Is it a Crime?
1.3 Dirty Laundry
Even if she was going down, Brittany was determined to go down with a fight. The dimly lit hallway didn't provide her with any clue about her assailant, but she could hear boots in the distance rushing toward her position. It would only be a matter of time before the suits would catch up. She only had one opportunity to escape and she had to get past this person holding her hostage.
"You are a terrible listener." The body pinning her to the wall spoke into the darkness.
A voice Brittany had a feeling she would never forget. The blonde's body instantly stopped struggling. Her eyes dilated and adjusted to the lack of light in this section of the corridor.
"Santana?" Brittany asked and the nature of her attacker's body position instantly transformed. The officer became instantly aware of how close Santana was to her.
"Of course. Were you expecting someone else?" Santana responded back playfully. She leaned back away from Brittany's body so she could peer around the corner. Brittany wanted to look too, but for being so short, the brunette really had a good grip on her leather jacket. After a second, Santana turned back with fire in her eyes. "You were supposed to leave."
"I-was-but-" Brittany shrugged. "I got caught up listening to you."
"I noticed." Santana admitted. Her eyes were still blazing, but amusement rested at the curve of her lips. Brittany loved the way the singer always seemed to be fighting two conflicting emotions at all times. "But not to the important part when I told you to get out."
"I get distracted sometimes…" Britt admitted with a soft blush.
Santana wanted to roll her eyes, but the blonde was so genuine that Santana actually smiled. The undercover cop did seem to get distracted quite often and easily. Santana had managed to get rid of all the blonde's hardware with hardly an effort. And when Santana had taken the stage, the brunette instantly noticed Legs in the back of the club. It had been a long time since Santana had someone that she wanted to sing to or put that much effort into a performance. A few years as Puckerman's songbird and Santana had gotten used to going through the motions. When she saw Anita in the crowd, a fire had lit deep within her.
"I noticed that too." This time her words were much softer. "You need to leave. Those guys aren't the Ark security. Those are Puckerman's thugs looking for you."
Santana sounded more than concerned. Brittany looked into those dark eyes. "Bad?"
"Very bad."
"I was trying to leave, but I'm not so good at directions." Brittany admitted.
"Of course you're not." Santana glanced back down the hallway. Suits were coming their way. Fuck. The brunette glanced around. There were no exits nearby and the suits would definitely hear their heels on the hard floor and come barreling toward them. They only had one choice. Santana turned back to Brittany with a smirk on her face. "What are you good at, Anita?"
"Well I did do the best in most of the physicals at the academy. Last week I was able to do the chicken dance the longest at my little sister's wedding. I'm pretty good at smear journalism. I've been told I can dance well. My lieutenant said I wrote the nicest parking tickets. Although, I don't think that was a compliment. I have been told my fingers are magi-"
"Shh…" Santana whispered and in the same motion both of her hands grabbed at the lapels of Brittany's leather jacket. She tugged for leverage since even in heels, Brittany still had height on her. It wasn't Santana's request for silence that quelled the officer, but the press of Santana's lips. Without permission, the singer had thrust herself upward into Brittany's unsuspecting body. Her weight and the element of surprise didn't allow the blonde to protest.
Not that she would.
Brittany blinked hard as she felt Santana's mouth fully open over hers. It took only a half a second before Brittany's body caught on fire. As Santana pulled the leather jacket up, Brittany's hands moved down. They ran over the sides of Santana's criminally tight dress and gripped at the material to find purchase. Her hands stopped at Santana's hips. The singer's mouth opened just a little further and her tongue ran along Britt's bottom lip. The officer moaned. She could feel the brunette smirk right before her teeth slowly sank. Britt's heart was racing and she shut her eyes.
Santana's finger lifted and ran along the bottom of her jaw. Her nails scraped and outlined and created goose bumps all over her body. Emboldened by Santana's advances, Brittany's hands adjusted. They slid around the singer's waist and slipped underneath her tight ass.
