AU: Hovering Above the Ground

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Hands were still pressed to the seat at either side, a certain arch kicked into Lucy's back as she stalled mid-movement. Peeling herself off the allocated seat seemed easy until she was told to sit.

And really, that was the whole point of threatening a moment with her own removal.

With pursed lips and raised eyebrows, Lucy conceded and eased herself in a backwards motion back to the seat she'd tried to leave. Leaning back in her seat, she immediately crossed her legs, her head tilting to the side slightly as she listened to the rest of the instructions. It was all incredibly formal, the kind of formality she hadn't been subject to for years. Suddenly, no matter her age, it all came flooding back. She just never remembered her teachers ever looking like that.

Finally, people were dismissed. Lucy watched the myriad of individuals practically fly from their seats, scooping up their necessities and hauling themselves out as soon as they could. There were a few stragglers - of course, there always were - and as they lingered Lucy kept her attention so perfectly focused on the form in front of her. Hands twitched with the need to reach out. It was rare for her to remain still for this long, and now it was slowly becoming something of a game of wits.

But she tilted her head upwards once in a prior moment. She'd invited her in closer.

Even if it wasn't safe, dark eyes wandered the form of the teacher she'd just locked into such a seemingly pertinent discussion. Away from her face to the body she knew relatively well by this point, but she'd always want to look. To stare in whenever and wherever she could.

Note: Cracking 4k like woah.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Part of Penny was honestly surprised to find that the Australian sat back down as instructed. From what she knew of Lucy Serrano, rules rarely applied within her everyday life. Yet as she watched the way her counterpart eased back down into her seat, Penny was incredibly thankful. She'd hardly know what to do if Lucy still tried to leave.

Her students, however, were an incredibly different story. The moment they could, the lot of them made straight for the door, and for once, Penny felt irritated by the few who were slow to pack up. She was holding her breath, and unaware of it as she wiped clean the whiteboard in an attempt to busy herself for those slow-moving seconds until they had a real sense of privacy.

However, she had glanced to the artist who still remained sitting. Another tilt of her head, and it was harder than ever to ignore the silent call, especially while lacking anything to do for herself. So slowly, Penelope moved closer, maintaining something of a safe distance nonetheless, although nothing was safe when it involved this woman.

"I was unaware you've read the book." She started carefully, although the sound of a door closing behind her did catch her attention. Either a thoughtful student or one who was just making a statement, the last one out gave them the best sense of privacy that could have been offered within a high school.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Dark eyes were working wonders to recall everything she'd missed, like it was truly impossible to miss a person Lucy had seen so often in the last two weeks. The progression was rocky to recall, given how uneven such a progression was, but Lucy knew her way well enough to get herself in that room at that particular time. To disrupt then lead a class, only to have herself be put back in place by a stern word from a familiar set of lips.

The door closed.

And those words from her mouth were not the set Lucy had been expecting. Of course, she had no idea what to expect from everything she'd placed on the proverbial table by way of a discussion about a book.

She tilted her head to the side, this time out of obvious curiosity. "That's the first thing you want to say to me?" Lucy asked, genuinely.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

With the door now closed, the conversation was free to take whatever course it wished for. Penny worked to start something, but for the English teacher, she was hardly proud of the starting sentence she came up with. She took another step forward, looking down at the Australian who remained sitting. They weren't on the same level, physically, and it was irksome.

Penny extended her hand, offering it to help Lucy up and out of her chair. At least then, she'd be able to look at her properly. To catch her eyes or possibly steal her lips. Even as flustered as she was, that instinctual drive still took over the teacher.

Although, she'd become more flustered as Lucy called her out, but this time she didn't blush. Embarrassment came in a different form for the psychometrist as she immediately went to say something within her own defense. An argument could have been easy, but for once the passive aggressive teacher struggled over the idea.

"No, but I don't know what to say." She tried again, lips pursing at the admittance of failure.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's eyes dropped to the hand that was extended out towards her. She felt the way it seemed to draw her out physically, like a magnetic pull that made her shift in her seat. That said, she wasn't quite ready to make the connection yet. Or rather, she wasn't sure just what effect that might have on her. Briefly, her teeth sunk into her lower lip, but it was only for a literal moment in time before she realised. She looked back up then, instead, just in time to catch those words from her mouth.

So she eased herself back out of the chair, not using the hand for help. That was too easy a connection for her to claim.

"You could ask me why I'm here." Lucy offered, shrugging her shoulders as she stepped through that minimal distance to bring herself in closer. Closer than a hand held lock could get her in that short amount of time, "I could tell you I missed you, and that I didn't want to have to wait any longer."

