Shadow of Your Heart

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy had been gone for hours. Leaving her bed at three in the morning had never been something she wanted to readily do, but as it stood, Dominique had needed someone to be there for him. To sit with him for however long he needed to be distracted from the world. And despite how things seemed to fall between them, the Australian had been ready to oblige. Given the situation he was in - the pressure he was under - her grudge seemed so... Trivial. His inability to speak to her seemed trivial.

The distance; trivial.

She'd walked him back to his dorm, leaving the exhausted twin in his bed to sleep. She knew he wouldn't reach his classes for the day; she didn't exactly expect to be going herself either. Given the exhausted state they were both in, she was likely going to fall into bed and crash completely.

When Lucy finally made it back to her own dorm, she swung the door open without bothering to knock - because it was hers, so why would she? There, she found the psychometrist at her desk. Briefly, her tired eyes crossed the line of her form. She was dressed. Ready. She had everything she needed by her side. She was reading what Lucy could only guess were notes for her first class.

"Fuck," She dropped the word, running her hand over her mouth and across the line of her jaw as she closed the door behind her. "You're actually still here, I-"

The ink manipulator seemed genuinely surprised by the concept. Even she knew there wasn't a lot of time left before classes started; she'd obviously left, but decided to come back. "-Thought you would've just gone, or something." But as soon as the words left her mouth, she wondered if she really should have offered them. The concept of Penny leaving was still something of a sore subject for the Australian.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope had a surprisingly hard time sleeping when the ink manipulator left her side. The Brit fell in and out of sleep throughout the rest of the night, and when her alarm went off at 6:15, Penny was already up. Still, she went about her daily routine in a normal fashion.

When it was time for her shower, Penny hesitated. She said she'd be here when Lucy got back, but she had to leave to shower in her dormitory. After a moment, the psychometrist reached for a pen and paper from her school bag. In neat handwriting, she left a simple note; “Showering. I'll be back at at 6:45.” Simple, straight to the point.

At 6:45, Penny returned. She knocked on the door, and when there was no answer, she opened it and stepped inside. Being inside the Australian's dormitory without her felt strange.

7:15. Lucy was still not here. Normally, Penny would have left for class. She remained sitting at Lucy's desk, going over her notes. Lucy asked her to stay. She wanted her to stay. And so she did.

When the door finally did open, Penny didn't look up as she finished scanning the page of her notes. Still, at the sound of Lucy stepping inside, a smile pulled at her lips. It wasn't until Lucy spoke – or rather, cursed – that Penny looked up, her gaze traveling over to the ink manipulator.

She looked exhausted. Penny couldn't help but to notice the grass stains on her jeans. The surprised look playing about her features. “Of course I'm here.” Still, the Brit resisted the urge to look at the time. She knew what time it was. She knew she should have left for class five minutes ago. Like she did every day.

Her lips pursed as Lucy continued, eyebrows raising as she pushed herself up and off the chair. “Well, I didn't.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

The simple words offered to her were, in a sense, nothing to respond to. Of course she was here, as if Lucy shouldn't have doubted her. It wasn't that she did. She was exhausted - her mind couldn't catch her mouth as quickly as she wished it could. Still, Lucy didn't regret the phrase she'd offered. Sometimes speaking bluntly - truthfully - was worth it.

"Fuck, I-" Lucy started, running a hand across her face again, as if somehow the act would wipe the moronic way she was speaking out of her system before she kept going. Before she made it worse. "I didn't mean it like that." She added quickly, finally opting to take steps away from the door and move towards her as she stood up. The Australian immediately reached out to her, fingers trailing down her arm to finally catch her hand.

She offered it a light squeeze, and she glanced up to try and catch her eyes. "Thanks." She breathed, offering something of a tired smile. She didn't have the capacity to care about what she said or how unguarded it might have made her feel. "I mean it."

After the last few hours, she'd needed to see her. Even if it was just for a few minutes.

Letting go of her hand after a time, Lucy opted to roll her shoulders to try and shrug off the jacket she wore. "I'm not going this morning, I-" She pulled at the sleeves; the line of the jacket. But it was difficult. Frustrating. Suddenly everything was a little frustrating. She glanced at her bed - it would be so easy to just fall into it as is. "-I can't."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny watched as Lucy ran her hand across her face. Again, Penny couldn't help but to notice how tired the Australian was. Her features softened, even as she heard her counterpart curse again. “I know,” she replied with a small nod. The subject of leaving was still sore to the Brit as much as it was Lucy. She felt the pain she did. Twice. It was tenfold more than enough to make Penny realize that she couldn't leave again.

She sucked in a slow breath when Lucy breached the distance between them. Even if it had only been hours, it had felt like hours since she last saw the ink manipulator. She allowed her hand to be taken, her thumb lightly grazing the top of her counterpart's as she intertwined their fingers. “You don't have to thank me.”

