Y/N's POV
"Well, Pumpkin. What do you say?"
Penelope asks, her voice trembling with excitement as she holds out the small box to me.
With hesitant movements I fold the lid back, feel the velvet under my fingers and nervously exhale the breath I had been holding.
I lean forward, my gaze lingering on what is lying there on the dark green velvet.
Tears well up in my eyes and I feel like I don't know the right words to describe it.
As if the term to describe this perfection has yet to be created.
"Penelope, it's... perfect."
I breathe and look up at her, seeing relief relax her face.
"Really? You're not just saying that?"
She asks, leaning forward again to take a look in the box.
"I know your drawing was pretty clear, but Michael said a few things had to be done differently and then I just decided..."
Penelope blurts out nervously and places the box on the table before nervously fiddling with her large belt with her fingers.
"I know, I probably should have called you, but it all had to happen quickly and..."
I interrupt her nervous torrent of words by throwing my arms around her neck.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
I whisper and hug her tightly.
Penelope wraps her hands around my waist and hugs me just as tightly to her chest while she sighs with relief.
"Do you really like it?"
she asks quietly and I lean back slightly in her arms to place a kiss on her cheek.
"You're simply the best, thank you, Penelope!"
I say and she hugs me, squealing with joy.
As we separate, we both look at the green box for a moment.
"So today is the day."
I say quietly and feel the nervousness bubbling up inside me like carbon dioxide.
"Today is the perfect day for it, sweetheart." Penelope adds and wraps her hand around my shoulders to lead me to the chair that she had placed in front of the small table.
There she has laid out all kinds of makeup utensils, eye shadow palettes in all the colors of the rainbow, glittery eyeliner pencils, mascara and blusher.
I look down at the different colors, run my finger over the handle of a glittery brush, while Penelope spreads a small black cape over my upper body to protect my dress from the makeup.
"So, Pumpkin. What can I do for you, how would you like to look?" asks Penelope while she has placed her hands on my shoulders and looks at me in the mirror that she has placed on the table.
"Um... I don't know. I want to look like me... but the way you see me."
I answer quietly and nervously knead my hands under the cloak.
Penelope looks at me questioningly and waits patiently until I explain.
"Every one of you always tells me how pretty you think I am, what you like about me, and I look in the mirror and don't see any of it.
When I tried on the dress... then... then I briefly saw what Emily sees in me.
That... that was beautiful. I felt.....seen...by myself."
I whisper the last words and lower my gaze in shame, unable to describe more clearly what is going on inside me.
Penelope gently strokes my shoulders until I raise my head again.
"We'll get this done," she explains gently and reaches for a makeup sponge.
"I trust you."
I reply quietly and lean back, close my eyes and enjoy the feeling when Penelope tries to tease out the beauty in me that I cannot see with brush and sponge, with powder and pencil.
Meanwhile she hums quietly to herself and with each of her movements I smell her flowery perfume and feel the loving warmth that she radiates.
YOU ARE READING
I See you, Y/N. (Emily Prentiss X Reader)
Fanfiction"I'm living in hell. At least that's how it feels. But it's okay because I don't know any different. You can get used to anything if you think it's meant to be." Y/n is living her life in the hell of her childhood home until the BAU frees her. After...
