This Strange Thing Called Life

| Stars ~ Heart Nebula

Queen Ramonda x Gender Neutral Reader

Fic Type: Ficlet (wc: 800)

Summary: Stargazing nights with the Queen.

Tags: Comfort (you deserve it 💙)

“I figured I'd find you here.”

You turned your head towards the voice you heard approaching, but there wasn't much effort needed in guessing who its respective owner was.

“Sthandwa sam,” you sighed, shifting slightly to make room for the figure to sit with you. “I promise I wasn't hiding this time.”

You heard a disbelieving hum come from Ramonda's lips as she sat down next to you, the blanket you'd laid down on the grass offering her plenty of space to settle herself.

“So I reckon it was the stars that called you outside then?” Her voice remained sceptical. With it you knew that you were having an entirely different conversation.

But the words that would prompt the answers she actually wanted weren't being said, so, much like many nights like this, you'd do your best in avoiding all words relating to it.

Instead, you laid your head on her shoulder, your eyes fixed upwards, staring far beyond the both of you.

“Thought I'd try my hand at deciphering those constellations you always claim I'm pretending not to see.”

A short but warm laugh came from her. “You don't even try to connect the dots, my love. I can't help but assume you put on an act so I can show you them over and over again. All to be closer to me.”

“And if I do?” You lifted your head to look at her now, the faintest smile on your face from the implication, and a proud grin on hers from being right.

“Then I suppose I'll keep you close to teach you again.”

And I'll pretend to be listening, you thought, while we both know I'm not paying attention to anything but you.

After all, with her, that was an option. With her, you could pretend that it was just you, her, and the stars. You could let go of a day full of stressors, concluding it with just two things, only to further diminish the stars’ roles in calming you. All in favour of a night spent with her.

You felt her arms wrap around you before even having to ask. The warmth from her body melted away the chill of the night.

You yawned, resting your head back where you'd found comfort on her, “Tell me about the Heart Nebula.”

“The only thing you ever ask about.” she whispered now, a soft sound that seemed made especially to soothe you. Your eyes grew heavy as a testament to that fact.

“The only thing I ever remember.” you corrected, smiling wider at the slightly indignant nudge you received from her. “Tell me about it. Just this one last time.”

Though you both knew of the blatant lie, no further protest was offered. Instead, Ramonda held you closer, looking intently at the sky, before finding what she'd clearly been looking for.

“That,” she pointed north, “is the constellation Cassiopeia. Home to the Heart Nebula.”

You settled more comfortably into her arms, trying, and quickly failing, to see the W-shaped constellation in the sky. Ramonda watched you squint, amusement clear in her expression.

“I'm not gonna find it,” you huffed eventually. “Just pretend I did.”

“You barely tried.” She laughed, but regardless. she continued. “Anyway, the Heart Nebula is an emission nebula known for its dark dust clouds and glowing gases in a primarily deep red colour. And yet its shape is the only thing people seem to find fascination with.”

You hummed “The shape adds to the romance.”

“It's a nebula. I don't think it formed with the intention of romance-”

“Ramonda…”

“Okay, okay,“ she relented, her attention back on you. “Its heart shape, as randomly formed as it was, does in fact add to its romantic connotation. A symbol of cosmic love, they call it.”

She continued listing facts, some you'd heard before, and others she must have recently looked to find in anticipation of another night spent stargazing with you.

Strangely, you held more patience looking for the nebula. Spending minutes aimlessly searching for it wasn't quite as frustrating as being unable to see constellations. The Heart was there, regardless of how far away. Unlike the seemingly impossible-to-point-out lines connecting stars you would argue didn't connect in the ways assumed, the heart was undeniable. Something worth waiting to observe.

“I think I see it.” your voice eventually came soft and sleep-seeking.

“Mm?” Ramonda asked, and you nodded. “And how does it look to you, sthandwa? Does it radiate cosmic love?”

Your eyes had slipped closed again by now, all images of the far away object a vague memory already, but still, you nodded again.

You could see it, because you could feel it. If not from the object itself, then from the woman who described it. And as you rested for the first time in what felt like too long, that was more than enough.

🌺🌺🌺✨✨✨

❤️❤️❤️💦💦🍠🍠

Gaddamn👀👀👀👀