Disclaimer: I don't own Skins.
CHAPTER 1 (London and the freezing Bear)
Her head was throbbing. Pounding along with her heartbeat. She tried to block out the rough and carefree voices and the heavy air by closing her eyes shut and planting her palms tightly over her ears. It didn't help. Only made her other four senses run wild as her brain now focused on her twirling stomach and the sickening smell around her.
Outside the wind was blowing through the narrow streets of London, snow falling heavily on the ground as the first darkness of an early winter evening was creeping through the streets. Making her chest tighten to the feeling of lost freedom, lost air – it made her feel more claustrophobic.
She had luckily made it through the city gates before they closed down. She had been travelling in nearly four weeks now, sleeping under the stars near the campfire - build by her own cold shaky and tired hands. She had slept in her woollen clothes and skins and fur but as the weather hardened the garment didn't seem to be able to keep the bone creeping cold out and her body had been screaming for some proper food and sleep. So she'd agreed with her stomach to take a detour on her long way to Bristol and she had settled on the idea of a few nights rest in London.
Every bar she had passed on her slow walk through the narrow muddy streets of the inner east city where filled with soldiers, workers, traders, travellers and so on, yelling at each other just to get a word through. At last she decided to enter a pub where the lights seemed warm and fuzzy and the noise less tormenting.
So now she was sat in the corner of the dimly lit bar with a pint in hand and hiding herself under her big dark green cape with the big hood pulled over her blonde locks making shadows on her face.
The seats in the bar were mostly occupied by men. Smelly, big, chubby men that had eyed her up and down and then laughed thoroughly as she had entered the room shaking of the heavy snowflakes that had fallen on her shoulders and hood.
"Oj, Blondie have a seat over here! Make my day and wriggle that fine piece of arse for me. Let me help you out of that wet coat, yeah?" One of the men had said with a toothless grin plastered on his wrinkly bloodshot face as she had stepped further into the room and pulled her hood down to her shoulders.
Naomi had slowly walked towards him, stone face intact, seeing his grin getting bigger as she neared him only to stop abruptly in front of him, almost vomiting as she drew in his smell. His grin had dropped as she had drawn her knife from behind her wet cloak and the sharp blade had been held strongly against his throat as she spoke.
"You know, you shouldn't talk to people like that. Especially those you don't know… You might be making a mistake, saying the wrong things to the wrong people. My father surely would agree with me, don't you think?" Naomi kept her voice low and threatening. A trick her father had taught her. It was an easy way to appear calm, strong and most importantly intimidating without much effort.
The man had gulped and he had tried to keep his face stoic in order not to loose pride. But his shaky breath gave him away. Naomi knew exactly what those eyes were showing as they flickered confused between his mates and her piercing stare. She had seen that kind of emotion wash through thousands of eyes before. He was afraid.
"Erh, who's your father?" was all he managed to blurb out. Grinning nervously.
Naomi hated that she sometimes had to use her father's reputation in order to get the respect she deserved, but she saw it as a necessity in this more or less lawless world she lived in. All she wished for was to be left alone when she travelled around and by using her fathers name when she met trouble that was a possibility.
Her father – she was told - was a very feared Viking chief from the cold northern countries, he travelled around most the time, so Naomi had only met him five times in her life. But at these most memorable occasions when he had entered their home he had always filled the room with awestruck silence. Only her mother seemed to be indifferent and yet somehow happy by his presence and she always kept a loving smile and a friendly tone towards him as he bossed around the workers in the hut. A good father he was not.
He had taught her how to defend herself in this grim world, but he had never showed her the great affection she longed for. She had learned not to push it. Learned to live without it. He was aloof, respected and hated. She used to follow him around when he walked around the village talking, trading, threatening, but never did she speak to him without being spoken to first.
A fair amount of nasty rumours about him had been told throughout her childhood and quite frankly she didn't know which ones were true and which were not. But the one thing Naomi did remember about him was that he always looked at her with pride booming out of his ice blue eyes. The same eyes she kept seeing whenever she went down to the small village pound near the woods. The same eyes she saw whenever she stared at her own reflection. He would do anything to keep her safe, she was sure of that. His vengeance - should happen to her - would be merciless. She just hadn't seen him in four years now, so as fare as she knew she had to take care of herself.
"It shouldn't matter who my father is. You just keep your nasty hands to yourself or I'll chop off that little dick of yours. All right?" she said her voice dripping with anger.
The poor guy glanced down to his crouch and when looked up once again. He seemed genuinely confused until one of his mates poked him with an elbow in the side of his rips and whispered in his ear.
