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The sealed envelope sits at Gold Ship’s desk, untouched and still crisp, almost taunting her with its contents.
She’s all too familiar with what’s inside—an invitation to one of the biggest international leagues for professional racing, a preliminary offer that is simply too tempting to ignore. Her trainer had recommended that she submit an application form, had bugged her to try it out despite Gold Ship’s incessant claims that an international league was far too ambitious, even for her. She knows, though. Deep down, even with all the deflection and the jokes, a part of her still yearned for an answer. Sue her, she knows she’s skilled and she likes seeing how far her talents take her.
But now with the letter finally delivered, she can’t help but feel a little apprehensive. The clattering outside does little to ease the whirlwind inside her mind, all the students running around the halls in preparation for the third years’ graduation. She’s been feeling restless ever since she had excused herself from their little practice session for the big day and she hasn’t sat still since. Everything feels too real now.
She’s going to leave Tracen Academy, the place she’s called home for as long as she can remember. And at this point, it’s numbing. She hadn’t expected this day to come so fast; she thought she had more time. With Trainer, with her friends.
With McQueen.
Deciding to finally confront her feelings for the latter is, by far, her dumbest idea yet. Undoubtedly. Despite what people might think—what McQueen might think, even—Gold Ship is very perceptive and self-aware. Of course she knows she’s had a crush on her for some time now.
Although, some time is putting it lightly. Ever since they were mere children, when Gold Ship was an even bigger headache than she was now and ran wild through the Mejiros’ manor only to stumble upon one of the clan’s esteemed daughters sneaking into the dining room for a slice of cake, she knew it was over. Their families were fond of one another, it was only natural their paths end up crossing one way or another.
The Mejiros often extended party invitations for them and Gold Ship’s affection for McQueen only blossomed even further from spending those times with her, teasing and getting in her personal space just to see those cute little cheeks flush an even cuter shade of pink.
So she likes McQueen. With how much her heart rattles against her chest at the very thought of her, it’s a no-brainer at this point. She’s well aware of it.
She’s also well aware of the fact that she’s graduating in less than two weeks and McQueen still has no idea that there may be a slight chance of her going to an entirely different country to go pro and to be frank, the idea of telling her and only receiving indifference is terrifying.
McQueen is a sweetheart and Gold Ship sees right through her; no matter how annoyed she acts, she knows she wouldn’t have stuck around this long if she didn’t care even a little. If anything, she would let her down gently. She would tell her how happy she is for her and that they should keep in touch.
But the thing is, Gold Ship doesn’t want to settle with only seeing each other every few months. She wants McQueen everyday and she’s even gotten more selfish as of late. She wants McQueen every hour, every minute, every second. Just thinking about it makes her palms itch, she wants her now.
As Gold Ship paces her room, mentally preparing herself for what awaits her inside the envelope, she thinks, fuck it. Whatever their answer is, she should be honest about it to McQueen. Hell, she’d go to her right now if she could just muster up the courage to open the damn letter.
Gold Ship pinches her side before exhaling a deep breath. Her hands quickly reach for the envelope and she hastily tears it open.
Congratulations, Ms. Gold Ship!
Fuck. Fuck.
She doesn’t read anything else beyond that. She’s in. Granted, it’s only a temporary stay for the assessment period, but it’s still an offer from one of the biggest international racing leagues. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She has to tell McQueen.
୨୧ ⏔⏔⏔⏔♡⏔⏔⏔⏔ ୨୧
It takes her exactly two days to get her head out of the gutter.
A week left until she graduates, and after all that talk about facing McQueen the second she got her answer from the league, she has admittedly spent more time avoiding it than acting on it.
But it’s fine because in those two days she spent wallowing in self-pity, she had come up with Golshi-chan’s ultimate super mega ultra confession plan and it involves finally being honest about the offer and her… feelings. As scary as it sounds, she figured it’s the only thing left to do. The endpoint of it all.
McQueen doesn’t feel the same anyway. Sure, they’ve gotten a little too close for comfort sometimes—when Gold Ship would rest her head on McQueen’s shoulder and accidentally let their cheeks brush, or when McQueen would taunt her with a haughty smile, bringing her face so close that Gold Ship has to restrain herself from going in for a kiss.
But that’s probably just McQueen being nice. It took some time to bring her walls down, she wouldn’t be surprised if it was how she showed her friendliness, especially to someone as naturally clingy as Gold Ship is. She will have to come to terms with that eventually.
