As Lysa leaned her head outside the car window, she watched her hair blow in the wind, the night sky looming above. The flowing air was comfortable, a sensation that soothed her, one that brought her a sense of joy. It was a beautiful night, after all, and there was no better way to watch the world go by than in a car.

And, even better, she got to ride beside the driver, the one she thought was just as beautiful as the night sky.

She turned around to stare at the black haired woman, her expression somewhat blank.

"Rosa, Rosa," She tapped on the woman's shoulder, continuing. "Did you know that before we met, I'd never ridden in the passenger seat?"

Rosa didn't return her stares, just continuing to gaze out to the empty highway in front of them, her hands gripping the wheel, and her back leaning against the leather seat.

"Wow,” Was all she replied with.

"Mm. And that time I drove you when you fainted was the first time I ever drove a car. But, I did a good job, right?"

"I wouldn't know. I was asleep. I guess we aren’t dead, so you didn’t do horribly."

"Oh, yeah. I guess that would be true." Her eyes fluttered to the road ahead, her voice lowering. "... Why're you being so cold?"

Rosa glanced over at her, a slight frown crossing her face, "Cuz' I'm tired, and driving. I need to focus on the road, Lysa..."

"But... you've been gloomy like this since we left the last town. I'm worried about you. I wanna help."

"It's nothing. Just leave me alone."

Lysa pouted, slumping down in her seat as she crossed her arms. "You're such a liar. Tell me what's wrong, or I'll annoy you all night."

"Ugh," Rosa groaned, "Fine. I'm just... I'm ticked off that we haven't learned anything about the whereabouts of the Vampire... I mean, on one hand, I'm glad we haven't seen any Vampires since that'd mean they would be preying on innocent people... but on the other, we're nearing the border and I'm not even sure where to go from there! It's– Ugh..."

"... You talk about them as if I'm not also a Vampire, Rosa." Lysa tilted her head, "Or is that something you want to avoid? The idea that I'm not human."

"What? No," Rosa shook her head, "You're just... different. I can't even begin to compare you to them. You're a kind person, and you'd never try and hurt an innocent person. You'd rather die, you said it yourself."

"But, I still drink blood. Doesn't that make me the same?"

"That's something you can't control, it keeps you alive..."

"That’s true for all of us... Talking about that... I'm thirsty, Rosa. It's been a few days."

Rosa let out a huff, her lips pursed, "You can take some blood from me when we find a place to rest in town. Just wait a few hours, alright?"

"Okay. I can wait."

As the two went silent, only the faint rumbling of the car preventing the horrible quiet from setting in, Lysa let her head fall back onto the seat, her silver eyes staring up at the car's ceiling.

But she had to ask the question. The one that had been at the tip of her tongue for weeks now.

"... Rosa, do you hate Vampires?"

She seemed slightly surprised by the sudden question, her eyes widening the smallest bit.

"I... I don't know anymore. Everything that's wrong with the world is because of them... The one I love is dead because of them, and I lost the chance to have a normal, happy life because they exist. It's... all their fault..." She took a deep breath, her lips curling into a frown. "But, then, there's you. You're a Vampire, and... despite all that's happened to me, everything that I've done... you're here. You're my friend."

Lysa didn't answer.

"I was nearly killed by a Vampire Spawn just a few days before I met you. It was her who caused those wounds on my neck... She killed everyone at the place I was at. She treated them like playthings... toyed with their intestines, their guts... One of them was just a child... A little girl..." She grit her teeth, her hands growing pale as her grasp on the wheel became painful. "She treated me like an animal. If I didn't manage to kill her then... I don't want to think about what she would have done to me..."

She looked like she wanted to say something to Rosa, but she just kept talking.

"But– then there's the fact that the motel owner, a human, had a hired gun try and kill me. Am I supposed to hate her? Hate the hired gun? Am I supposed to hate all humans because some tried to hurt me? What about the shop owner who I bought your new clothes from? He didn't do a thing to us... It just... It feels like I'm stuck on two different sides."

