For Jessica and Percy

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie had ended up letting Jessica wear her jacket while she had found a nice woolen overcoat that someone had been drunk enough to be willing to part with. She had to admit that Jessica looked pretty hot in it, even if it didn't necessarily go with her dress. At some point, she was going to have to convince Jessica to try the tight trousers and leather jacket look.

She was pretty sure that the pier had been the right way to go. The air was crisp and new and while Times Square hadn't been crowded, there were fewer people out here she didn't see anyone around that they knew. Privacy felt important right now, even if she totally wasn't nervous and those were not butterflies in her stomach. Not at all.

"I'm glad you suggested the pier," she said, squeezing Jessica's hand as they walked down the pier. "Perfect place to chime in the New Year."

Comments

[notaparker]

I'm not entirely convinced I'm cool enough for the jacket, but I do feel cooler -- in the cool, sense, not in the warm sense, since it's the opposite of that -- and it sort of smells like Valkyrie, which is pretty nice.

As is the whole of this right here, actually. Midnight might be creeping up and with it my nerves, a bit, but it's not bad nerves. Yet. Sort of hoping those don't show up, or do so in lesser amounts.

"I am a smart lady," I declare. "Times Square might not be the clusterfuss it would normally be, but it's still sort of... done, you know?"

[tooprettytodie]

"You are definitely the smartest lady I know," Valkyrie said with a nod. She was possibly the smartest person that Valkyrie knew period, but Kenspeckle probably edged her out just a bit in that area if only because of experience.

"Your dastardly plan to get me away from everyone else has succeeded and I am entirely at your mercy. You may now laugh maniacally."

[notaparker]

She does know the way to a girl's heart. Compliment on the intellect and opportunity for maniacal laugh both.

"Boo-ha-ha," I say. It really is more of a 'say' than a 'laugh maniacally,' though, that was terrible. "No, let me try that again. MuahaHA. No, okay, I need to practice my maniacal laughter."

[tooprettytodie]

"The bathroom is the best place to practice maniacal laughter," Valkyrie said with a nod and the confidence of someone who has put some effort into practicing it.

"And, in what is the best topic transition of the night, speaking of laughter and other things done with your mouths... not to freak you out, even though it will probably freak you out, but I fully intend for the midnight kiss to have some staying power."

[notaparker]

I'm about to admit that I have practiced facial expressions in the mirror -- if not the rather particular and individual reasons why that's a thing -- when she oh-so-smoothly changes topic there, to something that I have not in fact practiced in the mirror.

Because let's face it, when you're me, the idea of making out with your reflection goes beyond a little weird to outright discomforting.

"I'm not sure- what does staying power mean, exactly," I say, Not Freaking Out. By which I mean trying to examine how much I'm going to freak out. Hoping for 'not at all,' betting in... 'more than not at all.' Talking is fine. Talking is probably good? Establishing things. Preparation.

[tooprettytodie]

"I'm hoping for transitioning the one kiss at midnight into a sort of longer series of multiple kisses," Valkyrie said, glad that Jessica was at least willing to talk a out this. Hopefully she didn't get too... Jessica about it.

"Preferably with the wrapping of arms around each other and maybe a high five in there to perhaps break up the tension. But that's all if we're both comfortable with that."

[notaparker]

"Good place for arms," I reflect. Meaning the wrapping around more than the high five idea, although that works, too. Part of the whole freaking out deal goes along with unfamiliarity with myself as applied to, you know, stuff, and handsiness at this point would be pretty much guaranteed to bring up that whole issue.

"I think that's doable," I say. "No, jeez, that sounds terrible, like I think it's a chore, can I rephrase? Because that's the opposite of true, that sounds great, like, genuinely."

[tooprettytodie]

"Good, I'm glad we're in agreement on that," Valkyrie said. She was learning that Jessica seemed more comfortable the more information she was given about a situation, which made sense with her giant science brain. Valkyrie could work with that and keep it in mind, no problem.

