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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Following her [i]conversation[/i] with Myla, Ronnie slipped into the elevator and made her way to her penthouse. Theo’s subsequent arrival, but more importantly the way he ignored her, ruffled her feathers in a way that left her pulse elevated and her nerves wired. She had gotten so wrapped up in all of it that she forgot the reason she went to the kitchen in the first place or to return to Zaria’s apartment. While getting both of the women morning coffee would have been a nice gesture, by that point they were probably enjoying each other’s company and if there was one thing Ronnie wasn’t, it was a third wheel. 

As she stepped out of the elevator, she nearly tripped over her discarded belongings and clothing from the night before. Ronnie sighed, scooping up her shit haphazardly into her arms before wandering about the extravagant apartment in search of the bedroom. When she found it, she discarded her shit into the closet then wandered into the bathroom. She could worry about unpacking and room modifications [i]after[/i] she got a much needed shower. Her body still had the faint remnants of champagne, Zaria and Jules clinging to her skin. 

Ronnie stripped out of her lingerie and made her way to the bathroom. As she went to start the water in the shower her gaze lingered toward the large bathtub. She contemplated it for a moment, then decided a bubble bath sounded [i]fantastic.[/i] She turned the water to near scalding, tossed in some bubble soap and a bath bomb, then slid into the tub with a satisfying sigh. 

After another trip down to the kitchen, J.A.R.V.I.S. was nice enough to direct Zaria to Ronnie’s floor. She balanced the contents atop the silver tray carefully, delighted to have found someone made croissants while she was with James, and so she’d put three on the tray alongside some strawberry jelly, butter, and two cups of coffee. This time, she made sure to add a side of sugar and cream, alongside a small helping of honey…just in case. 

She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, maybe that Ronnie would be in her kitchen, or lounging in her living room area, but instead it was perfectly silent when she stepped off the elevator. She paused for a moment, not wanting to disturb the other woman’s sleep if she was napping. [color=00674F]"Uh…J.A.R.V.I.S. could you let Ronnie know I brought her coffee,  if she’s not asleep, please?"[/color] 

[color=d6d6d6]"Certaintly, Ms. Doom."[/color] The cool voice of the towers…assistant, she wasn’t actually sure what he was, echoed back out to her in response, but she winced reflexively, the contents of the tray rattling some.

[color=00674F]"Could you call me Aria, instead, please?"[/color] 

[color=d6d6d6]"I will make note of your preferences, Ms. Aria."[/color] 

Zaria let out a soft breath, and whispered her thanks, waiting patiently to hear back from either J.A.R.V.I.S. or from Ronnie herself.

Ronnie had her earbuds in blaring Worship by Ari Abdul which drowned out any other noises that came from deep inside her apartment. She wasn’t entirely sure how J.A.R.V.I.S. did it, freaky Stark or Wayne tech obviously, but her music paused and the AI’s voice rang out from her headphones. [color=d6d6d6]"I beg your pardon, Ms. Hardy."[/color] Startled, she jumped, disturbing the still waters and splashing a bit of it onto the floor. [color=d6d6d6]"Ms. Aria Doom is here to see you."[/color] 

Seeing as how both women had explored each other’s bodies… [i]extensively[/i], Ronnie had zero reservations about letting Aria see her in her current state. She sighed softly, plucking the buds from her ears and set them on the side of the tub. [color=217c85]"You can tell her where I am,"[/color] she replied quietly while running her fingers through some of the bubbles. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Ms. Hardy is in her bathroom. She says you are free to enter,"[/color] J.A.R.V.I.S. said, returning to Aria a few moments later.

Despite the experience of the night before, Zaria paused for a moment. She wasn’t entirely sure why, it felt a little too intimate though, didn’t it? She sucked in a soft breath, and then resolutely marched through the bedroom, eyeing the discarded items in the closet, before sliding into the bathroom. She caught sight of Ronnie in the tub, color flushing her cheeks a soft shade of pink, before she respectfully looked up toward the ceiling. 

[color=00674F]"Hi,"[/color] she murmured, feeling a bit like she was intruding. [color=00674F]"You were gone when I woke up, I just…wanted to check on you, I brought coffee and croissants."[/color] To emphasize her point, she held out the tray for the other woman to see, still not quite looking at Ronnie directly. 

[color=217c85]"Hello kitten,"[/color] Ronnie purred with a charming smile. [color=217c85]"So bashful,"[/color] she teased as she sat up just enough for her breasts to peek out above the thick layers of bubbles. [color=217c85]"You’ve already seen every inch of me. I’m not shy."[/color] She cocked her head to the side, eyeing Aria’s lace bodice that showed teases of skin beneath it and accentuated her cleavage [i]perfectly.[/i] [color=217c85]"Unless you were seeking a reminder."[/color] A pleased hum escaped her lips as she took in the woman’s appearance before slipping deeper into the water. 

