Here's a couple snippets from a trio of TOH future AU one-shots I've written:
The day seemed to pass by faster than it usually did. Time flies when you're gay as hell, Azura had concluded. Or when you're nervous. Or both. Either way, it was now lunchtime, and Azura was standing in Ms. Jenkinmeyer's room, waiting for Rose to arrive. To pass the time, she thought back to stories she'd heard from her Grandma Eda about what pranks she pulled in here, before she was the Owl Lady. This was where most of them happened, what with Ms. Jenkinmeyer-both the one that now taught Azura, and the one that had taught Eda-having been the Potions teacher.
She looked to her hand and the folded note she held in it. It needs something more... a flower! I should give her a flower! A rose for Rose! No, that's too corny. A tulip? No, the symbolism's too headstrong. A daisy? Oh, Titan, no! The symbolism behind that would make it creepy! What about a-
Before she could finish her train of thought, she heard the door open, quickly hiding the hand with the note behind her back and looking up. As promised, Rose had arrived, still wearing her backpack. "Howdy, Az," she said to her as she approached a desk and hopped on top of it, her legs dangled over the ledge.
If I have to legally change my name to get you to call me that every time, by the Titan, I will do it.
"Oh, hey Rose," Azura replied, now approaching her crush.
"Sorry I was late. I still don't get why they put the Beast Keeping classroom as far as possible from the cafeteria, or why they don't make exceptions for you using your Palisman to get there! So, what'd you wanna tell me about?"
Azura cleared her throat, then, slowly, handed Rose the note.
Here goes nothing.
Rose took the note and unfolded it. Inside it, it read,
Rose Park,
Will you go out with me?
-Azura Noceda
"Sorry I couldn't come up with a creative pick-up line. I don't know if you like girls like that, but I, uh... I like girls like that... and I like you like that, so..."
"You like me?"
"Yeah, that's... that's what the note says."
"This is gonna sound weird, but can you c'mere for a second? I wanna whisper something to you."
"Uhh... okay?"
Azura turned her face so that its side was towards Rose. When she felt her lean in, instead of hearing whispering, she heard her plant a kiss on her cheek. She could've sworn her lips had activated a fire glyph on the spot, as she felt her face burn up immediately after. Her head whipped around to face Rose again, her face beet red and almost having been hit by hers.
"Sorry, I just... I read about that in a Good Witch Azura fanfic and I wanted to try it. I like you, too."
Azura set her backpack on the floor and dug out her lunchbox. Then, as Rose had, she hopped onto the desk, just next to her new girlfriend. "I do believe you were also wanting to tell me something," she explained, "Something about a 'Battle of Sedan'? If that clock's any good, we still have plenty of time and I'm all ears." The way Rose's eyes lit up, she thought, was magical, even by the standards of this world of endless magic.
"So, it's September 1870, right? Even though Marshal Baizane's men had won at Gravelotte back in August, he'd taken a lot of casualties and now he's encircled at Metz by elements of Prussia's First Army and Second Army. Safe to say, things aren't looking good for the French..."
For context on that one, Rose has autism and one of her special interests is the history of the Human Realm in the 19th Century, so Azura giving her permission to infodump on it makes her very happy
With a jolt, Rose woke up and saw Azura laying across from her on a sleeping mat. "It's me, it's just me, you're okay," she assured her, reaching out to stroke her hair, "It's just Azura, okay? You're in my home. We're having a sleepover, remember? You're safe." "Right," Rose replied, her heart rate already decreasing and her breathing slowing, "right, right..." Once she'd calmed down, she began climbing out of her sleeping bag.
"What're you doing?"
"I wanna cuddle with you, if that's okay with you."
"Yeah, sure thing, there's room on the mat for two people."
Once Rose was out of her bag, Azura scooted over on her mat, allowing her girlfriend to join her under the blanket and wrap her arms around her, Azura returning the favor.
"Thank you."
"Of course. You know, you're very good to cuddle with, I'm already noticing. You're like a big teddy bear."
"I think I like that."
"Like what?"
"You calling me a teddy bear. Something about it is just, I don't know... comforting, I guess?"
Azura quietly squealed, then planted a kiss on top of Rose's forehead.
"Oh my gosh, I love you so much."
Like in the classroom back at Hexside, both gasped and blushed, but were then silent for a moment.
"It might be too early, but... I think I like hearing you say that. A lot."
"And I think I like saying it. I'll be sure to say it more."
"Thanks again."
"Hmm. That does sound kinda sad."
"Sorry. Should I stop?"
Rose scooted a little closer to Azura and squeezed her a little tighter.
"No, no. It's good. Please, keep going."
"Your wish is my command."
For context on that part, Rose had a nightmare and Azura is trying to get her to fall back asleep via singing. This is after she sang the first verse and first chorus of The Green Fields of France.
When Azura paused, she looked down and noticed that Rose had already fallen asleep. She leaned down and planted another kiss on top of her head, then whispered, "Good night. I love you." Apparently, some part of her had heard that, as she then noticed her smile. Oh, well. If you're awake enough to hear that, I guess you'd be awake enough to hear me finish this song.
End of Part 1