"And not to sound too cheesy, but whatever happens I'm glad that I'm bringing in the New Year with you."

[notaparker]

Last New Year's, I was on the island, with all that entails. Which in my case, is more friends than I'm used to. Actually having people, in fact. The year before that, not so much.

(And the year before that I didn't exist.)

And here I am. So the situation may be weird but some things about still change for the better. That's a pretty good spirit to be in, going into another year.

"I declare that the exact right amount of cheese," I say, swinging our linked hands back and forth a little.

[tooprettytodie]

"Well it's official then, with the Jessica Drew Seal of Approval."

Somehow, Valkyrie didn't think Jessica would mind a little cheese, as long as it wasn't overly sappy. Which was fine, because Valkyrie wasn't really the sappy time. Jessica brought it out in her more than most, but that was about it.

"Although I do have a sort of confession to make that... may affect whatever our relationship is from here on out."

[notaparker]

That has the dual effect of reminding me that said relationship status is sort of nebulous -- like, I don't know what we'd be on facebook, if I was on facebook -- and also alarming me that the result of discussion on that might not go the way I'd like.

Which alarm sort of indicates there's a way I'd like it go, doesn't it? Which would be nice if it weren't for the alarm.

"...oh yes?" I say, aiming for casual, hitting interested-and-possibly-suddenly-a-little-worried.

Man, I hate being skittish. I gotta quit it with the being skittish.

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie couldn't help but notice the tone of Jessica's voice was maybe a bit forced-casual, but that was okay, because-

"I am ridiculously jealous of your hair," she said. "Just... it's really fantastic and I may envy you a little, and I don't think I've ever envied anyone anything. What did you think I was going to say? You already know I have an evil, alternate persona in my head. I could hardly say anything worse than that."

[notaparker]

That's a good point. That's already a pretty big reveal, maybe even of a size or bigger than being grown in a jar. I should just come right out and say that bit. Just... not now. Someday, probably. But not today.

So I laugh, instead, with delight, because as subverted expectations go, that was quality.

"You know, I really have no idea. I should have expected it, really, it is pretty good hair." It's always been the part of being a girl I've been unequivocably able to own. Nothing uncomfortable about liking your own hair. "Play your cards right and I'll give you my shampoo recipe."

[tooprettytodie]

"Oooh, months and months of waiting are about to pay off," Valkyrie said, waggling her eyebrows at Jessica. She had absolutely zero interest in her shampoo recipe, although now that she was thinking about it that would be a sweet perk.

"So, growing up, was your family big into traditions and stuff?"

[notaparker]

Crap. Right in the secrets. I even think about just saying, again, but I just can't work out the words that go along with it. I will. But not now. But if not now, how the heck do I answer that? I don't want to lie.

"I don't really... have much of a family," I say, because this is so. "Just cousin Pete and his family, and we weren't exactly... close. Not the spend holidays together kind. So not a lot of traditions no. How about yours, lots of traditions?"

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie felt bad for Jessica for a moment. Valkyrie knew she was lucky to have parents that could stand each other, let alone ones who were crazy in love with each other still.

"Sort of. My dad is... dad is weird in the best way. Just quirky and hilarious. You'd like him, you two would talking in nothing but quips. Mum is great too, just rolls with the punches and my baby sister is, well, still just a baby. But we do have traditions, they're just unusual. Which all goes to say... there's nothing to say we ha e to wait until exactly midnight to kiss, right? It would definitely reduce the agonizing wait portion of the evening."

[notaparker]

That's true. That's a good point. Because really, while I do like planning, what comes with an established time is also nervousness based around that time. Like, more and more nerves as midnight draws closer. It's fairly close already, I think, but less time for the bad nerves to build up and make me chicken out or something is for the best. More time for the good nerves, that weird pleasant-queasy feeling in the stomach, to pay off.

"...that it would," I say. "And, also, good practice for when midnight does actually hit. Don't want to be, um, unprepared."

