WWW: It's Still My Birthday

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Set November 23rd

It had been almost two weeks since Lucy had gotten her hands on the latest Tomb Raider game. It was no secret by now that the Australian had some kind of love affair with the hot, clever British girl who captured her attention on a TV screen for the last thirteen nights. Her interest had possibly developed into an obsession given the hours she had poured into combing the landscape; one had likely never seen her be so thorough when she was so prone to cutting corners. But this was Lara Croft they were dealing with, and Lucy loved her.

She was, however, slightly negative to the notion of having to work on her birthday. But when it came to expensive flights to another country next month and how they drained a bank account, she could hardly turn down any appointments she was getting.

And the weather? It was enough to sour the Australian's mood the second she woke. It was like the cooler air interrupted the entire flow of her life, from straggling to sleep in newer layers every night to the overarching negativity in which she woke each morning. She wished for the day when she would grow used to it, but she feared it would never come. That was life.

When she got home late as she had, it was hard not to think of the game she had left at home all day for the sake of such work and sucky weather as she made her way to the door. But she couldn't; at least, not yet. Her birthday mightn't have mattered much to Lucy, but it meant something to someone as much as the fifth of March did for herself. Though there was absolutely nothing she could think of that she wanted for her birthday, she knew those words would fall on deaf ears, just as they would if the situation were reversed.

Keys fumbled about in her gloved hands, difficult as they were to maneuver with. And seeing through the snow dusted nature of her side-swept hair was only adding to that.

"I'm home," Before she made it far through the door, she was raising her voice and failing at dismantling the buttons on her parka; "Below bloody minus five degrees; what the fuck's wrong with this country?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

To know that Lucy was working on her birthday was a disappointment, but finances favored the decision and Penny couldn't rightfully argue it once Lucy made the choice. However, she could openly dislike the idea. It was a day she hadn't had classes, and there was nothing worse than trying to let her counterpart work when she herself was entirely caught up on her studies.

She kept busy for the hours Lucy worked. Cleaning, mostly. The living room where Lucy had practically lived in for the past two weeks desperately needed it. For as meticulous as Lucy was in her game, she certainly wasn't where she was seated. Then again, Penny never expected her counterpart to be. It was easier if she took care of matters herself.

Minutes drew closer to when the Australian was due home, and Penny found herself busy in the kitchen. Lucy wasn't a particularly picky eater, but she knew she preferred a certain simplicity to her meals more than most. She also was well aware that the ink manipulator lived off of instant noodles for several years and somehow survived. For today, she cooked with her in mind. Her health too, of course.

A knife pressed to a cutting board, flour dusting her hands when the front door opened. Before the sound of a lock clicking filled the air, a familiar accent did drawing an immediate smile out of the Brit as she reached for a kitchen towel and made quick steps out of the kitchen and to Lucy.

Despite the way her nose crinkled with distaste for Lucy's language, she stepped through the distance regardless. The moment her hands were free from the white powder, she caught her fumbling hands. "It'll be worse in a couple of months." She pointed out gently, light humor lining her tone as she raised her eyebrows up before catching the first button of her parka.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy knew she wouldn't be on her own for long. If she had her way - or the weather had permitted it - she wouldn't have been stuck so near the door. Her instincts would have dragged her to the kitchen where the girl who made her heart race could almost always be found. It was unfortunate how stagnant she felt; how chilled fingers couldn't figure out buttons. Thankfully, she had a saviour.

Things weren't so difficult when a second set of hands took over. Lucy slowly drew her hands upwards, fingers hooking onto the hood of her jacket as she dragged it off her head. Soft snow fell from her hair as she resisted the urge to shake it out completely.

"Don't remind me." She practically whined, though the words did carry a slightly hardened edge to them instead. Still, she was hardly mad at her. Another second in silence and she was already leaning through the distance, lightly pressing chilled lips to those that harboured much more warmth.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny knew well just how poorly Lucy responded to the cold. They were still a month away from the first day of winter and she was already struggling with the temperature. Cooler nights meant the Australian was more restless, often woken up to put back on previously torn off layers. In months to come, it'd only grow worse.

She worked through the buttons of Lucy's parka with ease, purposefully choosing not to glance down at the fallen snow to instead look at the ink manipulator. Though she barely had the chance before cold lips pressed against her own. Light as the contact was, she kept close in a small attempt to warm her up, as did her hands as they pressed against the sides of Lucy's face.

