I’m the best option you have right now.” It makes sense to Icesis, and she sees Pythia’s head spinning as they reach the same conclusion.

“Fine.”

Icesis grips her blaster. “Just stay behind me.” She creeps into the corridor, moving quickly over the white floor.

Blasters fire after them, and she throws herself in front of Pythia. It burns down her back and side, but she needs to get Pythia back in one piece. They reach the docking port, where Icesis’s ship is waiting. She ushers Pythia inside, sprinting to the captain’s chair after them and setting the ship toward her planned route away from here. She turns on the extra thrusters, getting them miles away before the Titan can send anyone after them. When the ship is finally a speck in the distance, Icesis collapses in her seat.

“So now what?” Pythia asks, and Icesis jumps. She’s always been alone on her ship, never had anyone sneaking up on her and talking. “You dump me back home?”

“Yes. We’ll be there in three or four days.”

Pythia nods, still disinterested.

“This is the cockpit,” Icesis continues, unsure if she should keep talking. “There’s two bunks behind us. Bathroom’s across from the bunks.”

Pythia slips into the lower bunk while Icesis tends to her burns from the blaster. She can’t reach her back, but she bandages her side and shakes her head at the bruise on her shoulder from Pythia. That gold will be worth it.

Pythia is already asleep when she finishes. Again, Icesis marvels at how much more real Pythia looks in person than on those posters. One hand is tucked under their chin and their chest rises and falls gently, mesmerizing Icesis with their even breaths. Icesis snaps herself out of it and reaches for the blanket in her bunk. It’s the only blanket on the ship; Icesis has never had need for two. She tosses it over Pythia and settles into the captain’s chair, watching the night pass.

—

Pythia wakes up in a bed that’s not theirs, covered in a blanket that’s also not theirs. It’s made of blue wool, worn and somehow softer than all the fancy silks in their kingdom.

The past hours rush back to them. Sitting in that cell and being rescued by Icesis, roaring in with guns blazing like some hero. And now put on this rusty old ship that’s going to bring Pythia back to the last place they want to go. Pythia sighs and shuffles out of the bunk.

Icesis is still in the cockpit, staring out the window. There’s bags under her eyes and Pythia doesn’t think she slept.

“So, how much did my parents offer you to rescue me?”

Icesis jumps at the noise. “What makes you think there’s money involved?”

Pythia rolls their eyes. “There’s no way you went to all this trouble out of the goodness of your heart. Come on, what are they paying?”

Icesis bites her lip. “Ten thousand gold pieces. They offered it to whoever brings you back.”

“Thought I’d be worth more,” they say dryly. “Ather wanted my father’s kingdom as ransom. I heard one of the guards say it. And my father paid someone to find me instead.”

Icesis frowns, looking at Pythia in concern. “You seem pretty…calm for someone who was kidnapped.”

Pythia shrugs. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The cell was small and the food sucked, but other than that it was the same as sitting in my room all day.” At least they got to go somewhere. On Elterash, they never left the kingdom at all. Just day after day staring at the same walls, following every rule their parents gave. “Is there food here?”

“Oh, right.” Icesis scrambles over to the far corner of the ship, which is a tiny kitchen with a small table and a chair. She digs around in a cabinet and pours some coffee into a small machine, handing Pythia a steaming mug seconds later. “It won’t taste like royal coffee, Your Eminence. Or whatever your title is.”

Your Highness is the correct title, but Pythia doesn’t tell her that. They like seeing what she comes up with, how she throws out titles like a game and treats Pythia like a person instead of a royal. They take a cautious sip of the coffee. It’s so strong it’s like a punch in the face, but it’s not bad. “It’s good.”

Icesis resumes her digging, and Pythia realizes she’s looking for another mug. Icesis must really be used to being on her own, if she only has one mug. Her black shirt rides up as she searches, revealing a red mark that looks like a burn.

“Is that from the blaster?”

Icesis quickly lowers her shirt. “Yeah. I couldn’t reach it to bandage it. It’s fine.”

“I’ll do it,” Pythia says. “It’s my fault you got hurt.” Seeing the mark shifts something inside them, and even though Icesis is annoying, she did throw herself in front of a blaster for them, and that’s more than anyone has ever done.

“I said it’s fine.”

“And I said I’ll do it.”

Icesis sighs and brings over a burn cream and some bandages before turning her back to Pythia and lifting her shirt. Two round burns dot her back, the edges blistered. There are other marks on her skin, old lines that have healed. Yesterday definitely wasn’t the first time she’s been hit with a blaster. They wonder how many of these wounds had to heal without care, because Icesis couldn’t reach them and didn’t have anyone to help her. Pythia’s fingertips ghost over the hard muscles on Icesis’s back, and it’s a few seconds before they remember what they’re doing. They spread on the cream and carefully tape a bandage over it. Icesis stands completely still, but goosebumps break out on her skin from the touch.

“All done.”

“Thanks,” Icesis says shyly, resuming her search and finding another mug.

Pythia just nods, their fingers still tingling.

—

Hours pass as Pythia lays on the lower bunk, trying to form a plan that doesn’t involve them being brought back to their parents. If they can convince Icesis to land somewhere, maybe they can escape. It’s worth a shot. They walk to Icesis, dragging the kitchen chair over partly so they have somewhere to sit in the single-person cockpit and partly to make noise so Icesis doesn’t jump when they speak.

Their plan falls apart when they see the stars glowing through the cockpit window, mouth dropping in awe.

“The stars look so different up here,” Pythia says.

Icesis smiles, and Pythia likes it far more than they should. “Best view in the galaxy.”

“It’s like they’re close enough to touch.” Pythia has never seen anything like this, never seen the stars so bright.

“Yeah. I like it up here.”

“You’ve been doing this a while, then? Doing, um, whatever your official title is?”

Icesis actually laughs, a softer, higher sound than Pythia expected, and they’d do anything to hear it again. “I’m a smuggler. That’s about as official as it gets.”

“What kind of things do you do?” Pythia didn’t intend to get this interested, but it’s so nice having someone to talk to.

“People hire me for different jobs all over the galaxy. I get stuff for them–-tools, clothes, whatever. Medical supplies for this health clinic to give out for free. Food for my friend’s restaurant. I like helping people.”

It’s the most Icesis has said at once, and Pythia smiles despite their annoyance at speeding back home. For all Icesis’s cool bluster, there’s warmth in her, pulling Pythia in and making them want to learn more.

“You must’ve been to so many places,” Pythia says softly. What they would give to have seen the planets Icesis has seen, to be free like this, no one to tell you what to do.

“Oh, yeah. I’ve been to desert planets and frozen planets. One planet that was dark all the time. And planets with really cool lizards in different colors!” She laughs again, and Pythia joins her.

“And you do the smuggling alone?”

“I do everything alone.” There’s a hint of sadness there, one Icesis tries to hide by sipping her cold coffee.

“I do too,” Pythia says softly, wanting to comfort her somehow.

