"You sure about this?"
"Well, it couldn't hurt, right?"
Sui-Feng had never really been one for gyms, mostly hating the hassle, and especially the costs. Still, there were a few things that warranted a properly equipped environment, and fortunately for them the apartment building had a functional exercise room complete with padded mats. So, that's where she was that morning, with Yoruichi right beside her going through stretches in a tight-fitting tank top and a flattering pair of sweatpants. Sui-Feng had also never considered sweatpants to be remotely close to flattering before, but here she was, admiring the way they looked on her girlfriend. Maybe she really was turning into one of those lovestruck goofballs.
"Really, couldn't hurt?" she asked dryly, doing her best to dismiss the way her eyes were wandering of their own volition.
"Well, you'll take it easy on me, right?" Yoruichi responded, with a wink.
For some unfathomable reason, her girlfriend had asked that they spar together. Or, more accurately, get taught how to spar, because they were both extremely aware that there was a wide gap in experience and skill between them. It was definitely an odd request, but one that Sui-Feng didn't really mind fulfilling – provided the other girl was actually taking it seriously.
"Well, we can't do too much. I've still got classes today," she said as they finished with their stretches. In a real fight there wouldn't be time for warmups, but this was as far removed from that as they could be. "So, let's start with the basics. Show me a punch."
"I think I can at least do that much," Yoruichi said dismissively.
"Is that so?" Sui-Feng asked, an eyebrow raised. She stepped across the mats until she was right in front of the other girl, not even bothering to raise her guard, leaving her arms loose at her side. "Okay, show me."
"...you sure?" the older girl asked hesitantly, uncertainty flitting across her face now. When Sui-Feng didn't change her position at all, Yoruichi must've guessed that the order was serious, and she raised both her hands into the air. One more questioning look, which was met with yet more stoic attitude, then she threw her right arm forward in a loose jab.
Sui-Feng blocked it easily, catching the girl's fist directly with her hand and stopping it with barely any effort. If the older girl's stance had been better she might have taken it more seriously, but she'd known it would be lacking in force just from a quick glance.
"Okay," Yoruichi murmured, looking humbled. "Guess I can't punch."
"Your posture's all wrong," the younger girl explained as she released her hold, stepping in closer to adjust the other girl's positioning. "Stagger your feet apart, one ahead of the other. Elbows in close to your body. You want to step into your punches; you're don't want to hit with just your arm, you need weight behind it."
Yoruichi tried again, striking out once more. It was better, but still sloppy.
"Still swinging your arm out too much," Sui-Feng said, circling around behind the other girl, placing one hand on her arm, the other against her waist, leading her directly. "Keep it as straight as you can, tilt your wrist down a little so you're hitting with your front knuckles. Relax your hips and let your weight drop when your arm is done extending."
They repeated the motions a couple more times as she tried her best to coach.
"This'll all be muscle memory after some...practice..."
It suddenly occurred to her just what she was doing, and how closely she was pressed against her girlfriend, and backed away quickly, blushing heavily.
"Uh, that is, if you're going to practice," she said, coughing lightly to try and hide her embarrassment. "I still don't really know why you wanted to do all this."
"I thought it would be interesting," Yoruichi said, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes as she looked over, but she didn't say anything about what had just happened. "Not sure how much I'll use any of this, but since I'm always dragging you around to do things with me, I figured it was only fair to share some of the things you like."
"I don't really like getting into fights..." she said, and her girlfriend gave her an extremely doubtful look. "Okay, maybe I do. Did. A little. But it's not really something I should be proud about..."
"Hey, I'm not judging, honestly," Yoruichi said, smiling. "So what else can you show me?"
"Well..." Sui-Feng said, considering the options. "If you don't have the strength or the size, you'll need to rely a lot more on positioning and leverage. I'm not nearly as good with throws as I am with, uh...brawling, though."
"Well, I'm sure you still know a lot more than I do."
"Right...um," she started, stepping in front of the other girl again, placing a hand on her shoulder. "The idea is to get me off-balance, and then use my centre of gravity to bring me to the ground. So, left leg against my right leg, on the inside, and your hands on my left shoulder and braced on my arm."
