Authors Note: First chapter of One hundred Ways to Say I Love You. Each chapter will feature 1 of the 100 ways to say I love you from either Lorna or Nicky's perspective, chapter lengths will vary and some chapters may be set in an alternative universe whereas other's will be canon-compliant. I don't know how often I will update this, probably whenever inspiration strikes to write a new chapter but I will try and not leave it too long between updates! As always, please leave reviews and constructive criticism as it helps me out a lot! Thank you and enjoy.
It was no secret that Nicky Nichols was sick. Not that the stubborn blonde ex-junkie would admit it, or accept any help for that matter. She was pale, feverish and had hardly been able to keep down a meal within the last two days. With the slop they served it was hardly surprising but coupling that with an upset stomach and a barely-there appetite was just looking for trouble.
Lorna had tried to approach her several times, trying to offer her comfort and company but each time Nicky would grumble her protests, shoving her away, muttering something about Lorna catching the 'deadly disease' and for her to stay away until she was better.
This, of course, didn't deter the petite brunette in the slightest, just made her frown and stress about how she could make things better for Nicky. How she didn't want to see her suffer anymore. It hurt her to see her in such pain and not knowing what to do about it or how to help. Especially when Nicky was refusing any kind of help that Lorna had to offer her.
It was the fourth day when she passed Nicky's bunk to hear before seeing Nicky writhing around on the stiff mattress, a distressed and painful whine leaving the dry chapped lips of her something—more—than—her—best—friend—but—not—quite—her—lover, when she had had enough.
With a determined harrumph, she marched back to her own bunk. She knew if she wanted something from Red, it was going to cost her. And Red had all the good shit.
With a sigh she started rooting through all of her belongings in an attempt to pick something that Red would be willing to trade, she didn't accept just any old shit. She didn't really have anything of much value though. She forlornly turned her attention to her much-adored small collection of bright red lipsticks. The lipstick wasn't just a lipstick anymore, it had become part of her. Part of her personality. To part with them would be like — like losing an arm.
But, this was for Nicky. Nicky needed her, even if she wouldn't damn well admit it. So Lorna was having to take the situation into her own hands, even if it meant losing one of her precious lipsticks. She shuffled the three sticks in her hands for several minutes before finally picking the one she had received most recently, not even used yet. She had almost run out on one of them so that left her with just one left. She knew it was ridiculous but it gave her anxiety to think about the possibility of her completely running out. But she refused to dwell on that now, she needed to get to Red. With a sigh, she stuffed the red lipstick into her pocket and marched determinedly to seek out Red.
She was in her bunk, as she expected. She poked her head around the corner, grateful that it was just Red. She was lying on her bunk, legs crossed, reading glasses on and an open book held meters in front of her face. Sensing she was being watched, she slowly lowered the book down to her lap and glanced across to where Lorna was poking her head around the doorway.
She lowered her glasses so they were perched on the end of her nose and raised her eyebrows expectantly, a little curious to what had brought Lorna to her bunk. Alone.
Lorna seeing that Red acknowledging her presence sheepishly walked further into the bunk. She was suddenly nervous. She didn't know whether it was because she was about to part with her lipstick or because Red was naturally intimidating, all she knew was that her heart was beating faster and she had squeezed her hands into fists to try and hide how much she was trembling.
'Uh, hey Red.' She perched herself on the edge of the mattress with a shy smile. 'I've got a little favour to ask.'
Red watched and listened to the small brunette closely, noticing the nervous energy radiating off of her. Hearing that she was after a favour piqued her interest and she shuffled in the bed to sit up straighter, lowering her glasses that were looped around her neck by a piece of string to rest on her chest.
'I'm listening.' Red's gravelly voice spoke back to her.
Lorna nodded her head, mostly to herself while she splayed her things on her khaki-covered thigh, her forefinger scratching at the material distractingly. 'Right, well. As you probably know or have heard, Nicky's sick, and well she keeps denying any help. But, I can see she's in pain.' Lorna's face twisted into a frown, her eyes shining with sadness as she lifted her head to look at the red-haired Russian. 'I want to help and I know you have some pills that would help with the pain, at least something to dry up the flu a little bit.' She finished off with a small shrug, shining her brown puppy eyes at Red.
Red paused for a moment with a sigh before Lorna spoke up again.
