A/N: Okay, so … two in one day! I know. I try to avoid that and space things out a little, but this one was a secret. As most of you know, Johanna – 002 has become my unofficial beta (I guess this makes it official? idk). Because of that, she never gets any surprises from me. I thought I'd write one today and give her a treat since she's been writing me words like crazy (and humoring my trips to the dark playground). So, this one is for her – which also explains why it's lacking a bit in quality.
XOXOXO
Red had been sitting in her office when she heard footsteps pounding through her kitchen. Someone was running - unacceptable. There was no nonsense in her kitchen and from the squeals and laughter she could hear she knew it wasn't anything serious.
She was about to get up when Nicky came running into her office and fell into her lap. She could feel the young woman gasping for breath, as she wrapped her arms around Red's neck. "Nicky, get off me," Red said, trying to get Nicky to let her go.
"Cheat," Alex said, leaning over and trying to catch her breath. "Don't worry, I'll get you back when mommy can't protect you," she said. When she saw Red look at her seriously, Alex winked - letting her know that it was all in good fun.
Nicky sat up and stuck her tongue out at Alex. "This isn't cheating! Besides, Red will always protect me - I'm her favorite."
"Brat," Alex said, leaning forward and pinching Nicky's arm. She backed off before Nicky could retaliate and laughed as she left. "Just wait, Nichols," she said, calling over her shoulder, "this isn't over."
Shaking her head no, against Red. Nicky tried to wriggle closer. "She's trying to kill me," she said, laughing as she pointed after Alex.
Red began to speak, but was promptly smacked in the face with wild curls. With her mouth open, Red found herself with Nicky's hair in her mouth as well. She spit it out and raised a hand and pushed it all back down. "Child, if you do not let go and get your hair out of my face I will cut it all off when you sleep."
"You wouldn't," Nicky said, only pulling back enough to look at her - not remove herself completely. She didn't think Red would every really do it, but she needed to see her face.
Red arched an eyebrow and gave her a stern look. "You want to find out?"
"No," Nicky said, reluctantly pulling further away. Red was serious. Nicky protectively put a hand over her hair. "Yuck, why is it wet."
Red pulled Nicky's hand away from her hair and held it in her own. "It's wet because you shoved it in my mouth."
"Did not," Nicky said petulantly. She made a grumpy face and huffed in protest.
Red laughed at the look on her face. Nicky always managed to make her feel warm and happy. Something that was often lacking in prison, but Nicky was family and that made her heart fill with pride and joy. "Oh really? How else did it end up in my mouth?"
Nicky shrugged. She leaned her head down on Red's shoulder. She felt Red squeeze her hand and smiled softly.
"Now you're going to get my shirt all wet with your soggy hair?" the older woman asked. She wrapped an arm around Nicky and began to rub her back.
"Shh, it's your spit, stop complaining," Nicky said closing her eyes. She nuzzled against her and made a small noise of contentment as Red continued to rub.
Red turned her head and kissed the top of Nicky's head. "Your hair tastes like strawberries," she said offhandedly.
"That why you tried to eat it?" Nicky asked, giggling. "I told you I didn't put it in your mouth."
"Why do I keep you? You're mad," Red answered, laughing. She hugged Nicky against her. Sometimes Red just wanted to fuss over her like most people fussed over babies.
Nicky smiled to herself and began to play with Red's fingers. "'Cause you love me."
Red's heart swelled at the words, but she wouldn't dare give Nicky the satisfaction of knowing that. "Hmm," Red said, trying to sound unsure. "I suppose I might love you a little bit."
"Ma," Nicky whined.
"Fine, I love you crazy girl. You're a brat and a pain in my ass, but I keep you because you're mine," Red said, knowing how much Nicky loved to hear that she was special to Red. Despite how easily they had fallen into a mother/daughter dynamic, Nicky was still insecure about whether people really cared about her. She was still healing.