"I think she might be Campbell's daughter… Look. Her eyes." With that his mate went back to look at the hardwood table tapping his fingers nervously along the metal band of his ale filled cup.
The guy with the knife at his throat widened his eyes in horror as the words sank in.
"S'rry miss Campbell, I won't be bothering you no more. Promise." After a few shaky breaths the toothless guy also seemed to find the wooden table amazingly interesting.
With that Naomi turned around slowly, putting her knife back in its holder, with a proud scowl still in place knowing that the only way to be left alone in this crowded bar was to keep up the hard facade. Women wasn't easily respected around these parts, but somehow with just one look – in contrast to other women - she had mostly been able to keep the cheeky comments and the sexual offenders off her back.
After that Naomi had found a 'quiet' spot in the corner of the pub near the bar and without hesitation she had ordered their strongest beer not wanting to think of any possible consequences a light headed evening often brought with it.
The only two women that were wriggling around the crowded bar, were surely not there by choice but because they had to earn a living. They flirted shamelessly as they made their way around the many round wooden tables. The pair of them obviously knowing each other and sending knowing looks across the room as they twirled and flirted their way through the crowd of hungry men. One of them – the redhead - was dressed somewhat slutty and the other a stunning more subtle brunette seemed to have an immense hold of the men she graced with her attention.
As Naomi studied them the brunette caught her eye as she placed herself in the lap of a black bearded craftsman. Her piercing deep blue eyes holding her gaze, as she seemed to look right into her soul. This girl was surely beautiful with her brown wavy hair and long slender limps but her steely stare made Naomi uneasy. She didn't want the attention. Didn't need it.
Naomi snorted and shook her head as she tore her eyes away from the dark haired girl who were now smirking at her and Naomi went to look down her half empty beer instead. She felt sorry for women that would stoop so low and throw out their dignity for a penny. She would rather die than sell herself to these drunken bastards. But then again, Naomi was raised differently than most women. She was proud as her father.
The almost unbearable loud banter between the drunken guests had only increased as the amount of dark brown ale in the almost barrel-like cups where drifting freely over the bar counter in change of shillings. Naomi hadn't thought things through as she in her tired state emptied one pint after another. Her head was now spinning and she still had to ask the owner of the place if there were any free beds for her to sleep in during these next few cold nights.
She was about to leave her seat in her pursue of a nice comfy bed as the tall brunette slowly sad down beside her ordering a beer for herself before glancing up at her, a smirk still firmly placed on her lips. Before saying anything she placed a long slender hand on Naomi's thigh near her knee and gave her a wink. For the first time in many years a confused expression seemed to spread across Naomi's face but soon enough it was replaced with hardening threatening eyes as she stared back at the smirking mysterious girl.
"Don't do that." Naomi once again kept her voice low and threatening, but apparently it didn't have any effect on this stubborn girl. She just traced her hand slowly up and down Naomi's thigh still holding her gaze.
"Don't do what?" the girl asked flirtatious.
Anger was bubbling through Naomi's veins as she firmly gripped the girl's hand tossing it away from her thigh.
"That… Don't do that." The girl just chuckled as Naomi kept glaring at her with a confused but annoyed glare. She could easily deal with big ugly smelly and toothless men, but this girl she didn't know how to play. Naomi sighed. Shaking her head in order to gather her thoughts.
"If you ever touch me again I will not be held responsible for the consequences." Naomi's voice was hard and cold and her stare even more so. The girls smirk disappears slowly as she looked long and hard into the ice-blue orbs. Suddenly her smirk appeared again.
"I'm sorry. I'm just playing with you. You looked so lonely so I thought I would help by keeping you distracted, you know?" The brown haired girl emphasised the last word and supplied it with another eyewink.
"Yeah, well I don't need your help… or your company." Naomi growled she went back to look down her beer.
"If you say so." The girl answered "But you should know people say that I'm great company especially in the late hours. I'm Effy by the way." With that the girl once again placed her hand on Naomi's thigh giving it a gentle squeeze before standing up slowly walking back towards the round tables. Wriggling her ass, before looking over her shoulder, grinning widely at the blond girl sitting alone in the far end of the dim lit room.
Surely enough Naomi had perved far too long on this stunning figure as she had walked away and sadly she'd been caught. Naomi hated the thought that she now appeared to be a weak soul. Not only did this girl not take her threats seriously she also came out of their encounter on top. Now glowing and keeping her eyes firmly locked with Naomi's as she once again leaped back down in the lap of the black bearded craftsman sneaking her slender arms around his neck kissing him gently on his cheek. Naomi tore her eyes away shaking her head slightly, mumbling quiet curses to herself.
