Hey everyone!
It's been a while, uh? I know, but I'm back with nothing less than an AU for you :D
So, here's the thing, while I was writing and sorting through all the requests you guys sent me for my Vauseman series of one-shots, I came across a few that asked something along the summary lines. Things like "Alex working at a BDSM club and Piper being a curious little thing etc..."
You guys have no idea, but I've actually been sitting on this story and this very first chapter - which is been almost completely ready for a while - for almost a year now. Yep. That's right.
The reason why I didn't post it sooner? I was feeling very self-conscious actually about the whole thing because I wanted to go with both POV's and offer an equal perspective, but I wasn't feeling like switching between first persons on every chapter, and so I decided to dive in and try with the third person's POV.
As you can imagine I'm still not used to it, but apparently, I'm feeling a bit more confident about it since I have finally decided to post the first chapter, lol :D
The rating is low, for now, but... Yeah, considering the genre, and all... Well... You know me :P
Before I leave you to it, however, I wanted to thank all of the lovely readers and reviewers who have sent their thoughts and left their flattering comments on the last chapter of "Specks of Dust". You are all amazing, and I thank you sincerely for all your kind words :)
Now here you go with the new story :D
Enjoy
Alex has noticed her as soon as she has seen her walk in.
It would have been pretty hard not to.
Even in the crowd that usually gathers during particularly busy nights such as this one.
Tall, blonde, young - but clearly old enough to pass by security at the front - and, of course, beautiful.
A simple kind of beauty, but that strikes all the same. Even though, there is that something else that makes her stand out among the crowd of familiar faces.
Her physical appearance, in fact, it's not the only reason why Alex's gaze has landed, almost magnetically, on her and has been returning every now and then in between her duties.
There is just that look about her.
That nonchalance that she wears a bit too tightly, and carries a bit too heavily respect anyone else's in the club- to appear like she has already been in this kind of place before, even though it's quite obvious that she hasn't. Alex would have definitely remembered seeing her before, especially in here.
She puts way too much effort in trying to look around with discretion, in not letting her gaze linger for long. But the curiosity gleaming in her eyes as she scans the place is unmistakable, even from afar, it betrays her, just like the light flush of heat that scalds her cheeks when her gaze shifts towards the dancers bending and swaying and arching against the poles on the stage at the low, sensual rhythm of the music before she diverts it.
A gaze that resembles more one of intrigue than the shyness it so deceptively seems inclined to, although - Alex can easily and confidently tell - that the young woman doesn't seem a stranger to that other feeling either.
"You intend to keep staring at her for the rest of the night or you gonna make a move, Vause?"
Alex, on her part, can't even pretend to shoot a look at her partner when she gets caught.
Even if she tried to muster a warning glare it would inevitably falter, turning into that expected and exasperated eye roll when Nicky would just throw a knowing smirk back at her. But she tries anyway. And, unsurprisingly, that irritating, unapologetic little smirk is exactly what she receives back from her friend.
"She's hot." Nicky comments then with a shrug of her shoulder before returning to the list in her hand, as if what she just said was only meant as a casual comment and not the actual encouragement Alex knows it actually is.
"Is this what you do when I'm not here, Nichols? Comment on our clientele instead of working?" Alex wonders why does she even bother asking such question when she already suspects the answer to that and also has a few other ideas of her own about what else her friend might do when she is not at the club. "I guess I should be here every day to supervise you."
"Hey now!" Nicky protests with indignation. " I am working." She stresses, waving the inventory list in defense. "I don't need you as a babysitter. And for your information," She adds, lowering her voice into that conspiratorial tone that has Alex shift her mouth to one side in order to suppress the smile already threatening to break free. "Our female clientele loves my attention."
There are many things that Alex could say in response to that and actually feels the need to remind her best friend, who also happens to be her business partner. Things like "that's not your job" or "try to not harass anyone, or worst, pick on possible clients for your own entertainment." Instead she just huffs an exasperated laugh, shaking her head before- just as that last thought in particular enters her mind - her gaze drifts on its own once again towards the bar, where the young, blonde woman has taken off her coat, taken a seat, and is unsuccessfully trying to get the attention of the busy bartender.
