Sapphic Voices Fantasy

Poppy And Zinnia

"You're lovely, Zinnia,” seventeen-year-old Poppy laughed, her seafoam tulle gown sweeping fallen leaves from the muddy path.

And you're drunk. Zinnia, more practically attired in a short dress and floral wreath, stifled a sigh. The faerie princess seemed steadily more inebriated, and kept wandering off in random directions. The flowers printed on her dress appeared barely visible in the fireflies' distant glow. "What did you want to tell me?" Return her to the party, now, her bodyguard instincts muttered.

Head tilted, Poppy moved closer, pouting like a reprimanded child. "That was it." Taking Zinna's hand, she swung her arm back and forth. "That you're pretty, and gorgeous, and…" Her head lolled onto her bodyguard's shoulder. "...oh, wow, I really am drunk."

Surprised, Zinnia inhaled sharply: blue lotus, water lilies, seafoam. Poppy's hair always smelled wonderful.

She giggled, grew instantly serious. "But I love you, Zinnia. Really. You're… lovely." Twirling to the path's side, she flopped onto a leaf. "Kiss me?"

Zinnia's peach-daubed lips tightened. Their corners twitched.

"Poppy!" A shriek stemmed from the far-off grove of firefly-illuminated daisies.

"We should go back." Zinna appeared calm; inwardly, the eighteen-year-old had disintegrated into an arm-waving, apple-red-cheeked flail of girl-crazy what's going on here? For five years she'd driven back goblins, brushed Poppy's copper curls, listened to her steady breathing in pre-sunrise hours.

Poppy wanted a kiss.

The voice seemed panicked. "Poppy, there's gob- mmph!" It sounded as if someone had covered the speaker's mouth.

Instantly, Zinnia interpreted the message: goblins. She tackled Poppy to the ground and pulled a large leaf over them both.

Fear widened Poppy's blue eyes. "Zinnia-"

"Sssh!"

Poppy's skirts billowed in a voluminous cloud around them both. Her delicate-boned elbow pressed into Zinnia's side.

Zinnia breathed deeply, telling herself that she merely wished to calm her racing heart.

Heavy goblin boots tramp, tramp, tramped along the dirt path. Torches flickered. Low voices spat guttural words. The goblins cackled.

Blue lotus and seafoam.

Leaves rustled under Poppy's turning head. "Zinnia, I'm scared," she whispered.

Zinnia's sword dug into her leg. Its heft reminded her that she'd be able to protect Poppy, no matter what. Explaining her thoughts completely would be too risky, though. Instead, her voice low, she merely replied: "Don't be."

"Uh? Hnuh?" What's there?

Another goblin snapped sharp words: leave it!

"Uh-uh. Nuh dnuh." I think I see something.

Zinnia gripped her sword. Her thoughts coalesced to a steely focus. Five goblins, from the noises. Maybe six.

She could take them if she used magic. Spells weren’t her forte, though, and conjuring up the bright blast-globes of auric energy left her drowned-kitten weak, rendering her skills with the sword useless… nevertheless, she could defeat the goblin band.

Probably.

"Poppy, run when I tell you too."

The faerie princess appeared shocked. "What-"

Zinnia kissed Poppy's forehead and dashed out from under the leaf.

***

The leaf lifted. Moonlight swept Poppy's face, and she curled into a ball. She should've heeded Zinnia's warning- the bodyguard had never given her bad advice. But she couldn't leave Zinnia alone-

"Poppy?" A patchwork of bruises, dirt, and dark green goblin blood covered Zinnia’s face. "I told you to run…"

Poppy shook her head. "I'm sorry," she murmured, embarrassed.

"Don't be."Evidently exhausted, Zinnia flopped to the ground. A dark bruise covered her cheek.

Not caring about her dress, Poppy crawled over to her. "Zinnia, you're hurt!" The goblins' clubs had pounded Zinnia's body, leaving enormous blotches on her ankles, shoulders, and everywhere else.

Zinnia smiled, sitting up. “It’s not that bad.” She stifled a yawn. “I just want to sleep…”

Poppy’s copper lashes fluttered invitingly. “One kiss first. A real one. On my lips.”

“Oh, all right.” Zinnia grumbled, but failed to hide a smile. She leaned closer, tilting her head. One kiss lead to another, and then another, until Zinnia decided that she didn’t really want to sleep after all.

“Lovely,” Poppy murmured. “Absolutely lovely.” Her lips brushed the dark-haired faerie’s collarbone, and Zinnia bit back a moan.

***

The faerie scouting party found them the next morning: Zinnia’s dress unbuttoned to the waist, Poppy wearing only her seafoam silk slip, the bodyguard slumbering peacefully in her charge’s affectionate embrace.

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