A woman had never in a flirtatious way approached her like that. And even though she knew any sexual encounters with the girl would never happen, she couldn't deny the tingling on the skin of her right thigh as the girl had left soft traces up and down her skin with her fingers.
"Fuck." she hissed, as she realised where her trail of thoughts were bringing her. Naomi had always spent her time alone, not caring for friendship or any other ship, for that matter. She liked being alone travelling around not depending on anyone, but herself. She stood up quickly walking towards the barman standing behind the counter. It seemed like they had a spare bed upstairs, quite cheap, really. She found a few coins in her small pouch and handed them to him. He looked at her questioningly with a cheeky grin determinedly planted on his face.
Normally women didn't travelled around by them selves, but once again she turned away walking toward the stairs with pride. As she reached the second floor she tiredly walked down the small corridor suddenly stopping outside a small wooden door. Loud noises drifted out of the room. Unmistakable noises. Shagging noises. She hated it. Couldn't really explain why, just did.
She walked on towards the door to the room where she was supposed to sleep and rested her hand on the knob when the door she previously had walked past slowly opened and a small girl with flaming red hair silently slipped out closing it carefully behind her. She looked quite similar to the slutty redhead downstairs but somehow totally different. The girl closed her eyes and sighed heavily while tightening the laces on the front of her dress. Naomi stood silently watching the girl. Couldn't keep her eyes from the small figure her eyes travelling up and down her body. And her face - Not really knowing why, but Naomi just couldn't tear her eyes of the girls face.
Suddenly her blue eyes met brown ones. The girl looked at her with a somewhat guilty sad expression and Naomi just stood there staring at her saying nothing. She seemed so lost that Naomi couldn't help but wanting to run to her and put her arms around her and tell her that everything would be all right. Naomi shamefully turned her head towards the door opened it and walked inside before slamming the door shut. As she stood inside her room she heard a gentle sound of feet patting along the aisle and down the stairs. Apparently the brown-eyed girl's night was far from over.
Naomi woke the next morning before dawn. She was used to get up early but today she was struggling to get out of bed. She felt her headache increase as she stood, putting on her woollen clothes. She tried to ignore her twirling stomach as she opened the door and walked down the small corridor.
She stopped outside the door wherefrom the small girl had appeared the night before. She heard nothing but heavy sleepy breathing. Naomi was about to walk further on when she noticed a small crack in the door and as she leaned in to look through it she held her breath. Inside she saw three small forms all cramped together in a small bed. The three women were sleeping holding each other tightly. Spooning. They were all facing towards the door. The slutty redhead nearest the window, her arms wrapped around the flirtatious Effy in the middle and the sad stunning brown-eyed redhead nearest the door, so Naomi could see her face - her angelic-like skin with red blushed cheeks. Her fingers were entwined with Effy's where their hands met around her stomach. The morning sun streaming through the small window making warm orange traces on the girls' exposed skin. It was a beautiful sight. They all seemed so calm, so innocent. It seemed as they where all relying on each other's presence somehow - that if one were lost they all were.
As Naomi stood there outside their room observing them thoroughly the redhead with the sad expression from yesterday suddenly snapped her eyes open and looked directly at her through the small crack. Naomi's eyes widened in horror and her face went deep red as she realized the embarrassing situation she now appeared to be in. She hurriedly spun around on her heels and practically stumbled downstairs.
She slammed the door open that let to the bar area and anxiously searched the still vomit smelling room for a place to sit hidden away from any unwelcoming distractions - a place where she wouldn't be bothered by random smelly men and more importantly wouldn't get noticed by the gorgeous redhead. Even though the sun had risen above the horizon the small room was almost crammed with people eating their food and drinking their water blended ale in order to leave the place with their stomachs full as they went out in the cold weather to go to work. Naomi went straight to the bar counter and waved her hand frantically to get the bartenders attention. The coy looking guy from yesterday whose face seemed to display a constant cheeky grin made his way over to her with a dirty looking twinkle in his eyes when he saw her.
"Oi, Blondie… What can a do for you? Desperately fancy a willywaggle with the Cookiemonster, eh? I got a generous package and the stories about my sexual activities can make you come in your pants… uh… kilt." He said with a wink.
Naomi scoffed "More like vomiting all over your pants, you mean? Keep at bay lad… I'm not interested." She couldn't help but feel slightly amused by his cheeky behaviour.
