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“We invited Valdi as our plus one.”
Upon hearing Mio’s blunt statement, Alexandria balks, and Chickadee stares as if the former Agnian soldier said something offensive. “What?!” Chickadee exclaims.
“I said we invited-”
“Yes, yes, I know!” Chickadee huffs. “You said you invited the Colony 30 Commander. But I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Taion’s head tilts with a frown that mirrors Mio’s. “Oh? And why’s that, exactly? While I’m aware that Colony Iota and Colony 30 have a difficult past, it would serve both colonies greatly if both Commanders could get along well.”
Chickadee opens her mouth to object loudly but instead quietens her voice. “Dame Alex’s relationship with Colony 30’s commander is… complicated,” Chickadee explains. “Him being here would just make things awkward.”
Alexandria smiles at Chikadee’s attempt at a heartfelt sentiment— even if it comes across as disrespectful —and places her hand on her lieutenant’s shoulder. “Chickadee, it’s OK. Don’t worry; I’m sure we’ll be able to get along just fine.”
Chickadee looks at Alexandria with a worried expression. “Besides, you should enjoy yourself. You put a lot of effort into preparing this birthday celebration for me. Just relax for the day, OK?”
The small lieutenant nods. “OK, Dame Alex.”
“Good. Now, let us join the rest, shall we?”
Alexandria, Chickadee, Mio and Taion join the rest of Iota and Ouroborous for the celebrations, but something continues to nag at the back of Alexandria’s mind.
With the emergence of Ouroborous, Keves and Agnian colonies alike had their status quo upended, and now there was a sudden expectation to get along with the Colony that utterly crushed and embarrassed her; what’s worse, with a Commander that, by Alexandria’s initial estimations, was a complete scatterbrain.
But that was where the problems began; the more time she spent with Valdi, Alexandria began to feel the winds of change between them.
Perhaps it was the way he passionately talked about levnises. Or the way Alexandria could vent her frustrations to Valdi without having him judge her harshly, or the optimistic attitude that never allowed him to be down for long, or his penchant for asking others for help that rubbed off on her.
Or perhaps it was simply the way he laughed and smiled.
Unfortunately, whatever caused the ‘winds of change’ affected her physically. When in Valdi’s presence, Alexandria’s chest would occasionally grow warm, her heart rapidly pounds faster in her chest, her stomach fluttering, and perhaps most telling of all, Alexandria blushed more effortlessly than she’d care to admit.
(He complimented her strength in earnest once, saying how he admired her for it. It was all she thought about the rest of the day.)
All symptoms of an illness that no one in her Colony seemed to have experienced before.
The mystery of her illness lingered in Alexandria’s mind until she finally found answers to her dilemma during her travels to the City with Ouroborous through Dr Hollis. Alexandria listened earnestly when the Doctor informed Alexandria details about her ‘illness’ but quickly rebuked him outright.
The idea that she desired affection from Valdi, much less was attracted to him, was utterly preposterous.
“Denial is often the first step towards acceptance,” was the last thing she heard from the man with an amused grin.
But no matter much Dr Hollis insisted, Alexandria denied him with an annoyed scowl.
“D-Dame Alex!”
Alexandria snaps out of her daze and meet’s her lieutenant’s gaze. “Hm? Chickadee? What’s- oh!” she gasps when the young lieutenant drags Alexandria away by the hand. “Chickadee? What’s gotten into you?”
Alexandria’s lieutenant looks back at the concerned crowd, then at Alexandria. “Dame Alex, I need to tell you about the present from the Commander of Colony 30. He’s just arrived, and um….”
“Chickadee, I don’t think spoiling Valdi’s present is very-”
“This is very urgent!” Chickadee insists, standing on her toes. Alexandria leans down to listen. “I overheard him say it to our Ouroborous friends. He said his present for you is… kisses,” she whispers dramatically.
Alexandria blinks, absorbing what the girl says as if it were some secret conspiracy. “Chickadee. Are you sure that silly book from the City didn’t put ideas in your head?”
“It’s a novel! And n-no way! I’m being completely serious!” Alexandria quietly stares at Chickadee, waiting for her lieutenant’s serious expression to crumble; it doesn’t.
“Very well. I’ll speak to Valdi privately, then. It’d be rather awkward if something happened in front of the rest of the Colony and Ouroborous.”
“Good! I’ll get him. You go to the barracks tent and wait there.”
“Remind me, who is the Commander, again?” Alexandria sarcastically asks, and Chickadee giggles, running off toward the festivities.
Alexandria quickly strides into the nearby tent and paces back and forth, wondering how best to tackle the situation.
“Uh, hello?”
