~ ℒℴ𝓋ℯ 𝒾𝓈 ℬ𝓁𝒾𝓃𝒹 | ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕒 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕖 ~

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɴɪɴᴇ | ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜᴘʀᴇᴍᴇ

"Oh my god, y/n!" Cordelia exclaimed, rushing toward your collapsed form and quickly falling to her knees beside you just as you murmured something incoherent before passing out. Cordelia began to panic slightly as she quickly looked you over for any visible injuries. When she found none, she began nervously tapping on her knees, unsure of what to do. So she looked up to the third woman in the room; "Fiona, what is this?" The Supreme. She stood, cigarette in hand and boredly at the scene in front of her. She then simply shrugged and asked "Is that the new one?" Cordelia huffed, already annoyed at her mother's behavior. "Yes, she is."

Fiona hummed and walked over to your body, looking down at you curiously. "It's probably me," she said, and her daughter looked up in disbelief. "You can't be so narcissistic as to think--" "No, Delia. She's sensitive, I can tell. Energy sensitive, specifically. A Supreme's presence is especially hard on ones like her. It can be overwhelming the first time one comes in contact with one. She must have sensed my energy entering the area and come to investigate, got too close, and fainted. Simple as that." Cordelia let out a breath of relief when Fiona then assured her that you would be alright. So she gingerly picked you up, sliding her arms around your knees and shoulders and allowing your head to rest on her shoulder. She could feel your still slightly labored breathing on her collarbone, a few of her shirt's buttons undone and exposing more skin.

The two blondes then made their way into the Academy again, Fiona trailing slightly behind Cordelia as the younger's step was more rushed. Once they got inside Cordelia was quick to take you to her room, setting you down on the bed carefully and making sure you were situated before pulling away. She bit her lip and tapped her foot anxiously on the floor as Fiona crossed her arms, leaning on her daughter's door frame. "You're sure she'll be alright?" Cordelia eventually mumbled, still watching you carefully. She leaned down and gently brushed a stray piece of hair from your face, tucking it behind your ear as Fiona said "Yes, she'll be fine. Stop worrying so much Delia, Jesus." Cordelia turned to the Supreme and let out an exasperated huff; "Don't say that, Fiona. She's one of my girls, I don't want her getting hurt." "Is that the only reason? Because she's simply 'one of your girls'," Fiona put the words in air quotes, taking a few intimidating steps towards her daughter.

"Or is it something more, hm?" Cordelia's eyes widened and she looked at her in shock. "What--No! No, I just met her, mother! I am married, she is a minor, and as the headmistress of this Academy it is my duty to keep everyone, including y/n, safe." Finally Fiona shrugged, taking the few short movements it took to get to the bed and looked down at you. "She's a pretty one, that's for sure. Any one of those girls could come and snatch her up any second, you know? Perhaps that Madison will take her to a party, get her drunk, set her up with some college guy--" "Enough! I do not have time to sit here and allow you to antagonize me, Fiona. And if you're not going to be of any help, you can just go." And with that Fiona shrugged and hummed, not saying another word as she walked out of her daughter's room, a smug expression of her face.

Once she was gone Cordelia sighed, relaxing her shoulder slightly now that her mother was gone. And she sat down on the edge of her bed, gently brushing her fingers over your cheek as Fiona's words echoed in her head. You were young, and she was, unfortunately, correct. You had so many options, and even if Cordelia was one there was no way you'd choose her over someone your age. Madison, maybe Zoe. Or, maybe a guy. The woman wasn't sure where you stood on the spectrum, but it wasn't like it mattered. She loved you the same way she loved the rest of her girls, now including Zoe. Nothing more, nothing less. You were a friend, maybe. She assumed that's what the two of you had become, with your extended time together. But Cordelia did her best to stay out of her head, staying by your side and waiting for you to wake up.

--

The first thing you registered was the soft surface beneath you. So you weren't in the greenhouse, obviously. The next was the weight on your arm. When you looked down to see what said weight was, you found a mess of honey-blonde locks spread over your arm and a hand holding onto yours. You smiled softly when you realized it was Cordelia and used your other hand to softly card through her hair. It was soft under your touch, as you expected. But the slight movement was enough to rouse the older woman, and you heard her breathing pattern change slightly as she woke, her hair pulling off your arm as she sat up. Somehow it managed to still sit perfectly, a bit falling over her face as she took a deep breath.