"... I think I understand, Rosa." Lysa placed her hand on Rosa's thigh, looking into her eyes. "There's been humans who have done horrible things to me... and before I was taken away from Nosferatu, I remember the vampires who talked about me like an object... But... there have also been humans who saw me as more than just a vampire."

Her lips curled into a gentle smile, blinking down as a faint giggle escaped her throat, "Like you, Rosa. You saved my life. You didn't have to take care of me, didn't have to feed me. But, you did. I can never thank you enough for that."

"I-I was just doing the right thing..." Rosa's eyes avoided Lysa's as a faint blush spread across her face, her fingers drumming against the steering wheel. "And besides, travelling alone would be way too lonely. Plus, having you around will make it easier to get into Vampire territory..."

"Hehe... you can say that, but you're a good person. I'm glad I fell in love with you. I'm a very lucky girl…”

"Yeah, yeah... whatever."

Despite her words, she couldn't help but let a smile creep across her face.

She couldn't deny how it warmed her heart whenever Lysa said things like that. She noticed how it skipped a beat sometimes as well, not even mentioning how the sensation of Lysa's cool hand atop her leg made her stomach feel odd.

It wasn't that she didn't know what these sensations were. She understood very well, painfully so.

She just didn't want to admit it. She couldn't, not right now. Her life was dedicated to killing the Vampire that called himself Cyrell, the one that took Elsie away from her. She didn't have room for falling in love again. She had to keep going, and had to avenge Elsie.

Even if, at night when they had the luxury of sleeping in the same bed, close, but not too close, she stared down at her sleeping face, a nostalgic desire built up inside of her. Even when her face felt warm and her eyes wouldn't stray from her lips, or how she had to resist the urge to brush her hair behind her ears and lean in close.

She couldn't.

Even if the idea of Lysa's cold body pressed against her own, the thought of her soft skin against her fingertips as she held her close made her heart race.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't fall in love.

Not until she buried Elsie. Not until the Vampire was dead.

"You should get some sleep, Lysa. I'll wake you up once we get into town."

"Okay... But, I have one request."

"... Yeah?"

"Can you give me a goodnight kiss?"

She tried to ignore the slight twang of heat she felt in her face as she quickly replied, "No."

"Awww..." Lysa let out a long sigh, "Okay... Goodnight, Rosa. I love you."

"Goodnight, Lysa. I... yeah. Goodnight."

She turned away as she leaned back in her seat, her eyes closing. She was asleep within a few minutes, her breathing becoming slow.

As Rosa stared at her out of the corner of her eye, the heat in her cheeks grew, the warmth spreading throughout her entire body despite the cold night's frigid air.

She was cute while she slept. Her mouth hung slightly open as she breathed, and her chest moving up and down in accordance to her lung's whims. Her silver hair that she obsessedly combed every six hours on the hour draped across her face, a few strands covering her eyes framed by her white eyelashes.

Her skin almost glowed as the moonlight shone through from the car window, the light bouncing off the silver and few strands of white in her hair, giving her a somewhat ethereal appearance. At times, she almost seemed more like a doll than a living being.

Her legs, that had slowly become less thin as she began to eat again, were brought up to her chest as she sat in a less than safe fashion, her arms wrapped around her legs like a gentle hug. She looked comfortable despite the fact she was tall, barely able to fit on the seat like that.

She did have quite a slim figure, though, she had begun to fill out to a much healthier look rather than the emaciated state she met her in. It made her happy to see Lysa getting better, eating three meals a day as well as drinking plenty of water. Letting her drink a bit of her blood every week or so seemed to help a lot, as well. It was relatively painless, too, considering Lysa was skilled at using a needle, along with her knowing how to clean the small prick well.

Though, as her eyes were periodically drawn to Lysa's figure, she noticed her clothes. It had been a long while since she got her some new ones, along with the fact many of them were torn or unwearable all together, so they made a stop.

A few pairs of cargo pants (She apparently did not like wearing skirts or frilly dresses), a number of black or dark-colored tank tops, a couple long sleeved shirts, a bra since she didn’t have any before, and some socks, too, along with a nice pair of shoes. Then, there was the jacket she wore to defend against the winter air, a white coat with a fur hood. She liked how soft it was.