That’s how she finds herself in her own room, with McQueen across her, handcuffed to her bed. The latter had just finished running when Gold Ship ambushed her, handcuffing them together and leading them to her room. This is fine. This is Phase 1.
McQueen doesn’t seem too bothered which is a plus, something about entertaining her ridiculous whims every once in a while. Concededly, that was before Gold Ship revealed the handcuffs.
“You know, last time I checked, the third years were busy with preparations.” McQueen speaks up in a deadpan tone, looking up at Gold Ship as she paces around the room, trying to brace herself for what she’s about to do.
At the sound of McQueen’s voice, Gold Ship pauses and looks down at where the younger girl is elegantly seated on the edge of her bed, appearing more concerned for her than anything, despite her own predicament.
Gold Ship sighs as she stops. McQueen is just too good for her. “Not this third year, I guess,” she shrugs. “Everything’s about done already, anyway. Nothin’ left to do but wait for our inevitable doom.”
“What?” McQueen frowns, looking at Gold Ship like she had grown two heads. “Must you phrase it in such a morbid manner?”
Gold Ship chuckles, resisting the urge to reach up and pinch McQueen’s puffed up cheeks. “It’s a joke, princess. You still have a year left here, no need to be so down.”
“That’s not—” McQueen cuts herself off with an annoyed puff. “Whatever.”
“And besides!” Gold Ship changes the topic, clasping her hands excitedly. “I have much more important things to do.”
McQueen seems unimpressed but she follows Gold Ship’s lead anyway. “What, like kidnapping me.”
That brings a smile to Gold Ship’s face—when she plays along. “Yes, exactly, like kidnapping you! Aren’t you going to ask why I brought you here?”
“Unhand me first then maybe I’ll humor you.” McQueen glares, shaking the hand that’s locked to Gold Ship’s bed.
“Just maybe?” Gold Ship pushes, stuffing her hands in her pockets, feeling for the small key.
McQueen grumbles like a cute little kitten, stomping her feet on the carpeted floor, undoubtedly feeling restless. “Give me the key, Gold Ship-san!”
“Promise me first that you won’t get mad with what I’m about to tell you,” Gold Ship says, fishing the key out and dangling it in front of her. “No, pinky promise!”
“Are you five years old?” McQueen hisses.
Gold Ship shakes her head childishly, her ears twitching as she holds out her pinky for McQueen to take. “Oh, come on, you said you’d humor me. This is a matter of life and death!”
McQueen grunts again, clearly fed up. Gold Ship feels a little bad for thinking she still looks adorable despite it all. She takes Gold Ship’s pinky in hers and locks their fingers together, effectively sealing the promise. “Ugh, fine, I will! I’ll do whatever you ask of me, just—Uncuff me. Please.”
Gold Ship pumps her fist in the air in celebration before clicking McQueen’s handcuffs off.
Her celebration is cut short when McQueen jabs her stomach with a hand, making her coil in surprise. “Ah, fuck, come on!”
“You deserved that,” McQueen scoffs as she folds her arms against her chest, looking at Gold Ship with unimpressed eyes. “Honestly. I don’t see why you must always resort to such excessive measures, especially over something as trivial as a promise. You could’ve just asked!”
“No, I couldn’t,” Gold Ship argues with an exaggerated groan. “That’s why I bought you desserts, too.”
“You—Huh?”
McQueen’s ears twitch at the mention of desserts. There’s no doubt her curiosity is piqued. Gold Ship nearly cackles but she knows McQueen would have her head if she did. Instead, she walks towards her table and pulls out the paper bag full of pastries she had carefully picked out for her.
“Desserts! Your favorites, of course,” Gold Ship replies gleefully. “I’m going all out today, Mac-chan, I told you.”
She motions to the food laid out on the table and smiles proudly at McQueen. “Ta-da! Dig in! They’re all for you!”
The corner of McQueen’s lips lift into a small grin, her anger faltering momentarily as she takes a strawberry flavored pastry out of a bag.
“You—What exactly are you planning?” McQueen asks as she narrows her eyes in suspicion.
“Nothing.”
“Gold Ship.”
Gold Ship gulps comically at the change of tone. McQueen dropping honorifics is never a good sign. She’s usually always so polite, even with Gold Ship putting her through the most absurd situations. She never forgets her please's and thank you’s, her manners with people older than her in general.
