Don't You Dare Look Back

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

New York City

People were attracted to New York for a variety of reasons. The large city held an even larger reputation. There was always something to do, it didn’t matter just what that was. Some went for the food. Some went for the shows and the city lights. More often than not, people were drawn in by the simple fact that it was New York. Why were they there? Furniture.

Hours of driving to buy the best Swedish furniture available. Admittedly, Penny was excited to go; or rather, as excited as the Brit could possibly be about it. After all, their new apartment was absolutely wonderful, but it also lacked furniture of any kind. Vermont must have had something to offer, there was no real place that could compare to Ikea. Price, quality, and style all packaged in one maze like store. Everything was on display, ready to see, feel, and touch in an almost life like setting. Even for the psychometrist who didn't want to physically touch any of the displays, she could admit it was a perfect way to sell something.

As they entered the store, Penny’s hand tightened around Lucy’s. The moment they stepped out of the car and walked towards the building, she had reached for it, fingers intertwining on instinct as she remained silent, glancing over to her counterpart as they walked through the first set of doors. The first display was within eye sight, only a few meters away from the very entrance, but Penny tugged the hand she held lightly, drawing them to a slow stop first.

"Just the basics." She reminded not only the Australian but herself as well. "We can always come back another time." Despite the drive, it would have been worth it in the end, and there was only so much space in the car they took, even if Penny's father insisted on taking on some of the load and help drive it up.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

By now, Lucy had grown to figure that Penny's parents liked her. A little. On some level, surely. Because they didn't seem to mind her hanging around for another trip to New York, and they didn't mind her staying in their house, even if their only daughter couldn't understand the concept of separate bedrooms. Not that Lucy was complaining in the slightest; she would have gone a little crazy if she'd had to sleep on her own without justifiable cause.

Today carried an agenda, and that was filling a relatively empty apartment with decent furniture. All that stood in the building so far was an excess of belongings from a twin set of dormitories, and there wasn't much else to it yet. OF course, she wanted more. She wanted somewhere decent to live that wasn't all crammed into one room. She wanted to be able to actually stay there, too.

Shifting on a heel, Lucy turned back to the person who kept her in line before she could even begin to wander and aimlessly touch things she wasn't remotely interested in. It was like she knew before the ink manipulator had registered the subconscious desire.

"Y'know your dad's gonna bring a bunch more stuff when they come up." She replied. After all, it was an impossible feat to fit an entire home in the back of a single car. But when it came to questioning the basics, the few things she had in mind couldn't possibly differ too far from her counterpart's thoughts, could they? The concept of her parents visiting hadn't really sat well with Penny, and that much had always been obvious by the way her face changed at a single mention.

Her free hand raised slowly, fingers curled around the back of her neck. Light pressure to draw her in. Just a sliver closer despite how little could actually be done about such distance. But affection was as it carried, and for someone who didn't give much to anyone naturally, expelling it all for her seemed natural. "Alright alright alright; you got a list?" She asked, raising her eyebrows expectantly. As if there wasn't a list.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Slowing herself had successfully put a speed bump in her counterpart's plan to wander the store, and truly, that was good. Penny was thankful her counterpart hadn't put up too much of a fight when it came to stopping her so early, even if the first reply out of Lucy's mouth was something of an argument.

As if on cue, her face turned sour at the mention of her parents visiting. She loved them - really, she did - but when it came to the new space she and Lucy would be living in, she wasn't ready to share it yet. Even while her father offered bringing a load of Ikea goods to their doorstep, she could still be distraught about the idea.

Her expression was short lived, tension leaving her features the moment a familiar hand found the back of her neck. She moved willingly into the contact, taking a tiny step to bring herself closer to the Australian. Even in public, she couldn't help her affectionate nature around Lucy.

Even better, the ink manipulator was quick to give in. Penny felt the corner of her lip pull upward in a small movement, but before anyone could really catch it, she kissed Lucy. Quick as it was, she still struggled to pull away. Instead, she put her focus into the movement of her free hand. It circled Lucy's waist slowly, but with precision, dipping down just enough to find her back pocket. There, she pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. "Of course I have a list." She replied, holding it up as proof.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

As if on cue, Penny had stepped in towards her. Lucy could feel the way such energy provided a positive shot to her ego. Because it was nice to be reminded that no matter where they were, she could pull the psychometrist in without much effort. Likely as much effort as it would take to drag herself in had the tables turned. After all, she had only just stopped on cue.

A small brush of contact to her lips, and when it was over Lucy barely moved to catch it. It might have just been an inch or two, but it was washed with the obvious sense of longing that came with proximity to her love.

