"That's weird," Cupid said aloud while scratching the back of his head in bewilderment. "I've never hit the wrong person like that before." He watched the three people gathered far below on the snowy landscape before shrugging his shoulders and taking off through the clouds. How could he have known what chaos he'd just unleashed upon the snowy kingdom of Arendelle?
Elsa grabbed her chest, suddenly struggling to breath. Kristoff and Anna were happily engaged in their usual banter, arguing back and forth, with the occasional grunt of the reindeer pacing along besides them. He wouldn't be convinced to stay behind in the stables. Which, for now, appeared to be a good thing.
Sven paused and looked over one shaggy shoulder to where the Ice Queen was clutching at her chest. His brown eyes widened before he turned back towards Kristoff.
"Hey!" Kristoff shouted in surprise as Sven butted his arm with quite a bit of force. He rubbed his arm with a grimace as Anna stopped walking. "Geez, Sven. What's wrong with you?"
Sven stamped his reindeer hooves in the soft powdery snow and jerked his head back towards where Elsa was now kneeling in obvious distress. Before Kristoff could even process this, Anna had bolted to her sister's side.
"Elsa!" Anna cried, her gloved hands reaching out and pressing against her sister's shoulders. "What's wrong? Are you alright? Please, Elsa, tell me what's wrong!"
The throbbing in Elsa's chest grew more pronounced and as Anna's hands slipped to cup her sister's cold cheeks and when their eyes meet, Elsa knew.
She knew she loved her sister.
Kristoff stood scratching his head as Anna helped Elsa over to rest by the fire. The younger girl's cheeks were flushed as she ran around the room, gathering up soft pillows and smooth blankets, before returning to prop her sister up, only to dart off again.
A strange flush had spread across Elsa's cheeks ever since her collapse outside and if Kristoff hadn't known any better, he would have thought it was Anna's fault. The way Elsa's fever bright eyes trailed after her sister as she whipped from one corner of the room to the other. The way her tongue traced the contours of her lower lip as Anna turned away and bent to fetch some other item. If Kristoff didn't know any better, he would say Elsa was definitely in love with her sister. As in more than the family way.
It felt like a weight had just struck him over the head. He backed away from the two sisters as Elsa lowered her gaze and stared at the hands folded demurely in her lap.
Oh, wow.
Despite his initial shock, Kristoff had to admit it was quite a novel idea. He'd heard things, tales told over the fire in the ice harvester camps, about this very thing. At first he'd brushed it off as just another bawdy tale told by older weathered ice men. But there. That look, the fast breathing, the eyes tracing the other girl's every move. Here were the very same signs.
Kristoff crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side and contemplated why he wasn't upset. After all, Anna was his lover. Even if they hadn't kissed since that time.
'Hell,' he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. 'I don't think Anna really understands how to love that way. But maybe ...' he thought as Anna leaned over and Elsa ducked her head away from her sister's worried gaze, 'Maybe she knows enough to love Elsa.'
It pricked his pride. Truly, it did. But Kristoff wasn't a man to hold a grudge and knew when a match was lost. And this one had been long ago decided when Anna had sacrificed herself for her sister. With a sigh, the ice harvester lumbered over towards the two sisters, even as he drew further and further away from Anna.
Well. If you couldn't beat them, then join them.
"Any more room on the couch?"
Anna looked up from where she leaned over Elsa. An Elsa who was doing her determined best not to meet her blue green eyes. Frustrated, Anna huffed before plopping herself down on the couch besides her sister. "Of course there's room. It's big enough to have room for Olaf and even Sven after you sit down."
Elsa's eyes darted up to Kristoff before lowering. He watched as she chewed indecisively on her bottom lip before rising to make room for him besides Anna. Oh no. He hadn't grown up with the best love experts in the kingdom without learning a thing or two from the trolls. With a deep sigh, he settled his impressive bulk onto the couch besides the Ice Queen, forcing her to press up against her sister.
