#yes my sapphic brain melted as i painted it over

[titisorriso]

Okay, so, i wasnt going to finish this one because it was just a silly goofy anatomy training but then i couldn't stop myself so have my wife once more. I love her, can you tell?

[malewifegradyruewen]

Secrets, Secrets

i had a burst of inspiration due to the questions what's up with Oralie and Bronte being bros and what was it like when Oralie was doing all the Black Swan stuff? so i wrote this. huge shoutout to @cadence-talle for beta reading!!

trigger warnings: someone gets kinda mad and yells, one character kinda lowkey has a panic attack but it's never explicitly stated, ask to tag

word count: 1548

tagging: @callas-starkflower-stew @alesbiancat @tiergan-andrin-alenefar @gay-otlc @brilliantblindinglights @fire-sapphics @zoyyanazyalensky @sofia-not-sophie

It had been a long and busy day, and Oralie was practically dead on her feet as she returned to her home. It was nothing short of a palace, fit for the finest royalty, and normally this fact embarrassed her, but tonight, her mind was swimming. The complexities of her job had never accounted for situations such as this before. Oralie knew full well what could happen to her should anyone find out. And yet, she didn’t mind. As much as she would hate to lose her position on the Council, she somehow felt that this was her calling. Yes, the Black Swan was shady, but it wasn’t due to shady activity, just that they preferred lurking in the shadows. That seemed respectable enough; sometimes, she too wished she could melt into the shadows and not have the eyes and scrutiny of every elf watching her every move.

She was so exhausted and preoccupied that she hadn’t even noticed the imposing figure sitting in her living room. He stuck out like a sore thumb, his grey robes a stark contrast to the sea of pink Oralie used in her decorum. She gasped as she realised who it was.

“Bronte! To what do I owe the pleasure?” she said, trying to act as calmly as possible. Chances were, if Councillor Bronte was in her living room unannounced after-hours, he probably knew, but she could still hope.

“Oh, I think you know why I’m here,” he said, his tone calm and calculated, his gaze averted. Oralie had always been intimidated by the Ancient, but the fear that had instilled itself in her brain from the moment she saw him had made him exponentially more intimidating.

Hoping she could feign ignorance, Oralie asked, “No, I don’t. Why don’t you tell me, so we might be finished as quickly as possible?”

Bronte looked up and stared at Oralie as though trying to see into her mind. “For the Council’s living lie detector, you are a terrible liar. You may have everyone else fooled, but not me. The feeble excuses as to where you are, who you’re meeting with. Please,” he nearly scoffed. “I’m not that easily fooled.”

“Bronte, I don’t...what are you trying to say?” Oralie could feel her heart thumping throughout her body. She tried to focus on anything but her increasing heart rate as Bronte stood up and took a step towards her.

“Councillor Oralie, you know damn well what I’m referring to. You think I don’t know?”

She could hear the anger in his tone and hoped he couldn’t hear the fear in hers. “Don’t speak in riddles. Just tell me.”

“STOP!” Bronte roared, his anger apparent on his face and his voice. “You know damn well what I mean! You’re not the ignorant, innocent flower everyone paints you to be! I know what you’re doing, so tell me now, or you risk a Tribunal and Exile!” His pale face had gone red as he screamed, and his nostrils flared as he tried not to start panting. Oralie had seen his wrath before, but it had never been directed at her, and she hoped it never was again. Even though they were both Councillors, she felt as though he held an indeterminable amount of authority over her, and so she stood, rooted to the floor, terrified of the power she knew he held.

Oralie spoke softly. “I’ve been working on a project outside of my regular duties.” She offered nothing more, instead staring Bronte in the eyes, as though she was in a position to challenge him.

He took another step forward, coming closer to Oralie. “Councillor Oralie, I will bring this to the attention of the rest of the Council and you will risk your position in the nobility if you don’t tell me.”

“Bronte, I-”

“You what?” he spat. “Are working with terrorist organisations behind everyone's backs? Because that’s what it looks like!”

