Greek Myths

Kassandra: 

It didn't take long for her to find Zoey, finding the other woman sitting at a bench sketching away. Kassandra felt her whole body fill with a sense of dread as she walked up to the blonde. She wanted to sit next to her, to hold her hand and to tell her that whatever she saw wasn't what it looked like. But it was, wasn't it. It was two ex-lovers fighting over past loves and potential present loves and the lies of their in-betweens. So instead of sitting she chose to stand. Instead of reaching out to lovingly caress that gorgeous face of Zoey's, Kassandra kept her hand at her sides. Instead of lying, she chose to tell the truth. She owed her that much.

"I'm sorry for what you saw back there. She just... Walked up on the beach. Which I get is allowed because its not like I own the beach but... Still. The timing. And yes, she said what she said. But I don't feel the same way. And I don't know if that... If you'll believe me. I don't expect you to. I'm kind of a mess." Biting on her lip, Kassandra stared at the ground, not daring to look at Zoey. "I don't want her. All I want.. Is you."

Zoey: 

Zoey felt Kass near her before she even heard the woman speak. There was just something about the brunette that seemed to set all of her nerve endings on fire. It wasn’t unpleasant even though it sounded that way. Honestly, it made her feel alive. Still, she pushed those thoughts to the side as she listened to what Kassandra had to say. There was a lot to unpack, but she didn’t want to leave things the way they were. The only way to get through it was to talk about it. 

Once she finished putting her sketchbook away, Zoey stood up and took a few steps forward to be closer to the brunette. She cupped the woman’s cheeks to bring their eyes together and gave her a small smile. “I believe you,” she promised. “I just — I left because seeing someone else have such an effect on you and cause you so much pain at the same time is hard for me to watch. When she said that, I didn’t want to stay to hear what you’d say back because I was scared of losing you in that moment.” Being vulnerable wasn’t hard for Zoey. She’d rather be honest about the hard stuff than have them come back to bite her in the behind later. “I just need to know if I need to be worried about how much she stirs in you. Because I know you want me, but what we want and what we need don’t always line up no matter how much I could want it to.”

Kassandra: 

Honestly, she didn't know what she was expecting. On one hand, she thought Zoey would slap her and then leave. On the other, she was expecting her to blow up at her. After all, that's always what had happened. That's what she'd just done to her ex, something that was already making her feel awful. But here Zoey was, walking up to her and cupping her cheeks until their eyes were locked in that now all too familiar way. Her lower lip wobbled as the artist continued to talk, sucking in a deep breath as she tried even out her rapidly beating heart. "I told her that she doesn't get to stumble over that word, not after twelve years. I told her that I didn't love her. And then I left. Because it would be wrong to stay, because I didn't want to stay."

Eyes flitted upwards to look at the dark sky, taking in another deep and shaky breath. "I don't want or need her. And that sounds awful. But she chose to lie and hide parts of herself from me. The truth is I need to really talk to a therapist because I don't know how to process that she apparently did all that to protect me. Because all her lying did was make me hate myself more than I already did. And she saw it. She saw it for the next two years of high school. She saw me slowly change into a different person and she let it happen. And now I'm... Fuck. I need you, Zoey. I do. But I don't think you're going to want me after I tell you the truth. The truth about me." Kassandra took a step back, feeling immediately sick because this was not how she had wanted this night to go. "The truth about why I came here."

Zoey:

It was hard for her to give input on the situation due to her own feelings, but then again, it wasn’t just about her. She really liked Kassandra, and that meant wanting what was best for the woman in front of her. “You don’t need to tell me what happened,” she began truthfully. “I trust you. If you say you want me and are ready to enter this with me, then I trust that you’re doing it with the best intentions towards me. I don’t think you’re ever someone that would hurt me purposely.” Perhaps she was naive, but she always chose to see the best in people and trust them until given a reason not to. It was hard to build any sort of relationship without trust.

Zoey moved from cupping the woman’s cheeks to wrapping her arms around her neck. Even in difficult conversations, it was hard to stay far from the brunette for too long. The illustrator was naturally a touchy, feely person. Add someone who she had feelings for, and she wanted to touch more often than not. “Have you heard the saying that the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions,” she asked with a sigh. While the thought was usually far too gloomy for the upbeat blonde, she did know that it was true in some circumstances. “More often than not, people do damage even if they have the best intentions. You both were really young, and once she started on a path she may not have known how to get out of it. I’m not saying it makes things okay, but forgiving her is the step you need to make when you’re ready. Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, and things may never be the same, but it’ll help you let go of all the pain I think.”

The artist was about to respond to how the confident badass she’d met weeks ago was now such a mushy person when the tone changed. The truth? Zoey couldn’t imagine what that meant. The statement hinted that she’d been lied to which didn’t make her feel great. “What do you mean? I’m not excited about the idea of you lying to me when we first met, but we didn’t know each other. I can’t imagine you saying anything that would make me not want you. Did you come here with the intention of hurting anyone?”

Kassandra: 

'Did you come here with the intention of hurting anyone'. The question presented to her left a bitter taste in her mouth and she wanted nothing more than to take it all back. To pretend she'd never said what she was sure would doom their relationship before it even started. Except she couldn't. No more lying. "Yes." Her answer came out broken, eyes filling with tears as she swallowed thickly. "When my mom... When she kicked me out.. Zo--I can't say all this and have you holding me. I can't feel you caring for me because it makes me want to keep you feeling that way. Which means I'm going to want to lie to protect myself and I can't... You deserve the truth. I will not be what she was to me to you." Extracting herself from the blonde, Kassandra wrapped her arms around herself as if that would help her feel some sort of protection before continuing her previous train of thought.

"When my mom kicked me out, I was lost. And I wandered into the woods near where I lived and I... I found him. My dad. And he was so.. Confident. Cocky. An asshole. And he said he cared. I was so alone and heartbroken that I went to him willingly. He took care of me. Gave me money and found me somewhere to stay. A-And then he taught me. He taught me about Zeus. About all the Gods. He taught me how wonderful the King of the Gods was and that it would be a privilege to devote my life to him one day. And years went by and he trained me to deal with my strength, tried to understand the flashes I had. And... I thought maybe he'd never introduce me to him. But then we heard about Icaria and what was happening...." Kassandra took in a deep breath and squared her shoulders, knowing she needed to push through this or she'd never get it out.

The problem was is that this would be the nail in the coffin, the reason why Zoey wouldn't be able to look at her. Because this is what she was. Time and time again, Kassandra West was a disappointment. Aurora could yell at her say she wasn't worthless but... Kassandra didn't know if she'd ever believe that. Could ever believe that. "So we devised a plan. I get him intel on what was happening here and... And if the information was good, he'd share it with Zeus. He promised me if I did this, then I'd finally get to meet him. And for so long I believed him. I wanted to meet this God that my father has praised. So I came here. To get close to all of you... To learn your secrets and expose the corruption from the source."