The pants were a bit too short, considering her height, but a nice belt and some small adjustments she made meant it stayed on right. As of right now, however, in her slumber, her shirt had fallen out of place, revealing her shoulder and just a bit of her upper back.

Rosa’s eyes were glued to it.

Not because she wanted to stare, nor because she was intentionally being creepy, but because she once again saw the beginning of a scar that ran down her back. From what she had noticed, it began at the left side of her upper back, crawling down below her clothes.

She apparently despised anyone seeing that scar, but it wasn't the only one she had. Whenever she wore just one of her tank tops, she'd notice them. Many scars were present along her arms, as well as a few on her legs. All of them seemed to be old, however, yet they did not fade.

She didn't even know Vampires could get scars before this. Just what could have done this? What would have stopped her from regenerating properly?

And, even then, what would have left her with those marks around her wrists and neck? They almost looked like burn scars, but not exactly. They were a bit too clean, the edges too perfect just like the rest of the scars upon her body.

Her first guess was silver, but most of the marks seemed much too accurate to a true flame than that.

When she asked, Lysa told her not to worry about them. She didn't like talking about where the scars came from, nor did she ever really mention what she did before they met.

There was no point in thinking about it, though. Besides, it'd be a breach of privacy.

So, she stopped thinking.

A few hours passed in no time as she reached the next town. A small settlement named Crest, if she was to believe the sign she read as they reached the gate. Unlike the tall towers, accented by the walls of light in Central City, outer towns usually had walls built with wood or stone, the tops lined with barbed wire and artificial lighting. It was just enough to keep Turned out, though higher rank vampires were a different story. If it came to that, they would have to fight them off with the small forces they had available.

Rosa let out a yawn as she rolled her shoulders, stretching her arms out. She pulled over to the side of the road as they reached the gates, putting the car in park and shaking Lysa awake.

"Mmn...?" She let out a soft mumble as her eyes fluttered open, a tired expression on her face.

"Wake up. We're here..." Rosa spoke quietly, her hand on Lysa's shoulder.

"Already...? Okay..." She rubbed her eyes as she sat up, yawning. "Where's–? Oh, thank you."

Rosa handed her a small piece of fabric just large enough to wrap around her eyes, as well as a blanket to block the light from making her sore. She put them on quickly, then wrapped the blanket around her body. There wasn't much they could do to hide her hair other than place the long strands inside her jacket, so they had to just hope the upcoming guards didn't want to see her face.

When she was done, Rosa shifted the gear and backed up, driving towards the guard's post.

The two men in military uniforms motioned her over, holding up their hands in a wave. They were armed, standard rifles behind backs and a knife at the hip, but they didn't seem to be overtly aggressive.

She slowed the car to a halt, rolling down the window and letting out a practiced smile. This was the third time she'd been through this now, after all.

"Evenin'. What's the purpose of your visitin' to Crest tonight?" The man's voice was gruff, his eyes looking at her through the open window.

"Just passing through 'n hoping to rest. We've been on the road a while..." Rosa replied quickly, trying to match the man's tone and general accent. She didn’t do it on purpose, but it happened all the same.

"Mm, alright. Not often we get visitors, 'specially not ones so young... How many you got in the car?"

"Just two. Me and her," She glanced at Lysa, who was currently motionless as she feigned sleeping under the blanket. "We're both adults."

"Got it." The man nodded, "You headin' towards the border?"

She let out a chuckle, shaking her head, "Course not. We don't have a death wish, sir. Just gonna get some rest then move on."

He tapped his fingers against the window sill, clearing her throat. "The girl beside you, she okay? She's been awful quiet."

"Mm, she's fine. We haven't gotten much water today, so she's come down with a bit of a migraine. She's been outta it for a few hours, but she'll probably be better by tomorrow." Rosa explained, a slight frown on her face. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to take care of her."

Lysa quietly coughed to prove Rosa’s point, despite not a single mention of a sore throat being raised.

