what about 105 for amari, please?

105. “Catching snowflakes with your tongue is harder than it looks…”

–

Zari flinches when they walk out into the snow. It’s quick enough that when Amaya takes her arm the next instant, she’s almost surprised- And Amaya is in her space with a sudden intent, eyes wide with concern.

“Is everything alright?” she says, always present, always checking Zari for signs of malaise or discontent.

It’s a kind of love Zari’s not familiar with. She’s overwhelmed by it, most days, in a quiet way- She isn’t sure she wants Amaya to stop, or taper off, or if she just wants to adjust to it. “Yeah,” Zari says, looking up to the overcast sky. “It’s just uh- Snow is toxic-ish where I’m from. So’s rain, I guess. It’s just like a lot of-” She shrugs her shoulders. “It sucks, basically.”

Amaya takes on a look of perfect sadness- And Zari does feel guilty calling it just a look, because it’s so much more than just appearances- Amaya feels everything, too many things, but that’s not exactly the issue right now- It’s that Amaya, even in her sympathy, is breathtakingly and picturesquely beautiful, especially with snow in her hair. “Oh, Zari,” she says, softly. “I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t do it,” Zari responds. She’s steadily getting used to the feeling of casual snowfall, aided by Amaya’s puffs of warm breath. “I mean, unless there’s something you’re not telling me.” 

Amaya smacks her on the arm. It makes a denting, waffling sound, the impact of her gloved hand on Zari’s down coat. “I would never!” Amaya says. “What humans do to this earth is just-” She sucks in a breath, furious and indignant, all righteousness and heat.

“Hey, yeah, I’m with you,” Zari says. “But you’re getting mad and it’s-” She brushes droplets of water off Amaya’s cheek with her thumb. “Making the snow melt really fast on your face.”

“Oh,” Amaya says, sinking her chin into her scarf. “I’m sorry, I just-”

“This stuff is safe to eat though, right?” Zari asks. It’s kind of the magic of Amaya, how she draws all of Zari’s focus and makes her feel lighter all over, even when her memories try to pull her down. “Like I saw in old movies. I can put it in my mouth?”

Amaya blinks at her, and Zari recognizes it as the sign of Amaya still cooling down- Appropriate, since she now has a crown of snow in her hair, regal as any ice queen. “Yes,” she says. “You can- Here, watch.”

Amaya tilts her head back, cutely opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue.

It’s the kind of postcard moment Zari has to remember to insert herself into, that she is not simply watching Amaya do things like a heroine on a screen, that she is here with her, moving to hold her hand, and when she giggles, Amaya can hear her. 

“Wha?” Amaya asks, still waiting for Zari to join her. 

“You aren’t catching any in your mouth,” Zari says. “I think your breath is melting them too fast.”

Amaya slips her tongue back in, looking to Zari with a huff. “Yes they were!” she says. “I felt them.”

“Well I didn’t see any,” Zari teases, bumping Amaya’s shoulder with her own.

“Yes, well-” Amaya takes Zari by the front of her coat, kissing Zari immediately and intensely, pressing her tongue into Zari’s mouth she kisses her. 

She withdraws, Zari feeling the absence of her with a sudden rush of cold. “Holy-”

“Is my tongue cold?” Amaya asks. 

“Honey,” Zari says, blinking the snow off her eyelashes. “Not even a little.”

“Should I keep trying?” Amaya asks.

Zari takes Amaya’s scarf with both hands, retaking the space between them. “You’re good,” she says. 

Amaya grins as Zari kisses her again.