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Moonshine was at the library again. This was in no way a new or exciting experience like it had been when she first saw the library - although she didn't know how to read back then.
Anyway! Moonshine was at the library again. She had made peace with that, was fine with it even. With it being finals at the University of Arcane Arts and Sciences, it was more than expected for a student of her caliber to be studying in the library, even if it wasn't for her daddy being who he is.
So, she was fine with being in the library. But the problem was, he was here too. Hardwon Surefoot.
See, Moonshine grew up in the crick, where reading was deemed overrated and unnecessary, and so had Hardwon Surefoot.
Hardwon had been brought to the crick by his “uncles” so to speak, and taken in by Meemaw when he was but a small boy. Moonshine, being a youngin herself at the time, had taken an immediate liking to him and the two grew up inseparable.
He followed her when she went to Gladeholm, deciding university was the best way to make her dad proud - and to also avoid being the new meemaw of the Crick whatwhosaidthat - and though Hardwon wasn't one for studying, he took a liking to the variety of sports and events that were held here and even made a new best friend - a sorcerer named Mavrus.
Now the issue was, Moonshine also wasn't one for studying. She was a druid, her magic one with nature, an extension of its indomitable will, coming to her through that or with the help of her God, Melora. She was incredibly powerful and a natural at magic but that was just the thing. She was a natural at her magic. But the university preferred to offer its students a more rounded experience if they so desired, and Moonshine thought that was the best way to impress her dad.
And so here she was. At the library. Again. Trying to keep the words from the books around her inside her head and suffocating her desire to go out and be in nature or worship Melora in the way the goddess intended, instead learning the stuffy and boring magic of wizards.
And so was Hardwon. Moonshine knew she looked terrible. Hair an absolute mess - and not in the usual way like how she liked it - skin pale and complexion sickly. This exam season was the longest she'd ever gone without seeing the sun and for some reason she couldn't place, she didn't want Hardwon seeing her like that.
Before she even had a chance to examine why that was, Hardwon spotted her from his spot in the entrance and lit up, a wide goofy smile stretching across his face and jogged over to where she was sitting.
“Hey, Moonshine!” he greeted with that same wide smile lacing his words.
“Hi, Hardwon,” she replied with a tired expression.
Hardwon looked good . His bronze skin was tanned from extensive time in the sun, muscles buff, hair tied up carefully in a bun with intricate braids and crick knots all around it. His face looked tired but expression content, looking at Moonshine happily, with crinkles in the corners of his eyes.
“I've brought a peace offering,” he said, holding up two cups of coffee.
Moonshine immediately lit up. “Hardwon you are a lifesaver” she breathed, gratefully.
Hardwon looks a little bashful at the comment, hand going up behind his neck awkwardly.
“Ah nah it was…nothing… Anyway, wanna get out of here?”
Moonshine groans and thumps her forehead against the library desk, pushing the books in front of her away.
“More than anythin’ ” she bemoans “but I can’t…”
“Why not? No offence Moonshine but you look… well, let’s just say that a little sunshine wouldn't hurt.”
“I have to learn this spell Hardwon and as much as I wish I could do it outside, I can’t. These stuffy wizards wouldn’t know the love of Melora if it stood butt-ass naked in front of them.”
“Wow… when’d’you become such a nerd Moonie?” the man laughed.
Moonshine flinched slightly before she could reign in her reaction.
A smaller Moonshine stands tall on top of a tree stump. Nannerflies buzz all around and a bunch of elves are stood around the speakin’ stump, ready to hear the youngin’ speak.
“Reading sucks!” small Moonshine announces loudly and cheers go out around the crowd. Pawpaw, a baby at that point, scrambles up on top of her head and reer’s the loudest of all. The small elf looks down at the crowd, baby blue eyes searching for soft brown.
She finds Hardwon and immediately smiles bigger, tooth gap visible in the buzzing light. Warm brown eyes filled with awe look up and she extends her hand, pulling Hardwon up on the speaking stump with her. They both fit on it, small bodies squished together, but probably won't for long.
