"Even without Northern Lights, The Machine will find a way to maintain National Security," Reese had said earlier that day. Now, hundreds of miles away riding through the dusk on the back of a motorbike being driven by someone who up until recently had been an enemy, Shaw rolled her eyes.
After dark, Root finally pulled off the freeway in a small town. They'd refueled a few times, swapped drivers. Shaw had rested her hands on the engine block when Root drove, but Root had no qualms about gripping Shaw's torso tight, not an inch of space between them as Root pressed herself against Shaw. Even through her coat, Shaw could feel the thump of Root's heart, beating on her ribcage, could feel the warmth of Root's breath where it left the helmet, brushing past Shaw's neck. And when Shaw was pillion, it seemed Root was daring her to not hold her, the way she took corners. Once or twice Shaw had had to grab at Root's waist or thighs to keep herself upright on the corners, feeling her knee almost brushing the ground. Shaw's thighs ached as she loosened her deathgrip on the bike, and she stumbled when she dismounted.
Root's hand shot out to support Shaw, but Shaw veered away, then stepped back in to catch Root when she slipped taking off her helmet, hands under Root's elbows on the soft leather jacket she was wearing, Root's hand coming back up to hold Shaw's waist, Shaw looking up into her green eyes…
Root's eyes weren't green. Neither was her face. Shaw looked up and saw the aurora, the glowing lights dancing over the mountains to the North. She blinked, but they remained, and even though Shaw could feel the icy snow beneath her feet, could feel where the slush had spun up from the tyres and through her pants, could feel Root's gaze on her face she couldn't find herself wanting to move from where she was, the warmth of Root as she pulled tighter against her, still sliding a little on the snow. Shaw could see Root's face, close to her own now, tilt upwards to watch the dancing lights, could feel the soft heat coming from the neck of her jacket, wafting up deliciously warm under her chin. Shaw let her hands adjust to the new position, going up to Root's biceps, finally feeling stable on the ground beneath her, feeling something like awe at the sight she was witness to.
"The Northern Lights," Shaw said finally.
"Must be a sign," Root said sardonically, still looking up.
"I used to… they named…"
"I know," Root said.
"The view is... it's amazing,"
"Yes," Root agreed, but Shaw could tell Root was no longer looking up at the sky because her warm, familiar breath was brushing across Shaw's cheeks, cold now outside the confines of the helmet. Shaw was still entranced by the lights, still aware of her surroundings and when she did risk a glance at Root she was closer than Shaw had remembered.
"Amazing," Root agreed again, and it was only a matter of an inch or so for Root to bring her mouth to Shaw's but it seemed like it took an eternity, the lights shifting across Root's face, over her shoulder, all around them, Root's grip on Shaw's sides so soft and easy to break but Shaw found herself unable to move away, unable to look away and when Root's mouth descended on Shaw's upturned face, Shaw felt her gloved hands move to Root's shoulders, found herself opening her mouth to Root. Shaw closed her eyes, and Root felt what Shaw's body felt like when it wasn't tensed for action, for flight, felt what Shaw felt like when she was relaxed.
Root didn't pull away until she felt Shaw shiver in her arms. Root looked back up at the sky and Shaw did too.
"The sky is so clear here," Shaw said in wonder.
"No light pollution, even in the town centre," Root replied, looking away suddenly, removing her hands from Shaw's body, feeling the cold break in where they had been pressed together. "We should check in," Root said, grabbing the saddlebags they'd filled with gas-station supplies along the way and walking away on legs that were unsteady.
Shaw stayed a little longer, still looking up in wonder, until Root came back to her, took her unresisting hand and led her into the hotel. The warm air that blew over Shaw was like an oven, and she could feel how damp her shins were, how cold they were.
"We're upstairs," Root said in the unattended lobby. "We'll have to share."
Shaw cocked an eyebrow and Root chuckled, handed her a key. "Just wanted to see your face," Root said lightly, pressing the elevator button. Shaw took a bag from her, hoping they'd distributed the deodorant evenly between the bags. She'd been able to smell Root through the exhale valve while riding pillion, and it made her wonder if Root had been able to smell her too. Root had smelled nice. She'd smelled even nicer where her jacket had vented the air warmed by Root's body… Shaw shook her head.
The elevator dinged and they stepped on. "Adjoining rooms," Root said. Shaw nodded, fatigued. Root's still-gloved hand, the one that was still holding Shaw's, gripped tighter and Shaw didn't bother to raise her eyes to meet Root's in the mirrored doors with annoyance, didn't bother to pull her hand away. Shaw caught the ghost of a smile before Root ducked her head, letting her hair fall across her face.
The elevator dinged, and Shaw scanned the hallway out of habit. Empty, no cameras. Root walked away, and Shaw shook her head, followed her. Why had she really come? They were barely any closer to Alaska, and Shaw had only gotten to hit one person today. She had been lured by the idea of stealing a jet, and perhaps a little with the company. Doing a job with Root was fun; it always was when your teammate matched your skill and energy.
