..what?
Who: Kate Kane and Anna of Arendelle What: Kate seeks Anna's blessing When: recently Where: A fancy cafe Status: complete!
Kate had finally gotten up the nerve to take Anna to lunch. Of course, she’d faced down gods and demons and the worse Gotham had to offer, but her girlfriend’s family? Made her nervous. She wanted to get on her good side for Elsa’s sake, and she also wanted, basically, to get her blessing.
The restaurant she’d chosen was an upscale cafe. Just enough, she hoped, to impress, but still somewhat casual.
Anna had the address. She’d googled the place, and made her way there easily enough. Then parked and walked to the front. It looked like the pictures on Yelp, but it also looked upscale. Expensive. More so than the couple of dollar bills that Yelp had listed. She pushed open the door and headed inside.
Kate was already at a table, wearing a sharp red blouse and casual pants. She raised her hand, “Anna! Over here! I already ordered you some water but you can get anything else you want. My treat.”
Anna broke into a nervous smile and headed over to the table when she saw Kate wave. “Thanks.” She said, and took a seat opposite the other woman. She sat awkwardly for a moment, trying to relax, and picked up the menu. “Is… I mean, what’s good here? I’m hungry. I could go for a sandwich or something.”
“They have a chicken sandwich that’s pretty good,” the redhead said, leaning back in her seat and smiling politely. “And their fries are to die for.” She wanted to get Anna to relax. Maybe getting her talking would help. “What’s your favorite kind of food?”
“Chocolate.” Anna said without hesitation. She grinned, sheepishly. “Okay, Chicken sandwich and french fries.” She closed the menu and set it down, then drummed her fingers on top of it.
“They’ve got this devil’s food cake…” Kate licked her lips. “I promise you it’s the best you’ve ever had.” Under other circumstances she’d be flirting, but that would accomplish the exact opposite of what she wanted. “I may be buttering you up.”
“Okay.” Anna added, the sheepish grin fading into something a little less embarrassed. “...buttering me up?”
“Yes. Well you see, I have these plans, but I want to do them right because they could end up in tears for all involved but mostly me.” She rubbed her forefinger in a circle on the table in front of her. “I want to make things...concrete...with Elsa. And while we don’t need permission, you’re her family, so I wanted your blessing.”
Anna was fiddling with the corner of her menu while Kate spoke. She stuck her thumb nail under the faux leather trim and slid it along between the cover and the paper menu inside, giving her hands something to do so she wouldn’t drum her fingers on the table. Kate’s words made her pause. “...what?”
Kate could be blunt, and she figured she ought to stop beating around the bush. “I want to marry your sister. You’re the only family she has left and I thought it important that we have your support. Assuming she says yes.”
Anna’s heart was thundering in her chest. She blinked at Kate, trying to make the words fit right in her mind. “...you want my permission?” She asked, though the instant she said it she knew it wasn’t true. Kate wasn’t the kind of person to ask permission. The fact they were sitting here having this conversation meant she’d already decided that she was going to do it, no matter how Anna replied.
And the truth was, Anna had no idea how to reply. She’d just lost her parents, screwed up her own relationship, was planning on heading to college, wanted to move out of her house. Everything was changing. This was just another pressure on her shoulders, and she wasn’t sure how to handle it.
"No. ...Blessing. I'd like your blessing." Kate wasn't exactly the old fashioned kind of person, but sisters were important to her, and she wanted Anna to be a part of it for Elsa's sake.
“I don’t… I don’t know what to say. I mean… sure. Of course. You’ve got it.” Anna said, and forced a smile, though her heart was thundering. “Sorry, I just… taken off guard.”
Kate smiled brilliantly, the relief clear on her face. “Well, it is a...big thing. It’s been in and out of my head for a couple of months now. But she deserves...everything.”
“Yeah, it’s a huge thing. Big change. Big, big change.” Anna said, nodding. “I’m sure she’ll say yes.” She just didn’t know what that meant for… herself. That thought made Anna feel incredibly selfish and guilty, and her stomach turned a little. “...I’m not really hungry anymore.”
Smile fading a little, Kate reached over to touch Anna's hand. "Are you okay?"
Anna nodded, and turned to look at Kate with an appreciative, yet sad smile. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. Everything’s just… changing. It’s really… I’m happy. I really am.” She turned her hand over and gave Kate’s a squeeze, then released it. “I’m gonna go home. Try and get some rest. I won’t say anything to Elsa. Just… make it special for her, okay? When you ask?”
"I'll make it special," Kate said. "I promise." She pulled her hand back. "And Anna? I'm not trying to take her away. I know you two are only really beginning to reconnect, and god, I understand. I have a sister too. You're just getting another sister." She winked.
Anna nodded. Though, she wasn’t really sure. She’d just lost her parents, too. Everything was different now, and nothing would ever be the same. She was trying to convince herself that that didn’t mean it would all be bad. It was just… different. She had to grow up now. And she was formulating a plan how. “I know.” She said, and put on another smile. “Let me know how it all goes.” She said, then stood to leave the cafe.
“I...will.” Kate ran her fingers through her hair, watching Anna leave. That could have gone better, she decided.