But now she can tell her patience is waning. Gold Ship chuckles nervously before scurrying over to massage her shoulders. “We’ll talk about it, I promise, okay? I just… Want you to uh, eat first. Get you in a good mood.”
“I was in a good mood before you handcuffed me out of nowhere.” McQueen quips intelligently.
“Handcuffed, schmandcuffed. The details aren’t important, look, I have macaroons for you in there,” Gold Ship tries to change the subject, gesturing to the desserts. “You like those, right?”
McQueen scoffs cutely but she doesn’t need to be told twice. As Gold Ship works her hands on her shoulder blades, she visibly relaxes, taking a bite off the creampuff she had just opened. A pleased sigh leaves her lips, and it makes Gold Ship’s heart flutter, seeing how content the other girl looks at what she had prepared.
“Good?” Gold Ship asks, intending to tease yet her voice comes out softer than expected.
“Well. Of course,” McQueen replies, her tone just as gentle. She clears her throat once. “It’s from the same shop we always go to, no?”
Gold Ship only hums. “I bought cookies, too. The soft ones that you like. You know, I never understood why you like those more than the crunchy ones. Dipping them in milk is the best part of a crunchy cookie! I mean, I would’ve gotten you milk too but what’s the point if you don’t have it with cookies?”
“I don’t want to hear this from someone who puts seaweed on cake.” McQueen huffs and from where Gold Ship is standing, she can see her cheeks filling up from the food she’s stuffing in her mouth. Unbearably cute. She isn’t even facing her and Gold Ship still finds everything she does so goddamn adorable.
She can’t take it. She moves on pure instinct and she can’t help but think that they fit like two puzzle pieces. Her hands move from McQueen’s shoulders. They slide slowly down her arms and Gold Ship finds herself pushing her face against her back, discreetly taking in her soft, caramel scent. McQueen doesn’t seem too fazed, this isn’t something that she hasn’t done before, after all.
Still, she silently wonders if McQueen can hear the beating of her heart at that moment.
“What are you doing?” McQueen asks, sounding hushed.
Gold Ship doesn’t reply right away, only rubbing her face against McQueen’s back, much like a cat with its owner. McQueen, McQueen, McQueen, McQueen, McQueen. She’s right here, fitted perfectly in her arms and her scent is addicting. If Gold Ship was any braver, she would turn her around and kiss the living daylights out of her.
Her cheeks heat up. She can’t be thinking about this right now. It’s dangerous, too risky. But she speaks before she can even think.
“I like you too much for my own good.”
There’s a quick silence, a beat or two, and Gold Ship wonders if she had taken it too far.
“Like?! Just now you handcuffed me to your bed, you brute, how is that—” McQueen whips her head to shoot Gold Ship a look of disbelief. She halts when she sees an expression she doesn’t see often. Eyes soft, a wry grin on her lips, faint blush high on her cheeks. It catches McQueen off guard. “Liking me…”
She then coughs behind a hand as she tries to regain composure. “You never stop teasing me.”
“Hah,” Gold Ship breathes, her smirk turning crooked. “Yeah, I just can’t stay away from you, Mac-chan.” She takes a tiny step forward to boop her nose.
McQueen turns red quickly and she pushes her arms against Gold Ship’s larger frame. “Seriously, what’s with you today?”
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” Gold Ship shrugs as she backs off and gestures to the pastries on the table once more. “Come on, you’re supposed to be eating. You haven’t even checked everything!”
McQueen narrows her eyes at Gold Ship again, clearly baffled at the instant mood shift. She points a finger at her accusingly. “Behave.”
Gold Ship only chortles amusedly, putting her hands in the air.
She watches as McQueen rolls her eyes, rummaging through the bag. She seems awestruck with the selection of sweets Gold Ship had chosen the more she pokes around the paper bag.
Her eyebrows then quirk up as she takes out one parfait in a cup out of many and shows it to Gold Ship in astonishment. Her eyes are sparkling, she thinks fondly. Even McQueen can’t hide the excitement in her voice. “You bought me parfaits.”
“Of course I did. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t.” Gold Ship answers naturally.
“...That’s cheating.” McQueen murmurs.
Gold Ship laughs out loud, finding her pouty display cute. “Hey, c’mon, maybe I just want to treat my favorite kouhai. Just eat up, yeah? I bought these all myself and it’d be a shame if you let them go to waste!”
McQueen scoffs playfully. “Didn't use Trainer’s wallet this time?”