“Reading is for nerds!” small Hardwon announces to the crick. Even more cheers can be heard but Moonshine isn’t looking at the crowd anymore, eyes only for the person next to her. He finally looks at peace here, she thinks.
She blinks away the memory just in time to catch Hardwon looking regretful.
“I didn’t- I didn’t mean that. Just please, get out of here with me for a bit? You’ve been cooped up for weeks, I'm surprised you haven’t gone stir crazy.” At Moonshine’s wild responding grin he amends his words “more crazy.”
Moonshine looks down at the books scattered around the big table and then lets her gaze longingly drift over to the big windows. The sun is shining bright, even this close to Crickmas, a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the trees outside.
Then her longing gaze shifts over to Hardwon. His eyes are lit up with excitement, lips drawn in a hopeful pout, as he looks at her almost vibrating in his seat out of excitement.
“Fine,” Moonshine caves, though she didn’t have a very strong argument to begin with.
“Yes!” the man throws his arm up and cheers. And then apologises in a hushed voice when he gets shushed by all the other students in the library. “Oh Moonie you’re gonna love this, you’re not gonna regret it!”
Moonshine lets herself be pulled out of the library by the taller man, Pawpaw scrambling after them, hushed giggles shared between breaths.
“I feel like a kid on Crickmas!” Moonshine exclaims once they’re outside, bouncing on her heels, still holding Hardwon’s hand.
“Well, do I have a surprise for you!” he says, looking at her softly before turning around suddenly and using his free hand whistling really loudly at the sky.
For a moment nothing happens and Moonshine stands there confused, ready to tease Hardwon but then-
Something lands on her face. Moonshine looks up, wide eyes filled with wonder and she sees it. Hundreds of little snowflakes floating down from the sky. She squeals excitedly, immediately opening her mouth to try to catch as many as possible on her tongue. Hardwon laughs from beside her, something loud and boisterous, and her breath catches as she turns to look at him.
She always knew Hardwon was good lookin’, objectively - not that she ever thought about it - but right now, snowflakes in his hair, sunshine in his face, and adoration in his eyes he looks… radiant.
Moonshine feels her breath stutter, the words on the tip of her tongue fizzle out like melted snowflakes and she feels. She feels her heart full. Hardwon is still looking at her, mouth forming words that she does not hear, a teasing smile playing at his lips and suddenly she can’t go another day with this yearning in her chest.
She determinedly grabs his face between her now cold hands, successfully interrupting whatever he was saying in the process, and plants a kiss right on his lips. Hardwon is still against her for all but a second, shock and nervousness rooting him in place but as soon as she starts pulling back, he unfreezes, hands going up to cradle her face gently, like she is something to be cherished, and kisses back.
They kiss gently, something sweet and precious, shared between best friends. A kiss that already holds so much love behind it, intensified by lips and tongues and smiles against eachother’s mouths.
Moonshine is the one to break it first, smiling so big she can no longer keep kissing her best friend without clinking their teeth together, though Hardwon doesn’t let her go far, resting their foreheads together.
“Wow… if I’d known all it’d take for you to kiss me was to call you a nerd, I would have done it years ago,” he says fondly, eyes still closed. Moonshine laughs and nuzzles their noses together.
“How did you pull this off?” she inquires, curious. She knows Hardwon must have something to do with the snow.
Hardwon finally cracks his eyes open and smiles big. “Oh let’s just say I pulled a few strings,” he says smugly.
“By pulled a few strings do you mean you asked Lucanus to use the All-Caster for your purposes?” she asks him, just as smugly. Melora knows her dad has an even bigger soft spot for Hardwon than her.
Hardwon’s smile turns bashful. “Maybe?” Moonshine cackles.
She pulls him in for another kiss, laughter in her tongue, love in her heart.
THE END.