The Chaotic Bunch

Blast from the past

im trying as hard as I can to move away from austerulia but it's hard ok cos they so perfect. I also wrote this at 2am after a glass of champagne so don't judge.

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'Hey Yuna we got any milk?', Serulia asked, looking around her room.
'Im meditating shut up', she replied.
Serulia stared at her, knowing she'd crack.
'Fine, there's some downstairs', she replied, keeping her eyes closed, 'Why? You want your milk kitty?', she opened one and smirked.
Serulia stuck her middle finger up and walked out the room. She went into Mazekeen and Quirieth's.
'Hey Maz-'
'No'. Mazekeen grunted, focused on a spot on the wall.
'I haven't even said anything'.
Mazekeen didn't move so Serulia decided it was pointless trying to rouse her from her state and went into the bathroom to ask Quirieth, who had just got out of the bath.
'Quirieth-' she started then stopped when she saw Quirieth butt naked, obviously forgoing a towel.
'Where the fuck is your towel?', Serulia asked, clearly amused.
Quirieth shrugged.
'It's quicker to air dry'.
'How-', Serulia started before shaking her head, this place is a  shitshow.
'Do you have any milk?'
Quirieth crossed her arms.
'I can't produce it if that's what you're asking', Quirieth replied, rolling her eyes.
'Wha- ok', Serulia gave up and walked out.
'Quirieth put on some clothes', Mazekeen called.
Serulia walked downstairs, hoping they had some. As she entered the kitchen she saw a couple humans, a dwarf, a druid and two elves.
She walked over to the counter of bread, cheese and... where the fuck was the milk?
She looked around and her eyes landed on one of the elves, chatting politely and sipping tea.
He had long blue hair, all tucked up in a perfect bun. He was wearing a black tunic with (yes her eyes went there) black trousers and loafers. His right ear was pierced at the helix, a small hoop with one red gem.
She froze, throat closing up. How is he here? Did he know she was here? Is he here for someone?
She wasn't gonna wait around to find out. She turned on her heel and speed-walked out the room.
'Seru'.
Serulia stopped in her tracks. Her mouth felt dry and her hands were clenched in fists. Slowly, she turned around.
'Hey A- Alex', she tried to sound as casual as possible but cursed internally and the clear stutter.
He began walking over, leaving the elf he was chatting to looking on in a slightly pissed scowl. As he approached her she noticed his curves, a clear indication he'd been working out, impeccable fashion sense with just the right amount of grunge for it to almost be intimidating. Fuck he's still got it.
'Long time', he said smoothly, crossing his arms and dropping a hip. Serulia begged her eyes to stay fixed to his face.
'Guess so', she replied nonchalantly, screaming internally.
'How you been?'  Really? 2 fucking years and that's all he can think of?
'Better than you I'd wager', she was proud she could keep her voice steady, smirking.
'Oh? Why is that?', he remarked, that shit eating grin staying permanent.
'Loosing me is a travesty', she went to flick her hair but realised she had little, so combed a hand through her pixie cut instead.
He said nothing, just stared at her with that unwavering smirk. A beat passed and Serulia was getting pissed. If he hadn't come here to apologize why the fuck was he standing in front of her? Making small talk?? Since when did playboy Alex make small talk???
'So... bye', and with that she turned and started walking towards the door.
'Seru wait!', Alex pleaded. She turned, surprised by the hint of desperation in his voice.
'Why are you here Alex? I told you.. more like you told me, we're finished.'
Alex gaped at her for a few moments, mouth opening and closing like a fucking fish.
'Hey Serul-', Serulias head snapped round she got whiplash.
It was Austen. 'Who's this?'
'Austen this is Alex, Alex was just leaving.' She deadpanned. She swung round, grabbing Austen's hand and rushed out the door before Alex could get another word in.
'Lia wait-', Austen said, squeezing Serulia's hand as they slowed to a stop.
Serulia turned her head and Austen's heart broke at the look of pure helplessness in their girlfriends green eyes. She saw how they mirrored her look of sympathy and straightened (lol) up and replaced her heartbroken look for a embarrassed one. She rubbed the back of her neck,
'My ex'.
Austen blinked. They knew Serulia was a flirt but they'd never actually considered her having a relationship outside of theirs. She noticed their blank look and laughed softly.
'Suddenly i need something stronger than milk'.

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Back in their room they opened the bottle of sherry they stole from Hubert's room, Serulia pouring Austen a glass then taking a swig directly from the bottle.
'From the war', she blurted out.
'What?', Austen replied, puzzled but concerned.
Serulia tried again, 'he was my boyfriend in the war, a lover on the battlefield if you will'.
Austen said nothing, just sat there processing the information and taking occasional sips from their glass. Serulia didn't know if it was the sherry or her love for Austen, but she felt they deserved to hear everything.
'When i arrived in the army I spent the first few weeks alone, not confident enough to make friends-' Austen snorted. Serulia? Unconfident? That's a juxtaposition if they'd ever heard one.
'Yes A, is it really that hard to believe you're cocky fighter was once a little pussy?', she chucked but continued to stare down the opening of the bottle. Austen could see the look of uncertainty in her flawless face, they reached over to squeeze her hand. Serulia looked up and smiled, taking in a breath before continuing.
'After a couple months when I started settling in I met Alex', the name felt foreign on her tongue.
'He was... nice, you know? We started hanging out and months turned into years and long story short.. I got pregnant.'
Austen choked on the alcohol they had been in the process of swallowing, Serulia hitting their back until they stopped coughing. When they'd recovered they looked at her through their dark lashes and Serulia suddenly wished she could turn time back. The look that had settled on to their face was one of both sympathy and confusion. The last thing Serulia wanted to do was make things awkward between them.
After a moment they cleared their throat,
'Oh'
Serulia felt laughter bubbling up inside of her, letting out a polite chuckle. She then remembered she had given Austen no sequel, probably being the source of all this confusion.
'So anyway', she said nonchalantly, putting the bottle on the bedside table and lying back with hands behind their head. Austen placed their glass on the table on their side and lay next to her, putting their head on her chest.
'When we found out he... panicked. Which was fair enough. Not everyone can process being a dad. Not quite sure why he was panicking more than me though cos i was the one having the baby but anyway. The day after I woke up to find him gone.' she paused, a look of painful remembering in her eyes.
Austen reached their arm over and pushed their head further into her chest. Serulia chuckled, pulling them closer.
'I asked the matron where he went but she said he'd moved up north to the Grisha army. When I asked she just shrugged and questioned the ways of men. So I went home and contemplated how I'd survive on my- nah I went back to bed. But uncomfortable with a human growing inside you but anyway.'
Austen just stared at the wall, refusing to meet her gaze. After a moment they replied,
'And.. the baby? What happened to them?'
Serulia chuckled sadly, 'he didn't make it.'
Austen stilled before answering with a soft 'oh'.
'It's fine, I never new him', she looked down at them to confirm her cheap jab of dark humour was appreciated and, right on cue, Austen snorted lowly.
'So what did you do after- after you-'
'After my miscarriage?' Serulia asked bluntly.
'Yes', they whispered.
'What could i do except move on.'
They looked up at her then, gazing into those deep green eyes, full of hurt and strength. Austen thought to themself, they'd found a keeper.
After that they didn't talk, just lay in a tangle of limbs until they heard a load banging on the door. They both jumped out of their skin as Hubert swung the door open.
'Gimme back my fucking alcohol.'