The sounds of the fire crackling before them combined with the slight din of their casual banter filled the atmosphere of the otherwise quiet night, Rosamund and Kira simply enjoying the last dregs of summertime as they sat outside around the fire pit in their backyard with the forest at their backs. It was still pretty warm out tonight after the stifling heat of the day had died down a little, perfect for just lounging around in some comfier clothes and just shoot the breeze together. At the wolverine’s behest, she’d brought with them a couple of glasses and a bottle of cognac she’d gotten as a gift for her birthday last year from one of her old cop buddies. “Good quality stuff,” he had told her when she’d pulled the distinctive (and probably expensive) looking bottle out of the wrapping paper then, she couldn’t have even begun to imagine how much he’d dropped on something like it…

To his credit though, it was pretty damn good cognac… Strong, full-bodied taste that felt rich, smooth, and satisfying to drink, ripe with the taste of plum, figs, and sweet orange with a hint of cinnamon, ginger, and honey that lingered tantalizingly on the palate. She and Kira had already gone through nearly half the bottle at this point, and the wolverine was already starting to feel just a bit light in the head and a touch warm under the collar as she took another quick draught from her glass. Her lynx friend was in the middle of sharing an amusing little story from the other night concerning a new trainee that was in the process of being taught by the wait staff, with Rosa nodding along, chuckling, occasionally slipping in a light-hearted joke or cheeky comment and cracking a big, dopey grin when she succeeded at getting Kira to momentarily break her spiel to laugh along with her.

Maybe it was the booze starting to really get to her, but Rosa just couldn’t help but admire how beautiful the half demon looked in the moment… The way the firelight would make her bright purple eyes glisten and shimmer with warmth, how her lips would crinkle slightly at the corners and form little dimples when she’d crack a big grin or burst into a fit of giggles, hell, even her laughter sounded as lovely and melodic as her singing voice when she was performing on stage. How could any one person just be so damn amazing?! The wolverine had asked herself that same exact question so many times ever since Kira had suddenly walked into her life and decided to settle in to stay, growing to become one of her best friends, a wonderful roommate, and eventually perhaps the biggest crush she’s had on anyone since back in high school… Maybe it was just by pure luck or fate that she’d been able to meet and befriend the half demon in the first place, but even so she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Still trying her best to focus and pay attention, providing her own little bits of commentary as Kira continued to tell her story, slight movement out of the corner of Rosa’s eyes bringing her attention to the lynx’s hand resting on the bench as it seemed to be… inching closer to her own? Out of curiosity, and perhaps emboldened a little by the alcohol in her system, she decided to test the waters a little as she snaked her hand closer as well and gently rested her fingers on top of the lynx’s as their hands met in the middle. Kira’s ears perked up upon seeming to register the touch, still not skipping a beat on her story-telling as she glanced down at their hands momentarily. Feeling a momentary spike of panic that maybe it was a bit too much, Rosa moved to try and withdraw her hand but the half demon reacted quicker. Slim, soft fingers wrapped firmly but tenderly around her own to stop her, the lynx twining hers in between the wolverine’s and giving her hand a reassuring little squeeze as she brought them back to rest on the bench between them. And god if that didn’t just make the taller woman’s heart melt at how sweet even just that little gesture was, and it really meant so much more coming from Kira of all people…

Fuck… Rosa really had it bad, and the booze was making it really hard to pay much attention to anything other than how gorgeous Kira looked bathed in the golden glow of the firelight… almost angelic-looking in a way with the way it seemed to form a faint wreathe around her…

“Hey Ro, you good there?”

Next thing the wolverine knew, her friend was waving a hand in front of her face with an amused little grin on her face, her glass of cognac now set down on the bench beside her for the time being. Wait… Shit, she’d totally spaced out for a bit there, hadn’t she? Kira’s face seemed to confirm as much as her grin widened a touch more.