She eased back a hair, rocking her weight to her back foot despite how her body wanted to deny the movement. Now that she was close enough to feel the way she breathed, she hardly wanted to distance herself. But instead, they were starting from a different point; "I like your class. I like the book. You picked a winner." And really, she couldn't have planned that better herself.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Without the hand she offered taken, Penelope allowed it to fall to her side. The lack of a proper connection left her in a state of distress, but not nearly as much as sudden proximity she found herself in. They were supposed to be talking. Having a proper conversation somehow, but every time Lucy managed to get so close, the sound of her own pulse made it impossible to think.

Fortunately, however, Lucy did so enough for the both of them. Offering suggestions that Penny could have used to fill the air rather than the subject she started with. But that was hardly the point, it seemed. Her breath staggered at the notion of being missed. Two weeks now, and the concept still was fresh to the psychometrist.

Her tongue slowly ran the length of her lip, unlike her counterpart, teeth didn't sink in, but the thought of doing so did. So often quick witted, Penny needed the time to gather her thoughts into appropriate words. Or rather, the ability to actually call out what she wished to.

"Why did come here?" She asked, even if Lucy had practically answered the question herself, but she wasn't done. "Because you like my class? Because you missed me - you're chasing me?"

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

As she waited, Lucy felt the way her fingers twitched. The need to reach out was absolutely paramount - after all, she'd waited amidst an entire class to her her alone - but she had to be sure that everything had resonated with her counterpart first. Imperative eyes worked to drink in her expression when she asked the all important question; the very same Lucy had just fed to her. It was almost as if her given answer was so unbelievable that she was asking for a different response.

But she gave an answer to it instead. And Lucy couldn't have phrased it better if she tried, because it was more than a familiar series of words. From Penny, it was the reprisal of a message left.

"I," She paused, feeling the drop of her gaze briefly. Just to the curve of her neck, like she might see the way her pulse would race, "Am absolutely," No room for doubt, because it could only poison a moment as she worked to catch her eyes again; "Chasing you."

But somehow, she doubted that was completely believed.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Her pulse was racing before she finished her own sentence. Being so forward was entirely necessary, she felt, but actually being forward was never something the passive aggressive Brit would get used to. It wasn't in her nature, yet it seemed to be coming out more and more around the woman who held her attention so intently.

And it only grew faster as Lucy spoke. A single word, and then a pause, and the tightening of Penny's chest was impossible to ignore - as if someone were physically binding her to make it impossible to breathe. She lost Lucy's eyes, and was almost thankful for the fact. Eye contact made everything more intense. Harder to handle.

Even as the sentence came to a close and dark eyes found her own again, Penny completely struggled to breathe. Accented words hit her ears, yet they refused to fully comprehend what was being offered to her. So much that the Brit was left with something of a dumbfounded look as she stared back at the artist.

"Pardon?" Because she was right.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

That stare was something Lucy couldn't quite understand. It had never been in her mind to offer any sudden repetition, but Penny had promoted the idea of doing it first; she mentioned chasing, just as Lucy had minutes before. Was it so wrong to assume they were on the same page? For once?

She exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding, dropping her gaze momentarily despite how difficult that process felt. She loved to be able to stare at Penny - she had been since she walked in - and so severing that connection even for a moment was taxing. She was quick to look back again, and just as quick to lose her senses to the way it felt beneath her eyes.

"Are you kidding?" Lucy asked, breaching the distance between them with a hand. Her fingers slowly tracked down the length of her arm, that sliver of contact only fueling the need for more. After all, it'd been the first time she'd managed a decent hit of contact, save for the sly enough way she'd approached the need when she first walked in.

For Lucy, she'd verbally put herself out so far already. She could hardly repeat it all as well as she had the first time, but perhaps it was too mixed. Too diluted. Still, she leaned in, enough to brush her lips against her cheek briefly. "I was barely talking about the book." Lucy offered against her skin, sure it was the best way she could articulate herself before she tried to step by her. To allow that thought to sink in in whatever time it might take.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It seemed pathetic to be so dumbfounded that Penny had to ask for clarification. Confusion colored her dark eyes as she willed herself to speak - to properly acknowledge - the brick wall of information she had just been hit with. Replying in the form of a question was likely the worst response she could give, but the only one all the same.

The fingers that tracked down her arm kept Penny grounded, or rather, as grounded when feeling as if she were hovering inches above the ground. She almost missed what Lucy had started with, the drumming of her pulse ringing within her ears. As the artist leaned in, Penny immediately closed her eyes. She had lost Lucy's gaze briefly already, and doing so again proved to make everything just a little bit easier.

Because she was continuing. Explaining the connection Penny had put together, but hadn't known. Lips brushed the words gently against her cheek, stopping every bit of airflow to and from her lungs.