Hands on her form were a perfect distraction, too. She quickly forgot how much she wanted to aimlessly wander as the contents of her back pocket had become the most imperative thing. At least, that was how it was perceived. Dark eyes didn't collide with the paper withdrawn; as if she could easily look away from her.

"Did you need to keep it there?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Naturally, any contact between them instantly caused a craving for more. The Brit did everything she could to resist a second kiss; once started, it was hard to stop, and she knew exactly how hard it would continue to be after that moment. Yet her gaze remained fixed on Lucy as she held the paper between two fingers, eyebrows raising at the question. In particular, the word Lucy chose to put emphasis on.

Was it really even a question?

Giving in, Penny moved forward an inch, catching Lucy's lips a second time with a little more pressure. As if it would somehow help ease the suffering. She knew deep down that it wouldn't, and as she eased herself back another inch, it only made this entirely worse.

She cleared her throat, tilting her chin up a hair. "This dress doesn't have pockets." She pointed out despite the small red bag that hanging from her shoulder.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

As Penny kissed her again, Lucy felt privy to the suffering she had unknowingly caused. Trying to find a balance was always difficult, and when it came to future plans, finding a comfortable level was impossible. Lucy preferred to push, but she could hardly do so here.

"Fine." Lucy conceded, even if she could poke easy holes in the explanation given to her. As much as she adored arguing with her love, the point of the trip was something she needed to emphasise. And surely, when it came down to anything they were going to end up arguing. Might as well save it for moments it truly suited.

She shifted her hand slightly, working slowly down her neck and around it instead. She released the hand that held her own, and with an arm around her counterpart, she turned her attention towards the paper now in question; "What's the first thing on your list?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

The last thing Penny wished for was to lose Lucy's hand, but when she felt such a living arm wrap around her instead, she had no desire to protest. Instead, she encouraged it as she eased herself just that much closer; any more and they wouldn't have been able to walk.

It also gave Penny the freedom to use her hands. Carefully, she unfolded the paper, pressing out the creases to reveal a neat, handwritten list, organized by category.

"A bed." Penny offered with a nod. Of course it was the first on the list. Not only was their bedroom a priority but the idea of having their own bed was quick to enter Penny's mind. Although they had already talked of the suite, she still felt slightly uneasy on the idea.

Moving them along, Penny took the first necessary step to lead them towards the first display. "And by proxy, sheets and blankets that fit it."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Immediately after her question was answered, Lucy was grinning. More to the point, she was holding back the desire to look as smug as she felt. Somehow, she knew that would retain a higher priority on their list of important things. She took it's placement on her love's list as an admission within itself, and while she wanted to say something about it, she kept her mouth shut. Her expression likely did all the talking anyway.

Where Penny was nervous at the prospect of a bigger bed - and Lucy knew she was - the ink manipulator was welcoming the change. Her spirits remained high as she held her close enough, else they might spiral into something negative should her potential anxiety spike.

It was a busy place, after all. From her powers to her personality, nothing fit the Brit in a place like this. So she leaned in, lips briefly pressed to her hair.

"No singles." She pointed out sparingly; teasingly against her ear.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

As they ventured past the initial entrance of the store, Penny could feel the natural uneasiness that cake with crowds. It was a good move on Lucy's end to hold her close, as the Australian provided a sort of barrier between the psychometrist and everyone else.

Even while she was incredibly thankful for her, she had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at the grin she knew Lucy was wearing. It was so like her to go there, even if she didn't verbalized it.

Lips pressed to her hair and her muscles relaxed under the contact. What would usually be considered a trip that involved so much stress now was significantly less with the company of her counterpart, especially under the conditions as to why they were there.

"I know." She pointed out with a crinkled nose and flattened tone. Although she knew that Lucy was joking, Penny purposely refused to play along. "A queen should do."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Physicality was always the easiest way to combat crowds. Lucy knew Penny was likely used to the concept given where she grew up, but forced closer proximities made the understanding naturally difficult. It had been the very reason she forced a change to how she was held; it was why she held her, instead. Comfort within the familiar would surely prove at least somewhat helpful when it came to soothing potential stress.

At the slightly harsher response to her own humour, Lucy laughed. The accused sound brushed past her own lips and against her skin at the nature of her counterpart's response. Poking fun at Penny always came with a line never to cross. Thankfully, Lucy knew her limits well.