He watched, raising one golden eyebrow at the heated flush spreading across Elsa's face once again. It was kind of cute, in a frustrating sort of way. These two would take forever to realize their feelings for another. Well. Elsa would take forever before admitting it. So his only hope was to see if he could cajole Anna into opening her heart a little more to Elsa.
"Kristoff!" Anna shouted in mild annoyance as her sister was practically shoved into her lap. "Seriously. We are going to have a talk about your manners later." The tall ice harvester only shrugged his shoulders as Anna wrapped a protective arm around Elsa.
"Elsa, are you alright?" Anna asked softly as the older of the two buried her face in two cool hands. The red head angrily jerked her head up, mouth open to give her burly mountain friend what for, when she stopped, staring at him in irritated confusion. He was gesturing, but what he was trying to communicate, she had no idea.
"Use your words, Kristoff."
The ice harvester tossed his hands up high in the air before sullenly slumping back into the comfortable cushions of the couch, folding two arms across a broad chest, staring at Anna. Kristoff jerked his head towards Elsa and mouthed something.
'She needs you. Comfort her.'
Anna stared at him like he'd grown a second head before she noticed the steam. "Wha-?" The princess watched in shock as steam rose from Elsa's shaking form. "Elsa! What's wrong?"
The all too knowing ice harvester scooted as far as he could away from the two now that Anna had wrapped her arms around Elsa. He would be content to watch for now and see how things played out.
"Elsa," Anna spoke softly, forcing her sister's face out of hiding, lifting her chin up until their eyes met. "What's going on?"
Pale blue eyes widened in fear and ... something else. Anna watched the blush racing across her sister's face and the steam rising from her form. Was this embarrassment? But what did Elsa have to be embarrassed about? Anna cupped her sister's face in both hands, thumbs rubbing across the warmed cheeks, and watched as Elsa's eyes dropped as the steam increased.
"Oh for the love of ice, Anna!" Kristoff spoke up from his side of the couch, managing to startle both sisters apart. "What do you do when you're embarrassed to be around someone you like?" He points at Elsa who has frozen besides her sister. "It doesn't take a genius to figure it out."
Anna glanced between Kristoff's pointing finger and back towards Elsa, before looking back towards Kristoff. Uh oh. He watched as ginger brows drew together and slim lips turned down into a frown. "You have a crush? On him?" Her words instantly thawed the Ice Queen who jumped at the implication.
"No ... oh, no Anna. I don't have a crush on Kristoff." She grimaced as though the very idea were painful. "I know better." Elsa brought one pale hand up to brush away the strand of platinum blonde hair that had fallen out of place, tucking it behind one pink tipped ear. "You honestly don't think I would try to steal away someone you love ..." She paused, hesitant, before asking softly, "Or do you?"
Kristoff threw his hands up in the air. Why was this love stuff always so hard?
Anna stared at Kristoff who was obviously arguing with himself and then back towards Elsa who sat staring at her expectantly, pale brows drawn together in poorly disguised pain. "No, Elsa. I don't think that you would ever do anything like that. I don't even think it's possible." Anna looked over at Kristoff with one raised eyebrow. "I do, however, think it's entirely within the realm of possibility that he has fallen for you."
"What?!"
Kristoff jumped off the couch and Anna followed him, backing the ice harvester up step by step, poking one stiff finger against his broad chest. "You heard me, ice boy!"
"You're insane, Anna!" Then it struck him as to how he could turn this situation around in his favor. "How would I ever fall in love with Elsa of all people?"
Anna glowered at the blonde haired man who towered over her and began counting off on her fingers.
"One, she's incredibly sensitive. Two, she always has the kingdom's best interest at hand even if it puts her needs second! Three, oh, I don't know, she's only just the most absolutely drop dead gorgeous woman in all of Arendelle!"
Kristoff watched in amused satisfaction as Elsa's pale blue eyes widened in surprise.
"Four! She can do everything with ice. Your passion! I mean, she practically embodies all that is good about winter."
He laughed as steam began to rise up from Elsa's face.
