This drabble basically has no plot, lol. I was just in the mood for some Rolivia snuggles when I wrote it. This tiny story takes place near the end of season 21.
In response to the review I received for "Clowning Around" - I will repost "No Light" and "White Ink" after they've been edited. My earlier stories (written in 2016 and 2017) need a LOT of editing, lol. But I will try to repost as many as I can.
The scent of strawberries is what Olivia becomes aware of first, the subtle smell wafting pleasantly through the air around her. The fine strands of hair tickling her nostrils is what she notices next, wrinkling her nose and resisting the urge to sneeze. Strangely, the heaviness of the body that is slumped against her own is the final thing that catches her attention, and Olivia wonders why she is not alarmed to find someone cuddled up next to her but instead feels enveloped in comfort and safety.
She cracks an eyelid open, rousing just enough from her contented slumber to see Amanda snuggled against her, the younger woman's body leaning so far over the armrest that separates their seats that she is practically perched in Olivia's lap. A blonde head is pillowed on her shoulder and a toned arm is wrapped firmly around her waist, soft snores escaping from slightly parted lips as the detective snoozes.
Olivia looks down at her in amused curiosity before her heavy eyelids flutter shut again, unable to keep them open after the busy weekend conference they had just attended out of state. Despite the uncomfortable airline seats, it hadn't taken either one of them very long to drift into unconsciousness once the plane had left the runway and they were headed for home.
Olivia has never known Amanda to be so physically affectionate and wonders if she should try to move out from beneath her to avoid an uncomfortable scene, surprised to find that she is actually in no rush to disentangle herself from the smaller woman. Even so, she doesn't want her detective to feel embarrassed or awkward upon awakening, and slowly begins to ease away from her, positioning herself closer to the window and gazing out at the clouds when her leaden eyelids are able to stay open for more than a few seconds at a time.
She stifles a gasp when Amanda's body gives an abrupt jerk and a slender arm immediately tightens around her waist to hold her in place, Olivia craning her neck to see a disconcerted expression flitting across those delicate features even though Amanda's eyes remain closed, long lashes resting against pale skin.
"No, don't leave me," a sleepy, barely audible voice mumbles in protest, and Olivia's heart clenches at the uncharacteristic vulnerability in her tone.
"Are you okay?" she whispers in concern, making sure to keep her voice low so they don't attract attention from any of their fellow passengers sitting nearby.
Her only response is another soft snore, Olivia watching as Amanda's somewhat panicked expression slackens and smooths out into a more placid appearance, the other woman's body language indicating that she is at peace again. Olivia frowns and chews thoughtfully on her bottom lip, careful to hold her body as still as possible while she glances back out the window to observe the fluffy clouds that are floating lazily by.
She is definitely not used to this kind of clingy behavior from her strong, independent detective and wonders if Amanda remembers where she is right now; that she is on her way back to New York with her boss, or if she is too caught up in some strange dream world, suspended between sleep and wakefulness. Olivia hopes that Amanda is not in the midst of some horrific nightmare, fighting monsters in her head; demons that she herself knows all too well, and her arm tightens around the younger woman in return, wanting to shield her from whatever is happening inside her mind.
"I'm not leaving you," she murmurs into Amanda's ear, just in case the detective is able to hear her. "I'm right here, okay? I'm not going anywhere."
The combination of their strengthening friendship in recent years and the challenging, terrifying events that Amanda had been forced to endure over the past several months have brought out a tender protectiveness in Olivia; a deep-seated need to keep her safe from any further harm, even if that harm exists only in the form of a nightmare. She resists the urge to shake Amanda awake, just in case she is trapped inside some traumatic dream, but reminds herself that Amanda needs her rest after such a busy weekend; some quiet time before she arrives home to the chaos of two little girls and a rambunctious dog.
Instead of waking her up, Olivia leans her head gently atop Amanda's and lets it rest there for a moment, a smile touching her lips as she listens to the serene sigh that sounds from beneath her. She feels lulled into dreamland once again by the comfort of another person's arms around her, a luxury that she does not usually afford herself unless she is embracing her son.
"You make me feel safe, Liv," Amanda suddenly slurs, her voice so laden with sleep that Olivia can just barely make out the words, the smile on her lips widening into a delighted grin.
"Good, I'm glad," she replies softly, privately admitting that the feeling is mutual as she succumbs to slumber once more, held securely in the unwavering grip of her detective and surrounded by the soothing scent of her strawberry perfume.