Zaria’s breath had hitched at the tone of Ronnie’s voice, eyes darting toward the woman reflexively before she caught a glance of slick, bubble covered skin, and her eyes flicked away again as more color rushed to her face. It was [i]different[/i] now, she hadn’t come up with false bravado and the intention to sleep with her. That knowledge left her feeling flustered and shy, which didn’t leave her exuding confidence. While she wasn’t opposed to a reminder, that wasn’t why she’d come.

Ronnie’s gaze fell to the tray of food and drinks Aria brought her. The carefully painted smile across her face shifted like there was a small crack in her mask letting a hint of authenticity tug at the corner of her lips. [color=217c85]"Aren’t you sweet?"[/color] she mused, quickly trying to hide any vulnerability that threatened to slip out. 

She mulled over Aria’s other comment while letting her head tilt back slightly to rest on the edge of the tub. [color=217c85]"I’m not good with [i]emotional[/i] intimacy,"[/color] she confessed. [color=217c85]"And I am a jealous, selfish woman."[/color] Her gaze slowly drifted around the room before locking back onto Aria’s. [color=217c85]"I left before I could become a third wheel. But, to be honest,"[/color] she sighed softly as her toes peeked out of the water and rested beside the faucet. [color=217c85]"I had intended to bring you both coffee. I just got… [i]distracted.[/i]"[/color]

She moved closer, careful of the water splashed on the floor alongside the tub, and perched the tray carefully on the wide edge before she took a seat herself, mindful of the headphones that had been left out. [color=00674F]"I noticed last night, you seemed hesitant…I’m sorry, if I made you uncomfortable."[/color] Aria dipped a finger into the warm water, looking at the bubbles instead of looking directly at Ronnie. It was nice, though. Her arm had curled perfectly around the woman’s waist, and she’d fallen asleep with the smell of her shampoo on her mind. 

[color=00674F]"I did like it, I mean, that part too."[/color] Zaria looked up through her lashes at Ronnie, feeling ridiculous for stumbling over her words like she was, but wanting the other woman to at least know the truth. 

Ronnie tilted her head to the side as she studied Aria’s face. [color=217c85]"Don’t apologize for wanting what you want."[/color] She sighed softly, lightly flicking a bubble or two but making sure not to accidentally splash the blonde as she perched on the side of the tub. [color=217c85]"It is not often I am asked to…"[/color] she pursed her lips, trying to find the right word, [color=217c85]"[i]linger[/i] after sex. It’s usually just that, sex. The last time I stayed the night…"[/color] her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat rather than finishing what she was saying. The only time she could recall cuddling and sleeping with someone after sex was with Theo. The memory struck a cord in her chest, aching with jealousy or maybe regret, leaving the sour aftertaste of guilt on her tongue… There was no way in hell she’d ever admit to that.

That was…sort of sad. She’d grown attached in the barest sense of the word, she didn’t think anyone deserved to go without the simple form of intimacy they’d shared last night. While Zaria understood the appeal of having unattached sex, everyone was due a certain degree of kindness afterwards.

She dried her hand off on a towel, then grabbed one of the croissants. With a pleased expression, Ronnie ate the pastry in a couple bites without a word. [color=217c85]"Well you were sandwiched between two naked blondes,"[/color] she mused as she met Aria’s gaze. [color=217c85]"It’d be hard [i]not[/i] to enjoy that."[/color] With a soft sigh, she let her hand slip back into the warm water as she studied the woman. 

[color=00674F]"Well, good point."[/color] Zaria conceded sheepishly, trying not to blush and failing. She swirled nonsensical patterns into the surface of the bubbly water, eyes tracking the movement but not seeing it. Her mind was elsewhere, stuck on what else she’d planned to say and now it all seemed to stick in her throat. [color=00674F]"I just wanted to check on you,"[/color] Aria said the words slowly, as if she was sounding them out with uncertainty, she didn’t want to sound childish or ridiculous simply because she cared. [color=00674F]"I know, it was just casual, I just wanted to make sure..."[/color] She trailed off, chewing on her bottom lip anxiously, the rest of her words floating away like the bubbles in the bath. 

Ronnie slowly sat up in the water, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. Aria’s concern was a little jarring. The women had barely spoken to one another aside from salacious comments followed by the throes of passion. There wasn’t much room in there for getting to know each other on a personal level to care, but it seemed the woman before her got attached rather quickly. She didn’t know if she should be flattered or off put. There was a part of Ronnie that appreciated the subtle warmth the concern brought, but there was a bigger demon inside that always withdrew and pulled away at emotional intimacy. 

