Baby, Don't Be Like That (Penny)

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Continued from: Grow a Pair

Alright, so it didn't take a genius to know that Penny was pissed off. So much so that she didn't even bother giving the Australian a word before she'd made her way towards her door. She looked pretty pissed about the mark Lucy'd left on said door; it wasn't the first time, and wouldn't the last time she'd kick the damn thing as a way of knocking. As much as she'd tried to ignore the ink manipulator, there was little she could do about that when said ink manipulator followed her into her dorm.

And closed the door behind her.

"Come on," Lucy whined, crinkling her nose at the silent treatment as she folded her arms before her chest. She was acutely aware of the presence of others on the other side of the door, so yelling clearly wasn't an option. What she said wasn't that bad, right?

...Okay, so it wasn't as if the looks she'd been giving the Australian had been lost on her. She was aware of the severity of this girl's anger. Or so she the thought, anyway. But still - how long was she going to pay for this? "Are we really doing this?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny tried her best to ignore the Australian, even though she was acutely aware that Lucy had followed her inside. As she heard the door click, the psychometrist went over to her bookshelf, starting to put the books she had been carrying away. Library books had a separate section, but still were placed in alphabetical order.

Penny kept her eyes on the bookshelf as Lucy whined. She wasn’t happy, and therefore ignoring her. It was childish to do so, Penny knew, but the whole situation that had gone down in her common room felt childish as well.

She put the final book away just as Lucy again questioned her. The Brit let out a frustrated sigh, finally deciding to acknowledge the ink manipulator. “Yes, we are.” She turned to face Lucy, arms crossed as she shot her another glare.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy didn't bother to look at the specifics of what Penny had been carrying. Knowing her, it was just a bunch of random books to do with whatever class was more pressing when it came to current assignments. Lucy could honestly say she had no idea. Had she looked, she might have had her interest flagged by the title with the concept of tattoos in it.

But she didn't, so it was lost on her.

Evidently they were going to do this, which Lucy already expected. But she counted it as a victory because at least Penny had spoken to her. And looked at her. The glare she wore hardly suited her. Lucy preferred the way the involuntary smile from earlier coloured her features instead.

"Ohkay," She started, unfurling her arms and raising them as she took necessary steps towards her, "You're mad, I get that. Was it the foursome thing? Cause no one in that room was actually keen on that." Lucy even went so far to laugh. Foursome. Jesus, that guy was a fucking riot. It was a shame his humour was lost on such a dense crowd.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

As Lucy stepped towards her, Penny once again walked away. She knew the importance of proximity between them. If she wanted to be angry, she needed to keep a physical distance from the Australian. She wasn’t going to give Lucy a chance to work any of her charm that was so enticing.

This time, she went to her desk, not bothering to pretend she was focused on something else. She let out a short laugh at the question. Was it even needed? “It was everything.” Penny stated after a moment. Of course, the idea of a foursome made the Brit’s stomach turn. The idea of it was just--- ugh. It wasn’t right.

“You were completely rude out there.” She stated factually, lips pursing as she stared down Lucy, her angered expression never changing. “You outed me.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Of course Penny walked away. Lucy knew she was going to, even if there was barely any room in these tiny little dorms. Really, if she wanted to, she could have been more strategic about where she stood. But she opted to stop instead. Let her pace around like the crazy person she sometimes chose to be.

Everything, she said. Lucy raised her eyebrows, missing the point entirely.

"No one in that room wants to fuck Reece," Lucy started anyway, pressing her lips into a line to try and stop herself from losing it. "Well, maybe the other broad. But did you see her face?" Faltering already, Lucy paused to breathe an uncontrollable laugh; "I don't reckon he's got a fucking chance. No such luck, mate."

However, when Penny called her rude, she felt a little different. "Ah, you knew that about me before you got into this." So throwing names around wasn't exactly a strong call.

"Wait, you're not out already?" Lucy asked, genuinely. That was something she honestly didn't know. And why would she? "Have you seen where we're bloody well living? Three-quarters of Pilot Ridge is gayer than fucking Christmas." Alright, now wasn't the time to laugh at gay jokes. But they worked wonders at making a point, right? "There's more gay in these fucking hallways than sequins on Elton John's bloody tuxedo." There. A British reference for her British counterpart.

One she doubted would be appreciated.

But in short. Who cared? She doubted anyone really did.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny let out a frustrated groan at Lucy’s reply, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. Clearly she didn’t understand Penny’s point, and the cursing didn’t help either. “Do you have to swear?” she questioned, letting her irritation be taken out on the little things just as much as the bigger problem. “Look, it doesn’t matter if anyone wants to or not. It was uncomfortable to be put in the middle of that.”

She tried her best to keep her voice at a lower volume, but her tone suggested how annoyed she was.

The Brit rolled her eyes. Of course she knew that when she got into this. It was something she had little control over, just like most of her life when it came to the Australian. “This was different. You two didn’t need to go that far.”

