Hey there!
I'm back with the new chapter ready for you guys :) There is some heavy fluffy stuff here, but I know that you guys don't mind :P
Enjoy
It is the delicate scent of orange blossoms and ginger lingering on the pillow, with that undertone of something wild and fresh, equally tart and sweet, like elderberries and grapes, that mingled with the more recognizable, slightly bitter smell of freshly ground coffee in the background coaxes you from your peaceful slumber in the sweetest way.
It creates a new fragrance that feels already familiar in its uniqueness, tugging your lips into a sleepy smile that widens further when your eyes flutter open and, after adjusting to the enthusiastic bright sun rays peeking into the room, they land on the tall, lean figure rummaging quietly in the kitchen.
Your heart flutters, and your smile blossoms onto a full dimpled grin.
The muscles on your back protest a little when you slip out of bed without stretching, but the sight of Alex, glasses sitting on top of her head, lips pursed, eyes squinting, brow lightly furrowed, as she sorts through your cabinets in search for something to get as breakfast along with the brewing coffee, is more than worth the crick that takes a few steps for you to loosen as you pad over to her from behind, wrapping your arms around her middle and burying your nose in her nape, inhaling the luscious smell of her skin and hair mixed with the faint one of the laundry detergent clinging on the shirt you have given her.
"Do you have anything that isn't whole wheat in here, sleepyhead?"
It's the greeting that she gives you in lieu of a good morning, pretending to sound exhasperated by the dicovery of the ridiculously extra healty contents of your pantry, but you can actually hear the warm note of contentement in her deep, slightly rough morning voice and feel her melt a little in your embrace as one of her hands rests atop yours against her stomach, affectionately stroking your knuckles.
"Don't you know that whole grain is good for you, early chicken?" You tease her, grinning against her shoulder when she throws her head back with a laugh.
"It's like eight am, kid."
You shrug against her.
"Then I guess someone wore me out last night and I needed the few extra minutes of sleep."
She hums, pleased and amused, turning in your arms to face you, eyes still a bit heavy with sleep, but bright in the morning light, made even brighter by the trademark smirk shaping her lips.
"You needed sleep, I needed calories, wearing you out is a nice workout, Pipes. But very exhausting nonetheless."
Her teasing is filled with affection, but you still roll your eyes in an attempt to ignore the unavoiable sparkle of embarrasment that gets ignited with that statement, although sweet and pleasant and welcoming, that flares inside you in hearing it, and trying to mask the flustered look on your face with one of pretended exasperation, before you wrap your hand on the back of her neck, pulling her closer and leaning in at the same time to press your lips against hers, muffling her delicious, deep, raspy chuckle in a smiling kiss.
Your spine tingles and your entire body buzzes with the fresh memories of last night's activities, shivering all over when Alex's hands come to rest on your hips, long warm fingers brushing delicately on that inch of skin left exposed by your shirt.
Somehow, you manage to keep the kiss relatively innocent, even though Alex's impossibly soft lips and the warmth of her body pressed so close against yours make it a very difficult challenge, especially when she nibbles at your bottom lip and you have to suppress the whimper of weakness that the gesture earns in the back of your throat, pulling back with extreme reluctance but still leaning onto her because your kness, unsurprisingly, feel already a bit wobbly.
"What do you say if I go freshen up a bit with a quick shower and then prepare some pancakes?"
She visibly lights up at the offer. But, of course, despite what she said about being hungry, you should have known that the spark of interest that flashes in her eyes is not about the prospect of breakfast...
"You want some company?" She asks glancing between you and the bathroom door, with that unmistakable look that just confirms your suspicions.
You trap the inner corner of your bottom lip between your teeth to prevent letting out any embarrassing whimper at the compelling image that pops in your head, and preventing your smile to grown into something more seductive and intrigued upon hearing such suggestion.
"We both know that if we go in there together we won't come out until the water runs cold."
It's what you say after a few seconds when you find your voice, but even to your own ears that doesn't sound one bit convincing, and Alex sees right through that ridiculously weak excuse of an argument, quirking a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at you, green eyes smiling and sparkling with mischief. "I didn't hear a no."
You don't think you could ever say no when it comes to being naked with Alex in a very close proximity, and the thought of drops of water caressing the curves of her body and the fog of steam lifting and wrapping around you both is more than enough to make you squirm on the spot.
Alex can see the exact moment you cave in - not that you were left with any other choice after those images - even though it's just an instant before you grab her hand and pull her towards the bathroom, leaving the freshly brewed coffee and general plans for breakfast behind, both suddenly craving something other than food and caffeine.
