The waterfall roared steadily before them, a curtain of silver tumbling into the pool below. They had been quiet for a long while, the silence carrying a weight that neither dared to disturb. Then, suddenly, Fleur spoke.
"I don't like it."
Eira blinked and turned her head. "What? What do you mean?"
Fleur's gaze was fixed on the water, but her voice was unwavering. "I don't like it," she repeated. "I've waited long enough to say that."
Eira frowned in confusion, setting down her drink. "You don't like what?"
Fleur finally turned toward her, and for once there was no teasing curve to her lips, no playful gleam in her eyes. Her expression was earnest, almost fierce. "I don't like pretending. I don't like keeping it inside. I love you, Eira."
The words landed like a spark in Eira's chest, freezing her in place. She stared at Fleur, wide-eyed. "You—what? I love you too, of course. You're my closest friend, Fleur."
Fleur shook her head, her voice urgent and fervent. "No, that's not what I mean. I mean romantically—with every fiber of my being. I want to be with you forever. I want to feel you, to be loved by you, to have your hands explore every inch of me. I want to kiss you, to spend every night wrapped in your arms, to wake each morning by your side. I want you all to myself, to share an intimacy that goes beyond anything I've ever known. I don't want you as just a friend—I want a love deeper, more profound than any two people have ever shared."
Eira's breath caught. Her thoughts scattered like startled birds, her heart racing. She could only whisper, "Are you… are you joking? Fleur, that's not funny. It's not good to joke about these things."
Before Eira could protest more , Fleur leaned in and kissed her.
The world seemed to collapse into that single, fleeting touch.
At first, Eira froze. She had never been kissed before—never even imagined what it would feel like—and the sudden warmth of Fleur's lips against hers was like stepping into sunlight after standing too long in the cold. Her breath caught in her throat, chest tightening as if her heart had forgotten how to beat.
Fleur's lips were soft, delicate, yet insistent. There was no hesitation in them, no question—only a certainty that made Eira's head spin. The faint sweetness of mango lingered there from the drink they had shared, mingling with Fleur's own warm breath, and the taste was dizzying, intoxicating in its simplicity.
For an instant, all of Eira's senses sharpened painfully. She felt the faint press of Fleur's hand brushing against her sleeve, the soft cascade of Fleur's hair brushing her cheek, the scent of spring water and faint perfume in the air. Her body burned hot and cold at once, her skin tingling with a strange, trembling electricity.
And then—nothing. Her thoughts, her questions, her careful composure—everything shattered into silence. Her mind went blank, as if Fleur's kiss had stolen the very ability to think.
When Fleur finally pulled back, the loss of warmth was almost unbearable. Eira stared forward, lips still tingling, her entire body rigid and breathless. She couldn't bring herself to look at Fleur. The waterfall blurred before her eyes as her heart pounded so loudly she thought Fleur must surely hear it.
"See?" Fleur whispered, her voice soft but triumphant. "That was my first kiss. And I've just taken yours too. That's how serious I am."
Eira's face flamed red as her hand brushed her lips, still tingling. She looked away toward the waterfall, unable to meet Fleur's gaze.
Fleur tilted her head, watching her with a nervous smile. "So… how is it? Tell me. What's your answer? Do you love me too? Do you want to be with me… or will you reject me?"
Eira swallowed hard, words caught in her throat. At last she managed, "Are you sure? Do you really want this? Do you really want to be with me?"
"With every fiber of my body and soul, I want you," Fleur replied, her voice steady and without a trace of hesitation.
Eira's voice grew lower, trembling but intense. "Because I'm not an easy person to love. I'm… possessive. I don't want something fleeting. I don't want a love that lasts for a year, or two, and then dies. If you become mine, Fleur… then you'll be mine forever. You'll never be able to run from me. Because when something becomes mine, it stays mine. Always."
Her eyes, normally soft, shone with a darker, sharper light. Fleur's breath caught at the intensity of it. For the first time, she glimpsed a side of Eira she had never seen before—something fierce, almost frightening in its devotion. A shiver ran down her spine, equal parts fear and exhilaration.
And yet, her heart only beat faster.
Slowly, Fleur reached out and took Eira's hand, threading their fingers together. "Then let me be yours forever," she whispered. "I'm not afraid. Not of you. Not of this."
Eira sat very still for a long moment, her thoughts swirling, her lips still tingling with Fleur's kiss. Then, quietly, she asked, "But… what about your family? Your mother, your father—are they truly all right with you being in a relationship with… with a girl?"
Fleur's gaze dropped to Eira's lips again, as though she couldn't look anywhere else. Her voice was soft, steady. "The first person I told was Maman. She encouraged me. She said she wanted me to follow my heart." A small, tender smile curved Fleur's mouth. "And Papa… I never said it aloud to him, but I think he already knows. He hasn't said a word against it. They support me, Eira. They support us."
Something in Eira shifted. The nervous tension, the hesitation that had gripped her since Fleur's confession, seemed to break all at once. She leaned forward, her eyes bright, filled with a fierce love and longing she could no longer hold back.
In the next heartbeat, she lunged.
Fleur gave a startled gasp as her back hit the mattress with a soft thud, Eira straddling her chest in one swift, impulsive movement. The world tilted, and suddenly Fleur found herself gazing up into Eira's flushed face, breathless under the weight of her intensity.
Eira's eyes blazed as she leaned over her, their faces inches apart. "You took my first kiss," she said, her voice trembling but commanding. "And now—you've made me feel that beautiful sensation. That's not something I can let go of. Your lips are mine, Fleur. Do you understand? They'll never touch anyone else's. They belong to me, only me."
Fleur's cheeks burned crimson, her breath coming shallow as her heart pounded wildly. Her eyes, wide and shimmering with love, locked on Eira's. For a moment she couldn't speak—she could only stare, trembling with the intensity of it all.
But then, slowly, a smile spread across Fleur's face—soft, radiant, and trembling with affection. Her hands slid up, resting gently at Eira's sides, fingers curling into the fabric of her robes. Her voice, hushed and uncertain, broke with a blush.
"But… what about our children? They can't have my lips too."
Eira blinked, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You're so cute." Her eyes softened, glowing with warmth as she leaned closer. "When the time comes, we'll talk about it. But until then…"
Her words trailed into action. Eira bent forward, closing the distance, and claimed Fleur's lips with her own. This time it wasn't a stolen brush of mouths, but an intent, lingering kiss. Fleur's breath hitched as Eira pressed against her more firmly, their lips molding together, warm and pliant.
Eira pulled back only a fraction, her forehead resting against Fleur's as her breath ghosted across her lips. "Why do your lips taste this good?" she whispered in awe. "I always heard that kisses don't have a taste—that they're just joyful because they show love. But yours… yours are different."
Fleur's cheeks flamed crimson as she smiled shyly, her eyes luminous. "Maybe…" she murmured, "…maybe it's because of my Veela heritage."
"Whatever it is," Eira said, her voice low and trembling, "it tastes heavenly. And now these lips belong to me."
Before Fleur could answer, Eira leaned down again and kissed her once more. Fleur responded eagerly, her lips moving against Eira's with growing confidence, her arms sliding around her back to hold her close. The world around them—the roar of the waterfall, the chill of the mountain air, the soft mattress beneath them—faded into nothing.
All that remained was the sensation of lips meeting, the tender warmth they shared, and the dizzying realization that in each other's mouths they had discovered something entirely new, something they hadn't even known they had been searching for.
And as they kissed again, deeper this time, it was as though they were tasting not just each other, but the beginning of something greater—a love that would forever change them both.