Claudia was always the last to bed at night (more so now that she had Leena's company once everyone had gone upstairs), and Myka was always the first one up in the morning since Leena had passed on, because Leena had always been up at first light to make the breakfast. Myka had always been close behind her, usually waking up a few minutes before her alarm when off.
Which is how she woke up that morning, aware of a feeling of contentedness flowing over her, followed by acknowledging that that was due, in some part, to the soft weight of HG pressed upon her. HG was still asleep, one hand wrapped around Myka's hip, the other resting, curled, knuckles against Myka's sternum. HG's face was almost obscured entirely by her hair, and Myka was careful to only make small movements when she moved it out of her face, the softness still remarkable against her fingers. And then, there it was, HG's face, resting on Myka's chest. There was truly no better sight in the morning light. No better sight to wake up to. A former killer, reformed, tamed and sleeping peacefully in the arms of someone she trusted. Myka's palms ached with the responsibility of it all; to be that trusted person, to be here in her bed with HG Wells sleeping soundly while draped across her torso.
Waking up with the softness of HG spread over her like a blanket was decadent, luxurious. Myka studied the face so close to hers in the shadows of dawn, highlighting her bone structure, those cheekbones, that mouth... Myka's fingers drifted towards HG's face again, settling instead for wrapping around the base of HG's skull, reveling in the soft moan from HG as her face resettled against Myka's chest.
Myka panicked when her alarm went off, partially because she'd lured HG into her bed last night under the guise of keeping her warm, and now in the bleak morning light sifting through the net curtain, it was warm enough that they didn't need to be so... entwined. She also panicked partially because the armistice of last night was over now, and HG might regret having come here with Myka, might regret letting Myka hold her through the night to keep her warm. HG might resent Myka for knowing that she'd been crying, might push away in the daylight after coming so close in the darkness, might pull away and leave Myka alone and worried that she'd overstepped HG's boundaries.
There came a chuckle from the vicinity of Myka's chest.
''Sorry darling, I'm a little possessive in my sleep. I did try to warn you." The hand on Myka's hip released its grip, resting gently over Myka's ribcage instead. Myka hoped HG couldn't feel how her heartbeat had sped up as she wondered what it would be like to be possessed by HG, what it would be like to wake up like this and not have HG apologise for touching her like this..
HG didn't raise her face from Myka's chest, made no attempt to get up or even move away from Myka. Myka relaxed a little and let her hand smooth over the glossy mane of HG's hair, let the moment last a little longer, relieved that none of her fears had come to fruition.
"I have to get up," Myka finally said with reluctance and she felt HG's yawn against her chest. She was aware again that straight women didn't calmly wake up with bisexuals - or whatever HG was, she'd never used a label, perhaps she was pansexual? - draped over them and just continue to remain draped upon... she was aware that a straight woman would have gently jostled their friend off of them, not luxuriated in the calm rhythm of their friend breathing atop them, not let the heartbeat of their friend seep into their chest like a favourite childhood song.
"You are much more comfortable than my mattress," HG said into Myka's collarbone, and then HG was propping herself on her elbows to move off of Myka to let her get up but she looked up for a moment, face close to Myka's and the effort it would take for Myka to raise her head just a little was negligible as HG loomed over her, forearms on either side of Myka, trapping her beneath HG as she looked down at her. And then HG was on the far side of the bed, legs slowly untangling from Myka's, HG yawning again.
"May I stay a little longer?" HG asked, turned away as Myka prepared to get dressed for the day.
"Stay as long as you like. I thought Claudia fixed your door?"
"Oh it'll open for you, or for her, but after dark it won't open for me," HG finally admitted.
"Secret caretaker business?" Myka asked, fastening her shirt, glancing back over her shoulder at HG.
"Probably. Abigail will be back soon. It only started after she left, I think. Don't mention it to Claudia though, would you? Don't want to make her feel... Incapable..."
Myka nodded.
"I'll go open your door," Myka said unnecessarily as HG stretched out in Myka's bed. HG rolled over and the pillow beneath her smelled like Myka and HG would let her consciousness be smashed with a rock, would stand at the edge of an explosion to shield this woman, she would sacrifice it all for Myka but she still felt indebted to Myka for sharing her bed and her warmth the night before, like it was something that HG couldn't repay. Which was a bit silly, because HG owed Myka a much larger debt for preventing HG from being the villain she had so badly wanted to be out of hurt, out of pain... but the idea of a world existing without a Myka in it was too much for even HG to imagine, and her imagination was unfettered, only bound by paper.