Icesis nods in understanding, though the nod quickly becomes a yawn.

“Shouldn’t you sleep?” Pythia asks.

“Someone needs to make sure we don’t crash.”

“Can’t you just…land somewhere? So you can sleep?”

“It’ll delay getting you back,” Icesis says, like Pythia cares.

“That’s fine.”

“My home planet isn’t far,” Icesis says finally. “We can touch down for the night.”

They touch down in a valley on Northan an hour later, and Icesis climbs into the bunk above Pythia, barely grunting good night before she’s asleep. Part of Pythia itches to run now, run and never go home again, but going out into an unfamiliar planet with unknown dangers, especially at night, isn’t a good idea. In the morning, they’ll figure out a way to keep Icesis here, and then run.

Icesis sighs in her sleep, and Pythia almost feels bad about tricking her.

Almost.

—

Icesis blinks awake, feeling more rested than she has in a while. Maybe it’s the familiarity of being home, despite the unfamiliarity of someone in that bunk below her. Her stomach growls, dreaming of the breakfast cakes and eggs at Kendall’s restaurant. Whenever she’s home, she eats there instead of on the ship. She’ll have to take Pythia; she can’t just leave them here. But they’ll need a disguise.

“I have a place we can eat, but we have to disguise you. Can you put these on?” She hands Pythia a hat and scarf.

“You mean we get to leave the ship? And go places?” Pythia leaps to their feet, excited for the first time Icesis has seen.

“Yeah. I don’t know how exciting it’ll be for you here, Your Majesty–-”

Pythia shakes their head. “I’ve never been anywhere. It’ll be fun.”

“You’ve never been anywhere?” Icesis asks. She couldn’t imagine being stuck in one place, never seeing the deep rivers and tall mountains, never seeing the stars just out of reach beyond her window.

“No. My parents don’t let me.” Pythia tugs on the hat and scarf, looking away from Icesis. “Let’s go.”

Pythia is like a little kid as they leave the valley and enter the city, spinning around to see all the shops and people they pass before reaching the restaurant.

“Hey, Kendall.”

Kendall’s face lights up when she sees Pythia at her side. “Wait, you’re with someone? Icesis, you made a friend!”

Icesis shushes Kendall as Pythia snickers. “This is that…smuggling job you told me about,” Icesis whispers.

Kendall’s eyes widen. “Oh.” She recovers quickly and points them toward the corner booth.

Icesis fidgets in the seat. She always sits at the counter, but it’s more than that. She gazes across the table at Pythia and realizes it’s been years since she’s eaten with someone like this. She’s been on her own what seems like forever. In a few days, she’ll be back to that. She won’t have to deal with Pythia’s company, even if it isn’t as horrible as she thought it would be. There’s something about Pythia that she likes, really—how they tease her, how they seem to understand her, how they treat her like an equal even though they’re royalty. Icesis has never met anyone who could keep up with her, and she finds herself pushing away the thought of their upcoming goodbye.

“What do you eat here?”

Icesis smirks as Pythia cluelessly browses the menu. “I always get these cakes Kendall makes. They have nuts and fruit.”

Pythia nods eagerly, and when the plate comes, they cut themself a delicate piece like a proper royal. Though there’s nothing proper about the gasp they let out after they eat.

“Can we get more?” Pythia asks breathlessly.

Icesis snorts. “Sure.”

Soon the table is covered in plates as Pythia tries some of everything, and Icesis quickly sees that this won’t be the silent eating she’s used to, since Pythia raves about every bite. Icesis just rolls her eyes at their antics and eats her food–-

“Did you steal my bacon?”

Pythia looks up mid-chew. “Maybe.”

“Unbelievable. And I thought I was the smuggler here.”

Pythia laughs and asks for another order of bacon, and they eat until the plates are spotless.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Wait!” Pythia jumps up frantically. “Can’t we stay? Or stop somewhere else?”

“I should get you back,” Icesis says. This little delay was more than enough; Icesis wants her gold.

Pythia tugs at their dark curls. “But what’s another day? You already have me, it’s not like someone else can bring me back and get the reward.”

That is true, Icesis will admit. She’s already done the work; she just has to finish the job. A day doesn’t matter, and she knows Pythia will be a stubborn pain in the ass if she doesn’t just agree now. “Well, I guess one day won’t hurt. There’s a festival on the other side of Northan tomorrow. We can go to that.”

Pythia’s cheer makes the delay worth it.

—

“What does this button do?”

Icesis swats at their hand. “Don’t touch it!”

Pythia snorts to themself. They can’t help it–-teasing Icesis like this, watching her cheeks flush, is just too fun. Especially after they managed to convince her on another delay, one where they’ll definitely be able to escape. A crowded festival is better than anything Pythia could have planned.

“You’re abusing my ship. It’s bad enough that you’re in the cockpit with my kitchen chair,” Icesis grumbles.

Pythia looks around at the scuffed floor and dents in the walls. “Looks like this thing has already seen its share of abuse.”

“Excuse you, this ship has character.”

“Is that the Northan term for rust?”

Icesis pouts in her chair, looking more like a kitten than anything scary.

“What does this button do?”

“Pythia!”

—

“Hey.” Icesis stands in front of Pythia’s bunk, wringing her hands like she’s still unused to talking to people, and Pythia’s heart tugs with affection. “There’s gonna be a meteor shower in a few minutes. If you’re into that.”

“Of course I am!” Pythia sprints to the cockpit, settling in as the first meteor streams across the deep black sky. The meteor glows pearly white, shiny in the center and hazy at the edges, and Pythia’s mouth drops. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“I thought you’d like it,” Icesis says shyly. Pythia couldn’t imagine Icesis doing this the first night on the ship, when she barely talked. But she seems at ease tonight, her face softer, eyes hopeful as she watches Pythia. Her hand rests on the armrest, and Pythia has to hold themself back from reaching out to hold it, to connect them in this moment, with meteors lighting up the world. It feels special to be here right now, with Icesis at their side, like the two of them are the only ones in the entire universe, sharing this perfect moment.

When the moment ends, Pythia blames the tears in their eyes on the dust.

—

Pythia runs out of the ship once it touches down, taking off down a crowded path lined with merchants selling all sorts of food and clothes and trinkets.

“Wait up! You’re always running everywhere, I have bad knees as it is.” Icesis pants as she catches up, and Pythia loses their own breath when they see her.

Icesis has her black hair pulled back and the sleeves of her black shirt rolled up, and her forearms are so distracting that Pythia almost falls on a stand where a merchant sells hats. They snatch up a bright orange one. “You should wear this,” they say to Icesis. “Break up that all-black wardrobe.”

Icesis shoves the hat away. “Black is a fine color.”

“I was wondering: do you have one black shirt, or a bunch of the same one?”

Icesis scowls, but her eyes are light. “I have a bunch of the same one. I also have a few gray shirts, I’ll have you know.”