Being spoiled was only something that could last so long. Nicky also needed quite a deal of tough love. Surviving Red's rules and expectations, seemed to build Nicky's confidence in ways that had little to do with big talking or acting tough. "Now, get off, you're too heavy and you're bony ass is digging into my thighs."
"Maybe you should feed me more," Nicky quipped.
Red looked at Nicky and called her out on something she had been holding back for the right moment to address. The moment had arrived. "Maybe you should eat what I cook and not just pick at the things you like"
"I always eat what you cook," said defensively. She looked wounded that Red would think such a thing.
"Really? Is that why every time we have asparagus or beets or pork chops you come to me later looking for snacks? You're a picky eater Nicky."
"Um, maybe… or maybe you just happen to make those on days that I'm extra hungry." Nicky explained - trying to climb back out of the hole she'd just dug herself into.
Red rolled her eyes and ignored Nicky's excuses. "You want to tell me what it is that you did to Vause?" she asked, curiously. She watched as Nicky sat on her desk in front of her. She crossed her arms and stared at Nicky, waiting for the girl to see how unamused she was that Nicky was up there.
If Nicky did notice, she showed no sign of it. She looked down at Red and scrunched up her eyebrows. "How come you're gonna take her side? I didn't even do anything." She would have probably been a little more offended except that it wasn't true.
"Nicky..."
"Okay, maybe I did do something, but it was a little something!" she said, hoping to appeal to Red's not-so-scary side. "You're supposed to be on my side though."
Red shook her head. "I don't take sides, especially not with my children. You're troublesome by nature."
"Maybe it's 'cause we get it from you," Nicky pointed out and grinned. Her face instantly slipped into something closer to a pout when Red looked less than amused. "Okay, so, I may have borrowed her towel when she was in the shower," she said, admitting to the tiny prank. She continued to confess, but it was so mumbled that Red couldn't make it out.
"Nicky," Red warned once more.
She sighed and continued to explain. "Okay! Maybe I borrowed her glasses … and her eyeliner, but they were still in the bathroom! She found them... mostly,"
"Tell me the rest of it," Red pushed.
Biting her lip, Nicky looked at Red lifting her shoulders in an attempt to play off how funny it was. "So, I might not have given the eyeliner back."
Red shook her head.
Nicky leaned her head back and slumped in defeat. "You told me last week you'd get me more," she whined. "I ran out."
"So you stole Alex's? You're a terrible impatient brat," Red said, rolling her eyes. She smacked Nicky's leg to get her to move and much to her chagrin. Nicky pulled her legs up crisscrossed on her desk, probably leaving muck from her shoes all over her papers. She was going to be the death of her.
Opening the drawer beneath Nicky, Red pulled out a brand new black eyeliner. "I should give this one to Vause and make you use her leftovers, but I won't."
"Because you love me," Nicky practically sang.
Red shook her head and leaned towards Nicky. "Because she's less annoying when she asks me for things. I make you use hers and you're back here in a week pestering me. This way I'll get a little bit of a break."
"Nu-uh," Nicky said, grinning at her.
Rolling her eyes, Red stood up and placed her hands on Nicky's knees. "You're right. You'll still be a pest," she said, cupping Nicky's face in her hands. "There are no such things as breaks when you're a mother - especially when the child in question is you, daughter of mine."
"Thank you mommy," Nicky said, pulling Red near her so she could kiss her cheek.
Red shook her head, trying not to laugh at how adorable she was. "Go find Vause, but be careful. Returning that isn't going to be enough. She'll want revenge - and I'm not saving you."
"But..." Nicky said, pouting. She huffed and jerked her body in protest as her foot hit the floor with a thump.
"No." Red could not believe that Nicky had just actually stomped her foot in protest. She had to stop indulging her spoiled nature, she told herself- knowing that she wouldn't. She loved their playful interactions. "Since you insist that you get all your stubborn and troublesome habits from me - I'm sure you will be able to handle it just fine on your own."
Nicky nodded, but popped out her bottom lip anyways. She slumped out of the office, but it was obvious it was all an act. She yelled out another thank you, as she ran off to find Alex.