This was originally just going to be a one shot, but I've discovered I love writing Nikki/Lorraine way too much, so I'm going to keep going. this is my first fanfic so constructive criticism is completely welcome.
As they left the pub, amidst Lorraine's nervous giggles, Nikki suddenly thought something, "Lorraine..." she began to say, "I can't drive home, I've had too much to drink!"
"We call a taxi then, don't we?" Lorraine replied with a seductive sarcasm in her voice.
"What do I do with my car though?" Nikki was, after all, not willing to lose it again after Barry's recent attempt to sell it.
"Oh, just leave it where it's parked. It'll be fine until morning." Lorraine eventually replied.
Nikki looked sceptical but then she answered, "Okay then. I'm blaming you if it gets stolen though!" She couldn't suppress the smile spreading across her face.
"You're a rubbish liar aren't you?" Lorraine laughed.
Nikki jokingly rolled her eyes and then said, "Shall we just walk? I live less than 10 minutes that way." pointing vaguely towards the left.
"Well, why not? I don't like taxi's anyway." Lorraine smiled at Nikki, her whole face lit up with a new wave of happiness.
The two women walked to Nikki's flat, almost totally in silence. It wasn't a bad silence, it was good, the sort that makes you feel warmer inside. You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you see someone beautiful and they don't seem real? Well, each time Nikki turned to face Lorraine she got that same feeling, taking her breath away so she was unable to engage in conversation. Lorraine was just admiring the way Nikki walks, something she'd done far more often that she'd care to admit.
Nikki unlocked the door to her ground floor flat, after fumbling around in her bag to find her keys. "Welcome to my humble abode," Nikki stated, rather over dramatically, with a smile, "It's nothing special...but I've got no complaints."
"No complaints at all? Not even one?" Lorraine probed coyly, as Nikki shut the door behind her.
"Well...there might be one. It's not all that nice being in it all on my own." Nikki replied, attempting to keep her composure.
Lorraine knew what she meant but smiled and answered, "You're not on your own, you've got-" glancing towards Nikki's Russian blue cat which had come to greet them at the door.
"Jehan, he's called Jehan!" Nikki finished, slightly awkwardly.
"Seriously Nikki, you named your cat after an ill-fated, romantic, poem writing, fictional character?" Lorraine asked with a huge smile on her face.
"Quite the little Les Misérables fan we have here then, and yes, yes I did!" Nikki replied, with a noticeable excitement in her voice which she was trying so hard to contain.
"Well you didn't exactly strike me as the sort of person who'd have an interest in musical theatre!" Lorraine told her, following it with a nervous giggle which made Nikki's stomach feel as though it was doing somersaults.
"There are lots of things you still don't know about me, Miss Donnegan." Nikki announced, slightly biting her bottom lip with her teeth and making eye contact with an extremely nervous looking Lorraine.
Lorraine couldn't take her eyes off Nikki's perfectly formed lips. The temptation to kiss her was rapidly taking over Lorraine's mind, so she leaned forwards and gently placed a kiss on her lips.
"Never call me Miss Donnegan outside of Waterloo Road. Ever again." Lorraine commanded placing another quick kiss on Nikki's lips. Nikki smirked quietly. "Seriously Nik, i mean it!" Lorraine finished, slightly more serious now.
"You called me Nik, nobody calls me that-" Nikki was interrupted.
Lorraine nervously said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Um-"
"No, no, Lorraine, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I've never had a nickname...well, not one meant in a kind way anyway!" Nikki seemed embarrassed, Lorraine was just happy that Nikki trusted her. Lorraine's heart sunk at what Nikki had said, but she couldn't quite manage to put what she was thinking into words, so she just reached out her arm and held onto Nikki's.
"Come on, let's go and sit down!" Nikki replied, with that feeling in her stomach again because of Lorraine's touch.
The two women sat down together on the black leather sofa in the open plan living room, after Lorraine picked up the cushions and threw them onto the wooden flooring. She didn't really know why she did that, it wasn't even her house, but Nikki didn't say anything. Lorraine looked at her but Nikki didn't even notice, her focus was on her hands, her long fingers clasped together and her nails dug into the backs of them. Nikki was nervous, she didn't want to ruin what had just begun between herself and Lorraine by opening up too much. Lorraine placed her hand gently on Nikki's forearm and waited until she looked up from her lap.
"What's up Nik? You were fine until a few minutes ago!" Lorraine asked sympathetically.
"Don't worry, it's nothing. I'm just being silly." Nikki said, emotionless, "Fancy a drink?"
"I'll get 'em. What d'you want?" Lorraine asked, hoping the answer wouldn't be anything alcoholic.
"I'll have a lager, have whatever you want." Nikki replied.
Lorraine went into Nikki's kitchen and opened the fridge, going to get herself and Nikki a drink when she suddenly remembered that alcohol was in no way beneficial to Nikki right now. Lorraine closed the fridge and opened the heavy door to the freezer, hoping she'd find what she was looking for.
"Ahh!" Lorraine whispered to herself, with a smirk on her face, as she saw two big tubs of Ben&Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie ice cream in the first drawer. She knelt down and reached in to get the first one out. As she stood back up, she heard a squeak of rubber on the marble tiled floor, it was the sound of Nikki's Converse boots.
"I thought you were getting us a drink?" Nikki asked, confused.
"Well... I thought this might be a better alternative." Lorraine answered kindly, gesturing to the ice cream.