“Yes, I am!” Oralie cried, shocking both of them with her confession. “I am, I’m working with a terrorist organisation! Except they’re not, they just want to do what’s best for our world, what they see the Council has neglected! They think that the Council is unjust, prejudiced and blinded to the needs of the common person! And frankly, I don’t disagree. While their methods may not always be orthodox, their vision—or at least what they’ve told me—is quite reasonable.”

She had become faintly aware of the tears welling in her eyes, and she tried not to blink. “When one of their members approached me, I was scared, but I went along with them. My curiosity got the best of me. They assured me, they had precautions and failsafes should everything go south. At first, I was going to decline their offer, but they explained their vision and I couldn’t say no.”

The tears were now falling freely down her cheeks. She could feel Bronte watching her as she closed her eyes to stop herself from breaking down more.

“They didn’t want much. Just DNA. And I gave it to them.” It took all of Oralie’s strength not to sink to her knees, but instead to stay standing, as Bronte’s equal. She could not show any more weakness. Even as she cried, she felt ashamed at every tear that escaped her eyes and how weak they made her feel.

“You’re right that I’m terrible at lying. I can hardly lie to myself. I think it’s no secret that I wanted children more than anything, but I was a fool. Kenric persuaded me that this was what was best for me, for both of us. And even though I knew I was kidding myself, I agreed. I don’t have many regrets, but that’s the biggest one I have.

“I leapt at the opportunity. And now, I’m going to have a child.” She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle before continuing. “Biologically, they’ll be mine, but I’m not going to know them. They’re going to grow up among humans, and hopefully they’ll come back someday, and I can meet them.”

Oralie looked back at Bronte. His face held a thousand emotions, and yet none at all. She took a small step forward, and reached out to ever so lightly touch his hand. The wave of undecipherable emotions she felt was nothing short of staggering as she stumbled back. Bronte reached out and grabbed her hand to keep her from falling, pulling her back to her feet.

As much as she wanted to keep standing, the weight of her confession, the day’s exhaustion, and the barrage of mixed emotions from Bronte was too much, and she stumbled over to the chair Bronte had been occupying when she’d come in.

She was vaguely aware of him sitting down in a chair opposite hers, but all she could focus on was her breathing. In, out. In, out. In. Out. Her head was spinning as she glanced up to see Bronte’s brow furrowed in what appeared to be confusion and concern, mixed together in a tangled web of emotion.

A silent minute passed before Bronte said softly, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

His tone was gentle like the flowers Oralie found herself being compared to. It was a rarer side of the stone-cold Ancient, but it was a welcome change from the roaring lion he’d been before.

“I’ve been a Councillor since before you were born, and I’ve been in relationships during my tenure.” His words, though soft, pierced the air like a knife. “Relationships that most would scorn me for now. We may seem like a lot of pretentious, rule-abiding pricks, but we’re not.”

Oralie let his words fill her mind. She rolled them around, unsure of what to say next. She took another deep breath before asking, “What would you have done if I’d told you?”

“Kept your secret. Been your safety net. I don’t seem like the most trustworthy of Councillors, but I don’t want to see you fall from this high pedestal you’ve been forced upon.” He gently reached over and placed a hand on her knee. “You’re not as isolated as you feel, you know.”

“Really?” she breathed. “Really and truly?”

“Yes, really and truly. Your secret is safe with me. I gain nothing by turning you in, and I have my fair share of secrets. Why should I play the hypocrite? And why not play the defender, the protector? But alas, many will never see beyond the cold demeanor. Not that I’m complaining; it saves me many unwanted interactions in public. People are too scared of me, and I like it that way.” He gently lifted her chin up so they could lock eyes. “Your secrets are safe with me. And should you ever require my assistance, you know where to find me.”

With those words, he got up and exited swiftly and quietly. Oralie had not anticipated that outcome, but she hadn’t anticipated the encounter either. It was wholly unexpected, but somehow quite relieving, like a weight lifted off her shoulders. Even though she was more exhausted than before, she couldn't help but feel more alive. She knew that the secret would eventually come out, and the lies unfold, but for now she knew it was safe with Bronte.