Penny refused to find amusement in Lucy’s description of Pilot Ridge. “That’s not the point. Maybe I’m not ready to come out yet.” Everyone else could be out for all she cared. They didn’t define how she felt about it. She did, however, catch the lack of sarcasm in the Australian’s question. Had Lucy really not known? Was she really that obviously gay? She pursed her lips, running a hand through her hair. “Well now you know, so don’t go shouting about it.” Although the fact that Lucy didn't know wasn't going to save her from Penny's anger.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Do you have to ask?" Lucy shot back. Of course she didn't have to swear. But she was going to anyway. How did she not know that already?

Different, she said. Lucy mused over how that could be so. How it was any different from any other altercation where other people were around. The context was barely a factor. The attitude, wavering. "Dunno what you reckon's too far. It was all a fucking joke." She replied instead. She doubted she'd even understand if Penny did explain it to her.

"Who the fuck's he gonna tell?" Lucy retorted resisting the urge to scoff at the whole thing. Of course she didn't understand. The sensitivity to someone's coming out story wasn't lost on her, but the fact that they were talking about Reece - the guy she met two seconds ago - was what made it ridiculous.

Snapping her fingers instantly, Lucy started taking steps towards the desk she stood by. "Are you jealous?" She asked suddenly, the light of recognition clear in her eyes. Those looks the psychometrist had been serving were aptly burned into her memory. "Holy shit, you are aren't you!" Really, it might have aided her case if she could wipe that wide smile off her mouth. But she couldn't help it.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope knew there was no point in asking Lucy to stop swearing. It was going to happen. Knowing so never stopped her though.

It felt impossible to get through to the Australian on this subject. They had viewed what had happened as two different things entirely. It was like arguing with a brick wall.

“How am I supposed to know! He might not tell anyone, or he could tell everyone. He certainly has a big enough mouth to do so.” It wasn’t lost on her that Lucy inched towards the desk, and this time Penny chose to hold her ground. Proximity was a mentality thing. She didn’t have to care about it. It was mind over matter, right?

It still didn’t stop her from sucking in a sharp breath.

Penny immediately opened her mouth to argue, but she involuntarily hesitated for just a second before she actually spoke; “…No!” She knew the hesitation was a bad move, even if she didn’t do it by choice. It gave it away. “Why would I be jealous of something like that?” she asked instead, trying to force logic in on the situation, but jealousy wasn’t exactly a logical emotion.

She clenched her jaw as she glanced down at that damn grin. “I’m not!”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Who gives a fuck who knows." Lucy replied sharply. She didn't know the guy, but she knew Sawyer. And she knew that they were similar entities. Penny wasn't something to talk about by the rest of the student body; "No one cares." She added, meaning it in the best possible way. Though she knew there was no way to articulate that fact.

Honestly, it surprised her that Penny didn't move away. She thought for sure the psychometrist was going to want distance.

Her hesitation to answer hadn't gone unnoticed. It just made Lucy's smile grow wider. She resisted the urge to laugh about the whole reaction she was given, her smile forced into an amused line to try and stop any sounds from flying out.

"You are." Lucy shot back, stopping to stand directly in front of her counterpart. Stepping forward again, she made the move to use herself as a means to pin the Brit between the Australian and the desk.

She could always try to slip around her, if she really wanted to.

"Don't be jealous," Lucy started again, a broad grin once again evident on her features as she drew in close - close enough to breach the minimal distance provided and kiss her without fail, if she so chose to; "I'm not keen on sharing you, either."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

“I isn't about anyone else caring, it's about me caring.” Penny shot back, her voice wavering slightly as Lucy stepped forward. She had soon very quickly regretted not moving. No. She could do this. She wanted to be angry with Lucy, and she was going to be.

Penny leaned into the desk as Lucy stepped forward, taking in a quick breath. If she tried to back up any more, she'd end up sitting on the desk. “I'm not.” She replied through a clenched jaw. She pressed her hands to the desk to secure herself.

She felt Lucy's lips against her own, the Australian pushing her forward to force her against the desk. She felt the anger of the argument they had been having. The pure aggression. Her breath caught in her throat as she Lucy's hand traveled to her thighs and she was pushed up onto the desk. Penny slid a hand over to Lucy's back, sliding it under the fabric.

Penny's hands gripped the desk; she took a sharp breath again. She instinctively leaned inward, wanting to capture the Australian's lips as she was coming out of the memory. The Brit halted just in time to stop herself, and she pursed her lips.

“I'm not jealous.” Hearing that Lucy didn't like to share caused Penny let out an uneven exhale. No. She didn't care. She was angry with Lucy. She stepped to the side in an attempt to get around the Australian, realizing that distance was needed.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Unaware that Penny reverted into a past memory, Lucy kept her steady reign of the proximity between them. It dwindled with each and every passing second. If nothing else, she could feel the way Penny's breath kept faltering. Wavering. Shaking.

Lucy was sure she felt her lean inward, and so she matched the move without missing a beat. But before the Australian could make the connection she felt she so desperately needed, she was being talked at. Still, the psychometrist's uneven exhale brushed against her cheeks, and she knew she wasn't wrong in her choice to remain close.

Letting her pass, Lucy glanced down at the empty space in front of her. The desk before her.

She turned around and looked over her shoulder.

