Nora "Wife Acquired" Lastname and Tsuyu

Summer is hot, well, objectively, but sometimes summer is also literally hot, as a young Nora stood across the hallway, maybe staring a little too hard at the other apprentice, barely able to pay attention to the meeting of the seasons. Within seconds, the meeting was over, and the seasons went their separate directions.

“What’s her name?” Nora asked, as they got back into the carriage.
“No idea,” her mentor, the Guardian of Winter, replied, keeping his eyes steady into the distance. “But Summer is far outside our domain. You should worry more about your relationships with Spring and Fall, Nora. They will do their best to keep the ground from freezing.” He looked back down at her, sharper now. “Understood?”
Nora nodded, before staring out the carriage window. She already knew that. She was well acquainted with Spring - and her and Fall got along quite well! But she’d never even met Summer, and that girl…
Why can’t we meet?

Every meeting of the seasons, then, she made it her goal to get closer to the girl. Sneaking around early, passing notes, making excuses to leave together. Her name was Tsuyu! Her hands were warm! She didn’t smile much, but when she did, it was like staring at the face of the sun. The more time they spent together, the further in love Nora fell. It seemed so unfair, at times! Her world was so far removed from Nora’s, and yet!

After many long years of pining, letters, and stolen nights, the previous Guardians stepped down. Free to do as they wished, they could finally reunite.

Almost.

They still had duties to attend to, they were still miles apart, and they still barely saw each other as much as they wanted to, but no one was able to stop them anymore. That had to count for something, right? Nora stares out her window some afternoons, at the bright sun shining down on the snow, refracting light everywhere, and wonders how she’s doing.

The next summer apprentice came unusually early, but his gift, which signalled him as the next apprentice, came unusually late. He came in a bit older than apprentices normally do, and riddled with problems. What the hell did this kids parents teach him? Nothing?

Tsuyu did her best, but quickly ran out of patience with the child, especially after. The Incident. extremely fed up, Tsuyu began investigating if it was possible to kill a child and respawn a new apprentice… literally anything.

Not in the mood to commit child murder (though she did feel if anyone deserved it-) Nora stepped up, offering to take in the boy. it was unheard of, another season training a season’s apprentice, but - things weren’t too different. and besides, maybe a few months… years… decades in the frozen north with Nora and her Mad Pipes would teach the boy a thing or two.

Tsuyu was all too happy to get rid of him.

Despite his shitty attitude and Teenage Boy problems, Nora couldn’t help but feel a little affection towards him. Like having her own personal sun in her house, a remnant of Tsuyu to keep with her. Besides, she wanted to train him well for her wife across the stars- it was the least she could do!
She sat down, cracking her knuckles and grinning at the boy.

Are ya ready, kid? Let’s begin!

The materials for this particular communication spell are frighteningly expensive, but it’s some of the most reliable magic they know. So when Tsuyu hears the chime from the bell, she’s immediately on edge.

“Hold still,” she says, “or it’ll hurt so much more,” and her voice is a thousand bells chiming all at once. “and Kore won’t be here to stop me-”

“Tsuyu!”

She sits up, panting, fear draining from her body as she realizes she’s safe in bed. Next to her is Nora, alarmed. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

Tsuyu melts into her arms. “Bad dream,” she says, falling back into the pillows. “Just… a very bad dream.”