“Nah, I figured I should let her rest. She still has to treat me for my graduation celebration anyway,” Gold Ship jests. “For now, this is all mine.”
“You bought all of this yourself?”
“Yup! Got it from my side hustles. Cool, huh? Now I can spoil you all I want.”
McQueen sets the cup down and turns around to face Gold Ship. She has an odd look on her face, her eyebrows furrowed as she examines the taller girl closely. Gold Ship backs away slightly, refraining herself from cupping McQueen’s face and pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.
It’s McQueen’s voice that pulls her back from her lovesick thoughts. “You’re acting strange, Gold Ship-san.”
“What? Where’d that come from?” Gold Ship laughs. “You think this is somethin’ I don’t already do?”
“No, it’s just… Right now, it feels a little ill-timed, I suppose.” McQueen says as she bites her lip.
Gold Ship tilts her head to the side in confusion. “You gotta be more specific than that, princess.”
McQueen flushes subtly at the pet name. She crosses her arms against her chest.
“Well, why did you bring me in here in the first place? What did you want to talk about?” McQueen prods. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve been acting off since we got here. You’ve been unusually quiet.”
Gold Ship opens her mouth wide and is about to start screaming when McQueen hurriedly covers her mouth with her palm, glaring up at her in annoyance. “By your standards. Please, you know what I mean. Don’t push it.”
Gold Ship laughs softly, wrapping her fingers around McQueen’s wrist to take her hand off. “You’ve been observin’ me, huh? What, you worried or somethin’?”
“Are you going to tell me or not? And no, I’m not going to be mad at whatever it is,” McQueen says. “I might be mad, however, if you keep dragging this out.”
Gold Ship searches her face. She seems serious. At the very least, she doesn’t have to worry about McQueen getting angry about the thing. She’ll understand, Gold Ship tells herself. She sighs, ducking her head in despair.
Then, she reaches over McQueen to open the drawer on her table, making the shorter girl’s breath hitch in surprise. She takes the envelope and hands it to her. She only receives a questioning gaze.
“You’re curious about this, aren’t ya?” Gold Ship teases, trying to lighten the sudden change of mood.
“I’m not sure what this even is.” McQueen utters softly as she takes the piece of paper.
“It’s already opened.” Gold Ship says, sliding next to her and leaning against the table as she folds her arms across her chest. She waits. I guess this is it.
McQueen throws one last look at her before unfolding the letter. Her eyes scan the contents, thoroughly taking in each and every word printed on it, affirming that Gold Ship has indeed been invited to an international league.
The heaviness comes in a rush; her eyes stinging with unshed tears as quickly as the mood in the room plunges.
“This is… an invitation to a professional league?”
“Yeah. Yeah, it is.”
The letter is fairly short and straight to the point. Anything else that follows are details about how the player can confirm their slot, unimportant things that Gold Ship can’t care less about when the love of her life is practically reading her goodbye.
Dammit. She told herself she was going to be mature about this, it’s not a goodbye. It’s really not. But she knows, in the deep crevices of her heart, she wants this opportunity just as much as any other athlete.
But that would also mean… Gold Ship sneaks a glance at McQueen. Even with the tightness in her chest, she wills herself to face her.
McQueen looks ecstatic. And Gold Ship’s heart breaks a little at the sight.
“Gold Ship-san, this is—This is amazing. I-I’m not sure why you even thought I would be angry at you for something so… Exciting. I mean, if anything, I’m extremely happy for you!” McQueen exclaims, a bright grin plastered on her face.
“You are?” Gold Ship asks, her voice scratchy.
“Of course! This is a one of a kind opportunity! It will look amazing on your record and it can just be your ticket to the pro world. And I don’t know anyone else who deserves it more than you do,” McQueen beams, turning the paper to face Gold Ship. She must have noticed the outlandish expression on her face, her own smile dropping as her eyebrows furrow together. “What? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of turning them down?”
“I’m… I’m not.” Gold Ship says but it comes out as a mere whisper. I’m going. I’m leaving—is what it sounds to her.
“Okay? Then why do you look so dejected? Is this why you’ve been acting so strange?” McQueen questions, sounding worried.
McQueen soothes a hand over Gold Ship’s arm and the latter feels her throat tighten even more. This is bad. She feels extra sensitive and with McQueen looking at her with those expectant eyes of hers, she feels she just might start bawling. Before tears can escape, she turns to McQueen and blurts it out.
