Let's Be Perfectly Queer | Quinn Fabray

1. You and Me

A/N: Welcome to Let's Be Perfectly Queer! 😉

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September 1st, 2001.

The golden hue of the leaves, slowly transitioning into a vibrant yellow, evoked in Kailani the vivid imagery of a mesmerizing sacrificial fire and the enchanting presence of sunflowers. It was a color that held immense beauty, capable of igniting a sense of curiosity and empowering confidence in many. Flowing harmoniously among the earthy tones of browns and reds, it surpassed the feeble greens that cascaded from the trees, mingling with other leaves delicately scattered across the faded red playground mulch.

Kailani remained motionless on the mulch, even as two energetic boys sprinted by, unintentionally disturbing the tranquility with the occasional spray of tiny wood fragments on their almost wrinkle-free trousers. The young observer had gazed up at the bare branches and falling leaves for a considerably longer time than they had anticipated, although Kailani found it difficult to gauge the exact duration. Lost in the mesmerizing spectacle, they watched each leaf take flight, gracefully released from its branch to gracefully twirl and pirouette through the whimsical dance of the wind, until their eyes grew watery from the sheer joy and merriment of the spectacle, inadvertently forgetting to blink.

"What are you doing?"

The child initially remained still, their eyes tracing the leaf's descent until it gently settled on the ground. They couldn't resist wiggling two, even three, fingers toward it, as if sending a gesture of affection to its plain yet mesmerizing colors.

"Helloooo," Lucy giggled, overcome with curiosity. She knelt down beside Kailani, her presence eclipsing much of the view of the tree. With a warm and infectious smile, she captured Kailani's attention, momentarily diverting it from the falling leaves. "What are you doing, Kai-Kai?"

"Hm," Kailani hummed softly.

The seven-year-old looked away from Lucy's hazel eyes in order to catch their breath. They found it difficult to breathe when someone looked at them the way Lucy Bristol did. She was one of those people who liked to lock eyes without any particular reason.

"I'm watching leaves race," Kailani finally explained.

"Huh?" Lucy's eyebrows furrowed, causing a charming asymmetry with a wrinkle in between.

In moments like these, she resembled her mothers, constantly pushing away the memories of the father who had left — more like had been kicked to the curb by an empowering bisexual catholic woman — when Frannie was younger and Little Lucy Quinn was just a baby. Lucy turned around and settled on the ground, positioning herself at the same eye level as Kailani, with her feet pointing in opposite directions. A warm smile adorned her face as she gently brushed her fingers over Kailani's braids.

"You're kind of odd," Lucy whispered, her words carrying a valuable level of innocence and acceptance. Kailani blushed, feeling a flutter in their heart. "But you're okay. You're just, like, super cool because you're weird, but it's okay 'cause you're my friend."

Kailani summoned the courage to express their thoughts. "I think you're boring sometimes, and I don't always resonate with the things you talk about," they blurted out, blinking a few times as Lucy's expression shifted.