"Uh-" Santana made the most delicious noise as Britt's hand lifted her even higher up her body. The singer's right heel dangled as her thigh grazed upward to the hem of Brittany's short dress. One hand released the jacket. It drove straight into Brittany's long blonde hair. It gripped mercilessly in response to Brittany's leg driving forward between Santana's spread legs. Wanton and full of desire, the singer rubbed against Britt's offered leg and tried to relieve some of the tension. She couldn't remember the last time she had been the one helplessly surrendering to another woman. Santana was used to being the aggressor. The hands on her ass tightened. They provided her little option but to rub harder and harder down on Brittany's thigh. It was maddening. For a second, she pulled back from the kiss to suck in a deep and needed breath. Relentless, the blonde rushed to reconnect their mouths. Her tongue ran along her lips and caressed hers.
Their hearts and bodies were rocking so hard against the concrete wall of the Ark, they didn't even notice the suits running past them.
"You see this?" One of them asked, but was dragged away.
Neither woman noticed.
"Fuck." Santana breathed out, but it was barely audible as the blonde inhaled the word before it passed those generous lips. This was better than singing. It was like all the high notes were electrifying and all the low notes that would vibrate deep within were crashing together.
Bang.
A loud noise of a door slamming shut startled the two. Regrettably, Santana pulled away from the blonde. Her dark eyes darted to the left and right to make sure no one remained in their dark part of the hallway.
Britt's face turned red once again as she realized her hands were still squeezing the singer's backside. Slowly, she drew her hands away. Santana turned back. Her tongue ran along her lips and tried to savor the lingering taste. Their eyes met. The officer tried to form words, but besides having just experienced the best kiss of her life, she was sure Santana had stolen all of her abilities to speak. "I-uh-"
Santana's eyes dropped back to Brittany's lips as those cute syllables escaped. Fuck. She wanted to kiss her again. She tried to ignore the sensation of her abs clenching from desire or the way she could hardly breathe.
Another noise sounded and echoed through the halls. They still needed to escape.
"At least I know something you're good at." Santana teased and licked her lips again. Again, Brittany felt Santana's words spread like wildfire against her skin. It wasn't even like the singer was trying, and yet, every time she opened her mouth, Brittany lost herself. Before she could even ask what Santana thought she was good at or if Santana knew where she was going, the singer had grasped onto her hand and they were walking at a brisk pace through the corridors. "Come on, Anita, it's time to get you out of here."
"This is where the singers and performers have a few rooms. We should be able to lay low for a few minutes before we can make a break for the back exit." Santana said matter-of-factly. They were standing together.
At least there was more light here and it seemed like the club was much closer. Brittany could feel the beat of the bass through the walls and even voices singing or screaming. But the officer didn't care. No, her attention was drawn to the door with the name: S. Lopez. It was written in gold lettering and was closed. Santana must have noticed the direction of Brittany's eyes, but said nothing.
Brittany didn't even get a chance to see if there were other names on other doors because footsteps were once again approaching them.
"Round two?" Brittany eagerly asked, but Santana didn't answer. The singer's lips were already pursed and seeking Britt's mouth. The tingling sensation that had been slowly dissipating since they disconnected minutes ago burst. God, she could get used to this.
The footsteps were right behind Santana and faded quickly. Santana didn't want to do anything that would break them apart this time.
A hand shot down on the singer's shoulder and whipped her around to the eyes of a very angry and pissed off co-worker.
"Mmmh-" Her tongue clicked in disapproval. "I know you did not just ignore me, Santana Lopez. How dumb do you think I am? Macking out here with-"
She finally looked at Brittany and the officer didn't know whether to give her a serious face or to express how she was really feeling – turned on and horny. Instead she kinda just waved.
"-sexy hot blonde thing." The black woman quirked an eye brow up at the wave. "Yeah, I see you back there." And Brittany shrugged at the description. She'd say it was accurate. Nothing to complain about there. "When I've been covering for your ass for the past hour. Where the hell you been? Should have known you'd be chomping down on a killer blonde with legs."
"Cedes, chill out." Santana flipped her hair back and rolled her eyes.
"Oh chill out? I am chill. You don't want to see me angry right now. Do you know Puck's men are all over the place and you're telling me to chill. I heard there's a cop and everyone's in a panic and no one knows where you are. So they all come to me like I'm supposed to be your babysitter or something."
