1910s AU; Maggie is the daughter of a nouveau riche family on the west coast. Alex is a lone wolf caring for her younger sister Kara as a flapper in the same small town.
The sun rose above the Sierra Nevadas as a new day began. The calm breeze swept through the clear spring day. The birds were arising as the wind rustled the tree leaves. The sky was painted yellow, green, and pale to deep blue and indigo. The large lake was calm as the ducks and geese were still nestled in the private reeds. The docked boats swayed ever so slightly as the wind passed over them. A single moving person disrupted the untouched beauty. A young woman walked the silent stone streets of the small town. She sat on a bench, looking out at the scene. Her hair was short and tucked behind her ear. Leaving the bench and walking around, she smiled as she felt the cold crisp air nip against her skin. She walked to the cold lake and sat at the edge, of a low, empty dock. She watched as the water reflected the changing sky. She removed her shoes and let her legs rest in the icy waters. Her calm demeanor was interrupted at the touch of a gloved hand. The young woman looked around, getting shocked by the kind tan face of another young woman carrying a basket. She held her breath.
"I didn't mean to frighten you, I'm sorry." She apologized.
"No. No, no, no, you're fine." The other woman sputtered out.
The other woman smiled and held out her hand. "My name is Margaret Sawyer, Maggie for short."
"Alex Danvers, well Alexandra, but Alex for the public."
"Alex. It's nice to meet you. So, what are you doing here?"
"Enjoying the cold. Yourself?"
"Escaping to a normal place."
"Normal?"
Maggie smiled and sat on the low dock, resting her back against the wooden posts. "Away from my family."
Alex sat back down on the dock, dunking her legs into the lake again. "Why?"
"I… my family tends to be very conservative and overly protective."
"That sounds horrible."
"It is. This is the only time I'm free." Maggie said, removing her gloves and jacket. "I come here once a week to swim and relax before the town wakes. Would you like to join me?"
"No thank you."
"Okay." She answered.
Unbuttoning her dress, Maggie sid off the nice fabric and placed it on the basket, removing her petticoats and brazier. She slid into the lake, stark naked, and began to play around in the cool water. Alex looked away as the young woman swam around. She brought her legs out of the water and pulled them up to her chest, watching as the dark skinned woman dove under the water and resurfaced multiple times. Her eyes focused on the young woman, seeing as her dark hair mopped around her face. She smiled as Maggie looked at the red head. The swimmer approached Alex and pulled her arms onto the dock. She rested her head on her arms and smiled at Alex. Danvers blushed and looked down.
"I'm pretty confident about all of this." Maggie stated as she pushed herself out of the water.
Alex bit her lip as her eyes glanced at the nude form next to her. She looked at the young woman once a towel was drawn around her shoulders to cover most of her body. She soon dropped it and began to change back into her original clothing. Once she finished, Maggie looked at the young woman and smiled.
"Maybe we can swim together next week?"
"Maybe." Alex whispered looking up at the dark haired woman. As Maggie turned away, Danvers quickly added, "Maybe even sooner, I work at the local dance hall."
Maggie turned around and smiled. "The dance hall? How dangerous. What do you do?"
"I'm- I dance."
"You mean in those short dresses with that negro music?"
"Yeah. Jazz. It's really beautiful. When I'm in there, I feel free, invincible, calm but energetic. You should come."
"I think I will. See you 'round, Danvers." Maggie responded waving at the young woman before turning away.
Alex exhaled, blushing deeply before turning back to the lake. She smiled wide and bit the tip of her nail as she thought about that young woman.
The night was warm as it usually was during the late spring. Though just because the sun was down, didn't mean that the day was over. Alex was in her dressing room along with some other young woman ranging from 20-26, all older that Danvers herself. She pulled on her new bright blue dress that she bought from her visit to Monterey that past fall when the dresses were marked down. The girls did each other's make up as they passed around the metal flask one of the musicians carried around. Alex took a swig of the bitter liquor and passed it to the next dancer. She hopped off of the counter and slid into her dancing flats. As their numbers came up, each of the dancers moved to the stage. Alex walked on with the MC and two other dancers. They played their number and finished off the show with a closing number. Alex jumped off the low stage and danced among the crowd, stopping as she saw Maggie in the back of the building. She neared the young woman and smiled. The other woman smiled back and reached for Alex's hands, squeezing lightly as they quickly embraced one another.