“I love you.”
Gold Ship feels her heart stop. Surely. That was probably it. It is as though the wind is knocked out of her and she hasn’t even moved a finger. McQueen’s jaw drops at the abruptness and now, Gold Ship really can’t blame her if she makes a run for it. Gold Ship fucked that up badly—that wasn’t how she planned it! But the panic overtook her and the damage is already done.
“Shit, that wasn’t—No, hold on. That wasn’t how I planned this to go,” Gold Ship tumbles over her words. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mac-chan, erase that from your memory right now!”
“How would I even…?”
Gold Ship’s stomach suddenly feels queasy. It’s like everything she prepared for has gone to waste because she can’t act normal in front of McQueen.
Dammit, she should have factored that in when she was mapping out her confession. Because now, that plan is ruined by her dumb motormouth.
Normally, these things don’t bother her. She has no problem complimenting McQueen or telling her that she likes her but with the stakes set high this time, she feels the weight of those three words and she knows McQueen does too.
It’s not a joke this time, not something she says in passing; it’s real.
And she can’t help it. Beneath all the lighthearted jokes, she’s still a human being with emotions and she’s still Golshi who’s yearning for her Mac-chan. McQueen is still stunned in silence and although it’s not a rejection, she’s unable to contain it further. The lump in her throat grows and big, fat tears quickly form in her eyes once more. They don’t fall just yet but her vision blurs in a heartbeat.
“I didn’t—I wasn’t supposed to say that, I’m sorry—”
Gold Ship feels McQueen’s hand on her head, stroking her hair gently. She looks up and sees the devastated expression painted on the other girl’s face. “Gold Ship-san, are you.. Are you crying?”
The tears start flowing then, she can’t fight them anymore. It’s not the first time she has cried in front of her, they’re nothing to McQueen. But with the current atmosphere, everything feels too overwhelming. She hangs her head low, trying to hide her face in sorrow.
“No.” Gold Ship fusses.
“Really? You're lying at a time like this?”
Gold Ship pouts childishly, reaching up to cover her tear-stained face as she whines in embarrassment of suddenly bursting into tears in front of McQueen.
“Why are you crying?” McQueen spurs gently, still petting her in an attempt to calm her down. “Gold Ship-san?”
“Don’t look at me right now, this is stupid. I feel stupid. Save yourself, Mac-chan. From this sorry sight in front of you.” Gold Ship cries as she turns away in shame.
“Oh, come on, is this the first time you’ve made a fool out of yourself in front of me?”
“I said look away!”
McQueen rolls her eyes, grabbing both of Gold Ship’s hands and squeezing them. “Stop being so dramatic. Seriously, look at me, this isn’t something I’m not used to. Why are you acting all embarrassed now? You told me we’d talk.”
Gold Ship sniffles, her expression souring. “You read the letter, didn’t you? I passed. They actually want me. Graduation is right around the corner and I might leave Japan. Leave you. How am I going to see you if I’m a gazillion miles away, huh? Not to mention, I just confessed like an idiot. I was supposed to take you to dinner, sweep you off your feet, treat you like how a lady should be treated. Then confess. I swear this wasn’t part of Golshi-chan’s ultimate super mega ultra confession plan. But I got the timing all wrong ‘cause I blanked in front of you. And the worst part is… You don’t even seem to feel the same!”
There it is, the word vomit. She doesn’t hide her tears this time. There’s no point.
“Funny you say that, really. When you’re all I’ve been thinking about lately.”
Gold Ship looks up, her face still wet. “Wha—I—Huh?”
McQueen sighs as she tugs at Gold Ship’s hands and leads them both to her bed, the snacks long forgotten. McQueen makes her sit and she obeys silently, eyeing her carefully as she seats herself beside her, tucked all close and cozy. What is she planning? Wait. That’s not important. What did she mean by what she just said? I’ve been on her mind? Did I hear that right? Or did I die and go to heaven? Or hell? Is this hell? Oh god, is Mac-chan going to kill me?
“Do you remember last year’s spring Tenno Sho?”
McQueen starts, pulling Gold Ship out of her own head. She doesn’t wait for an answer.
“We were in the break room, just the two of us,” McQueen recalls. Gold Ship holds back from rubbing her eyes in disbelief; a soft, fond smile is on McQueen’s face. So this is heaven. “You thought I was asleep so you came up to me. At first, you said my face looked funny and if I didn’t move by the next second, you’d draw a mustache on me with permanent marker.”