[color=217c85]"I’m fine,"[/color] Ronnie whispered. While her face remained fairly blank, her mind wandered to her conversation in the kitchen, to Myla and Theo. Her back tensed slightly as a small twinge tugged at the corner of her mouth. In the end, it didn’t matter what Aria saw in her, the second what happened between her and Theo spread throughout the tower, Ronnie doubted anyone would be wasting their time on her. Unless… a devious thought crossed her mind, if she could get Aria to believe whatever story she twisted then… maybe.

[color=217c85]"I… ran into Myla in the kitchen,"[/color] Ronnie confessed sheepishly like she was confessing something that made her feel shame and embarrassment. [color=217c85]"Theo… He’s my ex,"[/color] she confessed with a soft sigh. [color=217c85]"I’m not sure what he told her but she was very… [i]hostile[/i]. Threaten to torture me and hang me off the tower if I didn’t leave him alone."[/color] She shrugged her shoulders slightly. [color=217c85]"I [i]did[/i] break his heart, but it was for his own safety. It was right when everyone started going missing. I could tell I was being followed so I went into hiding. He thought I died… I tried to explain that I did it for his safety…"[/color]

Ronnie’s fingers swirled in the bubbles near Aria’s hand as she averted her gaze. [color=217c85]"Old grudges I suppose,"[/color] she mused with a soft sigh. [color=217c85]"I just… needed to unwind,"[/color] she added while motioning to the bath.

[color=00674F]"That’s awful,"[/color] the horror was evident in her tone, leeching across her face. She wasn’t sure how she’d feel if it turned out Logan vanished to keep her safe, but…having someone else threaten another person on her behalf would have felt awful all around. She resisted the urge to reach out to Ronnie, unsure what a good way to show support for the other woman. It wasn’t like she was raised having playdates with other kids, Aria was more or less sheltered, and things with Logan were different than with anyone else here. He was gruff and crass, that wasn’t a good way to be supportive with anyone [i]but[/i] Logan. [color=00674F]"I’m new to this whole…friends thing."[/color] 

She admitted this slowly, a tinge of uncertainty in her voice. Zaria very carefully kept her eyes on the bubbles, not having the courage to look at Ronnie as she revealed something more vulnerable than sex could provide. Emotional intimacy really was the worst, wasn’t it. [color=00674F]"But, working under the assumption you want to be my friend and all that…I mean, regardless really…"[/color] She shook her head, blonde hair falling from where it was tucked behind her ears to curl around her cheeks. [color=00674F]"What I’m trying to say is, you didn’t deserve that, and I won’t let her touch you while I’m around. Not that I think you need protection, but isn’t that what friends are for?"[/color] She finally looked up then, offering a smile that was a mix of shy and tentative. 

[color=217c85]"Friends is uncharted territory for me too,"[/color] Ronnie replied cautiously, like somehow admitting it made her appear weaker. She slowly slid forward in the bathtub, inching herself closer to where Aria perched herself. [color=217c85]"I would [i]hate[/i] for you to have to dirty your hands for me."[/color] Ronnie’s voice was low, rumbling in her chest like a soft purr. Her right hand raised up through the bubbles beneath Aria’s hand. She slowly interlaced their fingers before bringing the woman’s knuckles dangerously close to her mouth. [color=217c85]"They are such lovely hands."[/color] Her hot breath brushed against Aria’s skin as Ronnie leaned in and placed a single tender kiss upon her fingers.

Zaria’s breath caught in her throat, color rushing to her face as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Warm breath fanned over her wet fingers, sending a tingle and a shiver down her spine before deviously soft lips pressed against her hand. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, flustered beyond words. [color=00674F]"You’re making it hard to think clearly,"[/color] she admitted when she found her voice once more, accent thicker than usual as her eyes fluttered back open. [color=00674F]"I’ve been trying really hard to ignore the fact that you’re naked in the tub."[/color] A small, coy smile tugged at Aria’s lips, dimpling her left cheek. [color=00674F]"Don’t ruin my streak of good behavior."[/color] Not that she’d mind even a little if it was ruined, actually. 

[color=217c85]"I can stop,"[/color] Ronnie whispered against her skin as her lips slowly trailed over the top of Aria’s hand and along her wrist. [color=217c85]"If you want."[/color] She never lifted her mouth from the tender flesh of the woman’s arm, only peering up at her from beneath her long lashes. [color=217c85]"Good behavior has never been one of my strengths."[/color] A devious grin crossed her lips as she lightly teased the tip of her index finger along the dip in Aria’s elbow. [color=217c85]"And I’d hate to get you [i]wet[/i]."[/color] The world rolled off her tongue like pearls gliding along velvet as she let her damp thumb put the tiniest drop of water on the cuffed sleeve of the girl’s white shirt.

[i]Fuck.[/i] Zaria was going to owe James, big time. She wouldn’t even entertain the idea that this would be fast, after spending the night with Ronnie she knew that she wouldn’t make it back to James in time for lunch. She contemplated, for just a second, telling the woman no…but it was a thought that was easily pushed away. Why should she say no, when Ronnie was right there, looking at her like [i]that,[/i] and clearly interested? She’d be insane to turn her down. 