“You know, if my story was starting to bore you, you could’ve just said so!” the lynx giggled as she scooted herself a bit closer now, lightly nudging her wolverine friend with an elbow and not seeming the least bit offended. And already Rosa was sure her face was turning as red as a steamed lobster as the delayed sense of embarrassment finally started to set in, trying to just brush it off and play it cool as she sheepishly chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck.

“Ah… Haha, sorry about that Kätzchen… Think the booze is gettin’ to me a lil’ bit is all.”

‘And I was too busy admiring how pretty your eyes are…’ The words lingered there right on the tip of her tongue, so close that she just barely kept herself from blurting them aloud. She swallowed them back down as she put down her now empty glass for the time being, better to not drink anymore or else she might end up actually doing something she’d likely regret later. And it only just now registered how close Kira was in that moment… So close that she was almost practically sidled up right against Rosa and nearly leaning into her side, carrying with her the sweet smell of warm vanilla and spices as the aroma sensually tickled against her nose. Shit… She wasn’t going to survive at this rate, was she?

Alcohol and being in such close proximity with the girl that she had a massive planet-sized crush on was probably not the best combination… Not that it was the first time they’ve really been like that in a way that could be probably seen as rather ‘intimate’ and seemed as if they were more than just friends, like all those instances when they’d cuddle together on the couch during movie nights. But she’d always brushed it off as it just being something they did because they were such good friends together, and that the half demon was just someone who was a very physical sort of person that liked to express her fondness and affection through hugs and cuddles and such. Rosa had long accepted that her feelings for Kira might indeed be one-sided, as the half demon wasn’t particularly interested in the idea of a sexual relationship and was uncertain about what she wanted in a romantic one.

Not that it stopped the wolverine from savoring the warmth that bloomed and burned in her chest whenever Kira flashed that sweet little smile she loved so much or burst out into that song-like laughter, or when the lynx would press up to her as close as possible to bury her face in Rosa’s fluffy fur and bask in their shared body heat together. But something about this seemed different… A gentle, familiar touch against the wolverine’s cheek drew her attention back to her roommate who was now leaning in even closer, a sort of softness in her violet eyes that Rosa didn’t recognize as the lynx stroked along the smooth, sleek fur with her thumb.

“Hey Ro… I’ve been thinking quite a bit as of lately, and I... I was wondering if maybe…?” Kira’s voice is hushed and carries an edge of nervousness to it, like she knows what she wants to ask but isn’t sure of how to say it. She’s so close now that Rosa can see the way the cat’s brow wrinkles and furrows in uncertainty with a hint of mild frustration, her eyes shying away as she looked off to the side for a moment and took a deep breath. And then suddenly, the next moment she could feel the lynx’s lips on hers, the wolverine’s nose bunching ever so slightly as Kira’s pushed up against it in the process.

In that moment Rosa’s brain practically short-circuited, the momentary flash of surprise and utter bafflement completely overtaken by the wave of absolute joy, adoration, and satisfaction that crashed over her right in that very moment. Holy. Fucking. Shit… Kira had actually kissed her? Just like that?? For real?! So many times before she’d dreamed, nigh even fantasized, of this kind of moment happening for god knows how long, ever since those many, many months ago when she’d first come to the realization that she had a huge lesbian crush on her roommate. Maybe she would’ve just accepted the idea of just forever stewing and wallowing in those fantasies of what could’ve been, letting those unreciprocated feelings burn a hole into her heart that would linger there for as long as she lived knowing that her friend might not ever share them back… Never in her wildest imaginations could the wolverine have ever expected her wishes to actually come true, and especially not like this!

Right… Now was not the time for pondering on all that as Rosa shoved all of those noisy, nagging thoughts and shut them up tight in the back of her mind, letting her eyes slide closed to revel in the sheer bliss of the moment as she returned the kiss in kind. God, Kira’s lips were petal soft and so incredibly warm like she’d imagined, the kiss itself felt so light and delicate yet full of passion and adoration, tasting faintly of sweet oranges, honey, ginger, and cinnamon, intoxicating and electrifying… A stark contrast to the messy, awkward, and rough embraces exchanged in the secret corners just out of sight in the high school locker room between a pair of desperately horny teenagers, fueled by the excitement and anxiety of dodging around disapproving eyes and ears from teachers and peers. Painful, intense, and feverish yet dizzyingly tantalizing… with noses, foreheads, and teeth clashing and bashing together as if they were trying to devour one another at the same time. If heaven truly existed on Earth in any capacity, this would surely be it for Rosa… The wolverine was practically riding high on cloud nine right now as she hoped that this truly special, long-awaited moment would never end, as if Kira would just float away and disappear into thin air if she pulled away from her right then and there.