Pythia laughs, running to more stands. Being here, surrounded by people and their happiness, Pythia feels free. Free to do whatever they want without their parents scrutinizing their every move, without their criticism. Out here, warmed by the sun, a blur of colors around them, home is the farthest it's ever been. The reminder of home stings, and if they never want to go back, they have to run. They take one last look at Icesis, at her dark eyes that soften around Pythia, and they run.

The ground is hard under their feet, but everything inside them is light. Pure light and freedom, forever.

They don’t hear footsteps behind them. They don’t see the man in black trailing along their side. They don’t realize anything until something slams against the back of their head, and then everything goes dark.

—

Icesis trudges through the festival, head spinning around for Pythia. She shouldn’t have let them go so far, but they said they’ve never been anywhere, and Icesis at least wanted her to have a good time here. But now they’ve completely disappeared, and it’s making Icesis’s chest tight. She steps on something, and realizes it’s the scarf she used to disguise Pythia.

This isn’t good. This definitely isn’t good. Her chest squeezes around her pounding heart, and the sound of people shoving each other does nothing to calm her nerves. She spins around in time to see three men in black carry someone in white toward a ship that quickly roars into the sky. Icesis knows–-she knows–-that they have Pythia. She didn't think of the others who would be attempting the rescue, and now Pythia is in danger.

Icesis sprints to her ship in the next second. It’s her fault those men have Pythia, and she can’t let them get hurt because of it. Can’t let those men take her reward, though she hasn’t even thought of that gold in over a day. She jumps in the captain’s chair and takes off. There isn’t time for a plan, but Icesis knows she can’t attack the ship in the sky–-it’s too risky with Pythia on board. Icesis needs to meet them on Elterash, keep the battle on the ground.

Plan set, she starts towards Elterash, ignoring the kitchen chair left besides her own. Pythia has only been here a few days, yet somehow the ship seems empty without them. The silence that was once second nature to Icesis is suddenly suffocating, unsettling. She misses Pythia, misses their teasing and talking and laughing, and she didn’t think that was possible. Didn’t think it was possible that she would ever wish for someone’s company, but Pythia really seems to like her, like being around with her.

As Icesis cuts through the night sky without sleep, she’s starting to think the same is true of her.

—

Icesis knows her way around the galaxy, and she touches down near the kingdom on Elterash a few minutes before the men. She hides her ship and ducks behind some shrubs, ready to spring into action when the men land. Her blaster is in hand, and the second the door of their ship opens, she jumps inside, taking out the captain with rapid hits.

“Pythia, where are you?” This ship is bigger than hers, and she can’t find Pythia anywhere. The second man fires and hits her arm while she’s distracted. She dodges another hit and knocks him out with the butt of her blaster.

There’s just one man left, and Icesis is ready for him, shooting before he can and running deeper into the ship, calling for Pythia. There’s a locked metal door around the corner, and Icesis blasts the lock off, yanking the door open. Her wild eyes meet Pythia’s, and Icesis’s heart settles down for the first time in over a day, her chest able to accept a deep breath.

“Icesis! You–you came for me.” Pythia looks up at her in sheer relief, sheer wonder, and Icesis knows. The reward doesn’t matter to her anymore. All that matters is that Pythia is okay.

“Yeah, I did.” She flashes them a smile. “I’m a dashing smuggler, Your Grace. It’s what I do.”

Pythia crushes her in a hug, and though Icesis stiffens at first, unused to the physical contact, she quickly relaxes into it, her hand running up and down Pythia’s back. Everything feels normal again with Pythia in her arms, and she doesn’t want to let go.

“Are you okay?” she asks when Pythia pulls back.

Pythia nods shakily. “They didn’t do anything, just locked me in here until they could get their money.” They gently touch the burn on Icesis’s arm. “You’re hurt again.”

“It’s pretty common in my line of work.”

Pythia smiles, but it quickly fades. “Icesis, I need to tell you something.”

“Okay?”

“I don’t want to go home.” Pythia’s voice shakes and tears spring in their eyes. “My parents treat me like a child. They don’t let me leave. They control everything I do and wear and say. I don’t want to go back there, ever.” They bury their face in their hands, and Icesis’s heart breaks.

It makes sense now–-Pythia caring less about their own rescue, trying to stall Icesis so much. How they understood Icesis’s loneliness, why they loved her adventures so much. They don’t want to go back. A weight settles in Icesis’s chest. If she doesn’t bring Pythia back, she won’t get her gold. But if she does bring Pythia back, they’ll be back to suffering under their parents’ rule. She thinks of how happy Pythia was when they had breakfast, how they looked around at all the merchants with such excitement. Can Icesis take that away from them for a sack of gold? Gold she doesn’t even care about anymore?

Icesis takes a breath. “I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

“You will?”

Icesis nods.

“But you won’t get the reward.”

“I’m aware of that,” Icesis says dryly. Her face softens as she watches Pythia smile. “I’m not gonna make you go back there if you don’t want to. I–I care about you.” Her cheeks burn at such an admission, but it’s true. She does care about Pythia, when she’s never really cared about anyone.

“Can I–can I stay with you?” Pythia asks, their cheeks also burning red.

“Yes,” Icesis says, surprised at how right the words feel in her heart. “I would like that, actually.”

“Me too.” Pythia is in her arms again, and Icesis doesn’t want to let them go.

—

“Icesis, is this necessary?” Pythia tugs at the scarf around their eyes as Icesis lets them into the cockpit.

“Yes. You need to be surprised when you see the new repair.” Icesis tugs away the blindfold, and Pythia gasps.

Icesis has installed a second captain’s chair, right beside hers.

Pythia knew Icesis was hesitant about them traveling together, that she was so used to being alone she was unsure about having someone there. But this chair is proof that Icesis does want them, that she likes Pythia enough to let them end her solitude. That Pythia has someone to end their solitude too.

The galaxy is theirs, for the first time ever. Pythia can do whatever they want, go wherever they want. Freedom and excitement they’ve never known blooms in their chest. Maybe they’ll stop home someday, just for the satisfaction of telling their parents that they’re never coming back. But that’s someday, and right now, they want to be here with Icesis. To travel with her, and talk to her, and share themself with her.

“Thank you, Icesis. I love it.”

“I thought you would,” Icesis says softly. She guides Pythia into it, then slips into the other one and takes their hand, her touch rough yet gentle, steady and warm. “Now let’s go see the universe.”

[artificialqueens]

Jealousy, Jealousy, Chapter 1 (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

Summary: Gigi didn’t trust the freshmen in the club enough to run it, Kendall and Gia were also seniors so they wouldn’t be eligible, and Adriana had made it extremely clear that she was not the person that would be able to take on such a big role, meaning that the battle for the new leader was between Icesis and Pythia.

Or, The fashion and design club needs a new leader, and Pythia wants to be it; badly. If only her 'rival' didn't also want the job.