Root paused in front of the door number that matched the number on Shaw's keycard. "We're only a few miles from the airport, but we have to wait until third shift to steal the right plane, and we need to be alert."
"What jet?"
"A Maule. I'm hoping you can fly one?" Root asked, taking off her gloves and opening a saddlebag.
"I'll give it a shot," Shaw said, wishing it had been a Cessna.
"Then when we're finished we'll do a hop over to BC, where we'll be passengers on a flight down to Miami. First class, of course."
"Atta girl," Shaw said halfheartedly. Shaw knew there was a bed behind that door.
"Here's your license and clearance to fly from the airfield," Root continued, handing a package over to Shaw. Shaw stepped back, surprised for a moment, and Root used the advantage to press Shaw against the hallway wall. Her right hand came up and tucked the package in Shaw's pocket, then her hand lingered, pressed close over Shaw's lower ribs under her jacket. Root looked down at her hand, then up at Shaw's face. Shaw suddenly knew that Root's hand was about a foot higher than both of them wanted it to be; she also knew that if Root moved that hand that little bit lower, slipped in inside Shaw's waistband, Shaw wouldn't stop her. She'd let Root take her against the wall in this cameraless hallway in Nowhere, Ontario. Root's fingers dragged as she pulled her hand away, leaning in close to Shaw's ear. "Sweet dreams," Root breathed, and Shaw felt her flesh goosepimple in the wake of the words. Root pulled back to check Shaw's face, then she leant in, mouth slack and open when it met Shaw's own exhausted lips. Shaw felt her mouth giving way to Root, felt herself melt against the wall, and then Root stepped away, unlocking her own room. Root smiled shyly, letting her hair fall across her face, closed the door behind her, and Shaw was left catching her breath.
Shaw was tired, that was all. Nothing more.
Nothing to do with the confidence of Root, the way she handled Shaw's body like she knew Shaw would allow her, the way Shaw complied so readily to her touch, was left aching with desire.
Shaw unlocked her own door a moment later, noting the adjoining door. She did a quick recon of the room; no surveillance. She heard the shower running and unlocked the adjoining door. The other door was locked, and Shaw picked it in moments, walking into Root's room. Shaw did another quick recon, then grabbed one of the deodorants from Root's saddlebag, exchanged it for one of the tourist shirts from the gas station. She looked toward the bathroom, the door cracked, steam wending enticingly from the gap, and for a moment she hesitated before going back to her own door, locking both doors behind her.
A second later she turned the snib again on her own door. Locks meant nothing to Root, and a locked door was an invitation.
Shaw opened the curtains, the aurora still boldly playing over the empty landscape. She thought back to the hallway, thinking back to Root's confidence. Shaw had not been with women much, she found them too timid, worse than men when it came to emotions. But Root was the kind of woman that could walk into a room and own it, the kind of woman who could handle two guns at once, the kind of woman that Shaw would be with if she wanted to be with a woman.
Root is the kind of woman who has been able to kiss Shaw several times now, and able to leave her wordless and unobjecting each time.
There was something sexy about that kind of confidence.
Shaw showered, glad of the fresh shirt, came back into the warm room wearing just that. She was disappointed that the door was still closed. She faced the window as she got into bed, still enamored of the night sky. She cleaned her gun for something to do, then turned in for the night, one eye on the door.
Shaw awoke, aware of a difference somewhere, aware that the air had shifted somehow. Though Shaw still faced the window, she could see dim light from the cracked door between the rooms, Root's lights still on behind her, casting a shadow. Shaw lay still, let herself relax. Former assassin or not, if Root was a threat she'd have acted by now. If Root was a threat she'd have killed Shaw in a field miles ago, left her body to be buried under the snow. If Root was a threat she'd have got them a twin room or something. If Root was a threat… if Root was a threat she wouldn't kiss Shaw like that, Shaw thought, the tenderness of Root's kisses a few hours ago breaking through to her now as a reality. Root had nothing to gain from kissing Shaw out here in Nowhere, and she could have dispatched Shaw easily if that had been her intent.
Root had kissed Shaw selfishly, because she had wanted to. Not to bed her, or create an alliance, or to work her way between Shaw and her team. Although those could all be factors; Root was sneaky, always a few steps ahead. But Shaw held felt the sense that Root had been unable to resist Shaw's unturned face as she watched the night sky. Shaw had seen the galaxies eclipsed by Root's eyes.
Shaw turned over then, looked at the sliver of light of the adjoining room, the shadow of Root's body where it blocked the light.
Shaw watched, heart pounding, as the door was pulled closed again. Shaw swallowed her disappointment, turned back over to watch the lights.
Notes:
So I don't have a 4af update because this had been lodged in my brain.
Companion music: Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip
I was out in North Ontario a few years ago and the night sky is so cool and crisp and stunning that I couldn't not put them there.
This was going to be part of a '5 times Root kissed Shaw (and one she didn't)' but I don't know if this should be separate or if I should build up yet another world around this road trip. Let me know your thoughts.