Things don't get too steamy though, except for the water pressure, but there is another kind of intimacy in getting clean together. Touches that even if not explicitly sexual, despite the places where they linger, it is still extremely sensual. Especially when Alex runs her hands through your wet hair, rinsing the shampoo by massaging your scalp with her fingertips under the shower spray, careful to not let any get in your eyes, and stroking what might as well be a newly discovered erogenous zone that has you humming in delight.
The water running cold turns out to be exactly the only reason you get out of the shower, shivering in between giggles, but getting dressed and then preparing breakfast side by side, sipping spiced coffee, stealing glances, playfully poking at each other like teenagers with a huge crush do, before you sit down to eat. It feels so easy and right sharing a part of your routine with Alex, comforting and soothing, something that values, even more, the certainty that even if you still have to talk about things, still have to properly regain balance after last night's slip, this is real, and maybe... who knows, it could turn out being even... more real.
"You know," Alex says as she finishes chewing the last bite of her whole wheat strawberry pancakes, washing everything down with the last few sips of coffee before wiping her mouth. "I thought it would taste like hay, but I have to admit, they were actually great."
You smirk at the compliment and the pleased surprise in her voice - she has actually been purring softly in the back of her throat through her whole meal, like an affectionate, domesticated tiger getting fed - before you lean in to wipe off the drop of syrup shining on the corner of her bottom lip that has escaped the thorough napking cleaning of her mouth with the pad of your thumb. "You eat hay often?"
Alex watches as you suck at the sticky drop on your finger, narrowing her eyes, playfully, before declaring defeat with a chuckled, "Touché."
She thanks you for breakfast with a kiss that tastes sweet and fruity, helping you do the dishes and clean up the kitchen counter before you bring over the thick folder.
"Down to business?" You ask with a little sigh, not quite ready to interrupt this morning blissfulness, a reluctance that you can also notice in Alex, who still looks a bit uncertain about the idea of tackling the subject.
It makes you hesitate, reaching out to stroke her arm, hoping to convey some reassurance and understanding when you softly ask her if she is still up to this.
She swallows, hard, eyes going glossy and distant for a moment before she blinks and then nods.
"Yeah, sure. I'm okay," She reassures shrugging nonchalantly, but there is still that layer of uncertainty that doesn't convince you, unless until Alex sighs and explains, "Last night you blindsided me with those information. I haven't thought about all that stuff for a while and I wasn't... expecting all the emotions that came to the surface."
She shifts on the spot, clearly uncomfortable in admitting such thing out loud, and it just makes you feel more guilty for not considering Alex's feelings, for not considering that she could have been hurt all over again, for rummaging carelessly in a very painful memory, in a very painful period of her past, and thinking that your crossing such boundry wouldn't have had consequnces.
But then she gives you this small smile, a bit tremulous and awkward, sad but sincere, it reaches her eyes and makes them glint with something that looks like melancholy gratefulness and the same determination that has her square her shoulders and regain her usual confident demeanor, and by that point, her smile has turned into something lighter and more playful.
"Tell me what else you found out, oh Miss Josephine Baker." She encourages, gesturing to the folder, only partially teasing, once more stressing how impressed she is for the little stunt you came up with to uncover the information that had been canceled on the report. You grin at her but still protest, not fiding your actions worthy of being compared to the famous French resistance spy and civil right activist. It seems too much of a flattering compliment for how little you did to try to help Alex so far.
"It's nothing remotely as impressive as her work." You shrug, though unable to do anything about your flustered smile. "And I can't dance for shit."
Alex laughs at that. A real full laugh filled with all her humor, warm and deep and familiar. It sparks a little fire inside your chest that burns the doubts away and soothes you right to the core, doesn't matter if you just admitted that embarassing detail about yourself, something that is the exact opposite respect Miss Baker, who was an exceptional exotic dancer beside being a... creative information smuggler.
"Really?" Alex asks as if having difficulties imagining that about you.
You just nod, rubbing the back of your neck and ducking your head to hide the blush taking over your face.
"Well then, what if I said Anna Chapman?" She asks with a little smirk, mentioning the famous Russian's flamed-haired beauty arrested for espionage. "Maybe there is some blood relations behind the name."
The suggestion actually makes you chuckle, because you were kind of expecting her to come up with that one.
"I doubt it." You reply, shaking your head. "She took her husband's name." You inform her, although, considering Alex and her impressive knowledge about even the less researched subjects, you know she must already be aware of that. Just like she must be aware that said husband, Mister Chapman's name, is actually, ironically enough, Alex.
A silent confirmation that you can see when she just smiles at you, with soft amusement and... something else... sparkling oh so subtly and gently in those emerald lakes that seem to ripple, bringing up shades of blue and the fragments of gold hidden in those depths against the sunlight filling your apartment.