The man looked at her a moment, his brows furrowing, before he eventually shrugged and looked to the other guard, saying something too quiet for her to hear. Then, the second one walked over to the window, handing her a slip of paper.

"That's your permit. It's legible for a few days. If you decide to stay for longer, head to the local office and you'll be granted another one. Don't lose it, and don't try to leave without one." The man spoke, quick to the point, "There's places to stay if you head left once you're inside. Not many cars pass by, so it might be a bit hard to find somewhere to park. You got that?"

"I do. Thank you, sir." Rosa nodded, quickly taking the paper and placing it beside her, "Are we free to go through?"

"Yup. Welcome to Crest. Hope you enjoy your stay."

"Will do."

Rosa put the car back in drive and began to slowly go forward, stopping only a second later as she heard a shout behind her.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Hey, wait!"

"Y-yeah?" She flinched, expecting the worst.

The man looked a bit sheepish as he held up his hands, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks that she deduced was from the cold. Surely, "Can I, uh, get your name, miss?"

Oh, this trick. She fell for it once before, and she wouldn't be that foolish again.

"... Kari."

"Kari, huh? I'm–"

"Can't hear you! Sorry, but I've gotta go! Bye, sir!" She shouted out, her voice loud and quick as she sped up the car.

She'd have to apologize to Kari for using her name if she ever saw her again, but, right now, keeping her identity hidden was more important. She learnt that lesson.

Once she was through the gates, she let out a sigh of relief, glancing over at Lysa.

"... I didn't realize you were such a smooth liar, Rosa." Her eyes peeked out from under the blanket, her voice muffled.

"Don't say that...! You make me sound like I'm some sort of criminal..." She was a criminal. Even still, she ignored that fact, frowning and turning the wheel as they entered the town.

"Mmmm? Why? Even good people have to bend the truth sometimes. There's no shame in it." Lysa leaned in, a smirk on her face, "And... I think it's charming. You're very good with words..."

Rosa's heart jumped in her chest, and she immediately tried to calm herself down. She had to, otherwise the sensation in her chest would become painful.

"Just shut up..." Rosa looked away, the car turning as they went down the empty, silent streets.

"But, Rosa, I want to compliment you..." Lysa pouted, poking Rosa's cheek, "I really love you..."

"You're the worst..."

"And, you're the best."

–

Slotting in the key, Rosa twisted it to the right, letting out a small breath. With one more movement, she opened the door to the room they had rented. Something between a motel inn and a hotel, and much better than any other place they had stayed at before. A queen sized bed, clean bathroom, a small kitchenette, and a storage area; More than enough, really, It felt luxurious after being on the road for so long.

As soon as the door was closed, Lysa took off her blindfold and unwrapped the blanket around her, a smile on her face.

"Ahh... it was getting stuffy being like that.” She sighed, though her faint grin remained. “But, now, we have some privacy. Do we not, Rosa?"

"I guess...? I don’t like your tone."

"Then, can I have a kiss?"

"No," Rosa rolled her eyes, walking into the room and setting her bag down on the floor beside the bed. "But, you said you needed blood, right? Get the first aid kit ready and you can have some. I'm hungry too, so we can eat after.”

"Oh. Yay."

Lysa sat down on the bed, ruffling through the bag she carried with her. Soon, she took out a small, whitecase. She popped it open, revealing the basic medical supplies she had taken with her. There was a roll of gauze, a syringe, sanitizer, empty bottles, medication, some bandages, and disinfectant.

As Rosa began to fill a pot with some bottled water, Lysa took the syringe into her hands, readying it.

"Left arm or right arm today?" Lysa's head perked up, looking towards Rosa.

"Left. I've noticed it doesn't bruise as much." Rosa placed down the pot onto the gas stove, leaving it and moving to sit beside Lysa.

"Alright," Lysa's hands were gentle as she took her arm, two fingers prodding around her wrist as she searched for the radial artery. She found it quickly, cleaning her hands and reaching for the disinfectant, applying some to a cotton ball and dabbing it onto Rosa's skin. "Clench your fist, please."