"Can you chill with the yelling?" Santana whispered forcefully and before Mercedes could rear up to give her friend a piece of her mind, the Latina cut her off. "I know there's a cop and that Puckerman's men are everywhere because…"
Brittany was waving again.
"Oh no." Mercedes shook her head. "Oh no. You are not telling me that sexy blonde legs is a cop. Honey-" She turned back to Brittany. "-you have got to be the cutest cop I've ever seen, which means you ain't a cop. I don't know what little role play Puckerman paid you to perform for my girl, but you need to give it up now cause I don't think you could convince the biggest douchebag in the Ark that you are a cop unless you have some fuzzy handcuffs you're hiding in that dress of yours." Brittany went to respond, but Mercedes wasn't done yet. "Not that you could hide much in that outfit."
Santana's brain fizzled out around the word handcuff, but came back as she realized her "sexy blonde" cop was totally scrambling for something to say. "Back off, Mercedes, she's definitely a cop and she definitely needs to get out of here."
"Yeah, still not convinced, but she does need to get out of here." Mercedes shook her head. "Cause what they do to cops ain't pretty. At least that's what I've heard."
"I don't really feel like sticking around for that. There's got to be like a way out." Brittany played with her hand and looked down. It was a moot point to argue with this Mercedes if she was cop or not. The words played over in her head. Her stomach dropped. "What do you mean about cops?"
"I mean it isn't pretty." Mercedes gave her a look.
"I need to find my Guppy!" Britt burst out.
Now both Santana and Mercedes turned around. "Your what?"
"Where did you pick this girl up, Tan? Are you sure you aren't getting played?"
"No! He's definitely in danger. Where would they have taken a cop?" Brittany pleaded. And even though Mercedes was the one with all the information, those bright blue eyes were begging Santana for assistance.
"I thought you said she was the cop…" Mercedes was not following.
"What if I wasn't the only one? Where would they have taken a cop?" Brittany implored.
"We're leaving, Cedes." Santana curtly said before her friend could question the blonde again.
"Wait. Why help me all this way and leave me?" Britt sincerely questioned.
"I'm not leaving you, but we can't stay here. If the only way to get you to leave the Ark is for you to find your 'Guppy' or whatever. I'll help you. Okay?" Santana snapped more aggressively than she intended, but she wasn't used to doing something selflessly. It felt awkward and she wasn't sure she liked it very much, but she did like the smile it put onto Leg's face.
"I should just go into my room and say I never saw you." Mercedes grumbled, but she was already walking next to the two other women. "Walking into Puckerman's den with fake-cop and whipped Lopez is definitely the worst decision I made all week."
Puckerman's thugs had their own room in the basement of the Ark. It was a place no one ever wanted to go. There was nothing incriminating, but his thugs regularly played cards and gambled down there and they were unsavory. Anyone who valued their lives or at least their faces intact avoided Puck's men. The three women had made it through the Ark with little resistance. Most of Puckerman's men had been called off to search for undercover cop so they weren't anywhere near their usual base of operation.
"It's down here." Mercedes whispered. She slipped up against the door and peered into the small window, but didn't see anyone inside. "I think they are all out looking for you. It looks empty in here. Are you sure you're going to find your 'Guppy' or whatever?"
"Please. I can't leave until I at least see if he's here."
"Whatever. Just open the door, Cedes, so we can get her out of here and look at least slightly less suspicious to Puckerman when he asks what we were doing."
Mercedes nodded in agreement. They did need to get this escape going. Her hand turned the door handle and pushed it open, but they didn't see anyone. Cards were on a small round table and a few packs of beer were on a counter that appeared to be a kitchen area. However many thugs there had been, it looked like they had all scurried off in a hurry.
"No one's here. Can I get you out of here, yet?" Santana asked impatiently. Every moment they lingered was a moment they could get caught.
"There's a door back here. Let me check it out first and then we can go." Brittany said. She picked her away around the mess Puckerman's men had left and peered into the window of the backdoor, but it was dark. She could barely make anything out. But there was a light on the wall next to the door. Didn't hurt to try. She flicked it on.
A figure was tied to a chair in the center of the room. The man's hands were bound to the frame of the wooden chair and his head hung low. His blonde hair was messed up and his head flipped into the air at the sudden return of light.