You clear your throat and open the folder, deliberately taking more time than necessary and avoiding Alex's gaze and the smirk you are sure is definitely slowly tugging at her lips in seeing you so flustered, pulling out the papers and your personal notes about all you have found out about the gem - and who has it - so far.
With your composure back on, you resume from where you left off last night, informing Alex of everything, starting from the police report.
You hesitate a bit when you come to the part where you went to the mansion of that dealer; one of the main suspects in the presunted theft, and with motive, because you can see the shift in Alex's expression, the more severe, brooding look that takes over her features, creasing her brow as you tell her about how the meeting went, but she still waits until you finish before saying anything.
"...so I'm not one hundred percent sure if it was the same gemstone, but the picture he showed me was the same one you did, although in a higher resolution."
You expect Alex to ask you more about it, details you might have noticed and what else, a more thorough description even, instead she stays silent for a few moments after you conclude. And you wait patiently, giving her the time to absorb everything you told her about how your encounter with Mr. Balik went, feeling a bit of apprehension swelling in you when the silence stretches almost into a full minute. A silence that breaks when Alex sighs. A soft silent exhale that leaves her nose as she runs a hand through her hair before meeting your gaze, so intensely that you barely resist the urge to squirm under it.
"You shouldn't have gone there, Piper." It's all that she says at last and... you are taken aback by that for sure.
You just told her, again, although more exhaustively than last night, that you most likely found the half emerald half aquamarine that belonged to her mother, and yet her concern is about how you have obtained that conclusive information.
The frown that creases the space between your eyebrows is one of both confusion and surprise at hearing that odd statement.
You can make your own choices, and you know that Alex is fully on that with you, unquestionably, but you still can't quite shake off the feeling that has been clinging onto you since last night and the argument you had about all this, brought up again so persistently that you just decide to ask.
"If I would have told you sooner that I had found these informations or even that I intended to, would you have wanted me to keep searching?"
Alex diverts her gaze, pensively, fixing it on something distant outside the large window in the living room space, pondering that question over, conflict evident between what you know are her values and... something undecifrable that you notice when her eyes return on you with an answer.
"I don't know. I would never force someone to do or not do anything. But I would have definitely warned you about those people before you decided to go there. I just..." She pauses, and then you know why she was so conflicted by this question.
The vulnerability in the way she looks at you matches the veiled worry that leaves her lips a second later.
"I don't want anything to happen to you, Piper."
Your heart feels suddenly heavy, swollen, and clenching with a sense of affection that wrestles with the defensive I-can-take-care-of-myself thought that gets inevitably triggered.
You know that Alex doesn't think of you as some vulnerable damsel who needs protection, and for how difficult it is to ignore, you still try to not let those contrasting feelings interfere and decide to keep your next question rational even if curious.
"What exactly are these people involved with that you get so concerned about?"
She exhales through her nose, a sigh that is in between frustration and embarrassment.
"It's not concern. It's just that there were rumors about a few- that smuggled something else besides gold and valuable gems, usually I don't believe in rumors, I mean... they still believe that the Red Rose Thief is an asian male with some crazy electronic knowledge and acrobatic abilities."
You can't help but chuckle at that one, because it's one of those many absurd rumors that swirl around about Alex that you have never believed. Although, now that you think about it... Alex has a lean athletic structure and...she is... uh... quite flexible.
When Alex smiles mischievously at you, you know it is because she has read right through the soft blush that has suddenly flared on your cheeks at some related thoughts regarding those mentioned "acrobatic abilities."
The wink that she throws then brings your blush to a whole new level, scalding your face and reaching the tip of your ears when you picture something where said flexibility can - and has been - shown in all its most... enjoyable way.
A specific position crosses your mind. Where you have experienced the glorious, slippery and impossibly intimate feeling of her sex rubbing right against yours and bringing you to an incredibly sweet release.
For once, Alex has pity on you, something you are extremely thankful for, because if she would make a comment of some kind or subtly tease you about how easily flustered you are getting this morning, you are pretty sure that you would go up in flames althogether.
Instead, she just gets back to the main discussion, which is all you need to clear your head from those compelling memories and cool down.
"Anyway, even if it wasn't for those rumors, I would have still warned you. Those guys always looked suspicious to me. There was only one who was actually nice and didn't give me that weird feeling. A subordinate of sorts that worked for the big shot."
You nod, lips pursed in thought as you wonder if it might have been one of those guys you have seen milling around the mansion that day.
