"Demon, I show three more bad guys approaching on your six."
As helpful as Nyssa usually found Felicity's voice in her ear, in this particular instance she tried not to roll her eyes. "I am aware," she grunted, kicking the assailant in front of her square in the chest and turning to face the approaching trio.
They'd made no effort to hide or quiet their approach. The one on the left was even so bold as to drag the edge of the baseball bat he carried along the chain-link fence that surrounded the alley. He received a tranquilizer bolt in the thigh from Nyssa's small crossbow. He dropped like a stone, bat clattering on the pavement.
The two remaining men saw their fallen comrade and rushed her.
Nyssa smiled as the first man's wild swing sailed over her head as she crouched and struck him in the groin with sharp jab. His high-pitched shriek told her that his desire to fight was quite gone. The last man before her hardly seemed worth the effort. His eye darted between the barely moving bodies littering the darkened alley and swallowed. His hands went to the knife hilt in his waistband, but before he had a chance to draw it Nyssa's boot landed heavily on his chin. She winced slightly as he hit the ground face first into a puddle of unidentifiable liquid.
"Nyssa! Watch out," Felicity shouted in her ear.
She turned to see the man she'd kicked in the chest, whom she'd assumed was unconscious, lurch toward her, knife in hand. Her brain moved quicker than her body. She could redirect, if not disarm. Time slowed. Nyssa watched the knife get closers, prepared herself for the shock of contact.
Contact that never came.
From the dark recess of the alley, a hurtling form emerged milliseconds before Nyssa's attacker could strike. A heavy baton landed on his wrist, breaking it and sending the knife careening away. A roundhouse punch along his chin spun him before gravity once again drug his now limp body to the ground.
"This," Laurel panted, "is why we work in pairs."
Nyssa knew Laurel couldn't see her raised eyebrow behind her mask, so she gave the other woman a wink. "It's not really my fault if you can't match my pace. Perhaps you should up your cardio."
Laurel moved closer, edging into Nyssa's personal space. "That's not what you said the other night, when you were trying to catch your breath."
The heat coming off Laurel made Nyssa lean closer, absorbing it and the heady smell of leather, adrenalin, and a fragrance that was uniquely Laurel. "Perhaps we could both use a workout." Nyssa's lips drew within a hairsbreadth of Laurel's.
"Um, guys," Felicity's slightly hesitant voice sounded in both their ears. "First, I'm going to remind you of the NSFW agreement we all made last week."
Nyssa dropped her head against Laurel's shoulder, groaning slightly. This was not the first time she'd completely forgotten that the blonde could hear, and thanks to her advanced 3D tech, see everything.
"And second," Felicity continued, "Speedy and Green Arrow are about to take the roof access, so you might want to cover the back door."
"We're ready," Laurel acknowledged, taking a step back from Nyssa and squeezing her supportively on the shoulder.
The sound of glass shattering and running feet approaching had them fully focused on their job a moment later, as they scooped up and neutralized the gang members exiting the warehouse.
Not even an hour later, briefcase in hand, looking every inch the dedicated Assistant District Attorney, Laurel ascended the steps to the police station. She'd starred jealously after Nyssa, Thea, and Oliver as they'd headed back to the Arrow loft, while she responded to her boss's texted instructions. Sometimes she really hated that he had a police scanner.
Laurel walked into her father's office and sat lightly on one of the rickety wooden chairs he liked to torture visitors with. "I heard you had a breakthrough in the human trafficking case earlier tonight. The DA asked me to drop off the deposition forms so we can get a jump on the hearings."
Quentin didn't bother looking up from his paperwork, but a somewhat unwilling smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "It's not enough that you practically giftwrap an entire gang, but now you're beating me at the paperwork too." His voice was quiet, careful not to be overheard. "Maybe I should just retire and let you break someone new in."
Laurel chuckled. "As if anyone could get you out of this office."
"Damn right. It's my office."
"And I've had a long day at work." Laurel rose and set the depositions on his desk.
"Don't 'work' so hard next time." He used his fingers to make air quotes. "You're not getting any younger."
"Thanks a lot." Laurel swatted him on the shoulder. "Be nice or I'll tell Nyssa not to bother making the baklava for desert tomorrow night."
Quentin's mouth dropped open in protest. "You don't look a day over twenty," he deadpanned.
"Your delivery needs work."
He shrugged, but leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you both at seven. And tell that daughter-in-law of mine that the pistachios are my favorite, not the walnuts."