Thankfully the lynx was generous enough to let the kiss linger for a good couple of minutes, purring low and deep into Rosa’s mouth, letting her teeth brush and scrape gingerly against the wolverine’s bottom lip as she reluctantly withdrew. A faint grunt of disappointment bubbled up from within the taller woman’s chest before she could even think to stop it, yellow eyes wide with wonder and awe as she touched her fingers to her own lips. She swore she could still feel the heat of Kira’s kiss lingering there, a pleasant kind of tingle that made her long for more…

“Wha…” Rosa found herself at a complete loss of words for a moment as she tried to recollect her thoughts and speak, shaking her head as she took a moment to articulate her words into something more coherent in her mind before inquiring, “What was that for…?”

“Shit…! I’m sorry, I… I don’t know what came over me,” Kira’s eyes blew wide in mortification as the clarity of what she’d just done seemed to hit her all at once like a ton of bricks, biting her lip in shame as she cast her eyes down to avoid her friend’s questioning gaze, “I just wanted to say that I really like you, Ro... Like, a lot. Like in a ‘more than just best friends’ kind of way.”

The lynx looked like she was only moments away from just jumping up and bolting from the scene, and it was taking every ounce of self-restraint to quash her spiking anxiety and keep herself fixated there in her seat. “I’ve actually wanted to confess to you for a while now, to be honest… But when I tried to say it aloud I sort of, uh, completely blanked on everything. I wasn’t sure what else to do and I didn’t want to chicken out after all that so I... I did what seemed like the next best thing and just went for it, haha…” a timid chuckle escaped Kira’s lips, nervous smile crumbling into a crestfallen frown as she shrunk in on herself a bit, “F-Fuck… I’m so sorry if that was too forward or if it was weird at all or…”

“Hey hey, it’s okay, Kätzchen…” Rosa’s warm, reassuring tone cut through the lynx’s growing anxiety right then and there, followed by the gentle weight of those familiar, tender hands as one rested upon her shoulder and the other reached out to lovingly caress her cheek, “To be completely honest with you, heh, is it bad for me to say that I’ve wanted to do that for the longest time now?”

Gently rubbing the soft tufts of grey facial fur between her thumb and forefinger, the wolverine carefully tilted Kira’s chin up so their eyes could meet once more, a wide, reverent smile on her muzzle. “I just didn’t think that you actually felt that way about me, though... You always seemed more than happy with us simply stayin’ friends, ja?”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too. And I really wouldn’t have minded it that way either. But truth be told, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought over the past few months,” the lynx admitted, her eyes flitting down momentarily towards their still intertwined hands with a light smile, “You’ve always been such a wonderful friend to me, Ro… So kind, reliable, supportive, even in the way you’d always set time aside to come see me whenever I’m performing on stage, or the times you came to visit me when I was still recovering in Dr. Hargraves’s care way back when. I just feel so safe and warm and comfortable when you’re around, and you’re pretty much one of the only people I know I can trust without a single doubt. And believe me, I don’t say that about just anyone. That’s when I realized how truly special you are to me, Ro… and that I had completely and utterly fallen in love with you.”