'I know I ain't gonna get nothing for free, so I— I brought this.' With a heavy defeated sigh, she reached into her pants pocket and held up the shiny red lipstick, causing Red's eyebrows to raise almost to her hairline. Morello was damn serious if she was willing to risk losing her lipstick just to help Nicky feel better. Naturally, whatever illness that Nicky was suffering and more appropriately whining from, would clear up in a few days to a week. Red knew Nichols was milking it a bit but she was touched that Morello cared enough for her daughter to do this. To give up her most prized possession to make her feel better, to take care of her.
Red stared at the lipstick that was held in front of her from Morello's offered hand and with a twitch of her lips, trying to hold back her smile she curled her fingers around Lorna's that were holding the lipstick and lowered both of their hands to the bed. 'You don't need to do that, kid.'
But Lorna was insistent, shaking her head. 'She really is in a lot of pain, she's very sick Red. She hasn't really eaten in two days and I don't know how long this thing is gon' last.' Her brow was creased with genuine heartfelt concern and her plump red lips were pulled into a pout. 'I know you would want something in return and I know it might not be your perfect shade, but please Red.' Lorna reached out to put a hand on Red's leg as she looked at the older woman with pleading eyes.
Red had to try hard to stifle the small laugh that was itching to burst through her lips as she held them in a tight line as she watched Lorna ramble on, it was sweet. Really sweet. Knowing she would have to accept to settle the petite Brunette's mind. She nodded her head once in affirmative before she moved her legs to swing over and land her feet on the floor. 'Fine.' She muttered before standing up and moving over to her private stash of essentials.
'Really? I mean thank you, Red!' Morello's eyes lit up and her lips spread into a pleased smile, she just barely refrained herself from rushing to the redhead and squeezing her in a tight hug. She waited patiently whilst she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet whilst Red rifled through her stash, finally turning around with a couple of strips of pills in her hand.
She approached Lorna before holding out her hand for the brunette to take the pills off her but before she did she quickly explained what was what. She pointed out that one strip were painkillers, they were quite strong but they would help ease the pain and the other strip were sleeping pills figuring that Nichols would probably need some rest.
Lorna nodded her head as Red explained, listening intently. 'Okay, got it.' She took the pills from Red's hand and reluctantly placed the lipstick in Red's waiting palm. She quickly shoved the small strips of pills into her pocket so they were out of sight whilst Red twisting the lipstick between her thumb and forefinger, a thoughtful look on her face.
'Thanks again, Red. I know Nicky will really appreciate it.' She couldn't it this time, taking a step closer to wrap her arms around her middle and squeezing her tight in a momentary hug. She quickly stepped back not waiting for Red's reaction before dashing out of her cube and heading back to Nicky's. Now, she had everything she needed, she could go take care of the lion-maned woman.
Red watched her go with amusement, the lipstick still rotating between her fingers. She wasn't going to keep it, never had the intention to but she knew Lorna would make a thing about accepting the meds for free so thought it would just be easier to humour her for the time being. She would wait until Nichols was back on her feet and then give her the lipstick to give back to Lorna, she's sure that would be an interesting conversation to witness. It was bordering on ridiculous how in love each of them were with the other but neither would confront it. Well, mostly Lorna but surely it couldn't be much longer before she came to the realisation and ditched that Italian she had dangling by a thread.
Lorna walked into Nicky's cube to see the aforementioned blonde sprawled out spread-eagle, with her face pressed into the pillow, a small mewling sound could be heard coming from her mouth. A fond smile appeared on Lorna's lips as she paused in the doorway for a moment before she quietly crept forward and perched herself on the edge of the mattress, her hand itched to reach out and run delicately through golden tresses that surrounded her face.
Feeling the mattress dip, Nicky titled her head to the side and squinted her eyes to try and work out the blurry figure that was suddenly sat next to her. ''Rello? What you doin' 'ere?' Her scratchy voice was slightly muffled into the pillow but Lorna could just make it out.
Lorna stifled the small laugh that threatened to leave her lips at the adorable sight before her. This time she couldn't resist as she leaned forward and brushed the curls back from the side of Nicky's face, tucking them behind her ear so she could see her properly. 'I got you some stuff, to help you feel better.' She spoke softly, opening her palm so that Nicky could see even through her half-lidded eyes the two small strips of tablets.
She could hear Nicky grumbling her protests, her body flailing as she tried to move but her body didn't seem to be co-operating with her brain. It was quite an amusing sight.
