Delphine reached an arm around in her sleep. That was her morning routine. Cosima was always the one to sleep in. When Delphine began to stir, she'd reach for Cosima, closing the space between them and cuddling as she fell back asleep for another hour or so. But today, there was nothing but space.
Delphine lifted her head, her messy bun falling to one side as she craned her neck to look to the bathroom.
"Cosima?" She yawned, still not entirely awake. She jumped out of bed, checking for Cosima. The hotel room was empty. Silent. Delphine glanced out the window, spotting their car. She assumed Cosima was just buying coffee and a croissant. She smiled, thinking how thoughtful Cosima was to let her sleep.
She took a quick shower and changed to a thin pleated skirt and a ballet wrap top. She wore flats, still feeling rushed. Still, she was excited for Cosima to see her. She had bought the outfit a few weeks ago and hadn't had a change to wear it, so it would be the first time Cosima saw it on her.
She grabbed her flats and purse, making sure to grab the spare key card. She hoped she could find Cosima downstairs at the cafe. Even if it was rushed, they could sit down there and enjoy a slice of normalcy.
"Delphine, right? You left so quickly," Mark said when she entered the cafe. She glanced around, expecting Cosima. But the brunette wasn't there. "Wow, you look beautiful," he said softly.
"I'm looking for Cosima," she whispered, smiling politely as she turned to leave.
She was halfway down the hall when he grabbed her arm. "You deserve better than Cosima," he said softly.
"You don't know me. And you don't know her."
"I'm trying to help-" Mark started. Already annoyed, his words sent Delphine over the edge. She pressed him against the wall, her knee digging into his crotch until he groaned.
"You're nothing but a bully. You bullied her in high school and all you're trying to do is torment her. What kind of small, pathetic excuse for a man are you?" She hissed, her eyes darkening in anger. "I don't ever want Cosima's name to come across your lips. Are we understood?" Mark nodded weakly, a small whimper slipping out.
Delphine released him, taking a deep exhale as she fixed the bow on her wrap top.
"Check the dining room. I tried to tell you," he whispered as he scurried off, too afraid of her reaction.
Delphine wanted to ignore his words, but she couldn't. She followed down to the dining hall, even though she knew Cosima. They were a couple, Cosima wouldn't have left her behind. And yet, she did.
There, in the center of the room, Cosima sat at a circular table. Her hands were flapping as she smiled, obviously in the middle of telling a story. Delphine didn't need to see her face. She saw those perfect, bouncy curls and knew it was Taylor.
Delphine remained frozen, watching Cosima as the tears build higher and higher, a wall of water building against her pupils. She tried to blink them away, glancing down at her outfit. No. Cosima did not get to see her outfit. Cosima did not get to see her. And for the first time, Delphine didn't want to see Cosima.
Delphine headed back upstairs, managing to keep it together for the benefit of the elderly lady who shared the elevator. But inside the room, the tears were unstoppable. She grabbed her suitcase, throwing items inside. She paced the room, picking items. She was crying so hard that she had to focus on each item, thinking if it was hers or Cosima's. One of the things she had loved most was the few times they had shared clothes. Now, it was a hindrance, making her wonder who had packed certain camisoles or boots.
She was in the bathroom packing when Cosima came in. Delphine took a deep breath, knowing a fight was imminent.
"Just ask housekeeping not to clean if you're so worried about someone stealing stuff."
"I'm not worried," Delphine said, tossing a handful of beauty products into the suitcase.
"So what are you doing?"
"I'm packing. I'm going home."
"Delphine, cut the crap. This is not how you pack," she pointed to the suitcases. She was right. Delphine was organized and this suitcase was a mess. A chaotic escape plan.
That was what Delphine was good at, escaping. Leaving before things got to serious. Cosima was the first person who Delphine didn't feel the urge to run from. In fact, after their first breakup, Delphine had tracked her to Felix's house. She hadn't wanted Leekie or Dyad to come between them. She didn't want to give someone else the power to pull them apart. She returned and fought for Cosima and was rewarded with Cosima's honesty about her illness. It gave Delphine a new battle to fight, and she did. She stopped at nothing to cure her. Again, she refused to let an illness pull them apart. But now, Cosima was more than willing to let Taylor pull them apart. The thought made Delphine nauseous.
"Delphine? Answer me!" Cosima raised her voice.
"I've already told you!" Delphine yelled. She glanced up but the minute she locked eyes with Cosima a fresh batch of tears fell uncontrollably.