Myka brought two coffees back upstairs with her; standing in HG's doorway she watched the other agent rifle through her books for a minute, jotting something down on paper. HG hadn't finished dressing; her shirt was deliciously untucked and unbuttoned and her waistcoat hung from her shoulders. HG looked up with a distant, distracted smile before focusing on the coffee, then on Myka with genuine pleasure.
"I forgot to check your door last night," Myka said shamefacedly. HG tucked in her shirt and took the coffee, smiling her thanks, letting her fingers glide over Myka's like a cormorant into water, and then HG was sipping the coffee and Myka was watching HG's mouth.
Again.
HG's eyes closed in bliss at that first sip, and Myka knew she'd made it just how HG liked it but the confirmation made her glow.
"Darling, we only had the one hot water bottle and we were both cold. I'm a scientist, or at least I used to be, and you're a rational, practical person. We both know that any other use of the heat equation would not have been half as efficient. I was very cold last night, and I thank you for sharing your... your warmth. The logistics would have been the same whether the door theory was tested or not."
"Oh, it's a theory now, is it?" Myka teased, relieved that HG hadn't thought that Myka had used subterfuge. That Myka hadn't coerced HG into her bed, although she had, kind of, she remembered bundling HG straight into bed, but she also remembered HG's hands like ice between hers, the urgency she'd felt to get HG warmed up in case she somehow turned to ice in front of her, like one of the recurring nightmares she had about HG. HG, always being frozen into a solid state or virtualised. HG always being slightly out of Myka's grasp.
The door had been open, all this time, but HG had never come in willingly. Myka's smile faded and her morning felt tainted somehow. HG noticed.
"Not a theory so much as a hunch," HG said, resting her hand on Myka's forearm, trying to dissuade whatever she saw in Myka's eyes. Myka shook her head and laughed.
"Well, if it happens again, you're always welcome."
"The Warehouse is still miffed, I think, and as always your offer is appreciated, but I can't impose on you like that." HG paused, licked her lips, trying to think how to phrase that the temptation of Myka's body was too much for HG to withstand. Myka's smile slipped again. "It's not fair on you," HG followed up quickly, seeing Myka's face drop.
"Being shut out of your room is hardly fair on you either. I thought you'd come home, I thought you'd... I thought you'd made this your home, but you're still pulling away." HG looked at her hand, still on Myka's arm and bit her lip.
"It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, because I do. Myka, it's not fair to you because..." HG took a deep breath, ready to explain that Myka was the reason she'd come home to the Warehouse, was the reason HG was still alive, was the reason HG found hope every day in this doomed world of capitalism and destitution but Trailer bounded in through the open door to HG's room and they both turned to see Claudia at the door, Myka absently patting Trailer.
"Door still playing up?" Claudia asked. "I can move you to a room in one of the other wings," Claudia said, a little ashamed that she hadn't told the B&B to let HG into her room and turn the heat back on last night, distracted by chess with Leena who kept looking off into the distance and smiling. Claudia had been hoping that the Warehouse and by extension the B&B knew what it was doing. "One with a door that works." HG looked over at Myka, at Myka's door, visible from her own and shook her head.
"It will be the same anywhere, and at least here I have a nice view." HG gave Myka an appraising look that made her blush and pat Trailer vigorously, bending down to let her hair cover her burning face. "And hospitable neighbours. Myka kindly donated her hot water bottle last night," HG said, patting Trailer as well, her fingers always managing to trail against Myka's. Claudia nodded, trying not to look pleased with this latest development.
Claudia had Words with the B&B, and the central heating was never at fault again, but every few days HG still managed to get locked out of her room.
The first time, she didn't knock, but she didn't go downstairs. She leaned against her closed door and let out a deep breath. She took a step towards Myka's door, the stepped back again, pressing her back against her own door behind her. She stepped forwards again, the veered off down the hallway, then back again, then detoured towards Myka's room, then stepped back towards her own door.
"Come in if you're coming in," Myka finally called from behind the door, and HG was mortified that Myka had heard her indecision. She pressed gently against the door and it gave under the pressure of her hand, revealed Myka propped up on her side on one elbow, watching HG curiously.
"My door..." HG started to uselessly explain, but Myka simply lifted the covers in front of her as though she expected HG to get into bed with her.
So HG got into bed with her.
At first she considered getting in facing Myka so she could watch her as she fell asleep, but that felt like it would be too much so she turned her back to Myka as she settled in the bed in front of her. Myka tucked the covers over HG, tucking her arm over HG's waist and HG felt like a baby chick, safe and warm and tucked away. HG released a long, shaky breath, and Myka's arm tightened around her.
"You're safe here," Myka said quietly, and HG let her hand cover Myka's finally knowing that Myka wanted her there as much as HG wanted to be there.