"Welcome home." She tried again, changing the subject away from the chilling weather outside as per her request. With a step forward, she dragged Lucy in a little further into the apartment, hands dropping to her shoulders to ease the heavy jacket off of her form.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

A day away forced Lucy to miss Penny more than she could realise. She had only been at work, but those days were much more taxing when she knew she could be close in a matter of moments had she planned her time right. So of course one of her first thoughts was to kiss her; it was difficult to think of anything else when she was right there. The date was now completely off her mind, important as it may have been.

A warm smile caught Lucy's features completely at the little words that brushed her skin. She was incredibly grateful to be home given the way things looked outside. And more to the point, she was glad to be with her. She didn't fight the way her jacket was removed; one of many layers that needed to be fought with.

Finally a hand reached up as she leaned back to brush the snow from the exposed sweep of her hair. Anything to get it away before she could find herself too wrapped up in the girl before her. "I love you." She breathed, relief wrapping the words without fail. There was nothing better than finally being where she was now.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Despite how chilled her counterpart was, the expression Lucy wore was warming with every passing moment. Time apart made those moments of reconnection more imperative than ever. Only hours passed, and she had missed the Australian greatly. She slid the jacket from her arms, draping it over one of her own when words of love caught the air. She'd heard them before, but they never lost their genuine touch, nor did it change the way her pulse ran harder at the statement.

This day was supposed to be overwhelming for her, and yet the Australian still worked it in her favor. "I love you." She replied back, already feeling short of breath. She leaned through the small distance created just to press her lips to Lucy's cheek before grabbing a hanger. There were several more layers to pull off of the cold-sensitive ink manipulator, and holding onto every one of them would have made it more of a chore.

The moment her hands were free, Penny was reaching for Lucy. Fingertips traveled lightly down the length of her arm until she caught her hand. Fingers intertwined precisely with her counterpart's as she gave her a small tug, beckoning her further inside.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

With a sentiment shared, Lucy found it difficult to maintain a usually stable pattern to her breathing. It was a relief to be back within her company, and though she knew Penny loved her, the words themselves always carried impact. She was everything Lucy could want on a day like today; the one person who could make a birthday worthwhile simply by existing.

The loss of her hands had Lucy in a short sharp point of panic before they returned to her again. Her hand was taken and she allowed herself to follow; to be drawn into the home they shared. Toes pressed to the back of her heels as she staggered her way out of her shoes with a few steps. All the while she kept herself incredibly close to Penny, because now that she was in proximity there was nothing that could force her away.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

A few steps and shoes that would have carried residue of snow and mud throughout their impeccably clean home were left behind at the door. If anyone knew Penny's distaste for mud, it was the ink manipulator who had put dirty boots to a couch cushion without a second thought against it. She squeezed her hand a second time in a silent mark of appreciation.

Although Lucy had little business in the kitchen on any given day, Penny still lead her into the space that was ultimately deemed hers. Her free hand reached for the stove, turning a dial down on a covered pot. "Ramen." She explained with another step, the tip of her nose brushing against Lucy's cold one lightly. "It'll help warm you up."

Of course, there were other means to hear up the ink manipulator, none of which Penny would ever voice in any given moment. Although it was obvious from the space around them, she still felt a need to point out the fact; "It's not instant."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Following along, Lucy quickly found herself in a space she usually had little business in. Since they had moved in together, Lucy couldn't think of a time where she had ever really made anything for herself. It was easier this way, and more to the point, she was sure Penny preferred it too.

Close as she was, she did her best to listen and not get so distracted by the person who beckoned her inward. She had to wonder if Penny knew just how difficult she made the smallest of interactions simply by being who and how she was. Silently, Lucy cracked a knowing smile at the idea of being warmed up. She had countless ways to ruin that moment, all of which involved a series of words she mightn't ever hear from her mouth.

"Course not." Lucy denoted. She knew that no matter what day it was, Penny would never give in to the simplicity that Lucy had grown used to. Eyes filtered to the neighbouring countertop. It was only a second of contemplation before she took a step forward, keeping close enough to press her up against it.

But she kissed her lightly, a potential contrast to her own actions. At the end of it all, she just wanted to leave as little between them as she could. "Sorry I couldn't stay this morning." She started, genuinely irked on some level by the way the day had played out.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's smile quickly gave away the thoughts that she could have voiced; those that Penny herself refused to. Yet when no such comment had passed her lips, the Brit found herself surprised, though she tried not to let it show. There were few moments where Lucy wouldn't bring a conversation to the next level, and she wasn't going to complain that she hadn't then.

