Work Text:
It was quiet. For once. The ice floes has been broken and the snow shoveled and there was no barking voice telling them what to do-
Quiet.
Phos never thought they would like it. But they did. Quiet. How nice.
They were always thinking. And the thoughts got loud sometimes- screaming- like the words were showing up around them and coiling their fragile body in a tight squeeze of ideas.
It was nice to be quiet.
But silence in itself was fragile as well, and the quiet rushed to cover as the faint click of heels against marble began to echo down the hall. All those thoughts, those ideas, began to coil around Phos once more-
Antarc was coming.
What should they do? This… this unearthly warmth and nervousness that developed around the older jewel- this attraction- urged them forward. Well. It was now or never. Perhaps it’s best to play it cool. Antarc wouldn’t hate them forever. Just… maybe for a long time.
“There you are Phos.” The arctic jewel stated upon arriving in front of the turquoise jewel, hand on their hip. “I’m surprised you’re still awake, it’s getting quite late and we have work tomorrow. Get some rest.”
Phos gave a noise of slight surprise, but snapped out of it with a small giggle and nodded their head.
“Yeah, but what about you?”
The jewel they were addressing cocked their head. Awh. How cute.
Phos regained their composure,
“I mean, you must be tired too- shouldn’t you be going to bed as well?”
“I’m going to do a last round around the school, to make sure everything’s done.” Antarc responded in their matter-of-fact way. “I can’t sleep easy without knowing all of the work has been done.”
“Well… I’ll come with you,” Phos concluded, standing up from where they sat with a healthy stretch. “It’s hard for me to sleep knowing I didn’t do my best for you.”
Was that a blush showing upon Antarc’s cheeks?
“Very well. Come with me.”
There was a rhythm, the clicking of their heels against the marble and ice, the soft crunch of snow, the gentle hum of Phos’s voice as they sang themselves a little tune- following behind their arctic jewel. It began to snow, and Phos gave a long drawn out gasp of awe- no matter how many times they saw the snow fall- they were always so childishly amazed by it.
“You know, even though it’s so cold out, I’ll make sure I can melt your heart,” Phos says, shooting Antarc a childish grin and a wink.
Antarc blinks at them, and Phos immediately internally panics. God, that was the cheesiest thing ever, and it wasn’t even a good pickup line, nothing like the things that they’ve heard being exchanged between Morga and Goshe or something. Their cheeks colour in embarrassment.
“U-uh, I mean… Like…”
“Phos,” Antarc says, and Phos jumps.
They turn, bracing themselves for the disappointment that will definitely be present on Antarc’s face- only to find Antarc looking at them, confused.
“What does that even mean? We gems don’t even have hearts… And me melting on you would definitely not be good, especially at this time of night where the snow will fall and hide me underneath.”
“Wha-“
Antarc turned back around and began walking again, leaving behind a puzzled Phos. The turquoise jewel quickly regains their bearings and follows suit, their mind blazing with uncertainties.
“Hey Antarc,”
“Yes?”
“I wondered why I was tripping so often when I first walked on the snow, but then I realized it was because I was falling for you.”
“Phos…” Antarc pauses and turns to their partner with a deadpan look on their face. “You kept tripping on the snow because you were wearing summer shoes designed to run on even, grassy plains. Winter has uneven snow that can shift and move, as well as hard ice. We have already proven that heels are the best shoes for winter, and there’s no possible way I would ever wish someone as fragile as you to fall over and over again and risk breaking.”
Phos blinked.
A moment of silence.
Then Phos snorted.
And they snorted again.
And then they full on double overed in laughter, leaving Antarc quite confused and slightly in shock.
“What? Did I say something funny?” Antarc frowns, scratching their head, thinking about what they had said. They couldn’t figure it out, and could only stand dumb waiting for Phos to calm down.
“You-” Phos gasped between wheezes, trying to speak through explosive giggles. “You… never-” they are finally able to stand, but still are giggling uncontrollably, “You’ve never heard about flirting?”
“Flirting?” Antarc echoes, rubbing their chin in thought. “No, not really. Is it something I should know about?”
“Ah, no not really,” Phos shakes their head, panting from having the wind knocked out of them from their laughing fit. “You seriously don’t know what flirting is?”
Antarc shakes their head ‘no’, looking more confused.
Phos gives another fit of giggles, and the arctic jewel can still not figure out what was so funny.
“Antarc, flirting is…” Phos begins to blush, “It’s like a way to chat up or tease someone you… like a lot, and is an indirect and fun way of letting people know you’re interested in them… in like… a romantic way.”
Phos can basically see the gears turning in Antarc’s head as their expression goes from confusion, to emotionless listening, to surprise, and realization. Their face explodes in a huge blush as they connect the dots and reach the conclusion that causes their entire being to warm.
“So what you’re saying is… you’re in love with me.”
Phos’s blush darkens and they nod shyly.
Antarc clears their throat and turns to leave.
“Wait-! Don’t you love me too?” Phos stops Antarc by grabbing their wrist, waiting with a pounding heart for the arctic jewel’s answer.
They watch the back of their head, moving back and forth, the bluish-white strands swaying from the movement as Antarc’s body visibly deflates with a heavy sigh.
“I- won’t say that.. That I don’t feel… some-” they clear their throat and gently wiggle their wrist out of Phos’s grasp. “Some affection… f-for you.”
Phos takes a moment to register what Antarc just said before smiling and bounded to their partner’s side, grabbing their hand. Antarc tenses at the action, but makes no move to pull their hand back- they actually return the gesture.
“Anyways, we should continue eh?” Phos says, trying to clear the awkward atmosphere with a gentle smile.
“Yes,” Antarc regains composure and starts walking, the turquoise jewel by their side. “We should get some rest. There’s a whole day of work tomorrow.”
“When is there not?” Phos chuckles. “But as long as I’m working with you, it’s not as scary.”
Antarc blushes, but gives a soft smile.
“Get some rest Phos.”
“Of course. Aren’t you coming?”
“... Yeah. I’m coming.”