Rosa complied, doing as told. As she did, Lysa took the syringe into her hands, connecting it to one of the bottles to allow its proper storage. She held the syringe like a pencil, slowly moving it up to the location she determined earlier and narrowing her eyes.

"It's gonna sting. Are you ready?"

Rosa nodded, keeping her hand still, "Not like this is the first time."

With a slow, careful motion, Lysa pushed the needle into her skin. A shiver ran down her spine, wincing slightly as her soft tissue was penetrated. It hurt much more than having her blood taken from her veins, though, it made sense. Her artery was far lower, along with the tissue being thick.

There was a slight push back as the syringe met Rosa's artery, Lysa having to apply more force than normal. There was a sudden flashback of blood pulsating into the syringe, a smile landing on Lysa's face.

"Perfect. The worst part is over." She began drawing her blood, a tube connected to the syringe and glass bottle filling with blood as it moved. "I'll take half a liter as usual. Is that okay?"

"I should be fine," Rosa watched as her blood flowed, the bottle being filled with a bright red liquid. Every time she did this, it was almost mesmerizing. The faint, tight, stinging pain in her wrist didn't even affect her much as she watched her blood move.

As well, the feeling of Lysa's cold hands on her arm was nice, her thumb rubbing gentle circles onto her skin. She was always very careful during the process, making sure not to hurt her, and, what's more, keep her calm and comfortable.

"You know... I wish I could bite you for real. I hate having venom glands..." Lysa sighed as her eyes locked onto the blood flowing from Rosa's arm.

"I, for one, am fine not being bit by you..." Rosa let out a quiet hum, "But, you say that as if some Vampires don't have venom."

"That's because some don't. Probably less than one percent are born without the proper glands. Abnormalities, that's what they're called. My mom's one, at least from what I remember... I wish I had that passed down to me."

"Huh... Well, I don't see what's so great about biting me, anyway."

"I've never bitten someone before, but... I just know it must be great. Think of it this way... it's like the difference between drinking from a can or from a wine glass... and you're a very nice glass, Rosa."

"That's... a weird comparison." She looked at Lysa, her lips pursed, "Besides, you'd turn me if you bit me. I'd rather die than become a Vampire, Lysa."

"Mmm, yeah, and I wouldn't ever do that to you... But, you'd probably enjoy me biting you, too. I heard it's supposed to be nice, but I don't really know... I'm not even sure how it works."

"I think I remember some stories of Humans who were lulled by Vampires and bitten by them... Something something pheromones, blah blah... Even before I met you, I didn't really buy it. It sounds horrible either way."

"Maybe you're missing out, who knows. Either way, I'm gonna remove the syringe now." Lysa's grip tightened on Rosa's wrist as she removed the needle from her artery, a slight tingle in her skin following the removal. "... Do you mind if I lick it? It'll heal better."

"You say that every time, but… I don't really believe you..." She sighed, "Go ahead."

"Thanks."

Lysa slowly began to lean down, her lips meeting the point of puncture that had begun to slowly jut out a bit of blood in accordance to Rosa's heartbeat. Her saliva was just as cool as her lips and tongue as it moved across the wound, slowly circling it and staining her lips a bright red.

Though, the sight was enough to make Rosa's chest burn, her eyes refusing to look away from Lysa's mouth, her lips curling into a frown as a certain heat spread across her face like a plague.

"You're getting distracted. Finish up already..."

"Mmhm… Ah," Lysa mumbled, her tongue pressing against the wound and causing her to flinch. "Just a little bit more..."

A few more seconds of silence passed before Lysa finished, licking her lips and beginning to apply pressure to the area. Her fingers lingered, placing one of the cotton balls atop it as she continued to hold it down.

"Like usual, we gotta stay like this for ten minutes. Then, I'll put a bandage on it." Lysa's voice was low, her eyes staring intently at her work. "... Your blood tastes as good as usual, by the way. It’s so sweet..."

"That last part wasn't necessary... and why're you looking at it like that?"

"Because I like looking at your skin. It's so pretty. I really like the colour."

“There's no need to compliment me, Lysa. I already said I'd feed you, so stop that."

"But, it's not just about that, Rosa. I just... want to. Your face is really beautiful, too."