Again, she felt a shot of emptiness fill her mind. Penelope Blaise was rarely shocked into silence, but this was entirely different. Entirely new. So she drew back, looking to Lucy again with a widened gaze - although only enough to read her expression before finally cutting through the distance and kissing her.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Each breath seemed like a chore for her counterpart; by now, Lucy was well aware that she had that effect on the English teacher in her midst. They were bound to get on a plane together tomorrow - to spend a week in an entirely new life for her, and a familiar existence for herself - but that hardly meant Lucy had to wait till tomorrow before she could see her. Before she could be privy to this. Before she could give this.

It was, within itself, a type of reassurance. That another life and another twist on the ink manipulator was on the horizon, but something important wasn't set to change with her evident tone.

Stepping past didn't seem like an option, despite how she'd gone to follow the thought. She was drawn in instead, pressure to her lips which could make the most solidified individual melt. Because no matter who she was, she was still a person who put something huge out there, hoping for it to be caught and reciprocated in turn. A hand curled to the back of her neck, providing a simple draw of her own form forward to send herself crashing into the one who kissed her first.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Without words at her disposal, Penny had nothing to offer on a verbal level. Specifically, nothing that could rightly express the pace her mind was running at. Finding a way to communicate and drive her point was necessary, and as the Brit felt reciprocation against her lips, and the familiar hand curling around the back of her neck, relief washed over her. On some level, it felt as if an understanding was brought to the table, especially as Lucy brought herself in closer.

Fingers curled into the material of her counterpart's shirt, pulling her despite how close the Australian already was. Intention found its way into every move made. From the tongue that lined her lower lip to the way Penny chose to take a step backwards, careful to keep her in tow as she made definite steps towards her desk.

In her classroom. Against her desk. Again. The psychometrist could only hope a week would dull the memories imprinted on her workspace. This was hardly over, but tomorrow the Brit would have found herself on a plane with the Australian she was so caught up in. Who just announced the most unfathomable idea to her. Knowing that, it was hard to stop.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Note: FtB

The progression for Lucy was perfect. To the point, it reminded her of the first time she'd ever made it into this room. How easy it was to apply a little pressure and wedge her between herself and the desk she practically seemed to live at. And now, she was being asked to do the very same. Though the request never hit the air through any verbal means, it didn't need to. Those hands invited her in, drew her close, took hold of a moment and directed her like she'd orchestrated the need herself.

To be left to her own devices was a terrible thing for someone so used to constantly working. And while she knew she'd only have to wait another day to be in her company, what was the point in letting that time pass alone? It was as stupid as it rightly sounded. So there she was. And somehow, she found herself in this position. Again. A hand around her waist for stability, and all the while she had no idea what she was burning into the surface.

With heavy, useless breaths she rested her forehead against her shoulder. But she didn't stay still for long; a slight tilt of her head and she was pressing her lips against her neck, allowing the next exhale to dust her skin. She thought to point out how much she missed her, but the idea slipped her mind with another breath.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

A verbal request wasn't needed when it came down to the teacher's request, and she was incredibly thankful her point was made clear within the few steps taken. Penny was a patient individual; moving on instinct was a rarity. Every step was carefully thought through, taken time to put the consideration into it. Here, she was thinking, too. Just very quickly.

Until she couldn't, when fingers had curled into dark locks, her free hand having found its way under the collar of Lucy's shirt, palm pressed between her shoulder blades. Useless inhales refused to ease the ache of her lungs as she tilted her head, lips pressing to the top of her head. For all but a moment she lingered, for the inevitable crane of her neck came naturally upon feeling familiar contact to her skin.

Penny had reason to believe she couldn't wait. Not only to feel the artist again, but to be glad that she decided to show up a day early. She squeezed her eyes shut, exhaling a burning breath. "Let me stay with you tonight." She said with an upturned chin, still heavily focused on the lips that kissed her neck.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It was strange to think that a month ago, Lucy had never been the type to wait for anyone. She operated on a daily basis without a spare thought for anyone else; things of a personal nature were left to dwindling moments with complete strangers, if she could even be bothered to stretch her attention that far. She hasn't been the first to catch Lucy's interest, but she'd been the first to alleviate it of its fleeting status. Never quite done and always wanting more.

There was no time to allow her pulse to settle before Lucy was trying to feel it beneath her lips. The consistent reminder that she provided some kind of life seemed far more paramount than anything she could think of saying in that moment. Reminding herself how little time had passed was well and truly the last thing on her mind.

Lucy took an ill-defined breath at the request offered to her. Honestly, by now she'd assumed that went without saying. How was she supposed to walk away from her just to wait to see her the next day. To take her away, which would inevitably only make distance that much more difficult.

But she could handle it. She was Lucy Serrano. She could apply such denial, surely.

Her smile grew against her skin, instinctively as it were to the suggestion. "Absolutely." Lucy replied, the word burning into her neck with the heated note of her own breathing. She pressed her lips to the surface again, lingering in place for the sheer fact that it was hard to pull away.