A shaky breath left her lungs as she stared at the ground. "But then I met you. And you weren't like what my father told me you people would be like. I met people here and they talked about Weston. About what you'd all lost. About how Zeus was.... Is. So I began to not write to my father anymore. I haven't done it in... Weeks, actually. Because I can't betray people that I care about." Her eyes finally found Zoey's, pain filling her entire torso as she wondered if she could feel her heart literally shatter. "I only came here because I thought what I was doing was right. But I've been lying to you all from the start. And.. Getting to know someone like you... It was never part of the plan." Kassandra closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks. "Falling for you was never part of the plan."

Zoey: 

The answer took the air out of Zoey’s lungs as she closed her eyes to will herself to stay and listen. She had to listen because there had to be some sort of explanation. Something that she could use to make sense out of how the sweetest, and sometimes goofiest person she knew could have any intent to cause real harm. So, she let Kass detangle herself from her arms and took her seat back at the bench. The artist crossed one leg over the other as she leaned back and tried to piece it all together.

As she listened, the betrayal and anger she felt slowly started to dissipate. By the way Kass started, the illustrator was positive she was going to want to end things between them before they even began. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. She was angry but more at the circumstances people had put Kass in when she was feeling most vulnerable. Yes, she was slightly ticked off at the woman for lying to her, but Kassandra had also come clean without being forced to.

Just as she thought she was in the clear and could respond, the air was knocked out of her again with three simple words. Falling for you. Gods. How the hell was Zoey supposed to have the ability to process everything she’d learned in less than thirty minutes? She uncrossed her legs before leaning forward with her palms resting against the bench. Her eyes closed as she thought about how to respond to everything that was put in front of her. “First off, I still want you,” she said immediately to get that out of the way. Last thing she wanted was Kassandra freaking out so much about what it would mean for them that she didn’t listen fully to what she was saying.

When she didn’t feel like her head was going to explode, Zoey sat up again and made eye contact with the green eyes she adored so much. “You haven’t hurt anyone, and I know for a fact that any information you’d have gotten wouldn’t have led to anyone getting hurt. First off, Zeus doesn’t listen to anyone. As you saw, Nyx literally had to kidnap children to get his attention, and even then, he let one of his own daughters stay in that place for five years without giving a damn.” Noreen was one of her friends, and she was still furious with the God for treating her like she was nothing. He didn’t show one hint of remorse or care that she was gone.

Once her anger over that entire thing was tucked back away she continued with, “secondly, no one here has any sort of intel that would prove what your father was hoping to prove. I should know. I’ve been here for over twenty years.” The idea that someone thought they wanted to overthrow Zeus for power as Gods was insane. She’d never met anyone with that kind of thinking. Hell, most of them didn’t want to get caught in the middle of the fight that was surely brewing. “Lastly, you were manipulated into thinking these things by yet another person you should have been able to trust. I can’t discard you like you don’t matter, Kass. That’s not — I can’t ever do that to you because you matter so much to me, and not because I can get anything out of you. Am I crazy about you having lied to me? No. But, we barely knew one another back then. All of what you just unpacked isn’t something you tell a stranger, and you still told me before we got even deeper than we already are. How can I tell the girl I’m falling for that I don’t want her anymore because she came to her senses and realized what she was asked to do is wrong? Seems to me like you’re finally getting things right.”

Kassandra:

Kassandra's head snapped up as Zoey said that she still wanted her, a look of utter disbelief on her face. But as Zoey kept talking, kept telling her more and more of what she thought of the whole situation, the disbelief turned into remorse and then finally, anguish. Taking a few steps forward until she was in front of Zoey, she found herself staggering to her knees, kneeling in front of this woman that was far too kind for her or this world. Placing her hands gently atop either thigh, Kass swallowed thickly and looked up at her. "I'm sorry." The words came out broken, almost unfinished in a way as she bent her head down to rest her forehead against Zoey's knees, unable to look at her anymore. "I'm so sorry." It should be a sense of relief that filled her but all she felt was fear. Fear of what her father would do. Fear that the rest of the people she'd interacted with wouldn't be too keen on her if they ever found out she just came her as some sort of exploitation. For personal gain. 

"I don't think I deserve your kindness." Kassandra sniffled, unable to lift her head up to look at Zoey. "But I'll try to earn it. No more secrets... No more lies. Whatever you want to know.. I'll tell you. I don't want to be your foil." There was more she could say, she was sure she could keep begging for forgiveness and utter a thousand words of repentance. But nothing else would leave her throat, not even when she mentally begged it to. So she just kept her head bowed, clutching to a warm body that she definitely didn't deserve.

Zoey:

Seeing Kassandra so broken and upset was not something she ever wanted. The two of them had been through enough hard conversations to last them a lifetime in their short time knowing one another. When Kass’ head leaned against her, Zoey wasted no time in running her fingers through the woman’s hair. While some would enjoy the groveling, the illustrator didn’t. She felt like they were equals, and she wanted the woman she hoped would eventually be her girlfriend to see herself as such. Instead of quickly speaking, she stayed there just lightly scratching the brunette’s scalp with every pass of her fingers through long hair and allowed Kass to catch her breath from everything. It had definitely been a stressful hour to say the least. “All I want is for you to try and see yourself the way I do and start trying to believe you deserve better than what you’ve been given. Everything that’s happened isn’t about who you are as a person, but more about who the others are, okay?” She doubted one evening of her saying so would fix years of emotional turmoil and abuse, but the blonde hoped that every day she stayed helped.

“Now, can you stop literally groveling and tell me what you want to do tonight,” she asked sweetly as she leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on Kassandra’s forehead. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day, and if you think this whole debacle is going to get you out of some me time, you’re so wrong.” They could continue the serious talk another time. It wasn’t something they had a problem doing. Zoey just thought they spent enough time in the dark and twisty for a new couple. She had no problem visiting that side of things, but she thought balance was important in everything. “We do not have to go back to the beach because of the sour taste it could leave in your mouth. I’m down for anything with you.”

Kassandra: 

As fingers slid through her hair, Kassandra felt herself melt at the touch. Her whole body seemed to visibly relax as she clutched tighter to Zoey. "I don't really know how to see myself like you see me. I'm sorry if that's not a good enough answer but its all I can really give you at the moment." The brunette sighed as she pulled back just in time for Zoey to kiss her forehead. Eyes slid shut once more as she let herself sink into the sensation, to the touch. To the feeling of someone caring. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest as her stomach fluttered with butterflies. 

"Yeah, I'm gonna be real honest, I don't want to go back there. I'll just uh.. Grab my stuff in the morning. Actually... Wait, hang on. Just, stay here. Okay?" Kass got up from her position and walked back towards where she'd had everything situated. Luckily for her, Aurora wasn't there which made her let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Grabbing the blankets, the basket, and the guitar case was easy enough. After getting the fire to die down, Kassandra walked back to Zoey, now looking very sheepish at all of the items she held in her arms. "I uh.. I wanted to do something special... For you. So... I wanted to take you somewhere that you loved. And you.. You really seem to love the ocean and I just thought... Maybe here? But now here is kind of a mess and I don't know where to take you. I kind of messed this all up. Fuck."

Zoey:

“I said try, sweetheart,” she reassured with a sweet smile. “That doesn’t mean you have to see yourself that way now. Just keep working on your self esteem and worth because you deserve so much more than what you’ve gotten.” Zoey wasn’t positive of many things, but that was something she was absolutely certain about. When Kass asked her to wait, the blonde just nodded her head. She was content waiting to see where the night would take them. Zoey was just relieved that they’d made it through something that could have completely ruined the evening.