"Come dance with me!" Alex persuaded the shorter woman.
"I'd rather stay in the back, if you don't mind."
"Oh, okay." Alex said, smiling at her.
Maggie smiled back and looked at the stage.
"So, how are you?"
"Fine, thanks for asking. I'm so glad you came! I wasn't sure."
"Of course I would, what else would I do with my time. Besides, I do anything to live your life."
"I don't know of you'd want my life it's… complicated."
Alex looked at the ground, shooting her head up as the band started a softer tune. She smiled at Maggie and held her hand out.
"The only slow song of the night."
Maggie warily took her hand. Alex pulled the young woman close, one hand at her waist and the other interlaced with Maggie's left hand. She closed her eyes as they swayed to the music.
"Why is it complicated?" Maggie asked in a soft voice.
"What? Oh, yeah. Long story short, I left my home because my parents wouldn't allow me to be liberated." Alex said, quickly adding, "With my little sister."
"Really?"
"I want her to be free. It's the only way we progress."
"I understand."
"What about you? Why do you yearn for a regular life."
"Well. I'm from a family where all eyes are on us. We were fortunate enough to move to the liberal west, but that's what's here. Liberation. Freedom. Things I can't have." Maggie ended in a lower tone, looking down.
"Here, we're all free. Tied down by our day lives and free to live the way we want out here." Alex said lifting the brunette's chin with her thumb.
Maggie looked into Alex's fierce, proud dark eyes and leant into her, pulling back quickly. She let go of her hand and backed away.
"You're very beautiful but-"
"You're not gay?"
"Well actually- nevermind. I just got out of relationship and I just want to gather my bearings."
Alex nodded and feigned her happiness through a small smile. "Oh yeah, of course."
"I should go, my parents will wonder where I am."
"Will I see you again?"
Maggie nodded with a smile. "Tuesday at the lake."
"Tuesday then."
Maggie hugged her and left the dark, but lively, room. She began the long walk back to her estate. Alex looked at her then walked backstage for her next number.
Maggie was already in the water, holding onto the deck, when Alex arrived. The sun was barely over the first ridge as she took off her gown to reveal an old styled bathing suit, cut and hemmed higher than deemed modest. She slid in next to Maggie and smiled.
"You're early." Alex teased, propping an elbow on the wooden deck.
"Don't you think you're a little over dressed?" Maggie asked, pulling a dark lock out of her eyes.
Alex blushed and looked down, quickly switching to the scenery around them when she caught a glance of Maggie's tan body. She looked back, forgetting to answer her.
"Oh, I just thought, you know, in case anyone sees." Alex sputtered out.
Maggie looked around. "I can understand that." She let go of the dock and began to swim backwards into the water.
Alex followed and swam alongside the young woman. She swam under the water, pulling on Maggie's leg. Once she surfaced, Alex started laughing, getting splashed in the face by the latina. Maggie pushed on Alex's shoulders, forcing her under the water as she flipped her body over the young flapper. They smiled and continued to play, racing each other from shore to shore as the sun rose. Alex continuously beat the latina until Maggie decided to pull her back by her leg, forcing the younger back. Alex swam over Maggie, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Thank you for the fun. I need it, really." Alex whispered, wrapping her arms around the woman's dark tan neck.
"No problem. It was more fun to have a friend to be with."
Alex smiled and let go, climbing onto the deck and wrapping herself in the towel. Maggie followed in suit, pulling the long towel around her shoulders and drying off. She reached out for Alex's hand, pulling her in for a kiss. Alex kissed her lightly, reaching to the towel around Maggie and, pulling her close. Her towel dropped around her ankles as she practically wrapped herself in the latina. Maggie placed her hands on either side of Alex's face, pulling back.
"Same time next week?" She asked, resting her forehead against the latter's.
"Same time next week." She whispered in confirmation.