It didn't surprise her that Lucy was going to skip class, but that didn't stop the Brit from letting out a sigh. “It's alright,” she said slowly, watching as Lucy slid the jacket off. Even if her counterpart was exhausted, Penny couldn't help her eyes from glancing briefly down at her form. “You should sleep.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Truthfully, Lucy knew she didn't need to apologise. The word so rarely fell from her mouth without question; it was only when she made mention of it that she realised the severity of the word. Singular in its delivery. Weighted in its own way. "Yeah, okay." She replied, feigning a decent smile. She didn't even have the strength to argue for the hell of it.

When she finally managed to remove her jacket, she opted to toss it over the back of the chair by her computer. She glanced towards her to see the way her eyes traversed the ink manipulator's form. Exhausted or not, she still felt her heart beat quicken.

"I'm gonna." Lucy replied, sliding thr beanie off her head and subsuquently running her hand through her hair. Her fingers moved to hook around the belt she wore, trying to unbuckle it, despite how difficult it suddenly was. "You're gonna be late if you don't go soon." She said, glancing up to catch her reaction.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Even when her counterpart was tired, Penny couldn’t stop herself around the Australian. When she caught sight of Lucy’s smile, Penny offered one in return. Not because she felt a need to, but because it was her smile.

She watched as Lucy pulled at her clothes, and she couldn’t resist the urge to help. Her hands reached forward, brushing past Lucy’s to unbuckle her belt, sliding it off and setting it neatly to the side. Penny hesitated in helping further, however, when Lucy stated that she was going to be late for class. The statement caused Penny’s eyebrows to twitch upward slightly in surprise – it was the only form of reaction she offered to it. Instead, she shifted her focus away from the her counterpart.

Her dark eyes fell on the jacket hanging over the chair, she stared at it a moment before taking it, fingers brushing across the material as she went towards Lucy’s closet to hang it up. “I’m not going,” she replied almost casually. It wasn’t something to be casual about, however the Brit had a habit of giving important news in the most offhanded of ways. She grabbed a hanger, sliding the jacket onto it and straightening it out before putting it away. It was only when she closed the closet door did she turn to face Lucy, “You need to sleep.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy turned her gaze down, watching the way Penny's hands move to fix and draw her belt away. Involuntarily, she found herself leaning forward slightly. But that was all she did, and so Lucy didn't pull her in to continue. The hesitation was just slightly evident, but she didn't have the drive to respond.

The surprise she wore caught the ink manipulator's attention, but she didn't question it. She simply wondered what was so confusing about what she'd pointed out.

She kicked off her shoes when Penny turned away, mismatched socks evident from the haze that was trying to get up and rush to get something decent to wear. She made no move to take the rest of her clothes off, instead moving towards her bed. But she stopped when Penny finally spoke again. Lucy dropped her jaw to speak - to tell her it wasn't at all like her to skip a class - but she didn't.

Her mouth was already getting her misread as it was. No need to make it worse.

As Penny made her way to the closet to hang her jacket up, she waited for a time before she actually managed to move. And before the psychometrist turned to face her, she breached the distance between them completely and wrapped her arms around her counterpart's waist. She pressed herself in close against her back, opening her mouth to try to speak. But she couldn’t say anything. Couldn't think of something worthwhile. So the Australian leaned in close and left a small kiss against her ear.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny knew very well what she was saying. The meaning behind her words. The action. And she knew that Lucy understood the same. Honestly, part of her couldn't believe her own choice; three months ago this never would have happened. Still, she didn't regret the choice. She waited for a response, but there wasn't one. Immediately, her lips pressed into a hard line as her back was still to Lucy. She knew that it was a big move – one that possibly neither of them were ready for. They weren't girlfriends.

But before she was able to turn, she felt familiar hands wrap around her waist. Instantly, she lifted her hand, bringing it up to reach for Lucy behind her, fingers entangling themselves in the ink manipulator's dark hair. Penny felt herself suck in a slow breath – the action her counterpart provided was enough to make Penny relax. She understood. Penny knew Lucy was exhausted, but feeling her press herself against the Brit caused Penny's pulse to race. She closed her eyes as she let the simple feeling of Lucy's presence wash over her.

Penny tilted her head slightly towards Lucy; a natural response to the kiss to her ear. Her free hand traveled across Lucy's arm lightly until it caught her hand and took hold of it. She remained silent for a few moments, letting herself enjoy the simplicity of it – them – whatever it was they had.

After a bit, she tilted her head, letting it rest lightly against Lucy's. “Come on, let's go to bed.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy felt verbally unable to thank her any further. The word had already fallen from her mouth once, she couldn't manage it a second time. Once was enough - it carried enough difficulty to be enough. So she held on, because it was all she could really think of. It was all she wanted to do. And any worries she might have carried were subsequently distilled when she felt familiar fingers lose themselves in her hair.

The way she took a breath. Slow. She felt it beneath her hands.

She intertwined a hand with Penny's when she finally sought it out, carrying no desire to make a move away from her until it was forced on her. Or asked, as it were. Slowly, the ink manipulator unfurled her arms and drew herself away - which wasn't far, given the way she held her counterpart's hand like a life line.

Again, Lucy allowed her free hand to track across the line of her face. As if it'd help her think clearly. Help her feel less tired.