Yoruichi followed her instructions and positioned herself.
"Now sweep my leg to side, and use your upper body to push me over."
It wasn't the smoothest move ever, but the other girl managed it, and Sui-Feng felt her leg swept out from under her, and with nothing to maintain her balance even a little force was enough to make her topple over. The fall wasn't a problem – the mats were soft enough, and she knew how to hit the ground safely – but she'd forgotten that Yoruichi would be going down with her, and was now faced with the reality of her girlfriend straddling her right there in the gym. It was fortunate that they were the only two there.
"So, is this what you were planning on?" Yoruichi said, smiling down and batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
"No! It just kind of..." Sui-Feng stammered. She really wasn't trying to do any of this, it just kept happening to her. And, as flustered as she kept getting about it, a very large part of her wasn't actually minding all that much.
"I will admit, I was a little bit curious about what you did with this physique you like to keep up," the older girl said with a low voice, the words almost dancing from her tongue. Her body moved like a cat toying with its prey, and the movement shifted her leg ever so slightly, enough to make Sui-Feng notice that it was still right between hers, and she let out an involuntary groan as she felt it brush right against her.
Yoruichi didn't seemed to have remembered it either, because instead of continuing her play any further, she suddenly looked panicked, pulling away sharply. "Uh, sorry."
Sui-Feng let out a growl of frustration, balling her hands up and holding them against her head. "You're going to drive me absolutely crazy."
"What do you mean?" her girlfriend asked, her expression tentative and wary, and she looked ready to back away and get back on her feet. Not wanting to drop the matter, the Chinese girl quickly grabbed one of her arms and swept Yoruichi's legs out with her own, rolling them over and reversing the position they were in only seconds before.
"Oh no you don't," she said, a light scowl on her face, "Not until you tell me what's going on with you."
"I don't know what -" Yoruichi started, but was interrupted.
"You keep doing this, where you keep teasing and flirting with me, but the second it starts to go a little bit further you start running away."
"I thought we talked about this before," her girlfriend said, frowning slightly, but her eyes were averted to the side. "We were taking it slowly, remember?"
"If you haven't noticed, we've already been going out for a couple months now. And it would still be fine going slow if you didn't keep starting to take it further, then run off a moment later. I thought it was because you worried about what I would do, but you told me it wasn't, so I have no idea what this is about. You're sending all these mixed signals, and it's just...it's driving me insane."
"I...just..." Yoruichi murmured, looking suddenly uncomfortable, and not at all like her usual confident self. If she wasn't still pinned to the mat, she might've literally run off just then. "I just really want this to work."
"I'm not be an expert, but I'd say you've been doing just fine."
"Yeah, but...I want this to be a relationship, you know? Like, a real one, not just some passing thing. And then something like this happens, then I want to take it further, and...what if that's all this is? Just another game for me, and then it's all over..."
Sui-Feng almost wanted to laugh, but didn't. It sounded more like her, really, all the stupid assumptions and self-doubt that kept running circles. She reached down, cupping her girlfriend's cheek, forcing her to meet her eyes. "Hey, you're the one that keeps telling me not to be so down on myself, so how about you start doing the same. You really think you're that shallow?"
"...you don't think I could be?" Yoruichi asked, the insecurity in her voice apparent. It felt odd to the younger girl, having to be the one doing the reassuring for once.
"Not even a little," she answered confidently. "I trust you more than that."
"Just like that?" her girlfriend asked, a wry smile on her lips that wasn't quite reaching her eyes yet.
"There's no 'just' about it. You've had to earn it the hard way...but you have. Really." And she meant it, wholeheartedly. It seemed almost silly to think about now, but the other girl had never let her down, even when she hadn't been entirely deserving of it.
"...wow, you sure know how to make a girl feel special," Yoruichi said, the familiar warmth in her voice creeping back in, and a lot of the stiffness in her body was beginning to relax. Sui-Feng could only roll her eyes.
"So are we done being ridiculous?"
