A prompt fill for ForeverDemena, who PM'd me this prompt: Rachel has just gotten out of a very abusive relationship with Finn and Quinn helps her get through the nightmares/anxiety/aftermath of it. Forgive me if it wasn't what you wanted, but I tried.
Rachel always believed that the moon was a female entity, the way it held a luminescent glow above everything beneath it. The soothing silver beam was as good as a mother's touch, but what would she know about that? She has two dads—who she loves as much as singing—who cared for her and hugged her when school became too exhausting. But when she and Finn Hudson started dating, Rachel turned to him for comfort.
But she can't do that anymore. She left him, and Rachel thought it would leave a crater in her heart, but it didn't. She was relieved, beyond everything else, that she was rid of him.
And yet, as soon as the moon made its nightly appearance, Rachel is submerged into the memory of Finn. Finn and his taunts. Finn and his relentless pushing for sex, not wanting to wait just because he was being pressured to snag the Head Gleek's cherry. She shuddered at it all, pulling her legs closer to her chest to keep the warmth of her body that was slowly dissipating.
They were in New York. For Nationals. Rachel couldn't believe it. New York! The concrete jungle of her future; the land where her dreams will come true! But it all didn't matter. Not when Finn Hudson still loomed around her headspace, eating away at her insides like some parasite that no antibiotic can defeat.
Rachel huffed and sat up, careful not to rouse the girl beside her to wake. She was in the shared hotel room with the Glee girls who were sprawled everywhere. Tina was lying down beside her, so Rachel slowly threw her legs off the bed to head to the washroom, when her lungs constricted at the sight before her.
Quinn Fabray was curled into the closest arm chair. The slivery light peeked its way through the crystal panes, setting an almost melancholic glow against her ashen skin. 'Prettiest girl I've ever met, indeed…' Rachel thought, before padding her way to the washroom. She clutched at the porcelain sink; the cool contrast of the basin to her heated flesh was terrifying. Everything was terrifying, especially at night.
It was during nights that Finn would hurt her. With words, and with his actions.
A sob escaped her throat as images conjured themselves into her brain. Rachel was immediately sent back into a double helix of darkness. Finn was immediately behind her, and Rachel couldn't—for the life of her—figure out whether he was real or just a ghost in her head.
"Well, well…" Finn spat, his usual boyish grin was replaced with a malicious smirk. Curved and dirty, it spoke of his vile intentions. He took a sluggish step towards Rachel. "You and I are alone now, Rachel." His hands flew to the front of his pants as he began to massage his crotch. "Come here, babe. I'll show you what I can do."
Rachel couldn't make a sound. Her throat was constricted, and the only fleeting thought in her mind was 'I don't know if I could be able to sing like this' when Finn yanked her by the wrist, pushed her to her knees and shoved his hips to her face. "No, please, no…" She gritted out, the pain from her fall to her bony knees against the cold floor stung. "Please Finn, don't!"
"Hush," he hissed, slapping Rachel hard across her face. "You don't want the stupid bitches to wake up." Finn scoffed and gripped each side of the singer's head and he started to thrust. "It's not like they'll care anyway. They don't even like you. They just pretend to be nice so you'll stick around."
Rachel fought Finn's tight grasp on her, but he only shoved her to the growing bulge in his pants. "Stop moving!"
"Mmph—!" Tears racked Rachel's shoulders as Finn drew back to unzip his jeans. This shouldn't be happening… This can't be happening! His penis sprang out and he pinched her nose to cut off her air circulation, forcing her to open her mouth. But no, Rachel fought. She didn't breathe, didn't open her mouth. The voice of Finn and his insults became distant as Rachel welcomed the haze that shot her out of the spiral of Finn and his destructive actions.
"NO!" Rachel shrieked, her eyes splitting open, only to be closed again. It was still dark, and she didn't want to open her eyes to truly see the demon that haunted her to the bone. But the touch against her arm… It was soft. Gentle, even.
"Rachel," the voice was dulcet and lukewarm, like a cup of Earl Grey in the morning. There was only one person who reminds her of tea whenever she heard their voice, and they were with the sobbing girl on the cold bathroom floor. "Rachel, please open your eyes.