AO3 Link

a/n: Thank you to the anons who requested Icesis and Pythia. I had been wanting to write Pythia so bad, and finally had the opportunity to. Not quite enemies to lovers, but it has bitter Pythia so I hope it’s close enough? I had a lot of fun writing this, so I hope you enjoy it! Also thank you Veronica and Athena for reviewing this before it went up! <33

“In honor of prom, I’ve come up with our last design theme for the year. Fuck the theme that they chose, and create your very own prom vision.” Gigi spoke, writing the word “prom” on the board with capital letters.

Pythia was in her after school fashion and design club, which was the best part of the school day by far. They could work on something they were actually passionate about and be surrounded by people who were accepting, kind and open. At least, most of them were kind; then there was Icesis, who Pythia did not like in the slightest due to her overbearing jealousy towards the girl. It was like everything Pythia did, Icesis could do better and it pissed her off. Luckily, they sat on the furthest seat from the girl as possible, so she wasn’t constantly reminded of Icesis’s presence.

“Literally, who chose the theme ‘dinosaurs’? I know Crystal likes it, but I really don’t want to spend my prom night, the night I’ve been waiting for for years, in a cavewoman couture outfit.” Gigi continued her rant, scoffing. Pythia wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if the only thing she talked about for the rest of the school year was the fact that the student body president chose the theme ‘Dinosaurs’ for their senior prom.

“Anyway, enough of that. As you know, I’m graduating soon which means I won’t be the leader of the club next year. I’ve begged Mrs. Hytes to let me come back, but she is so excited about finally getting rid of me that I have to choose one of you to replace me. Since this is the last project, a lot of my final decision will be based on how you guys do.”

Gigi had been the leader of the club since she had founded it when she was a sophomore. It started only because Gigi took on the job of making all of the costumes for the fall play by herself and realized that it was not a one woman job. She recruited some freshmen and sophomores to help her, including Icesis and Pythia, and by the time they had finished the job, they had decided that they were having so much fun that they should get together year round to make their own creations. Gigi got her English teacher, Mrs. Hytes on board to ‘run it’ and it became an official club.

Gigi didn’t trust the freshmen in the club enough to run it, Kendall and Gia were also seniors so they wouldn’t be eligible, and Adriana had made it extremely clear that she was not the person that would be able to take on such a big role, meaning that the battle for the new leader was between Icesis and Pythia.

Pythia wanted the role badly; so did Icesis. They both had spent the entire school year kissing Gigi’s ass and putting even more effort than they thought was possible into the costumes for the theatre kids and their individual projects. Gigi never assigned winners to their projects, but it was more than obvious that Icesis would’ve won most of them if she did.

Pythia knew she was a great designer, but sometimes Icesis thriving while they weren’t, made them want to just stop showing up to meetings all together. It was something Pythia had been working on, and she knew that Gigi picking her as the new leader would stomp out this giant insecurity once and for all.

Gigi put on some music and all of the design club members pulled out their notebooks to start working on their designs. Pythia had a few ideas running through their head, but nothing outstanding enough to start sketching an image of.

She looked up to see if Icesis was sketching anything, and she wasn’t. Instead, she was staring right at Pythia, making them quickly look back down at their empty notebook page.

‘Why was she looking at me?’ She thought, feeling her cheeks growing warm. They hated the fact that Icesis was aware of their presence, but she couldn’t help but wonder what the girl thought of her. Did she view Pythia as her biggest competition or were they just another person they happened to be in a club with?

By the time Gigi dismissed them, Pythia had not yet looked up from their notebook, despite not sketching anything. She waited for everyone to roll out before they started packing up their stuff, but to her dismay, Icesis was still in the room.

“Any ideas yet?” She asked, making her way over to the desk Pythia was seated at.

“I’m gonna sleep on it. If I want to crush you bitches I can’t just go with the first idea to pop into my head.” She shrugged, coming off a little ruder than they intended; but it was Icesis. She wouldn’t feel as bad if she was mean to her ‘rival’.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. If Gigi is gonna choose me, she needs to be impressed with my creation.” Icesis agreed, making Pythia’s blood start to boil.

“And what makes you think Gigi is going to choose you?! You’re not the only person in this club who wants that position!” Pythia asked, clenching her fists.

Icesis raised her hands in defense, “Woah, don’t get your panties in a twist, I just think that I’m the best choice for the job. It's nothing personal, I think you’re plenty talented.”

Well, obviously not if she was acting like Pythia wasn’t even slightly a threat to her. They didn’t bother replying, grabbing their backpack and storming out the door. She was going to get Gigi to choose her, no matter what it took.

_

Pythia spent their night trying to come up with the best idea possible. It needed to be something that was them. She was able to put her own special flair on all of the past challenges, but the thing that was different about this was that there were no guidelines they had to follow besides the fact that it needs to be something they could wear to prom. Usually there were rules or requirements that didn’t let them be themselves in the way that this assignment allowed.

At around midnight, inspiration finally struck, they got around to sketching, and by the time she was done, she felt proud. Way more than they had ever felt about a design in the past, she couldn’t wait to go to the store and start shopping for fabrics. Mrs. Hytes wasn’t able to convince the school to give them enough funding so everyone could get supplies that way, so it had to come out of her own pockets, which was annoying but it did mean that their options would be wider.

They made their way down to their favorite arts and crafts store in the morning, heading straight to the fabric section. The first thing that Pythia wanted was to find the prettiest white lace that they could get her hands on. The lace sleeves she had in her vision was by far one of her favorite parts of what she wanted to create.

As they were looking through the lace options, she heard a recognizable voice call out to her. “Hey, Pythia!”

It was Icesis, they would recognize her voice anywhere. It was deep and loud, which she would’ve found extremely hot if it was anyone else.

“Hi…” She mumbled, picking up a bundle of lace that she didn’t want in hopes that Icesis would think that she was busy and leave her alone.

She didn’t. “I just want to say that I’m sorry about yesterday. I was rude, I didn’t know that you also wanted to be Gigi’s replacement.”

Pythia wished she could appreciate the apology, but they found it hard to believe, “How could you not? We’re the only two she’s even considering. Kendall and Gia can’t do it, Adriana would be so overwhelmed she would be crying constantly, and the rest of the group is freshmen!”

“I don’t know, I just didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t realize because the only thing you think about is yourself. You think you’re better than me, and you definitely think you’re better than the rest of the club.” Pythia didn’t know why she was heated simply from this conversation, but she was letting it all out.

“What are you talking about? I don’t! Kendall and Gia are my friends. I would like to include you in that but it’s clear you have it out for me.” Icesis said, taking a couple of steps away from Pythia.

“Maybe I do! You’re not as perfect as you think you are.” They spat, deciding that this conversation wasn’t worth their time.

“Well, you’re so Greek that you shit yogurt!”

Pythia put down the lace she was holding so she could leave, but Icesis had the same idea and was out of the building. They felt a little guilty about getting so angry at Icesis, but they felt relieved that they were able to get months of built up rage out of her system.