“...I don’t remember.” Gold Ship mumbles. She really doesn’t. Or maybe she does, who knows? Right now, all that’s flashing in her mind are images of McQueen’s cute smiling face and she finds it hard to focus.
“I didn’t move, I knew you wouldn’t do it anyway. Not when I had a race coming up. But since you thought I was asleep, I thought you would get bored with nobody to mess with and leave,” McQueen continues, the tone of her voice turning softer by the second. “But you stayed and sat beside me. And you… Started talking about how you hoped my wishes for the race would come true and above all else, that I would be safe out there. I heard everything, Gold Ship-san. Those words really stuck with me.”
Ah, Gold Ship remembers now. Her cheeks flush at the thought. McQueen was awake the whole time?
“That was only the first time. You did that with all my other races, too.” McQueen says as she looks down at her hands, fidgeting shyly.
Shit. She’s been found out. To think that she thought she was being careful all this time.
“That’s because—Uh… That’s ‘cause I—” Gold Ship is at a loss for words for once, unable to think of how to get out of this one. She thought she was discreet. Somehow, this is the least embarrassing thing to happen today and yet she still can’t find her words.
“I know. You don’t have to explain,” McQueen mutters, eyes meeting Gold Ship’s. She chuckles softly. “It’s because you love me.”
Gold Ship blinks owlishly.
McQueen clears her throat and straightens her back. “A-Anyway, forgive me. I did not intend to put you on the spot like that, I’m just saying... It’s the same reason why I’d wish for your safety before your races as well.”
Every single thought running around Gold Ship’s head stops when she processes McQueen’s words and her mind suddenly sounds too tranquil. She looks at her with a bewildered expression and she seems to be flushed the same way Gold Ship is.
“Wait, what? What do you mean by that?” Gold Ship asks.
The blush on McQueen’s cheeks turns darker as an embarrassed frown makes its way to her face. “I-I think you know!”
Does McQueen actually like her back? Is she understanding this correctly? This is 100% heaven, now I’m sure of it. She then scoots closer, the thought of McQueen reciprocating her feelings fueling a newfound confidence within her. “But I need to hear it.”
“Y-You—! What’s this? You were just crying like a baby a minute ago!”
“Come on, McQueen, tell me. Or I might just start crying again.” Gold Ship pushes as she draws closer and closer.
McQueen puffs up her cheeks and Gold Ship can’t help but fondly think of her red face looking like a tomato. Before she can start teasing even more, McQueen beats her to it and all she feels next is the press of soft lips against hers. It’s chaste and it was over before it even started. Fitting for someone as innocent as McQueen. Gold Ship dies a second time. It’s the faintest of kisses and she can still somehow feel it linger on her lips.
At Gold Ship's silence, McQueen stutters, a mix of embarassment and hesitation on her face.
“Ah, should I not have done tha—”
Gold Ship doesn’t let her finish. Her hand grabs McQueen by the jaw, squishing her cheeks together and immediately bringing her in for a second, much longer kiss.
She envelopes McQueen’s mouth on hers and sighs lightly, the feeling of having her making her skin prickle in delight. McQueen, as surprised as she is, tries to reciprocate the kiss as best as she can. Their lips glide easily, like this was what they were meant to do in the very beginning and Gold Ship feels drunk off it.
McQueen pulls Gold Ship closer by the collar of her tracksuit, like a starved woman that needs kisses to rejuvenate her from pure hunger. She licks over the seam of Gold Ship’s lips and the taller girl dies a third time. Gold Ship smiles into it and thinks, Mac-chan kisses as intensely as she races, good to know.
McQueen draws away first as she catches her breath. Her mouth is shiny from spit and Gold Ship feels sick for wanting nothing but to pull her in for another. She looks up at her with a pout on her face, glaring at Gold Ship for grabbing her so suddenly.
“What—What was that for?” McQueen splutters, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
“You tell me, princess, you kissed me first!”
“D-Don’t pin that on me, it just felt right at the moment!”
Gold Ship raises an eyebrow, growing curious at how shy McQueen is acting now like she hadn’t just kissed her breath away. She inches closer, cramming herself into McQueen’s personal space.
“I said behave.” McQueen groans as she grabs Gold Ship’s shoulders to stop her from coming any closer.
“But I want another.” Gold Ship whispers, looking down at McQueen’s lips.
