Disclaimer: I do not own Bubblegum Crisis 2040.

A/N: This story is rated for language, shoujo-ai, adult situations. Linna is a little intense in this chapter and may seem hard on Priss, but I am trying to explore my Priss/ Linna dynamic. There will be multi- chapters of this story. This story is set after BCG 2040. Please R&R.

"RUNNING BLIND"

Chapter One - "Cold As Ice"

Saturday, August 2041-Tokyo

The small apartment was quiet and dark except for the soft snoring of the female resident who lived there. She had fallen asleep in her work clothes and was slumped against her couch. Her head started to fall to the side and as she shifted, she accidentally leaned onto to the TV remote control, which turned the television on at the highest level of sound.

Linna yelped in shock as she jumped up and looked around. She fumbled for the TV remote and cut the television off. She looked over at the clock and saw it was one am. She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she checked her answering machine. There was only one message from Nene inviting her and Priss over to visit she and Mackie.

Linna went over to her cell phone and checked it, there was no message from Priss. The singer had promised her that she would see her tonight (which usually meant dinner and spending the night.) If this hadn't been happening so often, the brown haired woman might have worried that something had happened to her girlfriend. Instead she was getting used to this and knew the singer could take care of herself.

Suddenly, feeling a burst of anger at her girlfriend's obvious indifference, she grabbed the phone and dialed her number. After the tenth ring, she started to hang up, but someone finally answered.

"Yea..what ya want?" said some guy, who sounded like he was the drummer of Seikira.

"Is Priss there?" Linna asked icily.

Then there was some mumbled conversation and then silence until finally-

"Yes, this is Priss here reporting for duty! Who's this?" she slurred, not even recognizing her girlfriend's voice.

Linna lost her temper. "What the hell is this? This is your girlfriend, remember me? I thought we had a date for tonight! You could have at least called me if you couldn't make it!" she yelled into the phone, not caring if she woke up the neighbors.

The singer just laughed at her."God, I'm sorry! I just lost track of time. The guys and I just decided to have a little drink after the show tonight! Don't be such a bitch, ok?" Priss said sarcastically.

Linna didn't think her girlfriend felt sorry at all. She was really tired of her attitude. The brown haired woman just sputtered out "Piss off, Priscilla!" and slammed the phone down. She began shaking so bad that she fell back against her couch and started to cry. She thought that the singer loved her, but because of her girlfriends actions over the past month, she started to question all her choices in her life. She still wasn't fitting in and she felt like giving up on her relationship. But she had never been one to give up before. Until recently...

Linna wasn't sure when things started to change. It was little things like Priss not wanting to cuddle as much as she did. She knew the singer wasn't into cuddling much, but after awhile that had changed. She cherished their times in bed together, the way they would make love together. It was always so intense and passionate.

She loved when Priss would hold her hand and of the protective way she would put her arm around her made her feel safe, as they walked the Sodo district. She was proud to be with the singer even if sometimes someone might look at them funny, or call them hateful names, but that didn't happen much because her girlfriend looked tough and intimidating.

Linna always told her how much she loved her. At first, the singer responded the same way. Now only after an intense lovemaking session would she say it back.The sex that they always had now began to taper off. Either Priss was tired, not in the mood or too drunk after partying with her band. They hadn't had any sex in almost three weeks and she had hoped that maybe tonight would be the night.

She remembered after the battle with Galatia after she and Nene were rescued off that island and came back to Tokyo. Linna was heartbroken when Sylia told her that Priss had won the battle, but no one knew if she was alive or not. It was a rough time for the singer's friends. She could barely pass Leon McNichol on the street without seeing the sadness in his face. He always asked if she knew anything about her. But she knew nothing...

About a month later, Sylia received a call from Africa, where it turned out the singer had crashed. She had been badly hurt, but had been helped by some tribesman who thought she was some sort of Goddess from above.

When Priss returned home, all her friends were overjoyed. She wasn't that different, but she was fragile and translucent, like she would break if she was held too tightly. She slowly recovered from all that happened to her but never talked about it. She also avoided motorcycles for a short time.

Linna knew that the singer was aware of the feelings that she had towards her, but the brown haired woman decided she wasn't going to pursue her any longer. She accepted that the singer just liked her as a friend and figured Leon and Priss would begin to date. She was just glad she was alive and that made her happy enough. So she pulled away from her friends and just concentrated on her job instead.

It was easier to stay away from the others because Sylia had disbanded the Knight Sabers, after Mason, Genom and Galatia had been eliminated as a threat- as far as they knew. There wasn't many boomers left and there was hardly ever any problems. The AD police still was semi-active and if there was problems, they dealt with it.

Sylia had been through enough herself and she and Nigel got married. Their ex-leader moved back to the city and reopened The Silky Doll. Mackey could be close to Nene without a long commute and their ex-leader was still close to her old employees too.