When Kass did return though, she hadn’t expected to see her with so many things. It was so cute to see how much effort the woman had put into their date, and it touched her more than she could explain. “I’ve got an idea,” she said easily as she grabbed the picnic basket and Kassandra’s now free hand. With that, she began walking them towards Hades park. The botanical gardens there would be perfect to give them a beautiful atmosphere along with some privacy. “I love being outdoors. Since we live on an island paradise, that often leads towards the beach. Still, there are a lot of other spots I go to as well. Hades Park is one, and we can go there. I love all of this already. A small change in scenery won’t change that,” she promised. While she understood that it wasn’t the same as planning the whole date from beginning to finish, she hoped that Kass saw the truth in her words. “What do you think? Are you up to having a picnic with me surrounded by flowers that are almost as beautiful as you?”

Kassandra:

Kassandra blushed as Zoey spoke about being surrounded by flowers that were beautiful like she was. It took everything in her to bite down the remark that Zoey was clearly blind because of the easy way she found herself being self-deprecating. Luckily for the blonde, she managed to stave off the negative energy, that is, until common sense connected in her brain. "Babe..." She started, eyebrow raised as she looked around them for a moment. "I'm totally down for going to a park right now. However, it is uh.. Night time. And unless you're about to tell me you have dark-vision with a radius of 30 ft, I don't know how much flowers we will really be seeing." Kass paused, not because she realized just how incredibly nerdy that was but because of remembering what Zoey could do. "Wait, hold on. You can, can't you? You can see at night because of your... Shapey-shifty thing? Is that a thing?"

Kassandra blushed as Zoey spoke about being surrounded by flowers that were beautiful like she was. It took everything in her to bite down the remark that Zoey was clearly blind because of the easy way she found herself being self-deprecating. Luckily for the blonde, she managed to stave off the negative energy, that is, until common sense connected in her brain. "Babe..." She started, eyebrow raised as she looked around them for a moment. "I'm totally down for going to a park right now. However, it is uh.. Night time. And unless you're about to tell me you have dark-vision with a radius of 30 ft, I don't know how much flowers we will really be seeing." Kass paused, not because she realized just how incredibly nerdy that was but because of remembering what Zoey could do. "Wait, hold on. You can, can't you? You can see at night because of your... Shapey-shifty thing? Is that a thing?"

Zoey:

The blonde bit her lip to stop herself from smiling at Kass’ first statement. She found it as cute as the woman did when the artist thought that she would be able to restrain her to a bed. However, when Kassandra did finally put it together she gave in and laughed lightly while nodding her head. “Shape-shifty thing? I might have to talk to a comic writer and tell them to make that the name of their next superhero ability,” she teased lightly. While shapeshifting was popular in the literary world, it was more of a sci-fi thing. It became insanely popular thanks to Twilight and other vampire shows which always drove her a bit crazy. There were just some things they got so wrong that she couldn’t really watch those shows or movies. “But yes, you’re right. That is a thing. Lucky for you, I can describe the flowers to you in very good detail.” Well, that was if they didn’t get too distracted by one another like usual.

“You’re so lucky you didn’t know me when I was in high school. I did not have a great grasp on my powers until I was about eighteen. They got better with time of course, but I would just shift sometimes. That’s actually how Dex and I became best friends. I shifted into a monkey and climbed on his shoulder. Well that and the fact that I helped him with his calculus homework when I was a sophomore.” Dexter was actually the friend that Zoey wanted Kass to meet the most. She figured he was safer to meet first rather than her parents and siblings. Family always made people more nervous. “Also, sweetie, I think that reputation of yours is going to go out the window the more people see you with me. You don’t really treat me the way you do others.” She added a hand squeeze to her comment to ease what could be a blow to her date’s ego. Apparently the badass persona was a thing. “We’re almost there. Hades’ Park is just right through that entrance,” she said as she pointed ahead to the sign. Perks of a small island was how easy and quick everything was to get to.

Kassandra: 

Rolling her eyes, Kassandra trudged along beside Zoey, knowing full well that she wasn't actually upset with the other woman teasing her. "I don't know what it is. I know mythology shape-shifting, I am a History major with a minor in... Nevermind. Anyway, the point is, I just don't know how it works with you and your... Bits. I could look at history, I could look at my unhealthy obsession of Teen Wolf when I was younger or I could ask person who actually does it... For fun." Kassandra rolled her eyes with a smile plastered on her face, bringing up the hand she was holding to kiss at Zoey's knuckles. 

And then the reputation comment came out and she found herself groaning. "Shut up. I was totally a badass before I met you. And now I'm all soft and squishy. What if someone tries to attack us while we're in the park? I might just turn into jello and then you're gonna need to turn into some kind of enormous dragon and carry me off. Or a cool bird. I could ride you if you were an ostrich." Kassandra clearly should stop talking.

Zoey:

“Nuh uh. No way,” Zoey said quickly. “You’re so finishing that sentence. History major with a minor in what?” Learning about Kass was honestly one of the blonde’s most favorite things. Especially when it was learning about the parts that weren’t so sad. “I majored in illustration which I’m sure is a big surprise.” Her major very much directly related to her profession. While she believed she could have made it without it if she’d just sent her portfolio everywhere, she was happy she listened to her dad and got the degree. “As for learning about my abilities, I’m happy to tell you anything you want to know. Please don’t use Teen Wolf as a reference though.” Another show that made her cringe. The alpha and beta thing was way too overstated for her liking, and shifters didn’t often run around in packs. 

Zoey led them through the park and playfully rolled her eyes at the woman beside her. It didn’t take her long to find a nice spot for them to set up their blanket and enjoy their evening. “Firstly, I don’t believe you’d turn to jello for a second. You’re too protective for that. Me being in danger would probably just have you act more reckless than usual which I’m not too fond of. I don’t like you getting hurt.” The blonde was also more than capable of defending herself. Her father had insisted she get into martial arts years ago when the first kidnapping happened. It scared him to his core. “Secondly, an ostrich? That’s what you went with? Not a horse, lion or tiger, but an ostrich. You’re a little silly.”

Kassandra: 

Sighing deeply, Kassandra knew that she'd have to answer Zoey's question sooner or later. Luckily she didn't have to say anything yet because the blonde was now doing that thing where she talked about herself which honestly helped settle her down a bit. Kassandra really didn't like talking about herself, in fact, she had thought she'd done enough of that for a lifetime after tonight. Eventually they made their way to a spot that the other woman picked out, spreading the blanket out before placing the guitar down as well as the basket. She sat down, patting the space next to her so Zoey would follow suit. "How dare you, I could totally kick ass without getting reckless. And as for the ostrich... Well, okay, that might not have been my brightest moment but it's the first thing that came to my head because of Swiss Family Robinson and... Nevermind. Anyway..."