When Alex doesn't add anything else, a bit lost in her own thoughts, you start to think about the options you get, how you move from here considering the things you have discovered so far, but realizing that now it's no longer up to you.
It's not your call.
You might have put some pieces together, but the ultimate decision is one that only Alex can make. And you are going to respect whichever she comes up with.
You reach out, across the counter to take her hand. She blinks at the touch, green eyes regaining focus and adjusting to the present as you run your thumb across her knuckles.
"What do you wanna do, Alex?"
She exhales, long and slow and silent, looking at you with those smart, knowing eyes, and with a little smile curling her lips.
"You are talking about the invite to the auction, aren't you?"
You give her what you hope is a noncommittal shrug and reply. "We could always go if you want."
She doesn't answer to that, instead asking you if, "You know if he had the gem there with him?"
She sounds almost hopeful, but there is the twitch of something in her jaw, is not quite anger, more close to annoyance maybe, bitter and uncomfortable that gnaws understandably at her at the thought of someone else having something that belongs to her, something that was left to her.
You shake your head.
"He didn't. But he said that he would have brought it for me and that I could make him an offer if I actually decided to buy it."
Alex hums, thoughtfully and interested, but still not looking completely convinced about going to the event as a guest. And while you know that this is a decision that she has to make on her own, you don't think that testing your persuasion skills by giving her a little incentive that could work as a gentle push but nothing more would be so bad after all.
Would it?
And what better way to try and be persuasive than dangle all the precious and unique things you have seen in that mansion right in front of the most famous thief of the world, who is known for her incredibly refined taste.
"You know," You start, voice turning low and cheatingly seductive, "He said that the auction he was holding was to get rid of a few art pieces and other precious items he has collected over the years. So maybe there is something else there that you might consider worth checking out."
It feels so much like teasing a kitten with the string of a ball of yarn, which amuses you and makes you feel a bit guilty all at once.
A very irresistible string it seems, because apparently, the suggestion seems to appeal Alex. Very much in fact. Her ears visibly perk up and you have to fight your smirk from widening into a full grin of satisfaction, especially when, after another moment of thoughtful silence she asks you, "Did you... see something interesting there?"
You think immediately about the marvelous marble statues and gorgeous landscapes paintings and other ancient tasteful items framed or held into the designed displays that you have noticed in the foyer and around the office among ancient furniture, oriental tapestry, Persian carpets.
Something that could definitely catch her interest comes to mind, turning your grin into a wickedly excited one.
"It may not be shiny," You say, "But I might have spotted a complete copy of Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote, in the library of his office."
Mentioning the extraordinarily rare book has the most wanted jewel thief of the world utterly speechless.
Alex's eyes go wide with disbelief, lips parting, moving as if she wants to say something but simply unable to find the words or even her voice.
It's such an extremely entertaining sight to witness that you can't help but grin in front of it, deciding to snap a mental picture of that priceless look before continuing with pretended innocence.
"Of course I could have seen wrong, I mean, you are more of an expert than I am after all when it comes to this kind of things."
Alex, who somehow has managed to get out of her stupor, snorts, a little bark of an incredulous laugh.
"Damn Piper... You know how to play dirty, kid." She accuses, shaking her head, but there is that smirk tugging at her lips.
Somehow you take her words as a compliment, and the grin on your face spreads even further, showing your dimples and reaching your eyes, making them glint as your chest swells with something akin to pride.
"Should I take that as a yes for the invitation then?" You venture, barely resisting the urge to squeal, actually squeal with excitement when after another minute of contemplation she sighs and nods, shoulders slumping in defeat, but there is still that smile on her face, sincere, and most importantly it doesn't show reluctance, which is extremely relieving considering that - as Alex said - you might have played much dirtier than you didn't want to in your initally innocent attempt to convince her.
"It feels weird though," She says, brow furrowed and half a sneer lifting her upper lip. You look at her with a mix of amusement and confusion until she clarifies. "Getting inside someplace filled with all those pieces of art and rare book collections without knowing the floors map."
Oh. Right...
There is that.
You tilt your head down and chuckle. Because of course Alex would feel awkward in such circumstances, like walking around blindfolded. Especially if she ends up tempted to get a... uh... souvenir of the evening. Usually, she would never steal from a person, you know that, but you also think that getting a memento from the person who has possibly stolen from her could be considered a justifiable exception.
Luckily, you have a solution ready to soothe her concerns.
"Well, if it can help you be a little less nervous, I may have taken a more thorough look around the place before I left." You tell her, enjoying the look of surprise that shapes Alex's features. "Noticed a few cameras and what seemed like a fuse box nearby the office."
"Oh, did you now?" This time it is Alex's voice that turns almost seductive in hearing that juicy information.
