Butterflies [Marine x Rushia]

16: Sweater Weather

"Ruu-chan!"

Pekora hopped across the room like a rabbit jumping over pebbles, an unusual sparkling light on her face.
Of course Rushia payed no mind to it, she wasn't one to dig too much on Pekora's mind, though it really surprised her on how awfully optimistic the blue-haired looked today.

On the latter's tail was noel, arms wrapped up on her girlfriend's arm.
Rushia went closer to them, saving them trouble on going through the long corridor. Eyes going through the fancy decorations with it.

Rushia's eyes rolled over Pekora's figure once she stood near them.
The latter was looking rather fancy today with the white off-shoulder net dress. Its white color slowly faded to a subtle baby blue at the bottom, very much like her hair.

With all honesty, the fact noble blood runs through Pekora's veins still surprised Rushia. Which actually brings her to her point right now.
Just yesterday, Pekora invited the four over for a Christmas gathering with their families included. But said gathering turned out to be a ball.

"You look nice.. Too nice for someone such as you."

"Hey! What's that suppose to mean?!"

Rushia ignored Pekora's baffling clamor, but instead dragged her eyes all over Flare. The blonde noticed it then begun fidgeting under eyes, the color of her own eyes painting her face. "Weird, isn't it?"

Rushia immediately snapped out of admiration. "N-no! I just thought you looked really cool so i couldn't take off my eyes from you! I mean it in a friendly way." She rapidly crossed her arms in lighting speed.

Flare sighed, both relieved and still slightly embarrassed. Noel really couldn't complain about it since the blonde do look cool in a maroon aristocat vest on top of a black button up.

While the three were too cooped up in their own conversation, Pekora finally cooled down from shouting.
Eyes switching both sides from the three before pulling in Rushia's arm to drag on carpeted halls. "I'll be stealing her!"

Still in slight shock, her eyes aimlessly wandered the familiar place.
The Christmas decors took attention from the already neat decorations scattered to fill in empty spaces of the huge mansion.

For a while Rushia forgot that she was being dragged through the halls, which she was too unfazed to care for anyway. It's not like it was a rare occurrence, especially with her living partner (in a dorm way.. ōwō) around.

She weakly shook her head, trying to gain back awareness of her surroundings. She found the two of them at the snow covered courtyard.
Pekora slowly turned to her as she pulls both of them down on a bench near the fountain, beaming, which honestly somewhat unnerved her.

It was then, an idea hit her. Immediately, she swing her head furiously, eyes narrowed in suspicion, scanning the place in search of a familiar pink-haired. "Miko's not here... or is she?"

"What? No. You know she had left the neighborhood years ago, she's probably not even coming back. Probably." Pekora brushed off the mere mention of an old friend's name, though Rushia always doubted the friend part.

"Why'd you drag me here anyway." The small girl stretched out her legs, popping unexpected joints with satisfaction. Pekora raised her eyebrows, seeming to remember something. "Oh. Right peko."

The blue-haired took out a small beautifully laced up box from her back, somewhere unknown.
Her fingers elegantly took off its ribbon then opened the box to reveal a pink and red pearled butterfly pendant.

The shiny piece was one she adored, especially with it being familiar.
The box was handed closer to Rushia. "A gift from someone who's not me." Pekora gave her smug. Feeling scheme behind it, Rushia took it from the box, hand slightly quivering.

Pekora asked for her to turn then took the pendant to lock it in her neck.
She also handed over a mirror for Rushia to take a good look at her self. "So, who's is this from?" Rushia's hand brushed over her back hair, moving it to one side.

"Oh that i won't tell. But don't worry, you'll find out later." Pekora only gave her a thumbs up with a huge grin.
Too used with the other's antics, Rushia didn't bother to react nor question further about it and just let her eyes follow the necklace's frame.
_______________________________________

Leaning to the second floor's balcony railing let her lungs get filled up by the fresh cold air. Her eyes stared in awe by the millions or maybe billions of twinkling stars her peripheral vision saw way high up.

Each covered the dark blue behind, making it look so magical with the mysterious light shining from billions of light years away. She saw it all with no distraction at all. "That's nice."

Well she saw it all with no distraction, but a distraction did came to take her attention away from the beautiful sight. A hand gripped on tight to the railing she leaned on, then another, and then a female figure.

Rushia was left dumbfounded from seeing Marine's face. "What are you doing?" "Oh, trying to fly- what do you think?!" The red-haired burst out sarcasm as she struggled to pull her body up but did so managed to a few seconds later.

"Why?"

Marine wobbled around on the balcony after lifting her other leg up to cross the fence while Rushia just stood still, eyes locked onto her.
Marine stretched her body up, popping some back joints and letting out a satisfied groan before answering,

"How do i say this.. I was running away from someone who was VERY mad. And climbing up here seems like the only way of escape."

Rushia just crossed her arms, actually believing it with the type of person Marine was. "Quite surprised you managed it, thought you'd maybe break your back if you climbed something up." Rushia sniggered, ticking off Marine.

"Hey! Stop it!-" Just as Marine was about to point a finger on Rushia, with her back bending popped yet another joint, but this time she didn't let out a groan of satisfaction but a groan from pain.

Rushia immediately turned away, trying to hide her giggling face.
Marine only threw her narrowed eyes, a hand rubbed her pained back.
After letting out a relaxed sigh, Rushia turned to her then scanned the red-haired's outfit.

Her upper body was layered by a red knit sweater with a single stripe on the middle, a burgundy scarf wrapped around her neck and white gloves on her hands. She wore a black trouser and had on black leather shoes which reflected the moonlight.

Marine noticed the staring and immediately took her defense. "Hey, i got cold so i wore a sweater but i do have something classy under."
Rushia lifted her head with an eyebrow, "You're also wearing a suit?"

The red-haired raised both eyebrows, her face suddenly lighting up. "By 'also' i guessed you already saw Fuu-tan. And yes i am, Pekora requested us both to but i don't know why though."

Rushia fidgeted with her fingers behind her back, eyebrows lifting more from curiosity. "Can you like.. take the sweater off?"
Marine blinked twice before the flat line on her face twisted to a grin.

"Oh~ wanting me to strip right in front you, how naughty. Alright, anything for you my love." Marine played with the sweater's hem then first took off her scarf to settle it on Rushia's neck before slowly rolling the sweater over her head.

Already expecting Marne's nastiness, she paid no mind to her flirtatious words. Now with the sweater off, Rushia quietly let her eyes roll over Marine. "Not bad." "Not- Not bad?! Are you blind or something?!" Marine's expression immediately changed to one which her ego got crushed.

Her arm swiftly wrapped around Rushia's shoulder, pulling her in closer. "Can't you see how good i look right now?!" Marine dramatically sighed after, the back of her hand on top of her head's side.

If Rushia would admit it, the red-haired did look good but she was too bothered on how cold Marine's hand was, despite it being covered.
"Are you a zombie or something? Your body temperature's cold."

Rushia slipped off Marine's grasp, still quivering from the other's inhuman temperature. The latter only put back on the sweater.