"So? What you gonna do? Because she kinda looks like she could use a drink." Once again, Nicky, as annoyingly observant as always, comments. "And it doesn't seem like Jackie Daniels over there is going to be able to shake off that horde of women all by herself and get back to serve drinks."
Oh for the-
"You know what?" Alex stands, because she has had enough of this. "I'm going over to the bar, to help, so at least I can say that I'm working instead of just pretending to, like someone else has been doing all night." She adds, eyeing the list her friend has been pretending to check for the past ten minutes.
Nicky merely gives her that fake-serious "yeah, sure. help. Whatever you say, partner" look that does nothing to mask the delight sparkling in her dark eyes and that Alex tries to ignore as much as she can.
"While I'm gone could you please at least tell Boo to wait before sending anyone else in. We are packed." She points out after a brief scan of the two main rooms filled with people. "I don't want to violate any safety protocol. Also finish to check that list and compare it with the rest in the back, please. I believe there is still some equipment in the boxes back there that we need to replace."
"Yeah sure, the equipment." Nicky nods, winking exaggeratedly, seeming to have caught mostly that part alone above anything else she just said. "You want me to get you that new, prototype model from the back you could try out with blondie over ther-"
This time the glare that Alex flashes her is real, warning, and successful in actively shutting up her partner.
"Don't. Even finish that sentence."
For a moment Alex actually expects her friend to come up with the default reply of something like "I thought our business was built mostly around this kind of things, Vause" But it seems like Nicky has grown suddenly wise enough not to test her, just zips her lips and then salutes.
"Aye aye, Captain!" She mocks, not even trying to contain the infuriating shit-eating grin that starts spreading on her face before she turns and leaves, thankfully heading for the back as instructed and already reaching for the radio on her belt to pass the message to security at the entrance outside the club, although, even if she, for once, is doing as told, Alex still winces when she hears the unnecessary code they have come up with for this kind of situation.
"Heavy flow, Boo. Keep doing the Tampax."
For being business partners and co-owners someone would think that they should be at the same level, but someone simply has to keep Nicky in check and reprimand her when she comes up with some of her inappropriate jokes and start with her usual, mostly innocent, nonetheless occasionally mildly irritating teasing.
With one last look at the opened log of the clients that have an appointment and a room booked for later tonight, and after checking for herself that everything has been taken care of and nothing is missing from said rooms, Alex leaves her usual spot at the reception and heads for the bar with the refilling of vodka and tequila bottles that usually start running low at this hour.
Turns out that the bar isn't as packed as it seemed actually, but the bartender - a young, cute, very talented girl whose smile, gorgeous tanned skin, and soft, dark, deceptively innocent eyes combined with the suit and suspenders attire that attract an unbelievable amount of attention, way more than she can handle alone - has been (again) taken hostage by an enthusiastic, slightly tipsy group of women.
The fact that she notices Alex's approach, however, seems to be enough to give her that extra push to disentangle herself from the flirting group with the good old-fashioned, "gotta get back to work 'cause the boss is here, sorry ladies" excuse, and with another charming smile returns to serve drinks with a soft flush on her cheeks, flashing Alex an apologetic little smile and mouthing a grateful "thanks" that is promptly met with a friendly, reassuring wink as she dutifully takes the bottles and restock the shelves.
With an extra help, the line of those waiting for a drink quickly diminishes as the patrons move from the bar to the dance floor on the adjacent room, or simply just to the angular couches to chat and admire the dancers on the stage, but despite getting things back under control again, Alex still lingers there at the bar, where a certain blonde is still waiting to get served and who, in the meantime, seems to have surrendered to her curiosity and got back to admire the dancers as well.
It's good that her attention is somewhere else, because then Alex can mix up a drink and revel in the feeling of seeing the blonde startle back to the bar when she slides it across the counter towards her.
"This one's on the house."
Blue eyes, wide, clear, and as stunning as a limpid summer sky, blink back into focus and lock with hers like a startled deer before shifting to the cocktail glass rimmed with salt, softening as her features adjust from the brief, unintentional scare, to the surprise of the unexpected, generous offer.
"Oh... oh, thank you. But that's not necessary, really." She politely replies with a warm reassuring, twitching smile. "I have noticed how busy the other bartender was."
