beta'd by Turwen (who is also fantastic for bouncing headcanons off, fyi). there is definitely some awesome elsanna stuff coming :)

By the time you arrive at the zoo, the sky has darkened with the threat of rain. A stiff breeze picks up, and you shiver twice; the first due to the wind, and the second because, as you reach into your backpack, you realise that the lovely jacket Elsa had made for you isn't there.

You pull everything out to see if maybe it slipped to the bottom, but it's not exactly a small item, and you know that it hasn't.

Dammit, why do you have to be so bad at this? You made a huge deal out of the fact she bought it for you, spent a lot of money on it for you, and now you can't even remember to pack it.

Heart sunk low, you turn to Elsa to tell her. You hope it isn't too cold outside, or that the clouds part soon. You really hope it doesn't actually rain. The words die on your lips, though, because she's rifling through her own bag, pulling out more than enough fabric for one jumper.

"The day started so bright," she begins to explain, "but the weather here can change very quickly. Fortunately, I checked the forecast. Small chance of rain, but still a chance."

Then she's handing you the jacket, putting her own on and zipping it up once you've taken the garment.

You copy her movements, and then kind of feel like snuggling down into it because it's puffy and ridiculous but also really, really warm and comfortable.

Norwegian zoos are like literally every other zoo you've ever visited. A different variety of animals, but they have all the usual ones: elephants and giraffes. An aviary and a monkey enclosure.

You love it. There's something just so comforting watching them be... them. There's even a little baby elephant playing in a pond, and it just looks so happy! The rest of the elephants are kind of just standing around relaxing, but not the little one. You let out a very unglamorous snort when it falls over, and even Elsa gives a little laugh.

She also laughs at you when you try and take a terrible selfie, but it's not malicious; it can't be when you manage to goad her into posing with you. She crouches next to you, and it's actually a really good angle to get the little elephant in the background.

They even have an Australian animals exhibit, with some kangaroos and koalas. The kangaroos are like a petting zoo, which seems really absurd, but the giant marsupials look like the laziest creatures as they relax in the sun. For just over four krone – about fifty cents – you can buy a little bag of feed to give them.

You're leaning out, hand flat with some of the grain on it as you feed a kangaroo when you hear a shutter click. You weren't even aware of Elsa standing back taking a picture of you until that sound.

"Hey!" you call out. She looks taken aback for a moment. "If you're taking pictures, you need to be in it, too!"

There are plenty of staff, and one is more than happy to take a snap for you. They're probably used to tourists. Elsa crouches on her knees behind one of them, next to you, and the zookeeper takes a few different ones for you.

You can't wait to send them to Kristoff.

It must be the day for photos, because Elsa has one more surprise for you way. As you leave the kangaroo enclosure, she points at a small kiosk.

"Did you want one more picture?" she asks. You're not sure what kind of picture, so you say the first thing that comes to your mind.

"Only if you're in it with me."

Her whole face relaxes, and she smiles. "Of course!" She begins to direct you towards the kiosk, and you know automatically that this one is going to be a little fancier.

It is.

Snow foxes. Unbelievable.

You have to pay, but you also get to hold it. There's one each, and they even get a chair for Elsa so you're on the same level. When you get the picture, she has on one of the biggest smiles you've ever seen her wear.

You're going to treasure this. Forever.

"Thank you," you tell her at the end of the day, as you head towards the pickup area of the zoo to wait for the driver. You're looking at your hands. Are you really going to tell her this?

She deserves to know.

"Yesterday you seemed really..." Annoyed at me? Upset? Wishing I hadn't come on the trip? "...tired." It's not anywhere near being the right word. Elsa seems to understand, though. When referring to her actions the previous day, it would take an especially dense person to not realise, you think. And Elsa is far from stupid. "And I guess it put me out a little, too, because I'm still amazed that I'm even here, and so I'm just hoping that you're having a time as nice as I am..."

Elsa lifts an eyebrow. "You're having a nice time?" she asks. You nod. "Well, I suppose I understand that being true for today, but... I do realise that I have not been making you feel as comfortable here as I should have."

You don't try and refute her; you owe it to both yourself and to her to not lie. All it would do is seem disingenuous.

So you shrug and say, "It wasn't that it's been a bad time. I've been... is it okay to say that I was a little worried?"

"About what?"

Now you're moving into dangerous territory. Not that you think there will be any kind of overtly negative consequence for speaking your mind, but you don't want any of the other consequences. You don't want her to feel awkward or uncomfortable.

But then, this isn't quite the same as when you had to approach her about the gifts and stuff. It's not quite as negative, which means it's not as scary.

"About... you..." you say, voice still small. "You just don't seem to be sleeping very well, and you were acting a little odd." When you look at her, her mouth is open in a small 'o'. She shakes herself soon after.

"Oh, you noticed?" she asks.

At that, the corner of your lips twitch up.

"You asked if we could be friends a while back. I care about you," you shrug.

At that, she looks away. "You're too good, Anna," she says after a moment.

You're not sure what to make of that.