Rachel was watching Quinn as the woman got up to retrieve her coffee from the balcony. The blonde was wearing a black wool skirt, along with high boots and leggings. As usual, she didn't undress her coat like most people do when they enter somewhere warm. The pea coat completed a casual yet elegant look that only someone like Quinn could pull off.
"I am glad you asked me to meet you. I'm sure it wasn't easy, considering how busy you've been." Quinn said when she sat down.
Rachel blushed. It was weird how she was able to identify each and every one of Quinn's implications behind her words. It was typical of Quinn to ask without actually pronouncing the words, especially when she was curious. And the woman certainly didn't believe for a second that Rachel was busy all this time, so she wanted to know why she had been avoided and… well, how Rachel was.
"Did you miss me?" Rachel took the bait on her own terms, thank you very much.
"I suppose." Quinn shrugged and smirked.
Rachel arched an eyebrow, playfully.
"Admit it already!"
Quinn chuckled and took a sip of her coffee.
"I wonder if you had had time to miss me."
So, the blonde apparently wasn't ready to let it go, but Rachel wasn't about to get into it again.
"Today is my day off. Do you have work afterwards?"
"As a matter of fact, I have. We are setting a new photography exhibition in one of my galleries and I should supervise it."
"Oh." She tried to hide the disappointment in her voice. She actually didn't have anything planned for them later, and she did convince herself to "go with the flow"… but after days without seeing Quinn, she just wanted some extra time with the woman in front of her.
"You can come with me… if you want to." Quinn said softly.
"But Quinn, I don't want to impose." She answered with a spontaneous smile.
"You won't, I think you'll rather enjoy yourself. We get to boss people around." The blonde smirked mischievously.
"Are you implying I am authoritarian?" Rachel narrowed her eyes.
"Don't bother, Rachel." Quinn all but purred her name. "I find it quite appealing."
Rachel felt shivers down her spine and blushed harder.
"You are the bossy one." She mumbled, looking down at her coffee, attempting to hide her red face.
"You have no idea." Quinn answered in that damn voice, perfectly at ease.
Rachel cleared her throat.
"Perhaps it is time to improve my knowledge about this." She lifted up her chin, defiantly despite all her blushing.
Quinn just stared at her for a moment, and Rachel could swear the woman's iris darkened slightly.
"Right again." The blonde whispered and Rachel gulped hard.
The brunette cleared her throat.
"So… How are you?"
"Fine." Quinn answered as always.
"Your business?"
"Everything is good. New exhibition as I said."
"Hmmm…" Rachel sipped her beverage. "Anything new going on in your life?"
Quinn looked at her thoughtfully. "Not really."
By then, Rachel had half a mind to grab her stuff and leave Quinn behind. The flow be damned, would it hurt to share just a bit of personal information? She didn't think so.
The blonde probably sensed something was off, because she finished her drink quickly.
"Ready to go? The gallery is not far from here." Quinn asked, already getting up.
"I… yes." She followed the woman to her car. Quinn opened the passenger door for her and she thanked quietly before getting in.
It was definitely the most silent car ride she has ever had with the woman.
Quinn pressed some buttons in the car stereo, and soon enough Barbra Streisand's voice filled the silence between then.
Rachel huffed lightly. The woman was good; she had to give her that. By the time they reached their destination, she was already in a better mood.
Quinn parked the car and before Rachel could even move, she was opening the door again and smiling brightly.
The brunette knew what the other was doing but smiled in return. It should be illegal not to when Quinn stares at you with sparkling hazel eyes. Besides, the blonde would talk about her life when she felt prepared, right?!
Totally.
Not you again. I've been researching-
Of course you have.
-and it is all slightly schizophrenic.
It is not.
Mental chats!
You are just eloquent enough to have enlightened discussions with yourself. That's all.
Alright. I like the sound of this.
Indeed. Now, I believe Quinn's talking to you.
"We only display photography pieces here. Unlike my other galleries, we do not focus on one style. You saw the modern art one. I do own another just for abstract art, and you surely must see the nature themed one, maybe I can take you there next week?"
Rachel nodded absently minded, her eyes wondering around in the building. Differently from the other gallery that appeared to have one big and open ambient, this one was divided in several ones. It carried a heavier atmosphere, not darker, but definitely more intense. Because of the light reflections and shadows that it created, each piece had a proper illumination that seemed to melt into the photograph itself.
"You have an amazing space, Quinn." She whispered to the woman.
"I do try." The blonde smiled proudly. "Here we display a bit of everything, as long as it is a photo. In one week you could find landscaping photos and in the other human body in black and white, which is our next exhibition."