"... I know. You say it a lot."

"But, it's true! You have to be the prettiest person ever. Even if your hair is messy and your eyes are always tired, you're... beautiful. I like your voice and the way you smile and–"

"S-stop it... Stop." Rosa bit her bottom lip, avoiding her gaze at all costs. She couldn't do it. She couldn't look her in the eyes.

Lysa slowly frowned, her grip on Rosa's arm loosening, "... I'm sorry. I'm just... bad at saying thank you. I want you to know how thankful I am for you doing this. You're the most amazing person I've ever met... So... thank you."

Rosa didn't respond.

"... Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad. I couldn't get mad at you... It's just… It's hard to listen to you say those things about me."

"... Is it because you still don't want to fall in love with me?" Lysa replied, nearly scaring her with how close they were to her thoughts.

"You really are way too forward,” Though, she didn’t turn her head away, merely sighing. “Yeah... That's it."

"... Rosa... I still don't understand. Why can't you...? Do you really hate me that much?"

Her free hand raised to Lysa's shoulder, looking towards her as the ends of eyebrows raised, "Don't... don't ever say that. I don't hate you, I can't hate you... It just feels wrong. It feels like I'll be moving on from Elsie too quickly. It's... selfish."

"But, wouldn’t Elsie want you to be happy...? I think if she loved you as much as you love her, she'd want you to be able to still live a happy life without her..."

"... Maybe. I don't... I don't know. She probably would... no, she definitely would. But even still... i-it... scares me. What if I fall in love with you, only to lose you just like her? I don't think I'd be able to handle that. Not again."

Lysa's grip released on her arm as she wrapped it, the wound now covered. She was quick with her actions, wrapping the bandage around her arm, tying a small bow when she was finished.

"Then... let's make a promise, Rosa."

"... What sort of promise?"

"That neither of us will die. We won't leave each other... because I wouldn't be able to handle losing someone I truly cared about, either." She scooted closer towards Rosa, placing her hands on her shoulders just as the other did before, "I-I wouldn’t… Not again." Her voice cracked at the last part of her declaration.

Rosa stared into her eyes, tilting her head. "You lost someone?"

"... She was a human. We were both running from something, one way or another... and I guess, since we were both fifteen, we got along. I don't... think I loved her. Not like I love you... but she was my friend. My first... friend." As she spoke, her gaze fell to the bed, "... But I still couldn't protect her."

Rosa took a moment to respond, "How'd it happen…?"

"... Hunters from Central City. They were after me... and they kept calling her a thrall. Saying she was too far gone..." Her hands tightened into fists as she held onto Rosa, her expression shaking. "They... they killed her. Shot her with a silver bullet... took her from me just like that... I still remember her expression, what it felt like as her skin began to grow cold..."

Rosa couldn't utter a reply as Lysa's expression became harsh.

"I killed them, Rosa. In the same church they killed her. I did what they wanted me to, what they made me into. And then, I would kill myself. I wanted to die so badly... But I'm a coward. So... after burying her... I just... waited. Until I would starve to death."

"... In the same spot I found you, right?"

"Mm. That music box... it belonged to her. It was the only thing I had left of her..."

Rosa couldn't do anything but pull her close, wrapping her arms around her as she buried her face into the crook of her neck. She felt her hands cling onto her shirt, a wetness beginning to form on her shoulder.

"You've been through a lot, huh...?" Rosa's voice was quiet, barely a whisper. "... We're the same. When Elsie died... I wanted to just die... or, I guess I just didn't want to feel anymore. That's why... I decided to find her body... I didn't care if I died along the way. I wouldn't be able to take my own life, I was too much of a coward… so... I just ran."

Lysa sniffled, her arms dropping from her shoulders to wrap around Rosa's waist. She clung tightly to her in fear of what might happen if she were to let go. If she were to lose her.

"It's... i-it's not fair." Lysa whimpered, her voice cracking as she spoke, "Why... why did any of it have to happen...?"

"... The world is just... unfair." Rosa could feel tears well up in her eyes, her voice wavering, "It's all just... unfair."