"If you say so." She replied, because the Brit consistently wanted all the power in a moment, and Lucy was incredibly willing to give that to her. She took a slow breath, exhaling the air on an audible sigh. In the next moment, she looped her free arm around herself, fingers brushing across her closest arm with the silent invitation that she should hold onto the ink manipulator's waist.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Despite Penny's more annoyed tones in response to Lucy's attempt at a joke, the Brit relaxed slightly as Lucy laughed. It was admittedly easier for her to find humor in a situation than allow themselves to fight over it. Especially because Penny herself lacked the ability to laugh something off.

In both hands, she clutched the piece of paper, dark eyes looking towards the first large display. It wasn't until familiar fingers brushed against her arm did she register the Australian's request, but even then it wasn't hard to comply. She still held her list close - because they needed to go off something.

Her arm wrapped around Lucy, fingertips tracking across the small of her back until circling around her waist. At her hip, her palm settled, though she instinctively fiddled with the material of her counterpart's shirt.

"You cannot possibly want a king sized bed." Penny practically told the Australian as she lead them closer as she looked at everything she could from a distance, inspecting it as best she could.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope Blaise never really fiddled. The means to expel a sense of nervous energy had never really suited her; at most, Lucy had only ever watched her fiddle with the ring she wore in line with her first and only tattoo. To feel fingers slowly work into the material of her shirt seemed new, but every action she provided had a reason in tow.

When Penny spoke, Lucy felt herself being put in her place. The largest available bed size had never been in her mentality as it was, but to have the thought reiterated in such a way reminded Lucy as to why her counterpart might have been so anxious.

"Doesn't matter what size it is." Lucy admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. There was the obvious temptation to step forward enough to brush her fingers across a few mundane surfaces in that display, but she let it slide for now. As far as she was concerned, there was a much more pressing issue to deal with. So she kept herself close still, her mouth perfectly placed near her ear so she could drop her voice with ease; "As if I'm ever gonna be able to stop."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It was an unconscious movement to keep the fabric of Lucy's shirt shifting between her fingers. Somehow, it provided comfort despite the way her fingertips burned with the first memory she could grab. Between the crowds, her own anxious nature, and now this, she could feel the beginnings of a headache at the back of her head as she tried her best to power through it. Still, she fiddled as her thumb and forefinger pressed between the material.

Having Lucy close was more helpful than she could have imagined. The Australian always provided comfort, but this was an entirely different level. Her counterpart knew well enough how to deter such a negative side of the psychometrist. How to go out an enjoy something without the worry of anxiety taking over. From distant fireworks to close contact in a busy store.

As Lucy spoke, Penny knew such a response would surface. They had this conversation before, yet as much as Penny stated she could handle the difference in bed size, she wouldn't be fully content about it until she was physically proven wrong. Until then, she remained unsettled - and flustered, as she quickly caught the added statement Lucy offered. Cheeks burned immediatley, as they always did, and the Brit let out a harsh exhale through her nose. Her hand tightened at Lucy's hip as she continued walking, refusing to acknowledge what was said to her.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

As she was drawn away, Lucy followed. She had no desire to force any distance between them, and so she let herself be dragged around the series of displays without fail. Without resistance. Such as it was when it came to Penelope Blaise.

Precision might not have been a tact Lucy was well known for, but when it came to soothing her counterpart, everything was clever. From the way she held her close to the way she leaned in yo provide more contact, everything was considerate. Sometimes, it was a worthy distraction to speak as she did. If it could fill a void, then why not? Still, a splinter of the ink manipulator loved the way the Brit blushed.

"If anything, it's gonna make it worse." Lucy continued on, the conversation forcing her to keep a lower tone. Still, she found herself as persistent as ever, "All that ground to cover? I don't want you staying away; I never do. I reckon I'll be chasing you."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

The color in her cheeks was impossible to control, especially when Lucy was so clever in the way she caused it. Not only was the Australian touching in on a dangerous subject, but she specifically chose one that made the Brit antsy as well. In two sentences, she managed to both calm and work up the psychometrist. That within itself was a feat.

She folded the paper with her free hand as she extended her arm across her own form and towards hers. Precision allowed her to slip the paper into the front pocket of her jeans, despite how tight they always were. From there, fingertips trailed up Lucy's side lightly before she caught the other side of her shirt; and there, she gave it a small pull.

"Lucy." She tried, already feeling the shallow nature of her breath. It wasn't fair. Looking at the ink manipulator, already knew she was rendered relatively useless in the furniture store. Her hand shifted back to her own side a moment later, however, drawing up instead to find the hand wrapped around her form, and there she hooked her fingers with hers.