Kassandra reached over and grabbed the basket, opening it to grab a plate. On the plate were two jelly-filled donuts, Kass happily holding it up in offering to the other woman. "So... Two donuts. Worth two-fifty." She winced, sighing again. "Okay... It was closer to three. But its not like I can haggle the prices of the donuts. And you probably don't even know what I'm referencing. It's... It's the amount that I paid for the comic. Back when I first came to Icaria." The brunette rubbed the back of her, looking awkwardly before grabbing a donut and shoving it quickly into her mouth. "Yf'know... Thefse are weally good. Mmmhmm." And of course, what better time to answer that previous question Zoey had asked her. "It waf folklofe anth myfology."

Zoey:

The blonde questioned Kassandra silently with an arched eyebrow. “You would put me in front of your own well being in a heartbeat which will always concern me. I need you to be okay as much as you’d need me to be.” Getting Kass to see that she meant a lot to someone else was going to be a challenge, but fortunately Zoey wasn’t in a rush. They had time. “You’re going to have to show me more of how that brain of yours works and stop being so worried about what you say in front of me. Nothing you do say is going to scare me away or make me stop liking you. I think I’ve proven that once or twice,” she said with a wink before leaning over and kissing Kass’ cheek.

The donuts and the reference melted Zoey because she honestly hadn’t expected it. Kassandra acted so aloof that day, that the blonde doubted the woman would remember much of their first meeting. Yet, there she was full of surprises. “How could I forget,” she asked with a tilt of her head and smile on her face. “That’s the day I first met you. I told you I’d find a way into your soft spots, and I think I’ve proved that. Oh, and I thought you didn’t date,” she asked teasingly before taking a bite out of her own donut. She covered her mouth to laugh lightly at the gibberish that was coming out of her date’s mouth. Fortunately, she had very good hearing and could make out what she was saying. “Folklore and mythology,” she asked excitedly. “Really? That’s really cool! If you have any books to recommend, let me know. I love reading when I’m not drawing.”

Kassandra:

Kassandra's face flushed a bright red at the reminder of what she'd said all that time ago. Oh for fuck's sake. She'd forgotten about that and now, of course, look how it had come back to bite her in the ass. "You know what," She started, finishing the jelly donut. "I'm revoking your kissing privileges. And instead of giving you totally awesome literature to read, I'm just going to.. Have you read... Uh... The dictionary. In Latin. Mmmhmmm. Yep, exactly that. Terrifying prospect." Okay maybe, on second thought, kissing would be a good idea because at least that would shut her the hell up. Wiping off her mouth, Kass reached back into the basket once more to pull out something else. Pulling out a mug, she handed it to Zoey. "I went to that one mug coffee shop place in town and I saw this there and... I kind of bought it from them. I figured you needed to have it for work."

The mug wasn't particularly fancy or really anything special. But in big bold black font were the words 'Imagine life without comic books... Now punch yourself in the face and never do that again'. "I know it's really kind of lame but I saw it and.. I don't really know, I just wanted to get it for you." She bit her lip, hands moving into her lap to begin playing with her fingers, some of her anxiety showing. "I know I didn't really have to get anything for you. It's just a date and I shouldn't make a big deal. I could have gotten flowers but that felt too cliche. So I went with this. I just.. I haven't done a date in a while. And I wanted it to be good. For both of us. But then the whole setting got moved and my freaking ex showed up. And now we're in a garden that you can see but I can't. Also I'm rambling now, so there's that." Kassandra groaned once more, bringing her hands up to cover her face.

Zoey:

As Zoey finished her donut, she shook her head at the woman opposite of her. “You’re revoking my kissing privileges,” she asked with a pout at the brunette. The prospect of reading the dictionary in Latin didn’t really worry her because honestly, Kass could give it to her all she wanted, but she wouldn’t read it. When the mug was handed to her however, all thoughts of not kissing Kass went out the window. All the blonde wanted to do was straddle the other woman’s lap and kiss her senseless. Yet, she made herself stay where she was. Zoey loved that their — that they were progressing physically more than she had ever enjoyed any of those things before, but she still wanted them to talk some. If she made that move, talking would be out the window. They could spend hours lost in one another and not get bored.

As she looked the mug over, she couldn’t help but smile. It was totally adorable. “I love it,” she said with a smile. She gently placed the mug in her satchel to be sure she didn’t forget it. It would most likely be more of her tea mug than coffee mug, but that didn’t matter. It would have a regular appearance at work. Gently, the blonde pulled the woman’s hands off of her face and brought them to her lips to kiss them. “This date is perfect. I love it out here with you. It’s much more secluded because many people don’t come to a botanical garden at night. Outside of the occasional runner, we’ll be left alone. As for what happened, your ex is in the past, and that’s where I’m keeping her. Our date didn’t start until the moment we both sat down on this blanket.” Zoey wasn’t even just saying that to be nice. In her mind, that happened ages ago. They’d talked, resolved the problem, and now we’re together enjoying their evening. Two completely separate events. “Now, I believe you had questions for me Ms. Folklore and Mythology major. Are you curious how much history has gotten right when it comes to us shapeshifters?” History had honestly gotten a lot of the things right. Even the internet had some facts in their lore that was spot on. Things only got a little weird when they were put into practice on television or movies apparently.

Kassandra:

How on earth was Zoey human? Well, okay, so she wasn't exactly human but still. The point stands. She was the best kind of person who just didn't let things hurt her as much as.. Okay, as much as she herself would let them hurt. Kassandra may have said she was a badass but when it came to matters of the heart she was like a wounded animal, wanting to bite at anyone who came close to her. "I mean I do, but I don't really know how to ask them. I just.. How about instead of me explaining things... You... Show me?" The woman paused, blinking slowly as she realized just how awkward that sounded leaving her lips. "I mean, I understand that history probably has gotten some things right. But I also don't trust it unless its backed up by a lot of evidence and irrefutable proof sometimes. Depending on what we're talking about. This in no way means I'm a flat-earther or think that we never landed on the moon."

Biting her lip, Kassandra moved to reach into the bag again, this time bringing out something she didn't quite know if Zoey would be okay with. "So... I brought something else. Something that I'm going to show you once you tell you all you want to tell me about you. And then... And then I'll tell you about me. Whatever you want to know." She brought the item onto her lap, placing it at her side and out of Zoey's view. Unless that shapeshifting came with freaking x-ray vision.. It didn't. Right?

Zoey:

The idea of showing Kassandra was easy enough. She’d shifted so much that while the feeling is still painful, she’d built quite a tolerance to it over the years. After about a thousand times, something had to feel somewhat natural. Still, there was one small hiccup with that idea. “I would be totally okay with shifting in front of you, but unless you have an extra pair of clothes, I would be naked when I shifted back. Unless you wanted to have the rest of your date with an animal.” The blonde could wrap the blanket around herself, but that would limit what they could do for the rest of the night. While Zoey was quite comfortable being naked, that didn’t mean that the law completely agreed with her. Having her dad bail her out for streaking was not something she wanted at the end of a date. “I can tell you some things though,” she said before biting her lip in though. “I do have heightened senses. I can see around us for a couple hundred feet right now perfectly fine. I can also hear a good distance too. Lying about food is so hard for me because of my taste buds. If I don’t like something, my face totally gives me away. Oh, I also have like a sixth sense which makes it very hard to sneak up on me.” Her brain tried to think of anymore shapeshifter fun facts that she could share without actually shifting right that second. “Oh, I also have an insanely fast metabolism.”