Neither said a word as they held each other close, seeking the comfort of the other in order to calm themselves. Rosa's arm moved, her hand beginning to comb through Lysa's long, white hair. It was incredibly smooth and silky, her fingers gliding through with ease. There wasn't a single knot or tangle in her hair, even though it fell almost to her legs. She was very diligent with caring for her hair, always combing through it and making sure to wash it often.

Rosa liked playing with her hair. It reminded her of how Elsie would twirl hers around her finger, or how she would braid it without even thinking, even if it was too short to do anything worthwhile with.

The thought made her happy, moving even closer to Lysa.

"... I promise, Lysa."

"You do? You... mean it?" Her head moved, meeting Rosa's gaze.

"Neither of us will die... We'll be together," She let out a shaky smile as she let a tear fall down her cheek.

"That... that sounds good. I'd like that, Rosa." Lysa smiled back, a warmth filling her eyes.

"... Me too."

She moved her hand to Lysa's cheek, wiping away a tear and bringing her closer. Their noses touched, their foreheads pressed against each other.

"I love you... Rosa," She didn't hesitate to say it, just like she did many times before.

"I..." Rosa's breath caught in her throat as she let her eyes close, her voice falling to a whisper, "I... love you too, Lysa."

"Really...? You're... you're sure, Rosa? You don't have to force yourself."

"I am. There's no point in just waiting... This month since I’ve met you has been the happiest I’ve been since losing her. Every day was– It… it all felt worth it. Worth living… So, I…” She took a deep breath in, eyes of black meeting silver. ”I want to be with you... I want to be yours."

She didn't even realize she was leaning in, the gap between their lips becoming smaller and smaller. Her heart was pounding out of her chest, speeding up every moment they were close. She was sure Lysa could hear it, could feel it as they held each other close.

After all, she could hear Lysa's heart as well, the beat just as loud.

"Then, I want to be yours, as well." Lysa replied, her lips just barely touching Rosa's as she spoke. "You're my... my everything."

"Then..." She smiled, "Let's eat already, and you should drink my blood. It's gonna get cold if you just leave it there."

There was a pause for a moment, Lysa’s eyes blinking in a sort of utter dumbfoundedness all the while Rosa smiled with a blank look on her face.

"Rosa, that wasn't really romantic..." She pouted, leaning back.

"Yeah, I guess not, but I'm starving..."

Their arms unwrapped from each other, Lysa crossing her own with a sigh.

"But... I wanna kiss you..."

"Later, kay? I don't wanna fall asleep before eating."

"... Fine, I guess I can wait a bit longer."

"Thanks, Lysa. Now, could you move a tiny bit? I've got food to make."

-

After eating their meal, rice and vegetables with some canned meat, Rosa had to force Lysa to brush her teeth, saying she wouldn't kiss her unless she did. She really didn't want to taste her own blood, considering Lysa had just gulped it down before eating.

So, Lysa quickly went into the bathroom, changing into something more comfortable and cleaning her teeth. After finishing, she walked back into the main room, quickly noticing that Rosa had taken off the somewhat rough hoodie she wore under her jacket. It was a rare event, really, considering she was never caught wearing less than two layers, hiding the faint scarring on her neck that she didn't enjoy talking about.

But, now, with her in just a t-shirt, she saw the thin scratch marks that were there. As if she was clawed, scratched at by something or someone. She'd seen them before, but she tried not to ever stare.

It was almost funny. They both had scars that they didn't want mentioned.

Still, she couldn't help but let her gaze fall upon her. The grey shirt she wore framed her toned body well, her muscles visible through the fabric that was just tight enough to show. Her typically covered arms, as well, were just as muscled. Not like a bodybuilder, but the definition was certainly there.

Although, compared to the people she had seen before, Lysa would consider Rosa a bit short. When they were both standing, her head fell right at Lysa's chest, the top of her head only a few centimeters away from her chin. She liked the height difference.

She'd removed the thick cargo pants she always wore, changing into a pair of simple shorts she didn't even know she had. Her legs were surprisingly thin compared to the rest of her body, the muscles not as obvious as the rest of her body, but they were still present.