"I-I can't…" she whispered. "Q-Quinn… He's—"
"Shh," the blonde girl hummed. Her hands grazed the length of Rachel's arm, stopping to gather her palm in hers. "I want you to try and stand up for me, okay?" Rachel nodded, clenching her fingers around Quinn's. "Slowly now…"
Rachel had yet to open her eyes, but allowed Quinn to pull her up to her feet. She leaned in against the warmth, her arms hooked around a slender neck as she was led out of the bathroom. Only then did she open her eyes.
It was still dark, the moon still pooled on the armchair that Quinn slept in. The blonde girl led Rachel to the bed, setting her down gently that Rachel wasn't aware that she was already sitting. Quinn pulled the covers back, fluffed up the pillow and tipped Rachel by the shoulders, her forearm against the back of the singer's neck. When Rachel struggled, Quinn hummed a soft tune, serving to placate the girl.
"You're okay," Quinn whispered, tucking the ends of the covers around Rachel. She reached up, causing Rachel to flinch, but the sting of a slap never came. Instead, it was the methodical brushing of fingers through her hair, as it was swept away from her eyelids. Rachel couldn't breathe, but it wasn't because Finn was above her, moving roughly and hurting every nerve ending. No, it was because of the care Quinn seemed to have, so imbued in her touch that Rachel felt tears in some faraway place in her eyes.
"No one will hurt you, and I won't ask until you're ready." It was a gentle promise, like a sonata, lit to life by the glow from the moon that seemed to emanate off of Quinn's skin. Fingertips still stroked her forehead. "I'll keep you safe. For now, go to sleep."
And she did. With no trouble and the touch against her eyelids, her forehead, her eyebrows and her eyelashes, Rachel's body melded into the bed as sleep replaced anguish and warmth replaced fear.
/
Waking up was never a chore for Rachel, and today was no exception. Her eyes shot open and she was ready to explore the city and write songs about how much she loves it. She kicked off the blankets and was about to head to the bathroom when Quinn stepped out of it, clothes on and a towel around her neck.
Rachel froze. She remembered her dream last night, how Quinn—Quinn Fabray, mind you!—came to her rescue when she was about to be attacked in her dreams by Finn. It was absurd, not the part about Finn, but Quinn, of all people, sweeping in with her warmth and soothing tones that put Rachel into sleep. Quinn kept drying her hair, while looking at Rachel.
As if nothing happened.
"Morning," the blonde greeted, stepping out of Rachel's way as she continued drying her head. "Shower's free if you want it. And Mr. Schue said to meet up at the lobby at one."
"Okay," Rachel replied, her voice wasn't its usual, chipper decibel, and this caused Quinn to spin around to stare at the brunette, who stared right back.
"Where are the others?" Rachel attempted to lighten the atmosphere as it steadily compressed them together.
"They all went out to explore New York."
"Why aren't you with them?"
Quinn's face hardened, and Rachel took a step back. "Sorry, you don't have to answer any of my questions…"
"I didn't want to be with them." Quinn said anyway. "Hurry up so we can get some food. I'm starving."
It wasn't much, but it was everything Rachel needed. Those unspoken words, that as soon as she closed the heavy white door of the bathroom, someone was out there, waiting for her to come out and join her for whatever inane thing they wished to do.
That's when Rachel knew that something did happen, and it was no dream.
/
Quinn and Rachel stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, together. That word itself; a word that symbolized being 'not alone' was so overwhelming for Rachel. She felt Quinn's body heat radiating off of her as they walked in sync towards the continental breakfast area. Quinn handed her a plate and a fork, before getting one for herself.
Rachel swallowed down the anxiety that welled inside of her. The tiniest things were so mind-blowing; she didn't know what to do with herself. She grew up with this twisted ideal that Grand Romantic Gestures were the way to go. But alas, here she was, feeling all tingly when Quinn's hand rested against the small of her back to led her to the bowl of iced fresh fruit.
"I highly doubt that the pancakes are vegan," Quinn said as she stabbed two and put it on her plate, slathered it with syrup, and topped it with bacon. "Do you want me to ask the staff if they could make some for you?"
"No, it's perfectly fine." Rachel replied softly. "I'm not in a mood to eat much anyway."
"Rachel," Quinn said in an almost warning tone. "You need to eat. You've been losing weight and that's not a good thing."
"Didn't you used to starve yourself because Coach Sylvester told you to?" Rachel snipped.
