For Jessica and Percy
Jan. 1st, 2013 10:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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."
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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-02 07:24 am (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2013-01-02 07:32 am (UTC)"Your dastardly plan to get me away from everyone else has succeeded and I am entirely at your mercy. You may now laugh maniacally."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 05:37 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 05:41 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 06:03 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 06:10 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 06:17 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-03 05:21 pm (UTC)"And not to sound too cheesy, but whatever happens I'm glad that I'm bringing in the New Year with you."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 06:06 am (UTC)(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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 06:36 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 06:53 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 07:27 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-04 07:53 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 05:13 am (UTC)"So, growing up, was your family big into traditions and stuff?"
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 06:19 am (UTC)"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?"
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 06:57 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 07:14 am (UTC)"...that it would," I say. "And, also, good practice for when midnight does actually hit. Don't want to be, um, unprepared."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-05 05:12 pm (UTC)"Well, that settles it then," Valkyrie said, wrapping her arms around Jessica's waist to pull her closer to kiss her.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 03:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 03:45 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 05:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 05:27 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 06:57 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 08:54 pm (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-06 10:58 pm (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 05:00 am (UTC)I kept walking until I heard Valkyrie coming up behind me.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 06:00 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 07:40 pm (UTC)"Wait, were you following us?"
no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 08:54 pm (UTC)"Perseus, you'll always be my friend if you want, you know that, right?"
no subject
Date: 2013-01-07 09:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-08 06:32 pm (UTC)"And I'm sorry I'm not the girl that can give you more."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-08 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-09 05:44 pm (UTC)"Thank you, that means a lot."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-09 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 07:09 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-11 08:12 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-11 11:11 pm (UTC)"Then he freaked out. He just wanted some time alone. He'll be alright."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-12 09:13 am (UTC)"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?"
no subject
Date: 2013-01-12 08:36 pm (UTC)"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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-14 08:07 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-14 07:12 pm (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2013-01-16 08:52 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-16 09:07 pm (UTC)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.