I. A Certain Step Towards Falling in Love

amelia_seyroon's prompt: Rue/Ahiru or Kraehe/Tutu fluff

When the mansion had disappeared, the Wili-maiden and Princess Tutu both vanished, all that was left was an abandoned playground, and Rue had wondered if she'd imagined the entire encounter. But there was Mythos standing before her, a hand still pressed to his heart, a few tears still beaded on his eyelashes and that was even more fantastical than her having challenged a ghost ballerina. When he had gathered himself at last and noticed her still on the ground, the concern in his eyes as he looked down at her had shaken her so badly, she snapped, sharply telling him to go back to his dorm.

Of course he had complied, without question, without thought, as he always did, but not without looking at her one last time with those sorrowful eyes as if she were the one who had hurt him, as if she were the one who had betrayed him.

It wasn't until she'd tried to stand that she realized just how much that moment of fear and anger would cost her. Rue leaned against the swing support, catching her breath and easing the weight off her foot. The pain was unbearable and she cursed herself for sending Mythos away. She barely managed to hobble to the swing and collapse onto it, clutching the chains of the swing and trying to will the pain away. If she limped home on this, she would worsen the injury and have to take days off from practice.

Of course Duck, who seemed to have a knack for appearing in situations where she was least wanted, had to find her like that, so low and helpless.

"And just where have you been?" Rue demanded.

"I, um, had something to take care of," the other girl responded looking away sheepishly. At Rue's unconvinced glare, Duck hastily blurted on "Anyway, shouldn't we be getting back? We have class tomorrow!"

There was a moment of silence as Rue stared petulantly at the ground and tried to convince herself to swallow her pride and ask for help but her inner turmoil was interrupted by Duck's voice.

"Rue-chan? What's wrong?" Duck continued, her forehead furrowing in confusion and then clearing just as quickly. "Oh! Your foot!" she exclaimed, striking her fist against her palm in sudden remembrance.

Rue's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "So you were there for that? And you just thought you could leave me to dance with the wili maidens? Just how much did you see and why—"

"Here, let me take a look your foot." It was clear the other girl was trying to draw attention away from her suspicious behavior...and yet, Rue couldn't say why, but she was sure Duck's concern wasn't feigned.

"What are you doing?" Rue hissed out in pain as Duck eased the shoe off the already swelling foot. The blisters on her toe had burst, and the white sock was spotted with blood.

"Oh Rue-chan," Duck said, holding that foot so gently in her hands as she knelt before Rue. "I'm sorry."

She looked so sad and guilty, Rue found herself saying, "It's not like it's your fault. This time." And then, wrapping her tattered dignity around her, Rue informed her, "But after manhandling my injury like that, you better help me home!"

"Here, let me help—feet are awkward to deal with on your own." Before Rue could even respond the other girl was already nosing around in Rue's bathroom. She heard the sound of running water, a clang, a bang, and then, "Where do you keep your towels—oh, whoops found them. Well I needed to get them wet anyway I guess. Sorry!"

And then with both of them sitting on her bed, her foot in Duck's lap, Duck carefully wiped away the blood and grime and irrevocably ruined Rue's pristine white towel.

"It's hard to believe that this is what a ballerina's foot looks like."

"Are you insulting me?" Rue asked eyeing Duck suspiciously.

"No, I mean, you're so beautiful when you dance, but it's because you've practiced this much. Until it hurts," she added, softly dabbing at the calluses and blisters on Rue's foot. Her touch was so gentle, so careful, that Rue felt the tears she hadn't even known were still hiding behind her anger and hurt prickle in her eyes.

This is why she hated kindness. It made you soft and weak and wish for things you could never have. It was cruel in a way nothing else could be.

"I'm fine now," Rue managed at last in voice that was only slightly thick with tears she refused to shed. "Go."

Rue had to wonder if they spoke the same language at all for in response to her terse command, Duck merely chirped, "Okay! I'll go get ice and stuff from the infirmary and be right back! Don't move, okay? I mean, I guess you can't...what I mean is, it'll be all right, you'll see," hugged her and dashed off.

And Rue found herself startled into a watery laugh.