The guy tilted his head back as he let out a full-hearted laugh. "Aw. Give it a day or two and you will be gagging for some action with Little Cookie here, I promise." He said grabbing his crutch and shaking it in his hands. "The name is Cook, Cookie… or even Little Cook if you ever feel like holding me to that reputation of mine. Tell me luv'… What can I do for you?"
"You can start with calling me Naomi." She growled
"Sure will do, Blondie." he said letting out a howl.
Naomi sighed and changed her approach. She needed a favour from him and the only way that would happen was to play his game. She formed a small smile on her lips leaning over the counter so she could whisper in his ear.
"Look - Cook, was it? - I'm staying here for a few days and I really need some peace and quiet. Is there some place where I can sit and eat my breakfast without getting vomit and greasy looking germs probably other far more inappropriate things up under my fingernails and?"
He blinked a few times probably contemplating whether he could trust her or not. After a few seconds his grin appeared again.
"Sure thing, Naomikins… You can sit in the kitchen. There are usually no people at this hour. Normally we only let the staff sit there but I'll make an exception for you, luv. But Blondie, I'll only show you the way if you promise to join me for a beer tonight." He said waggling his eyebrows
Naomi sighed shaking her head slightly before answering "Alright… Show the way Cook… but no perving on the goodies, got it? Keep your dirty hands of the muff or I'll chop of Little Cookie and toss him out for the dogs to eat, alright?"
Cook let out another full-blown laugh. "Aw, you're funny Naomikins. I like you."
They went through the crowded bar to a small door in the back that apparently let to the kitchen.
"All set, Blondie… I'll leave you to it. And remember I'll see you at the bar tonight." Cook padded her back before he left closing the door behind him.
Naomi glanced around the cosy kitchen. The morning light streamed through the windows and was settling nicely on the wooden kitchen table and the warmth from the fireplace made the room seem most welcoming on this cold winter morning. Sultry
Naomi sat down at the big wooden table breaking of a chunk of bread before nipping at it absently while listening to the crackling sound from the fire flickering. She was all lost in her own thoughts then the door suddenly opened and Effy and the slutty looking redhead came through the door.
"Eff' I tell you… Jamie is well lush… you know that last guy I shagged last night? He's a proper man, yeah? He told me that I was his favourite and that he'd come back tonight and…" The redhead stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Naomi sitting at the table glancing nervously around the room for a way to escape.
"Who the fuck are you? Are you listening to our private conversation, you pervert?"
The girl suddenly snapped. Naomi blinked looking at Effy for help. But apparently Effy didn't feel like meddling because she just stood there smirking at the blonde and waited for a reaction. As the seconds ticked on Naomi confusion turned to anger.
"No, I'm fucking not listening… Why the hell would I listen in on the most stupid conversation ever which only have one purpose and that is to demolish my brain cells and leave me with a will to leave the face of this earth, eh? Beside Jamie is a mong with haemorrhoids. Didn't you notice the amount of times he kept itching his arse?"
That rant earned Naomi a light chuckle from Effy and a furious look from the redhead by her side. "Eff, what the fuck!? Do you know this girl?"
"Relax Katie… Let the poor girl of the hook, all right? She might be useful… One way or another." Effy said winking making her way slowly over to the seat beside the blonde.
Both Naomi and Katie looked at the brunette with a somewhat disgusted expression.
"What do you mean by that?" Naomi growled. She was tired of the relentless teasing demeanour this girl was practicing.
Effy moved closer to her and leaned in so her lips were just an inch from Naomi's ear.
"Oh, just that you might be just what we need, Naomi. You might be what we've waited for in a very very very long time." Naomi snapped her head to the side towards Effy as the brunette once again traced her fingernails gently up and down her thigh. Her eyes widened as she could feel all the blood from her cheeks heading south. She looked across the room towards Katie and saw that the small girl now had a well-knowing smirk placed firmly on her lips.
After that Naomi came to her senses. Effy was playing with her.
"Stop talking rubbish and stop fucking flirting with me." She growled and once again slapped the hand away from her thigh.
"Who said I was flirting with you?"
The brunette slowly licked her lips before planting a small peck on Naomi's cheek. Naomi was too stunned to react. Too dumbfounded to do anything but sit on her seat with her wide eyes silently pleading Katie for help. But Katie's smirk just grew wider while the warm sensation in the pit of Naomi's stomach grew uncontrollably warmer.
Naomi didn't get a chance to do push the brunette of her before the door opened once again - this time revealing a small barefoot frame patting into the kitchen. The redhead stopped abruptly as she noticed the scene unfolding in front of her. She locked eyes with Noami's ice blue orbs. Naomi felt like she looked like a deer caught in the headlight. The brown ones flashed a hint of disappointment for just a second before they grew strong again - her lips settling for the same smirk as the other redhead occupying the small now crowded kitchen.