"Yes, but now I don't do that anymore." Quinn said slowly. Her plate was full and she frowned at the stray pieces of honeydew and strawberries on Rachel's plate. "Don't make me force feed you. You know I will."
Rachel thought she only imagined the concern that lined Quinn's reprimands, but upon seeing the intent gaze in the blonde's hazel eyes, she knew. She just… She just did. And it was disconcerting, because Rachel Berry maybe psychic, but that didn't fully apply with Quinn Fabray.
"Fine," Rachel huffed as she filled her plate with more fruits. "Happy, mother?"
"Not quite. I need you to put those in your mouth, chew, and swallow."
They sat on the island tables, perched by the high bar stools. Quinn giggled when Rachel struggled to get up; the support ring around the bottom of the chair wasn't enough to lift her butt up to the cushion itself. Quinn rose up from her seat, slipped her hands between Rachel's armpits and lifted her up with such ease, causing Rachel to squeak.
"Quinn! That was completely unnecessary! I was managing rather well on my own!"
The blonde said nothing. Instead she laughed, shook her head, and began eating her breakfast. Rachel gawked at her, affronted, before pouting at her fruits. She stabbed them one by one and shoved them in her mouth. She was pleased to say that the succulent fruits tickled her tongue, causing a wide smile to grace her lips.
"You better hurry up," Quinn said after a bout of silence passed them as they ate. "I'm taking you somewhere."
"Where would that be?" Rachel asked, genuinely curious to the blonde's plans. "I-it's not in some forsaken alley so you could attack me, is it?"
Quinn grinned and reached for a napkin. She wiped down the fruit nectar from the corner of Rachel's lips and shrugged. "Seriously Berry, your paranoia. We need to work on that."
She took both of her empty plates to dump them in the used basin to be carried away by the concierge. Reaching out her hand for Rachel to take, the short brunette leapt off the high stool, anticipation burning in her chest. It's not every day that she was able to spend a few hours in a, New York City, and b, with Quinn Fabray.
Their interlocked fingers looked so contrasting. Tanned arms and fingers wrapped around porcelain skin. But it didn't feel so foreign. Granted, it was new, but it wasn't unwelcome. It was a change that Rachel was willing to take, if it meant being around the newfound comfort that Quinn could provide. It was ironic, but the good kind.
/
Rachel had been to New York in the past, but it was way back when she was just a child, unable to go to places on her own. She remembered gripping her fathers' hands in her tiny ones, afraid to get lost in the middle of the bustling streets filled with fast-walking people with places to be. No matter how hard she tried, her legs couldn't keep up, so her daddy, Leroy, lifted her up against his shoulders so she could see the world beyond.
Now, her legs still couldn't quite keep up with Quinn's long gait. The blonde's clasp around her hands never lessened. She led Rachel out of the subway, up the stairs and into the light.
Of Broadway.
"I know it's not as pretty in the morning as it is at night," Rachel heard Quinn vaguely say. "But we have curfew and Mr. Schue doesn't want us going anywhere past the hotel at night so I thought we could…" Quinn tugged at their linked hands and Rachel snapped out of her marvel-induced gaze to stare at Quinn, who looked embarrassed now. "…pretend, for a while."
"Pretend?" Rachel asked. "Pretend about what?"
Quinn led her to the front of Gershwin Theatre, behind a navy blue pillar that displayed a Wicked poster. "I want to pretend we're in the future. You and I, years out of high school." She made a gesture towards the height of the theatre and smiled. "You're doing another Wicked revival as Elphaba, and I…" Quinn swallowed and looked at Rachel's eyes. "I'm here. To visit."
"Close your eyes," Quinn whispered, her breath hitting Rachel's cheeks as her eyes fluttered to a close. "Tell me what you see."
"I… see you." Rachel smiled her lips quirking up. "You look tired from working, but you were smiling. You look perfect, like you always do."
Quinn grip tightened. "What else?"
"I run towards you, and you pull me into a hug." With Rachel's eyes still closed, Quinn pulled her to her body and she rested her chin against the brunette's shoulder. "It's as if we haven't seen each other in years, when we actually just saw each other that morning."
"Yeah?" Quinn chuckled, pulling away slightly. Rachel's eyes were open now, with tears that she so wanted to shed, but not at that moment. At that current graph in the time-space, she was happy. "Are you happy, Rach?"
"Now?" Rachel whimpered. She relinquished her hands off Quinn's to ball her fists around the back of Quinn's shirt. "Yes."