"You fucking are jealous." Lucy denoted sharply. Shifting back, she pulled herself up onto the desk, "And you're fucking angry." In the break, the ink manipulator made the move to shrug her jacket off, tossing it aside and finally extending her hands out. "You need a punching bag? Fine."

She waved her hands to indicate that she should come back, offering a look in earnest. "Come take it out on me."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny knew she was lucky to slip past Lucy. She made her way to the middle of the room before stopping and turning to face the ink manipulator. Her eyes quickly traveled down Lucy’s figure as she pushed herself onto the desk. She really wished she hadn’t visited that memory.

“I am angry.” Penny stated matter of factly, crossing her arms over her chest. She wouldn’t deny that. “I’m surprised you noticed.” Penny added in sharply.

Her eyebrows knitted together as Lucy pulled off her jacket. What exactly did she have planned? Her gaze involuntarily shifted downward again as the material slid off Lucy’s shoulders.

Penny’s gaze followed the material until it hit the floor. Her lips pressed into a hard line as she resisted the urge to pick it up; by doing so would put her closer to the ink manipulator, and she really couldn’t afford that.

“I’m not going to hit you.” Penny added in. The psychometrist, once again, had taken the statement too literally; she hadn’t even thought that the statement could have a different meaning behind it.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Course I fucking noticed." Lucy retorted, just as sharply as the statement had been offered.

Still, she watched the Brit's eyes moved across her own form, and instantly she knew she could make this work for her. Penny couldn't even bring herself to pick up after Lucy, it was that... Serious. Or perhaps she was that determined. Either way, Lucy had a feeling she herself was more determined to make this work.

She scoffed with a laugh when Penny mentioned hitting her. "You think I don't know that?" She asked. Wow, was she really not getting this? Rolling her eyes, Lucy pressed her lips into a line and took a moment to contemplate.

"I'm not fucking blind, Blaise." She started tactlessly, dropping her hands to the hem of her shirt and curling fingers into the material. "I can see the way you're looking at me." Angrily, yes. But there was something more. She was beginning to have her own flashbacks of the encounter at this very desk. Pausing, Lucy made the move to haul the thing up over her head, balling it in her hands and throwing it near where her jacket had handed. "Are you getting back over here, or do I need to spell it out for you like you really are the idiot you're bloody well acting like?" She asked, her tone harsh with clear purpose. Anything to make her realise.

"Be angry at me, I don't care." Lucy pressed on, this time dropping her hands and her gaze to the buttons on her denim shorts. She was silently glad she hadn't worn skinny jeans, though she knew how Penny hated those; "Just, be angry at me."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy’s sharp tone was adding fuel to Penny’s irritation. She wasn’t getting it. The psychometrist was beginning to wonder if she was more angry from what had happened of because the Australian didn’t seem to understand why. The resentment still felt from the memory didn’t aid to the situation, either.

Penny’s fingers twitched as she resisted the urge to ball her hands into fists. “I’m not looking at you in any way, Serrano.” Penelope shot back, instinctively tacking on the oddly impersonal last name out of defense. It was how she referred to Lucy for months, and hearing Lucy call her by her own last name irked her.

She knew she was looking at her a certain way. Her jaw clenched as she refused to acknowledge it. What was impossible to ignore, however, was Lucy’s shirt was pulled up and off. Penny couldn’t even tear her gaze away to watch it hit the floor.

She found herself taking the few steps towards Lucy. Penny hadn’t even needed to look to know where Lucy’s hands were going. Her hands were starting she shake with frustration. The annoyance. The jealousy. The fact that Lucy would just let Penny take it out on her, and the fact that Penny very well wanted to.

“Shut up.” She reached out, sliding a hand to Lucy’s neck as she aggressively pulled her forward to kiss her.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

What Lucy knew was all she'd said - Penny was angry. She could see that in her eyes; in the way her hands trembled at her sides. She could practically feel it, even with this distance. But she couldn't say she understood it. It felt like too strong a surge for a string of jokes and an apparent impromptu outing. Lucy had to reside to the fact that it was a response to the latter. She was really, genuinely upset about that.

"It's a day of denial for you, isn't it." Lucy retorted, though this time her voice hung low in the air. Under her breath, but of course, loud enough to be heard. She was jealous of something. And she was looking at her in a certain way.

With her gaze turned downwards, Lucy didn't notice Penny was breaching the distance until she was right there. When she did look up, surprise coloured her features at the familiar words. But she couldn't respond; in the next moment, Penny had pulled her in and kissed her with a familiar sense of passionate frustration. She didn't miss a beat with her reciprocation, gripping at her sides and pulling her to stand in the space between the ink manipulator's thighs. Anything to get her closer. To reiterate that this was okay.

Besides, it wasnt as if Lucy had asked when she'd exhausted her aggression on her counterpart.

The Australian loosened her grip, allowing her hands to slowly trail across the psychometrist's form; arms wrapping around her with a more genuine intention. Yes, Lucy would let her be aggressive. She'd let her take it out on her however she would, but it didn't mean she had to respond in kind. In her own way, she would be apologetic.