sad fat: the squeakquel

Not Ready. (Peyton x Li) [Rp Au]

•• This is a gift for my amazing and talented and wonderful baby because it's her birthday!!! And I love her to death!!! Happy birthday Trinity, my absolute sweetheart!!! 💖 ••

Deep breaths.
That's all Peyton could do to calm herself down as she felt rough hands around her arms, lifting her to the platform.
Execution day.
She tried so hard not to let the tears fall, not to let her emotions win. She didn't want them to see her cry. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of crying.
Her father watched her stone face as she was shoved to the ground, her head kicked onto the holder. Wincing as her back and bound hands were stepped on.
This was it. Peyton was going to die. She was so scared, so terrified of death. Scared to lose everything, scared to miss out on so much.
She tried to focus on the better things.
And then the memories hit her.
-
They say your life flashes before your eyes before you're about to die. So it made sense, Peyton thought, as to why she was now seeing her and Li their first day together.
-
"Lillian. My name's Lillian. But you can call me Li."
"Li... I love it!"
Peyton's happy voice rung out as she'd gently tucked a loose curl behind her ear.
"Really? My father used to put me down for it." Li had laughed. A light, happy sound that had made Peyton's face soften and her cheeks darken. "Well... I think it's lovely." She had said, her delicate lips pursing slightly in a somewhat youthful giddiness.
She never believed in love at first sight. Never ever. But Li... Li was somehow proving her wrong. She was looking at this tall, awkwardly sweet, strong woman and feeling something new. Like time itself was slipping out from under her. It was just so.... Good.
They had gotten off to such a lovely start.
They had become instantly inseparable.
Peyton watched almost sadly as the memory got smaller and further away. The sounds of light and friendly conversation drowned out by the newer sound of the ocean.
-
Now Peyton was watching herself from the corner of their living room in Li's little city home. The context of the memory came easy.
Her confession.
She fondly found herself smiling at this one, watching eagerly as she saw herself waltz out the kitchen.
-
Li had just come home from work, her tousled auburn hair in her eyes. Arms exposed, showing various scars and marks. A lily tattooed on her right shoulder.
Her body had been getting better and better, Peyton had noticed. Not realizing she'd been staring until Li had shot her a knowing, smug smirk. Wiggling her eyebrows.
"Like what you see, Princess?"
She had teased Peyton, dropping her armor down in on its stand, stepping right over to the smaller woman.
Peyton had just nodded, laughing.
Letting their conversation derail and head into the usual.
"How was your day?"
"Sorry it was raining."
"Did you enjoy lunch?"
"How was work?"
"How was home life?"
Just the normal boring conversation. Until. Li had softly steered the conversation away.
"Mm... Princess?"
Her tone had had a quieter pitch to it, unlike Li's usual flirty one. Like she was speaking to a newborn baby.
Peyton had turned, trying to reach something in the cabinet.
As soon as she had turned around, losing her balance on the stool, Li was there and she was in Li's arms and their faces were together and they. They had started just kissing. Nothing grand or rough. It had been so soft and curious. So new.
Peyton could even now recall the taste of her lips. Like wine and smoke.
Peyton smiles in the present as she thinks about how Li had held her that moment. Like she was something so beautiful and fragile she'd break. Gradually holding onto her tighter. Her hands had roughly settled onto Peyton's waist, holding her close.
And then, just as the last one had, it washed away. Getting more and more distant, the sound of ocean waves overwhelming it.
-
Peyton clasped a hand over her mouth as she saw the next one come in, tears running down her cheek.
She knew this one well.
This was a recent one. A big one.
Their first real act of intimacy.
She smiles so sorrowfully as she finds herself next to their bed, watching as her past self eagerly waits for her new girlfriend.
-
Peyton had maaaaybe gone a bit overboard. She hadn't known how this was supposed to be done.
She had only tried what her friends had told her!! Make it beautiful and give the mood a spotlight. A soft pink rose had been plucked and its petals lovingly scattered around the bedroom. Little lanterns of soft pink witchlight hung from the ceiling and sat neatly around the room. The sheets had been changed to the nicest ones Li owned, and Peyton had even made a soft pink pillow to match.
Maybe she had tried a bit too hard to make it good, but she had tried.
Peyton herself was in the softest, most pastel and silk lingerie she could find. Nothing too revealing but not prudish either. She had tried a dozen different poses before Li had come in, frantically trying to decide which one Li would have liked the best. Before giving up, sitting nervously in the middle of the bed, her beautiful white hair loose and curling around her stunning frame. She was clearly nervous, her hands neatly folded on her lap. Biting her lip delicately and anxiously.
She just wanted this to be perfect for Li. SHE wanted to be perfect for Li.
As Li had entered the room, shirt unbuttoned and pants already off, she felt anxiety and fear in her throat.
Was this good enough? Would her girlfriend still love her after doing this?? Was this bad to do??-
She didn't even get to finish her thoughts and get the words "Hello" out before the other woman was on top of her, practically stealing the breath out of her mouth with the best kiss she could manage.
All Peyton could do was let out excited, flustered giggles as Li was shooting her goofy loving looks, touching her everywhere she possibly could, kissing her as much as she could.
It was a matter of seconds before Li was under the covers, Peyton holding onto her ever so lovingly.
Both of them sharing the perfect moment.
But just like the other two memories, this one too washed away and drowned out.
-
She saw Charlie.
Her childhood.
Her mother.
Father.
No more mother.
Death. Running. Hiding. Escaping.
She saw the guards.
The kidnapping.
The King.
The crying.
The wedding date.
The execution order.
The crying in the dark.
The feeling of loneliness. Fear. Despair.
And then all of that banded together and hit her.
Leaving Peyton to face reality as her eyes snapped open. It was time.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she saw the executioner lift the axe higher, the sun hitting it in such a horrifically beautiful way. Leaving Peyton unable to look away as he quickly brought the axe down-
Only to be stopped by a flash of metal.
Someone had thrown their sword, hitting the axe at perfect timing. Stopping it from taking off Princess Peyton's head.
But who?? Nobody had that good of a timing, aim, and skill besides-
"LILLIAN!"
She had screamed, letting it rip from her throat as she saw the chaos ensue. And her bloody, bruised, and smiling lover in front of her.
"Miss me, Princess?"
The loving accented voice came out a breathless purr.
And Peyton.
Peyton swore she felt time slip out from under her once more.