And said exhibition was one of the best Rachel has ever seen. There were some beautiful photographs that showed nude bodies in its full lengths, but the ones she really liked were the pieces that focused on the details. Expressive eyes with long eyelashes, half opened mouths, tangled legs, passionate faces. There was something so… sensual and raw about it. The pores, birth marks and droplets of sweat made it feel human, real and touching.
It all became secondary, though, when she started to observe Quinn move through the room. She wasn't kidding when she said she would boss people around. Her heels clicked on the dark linoleum floor, and the workers stopped whatever they were doing to listen to her orders. With few words she optimized the organization, making the whole setting process quicker and better. She told where and how she wanted each piece. Sometimes just a pointed gaze was enough.
There was something alluring about watching the way the woman controlled the room. It made Quinn look powerful - control freak, one might say, but almost regal. And Rachel found soon enough in her life that she quite enjoyed powerful people. Maybe a little too much, she noticed with a blush when Quinn turned on her heels and glared at her with an eyebrow quirked as if she could read her thoughts. The blonde licked her lips slowly and, God, she was so doing that on purpose! She shook her head.
"Why have you decided to open all of those galleries?"
"Well… I graduated in Liberal Arts." The blonde was analyzing a picture hanged on the wall. "And Business." She turned her head to look at Rachel.
"At the same time?"
"Yes."
"That's impressive." Impressive, yes, surprising… definitely no. Double major suited Quinn on so many levels that Rachel hadn't doubted the answer for a second, but…"Liberal Arts and Business... Quite an unusual combination you chose. May I ask-"
"Rachel, would you come closer?" Quinn called.
"Uh… sure." She walked toward the blonde and stopped by her side.
"I am not sure if this frame is perfectly aligned. Maybe if we moved it bit to the left?" The woman did so, her breast rubbing subtly against Rachel's arm. "No, it won't do. Perhaps it is just the in wrong place. You!" She looked at a random guy. "I want this over there." Quinn pointed to an empty spot beside Rachel, now positively brushing her breast on her skin. "Here, Rachel, let's give him some space." The blonde closed her hands on the brunette's arms, somehow fully pressing her body against Rachel from behind and dragging her few steps to the right.
"Now it is perfect, don't you think?" Rachel felt Quinn's breath tickling her neck.
"Yes… perfect." She breathed out.
"Great. We have to arrange just two more photographs then I am all yours." The blonde whispered in her ear.
The brunette found herself in loss of words, so she just nodded.
"Will you help me? With your assistance I believe I can do… better." Quinn continued, her body still pressed against Rachel's back.
"All right." She said in a strangled voice. That Quinn was making an appearance again, the one that could easily turn an oatmeal recipe into dirty talk. Damn that Quinn and her distractive methods. Gone from Rachel's mind were the questions about double majors and things equally as unimportant.
[~~]
[~~]
Long story short, they didn't make it to Quinn's apartment.
As soon as they finished their business in the gallery, the blonde suggested they grabbed something to eat at her place. And Rachel tried, she really tried to keep her hands to herself, but she'd been relentlessly provoked, and couldn't help her increasing arousal. Besides, Quinn legs in those leggings were just too much of a temptation. When she started to slowly run her hand through the blonde's thigh, up and down, Quinn parked the car.
And they started to make out.
It had been a long time since Rachel felt the urge to just take someone regardless of the place or time. That is what Quinn made her feel. She didn't give a flying fig about anything but the woman's lips on hers.
When the position became too uncomfortable, Rachel somehow started to straddle Quinn. The blonde grabbed her ass for leverage, so she was completely seated on the woman's lap. Rachel moaned against the other's mouth, arms enlacing her neck.
The brunette made the mistake to look down and saw how Quinn's skirt had rode to her waist, and their centers were this close. She could actually feel the heat waves down there. As the blonde sucked on her bottom lip, she lowered her hand to touch her breast, and fuck, she could hear Quinn moan like that forever. Her lips found the blonde's pulse point as her hands dared to travel under her clothes. She felt the goosebumps in the woman's abdomen as she ran her nails lightly on the skin.
Quinn threw her head back when Rachel started to suck on her pulse point and palm her breasts over the bra. And the little noises the blonde was making… the brunette's head was spinning and her underwear was positively soaked.
That's when they heard someone knock on the window glass.
Rachel turned her head to find two guys standing outside the car.
"You have got to be kidding me." Quinn hissed when she opened her eyes to understand why the brunette stopped.
"I thought people couldn't see through the glass."
"Apparently they can." Quinn growled and Rachel backed down to the passenger side again.
"What?!" The blonde snarled at the strangers, opening the window.