"Sam!" Brittany yelled. The blonde officer wasted no time. The door hadn't been locked, so she entered swiftly and ran toward him. "I can't believe I found you!"
Her partner flashed her the biggest smile as Brittany bound across the floor and landed in his lap. She kissed his forehead and ruffled his hair. Sam chuckled a little, but it turned into a rough cough. "I thought maybe you forgot about me."
"Well I did for a little while because I met this-" Brittany realized that Sam was no longer listening to her, but his attention was on the door.
Mercedes had just entered the room with an amused smile on her face followed immediately by Santana.
"Oh my god!" The singer practically screamed as she caught sight of Sam in the chair. "What did they do to you?"
"Wha?" Sam uttered out in confusion.
"Why would they only bruise your lips? Did they inject you with cologne as torture? Cause that's fucked up. I can't even look at you!" Santana's face scrunched up. "That's got to be the most disturbing torture technique I've ever heard of!"
Brittany snorted out a laugh even if Sam wasn't really smiling. "Those are just his lips. That's why he's called Guppy."
"I can see that…" Santana replied laconically. After her initial shock, she was beginning to notice other things about him. Like how comfortable Brittany was in his lap and the way she smiled for him. Maybe Guppy was more to this woman than she originally mentioned. "Get Trouty Mouth untied so we can roll out of here safely."
"It's Guppy." Sam tried to correct.
"Really you have a preference? Is there really that much of a difference? It's still a fish and those are still some huge lips." Santana retorted.
"Aww back off, San, they're cute and that's the difference between Guppy and Trouty. And I say they are most definitely guppy lips." Mercedes quickly added in his defense.
"Ugh. Whatever." Santana threw her hands in the air with exasperation, but she had a feeling it had nothing to do with the intricacies of fish anatomy or fish lips or whatever Mercedes had been talking about. Sam wrapped his arm around Britt's waist as he stood up from the chair. No, Santana was sure her sour mood had nothing to do with fish. But perhaps everything to do with fish boy. Her eyes narrowed. "Lez go."
There was a backdoor out to a smoking area that Puckerman's thugs used. Again, it seemed as if they had dodged a bullet. The four of them walked together. Sam's arm draped over Brittany's shoulder as he struggled to walk. Maybe they didn't hit his face, but he was definitely smarting a few bruises. Santana lingered a few paces behind the two blondes with Mercedes. Her dark eyes followed the blonde man's every movement.
"This whole thing was really stupid, Tan." Mercedes whispered to her best friend. Santana's glares hadn't escaped her. She waited till the two blondes were out of earshot. "You are so close to getting out of this pit. Why are you even helping her out?"
Santana hated direct questions to her motives. Cause she didn't even know them most of the time. It was something about how this woman, Anita, had made her feel. It was something she had forgotten long ago. "Whatever, Cedes. Nothing bad happened so no big deal."
"I hear you, but I still think this wasn't smart. Although…" Her eyes drifted to Sam's backside. "He is pretty cute."
"Shut it. Obviously, they're together or whatever." Santana mumbled even as Legs slowed up and half-glanced behind them.
"Oh you shut up. Did you see her? She's totally into you." Mercedes rolled her eyes even before Santana had a chance to. The Latina's lips pursed together in frustration that Mercedes knew her so well. "You're so stubborn sometimes. I guess I'll do all the heavy lifting."
"What?" Santana gave her friend a look, but Mercedes was strutting toward the two cops. She hooked her right arm underneath Sam's dangling one.
"How about I take over from here?" Mercedes offered both blondes a soft smile. "We're only about two blocks away from the entrance of the club. So we should get you out of here in no time."
The dark alleyway didn't seem so bad when there were four of them. Sam didn't even look at Britt as Mercedes took on some of his weight. In fact, the way he jerked the one arm Britt did have a hold off made the blonde officer think that he was perhaps trying to tell her something. He jerked it even more and gave her a look.
Right, bad wingman move.
Brittany stepped back and allowed Mercedes to deal with all of Sam. While it was cute, Brittany could see him struggling to pull himself upright so he wouldn't look like he was hurting from whatever beating he received from Puckerman's thugs. Now with nothing to do, Britt was distinctly aware of the singer lingering behind them. Britt stopped and turned around expecting to see Santana smiling again, but instead there was nothing there. Odd.