-

When Monday rolled around again, the club had started constructing their prom looks. Pythia felt on top of the world, falling in love with the fabrics she had picked up after yelling at Icesis all over again.

Speaking of Icesis, she was nowhere to be seen, and Pythia couldn’t help but feel like this was their fault. She didn’t have any classes with Icesis so she had no idea if the girl with black hair was sick, or just avoiding the club.

Maybe Icesis didn’t need to know that Pythia disliked her. Guilt washed over her as she walked over to the sewing machines, taking a seat next to Gia and Kendall, who was helping her girlfriend fix a mishap.

“Oh, hey Pythia!” Kendall grinned, looking up from the machine.

“Hi girls! I love what you have so far, Gia.” The blonde had started working on a pretty dress with two kinds of purple fabric, which Pythia knew would look amazing on her.

“Thank you! Kendall helped me.”

They went back to working in silence, Pythia starting to work on her look. Kendall had fixed whatever was wrong with Gia’s sewing machine, and before she went back, she spoke up again.

“Do you know where Icesis is, by chance? I saw her during seventh period, so she’s definitely skipping.” She asked, both of the girls looking at Pythia.

“Uh, I don’t know. But uh.. umm…” They stuttered, debating on telling the two what had happened on Saturday.

“Wait!” Gia exclaimed, “Are you the one she got in a fight with?”

Jackpot.

“Gia!” Kendall scolded.

“Uh, yeah,” Pythia confirmed, rubbing the back of their neck, ‘I feel really bad about it though. I don’t want to go into detail but she didn’t deserve what I said. At all.”

“You should apologize. I’ve never seen her so upset.” Kendall suggested, and Pythia agreed.

“I would be upset too if the girl I had a crush on yelled at me.” Gia shrugged, before gasping and covering her mouth. “Oh fuck, I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud!”

Kendall groaned, “Gia, what the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just say that in front of them!”

Pythia stopped what she was doing, staring at Gia and Kendall. What the fuck was going on? Icesis had a crush on them?

“Oh…. That makes me feel even worse, honestly. I have to apologize.”

Guilt aside, the news that Icesis had a crush on her made her feel… odd. They couldn’t put their finger on what emotion she was feeling, but it made her feel…. good? Giddy even?

As they worked on their design some more, the fact that Icesis liked them stayed on her mind. Why was she so fixated on this fact that Gia told them by accident?

They doubted that Icesis was in the building, but as soon as Gigi dismissed them, Pythia went straight to Instagram, going to her profile and sending her a message to apologize. There was no promise that Icesis would reply, or even accept the apology, but they had to do what’s right.

[pythia444]: Hey, I just want to say that I’m so so sorry about what happened on Saturday. I just compare myself to you all the time when I shouldn’t and it makes me feel insecure. I know this isn’t an excuse but an explanation.

[itsicesis]: i knew you were bitter, just didn’t know why or what i did to you. it’s fine to be insecure, but you shouldn’t. if this was a competition i would be terrified of you.

That was the problem. Pythia was treating the club as a competition when it was not even close to being one. It was supposed to be a fun thing that they did on the side.

[pythia444]: Again I’m really sorry. I would love to talk about this in person if you’re okay with that. I hate that I made you skip today.

[itsicesis]: i would be down for that as long as you don’t yell at me again

[itsicesis]: i’m sorry i said you shit yogurt

[artificialqueens]

Sick Day (Icethia) - Athena2

Summary: Icesis is sick, and Pythia takes care of her.

A/N: I love sickfics, and I've seen some people request them, so I decided to write Pythia and Icesis for the first time! This is pretty short and sweet, and I hope you enjoy! Please leave feedback if you like!

“Pythia, for the hundredth time, I am not”—Icesis cuts herself off with a loud sneeze that does nothing to improve the pounding in her head—“sick,” she finishes with a sniffle.

“If you could say that without sneezing, I might believe you,” Pythia mutters, crossing their arms. “Also, you sneeze like an old man.”

“I do not!”

“Yes you do, you literally sound like my grandfather.” Pythia is enjoying this way too much, smile tugging at their lips. Icesis loves that smile, but not today, not when she has work to do and she feels like utter shit, even if she won’t let that stop her.

Icesis sputters, trying to thread the sewing machine with shaky hands. “Well—well, you won’t hear me sneeze again, because I’m not sick.” But she can feel the tickle in her throat building even as she talks, and while what comes out is not a sneeze, thank you very much, it is a cough that burns through her ribs and sends pain all the way up to her head.

“Shit, Icesis.” All the joking in Pythia’s voice is replaced with concern as they rub circles on Icesis’s back. It feels nicer than Icesis wants to admit, and she finds herself leaning into the touch.

“I’m fi–”

“You’re definitely not fine.” Pythia gently brushes hair off Icesis’s face. “You’re getting back in bed. No arguing.”

“I have work I should finish,” Icesis says, but it’s a weak protest. It feels like someone is hammering on her skull, and she can barely keep her eyes open. She can’t even get the needle threaded; there’s no way she can work today, even if she hates to admit it.

“You’ll finish it when you’re feeling better,” Pythia says firmly. They wrap an arm around Icesis’s waist, and she doesn’t have the strength to push it away. Pythia leads her back to bed, forcing her under a mountain of blankets.

Icesis sighs into the pillow, ready to sleep–

“You have to take medicine first.”

Icesis groans, rolling over to see Pythia holding a little plastic cup of green sludge. “Oh, hell no. I’m not drinking that, it’s disgusting. I’d rather drink poison. Actually, that probably is poison. You’re definitely trying to poison me.”

“If I wanted to poison you, I would have by now.” Pythia rolls their eyes.

“I’m still not drinking it.”

“You sneeze like a grandfather and complain about medicine like a toddler,” Pythia says, but they’re smiling. They hold up another cup. “What if I give you apple juice with it?”

“I’ll consider it,” Icesis mumbles, and then Pythia is holding the cup of sludge to her lips, whispering soothing words as Icesis pinches her nose and chokes it down. It’s followed by the best apple juice Icesis has ever tasted, and then Pythia is laying her back down, fixing her blankets.

“Get some sleep,” Pythia whispers.

Icesis does.

—

Icesis has no idea how long she’s been asleep when the smell of soup wakes her. Pythia is in a chair next to the bed, a steaming bowl in their hands.

“Good afternoon, sleepyhead. Think you could eat some soup?”

“You…you made me soup?” Icesis can’t remember the last time someone made her soup when she was sick, can’t remember the last time she even spent a sick day in bed. Normally she just takes some Tylenol and goes on with it.

“Of course I did.” Pythia helps her sit up, then hands her the bowl. “It’s a Greek recipe. It’s the best thing for when you’re sick. Even for people who insist that they’re not sick.”

Icesis grins weakly. “Okay, I’m sick.” She slurps a spoonful of soup, sighing as it warms her whole body. “This is so good. Way better than that toxic slime medicine you gave me.”

