"You were pretty great out there."
Heather looked up from her makeshift seat atop concrete rubble to see the Guardian of Flowers standing over her. Flowers was resplendent in pink and white, her ornate battle dress covered in matching flowers. She was holding out a bottle of water.
"Thanks." Heather took the offered bottle, but didn't drink. Flowers fruitlessly dusted off a piece of concrete next to her and sat down, carefully arranging her skirt to that it didn't catch on anything. Heather watched the process indifferently. She glanced down at her own dress. Black and wispy, with embroidery in a silvery material that seemed to glow faintly, like the light of the full moon above them. She felt very plain next to Flowers' explosion of feminine color.
"I feel like we haven't really gotten to know each other," Flowers said, once she had settled, "And you've been the Guardian of Night for months now. None of us even knows where your powers come from." She was smiling in a friendly way, but all Heather could do was shrug. She still wasn't sure if it was safe to tell the other Guardians her origin, and she wasn't a great conversationalist anyway.
"I'm Kasey by the way," Flowers held out a hand. Heather hesitantly took it in her own, noted the contrast between Kasey's warm, sun-drenched brown hand, and her own deathly pale fingers. Kasey had even painted her nails pink. Or was that part of her transformation?
"Heather," she responded after an awkward pause.
"That's a pretty name!" Kasey beamed at her. Her handshake was firm, confident. Despite herself, Heather smiled back. Sitting this close, the scent of Kasey's flowers was clear and strong. Heather had only ever caught faint whiffs of it weaving through their battles with evil. It was pleasant, heady even. Heather realized there was a silence stretching out between them, and hastened to fill it with something.
"Your flowers are uh, really beautiful," she muttered. Somehow Kasey's smile got even wider.
"Thank you! They're orchids and lilies, two of my favorites!" she looked down and pointed out each type as she said it. "I've been wanting to add some orange ones as well, but I just can't decide on one." Kasey's eyes locked onto Heather's. A current of understanding passed silently between them.
"Your eyes are really pretty," Kasey said without looking away, "I've never seen red ones before. They kind of glow in the dark too, don't they?" Heather swallowed, suddenly nervous.
"Yeah, they... uh, thanks," Heather stammered out. Kasey was leaning in slightly, and Heather could hear the other girl's heartbeat getting faster. Unconsciously, her eyes flicked down to Kasey's throat.
"I think we're gonna be good friends," Kasey's voice was husky.
"Maybe," Heather's voice came out as little more than a whisper. She was leaning in as well, unable to resist. Her own heart was slamming in her chest. Kasey's lips were parted.
"You asked where my powers come from," Heather whispered, unable to keep her eyes away from Kasey's neckline. The water bottle Kasey had given her slipped from her fingers, forgotten.
"I did, yeah," Kasey sounded slightly perplexed, but didn't pull back. They were very close now, almost touching.
Heather ran her tongue over her fangs.
"Let me show you."