Guilt

“No.”

“But Laf – “

“Look Laura, I’m sorry things are so messed up with me and Tragic Lover but I really don’t think this little get together is a good idea. I like my insides in the inside thank you very much.”

Laura huffed and broke out her pout, her honey brown eyes widening in an adorable manner.

“Please Laf? Pretty please?”

It took an impressive minute and a half for Lafontaine to break and give in to the tiny girl’s demand to have dinner with her and her vengeful girlfriend. Laura did her happy dance in triumph. One bio major down one gorgeous girlfriend to go.

*

Carmilla smiled as she felt Laura’s strong arms loop giddily around her waist, her now naked body pressing deliciously against her own in the tight confines of the shower.

“Well, well, well Cutie, to what do I owe the pleasure?” she purred, turning around as best she could in the cramped space so she could see her adorable little girlfriend.

“Oh, you know, just saving water is all.” Laura said coyly, leaning forward to gently nibble on Carmilla’s porcelain neck.

“Hmm well that is very commendable indeed Cupcake…” Carmilla’s teasing voice trailed off in pleasure as Laura kissed a particularly sensitive spot, her toes curling in the jet of water.

“Speaking of commendable…” Laura pulled back slightly and Carmilla groaned, not liking the direction this conversation was now going. If she was pulled from her Cupcake’s arms again because the stupid Alchemy nerds had loosed another man-eating asparagus on campus, then she was going to die of sexual frustration.

“I was thinking, that maybe we could have a little movie night with Lafontaine?” Laura whispered timidly into Carmilla’s collarbone.

The darker haired girl tensed at once, her wet hands automatically clutching Laura closer to her possessively. She opened her mouth to protest but Laura beat her too it:

“Look Carm I know what you’re going to say but I really want you to think about it okay? Like really, really think about it. For me Babe? Will you do it for me? I know I don’t really have any right to ask you to do things for me because Holy Hufflepuff that did not work out well last time but I really don’t like having to keep you guys apart anymore. It’s exhausting, like staying up all night to finish two overdue lit papers exhausting. So just please come? I already got Laf to agree and that was hard enough and I love you and I love Laf – although not quite in the way I love you obviously – and I’d really like to love you both in the same room ya know? And God did that sound dodgy but – “

“Woah, whoa, whoa there, Cutie, breathe okay?” Carmilla reached out and soothed Laura’s wet hair, grabbing her hands from where they had been flailing around during her adorable rambling. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. She didn’t even have to open her eyes to know that Laura was pouting.

“Ugh! Fine if it means that much to you - “

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Carmilla rolled her eyes and was about to demand a reward when Laura grinned, winked and dropped to her knees.

*

Laura pulled open the door to reveal Laf standing there looking dapper in a fitted burgundy blazer.
“Lafontaine!” she squealed happily, pulling them into an enthusiastic hug before tugging them excitedly into the apartment.
Carmilla was casually reclining on the chaise lounge, a large philosophy book propped open on her lap. The desk had been pulled closer so that Laura’s laptop could be seen more clearly and another chair was placed conveniently next to the chaise for Laf. The broody ex-vampire didn’t acknowledge their presence, she just silently put the book down and languidly held out her arm, asking for Laura. Said girl nodded encouragingly at Laf before clambering ungracefully under Carmilla’s arm. Lafontaine pretended not to notice the unsubtle way Laura elbowed Carmilla pointedly, nor the way Camilla sighed in resentful annoyance.

“So, I guess I’m sorry or whatever. For trying to kill you with a soul-sucking blade. And for ya know, everything else.”
Lafontaine blinked in surprise, they knew what Laura’s plan was – again she wasn’t subtle – but they honestly hadn’t expected it to work. They didn’t know what Laura had said to her other half but she did look a little bit apologetic. For the first time since being trapped in that library Laf felt that maybe they could all get along again. Well, as much as someone who wasn’t Laura could get along with Carmilla anyway.

“Um yeah, me too.”

Laura grinned happily at them and kissed Carmilla’s cheek in her glee. Her plan had worked, ten points for Hufflepuff! Both Carmilla and Laf pretended not to notice as she did a muted version of her happy dance. Everyone was silent for the rest of the movie.

*

“Hey, Mad Scientist.”

Laf was stopped in their tracks, their hand once again hovering over the ornate door knob. They turned slowly to face Carmilla, shooting an anxious glance at Laura who was sleeping peacefully on the chaise where Carmilla had left her. Carmilla followed their gaze, smiling softly when she saw Laura twitch cutely.

“Look,” she started, smile fading, “I lost her. I lost the one thing that made my pointless life worth living and no one seemed to care – “

“Carmilla that’s not – “

She held up a hand.

“Let me finish. I love her and she loves you so I’ll forgive you but this won’t fix anything straight away. I need time, time to be able to look at you without being reminded of the fact that Laura lost her heart.
Do you understand?”

Lafontaine nodded solemnly.

“Time. I can give you that. I am sorry you know.”

“I know. Now get out of here, all of this sappiness is making me want to test my new gag-reflex.”

Smiling at Carmilla, Lafontaine nodded again and left the apartment, this time with their head held high and a spring in their step.