“Oh, speaking of which, you probably need another dose after you eat.”

Icesis swats at them, her arm still wobbly and weak. She goes back to her soup, finishing the bowl and then digging in again after Pythia refills it for her.

“Why are you always so stubborn?” Pythia asks. They don’t sound mad, just curious.

Icesis shrugs. “I’ve just always done things myself. I’m the oldest out of my siblings, so I always helped them with stuff, and–”

“--And no ever helped you,” Pythia finishes sadly.

“No one really expected me to need it. And a lot of the time, I didn’t. I was always good at everything. Sometimes…sometimes I probably did need it, though. I just thought it would be weak to ask.” Icesis doesn’t know if it’s her sickness, or the medicine, or just the calmness of being here with Pythia, but the words come out without her really meaning them to. She’s never told that to anyone, but she knows she’s safe with Pythia.

“It’s not weak,” Pythia says firmly. “It’s okay to need help, and I don’t want you to feel embarrassed to ask me for it, okay? Ever. I’m here for you, always.”

“Okay,” Icesis says. It’s still so strange, having Pythia there for her. Having an extra set of hands to help her finish garments when she’s stressed and on deadline. Someone to help with the cooking. Someone to listen to her when she’s upset, to really listen and comfort her, not just expect her to be fine all the time. Someone who always wants to be there for her, even when things aren’t great. Pythia is always able to see right through her, and maybe it’s not so bad to be known like that.

“I love you. Even when you’re stubborn,” Pythia whispers, leaning over to kiss Icesis’s forehead.

“I love you too,” Icesis says, and she lets Pythia’s words carry her back off to sleep.

[artificialqueens]

Jealousy, Jealousy, Chapter 2 (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

Summary: Pythia was now on good terms with Icesis... so why did they feel so weird whenever the girl was around?

A/N: These two are the only thing I can think about... Thank you to Athena for looking this chapter over before posting <3

Pythia spent almost their entire school day rehearsing what they wanted to say to Icesis in their head. She was the one who reached out to Icesis and offered to talk to them in person to explain the issues they had with her, but when they woke up in the morning, they were hit with the most intense anxiety they had felt in her life about it.

Despite spending nearly seven hours thinking about it, she still didn’t know exactly how she was going to tell Icesis. Along with comparing their designing abilities to hers, Pythia wasn’t quite sure who she was. They knew they were non-binary, but that was it. She definitely liked boys and girls, but she had yet to say anything about it or publicly show interest in someone who wasn’t a boy. Icesis was an out and proud lesbian, and Pythia dreamed of being able to be so open about their sexuality and gender. The most coming out she had done was to tell the design club that they want to be referred to as they and them as well as she and her.

They wished she could be like Icesis, who was confident in her identity. They weren’t ready yet, but she wished that she was. They still had their senior year left to come out, though; that is, if they wanted to.

However, that was a lot to unload onto the girl, and Pythia wasn’t entirely sure if she should even bother mentioning it or if they should just stick to the designing related jealousy.

The bell rang, dragging her out of her head, scrambling to pack away their notebooks and textbook, making her way to her locker to unload everything from class and grab their jacket so they wouldn’t have to make another stop to grab it after the club meeting was over.

Part of her told her to skip, because every step closer they got to Mrs. Hytes’s classroom, the worse their anxiety got. They didn’t understand why they were having Icesis related anxiety or why it was affecting her so badly.

It didn’t help to see that Icesis was sitting right next to her unofficial assigned seat, instead of sitting across the room with Kendall and Gia like she usually did. She took a deep breath, going over to sit next to the girl.

“It’s okay if I sit next to you, right?” Icesis asked politely, Pythia nodding.

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.”

Has Icesis always been that pretty? Why had Pythia never noticed that before? They had many questions, but not enough time to answer them because the black haired girl started talking again.

“So, I think I’m finally ready to start making my dress. I’m obsessed with the design, I think it’s really me.” She spoke, flipping her notebook to the page that she had been sketching her prom dress on. It was a red, glamorous dress and Pythia had to stop herself from imagining how hot Icesis would look in it.

There it was again. Seriously, what was going on?

“That’s so gorgeous. Do you want to see mine?”

Icesis nodded at that, so Pythia got out her notebook and flipped to her sketch.

“Oh! That reminds me of the Addams family. I think that really suits you. Get it? Because it’s a suit!” Icesis said, making Pythia wheeze. “That was so lame, I’m sorry.”

“No, that was good! But prom is so heteronormative, and I want to make my look be the opposite.”

“I think you have this in the bag. I love the ‘prom queer’ sash, I had no idea you were..” Icesis started, but Gigi rushed in later than she was supposed to, rushing over to her chair to start the meeting and stopping the conversation going on between the two.

“Sorry I’m late! Some random sophomore stopped me in the hallway and started hitting on me. Like, God, I’m a happily taken woman! Anyway, if I haven’t seen your design yet, I’m talking to you, Icesis, I would love to see it before you start constructing.”

“Can you tell us about this encounter?” Gia spoke up, making Kendall snicker.

“I’m not letting you procrastinate, Gia. Go work on your dress.”

Gigi got up, making her way to the table where Icesis and Pythia were seated. “Hi guys. Pythia, I’m sure you’re doing great as usual. Icesis, I need to see your design.”

She turned her open notebook towards Gigi, who let out a gasp.

“This is gorgeous with a capital G! I really can’t wait to see this in person, like I would wear this to prom if I didn’t already commit to a color scheme with Crystal.” Gigi hyped her up as usual, seeming way more excited about this than she was with Pythia’s idea. “I literally want to make out with your brain right now, holy fuck!”

Gigi adored Pythia’s message when she first saw the illustration, but didn’t seem to be too excited about the aesthetic. The older girl was into brighter colors, and the Y2K aesthetic that had made a resurgence. While Pythia had played into those things earlier in the year to try to have her like their design more than Icesis’s, it wasn’t them.

It sucked that this was the project that Gigi was going to pay attention to when it came to making the decision of choosing her replacement. Their changing feelings about Icesis aside, the feeling of not getting something you’re trying your absolute best to accomplish hurts.

“Thank you! I really am proud of it, I think it’s going to turn out great. I can’t wait to make it.”

“If you really felt like that, you would’ve come in yesterday to start.” Gigi deadpanned, “Just kidding!”

“I was… sick. I’m feeling better now, though.” Icesis trailed off, the lie clear in her voice. She was clearly fine now, since she had chosen to sit down next to Pythia instead of her friends, but the guilt from causing her to skip yesterday made the blonde feel even more shitty.

Gigi gave her a strange look, “Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. Get to work guys, prom is right around the corner!”

They spent the rest of the meeting time working on their garments, Pythia focusing entirely on constructing her suit to make it turn out as good as they could possibly make it. The jealousy they felt from Gigi praising Icesis fueled them, and by the time it was time to finally head home, she felt like she had made a ton of progress. They had completed most of the suit, all they had to do now was add the lace detailing and create the ‘prom queer’ sash they had in mind.

