December 21, 2014

There were bird noises outside the window; dawn was on the way. Root stood and stretched.

"Thank you for the hospitality," Root said, shrugging on her jacket, then her coat, still holding her sore arm a little stiffly by her side. "Have a nice sleep today."

With that Shaw leaned down and kissed Shaw on the left cheek, then moved to the right the same time Shaw did. Root's mouth caught the corner of Shaw's; she didn't pull away or deepen the contact immediately, just waited a moment. Shaw didn't move, and Root pulled away a little, eyes on Shaw's mouth. "See you in the subway," Root said as she straightened.

December 21, 2017

Gen walked into the longue room, surprised to see Shaw sprawled out on the couch, Bear nowhere in sight. Shaw stirred as Gen put the dallah on the stove.

"You're a good kid," Shaw said earnestly as she watched Gen grind the beans. "I mean it."

"I know you don't say anything you don't mean by now, Shaw, and thanks. Someone taught me well," Gen smiled up at Shaw, who patted her on the shoulder and moved to the fridge. "How does aunty Sam like her coffee? She's still her, isn't she?"

"Yeah, I made her take the bed. War wounds." Shaw shrugged, then winced and rubbed her shoulder.

"You've got them too, and it's your house," Gen said.

"I... couldn't make her sleep on the couch," Bear trotted in then. "And you, traitor. Letting yourself get locked in the laundry just because Root gives you a nice bone? Some guard dog you are," Shaw scoffed.

"That coffee smells divine," Root said, padding into the kitchen on bare feet, long legs barely covered by a pair of Shaw's shorts. She kissed Shaw on the cheek, who blushed but didn't move away, and ruffled Gen's messy bed hair. In the daylight it was easier to notice the way one hand lagged at her side. Shaw busied herself frothing the milk.

"What are we doing today?" Gen asked, waiting for the dallah to boil.

Shaw looked at Root.

"Can we... can we go down the river?"

"Down by the bridge?" Shaw asked quietly, and Root nodded. "Mind if Fusco joins us?" Root shook her head.

"You want to call Finch?" Shaw asked. "I'm sure he'd want to know you're..."

"Not just yet. May I?" Root asked, indicating toward Shaw's laptop on the kitchen counter. Shaw nodded, and Root barely even looked up when Shaw placed a coffee next to her. Shaw watched Root's fingers dance on the keyboard the way they always had. Finally, Root looked up.

"She knows. I'll call Finch. Shaw, is it... can I stay a few days? Just until I get something sorted out. I don't have the same... contacts... I used to." Root touched her right ear self-consciously.

"I'll get an air mattress or something," Shaw said, and Gen frowned. Root sipped her coffee then, sighed with enjoyment.

"Thank you for the coffee," Root said.

December 21, 2014

Shaw woke up disoriented in the afternoon, confused at the sunlight slipping in through the window. She thought back on the night before, remembering the stories Root had told her, of aliases and assassinations, remembered how softly Root had kissed her when she'd moved her head the wrong way, remembered how she'd waited on Shaw before pulling away. Shaw groaned and got dressed. She had the day off work; she might as well go to the subway, knock out some more machines.

December 21, 2017

Fusco had been pleased to see Root, if a little shocked. The day in the dim sunlight had been good for all of them, Fusco and Lee dragging Shaw and Gen into a game of catch, Root calling Finch as they played, holding her phone up to let him watch the fun. Bear was filled with excitement, and any time he got too boisterous with Lee or Gen, Shaw barked out a command that had him trotting placidly to her side to sit and calm down.

"I was so sure... forgive me, Miss Groves," Finch had said, and Root had waved him off.

"I was safe. I need a new transplant though, do you know a guy?" Finch recommended a surgeon he knew in the city.

"Miss Groves, surely you can't be considering returning to the team? I've seen little of your injuries but you have significant weakness down one side."

"Never stopped you," Root said quietly, and Finch nodded.

"Very well, Miss Groves."

December 21, 2014

Shaw pulled apart dozens of dead machines, handing parts to Root to test and check; circuit boards she resoldered, hard drives and fans she replaced. Shaw could feel Root watching her, could feel something unspoken between them. Root had kissed Shaw, and Shaw had let her.

December 21, 2017

"You don't mind, do you, if she stays here?" Shaw asked Gen while Root was in the shower.

"I don't mind, but it's your bed. It's not fair on you," Gen looked up at Shaw.

"I don't mind," Shaw said honestly. The couch here was comfortable, and Shaw had slept a lot of worse places.

Gen swallowed. "If you'd rather... share," Gen started awkwardly, "and you won't because... because I'm here... I don't... it's not..." Shaw sighed.

"I don't think we're there yet. Her injuries were severe; I doubt she sleeps much and she would keep me awake. We talked a bit last night, but..." Shaw looked down at Gen and smiled. "But I'll keep that in mind."

Darkness fell early, as it always did on the solstice. They gathered in the lounge room, telling stories and eating fruit late into the night. Shaw sliced the watermelon, and Root smirked at her. Shaw felt like she'd changed since she last saw Root, like she was less sharp, and she felt like Root had changed too. Shaw almost missed the flirting, but she could read the exhaustion on Root like a page of a book, could read how hard the time between then and now had been. Still, Root had come to her. Of all her contacts, of all people, Root had come here. Root had come home.

Notes:

Happy yalda! I am covered in cherry juice from a very messy bird who only knows one song but is happy to dance along to anything.

She likes watermelon, but I can't give it to her because she rubs her beak on my cheek afterwards and it's very unpleasant to have watermelon juice on your cheek if you do not enjoy watermelons, which I believe I have mentioned I do not.