[hashtagyourshirt]

My hand slipped, fix it 3x18

Alex threw her keys on the couch after she closed the door to her apartment. She made her way to the fridge, pulled out a beer and a bottle of water.

“Hey Google, play CrushCrushCrush by Paramore.”

Alex’s home device responded as she took her drinks to her bedroom. She pulled the guitar off the stand near her bed, plugged in the amp, and flicked it on in time to hit the opening notes along with the song flooding the speakers in her apartment.

She played along loudly, stomping on the floor to the beat, allowing the music to consume her like it did when she learned to play the song ten years ago. The song ended and Decode followed it. Alex shook her head fiercely as she played the hook; she screamed along to the words that seemed to have new meaning for her all over again.

She stayed like this for hours, playing every song that came up next. She moved from Paramore’s albums to My Chemical Romance’s Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.  

She didn’t hear the knock on the door, and didn’t hear when her visitor came into her apartment since the door was left unlocked. Lena made her way through Alex’s incredibly loud living space. She smirked when she saw the older Danvers sister playing the solo to her favorite song from middle school.

Alex spun on the spot, still playing her guitar oblivious to Lena’s presence.

“Jesus Christ!” Alex yelled when she caught sight of the CEO standing in her living room with a bemused expression on her face. She immediately shut off the amp and song system, embarrassment spreading through her like poison.

“Sorry, Alex,” Lena said, a half smile still on her lips. “You said I could come over when I needed, and the door was unlocked…”

“Yeah, no, no, it’s fine,” Alex shook her head. “I just can’t believe you caught me playing along to MCR, no less. It’s kind of--”

“Hot,” Lena supplied, her cheeks tinged slightly pink at her own admission.

“I was going to say embarrassing,” Alex replied, curling the right side of her mouth upwards with confidence.  “Didn’t think you were into pop punk.”

“I was a rebelliously angsty teenager at some point, Agent Danvers.” Lena quirked her right eyebrow up, enjoying the reaction she was getting from the older woman. “And who can resist a woman who can play guitar?”

It was Alex’s turn for her cheeks to redden. She coughed to loosen the tension she felt in her chest. “What brings you to my place, Lena? Can’t just be my above average musical skill.”

Lena smiled at this. “As much as I wish that were true, I did come to talk to you about what’s been going on, if that’s okay?” Lena fidgeted suddenly unsure of herself. “I know you said I could come by whenever I needed, and now I’ve invaded your space, so I hope this is acceptable.”  

“Lena,” Alex breathed. The Luthor’s eyes shot up to meet her own. “You want a beer?”

“Uh, yeah, a beer would be great.”

The pair moved to the couch, talking about nothing in particular while they drank what Alex claimed to be the best I.P.A. that exists. Alex realized, that while she was friends with Lena, she didn’t know her that well. Kara usually monopolized Lena’s time when they would all hang out. But that was pre-break up. That was pre-Reign, too.

“I had no idea you’ve been out this long. I feel like an idiot for assuming you came out as recently as me.”

Lena smiled, liking that she was able to see a softer side of Alex. “Oh yeah, I’ve been out as queer since I was fourteen. I fell in love with my best friend and roommate at boarding school. Such a cliche, right?” Lena was talking animatedly as Alex listened amused. “We were together on and off for about two years.”

“What broke you up?” Alex asked as she sipped her beer.

“I graduated early and started my first doctorate at MIT.”

“Wow.”

“I didn’t want to do a long distance thing, especially when our relationship was kind of a secret on campus. And well, I was very interested in getting to know college girls at the time.” Lena winked at Alex, which made her chuckle.

“How’d that work out?” Alex asked with a grin.

“Oh, it was absolutely awful!” Lena laughed with Alex at her past. “I don’t know why I thought any adult women would be interested in me a sixteen. Once I turned eighteen, finished a BS/MS degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT, moving to be full time in my Biological Engineering doctorate, it all changed.”

“Really?” Alex questioned, her eyebrows raised.

“No, of course not.” Lena laughed at Alex’s reaction. “I was still younger than my contemporaries by at least ten years, and seen as a spoiled rich kid to boot.”

“I would think the ladies would be lined up around the block for you,” Alex said smoothly.