"What? Did something happen back home?" Cosima rushed to her side.
"Non. It is happening here," she said, brushing past Cosima and riffling through the packed swimsuits.
"What the hell are you talking about? Is this temper tantrum because I didn't have sex with you last night? Jesus!"
"Of course. Because I'm so desperate for someone to touch me. Is that it?" Delphine snapped, her irritation spreading. "It's because of you, Cosima. I don't want to be around you. Not right now. Maybe..."
"Don't say something you don't mean," Cosima warned.
"Why? If I walk out the door we're over? Is that what you're implying?" Delphine glared at the brunette. "That's what you want, isn't it? You can say I left you and then feel no guilt over what you're doing?"
"And what am I doing?" Cosima fired back. Delphine shook her head, a few tears spilling from her eyes.
"Cosima, you left me all night last night to talk to Taylor. You touched her arm and looked at her the way you always looked at me. You were uninterested last night. You didn't want sex. You didn't want a kiss. I can live with that for a night or so," she shrugged. "But you didn't even talk to me. You didn't hold me. And I woke up alone. I went downstairs to find you..." her words got choked up and a few sobs escaped. "You left me alone to have breakfast with Taylor."
"I'm just catching up with an old friend! I can't believe you're getting all overly sensitive about this!" Cosima yelled, her raised voice making Delphine flinch.
"She's not your friend," Delphine whispered. "Scott told me before we even left. You lied this entire time. She's your ex-girlfriend, Cosima." She cried, turning her back and covering her face. She didn't want to see the power that Cosima had over her, but she couldn't deny that her heart was breaking.
"Delphine," Cosima sighed. "It's not like that..." she moved to the blonde, but Delphine recoiled.
"Don't touch me," Delphine sobbed, kneeling down against the wall. She buried her face against her knees. The more she tried to silence her tears the more they came in bursts of sobs.
"Delphine, please. Look at me," Cosima whispered, physically moving her arms to expose her face. It broke Cosima's heart to see Delphine this way. The tip of her nose was pink and would have been adorable if it weren't for her red eyes and the wisps of blonde curls sticking to her damp cheeks. Her long eyelashes were clumped and matted with tears when she finally glanced at Cosima. "I didn't tell you because it isn't worth getting into. She's a stranger to me," Cosima explained.
"She didn't seem like a stranger. You seemed quite cozy," Delphine scoffed.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Cosima whispered. "But you can't leave."
"Give me one reason why I can't?"
"Um, romantic reason? We're in love. And you do love me. And I love you. And if that isn't enough..."
"If love isn't enough?" Delphine asked.
"I could call airport security and get you blacklisted in the time it would take to hail a cab."
"Cosima!"
"I'm serious. A few weeks and you couldn't fly. In the meantime, it would be just us driving cross country."
"You're a terrible driver."
"Exactly. You'd be miserable."
"So I'm your prisoner?" Delphine scoffed dryly.
"A prisoner of love," Cosima smiled, but knew Delphine was in no mood for jokes. "Joking aside, Del, just stay. I want you to stay. Isn't that a good enough reason? I need you to stay."
Delphine sighed. She wanted to leave, but she had made a promise to protect and love all of the sisters. Her job, her personal life all revolved around this one girl. She wiped her tears, knowing she couldn't just walk away. Not yet. And although she was a skeptic, she wanted to believe Cosima. Even now, she wanted Cosima to look at her the way she had looked at Taylor. She bit her lip, standing up.
"What are you doing?" Cosima asked, worried. Delphine ignored her, untying her ballet top and unzipping her skirt, letting the fabrics pool at her feet. She stepped out of her flats as she unhooked her bra. "Delphine?" Cosima called. Delphine slid her lace panties off but walked past Cosima. She didn't want to get dressed, but she knew a part of her plan was to leave Cosima wanting more. And if she wasn't easy, she'd end up having sex.
She moved away, stepping into her black bikini. The bikini had originally been Cosima's so it was a little smaller on Delphine's tall frame. She had borrowed it at the Dyad company pool and Cosima had been so aroused that Delphine never gave it back. "I'm going to the pool," Delphine whispered, wiping a finger under an eye to gather any stray tears.
"Do you need company?" Cosima asked, unable to hide the desire in her tone.
"I know you're busy with the reunion. This way, you have your freedom and you get me to stay in the hotel," Delphine smiled. "au revoir, Cosima!" She offered a wink as she grabbed her towel and keycard, leaving Cosima alone in the hotel room.