"Hey…" Brittany said when they were finally walking at the same pace. "I just wanted to thank you for…everything. I don't think we would have made it out of there without you."
"It's fine. Don't mention it. It's this weakness for blondes, I need to fix that." Santana mumbled and refused to look at the officer. She held her arm tight around her body and cussed at herself for being so sullen at the moment. But she was cold and annoyed and Trouty Face had come out of nowhere.
"No." Brittany stopped walking and placed her hand on Santana's arm. "Really, thank you."
Those bright blue eyes that had been so visible across the entire Ark – through the lights, above the sea of people, and in the back of the club - were now completely on her. Santana lost the words she had been about to say. No one affected her like this. Ever. "I-"
Brittany graciously smiled, but didn't say anything.
"I'm sure Trouty would have saved you or something." Santana blurted out.
Despite Santana's awkward attempt to deflect her, Brittany just continued to smile. "Nah. He's like a fish out of water. Get it?"
Brittany made an obnoxious wink and laughed. Santana hated to react, but the blonde's amusement was infectious. A weak smile cracked her lips.
"Yeah, he seems pretty helpless." Santana didn't even glance toward her best friend and the man. Her eyes were firmly set upon Brittany. It didn't last long. Again, the blonde surprised her as she removed her leather jacket from her shoulders and wrapped it around Santana's bare shoulders.
"You look cold."
Santana wanted to push the jacket off, but it felt warm, comfortable, and inviting. She didn't let people treat her like this and she didn't want to. "I'm fine really."
"Just wear it till we break up." Brittany said with a smile. "I'm good. I've been wearing it all night."
"Look, Anita." Santana stopped walking. And released a great sigh. "You have to promise me that you won't come back here."
Sam and Mercedes were at the end of the street and staring back at them. This is where they would part ways. Brittany didn't pay them any heed.
"Why?"
"Because we-you won't be so lucky next time. "
"But I want to say see you around."
"Don't…" Santana warned.
"If that's what you want." Brittany whispered silently.
It wasn't what she wanted, but it was the only way. Tonight had been reckless and stupid. If she was ever going to escape Puckerman's thumb, she would have to go back to playing it smart. With regret, Santana said firmly. "It is, Anita."
Britt didn't respond. Despite almost dying and getting caught a few times tonight, she had a pretty good time – a very unproductive time, but good. And all because of Santana. She wanted to thank her some way. She leaned in close like Santana had done on the barstool. "It's Brittany." She said her name and sealed it with the lightest kiss as though it would forever mark those lips with the truth for Santana to keep forever. Santana's face flushed. She was used to being the aggressor and this woman, this Brittany, had completely dismantled her with a single kiss.
Santana felt heat rush to her cheeks at the advances of a woman she had just convinced herself was straight or at least with Trout-face. Now, her whole body grew warm again. The leather jacket around her shoulders took on a whole new meaning. And when Brittany pulled back, Santana wanted to wrap her arms around her once more.
But as she opened her eyes, the blonde was already running down the street to catch up with Sam. In a daze, Santana lifted her fingers her lips. "Brittany."
Santana raised her eyes and wanted to say that she wish she would see Brittany around, but the blondes had already turned the corner. Mercedes stood there with a questioning look on her face. When she nodded to Santana's jacket, it was then the singer realized Brittany had left her jacket with her. Secretly, Santana wished she had done it so they would see each other again. The practical part of her wished Brittany would heed her warnings and stay the hell away from the Ark. With irritation, Santana reminded herself that she had helped the cop escape the Ark for Puckerman. He had wanted the cop taken care of without making a mess like his boys would make. She had done it all for him. When she was finally free of the Ark and Puckerman's control, then maybe she would be able to think about hot blondes with killer legs and smiles that set her heart aflutter.
But until then…
Santana linked arms with Mercedes and they walked back to the entrance of the Ark together.
Thanks a lot for all the alerts and reviews! I'll be posting a new chapter of Sirens next and then back to IIAC!
Have a lovely week!