Alex just shrugs. "She was taken hostage by a group of women." And then, unable to control that devious hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth... "It happens around here every now and then."
This earns her a soft chuckle.
"It seems like they were very thirsty, too." The young, blonde woman replies, ultimately accepting the drink.
Alex husks a laugh, truly amused by the simple, yet humorous and clever quip. "That was a nice one."
The young woman's smile widens too, enough for Alex to notice the sign of dimples on her cheeks and the flash of perfect white teeth as she brings the glass up before sealing her lips around the rim coated with crystals and taking a first generous sip, as if she has been craving for this, and then... the blonde moans at the taste.
Clear blue eyes briefly fluttering closed in authentic bliss.
"Wow... this is so delicious." She half mumbles half moans, mostly to herself, sounding so pleasantly surprised. "I honestly never had such a great margarita in the city before."
"Well, you never came here before." Alex points out, and if she sounds a bit cocky and her smirk widens a bit more, well... Nicky's not here to get that kind of ammunition to use on her later.
Something flashes across the blonde's face, eyes crinkling, head tilting to the side and a look of compelling curiosity shaping her young features with what seems to be a question that Alex anticipates and promptly answers without needing to actually hear it.
"I would have remembered a face like yours."
It's simple, and it's also the most honest thing she's had to admit in all night and that doesn't weigh heavily on her. Which is... oddly refreshing.
But upon uttering that truth, she also notices how that curiosity shimmering in rippling blue eyes seems to grow into intrigue, successfully masking what Alex can hardly believe was a shade of shyness that she thought she had caught a glimpse of earlier when the blonde's gaze had first landed on the bikini-dressed dancers.
It's hard to resist it.
That silent call for more.
As if it's something only she can hear; that curiosity that must be quenched. It attracts her with the same magnetic intensity that blue gaze searches hers. And even though Alex has been wanting - yes, okay, she can admit it to herself with no problem as long as Nicky is not around - to do this since she first saw her, she finds the need to be even more demanding when she gracefully extends a hand to introduce herself.
"I'm Alex, by the way."
She is fairly sure that there is no reason why she should feel that tingle-like sensation when the young blonde woman, without diverting her gaze away from hers, instantly takes her hand, or why that feeling should spread lower, pooling warmth in her stomach. But it does.
A warm palm and long, manicured fingers slide into her own hand, gently, but closing with a certain firmness, tentative at first, and yet confident all at once. But the fascinating, oddly balanced contrast definitely doesn't mask the eagerness held in the gesture itself.
"Piper." The blonde supplies in a soft whisper that shouldn't sound so clear with the music buzzing all around, but it is to Alex's ears.
Alex smiles, grins actually, and there it is again. That lightly flushed smile that she receives back, the same one she thought she has seen earlier, only this one is so much better. Fuller and warmer. So much warmer that the sight of it makes up for the loss of contact when they both, reluctantly, let go of each other's hand.
"So, Piper..." Alex starts, conversationally, as she passes a rag on the top of the bar, pretending to keep herself a little busy with some light cleaning while prying - even though not too intrusively - into the young woman's possible motivations for her visit. "What brought you here tonight?"
The blonde- Piper, releases a breathed laugh in response that is half self-deprecating and not-quite-embarrassment, even though, Alex notices, her cheeks do gain a light, lovely tinge of pink at the question even if she tries to mask it by tilting her head down and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I, uh... I have heard many people talk about this place," She answers, twisting around the glass in front of her by the base of the steam with suddenly nervous, restless fingers. "And when my business partner told me that I should come here and check it out for myself, I... got curious." She admits with a little shrug before releasing another breathed, self-deprecating laugh. "Now, however, I believe it was more like a dare, or that she was trying to play a prank on me or something."
While Alex believes that yes, business partners are definitely the most irritating kind of colleagues - she does know, and can testify to that - that statement still has her appraising the young woman with curious, slightly narrowed eyes.
"Why would you say that?"
Piper merely arches an eyebrow in response to that question.
"My business partner telling me to go to what has turned out being not a simple nightclub but a famous sex club?" She scoffs, taking another sip from her drink, and when she speaks again, the tequila seems to have washed away that trace of sarcasm from her voice, which grows somehow more... wistful. "She also might not have been particularly nice to me when she fist suggested me to come to this place. In fact, from her tone, she might as well have told me to loosen up and take the stick out of my ass."