With a small pull of her hand, Lucy finally made a real definite move towards her bed. Clothed and all.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

When Lucy didn't speak, Penny knew that by remaining silent she was saying just as much, if not more, than words could have said. A smile pulled at her lips as she felt their fingers intertwine. Nothing – not even class – could pull her away from this girl in that moment. She couldn't leave.

Even though she had been the one to suggest they go to bed, Penny couldn't help but to lean into Lucy as she started to pull away. Still, she let herself be lead towards the bed, giving the ink manipulator's hand a light squeeze as they walked. Although she wanted to let her counterpart rest, Penny couldn't help but to raise her eyebrows over the fact that she was still in the clothes. “You're not planning on sleeping in those, are you?”

Penny knew the answer before her question parted her lips, but it was her best way of informing the Australian that she wasn't going to sleep in them. Or, at least, Penny was going to attempt to get her out of those dirty jeans and mismatched socks. The Brit reached forward, sliding her hand under Lucy's, her own fingers tracing along the line of her jaw. “You should change.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It wasn't until she glanced back that Lucy noticed the way Penny was looking at her. Or more specifically, what she was still wearing. The raise of her eyebrows spoke just as much as the actual words she used. "What?" She asked, confusion settling in amidst her tired state.

It was a question, but it sure didn't really feel like one.

"Hn." She offered the sound as some kind of defiant answer when Penny told her she should change, but the way her features softened under her touch betrayed any and all attempts at being harsh. "It's fine. I don't care." Lucy said honestly. It wouldn't be the first - or likely, the last - time she slept in skinny jeans.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny should have known that Lucy wouldn't care about sleeping in her clothes. Still, something about it irked the psychometrist. Those clothes weren't meant for bed, and thus shouldn't be worn while in bed, specifically while sleeping. It didn't make sense.

Penny reached forward, fingers grazing the button of Lucy's jeans; “I--”

She felt the cool Vermont air fill her lungs. Even if Spring was around the corner, the Northern state still had a bit of a chilling bite during the night. She felt Lucy's fingers grip the blonde's arm, along with the pressure as he took hold of her arm. Such a simple act, but it felt like more. She felt the concern bubble inside of Lucy. Her eyebrows knit together as both she and Penny felt the severity of the situation fall on them. Still, Penny didn't know what was so concerning.

When her hand traveled up Dominique’s arm, to the back of his neck, she felt the anxiety Lucy felt, especially as she closed her eyes.

Care. “--failed,” Penny felt her eyes adjust to the sudden change in light. Her body twitched as she realized she wasn't out in the cold. Dark eyes flicked upwards to her counterpart, confusion taking over her features. “too.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy watched the way her free hand extended out, feeling the way her fingertrips ran acrods the button of her jeans. She spent the moment Penny was absent with her breath caught in her throat. Even if she was exhausted, she was incredibly willing to let this girl undress her. She was an expert at it by now.

But in the next moment, a familiar word caught her attention. Failed. She immediately worked to catch her eyes - by now, she knew that look.

Lucy caught her free hand in her own, making a point to draw it away from the fabric she wore. Because she knew that statement. That moment. She could still feel it. She felt anxious. "What?" Lucy asked, but she shook her head immediately after. She didn't want an answer. "It's nothing." She shot out instead.

But nothing never meant nothing, and they knew that.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

As Lucy moved her hand, Penny seemed to finally catch up with everything. Her lips pulled downward, as she realized that Lucy was pulling her hand away from the fabric. From what was associated with it. “I'm sorry.” she stated, making an effort to also pull her hand away from the jeans. To show she didn't mean to invade on the ink manipulator's memories.

Even so, Lucy's response to it only added to the Brit's confusion. Her eyebrows knit together as the Australian stated it was nothing. That clearly meant it was something. But Penny didn't know what. She knew the words, she felt the anxiety, but there was no clarity as to what it was about.

Her fingers twitched, naturally wanting to touch her counterpart. To comfort her in some way, but Penny resisted the urge. Lucy had made a distinct effort to distance the psychometrist from her clothes, from her. Still, her curiosity was sparked. Nothing never meant nothing. “What did you--” she tried, but hesitated as she tried to read Lucy's features for some form of clarity. “--I don't understand.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy shook her head once. She didn't want an apology. She knew she didn't mean it. She knew sometimes it just... Happened. She was growing increasingly mad at herself. She should have thought about it. Factored it in like she was so accustomed to doing already.

It was obvious that Penny was confused. The expression was plastered all over her face. Lucy wore it too. Why now of all times? Why did this have to happen right now?

Still, she could feel the way in which this girl wanted to reconnect with her. Truthfully, she wanted it too. But she suddenly didn't know how to get that back. Not after she'd been the one to sever the contact.

"I can't." Lucy tried anyway, taking an involuntary step back as she raised her hands to run her fingers through her hair.

She didn't mean to step back.

"I don't want to talk about it." Lucy deftly averted her gaze from her counterpart, feeling the darkened strands of her own hair fall through her fingers as she moved her hands away. She curled a hand over the lion on her forearm - the simplest clue to her mental state.

But the siberian tiger she bore on her upper arm edged itself to the forefront with what appeared to be careful steps. Jaw dropped. Teeth not quite bearing. "Don't ask me. Please."