Time Warp: I Didn't Think You'd Care

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

July, 2020
Paris, France

It had been an exhausting run. By now, the Australian was used to flying across countries for work, but this had been different. It wasn't just another project or a gallery or an exhibit under the Chevalier name, it was damn near everything - a display for young artists. Meta humans at that. She'd been incredibly sceptical about Dom's idea when he first offered it to her, but the more he spoke the more she settled into it. To be the thing everyone was looking at was much more daunting than anything else she could have expected. Cameras pointed at the tattoos she wore, expressing the movements they made on each and every wall for hours. It was exhausting - the preparation and the act within itself - but he'd needed her for it and so of course, she complied. She owed him more than that.

But she was glad it was over. And she was even more grateful that Penny could actually be there with her.

With the shows closing literally right behind them, she buzzed with the eccentric energy of her fellow artists in tandem with the dashing coordinator who fought for it to happen in the first place. Still, Lucy was very aware of the expression Penny wore when Carter had suggested a celebratory dinner. When it came to celebrating a win, she doubted it was how her wife wanted to go about it. So she didn't look at her when she agreed to it. She'd pay for it later, she was sure.

Because she was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore the way she felt about her. Lucy Serrano was hardly the mark of professionalism, but she still managed to maintain some kind of composure. At least until the elevator doors of their hotel closed behind them.

Leaning in towards her psychometric counterpart, Lucy was incredibly glad for the fact that they were staying on such a high floor of such a ridiculous place. With her dwindling willpower quickly failing, Lucy couldn't resist pressing her lips to her wife's with every ounce of intention she carried. They had time, she was sure. And she was most definitely going to use it.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Despite the number of times she had been to Paris with her wife, Penelope had yet to get used to living such an extravagant lifestyle. With her wife’s success in her respective field, they were very comfortable back in Vermont. But this was different. This was Paris. Not to mention, it was a Chevalier event. Anything funded by the French twins was usually over the top.

This trip was no exception to that rule. However, this particular exhibit was unlike any Penny had ever attended before. It wasn’t Lucy’s artwork on display, but instead she was on display. The possessive Brit was still unsure how to feel about various cameras and eyes on her counterpart’s form. Regardless, Penny chose to be supportive as best as she could.

Yet as the exhibit was coming to a close, Penny was grateful for it to be over. More than anything, she simply wanted to have Lucy to herself for night and well into the following day. The idea was short lived, however, when Carter had suggested a celebratory dinner. Her lips pressed into a hard line at the idea, she sucked in a slow, frustrated breath when Lucy agreed it without so much as a glance in Penny’s direction.

Walking in the direction of the elevator, the psychometrist remained silent. Even with her mild irritation with the Australian, Penny was thankful to get at least some time alone with her before this horrible idea of a dinner event.

The moment the elevator door closed, she made the move to shift towards her counterpart, but the Australian had beaten her to the act. As she felt Lucy’s lips press against her own, the Brit brought a hand up to tangle in the dark locks of Lucy’s hair and reciprocated the kiss with just as much intention.

She moved to press her wife against the elevator wall, her free hand unbuckling the Australian’s belt with precision. Twenty-one floors. And Penny had every intention of utilizing her time.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy didn't miss the fact that Penny had leaned in towards her in the very same motion. It was gratifying to know that what she felt was reciprocated with the same intention. The same evident desperation. Though she was exhausted from the work she'd done, she couldn't help herself. Not when it came to Penelope Blaise.

She let her push her against the wall, sucking in a quick breath between her teeth as her counterpart's fingers tangled within her hair. The pressure she provided - purposeful or not - was an intoxicating stint of worthy pain.

Resting her head against the wall momentarily, she almost gave in to the way Penny's fingers worked to unbuckle the belt she wore. It would have been so easy to just let her. It was obvious enough from her own movements that she very well wanted her to. But before she could proceed, the Australian pushed forward with surprising force. Her hands gripped her counterpart's dress at her hips as she pushed off the wall with a foot and stepped towards her. Towards the other side.

She started this. Not Penny. She was sure she'd been the one to move in first, so she definitely wanted to see it through.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

She hadn’t been expecting to be pushed, let alone with the amount of force that Lucy managed to do so. She felt her back hit the other side of the elevator and she inhaled sharply from her counterpart’s forward nature. Yet she wasn’t going to let Lucy take over so easily. Not after she had to look at her wife for hours without making so much as a singular move.

Still, she allowed herself to be pressed against the wall, but it did little to deter her from continuing. She unbuttoned Lucy’s pants, dragging her nails across the sparrows inked into her skin. She didn’t push back; she concluded that she didn’t need the elevator wall to be on her side of this.