"What about then? Are you happy? Are we happy?"
"Yes," Rachel whispered, her lips dug into Quinn's neck as a tear slipped out of her vision, pooling against the pale neck of the girl in her arms. "We were infinite."
/
They had lunch at around twelve after they walked around the block, simply talking about things. It scared Rachel, at how easy it was to be around Quinn, the girl who hated her and stepped out of her way to make the brunette feel horrible. But that Quinn was nowhere in sight. And this one was quite a lovely change.
"I never meant those things," Quinn said as they walked back to the hotel, hand in hand. "I know that I hurt you, but I just really want to make it up to you now."
"This is a great start," Rachel replied, smiling at the tall blonde who replicated the smile on her own lips. "But once we go in there," she motioned at the hotel that towered before them. "Will things go back to normal?"
"I don't know what you mean by 'normal'," The hazel-eyed girl teased, bumping her hips with the brunette. "Whatever you want, Rachel."
"I want you to hold my hand," the usually voracious diva said meekly. "But I'm afraid what Santana would say about you. You were just patching things up with her. I don't want to ruin your friendship because I can see how much you missed them."
"Santana would understand," Quinn said with a shrug. Rachel stared at her, thinking about the vague response. "Understand what, exactly?"
"Oh, just… Stuff." The blonde grinned and pulled Rachel towards the hotel. "Let's go. I don't want to be the cause of your late attendance."
Walking in hand in hand was enough for most of the Glee club to gawk at the pair who just entered. Even Mr. Schue, who constantly promoted unity between the members, looked the most shocked out of them all. Rachel and Quinn plopped down on the sofa beside Brittany, who was one of the few people who weren't staring as if they grew welts on their faces overnight.
"Umm," Puck craned his neck to glance at the two. "Is it just me or those two are sort of chummy now?"
"I wonder why," Kurt hummed with a small smile directed towards Rachel. He was not malicious, and Rachel was glad. "Can we get on with the meeting, please? I want to explore New York more, if you don't mind."
"O-oh, right!" Mr. Schue cleared his throat and clapped his hands. "I really need you guys to gear up and start writing those songs for Nationals! We still need to practice you know!"
"What about My Cup?" Brittany asked.
"Err… That's not exactly the type of song we're looking for, Brittany." Mr. Schue said with a shrug. So, would you like to pair up and work on a ballad and a group number? Deadline is tomorrow, same time, you guys!"
"Rach—"
"Quinn, would you—?"
"Love to, Rach." Quinn grinned, throwing her arm around Rachel's neck and pulling her close. Rachel didn't dare to look back on Finn, who was surely fuming at the pair before him.
"Hey Quinn, I was gonna ask Rachel to pair up!" Finn scowled.
"Well," Quinn drawled with her arm still around Rachel. "She asked me, and I agreed."
"Is that true?" Finn demanded, as he loomed above Rachel. She shrunk into a compacted version of herself, as her knees began to quiver. Finn's tone was so familiar, so impatient and so angry that she felt the first signs of an anxiety attack bursting through her chest, expanding throughout her whole body. Her lungs constricted, and her breathing became shallow.
"Rachel, are you okay?" Quinn asked sharply, her focus directed towards Rachel. The rest of the Glee club glanced and began to walk towards them, but the sharp order from the ex-Head Cheerio drew them back. "Give her some air!"
Finn ignored the blonde and reached for Rachel's arm. "Come on Rachel, pair up with me instead!" Rachel flinched and tried so hard to curl into herself. Quinn noticed this, and she stood up and shoved Finn off of the brunette. "Hey!"
"Back the fuck off, Hudson, or I'll make you." She hissed.
Finn took a furtive step back, his scowl never leaving his face, crumpling it as if he ate something sour. "You'll pay for this."
He said it to no one in particular but Rachel knew it was directed to her. It didn't matter if Finn was looking at Quinn or Quinn was glaring back at him. She knew his malice and anger would be focused on her tonight, in her dreams that don't feel like dreams—only reality.
Puck and Sam clapped Finn on the back as they moved him away from the two girls. As soon as Finn's back was turned, Quinn knelt before Rachel and drew hypnotic circles on the girl's bare knee. "Rach, it's okay. He's not here anymore."