Alexandria stops and faces the young Commander. “Ah, Valdi. May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Oh sure, Alexandria,” he nods, stepping into the tent. “Soooo…. is there a reason you wanted me here? Did you want to talk about something?”
Alexandria clears her throat. “Not necessarily. Chickadee insisted that I receive your present in private.”
“Wait, really? I don’t know why she thinks that, but let me give it to you since we’re here.”
“W-Wait. I wish to discuss your present, first and foremost.”
Valdi blinks, confused. “Huh? Discuss my present?”
“Yes. I’ve been made aware that perhaps it may be for the best if I... don’t accept your present. And I agree with at sentiment.” Alexandria explains, a little guilty seeing Valdi saddened.
An awkward silence blankets the room until Valdi takes a step closer, sitting on the desk next to her, and Alexandria nearly freezes at his boldness. “Well, if you wanna reject my present, I ought to let you see what it is, right?”
“V-Valdi, I don’t think...”
From seemingly nowhere, a bag manifests in Valdi’s hands, the young man beaming brightly. “Happy Birthday, Alexandria!”
Alexandria furrows her brow, confusion written all over her expression. “Oh. Um, thank you?”
“Well? Have a look! I really hope you’ll like it.”
Alexandria tentatively takes the bag and opens it to find small pieces of something wrapped in silver foil. Silently, she pulls out one piece and unwraps it carefully. Her eyes widen in recognition.
“Chocolate?”
“Yep!” Valdi grins. “You see, I was surprised when Noah and the others invited me here on short notice, so I had to buy something from a Nopon caravan nearby. According to the nopon, they’re called chocolate kisses, made by people in the City, and that chocolate is perfect for any birthday present!”
Alexandria’s eyes snap down to Valdi’s innocent smile, and her face grows hot when she realises that Chickadee misunderstood what Valdi meant entirely. Oh, for the love of the Queen , she groans internally.
“I… I see. I thought- rather, Chickadee informed me that my present from you would be kisses.”
“Whaaaat? Why would she spoil the surprise?” Valdi groans, quickly regaining his composure. “Well, I guess it’s not a big deal. I did give you the kisses like I said I would.”
Alexandria nearly facepalms, hearing his response. “No, no, let me rephrase that. I was under the impression that you wished to kiss me. As in, the physical act, as a birthday present,” she carefully explains.
Valdi blinks. It takes him a little while to connect the dots, but his cheeks heat up when he does.
“Oh.”
Alexandria clears her throat. “Oh , indeed.”
“Uh, I’m so sorry, Alexandria, that’s not what I had in mind when I bought these for you, really!” a flustered Valdi blurts out.
“Don’t worry, Valdi. I understand that now,” Alexandria hums.
“I mean, not that I wouldn’t mind doing that,” Valdi mumbles, looking away and rubbing the back of his neck, his voice loud enough for Alexandria to hear him.
She’d brought him here to reject him gently, but a part of her betrays that thought and wants to go through with the deed. She clutches the bag tightly. “Well… I suppose I wouldn’t mind either.”
Valdi’s jaw drops, and Alexandria has to suppress a chuckle. “Huh? R-Really?”
“But just this once. Admittedly, I have been a little curious about it since I went with our Ourborous friends to the City.”
“You found out the same way as well, huh? Well, that makes two of us,” Valdi chuckles, giving the awkward situation some levity.
The sound of their short-lived laughter dissipates, and tension rises between them rapidly when Valdi’s hand brushes against Alexandria’s. The Iota Colony Commander smiles and interlinks their fingers, Valdi.
“Um. Alex?”
Alex. Hearing that name without the honorific Chickadee insisted on using felt odd, yet pleasant. Just right.
“Yes, Valdi?”
Valdi’s gaze meets hers with a yearning she’s all too familiar with. “Can I, uh... you know...”
Alexandria chuckles and grins. “Of course, you may.”
Alexandria brushes loose strands of hair behind her ear as she leans in. Every symptom that plagued her for weeks rose within as her lips met Valdi’s for a kiss that, although brief, was almost perfect. A moment practically as perfect as the City’s novels described and nearly as magical as it looked seeing the City’s couples engage in showing their affection.
Almost.
“D-Dame Alex?!” Alexandria and Valdi pull apart and turn to see a stunned Chickadee covering her mouth in shock, alongside Sequoia, Misaka, Rhyza and all of Ourobouros, watching them with a mix of shocked and amused expressions.
Lanz throws back his head and guffaws. “Mate, you both look like you two have some explaining to do!”
Valdi looks at the ground, scratching a warm cheek. “Um… I guess so, huh?”
Alexandria sighs and presses the bag against her face, wishing nothing more than to melt away, for Alexandria knew she would never live this moment down.