Prompt: "Pull over. Let me drive for a while."
Pairing: Kotori/Umi
It was dark and raining. The road shone slick in the light of the streetlamps, puddles rippling as cars sped through. Kotori watched out the window as the shadowy forms of houses passed by, listening to the drumming of water against the hood of the car. Another jerky turn around the corner, and she shifted her gaze back to Umi.
"Pull over," she said. "Let me drive for a while."
Umi shook her head, blinking hard as she turned the wheel with white knuckled hands.
"I'm fine."
"You're exhausted. Let me drive, it's okay."
A silent refusal, and Kotori sighed. Umi was too stubborn sometimes. But the rain was coming down harder, the windshield wipers struggling to keep up, and Umi had been fighting sleep for too long. Kotori placed her hand over Umi's, feeling the slight shaking of her fingers.
"You need to rest. Let me drive, please?"
Umi gritted her teeth. But when she blinked the streetlamps seemed bright and swaying, and she knew she had reached her limits. With sagging shoulders and a sigh of defeat, Umi pulled over to the side of the road and sank back into her chair.
"Alright." She dragged her hands over her face, felt the heaviness of her eyes every time she blinked. "But only for a little bit, okay?"
"Okay," Kotori agreed, and watched as Umi fumbled for the umbrella. The rain grew deafening for the brief second the door was open, drops of water scattered across Umi's seat. A moment later and she was at Kotori's door, two hands tight on the umbrella to keep it from blowing away. Kotori stepped into the storm. It was cold, freezing her to the bone in seconds. The wind tugged at her hair and clothes, her feet soaked from the water sloshing about on the ground. She narrowed her eyes against the rain and pushed through the darkness, flinching as a car dashed past and sprayed water high in the air. Then she was inside, slamming the door shut and relishing in the sudden quietness the car provided.
She pulled slowly back onto the road, tires straining against the slick ground. Kotori drove carefully, smoothly, and Umi was asleep minutes later, lulled by the steady beating of the rain. Kotori glanced over at her and smiled as Umi's head drooped against the window.