"This isn't funny, Kristoff! Five!" Anna had backed him up against the door to the room. "She loves chocolate. Six! Chocolate! Seriously, how can you not love someone who adores chocolate? Seven! She's capable of creating life."
Kristoff wondered how much more Elsa could tolerate before she stopped Anna from extolling her virtues to the ice man.
"Eight! She's a queen. A flipping," Anna stamped her foot as though to accentuate her words, tossing both hands up in the air as she did so, "seriously smoking, always adoring, beyond benevolent queen!"
"Anna ..."
Elsa had risen to her feet and was slowly approaching the arguing couple.
"No, Elsa!" Anna threw up her free hand, the other still busily prodding Kristoff in his chest. "Nine! She will always protect those she loves! Even the ones who are still gossiping about her ice powers! Because she's just that kind of person."
Kristoff smiled as Elsa rested a hand against Anna's shoulders, watching the fierce blue green eyes in front of him well up with tears. "Ten." The fiery red head stated in a weak trembling voice, "Because she's my sister, and I love her so so much, and how could you not fall for her? I understand, trust me, I do, because if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be able to resist either, I mean-"
Elsa whirled Anna around, the surprised girl frozen in shock, still with finger extended into the air, tears welling up in her eyes. The older girl cupped Anna's face with a weak smile of her own, tears falling down her face, and replied, "Anna. I don't think Kristoff is in love with me. In fact," the Ice Queen turned to shoot the mountain man an exasperated look. "I think he was trying to trick you into admitting you loved me." When Anna's face still stayed in the same expression of shocked confusion, Elsa ventured tentatively, "As more than a sister."
That did the trick. Anna's mouth fell open and her head whipped around, red braided hair flying about her face, a look of surprise spreading across her face. Kristoff laughed, folding his arms across his chest, and stated, "Hey. I grew up with the love experts." He gave an offhand shrug of his wide shoulders. "What can I say?"
"Oh, you- you- " Anna's hands balled into fists and Kristoff thought for a minute he was going to be struck before Anna fell against his chest, crying. He blinked, lifting one gloved hand to awkwardly pat the girl's shaking back, before looking up towards Elsa with a pitiful 'help me' forming on his lips.
Elsa took a step forwards and pressed herself up against Anna's back, wrapping her arms around the girl's trembling form. Ice cold lips pressed close to a reddened ear and whispered, "I'm so happy you love me, Anna. Because ... because I feel the same way."
Kristoff sighed as Anna turned and fell into Elsa's arms, lifting one gloved hand up to tousle his short blonde hair. It might be a while before the water works ended, but he would stay until no longer needed, making sure that these two wouldn't let the usual concerns stand in the way of their happiness. After all, it wasn't every day that you fell in love with your sister.
He blinked in surprise as he felt a cold hand tugging him forwards and found himself holding Anna as much as her sister. Kristoff looked up into Elsa's eyes and saw her fondness for his actions reflecting back to him. 'Thank you' she mouthed as her younger sister trembled between them. He only smiled, albeit a little ruefully, lifting one hand to pat Anna on top of the head.
"Take care of her, okay? Because she can get into quite a few messes. And she has this tendency to get super extreme. Her strength too, oh man, don't get me started there. Best be careful or she might squeeze you to death with a hug."
Elsa smiled, the pearly white of her teeth flashing for one brief instant. "I'll take good care of her." Thin pale arms wrapped around Anna's form. "I promise you." And as Elsa kissed away Anna's tears, and Anna continued to ramble on half crying and half accusing, Kristoff crossed his arms once more and smiled to himself.
He might just be the best love expert in the history of Arendelle after this.
A/N: So. This is the Valentine's Day prompt. What would happen if Cupid hit the wrong person? I hesitated on whether the arrow would strike Anna or Elsa and then figured it had better hit the Ice Queen, because who knows if she'd have had the courage to face a feisty love struck Anna. Try to protect her 'for her own good'. So! We bypassed that silliness. Again, thank you to those who are still reading, and a special shout out for Dagron. :o You're awesome, mate.