Alex refrains from making the kind of pun that instantly comes to mind, but she still has to fight off a smirk. Because dammit, Nicky and her influence are hard to fight in front of such an opportunity. But she manages, waiting until the humor inside her subsides and Piper's gaze shifts back from the drink to meet hers, looking at her with those impossibly limpid, now even softened blue eyes.
"We had an argument. Work stuff." She unnecessarily adds, somehow guiltily, and it's that fleeting emotion that makes that look somehow even more endearing.
Alex this time doesn't fight the smile tugging at her lips. "Either way," She says, brightening her tone in an attempt to cheer up the situation and the blonde's mood. "Just so you have all the right information, sex is not the only kind of... entertainment, that we provide." She oh so professionally informs. "We also do massages, have a couple of saunas, hot tubs, and our personnel is all certified, from the massage therapists to... all of the other specialists ready to provide our most requested services."
She definitely isn't trying to show off, least of all publicize the business (even if the pride is there in every word) but Piper surely looks pleasantly surprised by the mentioning of those other few not-sex-related and relaxing services.
"Oh," Still, that soft sound of surprise clearly slip past her lips without her consent, and then she stumbles all over her own tongue to apologize. "I'm so sorry, that was rude, I didn't mean- I didn't want to assume, I just-"
It's quite the endearing sight, really. Maybe because Alex doesn't see it too often, especially in here.
Or maybe it's the fact of seeing it on someone who doesn't seem to have confidence issues what makes it so much more... enjoyable.
But for how oddly entertaining it is seeing that flustered look on the blonde's face, Alex doesn't make her squirm, and promptly reassures her with a smile. "It's okay. Many come here with that assumption, which is... quite fair." She truthfully admits. "I'm not going to lie, our major business comes from the private contracts we stipulate with our clients."
Piper deflates, looking visibly relieved by the assurance, and also quite curious by the mention of those private contracts and what they might include.
But it's a look that quickly shifts into one of suspicious, as if she just caught something else hidden in that string of information...
Blue eyes narrow, and a subtle knowing little smile tugs at her rosy lips, but Alex doesn't have time to ask her what it is that the blonde provides the answer with a question of her own.
"You are the boss around here, aren't you?"
Alex can't help but grin, slow and wide.
"Something specific gave me away?"
"No, it's just..." Piper pauses, shakes her head, smiling a little to herself. "The way you said that. I recognize a figure of authority when I see one."
For Alex, it's almost too much hearing that. And there is no preventing the grin already stretching on her face from shifting into a smirk.
It takes a few beats, but then Piper seems to visibly do a double take, no doubt finally realizing how that statement, in these circumstances and in such place, must have sounded like.
Her cheeks flare into a bright blush, and in front of it, Alex struggles to hold back the laugh that she can feel bubbling down in her chest.
"That is always good to know." It's what she says eventually in reassurance instead, getting rewarded by an even brighter shade of pink when she - unable to help herself - fixes her glasses and throws a little playful wink at the oh so prettily flustered blonde.
"But to answer your question," She also adds, not wanting to drag such a lovely display of embarrassment for too long - for the young woman's sake. "Yes, I co-own the place. And yes, I'm also the bossy one around here respect my own business partner," who is most likely taking advantage of her current assignment in the back to put aside some of the new equipment for... personal research. "Who is less on the bureaucratic, legal stuff." Is the acceptable alternative she comes up with instead. "But I got the feeling you already know of what I'm talking about." She concludes with a knowing, softer smile.
Thankfully, that seems to be enough to make Piper recover from her flustered state.
She snorts and rolls her eyes, mumbling an exasperated "I sure do" before taking another sip of her drink.
The tequila in there seems to be having its first effects, and even though it's too early for the alcohol to kick in, even just the taste of that refreshing new sip seems to be enough in helping her to relax. Some of the tension in her posture melts away from her shoulders as she half turns on her stool and just takes another moment to look around at the surroundings.
