She’d not deign her companion the satisfaction of a comeback, trading words for patronising pats on the shoulder as she dismounted. ( BUT ––– she wasn’t above admitting her relief in their return to the task at hand. )

As the Question squinted into the gloom, she’d be aggravating further in her complete disregard for the other’s presence. ( Might as well make the most of it if there was already hell to pay. ) Careful steps towards the exit, once again neglecting to include her partner in this endeavour. She looked back with a look to admonish the Huntress for her dalliance.

          ❝…By the way, this owing system?❞           ❝ –––– Completely one-sided and unfair.❞

❛ seems pretty fair to me, ❜    helena was up right after her,    eyes scanning the room for anything she had missed that could be useful in a fight.      but she decided to back herself,   she was more than her crossbow,    her fists would do nicely.  she looked forward to the feeling of evening the score first hand.

a roll of her eyes at the look she was given,     barely wanting to acknowledge it,      ❛ you really going to pretend you don’t like owing me ?  ❜   the look the huntress gave was there to rattle her back,   mimicking renee’s but showing   CLEARLY   her expectations for her reparation.

The woman’s reaction spoke volumes. Her vulnerability was THIN ICE, and such emotions too easily ran astray. Though Renee’s caution was warranted, it had not been enough.

She was uncharacteristically belated in her approach. Perhaps Helena asked for too much too abruptly –––––– but perhaps she had, in her surprise, backpedalled too far, leaving her lover out in the cold and without the FAITH that was due. 

         ❝Hel…❞ 

Her hand came to the shoulder, hard like the tone had been.

          ❝Okay. I trust you.❞

          ❝…So you want us to adopt this kid that you stole from the GCPD?❞

❛  i didn’t steal,  i saved.    he doesn’t belong to them, renee,  ❜   her tone was harsh,   HURT,  but it wasn’t something that lasted for long around renee.      for now she needed time to thaw out,   not turning around just yet,     ❛  is this something you want ?   ❜     she looked over her shoulder at renee to gauge her response,   face her fear head on.              

Nothing had changed of Helena’s mannerisms –––– but then, nothing needed to. It was turbulent, capricious, passionate Helena who she had grown to love –––––– the same person who had, in their friendship, also proved to be loyal, vulnerable, and kind. 

She drank in the woman in full, caught between the extremes of fondness and her motions, intentional in suppressing the outward reaction to the touch that traversed her body. Her lover may have stood inches above her, but her eyes remain filled with mirth. 

          ❝Yes.❞

Fingers instinctively threaded into dark hair, following in the direction of the wall. It was a familiar position ––– back pressed against stone, Helena pressed against her. It was also DIFFERENT. The freedom to express her affections in full made the kiss an absolutely joyous occasion. She remained hypnotised by dark lips, even after. Her grip moved to the lapels of Helena’s top, pulling her in further, wanting more. 

          ❝I did.❞

her gaze darkened with desire when she was pulled forward,   with the urge to reciprocate two fold.       she leaned in,   noting the same look in renee’s eyes.      her mouth came in close,    &    the way she    ONLY   dropped her eyes to her lips served as a reminder that she had the control     &    she could make that apparent at any time.      fingers slid from cheeks into her hair,    purposefully pressing her body into renee’s.        but instead of going further,    blue eyes flickered back up,    smirk curving at her lips,     ❛    you hungry  ?    ❜    she was   clearly   satisfied with renee’s answer ---  she knew without a doubt that she missed her,    that came as no surprise to her,   but it was always nice to hear her say it.

❛   let me guess,   you’ve been eating take out all week.  ❜   it was a statement,   not a question,  said matter-of-factly.      there was an air of confidence,   at the thought that she had left a hole in the other’s life,    that her absence had been felt in many ways.  

Her gaze lingered, caressing the expanse of the bared midriff in her mind. Cheeks grew hot, knowing that this did not go unnoticed. Her attention was averted, then pulled towards eyes, only for imagination to be further encouraged by the look she found. 