Smart steps lead Penny to the counter, feeling the small of her back press up against the surface that had given her such trouble throughout the day with memories. Then, however, they hadn't bothered her. Distraction kept her psychometric mind busy, arms looping around the Australian's shoulders with the new found proximity put in place.

Fleeting and light as the contact was, it still thinned the air between them. It wavered passed her own lips, dusting against hers as she offered an apology. "Don't be." Penny knew how rare it was for Lucy to say she was sorry on any matter, and how her own response likely made matters worse, but the reply came out before she could help it. She didn't want her to be sorry. "I know you would have if you could."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Willingly, Lucy found herself flush against the form she pinned against the edge of the counter. There was no need for distance, and so Lucy gave her no reason to chase it. She had spent all day out when she could have disappeared and stayed in her bed instead. She couldn't imagine the difficulty memory dusted surfaces must have given her.

Again, she leaned inwards. Hands pressed to the counter at either side, because ther wasn't another inch that she could properly touch that wouldn't lead to something greater.

"Can't think of a thing that'd make me want to leave you." She admitted, the words on a lower tone to match how important they felt. Because it might have been common knowledge between them, but she knew how it was to catch those sentiments all the same.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's hands found the counter when Penny would have preferred them on her own form. Any ounce of contact she could receive from the ink manipulator was worth cherishing, even if she selfishly wanted more. A day without Lucy made for a long one, especially considering the mark on the calendar. It was a day when she was supposed to give Lucy all of her attention, turned impossible when she was pulled away for work.

A softer smile played about her lips as Lucy spoke. "I know." She replied with her own gentle tone, fingers curling into the Australian's hair. The memory of her puling the door shut that morning was enough proof, and were it not for the memory, the devotion Lucy offered was more than enough to prove it. And despite knowing, she still said it, and it still made her heart beat shift into the next gear.

She pressed her lips to Lucy's, already finding the distraction her love offered incredibly overwhelming. There was still much to do, and yet she briefly humored the thought of letting it slide for the evening in favor of pulling her back into the bed she was forced to leave that morning. Were it not for the day, she would have considered it longer. "I want to show you something." Penny explained, but her arms remained looped around Lucy's with little intention of letting up.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

There was obvious recognition in Penny's tone of voice; it might have been predictable to know how intently Lucy regretted having to leave, but there was a charge to the verbal sentiment all the same. She had to grip the counter to keep her hands from moving when familiar fingers lost themselves in her hair.

She exhaled a heavy breath then at the idea that they needed to move. It was so unlike Lucy to deny her love by any means; her body applied just a little more pressure against hers. And with a tilt of her head, her lips were skimming the heavy pulse at her neck.

"Can't it wait?" She asked on a breath, teeth grazing the skin without the resolution of biting down; she was grinning, "I'm busy."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Talk of moving only brought Lucy closer, and really, Penny was thankful for the way she denied her request. She had a well enough reason to try and move them, but when that familiar form was pressed up against her own so intently, she struggled with a simple breath, let alone anything as significant as a step.

She lifted her chin, giving her all the space she needed. Encouraging. Though she opened her mouth, it took a few spare second to actually speak at all. "Yes, it can wait." Penny managed finally, voice softening without any air to back it up.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and although she had no way to see the ink manipulator, Penny could literally feel the grin against the curve of her own neck. "Take your time," she continued almost daringly. "It's your birthday, after all."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

As much as Lucy wanted to adhere to whatever it was Penny wanted to show her, giving in was never easy for either of them. Now that she was home - now that they were where they were - she couldn't see herself moving away for anything. And it seemed to be a sentiment shared, with the blame expertly pushed to the ink manipulator's shoulders by way of her birthday. Clever as it was, it brought forth an entirely new perspective.

A small breath to the concept as a whole, because it was the first mention of her birthday all day. At least, the first from her, but Lucy had known all day that Penny would hardly forget about it. Hands eased off the counter as she was no longer working to keep herself at any kind of distance. Instead, they dropped to the line of her dress at either side, incredibly slow to drag upwards. In the same motion she tilted her head upwards to press her lips against her ear.

"It's my choice?" She asked, "That what you're giving me?"

And it very easily could have been true. Rare were the moments in which Penny gave in so willingly when there was something else on her mind. She knew she herself was deemed a potent distraction, but surely she should have considered more of a fight than that. She would hardly complain over simplicity.