McQueen whines as she turns her head to the side. “Please calm down. We have to talk first, you said so yourself.”
“That was before you decided to kiss me.”
“Oh, would you stop saying it out loud?”
“Why not? If we were at a rooftop right now, I’d scream on the top of my lungs to let everyone know that you kissed me. And that I kissed you back, that we kissed! Actually, let me pick you up and carry you to the nearest rooftop to do it. Mejiro McQueen kissed me first! I’d—”
McQueen slaps a hand over Gold Ship’s mouth before she can continue talking. “Gold Ship-san, please!” Gold Ship smiles against her palm and McQueen exhales in exasperation. “Well, judging by your clear enthusiasm, I trust that you understand what I’m getting at, then?”
Gold Ship mumbles mindlessly before McQueen pulls her hand off. The taller girl grins from ear-to-ear. “What, that you have a big, fat crush on me?”
McQueen glares. “I would use the words ‘I like you too’ but you know what, I suppose I’ll indulge you this time,” She then mutters under her breath. “Besides, that wasn’t what I used earlier.”
“Mhm?” Gold Ship hums. Her eyes light up in joy when she realizes what she’s saying and immediately throws her arms around McQueen, pulling her into a tight embrace and letting their bodies fall into her bed. “Aw, I love you too, Mac-chan!”
୨୧ ⏔⏔⏔⏔♡⏔⏔⏔⏔ ୨୧
Gold Ship’s head is spinning by the time McQueen climbs off her lap.
She is absolutely elated. They ended up kissing a lot more than even she had initially planned. Big deal. McQueen looked like she was enjoying it as much as she was and that’s enough for her to feel satisfied. It must have been the pent-up tension that built up over the years, Gold Ship thinks as she presses her lips against McQueen’s temple and plants one last soft kiss there.
“You finally satisfied?” Gold Ship teases in a soft whisper.
“It’ll suffice for now,” McQueen jokes. “I have to get the best of it while I still can, after all.”
“Yeah? You’re willing to go against Fuji to stay here and get your kisses?” Gold Ship prompts as she nudges McQueen jokingly.
McQueen only huffs as she looks down, red in the face.
Gold Ship then bundles her in her arms and rests her head against the girl’s shoulder. “Look at you actin’ all cute. This is why I can’t leave you.”
“Why, feel a sense of responsibility over me?” McQueen asks. “I can take care of myself, you know.”
“I know you can. It’s me. It’ll break my heart,” Gold Ship grumbles. “I-If I’m being honest, I didn’t think you’d like me back and I was kinda prepared to just suck it up when you tell me you don’t feel the same.”
“Did I truly give off that impression?” McQueen asks, her eyebrows knitting together.
“Just didn’t want to get my own hopes up,” Gold Ship shrugs. “But now that I have you, I don’t want to let go.”
McQueen removes herself from Gold Ship’s hold and faces her with a stern look. She shakes her head in disagreement. “You shouldn’t let me stop you from your dreams, Gold Ship-san. I want you to go, it’s only right. There are so many opportunities that await you out there and I know you won’t regret it.”
“But—”
“You want it too, don’t you?” McQueen interrupts, cupping Gold Ship’s cheek.
Gold Ship’s eyebrow quirks slightly as she sighs in defeat, leaning in her touch. She can’t win against McQueen, she knows her too well. “Of course I do.”
“Then you should go. For a year, at least.” McQueen suggests with a soft smile on her face that Gold Ship subconsciously mirrors.
Gold Ship keeps quiet, not knowing what to say next. They both know it’s the most rational course of action and she’d be a fool not to take them up on their offer. McQueen said it herself, something like this doesn’t come by for just anyone. She’s not the same playful kid she was at the start—she knows she has responsibilities now and she’s eternally grateful that the other girl is already supportive enough as it is.
A year makes sense, that’s enough time for her preliminary period and after memorizing everything on the letter when she was agonizing over it, she knows it’s a good route to take. McQueen would have graduated herself by the time she finishes and they can figure it out along the way, as long as they’re together.
“A year, Gold Ship-san,” McQueen pipes up. “Then I’ll catch up to you.”
“Will you now?” Gold Ship grins, sliding her arms beneath McQueen’s to hold her in place.
“Don’t tell me you doubt me.” McQueen teases as she traces the skin of Gold Ship’s arm.
“Never,” Gold Ship replies. “You better be ready to follow me to the ends of the universe then, princess.”