Gaze shifting from every corner as she compliments the place's traits. Seeming to appreciate the proper illumination to the bar, but that gets softer towards the dancers' stage, the comfortable-looking black leather couches, and even the volume of the music, loud enough to be heard, but not too much to not allow the patrons to carry a proper conversation. She seems to like the genre too, softer and infinitely more refined than the usual trashy, pumping music heard in some squalid strip club around the city.
"I like the atmosphere in here." It's what she says, nodding in approval after a thorough scan of the main two joined rooms visible from the bar. "It's elegant and dim, but not... secretive."
"We have nothing to hide." Alex simply states, quite matter of factly. "Although, for obvious reasons, not everything that we offer here can be displayed on the stage. In fact..." She halts herself, briefly chewing on the inner corner of her mouth as she appraises the woman in front of her, who is clearly struggling in between asking for more information and holding back her rampant curiosity, until at last she just decides to go ahead and offer the invitation she had in mind. "If you are interested, I could show you around."
She feels pretty confident in that offer, and yet, for a moment, in the few, short, and yet seemingly much longer couple of seconds that follow, Alex expects her to decline. Find an excuse of some kind. The way the young woman's back stiffens into that tighter posture again combined with the fidgeting fingers against the sweaty glass is proof enough of that.
But then, just a moment before Alex can take back the invitation, and before that uncomfortable feeling can have a chance to settle in her stomach and make her think that she might have overstepped with someone so new to all of this - that frantic movement of nervous fingers stops, just as the blonde brings the glass to her lips, steadily, taking the last sip left of the drink and straightening up, smiling, a bit shaky, but actually making the wall of nervousness crack enough to show the true eagerness that was at the source of that fidgeting.
Perhaps she wasn't expecting the invitation, but Alex might have misinterpreted that moment of hesitation and nervous, flaring curiosity for discomfort. And she sure is delightedly thrilled when the young woman answers with a fuller smile and a confident "I would love to."
. . .
It's not exactly wonder, but Alex can tell, as she leads them through the club, that the young woman seems at the very least impressed, especially by the unexpected dimensions of the club, as they navigate through it.
The hot tubs and Finnish sauna, as well as the massages rooms, are closed for the night, but Alex shows them to her anyway.
But it's when she leads her inside one of the free rooms- one of the private rooms meant for the private kind of entertainment, that Piper seems to lose all of the composure she had somehow regained after her slip back at the bar.
"So this is where you, uh..."
Make our business pleasure, Alex wants to quip.
"Entertain our contract costumers however they please." Is what she supplies instead, although still with a note of humor in her voice and in the amused, little, charming smirk that she flashes as the blonde steps further inside, with that obvious curiosity barely veiled by the contrasting, endearing tentativeness, even though the brightness in her clear blue eyes easily gives away her awe.
"All of our equipment is safely handled," Alex informs when Piper moves towards one of the shelves displaying a variety of toys. "We use hygienic precautions so that nothing has to be in direct contact, but we also thoroughly disinfect everything afterward anyway since all of the equipment is washable."
"You are quite equipped." Piper points out, looking indeed fairly impressed by all the... variety of specific items in the room.
Alex smirks.
"We are. We like to be prepared for whatever fantasy our clients want to satisfy. And as long as it is safe, sane and consensual, we do it. And of course," She adds, shifting into obviousness because maybe it is unnecessarily stressing such thing at this point, but she does it anyway. "As long as all the participants are adult women. That's the first rule here at the club."
Piper smiles a little to herself, answering distractedly with something that sounds like "I may have noticed" as she scans more attentively the simple, yet refinedly decored room, all red satin and decorative pillows, rendered even more elegant by the few spatters of gold of the baroque-like design on the walls. And when she inhales a bit more deeply, Alex has no doubt that she must have caught the faint smell of wax from the soothing, sweet vanilla, ginger and lavender scented candles mingled with the stronger, unmistakable tang of leather.
Piper moves closer to admire the assortment of a few insertable toys with an interesting, unique design neatly displayed on a second shelf, right beside the wall hooks on which are hung many other instruments meant to bring both pleasure and the most enjoyable kind of pain.
Her gaze seems to linger a beat longer on a riding crop, and she almost reaches out to touch it before tearing herself away from the temptation as if thinking that it may not be appropriate.
