Lion Parmi Les Hommes

V.

"Le prix de la vie est la pourriture"

~Gregory Maguire, Lion Parmi Les Hommes

(Y/N) would come to find out that allowing the world to know her in such a way would come with a hefty price. This was something that Marth had learned many times over, though it was not a lesson that became less painful as time wore on. For the most part, people were subtle about it. There would be an occasional scoff as church ladies passed by or a group of boys might catcall or a married couple would even cross the street to avoid them. Marth saw these things, but it seemed that (Y/N) was so blissfully unaware, lost in her enchantment with the taller girl.

They continued their walk home, hand in hand. (Y/N) squeezed Marth's fingers just a bit tighter every once in awhile just to make sure that this was real. The only thing that assured her that it was was the way that Marth gripped a bit more firmly in response and then lifted their hands to press her lips to the back of (Y/N)'s hand, muttering something about how they should have brought gloves. It was a bit of a long walk, about thirty minutes, and so by the time the two arrived back, they were near frozen and (Y/N) bounced on the heels of her feet impatiently while Marth fiddled with her keys. The taller girl held the door open for (Y/N) once she had managed to get it unlocked and (Y/N) blushed because she wasn't used to this kind of chivalry and her cheek reddened even more once Marth had entered behind her, her hands warm on (Y/N)'s shoulders, her thumbs rubbing a bit of the tension from the smaller girl's muscles before she tugged her coat off to hang it on the rack by the door. (Y/N) ducked her head to hide her smile, toeing off her boots and heading upstairs and she didn't even wait for Marth before she was flopping face down onto Marth's bed with a groan because now she could feel the soreness in her back and legs and there was nothing more that she wanted than to stretch her appendages right out of their respective sockets. She supposed she should have bothered with getting changed into pajamas but she was so tired and she stifled a loud yawn into the bedspread. Marth took a bit longer to make her way up and when she did she snorted out a laugh at the pure ludicrousy of such a small girl taking up so very much space. And sat on the edge of the mattress, poking a finger right into the centre of (Y/N)'s back, "Hey, I don't know if you know this but you're still not in clothes for sleeping, babe".

(Y/N) groaned at that and rested her arms overtop of her head in a sad attempt to block both the light and the noise, "Don't care".

The taller girl sighed then and placed warm hands on (Y/N)'s shoulderblades, rubbing lightly, "Okay but you're also taking up the entire bed and I would actually like to go to sleep in my bed too", and then she pulled her hands away which (Y/N) was none too happy about.

The smaller girl rolling over and huffing out, "Hey! Why'd you stop? That felt nice".

Marth couldn't help rolling her eyes, "If you actually get ready for bed and give me my side of the bed back then I will consider a back massage. Maybe."

That was enough to earn her a grin and (Y/N) sprung up quickly, all of her fatigue from before apparently dissipated and Marth shook her head fondly at being tricked once again, setting about getting her own pyjamas on and making sure that all of the lights were off in the living area and kitchen. By the time she came back, (Y/N) was once again sprawled on the bed, this time on her own side, not so patiently waiting for her somewhat promised back rub. Marthe only stopped short for a moment because the girl was entirely topless, there really was absolutely nothing covering her besides that she was laying on her stomach, the sheets only pulled up to the base of her spine and she let out a breath at the weight of Marth settled on her, straddling her hips so that she could reach the tensed muscles of (Y/N)'s back and (Y/N) almost couldn't breathe because she hadn't ever had a woman this close or intimate with her before. Marth leaned down then, mouth brushing the shell of her ear, voice low and slightly raspy with her own tiredness, "Relax, ma petite danseuse, I can't get any of the knots if you're all tense". (Y/N) tried to conceal the shiver that raced up her spine at the feeling of the taller girl's breath on her skin with little success and Marth pulled back with a small smile, pressing her thumbs into the dip between (Y/N)'s shoulder and neck and rubbing circles there and the girl beneath her breathed out, entire body loosening under her touch. She moved down her back slowly, firmly massaging the knots from (Y/N)'s taut muscles and when she made it to just underneath her shoulder blades, (Y/N) let out the softest moan, shifting slightly underneath her and Marth froze then because that wasn't a sound she had been prepared to hear and when (Y/N) asked if something was wrong, Marth only cleared her throat and shook her head and it wasn't long before she pulled herself off of (Y/N) because now she really couldn't keep her thoughts innocent while the girl was beneath her. (Y/N) didn't seem too upset, only sighing and snuggling down further into bed. Marthe pulled back the sheets on her own side of the bed and she laid there on her back just staring up at the ceiling for awhile, only startled from her imagination by the sudden warmth of another body pressed against her side. (Y/N) wrapped one leg around Marth's, her head resting on Marth's shoulder, hand gripping the opposite shoulder. Marth smiled then and traced her fingers up and down the other girl's back, pressing her lips to (Y/N)'s temple and murmuring a quiet, "Love you". And then she fell asleep thinking only about how badly she wanted to keep (Y/N) here in her bed and in her arms forever, away from the cruel judgements of those just beyond these walls.