"Huh… are you ladies lost?" A skinny guy asked. He couldn't be much older than Rachel.
"We could show you the right way…" The second guy quipped with a smirk pasted on his face.
Rachel huffed, outraged. They were being so disrespectful! She was about to give them a piece of her mind when she glanced at Quinn.
The brunette knew how much power the blonde's eyes could hold. But she had never seen that look on her before. It was so cold that it could freeze hell over. Twice.
"The right way…" Quinn repeated with a voice significantly lower, and if the shivers on Rachel's skin were any indication, significantly more dangerous. The blonde let out a humorless laugh. "Yes. I am sure boys like you know all about it." She managed to put so much disdain in her voice while seizing them up and down that Rachel almost felt bad for them. Almost being the key word.
"Look, lady…" The second guy started to say when it was clear his friend was too appalled to utter sounds. "I can show you exac-"
"Show me?" Quinn scorned. "Scum like you couldn't show me anything I could be remotely interested in. Little boys with egos bigger than their penises couldn't show me even if it was highlighted or painted in red right in front of them." Despite her words, the blonde was smiling. Possibly the most terrifying smile those guys ever saw.
"I highly recommend that you two leave us be now." Rachel said when the guys spent several seconds just looking at Quinn with mouth agape.
"Yes. Leave before I show you the right way to dispose of people who are a walking waste of space." The blonde hissed.
The boys snapped out of their stupor and backed away.
The women spent good three minutes in silence before Rachel laughed nervously.
"What just happened?"
Quinn wasn't so amused. She started the car without saying a word and Rachel sighed, taking note of their surroundings.
Needless to say, the mood was gone.
"There is a diner in the next corner." The brunette pointed out. "Let's just have lunch there."
Quinn just nodded.
It was only when they placed their orders that the woman talked directly to her.
"I am sorry, Rachel." Quinn looked down at her hands.
"What for, Quinn? It is not your fault at all." She answered sweetly.
"I had forgotten." The blonde finally met Rachel's eyes.
She stared at the woman until she explained.
"I had forgotten how some men think it is their place to get in the middle of two women who are together." Quinn smiled sadly. "I can't say I missed it."
"It is ok." Rachel answered but her brain was working furiously. Would the other jump in the next opportunity to have a heterosexual relationship again?
"It is not. We shouldn't have to accept this." The blonde said.
"You are right-" Rachel started.
"It's absurd! It never happened when I was with-" Quinn stopped talking abruptly.
"Unfortunately we live in a sexist world that still isn't a very gay friendly place." Rachel stated, fishing her phone on her purse to have an excuse to look away. "I do join a feminist discussion online group from time to time, if you are interested."
"Rachel, don't get me wrong, I don't-" Quinn started, shaking her head.
"It's fine, Quinn. I know what you meant." Rachel interrupted, scrolling through her facebook feed, not bringing herself to face the woman.
"I don't regret being with you." The blonde finished.
Rachel smiled at her but somehow it felt fake. Yes, she understood Quinn. The situation they had just been through wasn't nice nor comfortable. But it didn't get to her as much as it seemed to affect the blonde. Maybe it was because she was used to endure bullying and homophobia since she was a child… But she also understood how some people weren't like her, that they sometimes succumbed to social pressure. She just hoped Quinn wouldn't.
Sure the blonde always presented herself so confidently it sometimes bordered arrogance… but everyone had their insecurities deep rooted inside. Rachel knew better than anyone how it felt to wear a mask of superiority to hide self-doubt. She wished she could help Quinn, but if the woman, when given the choice, didn't even want to talk about her day, how to expect she would like to open up to Rachel? Unlikely.
Rachel sighed. How much times would she change her mind? One second she was okay with Quinn's pace, the other she was desperate for something, anything… She stared at her phone again, not in the mood to indulge some fruitless conversation. That specifically second, she wasn't okay.
When the waitress got them their order, Quinn broke the silence.
"It's very easy to know when you are upset. Not talking isn't something you do a lot. " The blonde said with gentle eyes.
It wasn't enough to placate Rachel's insecurities.
"I am that predictable, huh?!" She answered bitterly.
"Predictable? No. Wears your heart on your sleeve? A little bit." Quinn grinned and it felt genuine. She smiled softly as Quinn reached for Rachel's hand on the table, her thumb caressing the brunette's knuckles.
It was kind of disconcerting how Quinn could disarm her so easily. But she still had her pride, and reasons to be, as the other said, upset.
"I don't know what to say." She muttered.
"I know I don't open up much…" The blonde started.
"Much?" Rachel couldn't help the sarcasm.