Nikki smiled warmly, a small tear threatening to slide down her cheek. She'd taken off her blazer by now and Lorraine could see how tightly the plain white t-shirt was hugging Nikki's amazing figure. Lorraine went to say something but the words got caught in her throat because she was struggling to take her eyes off Nikki. As she closed the freezer door, Nikki walked towards her slowly and took the tub of ice cream out of her hand and placed it down on the nearby worktop. Lorraine hadn't wanted Nikki to drink because once she started she wouldn't stop, she knew that feeling all too well to let it happen. So many times had Lorraine let herself drink far more than she should, just because she was fed up of thinking about things; fed up of talking. She wanted Nikki to talk to her, if she felt she could, and alcohol would prevent any chance of that. Lorraine had almost forgotten that Nikki was stood in front of her, until she felt her hands gently on her waist. Lorraine smiled and leant in closer, feeling the warmth radiating from Nikki's body. Nikki's strong arms wrapped around her petite waist, holding on as though if she let go she'd lose her. As Lorraine wrapped her arms around Nikki's waist, the woman let her head rest lightly on Lorraine's shoulder, letting out a nervous sigh. The two women stood in their embrace for what felt like an eternity, the only sound that could be heard was their breathing. Lorraine ran her long fingers through Nikki's short bobbed hair, as a muffled sob escaped from her mouth.
"Come on Nik, talk to me." Lorraine sighed desperately, clutching onto Nikki tightly. As she lifted her head tears fell from her beautiful eyes. Nikki felt ridiculous, her cheeks turned a shade of pillar-box red with embarrassment, she just didn't cry in front of people. Nikki turned away, trying to avoid anymore unnecessary embarrassment but Lorraine grabbed hold of her hand and turned her back to face her. She reached up her arm and brushed away a tear that was meandering down Nikki's cheek.
"Let's get this ice cream eaten before we need a straw!" Lorraine laughed and took two spoons off the worktop nearby. Nikki started to walk back to the sofa with Lorraine close behind.
"Jehan, shift!" Nikki shouted, her voice wavering as she choked back her tears, feeling completely childish.
Lorraine still couldn't get over the fact that Nikki's cat was named after a Les Misérables character. Jehan jumped down onto the floor but sat just a few steps away from the sofa.
"They do say that pets take after their owners," Lorraine announced, trying to cheer Nikki up, "Jehan is just as stubborn as you are!"
Nikki smiled slightly, her eyes still glazed with tears.
"What're you thinking about?" Lorraine began, "I just want you to trust me, I'm really not bothered what it is!"
"I'm just being stupid!" Nikki retorted, but Lorraine could hear how much emotion was hidden under that snap remark. Lorraine took a spoonful of ice cream; which was perfectly soft by now; and ate it, then offered the pot to Nikki.
"I'm just being stupid," Nikki said again, "Don't laugh when I tell you this-"
"I won't!" Lorraine interrupted.
"I'm nervous, ridiculously so. I haven't dated anyone for so long. I'm the one who's supposed to be fine with this. I'm supposed to be the one who's totally comfortable. I'm the one who's dated women before..." Nikki trailed off after she saw the look on Lorraine's face.
"Oh Nikki," she sighed sympathetically, "I don't expect you to be completely comfortable, fuck it, I'm glad you're not. It's kind of intimidating thinking that the person you're with is totally comfortable when you're a nervous wreck!"
"Lorraine, you're doing pretty well, even if I do say so myself," Nikki said with a wry smile, "I'm not doing quite so well. It's not exactly the best idea to cry on your first date with someone!"
"I don't mind taking it slow. Anyway, it would be pretty daunting if you were completely fearless Nik!" Lorraine smiled, as she felt Jehan's fur rub against her legs.
"He likes you. Who are you...Catwoman?" Nikki laughed.
"I like him too, not as much as I like you though" Lorraine answered.
"Oh shut it you, I didn't think you were so-" Nikki was cut off as Lorraine kissed her.
"So what?" Lorraine questioned, with that seductive sarcasm lacing her voice again.
"Forget it!" Nikki smirked and kissed Lorraine's lips again, which tasted of chocolate.
"I've not seen The Dark Knight Rises!" Lorraine said, reminded about this fact by Nikki calling her Catwoman.
"Whoa, seriously? Right, that's it! I know what we're going to do now then!" Nikki replied, getting up off the sofa and walking towards the shelf on the other side of the room. Lorraine watched her walk over, it was something she was so used to doing, she couldn't resist. She smiled to herself. Nikki knelt down in front of the television and put a DVD into the player. Lorraine knew what Nikki was putting on and couldn't help but smirk and shake her head.
"Come here you!" Lorraine called.
Nikki picked up the remote and then threw herself back down on the sofa next to Lorraine, who wrapped her arms around her waist and rested her head on Nikki's shoulder slightly. The contents of the tub of ice cream had decreased rapidly and Lorraine offered the almost half empty tub to Nikki who dug her spoon in, smiled and said, "Lorraine, you're too good to me!"
"I think you deserve someone being good to you, all you do is try to help others. Nobody-" Lorraine started to say in reply, but Nikki kissed the top of her head and she couldn't talk anymore. Jehan jumped up onto Nikki's lap and she smoothed his back. Lorraine regained her composure, laughed and said, "Want a bit of love too d'you Jehan?" and he mewed, as though replying to her question.
The two women sat and watched the film, whilst finishing off the tub of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Once the film had finished, Nikki looked at Lorraine again for what seemed like the hundredth time that night; not that she was complaining; and her eyes were closed.
"Are you asleep?" Nikki whispered, quietly enough so that if she was asleep she wouldn't wake her. Lorraine didn't reply, just nuzzled Nikki's shoulder.
"I'd take that as a yes, then." Nikki smiled, leaned her head on Lorraine's and a few minutes later, fell asleep herself.