Laurel rolled her eyes. "She knows. And she's not your daughter-in-law."
"The same way she wasn't your girlfriend." He wagged his eyebrows. "Why don't you get on that."
Laurel vowed to do a better job preventing her father and Felicity from spending time together. "See you tomorrow night, Dad."
Nyssa leaned back into the massaging spray of the shower. She had always been a proponent of baths. Nothing soothed and relaxed like the act of emerging oneself into hot fragrant water. Since establishing residence in the remodeled loft however, she'd changed allegiance.
Few household showers could boast ten separate programmable showerheads. Although Thea had hinted that Felicity and Oliver's bathroom might be even more extravagant. She wondered if Felicity might have some kind of water fetish. Whatever the motivating force behind it, Nyssa could only be grateful to the blonde's attention to detail.
Arms fully outstretched, Nyssa was unable to touch two walls at the same time. There was also a setting that turned the entire area into a modified steam room, complete with bench. She groaned, thinking about the bench and all the ways she'd like to spread her girlfriend out across its surface. Perhaps Felicity wasn't the only one with a water fetish.
Picking up the bar of rose scented soap that Laurel favored, Nyssa began lathering her body, spending more time than was truly necessary gliding over the globes of her breasts and now rock hard nipples. A heavy sigh escape escaped her. It really wasn't the same as having Laurel's long fingered hands trail over her body. She turned to face the pounding water, rinsing the soap from her body.
"Talk about leaving your audience wanting," Laurel's voice echoed against the stone tiles.
Nyssa smiled and turned to look at Laurel over her shoulder. She'd clearly been in the process of undressing upon entering the bathroom. Gone was the jacket and skirt of her suit, along with her heels and stockings. All that remained was a silk long sleeve dress-shirt barely covering Laurel's modesty. "You seemed to be overdressed."
"I was distracted." Laurel's fingers reached down, undoing one button then another, until they reached the tails of the shirt.
Nyssa had a moment to appreciated the pale stripe of skin revealed before the silk slid down Laurel's arms and pooled on the floor. Apparently Laurel had already discarded whatever panties she'd been wearing earlier in the day. That, or she'd forgone them altogether. Nyssa wasn't certain which scenario suited her more. All that remained was the barest wisp of lace encasing Laurel's breasts. Laurel's hands went behind her back to release the hooks just as Nyssa took the two steps needed to bring her into contact with the other woman.
Lips met, along with breasts and thighs. Nyssa buried her hands in Laurel's hair. "You are perfect," she murmured in between kisses. "So, very perfect."
The words seemed to please Laurel, if her reaction was any indication. Nyssa's feet left the ground as Laurel's hands each grabbed a firm cheek and lifted. She gasped as the cold tile of the shower met her back, but Laurel's warmth pressed against her front drove the shock from her mind.
Wrapping her legs securely around Laurel's waist, Nyssa luxuriated in the feel of so much smooth skin against her own. Without intending to she found her hips rocking slightly, trying to achieve some amount of friction.
Laurel's lips left Nyssa's to trail down her neck. "Someone's eager."
"Always for you." Nyssa let her head loll back against the wall. It was true. The mere sight of Laurel was usually enough to force Nyssa's mind off track, but a naked Laurel within reach – Nyssa became very focused. As good as this position felt, with the warmth of the water and Laurel, she wanted more. Dropping her legs once again to the ground, Nyssa forced Laurel back with a gentle shove. "I am decidedly more interested in having a soft bed beneath me as you fuck me into oblivion," Nyssa whispered before shutting off the water and exiting the shower. She threw a questioning glance over her shoulder, smirking at the haste with which Laurel belatedly followed.
Nyssa barely had enough time to wrap a towel loosely around herself before Laurel had once again lifted her from her feet and carried her the rest of the way to their bed.
Laurel woke with a smile on her face. She was warm, content, and slightly sore.
The good sore. The kind she had come to associate with nights spent making love to Nyssa Raatko. There was no halfway with her girlfriend. Laurel was certain she'd developed more muscle tone solely from their amorous activities.
After six months, they'd grown as a couple. Yes, there had been fights and disagreements. How could there not be? But they'd adjusted and settled even more firmly into a partnership.
Laurel thought of the box she'd given her father to hold on to. The delicate ring inside that she hoped would reside on Nyssa finger from this night on.
Nyssa shifted in her sleep, burying her nose further into Laurel's neck.
Laurel pulled Nyssa tighter against her body and allowed her eyes to close once again.