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie liked the idea of practice for midnight, it implied that there would likely be more kissing later on, which she was looking forward to. Being around Jessica for so long without kissing had driven her a little bit nuts.

"Well, that settles it then," Valkyrie said, wrapping her arms around Jessica's waist to pull her closer to kiss her.

[notaparker]

Freakout-watch 2012 (soon to be 2013): Nothing as yet. Which is good, because last time with the suddenness and the surprise I didn't take it all in as well as I might, and frankly, well, this time I do quite want to. She's great, and also she might have a coat on but I can remember that dress. The air is cool and crisp, and she's warmer and softer than it, and I can, in fact, put my arms around her neck and just enjoy it.

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie pressed the kiss a bit more. Not forceful or insistent, it was just that kissing Jessica was really, really nice. Better than she remembered it being, but that was probably because before it had been all so sudden and a bit of a shock. Now she had time to enjoy it and she was definitely enjoying it. It was not, really, all that different than kissing a guy except Jessica had way softer lips and skin, which were a definitely bonus.

[notaparker]

Still thinking I'm either more sensitive or that someone else's memories of kissing aren't a patch on actually being in the moment of doing it.

Probably both, actually. Whatever it is, it's very good, she is very good at this. Man, I hope I'm good at this. I sort of know what I'm doing more than someone who's actually only done it the once before this time, so that's in my favor. Whatever, not concerning myself with that, just enjoying it right now, leaning into that press, opening my mouth against hers a bit.

[tooprettytodie]

Jessica was very good at this. Valkyrie was pretty sure that she was good at this as well but it was still reassuring that Jessica seemed to be getting more into it, which Valkyrie was more than happy to oblige. She parted her lips as well and teased Jessica's with her tongue, feeling a sort of rush run down her spine that they were actually doing this.

[percy_jackson]

Now, to be fair, I wasn't staring for very long. Just long enough.

I'd gone to the New Year's Eve gathering at Times Square because, well, it's Times Square. And I'd decided it was well past time to stop moping about New York and Mom not being here. And I caught sight of Valkyrie, and the outlook for the evening got a lot better. I also saw that she was standing close to Jessica, but that was okay. Jessica was cool.

They were across the square, so it took some time for me to get across to her, what with the crowd and all, but by the time I got there, I saw that Valkyrie and Jessica were walking away. Very close together. And here I made my first serious mistake. I followed them.

I know that was wrong of me. I know it was basically stalking, but I couldn't help myself. I hung back so they wouldn't see me, and kept them in sight most of the way to the pier, when I lost them. And then I made my second serious mistake: I kept looking for them.

I don't know what I was thinking, really. I had no claim on Valkyrie. She'd made that very clear. But the thought that someone else might have made a claim on her... I couldn't let it go. And it pulled me forward. And I searched the pier, hoping against hope that I was mistaken.

And that's when I saw them.

Seeing them hit me like a punch in the gut. For a moment, I could only stand, staring. Then my brain spoke up, and told me that I had to get out, now. I had to move. Move, feet! Move!

I turned, and without meaning to, started running. And I ran right into a trash can and knocked it over with a tremendous clatter. That was my only lucky break that night -- though it didn't feel so at the time -- because it slowed me down enough that I didn't completely stagger off the curb and onto the street. And the yellow cab was able to screech to a halt in time. I just slapped my hands down hard on the hood -- I didn't hit the windshield with my body.

I stood, frozen, the cab driver shouting at me. And I looked back at the pier. Of course they'd seen me.

I turned, then, and walked away, across the street, as quickly as dignity would allow.

[notaparker]

I was sort of expecting fireworks. The external kind, I mean, I think you could say there's some internal fireworks going on already. Did not expect the crash of a garbage can, which snaps me out of what was a very nice moment, and so I find myself startling backwards to look at the source.

Not the action I wanted to take, there.

Not the source I was expecting to see, either. Is that... Percy?

"...the who in the what now?"