Impulsive words leapt to lips, only to be silenced in internal admonishment as she sipped the wine. The detective would not make the mistake of assuming show & tell was all that would be asked ––––– after all that had transpired between them on their first date, she certainly hoped not. Still, Renee replied with sincerity slightly overcompensated, schooling her mind to the benefit of the children ( but plagued still by the wicked wants that her date intentionally teased ).

          ❝My work can be unpredictable, but…❞           How was she to refuse those eyes?           ❝ –––––– I’m sure I’ll find the time.❞

A pause, taking her seat. Working up to the part she felt so inexperienced with voicing:

           ❝…And maybe I can take their teacher out for dinner after?❞

It was incomplete and not enough. The thought would not cease its nagging despite the continued conversation, mind wandering ahead of the compliments she was paying the woman’s risotto. 

She was numb in self-consciousness, unsure if she truly did it justice. Hopes were that confusion would not mar her message, reviving an avenue long put to bed:

          ❝Um… I really DO appreciate you doing all this ––– ❞

The pace slowed, uncertainty fading now she had committed, letting unmistakeable desire shine through her lower registers:

          ❝ –––––– So I’d like you to tell me how you want me to repay you.❞

she found herself smiling when renee accepted her invitation,    feeling   RELIEF  circulate through her.     helena     (  &  the huntress  )      never held back in ANY  capacity,    but she tried to school her features,      letting her appreciation shine through her gaze instead of the relief.        though she knew she had already let renee into her life more than she had let anyone in     (  not that there were others trying to get their foot in the door    )  ---   not that she  WANTED  anyone else here,     this was one part of gotham that was completely in her control.        but she had let her in,   had even let her glimpse her loneliness,    a part of herself she kept hidden under layers of defensiveness and tapes that posed as her neighbours.      she enjoyed having her here,       enjoyed sitting next to her,      watching her eat the food she had made for them.    it was something she hadn’t known she had been missing.

so she did not hold back when renee proposed dinner,     her smile touching blue eyes that normally were a window into her nightly RAGE at gotham’s worst.     she glanced down at her risotto as her smile twisted,     ❛   &   are you going to pick the place this time ?    or will the place be yours.  ❜    it was clear the answer was YES.

helena’s eyes dropped to her lips at the sudden change of topic.       she was impressed,    not expecting the question but welcoming it along with the desire evident in her gaze,     ❛   i’ve got that covered.            after dessert,  remember   ?   ❜     her free hand crept toward hers on the table,    ❛   but if you’re eager,  i could be persuaded to save dessert for later,  ❜     &   it wouldn’t take much. 

It was exactly as she feared. There was no degree of fun she was allowed without Helena Bertinelli retaliating tenfold. And with the appetite for risk that far exceeded the Question’s, with the threat of failure and recapture bearing down on only one of them, it all fell so conveniently into her palms.

–––––– Leaving Renee to tear herself up between the temptation at her lips and the nagging  in her gut.

Where gaiety had been she was now rigid ( how quickly they traded roles ). It was altogether wasted effort to deny the physical reactions, but she could still make clear her disapproval for the unreliable mix of danger and desire. She bit where kisses landed, and still chased contact of her own accord. Both soft and hard ––– surely affording Helena the satisfaction of returned affection and her frustration made apparent, despite all intention to NOT.

Her jaw drew tight in displeasure, pulling back to glance over her shoulder. She made no move to abandon this perch, however, hands latched onto the woman’s forearms in an absentminded embrace.

And it was in such contradictions that Helena revelled.

After all she had conceded to her friend here, it was best not to even acknowledge the offer.

         ❝FOCUS, Huntress –––––– ❞

         ❝We gotta go BEAT UP those amateurs, remember?❞

she released a breath in irritation when the other pulled away to glance behind her,   already invested  &       knee deep in her own desire for this detour from the mission.        but it was only to be expected,    she had  FELT   renee’s resistance,   her begrudging kisses,     & yet unable to refuse her for the moment,    it had been a sweet victory.        

her eyebrows rose from behind her mask as the question’s hands set on her arms,     her own hands dropping off her as she conceded.     her tone was partially soured but she would make sure this was continued later,         ❛   fine.   i can hold off,        for now,   ❜    one of her hands crept up her thigh for illustrative purposes,    ❛   but you owe me.      i’ve got some ideas.  ❜