Naomi swore heavily under her breath cursing Cook to death. He said the fucking kitchen would be unoccupied at this time. Right now Naomi felt like she was in the most vulnerable situation ever and she would rather sit in a crowd of fifty smelly men taking a dump than sit here between these three women. They made her far more uneasy and that made her confused. And if there was one thing Naomi didn't like it was the feeling of being confused and in over her head. Not being in control. She really had no idea how to play this and she couldn't figure out how to come out of this situation on top. That feeling made her angry. And she desperately pushed Effy of her. "Fucking stop - right now."
The small shy redheads grin grew wider as she made her way to the seat opposite Naomi and Effy.
"Who is this?" she said in a low husky voice… The sexiest thing Naomi had ever heard before.
"This is Naomi." Effy leaned across the table to whisper to the other redhead "Emily, she's here to save us." she clarified like it was an absolute truth earning a light chuckle from Emily. "Is that right? I wouldn't mind being saved." Emily's eyes bore deep into Naomi's while she draw out the last word. She saw a hint of desperate honesty in them and couldn't help but shudder. It was all too much this - hopelessness truthfulness and confusion. Naomi didn't know how to cope with that. So she cracked.
"What?! Noooo…! I'm bloody not here to save you. Do you always speak in fucking riddles? I really just want some peace and quiet. I can't fucking believe this place."
Effy just smirked while Emily looked curiously at the blonde – her glance once again shy and sad. The other redhead apparently named Katie came to sit on Naomi's other side crossing her legs flirtatious so that her dress rode up her white soft thighs. Naomi couldn't breath. She felt trapped surrounded by the three stunning girls who she had so indiscreetly spied on this morning. Her face reddened and she lowered her eyes and looked down studying the small cracks in the wooden table.
"Aw, Naomi you're blushing… Don't be scared. I don't bite… Much." Katie said leaning in so Naomi had a full view of the girl's cleavage.
"I'm not bloody scared! I just want to be alone, okay? Why is it that I can't seem to get through to you guys?! I'm not interested in either of you. Got it? Why would I be? You're fucking prostitutes. You have less bloody self-respect and integrity than the sodding homeless toothless chap that is taking a shit just around the corner of this building. I just want to eat my breakfast by myself… be by myself… do some thinking… by myself."
"Well Naomi you're welcome to have me for breakfast if you want?... By your self." Katie said still sitting way too close to the blonde. Katie giggled and Naomi's eyes hardened as she was on her way to have a bitch fit, flipping over the table, when Emily came to her rescue.
"Hey lay off her, all right? She obviously doesn't want our company… let's just go and leave her alone, okay? Why fucking bother with her anyway?! She's a fucking snob who has no clue of what it's like to be…" Emily stopped midsentence; her voice suddenly stern and determined, her shyness all gone. "Fuck this… she's not deserved any explanations. Let's just go."
She seemed mad at both her friends and the blonde. And Naomi couldn't help but feel somewhat remorseful and guilty. This girl with the honest eyes was now mad at her and her guilt made her feel confused. Though instead of reacting to these feelings, she did the only thing she knew how too. She pushed them further away with her bitchiness.
"Yes, just fuck off, all right?" She looked all of them in the eyes, hoping they would understand that she was dead serious. Her blue eyes locked with Emily's brown ones. Her face softened when she saw the miserable expression she was the cause of, but before she could react Emily had looked away pushed her self away from the table.
"Fuck all of you." She said quietly and marched out the kitchen.
"Eff, do you know what the fuck is up Emily's arse? We were just messing about." Katie said, all seductiveness gone from her voice.
"Yeah, she's just waiting to be saved. But it seems that her knight in shinning armour is a BIG pussy." Effy said giving the blonde a hard look and went to leave.
"What the hell are you talking about…? Eff, where are you going?! Fuck. Wait! Naomi is right. Fucking stop talking in bloody riddles!" Katie bolted to her feet and ran after Effy.
The slim brunette turned before she went out the door.
"See you tonight, Naomi. And please you can't make that armour shine anymore than it already does, so just leave it… fucking get off you high horse and remove that stick that's up your arse, all right?"
The door slammed shut behind them as they left leaving Naomi confused with her mouth agape. Trying to contemplate at what point of the day her life turned to absolute shit.
(Please bare with me as English is not my first language. I apologise for any mistakes - I know how annoying they can be. How do you btw get a beta reader?)