[color=00674F]"Too late,"[/color] she murmured, eyes sliding to the small drop of water. Her free hand slid up, easily undoing the few little white buttons of her shirt. [color=00674F]"I think your tub is big enough for two, want to test it?"[/color] 

[color=217c85]"I thought you’d never ask."[/color] Ronnie slid back to one side of the tub, biting onto her bottom lip with a devious grin. As she settled into her seat, enjoying the view of Aria undressing, she slowly raised one foot to rest on the edge of the bath. She ran the tip of her index finger along her bottom lip then trailed it over her chin, down her neck and between her breasts before submerging somewhere beneath the depths of water and bubbles. 

Her shirt slipped from her shoulders, falling into a puddle at the edge of the tub, but Zaria couldn’t find it in her to care about that when Ronnie was making a show of her actions. Her heart fluttered as she realized what the woman was doing as she stripped in front of her, heat collecting like an inferno in her core, and while one of part her wanted to rush to get into the tub, she appreciated how fucking hot this turn of events were. She took her time unbuttoning her jeans and sliding them from her body, and they were followed smoothly by her undergarments.


[color=00674F]"Isn’t that a task for [i]my[/i] lovely hands?"[/color] Zaria grinned as she slipped into the hot water, closing the distance between the two of them eagerly. Her right hand dipped beneath the surface of the water, fingers dragging slowly across the slick skin of Ronnie’s thigh, whilst her left curled around the slope of her throat, pulling her into a soft and senseless kiss. 

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Redressed with her hair damp and face flushed, Zaria regretted not being able to go to her room and change before training, and for not being able to make it back to James for lunch. A keen sense of guilt weighed on her shoulders, and her head was spinning in circles trying to think of a way to make it up to him. At least she’d gotten a chance to clean up before training, and she smelled distinctly of Ronnie’s body wash as they headed onto the elevator. She was new to the whole friend thing, but she was fairly confident that you weren’t supposed to be sleeping with your [i]friends[/i] as often as she had been, especially with the knowledge that the other blonde wasn’t the sort to get attached. 

She reflexively held an arm in front of the door, holding it in place and waiting for Ronnie to step on, thinking about James and how she could apologize. 

[color=217c85]"Something’s on your mind,"[/color] Ronnie mused as she stepped into the elevator, adjusting the waistband of her sweatpants. She pressed the button for sub-level 6 then turned her attention toward Aria while leaning against the opposite side of the small descending room. [color=217c85]"I won’t be offended if you need to pretend like it didn’t happen."[/color] Her voice was quiet but without any hint of sadness or hurt feelings. [color=217c85]"It wouldn’t be the first time I’m someone’s dirty little secret."[/color]


[color=00674F]"I don’t like lying,"[/color] Zaria’s nose wrinkled a little at the idea, and she frowned at Ronnie. [color=00674F]"You deserve better than that, anyways."[/color] Her eyes trailed down at her shoes, and she let out a soft breath, lifting a hand to run it through her damp hair. [color=00674F]"I accidentally stood up my friend for lunch, I’m trying to think of a way to make it up to him. I don’t regret spending time with you, I just feel bad."[/color] she shrugged, feeling a little self conscious and vulnerable. conscious.

[color=217c85]"You’re too sweet,"[/color] Ronnie replied with a faint smile. [color=217c85]"I imagine not all your friendships are as… [i]mutually beneficial[/i] as ours,"[/color] she continued, quietly clicking her tongue. [color=217c85]"But you could always wait for him in his bed naked. It’d work on me."[/color] She shrugged and laughed innocently. [color=217c85]"Otherwise I don’t have much advice. I’m not the best at the [i]‘making up’[/i] thing."[/color] As if her whole situation with Theo wasn’t pretty evident of that. 

Her mouth dropped open as her cheeks flushed brightly. [color=00674F]"Noted,"[/color] Zaira managed after a moment, clearing her throat and letting her eyes stray up toward the top of the elevator, trying to play off how flustered all of…that, had made her. She had a funny feeling that getting naked in James’s bed would have the opposite effect, but she was still undecided on what exactly to do…maybe it would come to her during training. [color=00674F]"Thank you,"[/color] Aria softened some, mentally shaking herself, Ronnie had offered advice, which was notably something friends did for each other, and that was something she could appreciate. [color=00674F]"You’re pretty good at this friend thing."[/color] She joked, grinning at the other woman as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. 

Ronnie laughed softly, surprised to get a thank you rather than an eye roll given the [i]advice[/i] she gave. [color=217c85]"There’s plenty of time for me to disappoint you,"[/color] she teased as she followed her out of the elevator, mentally preparing herself for whatever [i]training[/i] was in store for them. [/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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