McQueen nods against her before leaning up to kiss her cheek. “I promise."
୨୧ ⏔⏔⏔⏔♡⏔⏔⏔⏔ ୨୧
EXTRA: One year later
With her refined noble-like image, McQueen isn’t one for nervous habits. But as she waits for her girlfriend in the airport, she can’t help but tap her feet against the hard floor, hands fidgeting in her lap as she reads Gold Ship’s previous messages that day.
She doesn’t know why she’s so restless. They talk over video calls every day with little to no breaks—meeting Gold Ship again for the first time in twelve months should be nothing.
But it’s not. Chatting with her through the phone is different from actually seeing her in person. Going from always having her by her side to only seeing her online admittedly was a hard transition. Now that she’s coming home for McQueen’s graduation, it’s like she’s sucked into a whole different world all over again.
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:12 AM]: i see u hehehehehehehehehe
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:12 AM]: my mac-chan u look so cute
McQueen hurriedly looks up, scanning the crowd for any sight of her. Is she messing with me again?
Me [09:12 AM]: Where are you?
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:14 AM]: guess!
Me [09:12 AM]: I don’t see you anywhere.
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:14 AM]: look harder
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:14 AM]: look look look look look
Me [09:14 AM]: I already did.
Me [09:15 AM]: Please just come. My legs hurt.
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:15 AM]: FIIIIIIINE
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:15 AM]: turn around ;)
Me [09:16 AM]: What? No. That’s corny.
Gold Ship-san ♡ [09:16 AM]: YOU HATE ME
A small smile makes its way to McQueen’s face. All she can think of now is to have her in her arms again. As she types up a reply, she feels a pair of hands cover her eyes, startling her.
McQueen is quickly hit with the familiar scent she has been longing for all this time. Gold Ship.
She turns around before the other girl can do anything else. Her eyes finally land on her figure, her grin widening even more. “Gold Ship-san?”
“Hi, princess.” Gold Ship greets and the first thing McQueen notices is arms. Big and bulging and oh wow, she did not have those before. I suppose anything can happen in the span of one year. Gold Ship is talking to her, saying something about how she wanted to get here earlier but McQueen cannot focus.
Arms. Biceps. Wow. Wow. She looks bigger in general. Maybe even taller, too, if that was physically possible. With the league’s top-notch training regimen, McQueen knew she was going to get bulky inevitably. She even sent photos of her post work-out before, why is she so surprised? This can’t be happening. She feels her face heating up at the sight.
Gold Ship snorts before reaching up to close McQueen’s mouth herself. “Earth to McQueen?”
“What—” McQueen sputters as she tries to regain her form. “Oh, hello. I-I missed you.”
Gold Ship cocks an eyebrow at McQueen’s unusual display. Before McQueen can go back to acting like a fool, the taller girl scoops her in her arms for a warm hug. She nestles her face against McQueen’s shoulder and sighs contentedly. “What’s gotten you so shaken up, mhm?”
“Huh? Nothing,” McQueen squeaks embarrassingly. “A-Anyway, where’s your trainer? She accompanied you today, didn’t she? I must give her my thanks, I’m sure it was a tiring flight for the both of you.”
Gold Ship holds McQueen in place, staring her down suspiciously. “Mac-chan.”
“...Yes?”
“You don’t seem too excited to see me.”
Curse her and her dirty tricks. McQueen whines, knowing Gold Ship is taunting her to get an answer out of her. And here she is, falling for it. “Of course I’m happy, Gold Ship-san. I just—Did you get buffer?”
Gold Ship laughs. “What?”
“I'm going to be frank, It's a bit hard to focus.” McQueen admits, her hands reaching up to squeeze one of Gold Ship’s biceps.
“Is that why?” Gold Ship looks so amused and McQueen wants nothing but to wipe her cocky smirk on her lips. With her own lips. “Thought you knew they were trainin’ me like hell over there.”
“I did! I also realize now photos are different from the real thing.” McQueen mumbles, shying away from Gold Ship’s gaze.
Before any other word leaves her lips, Gold Ship makes a show of effortlessly picking McQueen up bridal style and pressing an obnoxiously loud kiss on her cheek. McQueen yelps at the feeling of being carried so suddenly, her hands instinctively wrapping around her girlfriend’s neck.
“G-Gold Ship-san?! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“We’re going back to the estate, princess. Trainer will handle my stuff.”
“Gold—Wait!”
fin.