Title: SO INVINCIBLE.
SKINS – AU – Emily and Naomi.
This is a sequel to Lost Inside A Pattern. Set several months after the story closed, things are changing for all the characters.
Adult rating – M.
Disclaimer: This story is not written for profit, all characters within the Skins world belong to Brian Elsley, Jamie Brittain and channel 4. I make no legal claim to them, I write only for entertainment purposes.
Anonymous reviews accepted with a hope everyone will maintain a sense of decorum in their critique.
- Corbeau's Alcove.
CHAPTER ONE.
She lit another smoke, the nicotine hitting her like a warm breeze, welcoming her into its embrace. She was waiting. She'd been waiting a full fucking hour, just over now, looking at her watch. Five cigarettes down. It was a cold, unwelcoming place, but she knew she had to be here, it was important. But fuck if it wasn't giving her the fucking willies.
"Can I help you?" A big burly man, probably in his early forties approached the frustrated Naomi, glaring at the pile of butt litter she was creating near her shoes.
"I'm waiting for someone," Naomi remarked, like it was obvious. Given she was standing in the small car park with a few other people doing the same, she didn't quite get why he was singling her out.
"You gonna pick those up?" He nodded to the smoked cigarettes, but it was more an order than a question. She knew he must have perfected that tone working in a prison, but she was undeterred by it.
"Sure," she lied, daring him to challenge her on it. He seemed to think it was a waste of time, turning to head inside, his keys jingling as he walked.
She was here to pick up Cook, though the longer she waited, the more concerned she became that he wasn't coming out. It had been three long years; she didn't like waiting any longer. JJ and Freddie had wanted to come, but Cook asked for her alone. She wondered about that, but knew Cook would have a reason, so they all accepted it.
So, she waited.
Emily had sent her a message late last night, wishing her luck, but the message only made her sad. Emily had moved to London, though they both tried to deny it, saying she was just maintaining a presence there while her father recovered from the car accident he had a week into the Bristol gyms opening. Rob was running across the road in London and was clipped by a car, breaking his leg and his wrist. The bone in his wrist had not set correctly, so it had meant an operation. Which meant the responsible Fitch - Emily, had moved in to help his recovery.
Naomi and Emily had had a fucking blazing row about it right after it happened, just a few weeks into the new stage of their relationship. Gina had left, the shed was being built, and Emily stayed at Naomi's every night except for Wednesday's because they both thought it felt too much like living together. It was a ridiculous idea to separate for one night a week, they always talked about regretting it, but neither suggested changing it. Now that Emily was in London and coming down every weekend, Naomi began counting those Wednesday's as missed opportunities to be together. She had told Emily as much, but it hadn't gone down well. They fought about everything, Emily was harsh and Naomi was sarcastic. It had been so horrible; they didn't speak for two days. No communication. Then Emily showed up and they fell into each other, saying they would not let distance conquer them.
But it didn't work. They fought over stupid fucking things whenever Emily was here; dirty dishes, toilet roll replacement, the noise of the builders. Naomi always found herself begging Emily not to go, Emily leaving in tears. Then they'd call each other hours later and apologise, promising it would be different the next time.
Emily had managed to get Katie to come to London, but she would always fuck off with some guy and leaving Emily with all the work. Naomi hated how Emily refused her help even when she admitted her father was too much for her in his current condition. He was a man who hated staying still, so he was a challenge. Naomi always suggested coming down Thursday and leaving Sunday given she had Friday's off and Freddie could work Saturday's on his own. But Emily never accepted it.
She was due to be staying with him for four months. Nearly two had gone, but they had been anything but fast. Naomi found herself getting used to the silence again, getting used to doing what she wanted whenever it fucking suited her. She tried fighting against it, knowing the time apart was only temporary and that Emily was returning. But it was becoming harder to remember that with every little fight they had.
"NAOMIKINS!"
Naomi's smile was as wide as she could make it, she ran towards the accent she loved so much, and pulled Cook to her, holding on tight. He was finally fucking with them again, he was here, and he felt real.
"Hey babe, if you had been this eager I would have scheduled a conjugal," Cook teased, wrapping his arms around the blonde just as tightly. It felt fucking good to be out. It felt even better to have Naomi welcome him so warmly.
"Fucking hell Cook, put it in ya pants," Naomi teased, breaking the embrace. She took a minute to look at him. He looked older. His hair was a little longer and messy, and he looked leaner. He had told everyone to stop coming to visit with six months to go, saying it would be release time before everyone knew, so it was pointless coming out all this way. Naomi knew better, she knew it was going to be the toughest six months of his life and he didn't want his friends to see him like that.
"Babe, after three years, it needs to get fucking wet big time," Cook grinned, and Naomi kissed him on the lips. His grin was in tact, he still had that cock-sure attitude.
"I've missed you," Naomi admitted, grabbing his two plastic bags.
"I've missed you too, babe." Cook took one last look at the shit hole he had been forced to call home, giving it two big one-finger salutes before getting in the car.
"Come on, let's go home," Naomi smiled as Cook turned on the radio. He looked relieved to be out of there, and she knew by the time they got back to Keith's, that look would be gone. He was Cook, after all.
"So come on babe, why you letting your bird get away with it?" Cook asked as Naomi told him the situation.
"Because I love her," Naomi replied. It had been her answer to it all from the beginning of Emily's move. Even when less and less of Emily's things remained at Naomi's, she still maintained it. Emily was moving away from her in every possible way, but she let her do it because she loved her.
Cook shook his head. His friend was well and truly fucked.
"She'll be back," Naomi knew it was true, but she wasn't sure what it all meant for their relationship.
"Naomi, you've got to get the fuck in there and tell her what you want. In prison you took what you fucking needed, you stood your fucking ground when challenged. It's the same out here, only maybe not as deadly," Cook smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"It's her birthday today," Naomi said quietly.
"Yeah? Think she'll be wearing her birthday suit?" Cook's eyebrows wiggled, causing Naomi to laugh.
"She's not coming, she can't make it," Naomi stopped laughing, knowing she had made her own choice in this situation too. Still, she had been very disappointed when Emily told her last night that she wasn't able to come down until Saturday evening.
"Well your Cookie is going to sort out this lezza mess, and all the other messes that have erupted since I got banged the fuck up," Cook smiled, confident things were going to be back to normal in no time.
Naomi just smiled in return. It felt good to have him back.
TBC.
Thank you for reading.