If Alex had to guess, she would say that despite the initial hesitation that she has noticed in Piper about seeing for herself one of the rooms where the main action takes place, she would say that the young woman seems maybe a bit... relieved, by the simplicity of the... furniture. At least that's what she gets when her whole posture relaxes even further at the sight of the large, comfortable canopy bed.
"I hope you weren't expecting a dungeon." Alex teases lightly. "We prefer to focus on the pleasuring part more than the rough, punishing one. Although we do offer that kind of service, too. But within much safer limits."
Her intention is not to get Piper flustered all over again with that remark, but she definitely doesn't mind the display either when she is once again rewarded with that delightful tinge of pink.
"No it's- Well, yes, I mean..." Piper stutters, pauses, admiring the structure of the bed and all the places where restraints can be hooked into, before glancing at red silk sheets, the soft-looking pillows, as if it's not the kind of furniture she would have expected to find. But, once more, her attention seems to be diverted with far more interest to the restraints ordinately lined up on the wall just beside the bed. From the simple ropes, to the smooth, more professional leather cuffs and the couple of different collars and leashes.
Piper swallows, visibly, diverting her gaze once more down to the large bed, and this time, despite the obvious contrast of emotions bubbling up inside her, she doesn't stumble over her own tongue when she speaks. "I have to admit that is much less intimidating and far cozier than I expected."
There is something somehow fascinating for Alex in admiring the curious young woman scan the room and every item in it, in hearing her voice the relief for the more welcoming... appearances. That look of veiled wonder on her face and the sparkle of intrigue in those clear blue eyes... The light in the room is dim, a soft reddish hue that casts the surrounding into an ambiance even more intriguing, but Alex can still spot the pretty tinge of pink that has gathered on Piper's cheeks and descended on her neck.
It's not discomfort. That sparkle in her eyes makes it impossible for Alex to think so, and to be proved ultimately right, that light blush of what is clearly a combination of contrasting emotions, is not strong enough to hold Piper back from asking what has been showing on her face for all this time.
The reason why she came at the club in the first place, despite it having been "a dare" as she said.
"So, uh..." She starts, a bit awkward, but so damn endearing in trying to regain her composure, that Alex has to suck her own lips into her mouth and briefly duck her head, fiddling with her glasses in order to suppress the smirk tugging at her lips before gazing back up at the flustered blonde, already predicting the question that is clearly about to come.
"Let's say that someone might be interested in... trying... one of the experiences that you offer here." She pauses, swallows once more, and then, looking more composed than she actually feels, she continues, trying so hard to sound casual when she finally asks, "How would the whole thing proceed then?"
Alex, for the second time in less than a minute, has to twists her mouth on the side to conceal the smile that was about to take over her whole face in front of such sight. Once more she has to fight the temptation to just take a moment and enjoy this wonderful display of contained shyness, beautifully contrasting eagerness and burning curiosity.
It's not the kind of mingled emotions she is used to see in her contract clients- which are usually so much more uninhibited and pretty much straightforward - and even if some might have been more hesitant at the beginning, no one has ever shown it so... adorably.
Somehow, she manages to keep herself together, definitely not wanting to make her guest feel uncomfortable, and providing her the most simple and honest answer of all.
"However you want." It's what she offers in reply, smiling reassuringly. "And I mean it. The client always decides the kind of service."
Relief immediately smooths out Piper's features as she visibly relaxes, shoulders unlocking as she releases a long silent exhale through her nose that has Alex think that she might have been holding her breath for the whole time. It only makes her smile stretch a bit further as she reaches into the inner pocket of her blazer.
"Here." She says, retrieving and extending to Piper her business card. "I know that for someone new to this whole world it is something to properly think through." She acknowledges with sincere understanding. "But, in case you decide you want to know more, this is my number. I can get you an appointment and we can talk about what you had in mind. Specifically, in details. Fantasies, limits... Anything you feel comfortable sharing and, most of all, possibly experiencing here."
It's simple and direct, equally professional and friendly, and while there are more things that Alex definitely needs to tell her about, things like medical clearance for a good heart, and blood tests results for health safety purposes, not to mention the different types of services and payment and legal contracts to stipulate, she doesn't want to overwhelm her right now. All those details, after all, she can already imagine that Piper, who just like her is apparently a businesswoman herself, might definitely suspect the existence of.