"Okay, so I am not very talkative when it comes to myself…"
"I already realized how you are regarding your personal life, Quinn." Rachel interrupted again.
Quinn was clearly struggling with herself, opening her mouth and then closing again, tucking her blonde hair behind the ear and looking at Rachel with startled eyes. So the brunette finally took pity on her.
"I am not trying by any means to make you feel uncomfortable." She started softly. "I am aware of at least some of your current situation. I fully intend, for the time being, to have some fun and enjoy your company, Quinn. But you shall not take me for granted."
"I don't." The blonde said hurriedly.
"Good." Rachel nodded forcefully. "How about we just eat for now? Our food is getting cold. "
The blonde smiled shyly, looking down at her plate, and the brunette caught herself starring. It was so different from the woman she met at the coffee shop months ago. It was a sight of a woman who really appeared to be slowly letting her guard down; of course she wasn't even scratching the truth behind Quinn's façade, but she could work with what she had conquered.
Rachel grinned slowly before grabbing her spoon and starting to eat her soup.
Rachel was ranting about the diner not offer a single vegan friendly dessert besides fruit (and everybody knows fruit is not dessert!) when her phone buzzed uncontrollably on the table.
Santana: Kurt needs an intervention.
Santana: He brought Josh home again.
Santana: Boy, what does this dude has? A golden dick? It is the only explanation.
Santana: I mean, after writing porn about Kurt two times, it's expected that he would already had gotten the big sign right now.
Santana: You now… The BEWARE OF THE PERVERT sign. Or the RUN YOU FOOLS sign.
Santana: Anyway, just hurry home already. They are making the strangest sounds ever, my headphones are not working, maybe your obnoxiously loud voice will do the trick.
Santana: STRANGEST. SOUNDS. EVER.
Santana: I am NOT happy.
Santana: Ok, I am sorry about what I said about your voice. Just come home.
Santana: Raaachel, put me out of my misery. I can't bring myself to pull the trigger.
Rachel giggled at her friend's outburst, but decided it really was time to go home. Clearly she and Santana needed to run by the supermarket to buy their intervention supplies.
Rachel: I am going. Grab your purse, we are out of tissues and low fat ice cream.
Santana: THANK YOU!
"I should go." She offered an oppologetic smile to Quinn. "My roommates need me."
"Of course." The blonde got fifty bucks from her purse and placed it on the table, starting to speak when Rachel opened her mouth. "Let me just get that. I was supposed to cook you lunch anyway."
The brunette sighed and then smirked, looking at the bill.
"You always tip too much."
"It depends if the waitress pleases the eye." Quinn replied when they were by the door.
"Hey!" Rachel smacked the blonde's shoulder playfully.
Quinn laughed and proceeded to open the passenger door for Rachel, but before the brunette could enter the car, the blonde grabbed her elbow and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"But you have nothing to worry. You are the only one that have ever pleased more than my eyes."
Rachel blushed, but managed to reply:
"Good save, Fabray."
[~~]
[~~]
"You should sit down, Kurt."
Rachel and Santana were standing with crossed arms in front of the door Kurt had just opened.
"What is going on?" Blue eyes scanned trough the room, finding a tissue box, a pile of blu-rays and DVDs, ice cream and a bottle of wine. As if it wasn't enough indication, Beatles' "With a little help from my friends" was playing in their stereo.
"No, no, no, no!" The boy tried to back down, but Santana pushed him onto the couch.
"It's time for us to talk." Rachel said dramatically. "It has come to our knowledge that you've been seen adult-entertainment-writer Josh." She continued in a deep voice, tilting her head to the side with an aggravated sigh.
"Yeah." Santana nodded, ignoring the piercing glare the boy was sending her. "It is damaging to you and to my ears."
"Wasn't the two other treasons enough?" Rachel opened her arms in a theatrical fashion. She enjoyed interventions more than she dared to admit.
"Dude has a real-factual porn blog, Kurt! And he doesn't even make money with it! If that is not the definition of 'mental', then I don't know what it is!" Santana exasperated.
"I am a grown man and I am capable of making my own decisions." Kurt crossed his arms defensively.
"Well, you shouldn't, because they proved to be stupid!" Santana replied.
Kurt scoffed at her.
"You waltzed into our kitchen yesterday, stating you were going to kill this guy." Rachel remarked.
At this, the boy had the decency to avert his eyes from the girls in front of him.
"Let's just cut the crap, shall we?"
"Have you not done that yet, Santana?" Kurt answered.
"Hardly." She mocked. "We all know this shit is happening because you are not over Blaine boy yet."
"But you must try harder, sweetie." Rachel poured some wine in a glass and offered to Kurt, who had stood up.