"Maybe...I guess..."
"Good," she said simply, before leaning down for a kiss. It took her girlfriend by surprise, but she leaned into all the same, until they pulled apart and Sui-Feng gave one last sarcastic smirk. "You know, there's no way this is going to work if we're both going to be insufferable idiots."
"I know, I know, it was a bit silly..." Yoruichi murmured, and for once looked like the embarrassed half of the couple. "It's just, relationships have only ever been about sex for me, and I just wanted this to be...more than that."
"You saying it's not that already?" Sui-Feng asked gruffly, but was entirely teasing. She already knew what the answer was, after all. "Besides, we've already gone that far already, even if neither of us can remember a thing about it."
"Point taken," the older girl said while laughing, a playful lilt returning to the sound. "Sorry I've been getting you all hot and bothered and not following up on it."
Huffing lightly, Sui-Feng could feel her face reddening again. How quickly things turned around. "Like I said, it's fine if you want to take it slow. Just don't drive me insane for dumb reasons."
"Well, maybe I can make it up to you now," her girlfriend said slyly, and quickly pulled her down for another kiss, this one much, much deeper. She could feel the other girl's hands brushing along the edges of her shirt, then felt the light touch of hands running against her sides, and moaned softly as they climbed higher along her skin. This time, it was her that had to pull away sharply.
"Dammit," she gasped out, breathing heavily. Once again, she was incredibly relieved they were the only ones in the gym right then. "I have classes."
"Play hookey," Yoruichi pressed, trying to pull her back.
"Can't," she stated, but found it exceedingly difficult to say it. Her girlfriend made a noise, obviously disappointed.
"Well then, something to remember for when you get back."
Before Sui-Feng could react she was locked in another kiss, feeling the other girl's tongue twirling around hers, and then she was wishing that she really could stay there all day.
There was something incredibly awkward about having everything just out in the open like they did now, and the anticipation that something was supposed to happen between them. Sui-Feng was caught between the butterflies fluttering in her stomach that were giving her a smile that just wouldn't fade away, and the nervous churning that almost made her want to run and hide. In the end, the only thing she could settle on was that anything that happened would happen.
"Hey, I brought take-out," she said as she walked into the apartment in the evening. She really wasn't in the mindset to cook anything herself, and settled on something simpler. Not that this way didn't pose it's own difficulties.
"So...garlic?" Yoruichi asked after she'd taken her first bite, a questioning look in her eyes.
"I, uh..." Sui-Feng coughed lightly, trying to mask her embarrassment. "Sorry, wasn't really thinking about, well...uh..."
"So, no hidden meaning?" her girlfriend asked, looking highly amused.
"No, I just...ugh, sorry."
When they were washing up the dishes, she was still feeling skittish, almost dropping a plate when the other girl's hand accidentally brushed against hers. Her girlfriend could only giggle at her, which made her feel even more self-conscious, until Yoruichi leaned over and gave her a brief kiss.
"You've been jumpy all night," she said teasingly, before wrapping her in a hug and rocking her back and forth. "I wonder why."
"You know damn well why," Sui-Feng growled out. She knew her face was burning red then, but it seemed like a time where it was more than justified.
"And here it was you reminding me that we've already gone all the way before."
"Except we were both piss drunk and can't remember any of it, so we might not have done anything except pass out naked in my bed."
"Good point," Yoruichi said, moving away a little so she could look down at the younger girl with a mischievous smile. "Well, how about we make it something to remember this time?"
She didn't even have time to respond before she found herself pressed back against the kitchen counter, her girlfriend's lips on hers, their tongues dancing aggressively, intimately entwined together. She could feel hands on her hips lifting her up suddenly, until she was barely supported against the cabinets, and she reflexively wrapped her arms around the other girl, pressing them even closer together. It seemed to last forever, neither of them wanting to separate, but it was Yoruichi that ended up pulling away first. They were both flushed and breathing heavily.
"You're really sure about this?" her girlfriend asked as she gasped for air, one last look of uncertainty in her eyes.
