I Don't Like Fire But I'd Let Your Warmth Burn Me

by abydos

Summary:

Gisele and Ragne sit by the fireplace and talk

Gisele of Falbirg always knew she liked girls, she also knew she wasn't fond of fire. Yet here she was, sitting next to the weird raven-demigod and admiring the way the flames of the fireplace reflected in Ragne's glassy red eyes. To say she wasn't absolutely mesmerized by the little creature was a blatant lie and she was even more nervous since the other one straight up admitted to courting her.

Ragne didn't really pick up on social cues; she wasn't human after all, and after a while of shifting around awkwardly and searching the fire for... something, Gisele guessed, she spoke up.

' I can't really believe you think you need those jewels. '

 

Gisele scoffed, a blush creeping up her neck, out of embarrassment, naturally.

' You can't be a princess looking like a man and expect people lining up to marry into your family, all i was good for was getting someone influential marrying into my line, so my mother thought hexing me was the only way that would be possible. '

 

' But why wouldn't anyone like you like this, you are pretty. And you smell good. '

 

The shapeshifter didn't even hesitate, didn't even try to sound shy, she said it so matter of factly that Gisele was left speechless for a few moments. She didn't actually think herself hideous, of course not, she just wasn't pretty in the feminine way her mother expected her to. A tall frame and broad shoulders were ideal for the kind of work she did since Vanja stole her identity as the Prinzessin.

' I smell? What, ' Was all she could muster, the blush growing darker by the second. She averted her gaze and stared into the hearth, trying not to think about her legs being close enough to brush Ragne's or the sharp-teethed grin on the not-quite-human beside her.

 

' You smell good, like, really. Vanja is always up to something, mixing vomit or rubbing soot all over herself, she never smells as good as you. '

 

Gisele mustered a sheepish smile at that, she didnt even try to blame the heat in her face on the fireplace they were sitting before. She swallowed, hope an ember in her chest, flaming up at every one of Ragne's compliments.

' You really think I'm pretty? Prettier than other girls you've seen? ' She asked, carefully, trying not to stumble over her words.

 

' I haven't really seen many girls, you know my mother only granted me this form since she gave Vanja that curse back home in Eiswald, ' She gestured vaguely to her body and pointedly ruffled her fingers through her hair, as some dark feathers fell out and sprinkled the floor next to them. ' but from what I've seen you are the prettiest, i like your smell most, though. '

 

Gisele picked up one of the feathers, admiring the sleek shine and looked down on Ragne, who had shifted her position into what looked like an uncomfortable crouch, even closer to her. She swore she felt her warmth at her side more than the hearth's.

She gulped once, twice, before pleading with her courage not to leave her as she slowly reached for Ragne's right hand, cradled in the other. She stopped halfway though, brushing her fingers quickly over her ragged shirt before she clenched a fist, then finally went through and grasped the other's hand. Ragne went still and looked at her, red eyes wide and confused.

' What are you doing? Why is your hand trying to suffocate mine? ' She asked so innocently that Gisele laughed out a breathy gasp of air.

 

' I am not trying to suffocate your hand, I am trying to hold it. Humans do that to show affection to friends and, well, lovers. ' She lost her confidence by the end of the sentence and the last word only came out as a whisper. Her friend heard it nonetheless.

 

' Lovers? Are we lovers, Gisele? '

 

Ragne had a little creak on her forehead, seemingly thinking hard about Gisele's implications before she blinked up at her, her eyes asking a question themselves.

' I can't decide that alone, really. Both parties must want to be lovers, I can't just decide for you. But.. I wouldn't mind. Being lovers, you know. '

 

Gisele swallowed and lowered her gaze from a pair of red eyes to their hands, as Ragne interlocked their fingers gently, answering;

' I would like that. '

 

It was the first time Ragne seemed serious like that, usually she was acting like a grimling trying to ruin a humans day, yet she couldn't deny; that side of her was endearing.

Gisele squeezed Ragne's hand a bit tighter, her thumb brushed lightly over her, now, lovers wrist and worries just seemed to leave her. Really, she couldn't remember the last time she felt so happy, safe for the time she found out the maid who stole her identity got cursed and was to turn to solid jewelry. No, that time was a burning spite, revelling in the pain of the girl she has now grown to view as a friend again. This was something calmer, something wholesome and pure from its core, covering Gisele in a fiery warmth, as if she was alight from the inside.

For some reason Gisele's thoughts went to her mother; would she ever approve of this?
All she ever wanted for Gisele was to lure in someone with influence, may it be a man, a woman or someone entirely different, but would she want this for her?
A shapeshifter, one who couldn't sit still and refused to wear clothing the way it's supposed to be worn, one who didn't bother using court manners but was just her unfiltered self. She couldn't find herself to care, she hasn't known happiness like this ever, she wasn't going to let the shadow of her mother left in her head ruin that.

She smiled at Ragne, who smiled back, brightly, her sharp teeth gleaming in the firelight and all Gisele knew was contentment.

Gisele von Falbirg always knew she liked girls, she just didn't know it would be a deranged half-human daughter of a lower god.

Notes:

kanebakwmsnkqkq(gay)
I know this doesn't exactly fit in the canon timeline but i don't really care i just want more focus on these two (i haven't read painted devils yet but i hope for a lot of married gisele/ragne content oh my god)