Although it was impossible to deny the way Lucy gripped at her dress, it didn’t matter who started it, Penny was determined, even if she was too. The Brit ran her tongue along Lucy’s bottom lip, pulling her closer.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Being on the losing side of a power struggle was nothing but irritating for Lucy Serrano. She liked to win. It didn't matter what it was, or how high or low the stakes were. It was a fact about the Australian many people knew, and it was one Penelope Blaise couldn't help but take advantage of in her own way. Still, the ink manipulator grinned as she forced her wife against the wall. But that smug expression faltered when she realised she wasn't stopping.

Evident frustration or no, there was no way Lucy had the strength to force Penny's hand away. She didn't want to deter what her wife wanted; despite how distracted she was, she wasn't about to be pinned as the person who ruined this. There were better tactics than physical force.

Drawing both hands past the hem of her dress, she broke the all important chain of kisses to take a staggered breath. But she didn't draw back. Her lips still grazed across the psychometrist as she breathed; "Let me."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny did very well know how her wife felt about losing. How she couldn’t stand to do so, and in a sense, neither did Penny in her own way. She wasn’t going to lose this, she was sure. Although she felt herself slipping as her wife’s hands traveled down the line of her skirt.

And as Lucy pulled back, Penny gave herself little time to breathe before she tried to follow her counterpart and meet her lips again. She was desperate for the Australian, and it certainly showed as she pressed forward.

Until she faltered over Lucy’s words. It was only then did she take in a sharp, much needed breath. Her jaw clenched, realizing that Lucy knew exactly how to win this. And she played it. Only Lucy Serrano knew how to make Penny falter in such a way. How to completely win her over.

She paused for a moment, conflict flashing in her eyes as she stared back at Lucy. Briefly, her lips pursed as she settled on a decision before she leaned forward and kissed the Australian again. Her hands shifted, fingers wrapping around her wrist with encouragement to move the hand on her thigh upwards.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Note: FtB

Some things never changed. Lucy Serrano liked to win. Penelope Blaise didn't like to falter; she liked control. Lucy liked to give her that control. But Lucy also had no issue using relevant tactics.

Let me. It always worked.

Still, she was surprised it did.

With heavy, staggered breaths, Lucy rested her forehead against the elevator wall behind her. Only for a moment or so. As much as she wanted to remain completely caught up in the psychometrist, she knew she couldn't. She likely could have if she'd managed to wait, but regardless of who made the first move, they were both going to. Either way, this was inevitable.

Finally drawing her hands back, she couldn't resist leaning in and pressing her lips to Penny's neck once. She then took in a slow, purposeful breath and finally stepped back. Her hands moved to deftly button her jeans and buckle her belt again, her eyebrows raising once as she caught her wife's gaze.

Twenty-first floor. The elevator doors opened, and Lucy indicated towards it with a hand.

"You first, love." She said smugly, the grin on her lips ripe with an equal quality to her tone.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Let me. It had a hold over Penny that she couldn’t quite get over. Every time Lucy used it, Penny recalled the first time the Australian had offered it to her. What it meant to say yes. What she admitted to herself when she had. She couldn’t say no.

Her hand was caught up in Lucy’s dark hair, grip loosening as she took in a wavering breath. She didn’t want to have to pull away, or have her pull away. She’d much rather stay caught up in the way her wife’s breath felt against her skin. The way she again kissed her neck and Penny couldn’t help but to tilt her head back in response. But it was inevitable, and the elevator begin to slow down, Penny opened her eyes.

As Lucy stepped back, Penny drew her hands away, pressing them to her dress to flatten out the wrinkles that formed in the material as it was pushed up. Her dark eyes moved to Lucy, traveling to her hands as she buckled her belt, and then catching her eyes. How she raised her eyebrows. Penny’s lips pressed into a hard, unamused line at her smug expression.

As the elevator doors opened, Penny actively chose not to comment on her wife’s phrasing and took purposeful steps past her. Despite how hard she tried to compose herself, it was impossible to do so. Still, she straightened her back, eyes narrowing at her wife’s grin as she stepped out of the elevator towards their hotel room.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Without a response at all, Lucy felt her smug expression drop slightly. Not enough to dissipate, but enough to be visibly faltered. Thankfully for her, she was out of Penny's sight line. Despite the fact that she didn't respond to the Australian's clever choice of words, she still complied with the suggestion. And that was something to keep grinning about.

She walked a step or so behind her, breaching the distance with a few fast paced movements so she could, at the very least, walk beside her. To an extent.

Without a word, the ink manipulator raised a hand, resting her palm against the small of her back with ease. While it was a small, almost insignificantly involuntary movement, it was still important nonetheless. Her hand tightened around the fabric momentarily before loosening again, but she made no indication that she might pull away. Because she was trying to hide the grin on her features, but it was clear enough that she was still failing.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny never slowed her pace as she walked towards the hotel, even as she heard her wife shuffle to match her pace. She wasn’t trying to get away from the ink manipulator by any means, but she also had no intention of slowing down, either.