Linna missed being a Knight Saber even though she had almost died many times, she longed for her hard suit again. She also missed Priss and the intense friendship they had together. Around this time, she thought about leaving and moving back home or finding a job in another city.

Her friends and job were here, but she felt empty inside...

Around this time, Priss started coming by to see Linna a lot. She'd be there waiting for her as she got off work or drop by unexpectedly at her apartment. She'd call her on the phone sometimes. The brown haired woman was confused but elated at her friend's behavior. She had never made an effort like this before. Priss still wasn't a big talker but they begun to hang out together, as they enjoyed each other's company. One night she showed up late on a Friday night, red roses in hand at Linna's apartment door.

As the brown haired women put the roses into a vase and turned back around- Priss was there right behind her...

"Linna...please don't get offended but..." she whispered, then the singer's lips were on hers, softly kissing her. She had wanted this for so long, but why now? She gently broke the kiss and backed away from Priss.

"Uh.. sorry! I just wanted to kiss you..." the singer said awkwardly, as her face turned red and she turned around to leave. Linna put a hand on her arm to stop her from rushing away.

"Look, that was a really nice kiss and if that had happened a year ago, I would have been so happy. But I'm confused, Priss. I thought you were with Leon?" Linna asked, as she looked up at the singer searchingly.

"Um, Linna..I have never been one to talk about my past. I grew up on the streets and had to put up with a lot of bad things. There was this one cop who helped me out and found me somewhere safe to stay. He was the first person after my parents that looked after me, then later he was killed by a boomer." the singer responded sadly. "Leon reminds me of him, and even though I had feelings for someone else, I just couldn't brush McNichol off."

"Are you in love with him?" she asked seriously.

"No! I told him a couple a weeks ago that it would never work between us. I was going to tell you sooner but it seems you were always too busy avoiding me." the singer smirked, raising her eyebrow at her.

"Who was the person you had feelings for before? Was it Leon or Nigel?" Linna asked, intrigued.

"Sylia would have your head if she heard that!" Priss laughed. "No, I only liked Nigel in a platonic way- we just knew so much about bikes."

Linna felt her heart start to pound wildly, as she asked."Was it me? Did you have feelings for me?"

Priss slowly leaned over her until her back hit the kitchen wall. "Hell yes, it was you! Why do you think I almost ran you over that day? I was too busy looking at your sexy ass than at the road." she laughed.

Then she put her hands against the wall, on either side of Linna's face and stared at her with her intense eyes. "You were so defiant that day as you slid down that pole. You kept following me so intently. You never gave up, did you? I was trying to deny you, but I am a bisexual and I would've turned completely lesbian for you. I was scared that I wasn't good enough for you, and when you joined the Knight Sabers, I was afraid you might get killed and that I'd lose you- so I backed off."the singer explained seriously.

Linna's heart was pounding in her chest( If only she'd known...).Priss was still looking at her with such intensity and lips were so close. "Does the offer still stand?" she asked quietly. "Would you still turn lesbian for me?"

"I'd thought you'd never ask." Priss said, as she moved to kiss and embrace her.

(Me either...) Linna thought happily, as she melted into Priss's arms.

And so it began...

------

Sunday morning- 11:00 am- Linna's apt

Linna ignored the incessant ringing of her door bell and banging on her door. She had locked all the deadbolts so Priss couldn't use her key that she had given her. She could hear the singer yelling at her to let her in but she didn't want to. She didn't want to even look at her face or hear her lame excuses. She had been pushed too far this time.

Priss had called her back last night and foolishly, Linna answered the phone. She listened as the drunk singer bitched at her for her attitude.

"Look Priss, you have lost any passion you had for me! I don't want to become just a roommate who you sleep with once in a while! You never wanted to buy rings or symbolize our relationship in any way! You are cold, withdrawn and I can't remember the last time you said you loved me! Is it because I'm not a guy, not Leon? I think you cared about him more than you want to admit, but I can't live like this anymore! I need a loving relationship." Linna told her, then started to cry.

"No, Linna, that's not true! It's me, I have just been depressed ever since Chad died...I just can't believe he's gone." her girlfriend began to explain to her. Linna sighed to herself...

She was beginning to think that Chad and Priss had been lovers. She even told the singer that before but she had told her that he had been gay. But he had died months ago. Linna knew that she should have felt more sympathy about this.

Linna had finally told her there was nothing left to say and hung up on her. This time she turned off her cell and cut the ringer off her other phone. Finally she feel asleep, until the singer showed up and began to bang yell at her door.

Now she just had to wait until Priss got tired and left. She hoped that the singer would not involve Sylia or Nene. Linna had a lot to do before she left town. Her mind was made up and the spell Priss used to have on her finally seemed broken at last.

She picked up the phone and dialed.

"Mom, It's me Linna. I'm coming home".

Chapter 2 - "The Sounds of Silence"

A/N- I have went in and revised this chapter to try to make it easier to read. Please review...please?