Yeah, that's Percy. Interrupted in the process of making a break for it. Well, now I just don't know what's happening at all.

[tooprettytodie]

"Shit."

Valkyrie had heard the trash can crash and looked up the same as Jessica had. Even as caught up in the moment as she was, that was a sound that you didn't just ignore. Especially if you were a detective and/or a superhero. Which they totally were.

Which is why she saw Percy running away from them. And not looking where he was going and almost getting run over.

"Perseus Jackson you stop right there and wait for me or I will hunt you down and hurt you!" Valkyrie shouted at him before turning back to Jessica.

"I'm sorry, I have to- I need to go talk to him and make sure he's not going to go do something stupid. Or stupider. Ugh, I really, really don't want to stop this, but..."

But for as selfish, vain, and arrogant as Valkyrie could be, at heart she was someone who did the right thing. Who looked after and protected others. Right now it seemed like Percy needed looking after.

"Because there's a whole 'are we officially girlfriends' conversation I still want to have, and more kissing and... I hope you understand. Please tell me you understand."

[notaparker]

This feels like its gotten away from me a little. I'm still trying to get my footing back on the shift from 'hey, kissing is swell,' to sudden drama that I'm not entirely clued into, although I've enough second-hand knowledge to have some theories.

"I don't entirely know what's going on but I understand you have to go do a thing," I say, waving her on. "You'll come back, yeah? Go talk him down, do what you need to do."

[percy_jackson]

Valkyrie's shout didn't stop me, but I didn't run, either. I kept walking. Standing still was impossible, but I wasn't going to run away. No. After the initial shock, a sense of grim foreboding swept over me. Like just before the Battle of the Labyrinth, I knew I didn't want to be here. But I also knew it wasn't my choice. Valkyrie and I were going to have a talk.

I kept walking until I heard Valkyrie coming up behind me.

[tooprettytodie]

"You're the best," Valkyrie said, letting out a breath and relaxing just a bit. The fact that Jessica understood meant a lot because if she didn't... Valkyrie wasn't sure if she would have gone to check up on Percy, despite it being the right thing to do.

Grabbing Jessica by the lapels of her coat, she pulled her close for a quick, heated kiss before letting go.

"Definitely coming back."

Turning around, she took off after Percy, who was still walking away. She could tell from the set of his shoulders that he was not happy.

"Perseus," she said, taking a few more quick steps before placing a hand on his shoulder.

[percy_jackson]

I stopped. Of course Valkyrie was quick. I took a long breath, held it, then let it go. "Valkyrie," I replied, not looking at her. "I shouldn't have come out here. I'm sorry."

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie had assumed that Percy had already been at the pier and had inadvertently stumbled (literally) on Jessica and Valkyrie kissing. From what he said though, maybe...

"Wait, were you following us?"

[percy_jackson]

I winced. I still couldn't bring myself to look at her. Yeah. This wasn't my finest hour. "I know I shouldn't have, but... yeah. Kinda. I wanted to say hi at Times Square and... well, I shouldn't have done it and... well, now I really wish I hadn't done it."

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie was upset that Percy had followed them, who she was with and where she went wasn't any of his business. But he obviously realized it was wrong and had seemed to have suffered enough for it already.

"Perseus, you'll always be my friend if you want, you know that, right?"

[percy_jackson]

Oh, twist the knife, why don't you? I closed my eyes a moment. Then, bracing myself, I turned and faced her. "I know. You told me so and I should have listened, but..." I sighed. "I still kind of hoped for more."

[tooprettytodie]

"I know," she said with a nod. Maybe she should have not been such a good friend to him these last few months. She hadn't realized how much of a torch he was still carrying.

"And I'm sorry I'm not the girl that can give you more."

[percy_jackson]

I swallowed. "I know." I reached for her hand and looked her in the eye. "Jessica Drew is one lucky woman. Make sure she knows that."