The wolverine simply listened on in intrigue and awe, and damn if Kira’s heartfelt admission didn’t make her heart soar high into the skies with elation. As much as she wanted to question why it had taken this long for her friend to be able to finally confess her feelings to her, knowing the half demon’s history of uncertainty and hesitation when it came to pursuing deeper relationships with others she likely had her personal reasons for it. Rosa wouldn’t push her to share any more than what she felt comfortable with, and even though Kira was likely still a bit buzzed from the booze it wouldn’t feel right to just press her for more information like this. Instead, she settled for gently pulling her lynx friend in closer by the hand and holding her close, letting the cat snuggle up as she usually liked and lean against the wolverine’s shoulder as they sat there together in comfortable silence for a bit. Only the crackling of the fire in the pit as it blazed and puffed out bits of smoldering ash and the faint nose of crickets and other night creatures rustling about in the woods behind them disturbed the stillness of the night air.

“So… Does this make us girlfriends, then? Like, officially?” Rosa’s voice was husky and hushed as she popped the question, feeling like she already knew what the answer would be. But some curious part of her still wanted some kind of confirmation first, just to stay on the safe side.

“Heh, well we can be if it’s really what you want. Unless maybe…”

“Pffff, are ya kiddin’ me, Kätzchen? You’d be pretty bold to assume there’s any single universe out there where I’d ever say no to goin' out with ya,” the wolverine barked out a laugh, sticking her tongue out teasingly as she tapped a finger against her chin in mock thought, “Although… I’m pretty sure that there’s at least a few where I was the one who kissed you first, heh.”

“Oho, really now?” Kira inquired with a playful smirk and dared to lean in closer, violet eyes glowing with golden warmth from the steadily dying fire as she looked up to her now newly official girlfriend with unbridled adoration and desire. Their noses only mere inches apart now as Rosa could feel the lynx’s warm breath ghosting against her face, the wolverine returning her beloved’s endearing gaze in full as Kira’s next words came out in a lulling, yearning whisper. “In that case, may I offer the chance for a ‘redo’ then?”

“Hmmmm... Well if you're givin' me the option, then don’t mind if I do~”

---

A super sweet and romantic art piece featuring my two best girls Kira and Rosa, enjoying each other's company and sharing stories, drinks, and even a first kiss together~ ;3 I absolutely adore how nicely this came out, it certainly took quite a bit of time as the artist was using a more complicated technique to render it, and I think it was very well worth the effort! The detailing and texturing of their fur and clothing, the glow and lighting effects from both the moon in the sky above and the fire in front of them and how it plays off of them, the little hearts around them when they kiss and how Rosa's eyes sparkle with such love and joy... Ahhhhh I just love everything about this, and I was quite pleasantly surprised that my good friend liked the idea so much when I initially pitched it that they made it into a sort of 'mini-comic' and included the bonus portraits of the two of them sharing their first kiss together! And of course, I couldn't help but feel the need to write up a short little story to accompany it! I apologize if some parts seem rushed or a little clunky, I haven't really had much energy to write much in the past few weeks or so and this week has been a bit of a stressful struggle too... I'm not quite as happy with it as I could be, but I hope you all still enjoy it~ ^^

This beautifully done art piece is courtesy of my dear good friend  Gatewayeee! Thank you so very much for such a gorgeous looking piece, it's always such an absolute pleasure to have you work with my beautiful girls... You really just nail their designs and their personalities so well every time, it's almost like you really know them well enough to capture the little nuances of their characters in their poses and expressions and everything while injecting your own little bit of uniqueness to really make it your own... It's always such a pleasure and a joy to have you draw these two and just all of my characters in general, and I can't help but really look forward to every opportunity I'm able to commission and work with you... Thank you again for such a wonderful art piece, and for being such a good friend to me as well. Appreciate you so much, sunshine~ <33
If you haven't already, please do give Gateway a watch and fave the original post of this art piece over in her gallery as well! And please do consider commissioning her or buying any of her available YCHS as well if you're able to, she offers great quality art for very reasonable prices and is just so wonderful to work with too! I seriously can't recommend her enough... and even if you don't have the funds for any commissions, please do help to support an absolutely awesome artist in achieving her goals and doing what she loves most! ^^

Gateway’s Commission Info and Prices: https://gatewayeecmminfo.carrd.co/

Kira 'Phoenix' Alistair and Rosamund Nachtnebel are © to me