The prospect of learning more about Kass always got Zoey excited. She knew how rare of a privilege that was, and the artist didn’t take it for granted. Every time she was let in a little more, she cherished it and promised that she’d not make the brunette regret it. “You know I always love learning more about you. The happy, sad, silly, and secretly nerdy. I’m a fan of it all. It’s why I like you so much. I’m a whole package kind of girl.”

Kassandra:

Kassandra blinked awkwardly, not at all expecting that response. "O-oh. That uh.. That's... Nope. Let's not do that. Please and thank you. I don't need anyone else seeing you naked." Her eyes darkened for a moment, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of jealousy at the thought of someone else seeing her girl naked. The woman stopped breathing. Her girl. Had she actually just thought that? Oh Gods. Focus, Kassandra. Focus on what she said and not what you thought. Do it now before you start panicking and do something stupid. The problem with this inner monologue was that she wasn't actually obeying what she was saying to herself. At all. Because now she was standing up and... Pacing?

"I like you too. A lot. Which is... I'm not used to it, ya know. Having feelings so fast for someone. Hell--Having feelings is just a weird concept to me. I swore it off. I swore it all off and then I met you and now here we are on a date. And my mind is just kind of going all over the place. Because on one hand, I just got super jealous at the idea of other people seeing you naked. So much so that my brain just called you my girl. Which I want you to know, I'm not possessive over you in the slightest. I do not agree with that kind of thinking. But then on the other hand..." The brunette took in a deep breath, quickly continuing with barely any pause. "I'm yelling at my brain because I don't know if I'm allowed to feel how much I feel, this fast. I've already made out with you, seen you naked and been on two dates now before I've even considered a label be tacked onto us. And that terrifies me. And now I'm rambling to you about this and I should have stayed quiet. I'm sorry."

Zoey:

Seeing Kass get upset at the idea of anyone else seeing her naked made Zoey feel warmer than she thought possible. “I can shift for you at my place if you want since I’ll have clothes there, or I can just stay naked when I shift back,” she said with a shrug. They’d already showered together. However, that would lead to very little talking happening most likely. There was no way she’d want to do anything than touch and kiss at her place if she wasn’t dressed. The blonde was getting a little hooked on the sounds and reactions she could pull out of her counterpart.

Zoey hadn’t expected the tangent her date went on at all. The standing up was random, but as the brunette started talking it all started making sense. Knowing that Kass was going to be on quite the roll for a moment, the artist just leaned back on her palms as she watched Kassandra’s movements while listening. When she was sure her date was done, the illustrator shook her head from where she was while wearing a smile. “I like the idea of being your girl, and I liked that you didn’t want anyone else to see my naked, so no harm no foul on those two.” Zoey ran her fingers through her hair and flipped her part as she thought about what she wanted to say to the second part of it. It wasn’t really about what freaked her out, but soothing the fears of the woman before her. “Kass, I’ve been -- feeling a lot for you for awhile now. I’d love to be your girlfriend, but I’m also okay with waiting for that to happen. As for what you can feel, anything you’re feeling is okay. There is no right or wrong to how you’re feeling, at least with me.”

Kassandra:

Everything in her mind went blank. Girlfriend. She'd heard that right, right? Zoey had said girlfriend. All that she had said was her girl. Not.. Not that. Kassandra sucked in a puff of air, green eyes wide and only slightly frantic. "Girlfriend?" Her voice cracked, all high-pitch and awkward like some kind of prepubescent teenage boy. "I mean... You're my girl who is a friend. And we make out. And I've seen you naked... But... Girlfriend? I don't--I haven't had... Not since... And that didn't..." Kassandra kept pacing, words not fully coming out as properly as she wished for them to. "Is it hot in here? Out here? Is it? Cause it feels warm. Are you warm?"

Zoey:

Well, apparently she did not pick the right words. The blonde heard the high pitched voice followed by the rambling, and she knew that she’d possibly messed up. Living in Aurora’s shadow was hard for the woman, and it wasn’t going to get any easy now that she knew her. Honestly, she wanted to punch Kass’ ex girlfriend just because of all the pain that had been caused, and she was not a violent person. “I’m your girl who is a friend that you make out with,” she said with a nod and made sure to keep any wincing out of her face. That just sounded so less personal than where she thought they were heading.

Zoey let her head lul back and looked up at the sky for a moment as she thought what to say. It wasn’t like she could take back what she’d said. “I don’t have to be your girlfriend,” she started with in an attempt to get Kass to stop panicking. “Whether we are or aren’t, just know that I won’t hurt you the way she did. I can’t promise I won’t hurt you ever because that would just put me on a pedestal that I wouldn’t survive on. I just, I won’t be like her,” she said a little more quietly. While she didn’t like another person being such a focal point between the two of them, it was hard to not address her. She seemed to be the root of all of the other woman’s hang ups when it came to them.

Kassandra:

Hearing what Zoey said next made her face scrunch up. She didn't like how that sounded. Too informal. Too awkward. Too.. Not them. So she watched how Zoey formed her next words, the way that she could barely look at her. The way that she went softer, more gentle. And yet more restrained as well. She didn't like that, seeing the blonde have to restrict herself. Kassandra knew why she was doing it, knew that it was all her own fault for being a fucking mess of a human being. Zoey wasn't like her.. She wasn't broken. And that was good. Honestly thank Gods for that. She wouldn't wish this on anyone. But no matter if she was broken or not... She needed to fix whatever was happening right in this moment. Biting her lip, she looked around despite knowing that that wouldn't really help anyone given the fact that she couldn't see shit.

So instead of continuing a useless pursuit, the brunette moved so she was straddling Zoey's lap, kneeling with her knees on either side of the blonde's legs. Green eyes found blue as she brought a hand up to cup the back of the other woman's neck while her other hand tenderly stroked Zoey's cheek. Her breath came out shaky as she steeled her nerves, pushing down the panic and fear that came with what she was about to ask her. "Zoey... Ask me." The words were honest, yearning. Soft. Like the two of them in this moment. Without even being able to stop herself, she pressed a gentle kiss to the illustrator's lips. "Ask me."

Zoey:

When she saw the brunette looking around, Zoey gave her an endearing smile. “No one is around us according to my eyes and ears,” she said in the hopes of reassuring the woman. She was about to ask why she was curious, when she suddenly found her lap filled with Kassandra. Never one to mind, she put her hands on the woman’s hips and squeezed them lightly. Talking through touches and being intimate with one another was never a problem for them. That part of their relationship would get an A+ honestly.

The request wasn’t one she had been expecting at all. If she was honest, she was ready to shelf the conversation until another month or two. Yet, there the brunette was surprising her again. “You know, I’ve been wanting to ask you for about two weeks,” she said with a light laugh. “I had planned on it being something romantic at my place since that seems to be where we always end up. This, well, this is better,” she whispered in the small space between them. Even without the artist’s hearing, she knew that Kass could hear perfectly fine. “It’s just us. Us naturally stumbling into a topic that makes you flustered, and then you surprise me by pushing your boundaries just a little bit more to let me in every time.” She moved a hand to cup Kassandra’s cheek and caress the skin with the pad of her thumb. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Kassandra: 

Is this what it felt like to be wanted? To feel hope blooming in her chest with every word that someone said? Kassandra was sure that was the case as Zoey whispered to her how she felt about this whole scenario. When the blonde brought a hand up to caress the skin of her cheek, she felt her eyes fluttering shut as she leaned into the touch. However her eyes slowly drifted open when Zoey asked her what Kassandra had requested her to. She shouldn't be surprised. She did ask for her to do this, after all. But here she was.. Still surprised as her jaw dropped slightly. Was she lame for having such a simple question take her breath away? Surely not. Not after all the torment she'd been put through or put herself through. Of course she'd react this way. 