As she sat on top of the bed, she combed through her black hair. It reached just below her shoulder blades as of now, thick and curly as it fell. Her nose scrunched up slightly as she was met with a tangle, pulling a little harder on her hair as she worked it out. It was a surprising scene to watch considering she almost never combed it, at least from since she had known her.

Her bangs, that had once fallen neatly above her eyes, had grown unruly, now threatening to obscure her vision every time she moved. She had to repeatedly move it out of the way every so often.

She really was cute.

Lysa moved, sitting down beside her as she smiled. "Want me to comb your hair? You're gonna hurt yourself doing it like that."

"Yeah... Sure." She turned around, sitting with her legs crossed, her hands in her lap. "... I'd appreciate that... I'm not, um... used to doing it... And compared to yours, it's.. you know.”

"Mmm, you don't need to be embarrassed about it, Rosa, and your hair texture is totally different from mine. I'd say yours is way harder to take care of..." She leaned forward, taking the hairbrush out of her hands and slowly beginning to untangle it, then began by brushing the ends. "You should really brush it more often. It just gets worse if you leave it be."

"Yeah, you're probably right..." She let out a sigh, trying to keep her head in place as Lysa combed through her hair. "Maybe I should just cut it short like I used to have it."

"I think you should keep it long. Your hair is really pretty... but, it's up to you. It doesn't matter either way, I'm gonna love you no matter what."

Rosa didn't respond, but Lysa could notice a small smile forming on her lips, a light blush beginning to show on her cheeks. She was getting more comfortable being complimented, it seemed.

She continued brushing her hair, slowly working her way up her scalp and careful not to tug too hard on any knots. Her hands moved slowly, not once causing her pain.

"... Hehe... your hair gets really poofy after it's combed. I can barely see your face."

"Yeah, it's a pain... It goes back to normal when you run your hands through it, though. Try it."

"Okay." She began to move her hands to the top of her head, her fingers slowly beginning to glide through her hair. Rosa seemed to flinch at the sensation, though not out of pain. After all, all the knots were out of her hair now, so she shouldn't be feeling much.

"... It tickles. I forgot how sensitive my head is... I guess it's because I never touch my own hair."

"Hmm? How come?" Lysa asked, her hands pausing in her hair.

"My father always told me not to when I was younger. He said it would get greasy if I touched it too often."

"I see..." Lysa continued, her hands going downwards as she absentmindedly touched below her head, lower than her face, even.

However, the moment she made contact, Rosa grabbed her hand, her bottom lip quivering as she spoke.

"Don't... d-don't touch my neck... please. I hate it. I really... r-really hate it." Her expression was shaken, almost as if she was reliving something as her hands trembled. "Just... not there."

"O-oh, I– I'm sorry, I won't..."

"No, it's not your fault, you didn't know..." She let go of her hand, letting her own fall to her lap. "I just don't like having my neck touched."

"Mm. I'll remember... Want me to stop brushing your hair? All the knots are out."

"Sure," Rosa turned, seemingly having recovered a tad, meeting Lysa's gaze. "Let's lie down... I'm sleepy..."

"Kay..."

Lysa took the brush from her hair, placing it back onto the table beside the bed. Though, as she turned back, she watched as Rosa took her hand, pulling her down into the bed with her. She was quick to wrap her arms around her, a smile gracing her lips.

"Are we going to sleep…?"

"Not yet. I want to cuddle... I’ve missed it... even if you're cold..." Rosa muttered, her voice almost a whisper.

She could feel Rosa's legs intertwine with her own, her hand gripping the fabric of her shirt as she snuggled into her chest. She could feel her warm breath fall upon her, feel her soft skin against hers.

"... You're really warm, so it works well..." Lysa quickly added, returning her embrace.

It was quiet for a few moments, a quiet sound similar to a purr escaping Rosa's throat as she clung onto her.

"Do you... still want to kiss me, Lysa?” She whispered, her head popping up a tad to look up at her.

“Ehe… don’t worry about that. Let’s stay like this. It’s just as good.”