At 4:30, Gigi got the attention of the other club members, letting them know that their meeting time was up. Sometimes the hour they had felt like too short, but today Pythia had felt like she had been working on her garment for at least three hours.

Everyone made their way out after Gigi dismissed them, including her and Mrs. Hytes, finally leaving the two alone. They both gathered up the cloth and made their way back to the desk they had been sitting at before going over to the sewing machine, Pythia’s anxiety skyrocketing.

“What’s up?” Icesis asked, “You seem… kinda sad?”

She wasn’t wrong, hearing her get that level of praise bummed her out even though she didn’t want to feel jealousy towards her anymore. “Honestly? I’m just a giant idiot.” They confessed, looking at the wood detailing on the desk instead of the girl.

“I’m sure you’re not.”

“I just… really want the position. Bad. And it sucks because it’s so clear that Gigi likes you more than me and it makes me upset. I try my hardest on everything to get her to like me and it just never seems to work because no matter what I do, you’re always going to be better than me.”

Icesis put her arm around Pythia’s shoulder. “I’m not better than you. Granted, I’m a cocky bitch so it might come off like that sometimes, but you’re an amazing designer. You have as much as a chance of getting the position as I do because Gigi cares more about this to just pick who she likes the best. All factors are going into her decision, and I’m positive that you’re being considered even though you might not think that.”

“I just feel shitty because I want to like you but my brain is so stupid and jealous. You’re the best designer I know and I just envy your confidence about everything so much.”

“I wasn’t born this way. It took a lot of hard work to get where I am today. I wouldn’t do half of the shit I do now when I was twelve. Never in a million years would little middle school me think I would tell anyone that I liked girls or show anyone the designs of clothes I made when I was bored in class. You gotta start somewhere, you know?”

Pythia nodded, not knowing what to say. All they could focus on was how fast their heart was beating because Icesis’s arm was still around their shoulder.

“But there’s nothing to envy me about. I’m just a regular lesbian, a regular lesbian who would like to be friends with you.”

“I think we could work that out.” Pythia wanted to hint at them being more than friends, but couldn’t gain the courage to do so. “I feel a lot better about everything. I’m sorry I felt that way about you, you seem really nice.”

“Can I tell you something?” Icesis said after a moment, peaking Pythia’s curiosity.

“Yeah, what?”

“I-” Banging on the door startled both of them, turning their heads towards the door. It was the janitor, ready to clean up the classroom.

“Sorry, we’ll get out of your hair in a second,” Icesis called out, scrambling to get her shit as Pythia did the same exact thing.

They were going to ask her to continue what she was saying, but Icesis had rushed out the door and down the hallway, Pythia not being able to keep up with the girl to find her and get the chance to ask..

[pythia444]: What were you gonna tell me?? :0)

[itsicesis]: oh it’s nothing important don’t worry

[pythia444]: Oh. Are you sure?? You can tell me anything since we’re friends now!

[itsicesis]: nooo i promise it’s fine. nothing to wrap your silly little head around.

They let it go, changing the conversation, but Pythia didn’t buy that for a second. It was probably something related to the jealousy they had come clean about, but she was secretly hoping that Icesis was going to ask her out.

Icesis liked them, they knew that for sure, thanks to Gia; but why wasn’t she making a move now that they were slowly becoming closer?

[artificialqueens]

Wild Heart (Icethia) - Athena2

Summary: Icesis absolutely doesn't have feelings for Pythia. That's what she tells herself, anyway, and after a date gone wrong, it'll be a lot harder for her to hide those feelings.

A/N: I've been trying to finish this (or write anything tbh) for weeks now, and I'm so glad it's finally done!! I really hope you enjoy, and please leave feedback if you'd like!!

Title from Wild Heart by Bleachers.

“Do you think this outfit is good?”

Icesis looks up from her phone to see Pythia standing in front of her expectantly, arms stretched out so Icesis can take in the striped sweater they’re wearing. Their dark hair has been carefully curled and bright eyeshadow shines against their brown eyes. They look perfect, and it makes Icesis’s chest twinge.

“You look great. Way better than in that hoodie you stole from me and wore all day,” Icesis says, ignoring the fact that she has any sort of feelings about Pythia and what they’re wearing. Ignoring the fact that she has any feelings about them at all. Because she doesn’t have feelings for them. Sure, she likes them more than she likes most people, but that’s not having feelings. Definitely not.

Pythia grins. “Most of my clothes were in the wash, and it’s so comfy. I can’t help it.” They pause. “You’re sure this outfit is good? I want to make sure I look nice.”

“It’s great.” She shoots them a thumbs-up and returns to her phone.

“Okay. I’m gonna go, then. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Pythia is gone with a little wave, and the apartment suddenly seems too quiet, too empty, without them in it.

Apollo scratches at the door, like he doesn’t want Pythia to go anymore than Icesis does. “They’ll be back soon, little dude,” Icesis says. “After their date.” She can’t quite keep the bitterness out of her voice, and Apollo cocks his head and stares up at her. “Stop looking at me like that. Pythia can date whoever they want.”

Apollo lets out a hiss of disapproval and saunters over to his cat bed.

“I said it’s fine, so it’s fine.” Icesis sighs and walks away, because her Friday night is lame enough without arguing with a cat.

She devours some leftover pizza and then loads her arms up with pretzels as she settles on the couch. Icesis and Pythia usually watch a movie on Friday night if neither of them has plans, spending half an hour bickering over what movie to watch before settling on something and passing popcorn back and forth as they watch. It feels weird to watch a movie without Pythia insisting that their suggestion is better, and Icesis instead puts on some show about the Australia Zoo, trying not to think about Pythia on a date. On a date with Jennifer. Ugh. Jennifer.

Icesis has only met Jennifer once, and it was one time too many. First meetings are usually hard for her; her anxiety kicks in and she struggles with being herself and talking to someone she doesn’t know. The uneasiness is normal for her, and it goes away as she becomes more comfortable with someone.

But that unease, that guardedness, never lifted when she met Jennifer, and there’s something about her that Icesis still doesn’t like. Maybe the way Jennifer kept interrupting Pythia, or how she seemed to talk down to them a lot, when Pythia is the smartest person Icesis knows. But it’s not her place to interfere with Pythia’s love life like that.

Icesis pointedly turns back to the TV, watching a new koala be brought into a zoo exhibit. She probably has an hour before Pythia comes back, gushing about their date and everything Jennifer said and wore and did. Maybe Icesis can pretend to be asleep. It’s not that she doesn’t want to hear about the date; it’s just that it would be easier to hear about it tomorrow morning, in the warm sunlight, while Icesis dumps spoon after spoon of sugar in her tea and Pythia watches in amused horror.

But ten minutes later, keys jingle and the door opens, way earlier than Icesis was expecting.

“How was the—Pyth, what happened?”