With a stuttering sound, Kassandra nodded. She was unable to say the words, so instead of vocalizing her feelings she showed them. Instead of kissing Zoey like the blonde might have expected, Kassandra wrapped her arms around Zoey's neck and hugged her tightly. "I'm the luckiest person alive right now." The brunette whispered into her girlfriend's hair. Her girlfriend. Her heart thudded in her chest. She couldn't believe that this was her reality. Was the weather finally changing in her favor? Was this what it was like to feel happy? Pulling back and looking at Zoey was all the answer to the question that she needed. So she did what she wanted. A bubbly laugh escaped her as she moved from the hug to kiss the blonde hard and fast. "Yes," She whispered against her lips in case Zoey hadn't gotten the memo. "Yes... Yes... Yes..." She kept repeating the word in between kisses, laughter accompanying them.

Zoey:

The nod was enough to make Zoey giggle as she easily wrapped her arms around Kass’ middle to pull her body as close to her own as possible. “Mm, I might have to fight you for that title,” she replied easily as she ran her hands up and down the woman’s back. Being close to Kass never failed to make her heart race. She’d thought she’d get used to the sensation at some point, but that had yet to happen.

Kass’ laugh had been the lightest she’d ever heard the woman, and she was about to comment on such before her lips were otherwise occupied. They laughed together which made some of their kisses have a touch more of teeth than normal, but Zoey didn’t care. She was genuinely happy. Wanting to take advantage of the surprise, she effortlessly flipped the woman on top of her so she was lying on her back on the blanket and moved to straddle her hips. “You are always straddling me, which I love, but with our height difference, this makes much more sense, don’t you think,” she asked playfully before leaning down and kissing the brunette again. When she pulled back, she stayed closed with her weight held up by her hands on either side of Kass’ head and smiled as she said, “you know, I quite like the view from here.”

Kassandra:

A yelp left her throat as Zoey flipped them, blinking in surprise as she found herself on her back looking up at the blonde who was now straddling her lap. "I... How did you..." She tried to ask but stopped as soon as Zoey was kissing her again, clutching onto her desperately as she returned it with as much fervor as she possibly could. When Zoey pulled away, she couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face, a blush tinging her cheeks as the blonde talked about liking the view. "I mean you're very close to my face, that's not much of a view. Unless you're pulling back and looking at my chest. Then.. You're welcome. All yours, babe." Kassandra winked at Zoey, moving her hands to squeeze the other woman's hips.

"I feel like if anyone walked up and saw us we would have a lot of explaining to do for public indecency. Or does this count as PDA. Maybe its a good thing that you didn't shift because you being naked and on top of me might have not gone over well." Leaning up wasn't hard as she pressed a kiss to Zoey's neck, lips quirked upwards in a smirk as she raked her teeth down her throat for a moment until she laid her head back down. "I've got my car parked down by the beach and I have another small surprise. We don't have to do it but uh... I got a tent if you want to just camp out by the beach. I used to do it at home sometimes when my mom and I would go. If we stick to the east side of the isle, we can see the sun rise." She blanched, sighing. "I mean, obviously, because it rises in the east. And you know that... Because you're... Smart. Unlike me in this moment, holy shit."

Zoey:

At the woman’s words, Zoey arched a very unimpressed eyebrow. “Keep insulting my girlfriend, and see what I do to you,” she said playfully. “You’re beautiful, Kass, and I’m not just talking about the parts of you people like to sexualize.” The blonde was insanely attracted to the woman below her. It was so intense that it could overwhelm her at times, and the urges that came with that were getting harder to manage. Yet, Zoey would always see her as more than just that. “Still, I like that you’re all mine. That’s one thing you got right.”

“This still counts as PDA. As long as we don’t remove any clothing, we’re good. But yeah, if I had shifted, that would be a totally different problem. Although, I’d hear them before they even saw us, so we could make a get away.” Zoey had quite a bit of experience avoiding people after shifting back into her human form. People always made nakedness so awkward. It was just easier to skip that all together. A moan left the artist’s lips at the feeling of teeth against her neck, and she barely stopped her hips from pressing down further into her girlfriend. Fortunately, the topic that Kass switched to made it easy for her to not focus on the heat quickly spreading through her body. It touched her how much thought and effort the woman put into their date. It also amused her how much Kassandra acted like a girlfriend, but she was so scared to put the label of actually being one. Add to that how nervous she could get, and Zoey was completely enamored. “You’re really smart, darling. I just make you flustered which is seriously the cutest thing to witness,” she replied before leaning down for another peck. Zoey was physically incapable of not kissing Kass for longer than a couple of minutes it seemed. “That sounds amazing, though. Is Nugget okay? Do we need to grab the little boy before heading over?”

Kassandra:

Hearing the other woman call her that sent a fire through her whole body, eyes looking upwards with such care. The sky was gorgeous, stars twinkling overhead with the soft sounds of insects greeting her ears from their location. Hell, she'd forgot where she was because all that mattered in this moment was Zoey. Well. Her and Zoey. She had to start putting herself into the equation or else this wouldn't ever truly go anywhere. It was time to start thinking herself worthy to be cared for. And sure, that would take time and effort and probably a lot of therapy. But she was willing to go that mile. She was willing to throw away whatever notions she'd come here for if it meant starting to be better. If it meant letting her past go. Could she do this? Could she really be happy?

Looking at the blonde, watching her as she spoke to her about her puppy and the compassion that she showed to her was enough to answer her question. Unless the fates truly had it out for her, she could definitely find a way to be happy. And no, she wasn't going to just expect Zoey to be her everything. That wasn't fucking healthy at all and Kassandra was done not being healthy. She wasn't about to say she could see forever in Zoey's eyes because that wasn't how she did things, even before she had gotten all messed up. However... She did know that what she felt for Zoey... It was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. It felt a lot like hope blossoming in her chest. Still, she had to respond to the question posed to her, which meant getting her mouth to move. "Nugget is okay. I've got a neighbor checking in on him. Besides... I'd like to have you all to myself tonight."

Zoey:

Nugget being taken care of certainly made things easier for them. She loved the little guy, but she was happy to not have to stop by the Inn. It was more like work for her lately, and that was the last thing she wanted in the middle of her date. The likelihood of her not being stopped for at least one question was slim to none. “You should know that I’ve been yours pretty much since the day you walked into the comic shop,” she said honestly. While she could never have predicted what would grow between them that day, she knew that she wanted to be closer to the brunette. Being friendly was natural for her, but things between them were just different.

