Faira happens upon them by accident.

She isn’t looking for Ward or Nova, but she finds them anyway.

It’s been a few weeks since her enlightening conversation with Nova. Safe to say, she has a crush on Nova. And not the kind that is stuff of juvenile love. It’s the life changing type of crush that altered how she imagined her entire life.

Who knew the person who completely infuriated her would facilitate her discovery of liking women?

After talking with Nova, Faira finally began to accept that part of herself.

It was like she had a limb was cut off and she had to relearn how to do things again in a different way.

She wondered if she should be honest with Nova. Honesty has always been a part of their dynamic. Brutally so.

But this feels different.

The scene in front of her stops her in her tracks.

“Ward!”

What Faira expects is Nova and Ward to be play fighting. It is Nova’s bold and audacious voice after all. And it wouldn’t be the first time she’s seen their aggressive form of flirting.

She can’t be farther from the truth.

They are on the training grounds, but they’re eating.

Like a full on picnic.

Somehow even with them being trained to be observant, they miss Faira at the entrance, probably because she arrived to their flank and not in front of them.

Or perhaps it’s because they are too wrapped up in one another to notice.

“I’m being serious! It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life,” Ward jokes, his head plopping into his hands as if to hide from the shame.

Nova throws her head back, a full belly laugh erupts. It is the most relaxed Faira had ever seen Nova. They are both sitting on a decorative blanket. She is sitting cross legged, while he is laying on his side, leaning on his right arm.

If this were happening somewhere that wasn’t where people spar with swords it could have been any normal couple having lunch.

But it’s Nova and Ward.

“I always knew you were clumsy,” Nova teases. Reaching over, she plucks a grape off and throwing it up. Ward lunges to catch it in his mouth which he does successfully. Matching grins form on their faces.

They are so natural with each other that it burns something deep inside Faira. It takes her a moment to recognize the sizzle of jealousy.

It actually makes her a bit sick. She shouldn’t be jealous. Ward has been her friend for years now. When everyone else thought she was intimidating, he stood by her. And Nova. At first just a witch accomplice. Now is someone she is actively trying to befriend. She helped Faira realize something important about herself.

So she should be happy for them.

Their conversation has become distorted in her ears. She can’t make out any of the words, but just from their behavior, happy and free, she could tell they are meant for one another.

She can’t be happy for them at this moment. It hurts her soul, cracking it into splinters, to see Nova laugh.

So she isn’t happy.

Maybe someday she will be.

———

(I think there is a lot of strength in the silent revelations.)