"This is preposterous!" Kurt grabbed the glass with an offended huff. "I am over Blaine for ages!" Then he drank the whole liquid in one gulp.
"Yeah. We can see that." Santana quirked an eyebrow.
"You know I have personal experience regarding breaking up engagements." Rachel sat on the couch, motioning for Kurt to follow her lead. Soon the three of them were sitting. "And it's not a piece of cake. But you have to make some time for yourself. It is part of the healing process." She continued with a soothing voice.
"There is nothing left to heal!" Kurt shouted, reaching for the ice cream on the coffee table.
"Hummel, you can say this for as long as you want, it doesn't make it anything close from being truth!" Santana said.
"I do believe it is time to face your demons, dear." Rachel solemnly declared.
"I am over him!" He sank the spoon in the ice cream. "Oh, for fuck's sake! I broke off an engagement and the best you could give me is soy chocolate ice cream? I don't deserve the real thing just as I don't deserve to be loved?!" He yelled in a high-pitched voice, his eyes beginning to water.
"Here comes the waterfall." Santana muttered to herself way too loud, handing Kurt the tissue paper box.
The boy sniffed loudly against the tissue, and Rachel hugged him.
"It is going to be okay, honey…"
"There, there." Santana patted him on the shoulder, pouring herself some wine with the other hand.
"Santana!"
The Latina rolled her eyes and joined the group hug, making sure not to touch anything near Kurt's nose aim.
After several motivational phrases and glasses of wine, and after Kurt had considerably calmed down and apologizing for even thinking he didn't deserve to be loved, they decided to start, for the fourth time, a Friends marathon.
Rachel was putting the second DVD of the first season when her phone buzzed.
"Your blonde deity is talking to you… I wonder what she is say-
Before Santana could finish her sentence, Rachel jumped toward her and yanked her phone from the Latina's hand to find some unread whatsapp messages.
Quinn: I am 31.
Quinn: My favorite color is green.
Quinn: I am a dog person.
Quinn: My comfort food is bacon with maple syrup.
Quinn: Don't frown at me nor be disgusted by my last message. It is delicious and I am not ashamed of it!
Rachel laughed and beamed at her phone.
"RACHEL!" Santana screamed.
"I am sorry?" She snapped her head up.
"We called you like a thousand times." The Latina answered. "Stop sexting and set the DVD already!"
"Just a second." She said.
Rachel: Thank you.
[~~]
[~~]
So… kind of hard to explain why this chapter took me so long. ;(
I wish I could blame life again, but this time lack of inspiration is guilty.
Anyway, I'll make an effort not to delay so much in the next one if you review this. Deal?
HAHAHA just kidding.
No, I am not.
HAHA
Anyway, the rating will be changing in the next chapters, and soon enough this fic will take a darker path. But don't worry, I'll let you know all about it when time comes! :)
Now, as promised, It's time to answer who took the time to leave me a thought ;)
BlackShip007: I confess I did plan on making a lot of drama, because let's face it, we ARE talking about Rachel here. But then I just thought… nhee… I better save it for later. MUAHAAH
I see your point but I am totally upset about Santana right now – In the show, I mean. I wouldn't want some of my close friends competing with me if I was fulfilling my dream… I love that Santana is a bitch, but there are several levels of bitchness and she totally crossed the line. But this is just my opinion ;)
I am glad you're enjoying the fic!
Lubov: I have strong mixed feelings about following advice from your friends when it comes to relationships. Sometimes they are right, but when they aren't… well it sucks more than it would suck if you had made the mistake on your own. ANYWAY, I am happy Rachel chose to accept Cassidy's advice, so I'll just shut up now. HAHA. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing every single chapter!
Alllove: I hope this chapter made up in terms of Faberry interaction ;) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
xxDark Angel Babyxx: It wasn't a fast update, but I promise it was asap! Hahaha. Thank you for reading!
Anyonn: Thank you! ;)
Lovely Guests: thank you for taking the time to review this despite not having an account/not being logged on at the moment. I am glad you liked it! ;)
gorman: I am a Quinn fan too. For me she is like one of the most complex character on the show. I can only hope I am making her justice. Thank you for reading!
Monica: You are the best! 3 3 Amo que você se interessa por tudo isso, mesmo sem nem ver o seriado. Obrigada, obrigada, obrigada!
Fridaglee17: Thank you so much! I am glad you liked it!
P. Taylor: Eu estou sempre inspirada nas minhas piadas. HAHAHAHA AKELAS! Thank you for doing a lovely beta job! ;)
That is it for now, guys!
See you soon!
P.S: Long note is long.