'Shh.' Lorna leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. 'You're always taking care of me, let me take care of you. Please? Just this once.' Lorna spoke softly but earnestly, her eyes shining with slight desperation, for Nicky to stop fighting her and for her to allow herself to be taken care of, for a change.
Nicky muttered something that sounded something a lot like 'fine' which Lorna accepted with a pleased smile.
'Sit up and I'll just grab you a cup of water.' Lorna said after she'd popped the appropriate amount of pills out of the strips before slipping them back into the pocket of her khaki's. She passed the pills into Nicky's sweating palm as she shifted herself up into a sitting position with a groan. Lorna was just about to get up to get Nicky a cup of water when before she could even blink Nicky tilted her head back and dry swallowed them without a second thought.
Lorna paused, her mouth open in a silent gasp but really, she shouldn't be all that surprised. That was such a Nicky move. She just blinked and smiled fondly once more before shifting so she was lying beside Nicky horizontally.
'They should kick in soon and the pain will ease and you'll get more than a couple of hours sleep.' Lorna spoke just for the sake of speaking, her voice soft.
Without prompting, Nicky flopped back down onto the mattress, this time landing so that her head was in Lorna's lap. A small smile curled at the brunette's lips before she brought her fingertips to the blonde's scalp, carding them through thick curls before scratching at her scalp. She knew she was doing something right when Nicky let out a pleased sigh, her shoulders instantly relaxing.
'You don't have ta' go, ya' know.' Nicky mumbled after a moment, her eyes closed and her right arm curled around one of Morello's legs as if Lorna did decide to get up from her position on Nicky's bunk, she could cling on to it and drag her back. She focused on the soothing feeling of Lorna's fingernails scratching at her scalp, not remembering the last time she felt this relaxed, or calm.
'I know.' Lorna's lips curled up into a warm smile before she leaned down to press her lips against the shell of Nicky's ear. 'I wasn't planning to.' She pressed a gentle kiss to Nicky's temple, lingering long enough to see the mirroring smile on Nicky's lips before leaned back again and continued with the gentle scratching at Nicky's scalp. She alternated between rubbing soothing circles at Nicky's temple to ease her headache, to carding her fingers through the length of her curls, lighting tugging when snagged and lightly scratching her fingernails against her scalp to bring her comfort and pleasure.
It was silent for a while but it was a comfortable silence as Lorna worked her finger magic, looking down on Nicky fondly while Nicky let out quiet hums of pleasure, the occasional pleased smile spreading across her lips. Before long Lorna could tell that Nicky had drifted off to sleep, with the help of the pills and Lorna's soothing touch no doubt.
Lorna didn't move from her position, didn't dare jostle Nicky from her lap. Even when her back started to cease up and her neck started to ache from the position she was sat in, she just let her fingers idly keep moving through Nicky's hair and leant her head back against the wall, finally allowing her own eyes to close to try and get some rest while waiting for Nicky to wake up again.
Nicky woke up a couple eyes later, bleary-eyed and confused. She opened her eyes to see outstretched khaki-covered legs before she pulled herself up into a sitting position, lifting her arms to stretch before turning to see who's legs she had been using as a pillow. She smiled as she found they belonged to her favourite insane brain brunette, taking in the sight of limp arms behind her sides and mouth hanging open with her head tilted back. She smirked at the sight, if only she had a camera to capture this perfect moment. Her eyes softened as she remembered their actions from hours before. She shuffled up the mattress to untuck the thin prison-issued sheet that was mean to serve as a duvet before her legs underneath and bringing it up to cover Morello up to her waist. She moved over so she could pull the younger women down, shifting her body against the mattress until her head could rest on the thin pillow, somehow managing to not wake her. She must have slipped into a pretty deep sleep.
Nicky smiled, taking a moment to brush the hair out of her eyes. Lorna looked so beautiful when she was sleeping, all creased lines smoothed out. Her soft pouty lips looked so soft that Nicky couldn't resist to lean down and press a feather-light kiss to them. She shuffled herself next to her so she could rest her head on her shoulder. She tilted her head forward to press a kiss against the brunette's cheek before settling down again.
'Thanks, Lorn'.' She mumbled before drifting back to sleep, her arm and leg flung over Lorna's body and her head resting on her shoulder. She nuzzled her face further into the crease where shoulder met neck, breathing in her natural scent with a soft sigh. This was a rare moment where they were all alone and she could take what she could get so she was savouring it for as long as she possibly could.