Lena smiled, watching Alex take a swig of her beer. “I’m sure that’s the case for you.”

Alex made a noise like a cough mixed with a laugh. “Me? No way. I’m far too nervous for any of that. No ladies want me.”

It was Lena’s turn to laugh. “No ladies want you? A strong woman who works for a secret government agency kicking ass and protecting the world, rides a motorcycle, plays guitar, and is incredibly gorgeous?” Lena raised her eyebrow as if to say Really? “Eighteen year old me would have been first in line.”  

“Would have been?” Alex repeated before she could stop herself.

“Maybe I still would be in that line, even if you just saw me as your sister’s best friend,” Lena shared daringly, playing with the label on her beer bottle. Crime As Forgiven by Against Me! poured from the speakers, surrounding Alex and Lena in their own world.

Alex blushed, and looked past Lena through the sliding glass doors that led to her small porch.  “We should go outside, it’s beautiful out.”  

Without waiting for a response from Lena, she took the beer from Lena’s hand, put it on the coffee table, then spun to take both her hands in her own. Lena revelled in the feeling Alex’s fingers wrapped around her own.

Alex kept her one hand held loosely in Lena’s once they were outside. They looked up at the stars that were splattered across the night’s sky like someone flicked the end of a paint brush against a black canvas.

“I sort of had a crush on you, before I even knew it was a crush,” Alex conceded, not looking at Lena, but at the sky.

“Oh, really?” Lena replied, squeezing Alex’s hand that still hung in her own. “Had?”

“Maybe I still do, but am nervous you’re into your best friend again?” Alex’s heart thudded in her chest in time with the kick drum.

“I’ve been more amorous of her sapphic sister,” Lena admitted, leaning her shoulder into Alex’s.

They turned to meet each other’s gaze, Alex with hazy eyes while Lena’s sparkled. Alex nodded, as if to say that she understood what Lena meant, even if the information was still making its way to her brain.

While Alex still was formulating what to say back, Lena closed her eyes and brought her lips to meet the slightly older woman’s. They kissed slowly on the porch, each careful not to move too quickly. Just as Alex moved to slide her hands from Lena’s waist up her back, deepening the kiss in a way that made Lena moan, they heard someone clear their throat.

They pulled apart, Alex adopting a defensive stance slightly in front of Lena in anticipation of a fight from this intruder. She was met with Supergirl’s furrowed brow.

“Sorry, to, uh, interrupt,” Supergirl cleared her throat again, putting on a stoic grimace. “But we are needed at the DEO.  It’s Reign.”

“Okay, we’ll meet you there,” Alex said, already turning to retrieve her jacket and keys in her apartment.

“Uh, ‘we’?”

“Yes,” Alex met Supergirl’s uncomfortable gaze. “Lena is helping us with Reign. She’s the only one who’s learned anything about how to subdue her.” Alex ended with a glare to her younger sister We’ve been through this, Kara.

“Right,” Supergirl cleared her throat, processing everything she’d just experienced in the two miutes she’d been near her sister and best friend. “I can carry you both, if--”

“Thanks, but we’ll meet you at the DEO,” Alex interjected. “Lena can come with me on my motorcycle.” Alex looked to Lena, who raised her eyebrow suggestively.

Supergirl nodded and took off into the sky.  

After putting on her jacket, Alex grabbed the spare helmet she had and handed it to Lena.  

“Sorry about that,” Alex offered.

“It’s not like you did it.” Lena inspected the helmet in her hands. “Maybe you can make it up to me? Take me riding?” She quirked her eyebrow in a way that made Alex melt. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

Alex laughed wholeheartedly, taking a step closer to Lena so their bodies were nearly pressed together. “I can’t wait.” She leaned in to place a small kiss on Lena’s lips. Before either realized, they were pressed together again, Lena’s hands wrapped in Alex’s hair. She adored the feeling of the Alex’s buzzed undercut as she deepened the kiss.

Lena pulled back, breathing heavily.  “Let’s go save the world.” She placed a quick kiss on Alex’s lips before taking a step back and following Alex out the door.