Nugget being taken care of certainly made things easier for them. She loved the little guy, but she was happy to not have to stop by the Inn. It was more like work for her lately, and that was the last thing she wanted in the middle of her date. The likelihood of her not being stopped for at least one question was slim to none. “You should know that I’ve been yours pretty much since the day you walked into the comic shop,” she said honestly. While she could never have predicted what would grow between them that day, she knew that she wanted to be closer to the brunette. Being friendly was natural for her, but things between them were just different.

Kassandra: 

Kassandra tilted her head sideways in what surely looked like an adorable manner. "You were? I didn't have any clue. I just knew I wanted to get to know you after we met that first day. I'd never met anyone like you before... You kind of intrigued me and also scared the hell out of me. But uh, like, in a good way. Promise." How was she so smooth when it came to other women and was floundering like a damned fish out of water when it came to this woman in particular? She didn't let that thought fester, too busy noticing that Zoey was moving off of her, causing her to pout. 

After she was helped up, Kassandra dusted off her pants and sighed. "I mean, hopefully we're alone. The whole Gods popping in on this isle at any moment, with doors that do or do not open and mythological creatures that like to sneak up on people while they're napping in a park... I don't know if we will ever really be considered 'alone'." She put air quotes around the last word before realizing that Zoey was talking about a lack of restraint around her. "I'm the definition of restraint, Zo. I'm like a walking, talking, breathing entry in a dictionary of that term. And not because I don't want you, I do. I just want to do this right. I still feel like I'm going far too fast but I have to remind myself that people put regulations in place on relationships and boundaries for themselves and decided society needed to do it as a whole. Which is insane. What's good for me is not good for... Someone like.. Oh I dunno. Caelan. I still don't understand the bees..." Kassandra stared off into space for a moment before realizing she'd gotten completely sidetracked. "The point is! That... I don't think we're doing this wrong. Going too fast or too slow. As long as we're both good and feeling okay, then I'm good with however we take it. Or don't... Take it." Kass breathed deeply through her nose, closing her eyes. "I swear I'm normally so much better with words than this."

Zoey:

“I was,” she said with a small nod. “I had no idea we’d become this. Especially when you acted like such a little bad girl player type that didn’t want anything to do with dating, but I wanted to get closer to you. I was obviously attracted to you, but I’m never so flirty when I first meet someone. Friendly, yeah, but I was flirting with you. Then, well, things were clear pretty fast that I wanted you.” Their first date shifted things. If Kass hadn’t stopped back into the comic shop after their first meeting, they might have never gone on that date. Things fell into place for them even if there were some bumpy moments thrown in.

Hearing Kassandra ramble so much made Zoey’s heart feel so full. She was happy the woman was feeling comfortable enough to not play that “too cool” facade that she sometimes wore. “Mm, you’re right, but when I’m with you I don’t really notice anyone else, so I get the effect of being alone either way. Plus, I don’t think anyone will just waltz into our tent. You’re with an isle native. I know all the secluded spots,” she said with a wink as she finished packing up the last of their items and placed her bag on her shoulder. At the sound of a second bout of rambling, Zoey just giggled as she grabbed Kass’ hand and started leading them out of the park. “Mmm, I think you’re great at words. You don’t have to try and be suave or anything with me. I already find you sexy, sweet, and smart. Triple S. You’re golden. As for our pace, I tend to agree with you. Pacing rules are weird to me. If it feels right, and we put in the work, then I’m happy.” Her relationship experience was very limited, but Zoey wasn’t ever really someone to follow societal norms though. It was part of what made her such a loner in a sense in high school. She had friends and was happy, but she usually did her own thing and didn’t care about the rules of what made people popular or not. That was far too exhausting. “The lack of restraint I have with you is shocking. I’ve never had a problem keeping it in my pants. I’ve never gotten turned on to the point of needing to release tension until you. I can keep on having fun on my own like I have been the last few weeks though until we’re ready. Just don’t be too mean of a tease.” If Kass thought Zoey was open before, she was in for a whole new level now that they were in a relationship.

Kassandra: 

Kassandra's eyes widened at all the information that greeted her ears, especially that one specific sentence that Zoey had said. "You... Alright! Nope, not thinking about that. We're going to sleep on the beach, after making out knowing us and not going any further because I'm still... Not ready for that yet. Which is surprising, I'm sure, given the fact that I've... Well, you know. Either way, c'mon let's go." Kassandra grabbed Zoey's hand with her own, other hand holding onto the basket that held all the items she'd brought including the blanket that was barely stuffed inside. As they walked to her car, the conversation was light, Kass just happy to be in the presence of the other woman. Eventually they made their way to one of the more secluded sections of the beach, obviously facing the east shores of the isle. With practiced ease, Kassandra assembled the tent and rolled out the sleeping bags. Biting her lip, she quickly knelt down and did something she'd only done when she was a kid; Kassandra took the two sleeping bags and opened them before zipping them together to make one big sleeping bag. A light blush covered her cheeks as she turned back to Zoey, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "I didn't want space... If that's okay, I mean."

Zoey: 

There was absolutely nothing in the world more amusing and adorable than watching Kassandra West ramble. Zoey would be willing to argue with anyone about that fact too. It was just so cute to watch the brunette get flustered over things that the artist knew she usually didn’t get bothered over. It was touching in a way. “It’s not surprising. I know you see yourself in a certain way, but I don’t. You’re just Kass to me, okay? My sweet, secret nerd, girlfriend. No need to fight against old images or expectations with me.” Zoey wasn’t the type to use past things against anyone. Things with her were a clean slate. That’s how she operated. 

Kassandra: 

The better part of the day had been spent at the beach in full disassociation mode, that is until she decided to text Zoey. It surprised her that she'd even done that, wanting nothing more than to just go drink her pain away. Or fuck it away. That's how she had learned to cope with the pain of existence, of the hurt that others inflicted. Aurora being here and revealing to her the reason why she'd broken up with her had been a slap in the face. Not to mention adding on the implication that her god-awful mother was way worse than Kassandra had ever realized. Everything about the situation got ten times worse, knowing full well that she'd hated Aurora for things that were out of her control. 

So she texted Zoey, for a distraction or for some semblance of self worth. She wasn't quite sure what it was. But like they had been for a while, the tone shifted and Kassandra found herself dangerously tiptoeing that line of 'will they won't they'. Eventually she made her way to Zoey's house, knocking on the door after sending the last text message. The second that Zoey opened the door, all rational thought was thrown out the window, choosing to ignore the pain in her head and instead wanting to numb it altogether. Without even batting an eyelash, Kassandra picked up Zoey with ease as she kicked the door shut before taking her to the kitchen counter and setting her down on it. Her next step was kissing the blonde heatedly on the mouth, one hand between their bodies to tug on the hem of her shorts while the other gripped gently at the back of Zoey's neck. This probably was a bad idea. Probably.

Zoey: 

Zoey’s mind was a jumbled mess, but she was thankful that she had the distraction of taking care of Kass to take her mind off the thoughts circling her head about whomever arrived on the isle. Warnings went off in her mind because it was obvious how much the person still had some sort of hold over the brunette, but she pushed them down. She believed the words Kass had told her. Even though they hadn’t known one another long, Kassandra had Zoey’s trust until she gave her a reason to take it away. So, instead she focused on grabbing some take out from Wish You Were Beer after making sure to grab Nugget from Kass’ room. Comfort food definitely sounded like a burger, some mozzarella sticks, and French fries. She got a side of onion rings with her own just to add some variety. She wasn’t home long at all when she heard the doorbell ring. She had just enough time to set the food down on her table before making her way over to let the woman in.