However, when she felt the familiar hand on the small of her back – how her fingers briefly curled into the fabric of her dress – Penny faltered in her steps. It was only a second where her heel dragged on the carpeted floor for a moment too long.

She forced a quick breath, just as quickly continuing on. When she reached the room, she pulled out the key card and opened the door. As she twisted the handle, the Brit finally shot a glance back at Lucy. “I really do hate you.” Penny pushed the door open, holding it for her wife.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It was a small, almost insignificant response, but it was a response nonetheless. The kind Lucy waited and moved for in the first place. The way she faltered and slowed on a single step was more than enough. But regardless, it wasn't as if the ink manipulator felt right without a hand on her either way. She couldn't be that close without wishing for some kind of contact. Without trying to obtain it.

Her fingers played against the small of her back lightly as she made the move to unlock the door. And when she spoke, the Australian dropped a laugh on a breath, shaking her head once. That much, she knew already. And she was glad to hear it.

Without lifting her hand, she allowed it to graze along the psychometrist's side as she walked. Settling it at her waist, she turned and chose to rest her free hand against her cheek lightly. Smug connotations and all, there was a hint of something real amidst Lucy's dark eyes. She just couldn't stop grinning.

"You could look a little happier. Just for a second." She pointed out, lightly against the prior words she'd given her, "I'm happy you're here."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Contact was needed. Inevitable. Had Lucy not reached out to her, Penny would have done so. It didn’t matter if she was angry with the Australian or not, she still craved physical contact from Lucy. And it still had an effect over the Brit.

She closed the door behind her, leaning into the hand on her cheek. Her gaze lingered on Lucy’s grin – that smug grin – before slowly trailing up to catch her dark eyes. Holding the Australian’s gaze, Penny felt the corner of her lip pull upwards slightly. Briefly.

She raised her eyebrows, letting out a short breath at her wife’s comment. “I’m happy to here, with you.” She picked her words carefully, supposing it hadn’t mattered what country they were in as long as she was there. “But I’m not happy about this dinner.” Forward, as she usually was with such things. Penny traced her hand up Lucy’s arm before settling it behind her neck. “Why did you agree to it?”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

The way Penny's lips threatened a smile dragged Lucy's gaze towards her mouth for a brief moment. And instantly, the reaches of her grin diluted into something of a more genuine expression. To others, Penny gave so little when it came to her reactions. But for Lucy, a little twitch of the corner of her mouth spoke volumes. It was enough. More than enough. It was everything.

As was the way she laughed. Rarer than a smile, it caused Lucy's own to broaden a touch.

Just as she felt herself almost involuntarily leaning in, she caught herself, her attention completely flagged by the way she spoke. The content and all. She knew Penny wasn't going to be thrilled about the idea of sitting down with the allotted set of people. It was why she avoided asking for her opinion entirely.

She closed her eyes, her shoulders rising with a slow breath as her hand traversed the line of her arm.

"Because I knew you would have said no." She replied, offering a second of a laugh as her eyes opened again, her gaze flicking to her own hand; the way her thumb brushed her counterpart's cheek lightly. "What's so bad about a bit of a celebration?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Neutrality was something easily attainable for the Brit. For years she held – and still held – an unreadable expression for anyone, except her. She knew Lucy looked. That she caught onto the smallest expressions she made, and she was thankful for that, just as she was thankful for the way she smiled so genuinely.

Her fingers twitched behind Lucy’s neck, eyebrows pulling upward as confusion briefly flashed in her dark eyes. If anything, knowing that she’d say no was enough reason to say no. Or at least try to work something out. Lucy was right, Penny would have said no, but that was no means an excuse to respond for her, especially considering she gave the opposite opinion.

So she tried to focus on the feeling of her counterpart’s thumb against her cheek. To let it calm her down. And it helped, but not enough. “There’s nothing wrong with celebrating.” She stated factually. If anything, it was called for. “It just wasn’t what I had in mind.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Penny's confusion was evident, and really, she had a right to feel that way. She also had a right to be pissed off, so any expression of frustration and anger wouldn't have surprised Lucy either. And if anything, the confusion Penny offered expressed that Lucy was right. It was hard not to look a little smug about that.

Evidently, she had a number of things to be smug about.

But now - with her attention drawn so completely by her wife - thoughts of settling her expression were far from her mind. But the response she gave quickly drew a breath from the ink manipulator, and she pressed her lips into a hardened line at the fact. Now, she was caught somewhere between being glad she spoke for both of them, and utterly irritated by it.

Still, she couldn't wear it. She allowed her hand to leave her counterpart's face and slowly trace down her arm.

"It's not gonna take forever." Lucy replied, leaning in to brush her lips against her ear lightly.