Piper takes the card, fingers thrumming with equal nervousness and that same undeniable thrill that has kept her buzzing with energy for the entire time, but her smile, when it tugs at her lips under that lovely blush, is real and unwavering. "Thank you." She says, sincerely and grateful. And Alex can't help but smile back. "You are welcome."
There are more questions in those clear big pools of blue. Alex can clearly see them shimmering when their gazes remain locked for a few more seconds, and while she may not be the kind of woman who likes to pry, she is oddly curious by the hesitant look on the blonde's face; by the way she bites down on her bottom lip as if refraining from making a possible request.
Alex is just about to encourage her when suddenly, a loud crash and a mumbled curse coming from outside makes them both startle.
"Son of a cow!" The voice, a way too familiar voice for Alex who barely refrains from groaning, reaches them into the room, coming from what seems to be just down the hallway, so brutally breaking the moment and the comfortable silence surrounding them.
Alex heaves a sigh and resists the temptation to roll her eyes, flashing the confused, startled blonde an apologetic smile. "Excuse me for a moment, Piper."
With that she walks back to the entrance, poking her head out of the door and...
Yep.
There she is.
Right down the hallway.
Her troublemaking partner. Holding a cardboard box of equipment and standing in front of a second one that has apparently slipped from her grip and spilled the contents all over the floor.
Good thing that all the rooms are still empty this early so no one else has to assist to such scene or get disturbed by what Nicky calls "used toys recycling" because "come on Vause, stuff is still good, and it's not like I can donate this to the orphans. Might as well keep it for... research and further testing."
Alex grimaces at that same old excuse.
"Everything all right back there, Nichols?" She asks, trying so hard to keep the exasperation out of her voice. And she succeeds. However, she can't do anything about that note of tiredness that seeps inevitably in her tone. She is anything but surprised by the display.
At the very least she manages to catch her friend by surprise, who startles up to attention. Eyes wide and that "oh shit" look on her face. It's almost enough to make Alex laugh actually. Well... Almost.
"Oh, hey Alex, yeah don't mind me" She reassures, dismissing her worries with a wave before placing the other box on the ground and bending, starting to pick up the items that have spilled out from the other box. "I was just doing some spring cleaning."
Apparently, way too curious to stay behind, Piper reaches her side and takes a step outside as well just as Nicky stands up from the floor and, after having moved a few strands of her from her face, those dark eyes zero immediately on the new presence by the door.
Nicky tilts her head to the side and squints to make sure she is seeing things right, and there is very little that Alex can do at this point. She is just going to have to endure what is probably going to be an endless string of insufferable teasing from her friend for having been caught with the same cute, young blonde she had noticed her staring at earlier.
For the moment, however, Alex can take the slow, smug grin that stretches on her partner's face.
"Oh, I'm sooo sorry. I didn't know you were busy." The smartass even pretends to apologize. Too bad that her shit-eating grin makes it sound like anything but sincere. "Don't worry about me, Vause. You keep doing whatever you were doing." The way she stressed that whatever part leaves not much to the imagination. And if not, the mischievous wink that follows certainly clears everything up for good.
Alex narrows her eyes, sending a warning glare that goes completely ignored as Nicky returns to the mess she's made. "If only I could," Alex mutters under her breath, shaking her head.
"Is everything okay?" Piper, still a bit - rightfully - confused, asks, waving and smiling back tentatively at the still smirking redhead kneeled down in the middle of the hallway, and yet, hearing her voice is enough to bring Alex's attention back to her from her unsuccessful task of silently reprimanding her partner from afar.
She sighs as she turns back to her... guest. Her best friend truly has the worst timing ever. Even when she is not actively interrupting anything in specific.
It doesn't make it any less annoying though.
"I'm sorry Piper." Alex apologizes again. "Business partner's shenanigans." She explains then. "I was starting to forget I was meant to babysit tonight!" That last part is said deliberately a little more loudly and directed outside the door, but not so loudly to disrupt the quietness of the hallway, just enough to have the short redheaded woman glare back at her before she retreats into the storage room in the back to retrieve who knows what else.
"I'm sure you know what it is like." Alex continues, flashing Piper a lopsided smile.