You nod, feeling so oddly flustered at the admission, but in a very good way, especially considering how pleased Alex looks.
She calls you brilliant, flashes you that charming, knee-buckling, heart-fluttering smile of hers and then leans in, kissing you so softly on the lips that whatever part of you was still intact after seeing that smile, simply melts away.
When she pulls back there is a little less excitement and a lot more tentativeness in her eyes though.
Something that resembles uncertainty and an unexpected sudden shade of vulnerability.
It startles you a bit and clenches your stomach with a pang of concern.
"What is it?" You ask her, worried.
Alex shakes her head, offers you another smile, but it's strained and just barely twitching. "Nothing, I just..."
You wait, unconsciously holding your breath until she finally speaks.
"I was wondering why did you ask for the report. Why did you search for that gem in the first place?"
It takes you by surprise hearing that again question, and you are about to tell her the same thing you told her last night, repeat her that you just wanted to help, but... you can see in her eyes, more than hear in those questions, the one hidden within those two, the most obvious one that it actually surprises you haven't caught before. The unspoken, and understandable, "Why are you really helping me?"
There is no accusation or doubt or suspicious in her gaze, and even if there were, meaning that she might not trust you, it would hurt yes, but you couldn't fault her for that for not even a second.
Your core of a journalist, or aspirant journalist, or whatever, has flared a bit at the possibility of finding out something like that, pretty much like it did when you first started to suspect of Alex being the infamous Red Rose Thief.
But there was something more pushing you into action than the simple motivation of the satisfaction that finding that gem for her would have brought you...
You look at Alex, green eyes carefully studing you with a gentle scrutiny, not invasive, just taking a glimpse beneath the surface, trying to put together the pieces of the real reason that she can see scattered in your blue pools, while patiently waiting for you to answer.
You swallow, thickly because a lump always tightens your throat when you think about one of the main reasons that have motivated you, whenever you think about your grandmother, about the ring she left you, the one she wanted you to have and no one else.
And then you think back about the look on Alex's face that night she told you of that tiny gem and talked about her mother with heartbreak and fondness carved in her features...
"Remember the ring I showed you?" You ask her at last, although it's completely unnecessary knowing that she certainly hasn't forgotten something that she's made and that has allowed you to find her. Still, you wait until she nods before continuing.
"At first I didn't even know that my grandmother left it to me. I didn't even remember it to be honest." You admit and it's true, all you knew at the time was that one of the most important persons in your life was gone. "But... If I knew that someone stole it, if I knew someone stole the last thing she left me I would want to at least try and search for it, find a way to get it back. Not because of the value or because it reminded me of her because nothing will ever make me forget of her. But because she wanted me to have the symbol of something that has made her... happy."
You don't say the word.
You don't say that she probably left it to you because she wanted you to have the same luck she did romantically. Being that explicit would be too much. But Alex is already looking at you with that expression that is soft understanding, like she knows, like she already understands what you said, or better, didn't say.
So you just swallow, blinking away the tears threatening to fill your eyes and then continue.
"Your mother kept aside that gemstone and wanted you to have it because she had probably already seen your interest in jewels, and knew that if your talent would have blossomed during the years, you would have done something amazing with it."
Alex stays silent after you finish, looking a bit stunned actually as if she has never considered that one as a possibility.
You give her a small, tender - although nervous - smile, folding your hands in your lap, picking at the loose threat of your shirt to resist the temptation to reach out and grasp her hand.
Because even if what you just told her is the truth, at the same time it's not the whole truth that answers why you are really helping her.
It's something that has more to do with words that have been swelling in your chest and crawling their way up to tease the tip of your tongue for some time now just at the thought of Alex.
Nonetheless, you have been sincere.
Mostly.
But when her gaze clears and she sees that sincerity in your eyes as much as she heard it in your voice and believes you, and smiles at you, with soft earnest green eyes that have gotten glossy and nostalgic at the mention of her mom... even if you are just guarding youself, the way your heart clenches with the emotion you keep imprisoned there in front of that look, still makes you feel a bit like a liar.
I know you guys have been missing some smut lately, and I'm truly flattered that you enjoy so much what I come up with when I play with these two in that way, lol, so if you have some requests, please send me a PM, I can't promise anything, but I always take in consideration your ideas, especially if they meet my own headcanons about Vauseman :) Early Vauseman though, since, as you know, I'm far behind with the episodes of the show. Anyway, about this feelings-leaking chapter, it was kind of wrapped in a domestic bliss but after that non-fight, I thought it would have been nice give them this moment of quietness and stability, exception made of course for Piper struggling with her blossoming feelings for Alex :)