Through Thick And Thin

Something Crazy

'I have to tell you somethin', Cordelia. I love you. Just like the plants love the water; and the water loves the sea; and the sea loves the moon; and the moon loves the sun; and the sun loves the...' Misty shook her head violently, that was way too cliché, besides: what did the sun love?

'Can I admit something to you, Cordelia? I love you.' No, that was stupid. Okay, what about this one: 'Ya look beautiful tonight, Miss Cordelia. Um, I wanted to say that I'm in love with you.' Miss Cordelia?! What the hell, Misty?! Misty rose up from the couch, sighing desperately. Her head pounded from all the thinking she'd done the last day. She had finally decided to tell Cordelia about her all-consuming feelings for the headmistress, the only problem was how?

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Misty closed her eyes for a second, praying that this would go okay. With a little help from Zoe, she'd found out exactly the perfect way of delivering the line: 'I need to tell you somethin', Cordelia. I'm in love with you. And I have been since the moment I first met you. I love the way you make me feel, I love the way you laugh, I love your smile, I love you.' Misty repeated it over and over, till she could say it in her sleep. At first she thought it would be too cliché, but Zoe had assured her it was cute. Now, the only thing she had to do was saying the actual line and declaring her love for the headmistress. That was the toughest part.

Misty snuck out of the academy, headed for the greenhouse where she knew Cordelia would be. It was late evening and everyone else had retired to their bedrooms, even Madison. Upon nearing the entrance to the greenhouse, however, Misty stopped. There were voices coming from inside. The swamp witch strained her ears to hear what they were saying. Suddenly, a loud screaming erupted from inside, and Misty would have to be deaf not to hear it.

"Oh, stop! Stop talking! You are insane, my God. I am an absolute failure! Everything that Fiona says is true! I don't belong here anymore; I don't belong anywhere!" Misty froze upon hearing Cordelia's desperate screaming. Sounds of shattering glass followed suit, along with some kind of weird instrument Misty couldn't recall hearing in her entire life. The screaming and the shattering went on for nearly two minutes before Cordelia's sobbing voice ordered whoever was inside there with her, out. Misty quickly hid behind some bushes, only peeking out to get a glimpse of Myrtle as she left the greenhouse, shaking her head slightly. When the coast was clear, Misty stepped out from her hiding place, and went inside.

Misty spotted her straight away, a shaking figure hunched over the island in the middle of the room. Quiet sobs echoed from the walls, and Misty thread lightly to where Cordelia was standing. The sobbing headmistress didn't notice Misty until she put a warm hand on her shoulder. Cordelia almost jumped out of her skin at Misty's touch. She turned and caught a glimpse of the wild blonde before hysterically backing away from her, using her hands as a shield.

"No, not you! You can't see me like this, Misty, please leave. I don't want you to see me like this, please", Cordelia said hoarsely in between sobs. She avoided Misty's gaze at all costs, even when Misty grabbed one of her faltering hands. By now, Misty had forgotten all about the perfect love declaration she and Zoe had come up with. She had even forgotten what she originally came down here to do. All that mattered at the moment, was that Cordelia was in pain, and that Misty had to help her.

"Shh, darlin'. Why are you cryin'?" Misty said in a soft comforting voice, still not letting go of the grip around Cordelia's wrist.

"It's nothing. Please leave me alone, Misty", came the defensive answer. Cordelia had turned her face away, and it hurt Misty to see her in this state. However, the swamp witch was intending to stay.

"I'm not leavin' you, Cordelia. Not in this state, so stop arguin'." Cordelia turned her head slowly, and met Misty's beautiful blue eyes. The headmistress was again reminded of how much she loved those shining orbs that somehow always seemed to be filled with wonder and love. When Misty saw that Cordelia was paying attention, she took both Cordelia's hands carefully in hers, and continued to speak. "Please, tell me what's wrong. It hurts me to see you like this." Misty traced calming circles with her thumb on the back of Cordelia's hands, and finally the older blonde sighed.

"I have no one, Misty. And my powers are gone", Cordelia's voice was but a mere whisper. Misty tilted Cordelia's head up, making her look into Misty's face as she replied.

"That's not true. You have me", said Misty earnestly. Their gazes locked, and it was as if the air between them ignited. Cordelia's tears had dried, leaving red marks on her cheeks. Misty was the first to break eye contact. She looked down on Cordelia's wounded hands, and shook her head worriedly. Carefully she started picking out all the tiny glass shards from the headmistress' skin. Cordelia inhaled sharply, squeezing her eyes shut at the stinging. Misty apologized quickly, continuing with a more gentle touch. Once all the shards were gone, Misty closed her eyes. Cordelia felt a sudden wave of warmth emitting from Misty's hands, and she observed mesmerized as the wounds started healing. It didn't take long before her hands were as good as new under Misty's touch. When the wounds were healed, Misty raised Cordelia's hands to her lips and kissed them gently as a finishing touch. The butterflies in Cordelia's stomach fluttered wildly; she felt like soaring off the ground. When the butterflies had settled again, Misty raised her arms towards Cordelia, beckoning her into her warm embrace. The headmistress dried her tears before leaning into the swamp witch. They stood like that for a while, Cordelia's face buried in Misty's neck, before Misty remembered something. Now was the right time, she was sure of it.

"You wanna hear somethin' crazy?" Misty whispered. She was nervous, no doubt about that. Cordelia nodded into Misty's neck. The swamp witch stayed silent for a while, pondering on what Cordelia's reaction would be like. Misty had obviously stayed silent for too long, because Cordelia lifted her head with a questioning gaze.

"Well, what is it then?" Cordelia was known to be quite impatient at times, but it didn't bother Misty. She even used some more time, before the answer was whispered through the air.

"I love you." Misty bowed her head as if she was waiting for something disastrous to happen. Nothing did. Instead, she felt Cordelia's warm fingers on her chin, and looked up into the most magnificent smile the headmistress had ever expressed. Just a second later, Misty felt Cordelia's lips on her own, and her brain went into complete overload. She had never felt anything like this before. Cordelia's lips were so soft and gentle, Misty had to suppress the urge to moan. Her hands found their way into Cordelia's hair, and tugged her impossibly closer. Misty was in a state of euphoria; she never wanted this moment to end. Sadly, they had to come up for air at one point, but not before Misty had placed one more gentle peck on Cordelia's swollen lips.

"You want to hear something even crazier?" whispered Cordelia when their foreheads rested against each other. Misty gave her a smile of approval, and waited.

"I love you, too."