Pythia stands in the doorway with tears running down their cheeks, and Icesis leaps to her feet. Icesis isn’t good at feelings, but she and Pythia have gotten used to comforting each other over the past year, and it’s natural for Icesis to set Pythia on the couch with a blanket around their shoulders and Apollo in their lap, for her to pour some tea into Pythia’s Hercules mug and press it into their hands before sitting next to them and waiting to see what else they need, worry buzzing in her chest.

They’ve supported each other a lot since they became roommates. When Icesis cut her palm on a broken glass, Pythia distracted her with a game of I Spy in the urgent care waiting room for half an hour, then wordlessly held her good hand while a nurse cleaned the cut and stitched her up, sensing Icesis’s anxiety around medical stuff even if she tried to hide it. When Pythia texted that they had a shitty day at work, Icesis automatically put in an order at their favorite Greek place and stopped at the store for a pint of rocky road, letting Pythia vent as much as they wanted while they ate and watched TV. But this—a date that must have gone wrong, a date that ended in Pythia crying like this—seems different, more serious than a few stitches or a bad day. Icesis can handle the action parts—bringing over the blanket and making tea, useful things to do. But what’s coming next will surely involve more tears and feelings, and she’s less sure of that part, so she just offers Pythia a tissue and waits.

“Jennifer was late,” they begin, voice rough. “She’s usually a few minutes late, so I didn’t think anything of it. Then it was ten minutes, then half an hour. She wasn’t answering my texts. I thought maybe something happened—an emergency or whatever.” Pythia wipes their eyes. “I finally left the restaurant. And then after I left I saw—I saw her with someone at that bakery. They were holding hands, and then they…they kissed.”

The last word brings another wave of tears, hurt, angry tears that cut through any words Icesis might have said, and she silently wraps Pythia in a hug instead. She holds them until the tears fade into occasional sniffles and they pull away, wiping the last of their tears.

“I’ll go fight her if you want me to,” Icesis says, because she doesn’t know what else to say.

Pythia manages a smile. “Icesis.”

“No, wait, I’ll print out a picture of her, and then you can throw knives at it.”

Pythia is laughing now, a real laugh that makes Icesis smile.

“I swear I’ll do it,” Icesis says.

“I know you would. But it’s okay.”

It’s quiet again, and Icesis is trying to think of what to say. Should she trash-talk Jennifer some more, or ask Pythia if they want to talk, or should she cheer them up by telling them how amazing she thinks they are, that Jennifer never deserved them in the first place?

Pythia talks before she can say anything. “Thank you for not saying I told you so.” Icesis frowns in confusion. “I know you didn’t like her,” they add softly.

It’s true, but it never occurred to Icesis to gloat about how she was right, never occurred to her to do anything but take care of Pythia when they were hurting. “I don’t like a lot of people,” Icesis says, avoiding their gaze and her own feelings.

“I know. But you knew she wasn’t good.”

Icesis just nods.

Pythia sighs. “I feel like such an idiot. How long was she cheating on me? Did she ever like me at all? Am I not enough—”

“You’re absolutely enough,” Icesis says firmly, before Pythia can doubt themselves further. They’re always reminding her to stop with the self-deprecation, and she’s going to return the favor. “Look, you’re so smart, and creative, and kind, and funny. This isn’t your fault. She’s the idiot for doing that to you.”

Pythia looks at her, eyes wide like they’re seeing her for the first time, and Icesis is so stunned by the intensity in their gaze that they don’t even realize what’s happening until Pythia’s lips are just inches away from her own. Icesis’s breath flies out of her, and even though it would be easy, natural, even, to close that gap between their lips, she pulls away instead, her head spinning.

Pythia’s eyes narrow. “Why—“

“You—you don’t want to kiss me,” Icesis says breathlessly. “You’re upset, and I’m not gonna take advantage of you like that, and you’ll probably regret it later anyway.”

“Why would I regret kissing you?”

Icesis’s heart skips a beat. Part of her wants to make light of it, joke that her lips taste like leftover pizza, that she’s a terrible kisser, but Pythia is so sincere that joking would just be rude and hurt them.

“I…I don’t know. We’re friends. I don’t think you like me like that.” You don’t feel about me the way I sometimes feel about you, Icesis thinks but doesn’t say. God, Icesis hates feelings sometimes.

“Maybe I do.”

It’s quiet enough for Icesis to hear her own heart racing. Her whole body is burning, like her heart heard those words from Pythia and is unleashing every single feeling about them that Icesis had pushed away—the happiness of watching Pythia run around playing with Apollo; the times their hands touch when they put away dishes and Icesis feels the jolt of the touch up her arm; how Pythia looks so cute in Icesis’s hoodie that she can never bring herself to ask for it back.

“Pyth–”

“I think I’ve liked you for a while and didn’t realize it,” Pythia says, fiddling with a couch cushion. “But—but you’re right, we’re friends, and I should’ve never tried to kiss you without asking first–”

“No,” Icesis blurts, her cheeks hot when Pythia meets her eyes. “I–I know I’m not good with feelings, but I like you too. And it’s okay if you want to kiss me, but at least let me take you on a date first.” She can hardly believe the words coming out of her mouth, but instead of making her stomach and chest hurt, the way feelings normally do, everything feels lighter inside somehow.

Pythia grins. “Are you asking me out?”

“Yes,” Icesis says bravely. “I’m asking you out.”

“I accept,” Pythia says, laughing when Apollo lets out an approving meow. “Um, do you want to watch a movie?”

Icesis smiles. “I’ll even let you pick.”

Pythia flashes a wicked grin at their newfound power. “Oh, Ice, you are in for it tonight.” They grab the remote and fire up Netflix, probably searching for some obscure movie, and Icesis leans into their side and sighs.

Maybe feelings aren’t so bad sometimes.

[artificialqueens]

Hello! Different sickfic anon here to give my unending love & gratitude to Athena and Strawberry for those incredible Icesis x Pythia fics! They are such an adorable pair and you both wrote them perfectly!!!

.

[artificialqueens]

Queue

Merry Christmas, y’all! Extra long queue today!! Enjoy, and remember to tell your writers how much you love and appreciate them. (And then maybe there will be more before New Year's!)

☃️ The Single Gay Dad's Club, Part 7 (Raja/Bianca) - Dartmouth420

☃️ Migraine (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

☃️ God, It's Brutal Out Here (Taywhora) - pureCAMP

☃️ Waspy (Jinkx/DeLa) -Divine

❄️☃️ Be My Holiday, My Dream (Crygi) - Strawberry

☃️ Nothing Promised, No Regrets (Bitney) - Veronica

[artificialqueens]

Queue

Remember to show love to your authors!!! XOXOXO

❄️🌹 Feast For Two (Icesis x Pythia) - Strawberry

🌹 All I Want for Christmas is You (Rosenali)--athena2

🌹 Bitch Fight Ch.9 (Multi-Ship; Jela) - Edith