"Oh, I most certainly do." Piper reassures with a knowing little smile of her own, and, somehow, the sight of it, is enough to make Alex feel considerably less annoyed by the whole interruption thing.
Their gazes remain locked for a few more seconds, with no pressure or awkwardness. An oddly comfortable silence that no one should be able to feel so easily with someone they just met. And yet, it's undoubtedly there.
Alex could definitely manage to look into those compelling, deep blue pools for a few moments longer-
"Oh for the love of-"
-if only it wasn't for the new round of mumbled curses and the muffled sound of yet another box falling over back into the storage room, spilling - by the sound of it - much heavier content all over the floor for the second time, reminding Alex of the long chat she is about to have with her partner.
Piper chuckles when she rolls her eyes in exasperation.
"I really have to go." Alex says, reluctantly, and so very apologetic, because even the young woman seems to be a little disappointment - if not surprised - by that fact.
"Oh, of course. I think it's for the best if you still want to have an intact club by the end of the night." The blonde playfully replies, succeeding in stretching another smile on Alex's face.
"Let me walk you back to the bar." She offers as she closes and locks the door of the room they have just visited.
But Piper shakes her head. "No, it's okay, really." The young woman assures with a smile of her own. "I can get back on my own. But... Thank you."
And then, that smile turns softer, almost shy even, as blue eyes look up at her from beneath long eyelashes, and for a moment Alex is just unable to look away.
"My pleasure." She replies, and then, just as sincerely, like she hasn't been in a long time. "It was very nice meeting you, Piper. And I hope I'll hear from you, soon."
With another smile and before Piper can say anything more than a "Nice meeting you, too" Alex is turning around and heading down the hallway, towards the storage in back of the club, feeling quite ready to pretty much murder her troubling business partner for appropriating of work's used material, but mostly, her irritation has mainly been generated by the interruption with a possible... client.
Behind her, the young, blonde, slightly flustered woman, is still standing there, admiring her retreating form until she vanishes into the same room her partner has disappeared into.
And it's only then. Only when she steps out of sight, that blue eyes blink back into focus, shifting from the vacant hallway and returning to the card that she has been unconsciously twisting around between her fingers.
Alex Vause, it reads.
Piper traces the tasteful, graceful font used for the name with the pad of her thumb and admires the simple, yet elegant logo of the club placed right underneath.
A rose.
But not just any rose.
Of course not.
She can feel the blush coming back with a rush on her cheeks as well as she can feel the amused smile that curls up her lips.
Because that rose happens to be shaped so cleverly and beautifully in the form of something else, so exceptionally similar to another thing shaped just like a blossoming flower.
She makes her way back to the entrance of the club, and while she could go for another drink, especially another one of those margaritas, and considers doing so, there is this feeling, this fluttering heat pooled in her stomach and tingling a bit in her chest that makes her head outside instead, yearning for a sip of fresh air, for the coolness of the night on her heated cheeks, and for the general distraction of the city buzzing alive all around even at night. But even that is not enough to subdue that feeling that has pooled so warmly in her belly, or prevent her from smiling a little to herself, curious and intrigued, biting on her lower lip when she turns to take a look at the club, at the long line waiting outside, before pocketing the card safely in her coat.
Kinda wobbly in this style, but I'm slowly finding my balance, I think :D Anyway, there is something I forgot to mention in the AN above - something that doesn't have to do with this fic. I'm aware that the new season of the show is almost out, and I truly hate to be so repetitive every year especially since most of you guys have been very careful and patient and understanding with me about it. Still, a few people during the year have sent spoilers (probably unintentionally, and thankfully nothing major) despite the constant warnings I put in each story. I just wanted to remind you guys to please, do not mention in the comments the new season, anything about it, not even what's in the trailer, or send requests about it. I still have to finish the fifth season, that's right. I'm a bit of a sloth with the tv shows I love. So pretty please, let's just pretend that the new season is far, far away and we know nothing about what it's going to be like. Season six? Nope, I'm still in the bunker with Red tied up to a chair :P Anyway, back to the fic, this first chapter here is just an introduction, of course... but even in an AU I couldn't not have Vauseman already exchange lingering glances and smiles :P