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie squeezed his hand, feeling somewhat bad about all this but reminding her that other than being a bitch and refusing to have anything to do with Percy, she'd done all she could.

"Thank you, that means a lot."

[percy_jackson]

And there seemed nothing left to say. "You'd better go back," I said. "Shouldn't keep her waiting."

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie nodded and let go over Percy's hand. There wasn't much more she could say or do. He would get over it, she was sure of that, he would just need some time.

Sticking her hands back into her coat, she hurried back to Jessica, relieved to find her there. Not that Jessica was the sort to leave, but Valkyrie had still been a little worried just because finally getting to this point with Jessica seemed too good to be true.

"Sorry about that," she told the other girl.

[notaparker]

There was a part of me, while I was standing there waiting around, that kind of felt like it figured. I finally get some kind of handle on where I stand with regard to relationships and physical affection and then, bam, hiccup. That's either the Parker genes or the luck of the clone-ish, right?

She came back, though. The demigod has not stolen my... well, we should probably work out what she is. This would seem to be an appropriate reaction.

"It's okay," I say, shrugging a shoulder, arms still around myself for warmth. "What, uh, was that, though? That kind of seemed like a whole thing."

[tooprettytodie]

"He didn't realize he still had strong feelings for me until he saw us kissing," she said. It was maybe a bit more than that, but she wanted to spare him any embarrassment. Or at least any further embarrassment.

"Then he freaked out. He just wanted some time alone. He'll be alright."

[notaparker]

Yeah, it seemed like it was that kind of thing. The wistful ex kind of thing. I'm familiar with it. I've never been in those exact shoes, but I've been in the same kind of shoes. Ones that... fit the same? Maybe? I'm not really sure how to continue the shoes metaphor, frankly, so I'm going to abandon it.

"I can understand that," I say. "I'd probably freak out if I saw you kissing someone else. Heck, we already know there's a non-zero chance of me freaking out when it is me, so. But definitely if it was someone else, which, um. I'd like us not to be doing that? Not that I think you're doing that, but maybe we could officially not be doing that?"

[tooprettytodie]

"I'd love to officially not be doing that," Valkyrie said. She didn't even bother to hide the massive grin she felt like giving. This was definitely what she had hoped for, but wasn't holding her breath on. But being exclusive and official was great.

"But that means I'm going to want frequent kisses from you," she said, reaching out to pull Jessica closer by the lapels of her jacket.

[notaparker]

And thus, officially not doing that. That was easy. There really is something to be said for forthright communication.

Thought the girl with the big ol' secrets to herself. I'd feel guilty, but I'm saving it for later, because there's a whole being pulled closer by the jacket thing going on here that is pleasantly distracting me.

"I think we can work out some kind of schedule," I say, leaning in, and then pausing about an inch away as something occurs to me. "...that's a joke, I realize past experience may have made that... not obvious."

[tooprettytodie]

"I know you're joking," Valkyrie said, smiling at Jessica as she pressed closer against her for reasons that had nothing to do with warmth and everything to do with everything about Jessica.

"I can tell when you're not," she said, leaning in to give a soft, slow kiss. "You get this look when you go all science brain."

[notaparker]

I get this look. I get this look. I have looks, and Valkyrie has paid enough attention to work out at least one of the looks. That's... real person material, I like that. I like that a fair bit.

And I definitely don't have said science brain look right now, I can guarantee that, what with that brain being more focused on the kissing, insert soft focus joke here.

"Mmn," I say, which isn't really a cogent response to what she said, but mostly I'm just kissing her back, here, I think that's an adequate stand-in.

[tooprettytodie]

Then fireworks went off, both literal and figurative, as Valkyrie leaned in to the kiss a bit more and teased Jessica's lips with her tongue. Whatever hangups the other girl had about kissing it certainly didn't seem to be preventing her from actually kissing, which was awesome.

Humming softly she slid her hands up from the lapels of Jessica's jacket and wrapped them loosely around her neck. This was definitely the best start to a new year that she'd had in a while.