"What'd I say about driving me insane?" Sui-Feng growled out, before leaning in to forcefully claim the other girl's lips once again. They did manage to make it to the bedroom, eventually, but not much else was said that night.
When she stirred early the next morning, Yoruichi had this odd feeling of contentment, nestled in the soft sheets that were caressing her skin, and she didn't feel like moving anywhere. It wasn't hard to remember why, as her eyes fluttered slowly open, adjusting to the early light, and settled on her girlfriend laying across from her. She was already awake, naturally, peeking through half-lidded eyes that were curtained behind her hair, the long, black strands pooling across the bed. The sheets were only covering her loosely, falling just low enough to reveal her smooth, bare shoulders. There was a memory of another time much like this one, of waking up to a similar sight with entirely different feelings. It was incredible how much things had changed since then.
"Morning," Yoruichi murmured, her voice barely breaking the quiet mood. The other girl eyes flickered, focusing on her as if noticing her awake for the first time.
"Hi," Sui-Feng said just as quietly, looking like she had no wish to move from where she was lying.
"Something on your mind? You looked a little lost in thought there."
"Just...thinking about how weird this is."
"Not really what a girl likes to hear the morning after," Yoruichi said, chuckling a little, sending small vibrations along the bed.
"Not about that," the younger girl said, a light pink tinting her cheeks. "I meant, well, us. How we got here. I never would have considered anything like this when we first met, but when I woke up this morning, I just thought...I don't know, it felt right, somehow."
"I knew there was a romantic in you," she said, and smiled widely at the glare she received, enjoying the knowledge that some things would never change. If she was going to be a bit of romantic as well, she'd say that the look wasn't making the girl look any less beautiful either. "I know what you mean, and I was kind of thinking about it myself. We really did do this all backwards, didn't we?"
"What, started with the angry divorce and then into domestic bliss?" Sui-Feng asked, a lazy smirk on her lips, still looking comfortable just to stay exactly where she was.
Yoruichi shifted herself under the sheets, pulling herself closer until she could press herself against the other girl, feeling the warmth of bare skin against hers. She didn't really have any intentions behind the action, just wanting to feel the connection. "So I guess this would be our honeymoon period now. You know, I think that means we're supposed to spend all our time in bed."
"You're incorrigible," her girlfriend mumbled, even as she curled into the loose embrace. "But I'll admit, it does sound tempting."
"Tsk, don't go saying those things unless you really mean them."
"Sorry," Sui-Feng said, not sounding very sorry at all. "I never noticed your tattoo before."
Yoruichi felt a hand on her leg, fingers tracing along the place in question. It was rather distracting.
"Got a good look at it last night, did you?" she said. The touches on her skin paused slightly, and if she could see the other girl's face there was probably that customary shy blush that was so much fun to watch. She'd gotten the mark on her leg a couple of years ago, mostly on a whim. Thankfully she still liked the way it looked, especially whenever she got to show it off. "We could get you one if you'd like. Maybe a cute little bee on your shoulder. Or maybe something a little more elegant, like a butterfly."
"I'll think about it," her girlfriend mumbled, her tone making it fairly clear that she wasn't really considering it. Her breath was light and airy, and Yoruichi felt it brushing against her collar, tickling ever so slightly. "So, still think you're going to run off any second now, or are we good?"
"Only 'good'? That's another of those words a girl doesn't like hearing the morning after," she joked, and jumped slightly when felt a pinch on her thigh for the comment.
"Fine, I'm feeling absolutely wonderful," Sui-Feng said, almost purring out the words. "At least until I have to get up and remember that I actually have to do things. So, what about you?"
"I feel just perfect," Yoruichi said, pressing a soft kiss on the top of the other girl's head. She didn't know what she had ever been so worried about. "But I might need a little reminding. You know, that offer to play hookey still stands. Why don't we just stay here all day, I'm sure we'll find something to keep ourselves occupied."
"Again, tempting offer, but..."
"I know, I know. Don't worry about it," she said, her hands idly running through long, soft, black hair, and felt the other girl leaning into her touch. "No need to rush, we've got plenty of time."