"Uh, the fuck is going on?" Santana demanded, glaring at Rachel, then at Quinn. "We leave you this morning and suddenly you're buddies with her? What, did she drug you or charm you with her fantastic troll powers?"
Quinn ignored her. She gently pried Rachel's arms around herself, and she turned around, wrapping the brunette's arms around her neck. She hoisted Rachel against her back and walked away, muttering comforts to Rachel, who melted into the warmth of the ex-cheerleader's rippling back. Tangerines and cologne was oddly soothing for the singer, but she supposed if it was only Quinn.
Up the elevator they went, and into their room. Quinn bolted the door and carried Rachel to the bed. She tried to pry the girl's arms off of her but it only tightened, afraid of the security that would surely seep out as soon as Quinn's arms left her perimeter.
"I'm not going anywhere. Let me turn around so I can hug you better, okay?" Rachel gave a small nod. Quinn took off their shoes and slowly turned around to have Rachel crashing into her.
"Rachel, you need to tell me what happened between you and Finn." Quinn said in a low whisper, but the brunette only squirmed and shook her head. The girl before her sighed but let the matter drop. Instead, the hypnotic circles appeared again, and Rachel drooped into a restless nap.
/
Rachel woke up; her eyes were red and tired—to the sound of Santana and Quinn mumbling in the far corner of the room. It was only the four of them—Brittany, Santana, Quinn and Rachel—in the hotel room. Brittany sat beside Rachel, playing with the loose strands of her brown hair that were splayed all over the pillow. Rachel perched herself up by her elbows and watched the two ex-cheerleaders in front of her argue quietly.
"You never liked the elf before, what changed?" Santana demanded; her tone was raspy and low. "Yesterday you were complaining how she had Finn and you didn't. Now you're defending her against the treant? Make up your mind, Q!"
"I have," Quinn said, eyeing Rachel with a small smile. "I'm tired of fighting over impermanent stuff with her. Finn? Really? Of all the things to fight about, we have to fight over him? We both know he's a moron. I'm just really bored of fighting over stupid things, you know?"
"And being friends with her will solve this?" Santana hissed. "Q, she's insane!"
The blonde laughed and shrugged. "Maybe I could use the crazy."
"Nope, you definitely don't.' Santana shook her head. "You have more than enough to go around. Twice. But whatevs," she ruffled Quinn's blonde hair. "Whatever floats your boat. Come on, B. Let's leave these two to get their mack on."
"Have fun, Q!" Brittany giggled, leaping up towards Santana. "I can tell Rachel's good at it. Tell me how she tastes, okay?"
"I will?" Quinn smirked at the blush on Rachel's cheeks. As soon as the pair left, she took Brittany's previous spot and pulled Rachel's back to her chest. "How'd you sleep?"
"Decent, I s'ppose." Rachel answered, resting her head against the crook of Quinn's neck. She sighed, hoping that her getting used to this was okay, that it would actually last, unlike the comfort that conceived itself when she was with Finn. "'m still tired."
"You slept for about an hour." Quinn said, clearly shocked. "And you want to sleep again?"
"Mmm, no." Rachel mumbled. "Need to write song for Nationals."
"Do you think you can have the creative energy for that?"
"Yes. 'm Rachel Barbra Berry. Can do anything."
Quinn chuckled and strengthened her hold around Rachel, who pushed further into the blonde and sighed. "Okay, Rachel Barbra Berry. What do you want to write the group number about?"
"Pretty girl named Quinn." Rachel hummed, her eyelids already dropping against her cheek.
"What about the ballad?"
"Pretty girl named Quinn too."
"You sound sooo doped up but you're not!" Quinn giggled, tickling Rachel's stomach with her fingertips. "We can't have both songs be about the same thing, you know."
"Yes we can." Rachel muttered. "Quinn, Quinn, everybody knows her. But all she really cares about is Shakespeare and that guy Chaucer." She sang, making Quinn laugh. "She's a Cheerio who reads, top of her class, and oh hot damn she has the best ass!"
"You're ridiculous." Quinn said, leaning in against the headboard, taking Rachel with her. With their hands interlocked, she closed her eyes as well. The smile that Rachel brought upon her lips lingered, never leaving.
~to be continued
Was it decent? Anyway, this has two parts to it, so wait for the next one! Also, since it's summer, please do not hesitate to send prompts my way. Of course I can't guarantee anything, but I can try!