The greeting she got wasn’t one she expected at all. Per the course for them both, Zoey quickly let her hormones override her judgement and fell into the kiss. A moan left her as she hooked her legs around the woman’s thighs to keep her as close as possible. The sports bra left so much skin open to her touch which she explored for a few moments before something screamed at her from inside her mind. Perhaps the insecurities and fear she was trying to avoid earlier were to thank for her coming to her senses. Still, her body was calling her a string of unpleasant names she was sure when she managed to pull away from the embrace. “You told me to not let you go where you want this to go,” she said in between labored breaths. “As much as I hate being the sensible one right now, I don’t want you doing something you regret and making things worse.” It was such a far cry from the reasoning and everything they spoke of last time they were in a similar position, but the pace needed to remain the same.

Kassandra: 

Food was here, she could smell it and yet she ignored the hunger pangs in favor of kissing Zoey again. The woman was trying to talk her down, to convince her that she needed to stop and not let this happen but all Kassandra saw was anger and pain and hurt. All of that bled into her like a never-ending wave and the only way she knew how to get it out of her system was to let lust take over. So she'd let Zoey keep talking, her mouth now moving to Zoey's neck as she pressed open mouthed kisses to her skin, scorching her along the way to the shoulder that was exposed before sucking gently on her exposed clavicle. "Don't you want this, Zo?" Her words came out low and breathy, taking her hand to grab one of Zoey's own as she placed it directly on her chest. An eyebrow raised in a challenge as she pulled back, green eyes almost jet black at this point as she took in the sight of Zoey's tousled hair and overall attire. Gods, how was a person this attractive.

Immediately she dove back in, kissing her deeply while moving one of her hands underneath Zoey's shirt to let her fingernails scratch lightly down the other woman's stomach. 'You're a good fuck, Kass, I'll give you that'. The thought infiltrated her mind, remembering the blonde that she had invited to her room all those weeks ago. Tearing her mouth away from Zoey's, she went to Zoey's ear, nipping gently on her earlobe before whispering to her. "I want you..." Her voice was raspy, fully intending on letting out a while timed moan into the other woman's ear when another memory ruined the moment. 'My mom's going to be home soon. Make this quick'. With a low groan, Kassandra pulled back fully from Zoey now, wishing that her guilt would just shut off for one fucking night. She put her head in her hands, eyes slamming shut as she realized she'd just come in here and basically demanded something that she wasn't in the right mind to give. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Kass whispered, pulling her head out of her hands to take a few steps backwards from Zoey, not wanting to meet her gaze.

Zoey: 

When Kass continued to try and move things forward, Zoey knew it wasn’t out of a lack of respect for her. It was a fight or flight response of some sort that she had to find the will power to push through. Her body literally felt like it was on fire. Every part of her wanted to get closer to Kass and just let go of the hesitation. The blonde was truly being honest when she said she didn’t need to wait, but the problem was, Kassandra did. In order for this to be done right, the other woman had to sort through everything that was happening first. Otherwise, whatever they could become would just become collateral damage. “Yes, Kass,” she replied. Denying how much she wanted things to progress wasn’t something she’d do. Still, what she wanted and what they needed were two very different things. 

Hearing the brunette’s voice husk into her ear literally made Zoey curse. The word fuck slipped under her breath as she tried her beast to get clear thoughts to push forward into her brain. Fortunately, something clicked within the other woman which caused her to stop her wonderfully, torturous movements. The blonde wanted to comfort Kass, but she needed to get herself together first. So, she set her palms down on the counter, closed her eyes, and counted to fifteen first. Once she felt like she wasn’t going to combust, and was instead just mildly uncomfortably turned on, she hopped off the counter and walked towards the woman. “Hey,” she said gently as she cupped Kassandra’s cheeks and locked their eyes. “It’s okay. I’m okay, you’re okay, and we’re okay. I promise. I know this is just — it’s you reacting to seeing her,” she said much more calmly than she felt.

Wanting to just help the woman feel better, she moved to intertwine their fingers and tugged her towards the table. “Come on, let’s eat. I took a guess on what you’d want since you told me you weren’t a picky eater, and I figured you’d want comfort type food right now over anything else. At least, that’s how I am when I’m sad.” Sitting across from Kass with her just wearing shorts and a sports bra wasn’t going to work though. That was just torture. “Make yourself comfortable and take out the food, yeah? I’m going to get you a shirt. If I have to look at you like this all dinner, I’ll literally explode. Okay?”

Kassandra: 

Everything about what she'd just done was enough to send her guilt through the damn roof but here Zoey was, mostly calm and still so caring. Fuck. She definitely did not deserve her. "She just came out of nowhere, Zo. I feel so blindsided. And everything felt like it was maybe going to start falling into place and then... And she just ruined it all." Kassandra sighed, looking at Zoey with tears brimming as the other woman cupped her cheeks in her hands. Letting out a deep breath, she nodded her head in agreement, thankful that this beautiful woman in front of her was so careful with her even when she didn't deserve it. As Zoey led her over to the table, fingers interlaced in a far too adorable manner, her stomach gave a loud rumble. "Oh... I guess I should eat. Haven't had anything since breakfast and that was just toast." She chose to avoid Zoey's gaze, sure that she'd give her a stern look now that she let that slip. 

Kassandra sat down in the chair, she reached forward for the burger and immediately took a very large bite. Eyes closed as she moaned softly from the taste, not even realizing just how much that was was probably going to come off as highly inappropriate. Chewing on the food, she rose an eyebrow as Zoey suggested that she needed to wear a shirt. As Zoey left the room to go get her a shirt, Kassandra looked down at her attire and was reminded that she'd gone jogging in this. Gross. Without even really thinking about it, she stood up and took off her sports bra, throwing it over in the corner next to her to-go bag that she'd left over here. Kassandra grabbed the burger once more, shrugging as she took another bite from the burger.

Zoey:

The blonde bit her lip as she tried to think of the right thing to say. It wasn’t like she was an expert when it came to love. “She didn’t ruin everything,” she said cautiously. “What happened in your past is just that, Kass. It doesn’t have to repeat itself. I can’t imagine how those wounds hurt because I’ve been pretty lucky in that department, but at the same time, I’ve never experienced any kind of passionate, need to be around someone kind of love. I’ve played it safe, and well, I can tell you it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on this end of it either,” she said with a small smile and a shrug. While she didn’t pine for a great love or was desperate for that connection that so many people spoke of, that didn’t mean she didn’t think of it. That didn’t mean she didn’t dream of it. Zoey just thought patience would eventually lead her where she needed to be. “You can still do everything you wanted to do when you talked to me. You can work on yourself, you can face those demons, and I can be here when you’re ready. None of that has changed. All that has is that she is now in your zip code.”

“I swear to the Gods, Kassandra West. You need to take better care of yourself if you don’t want me pestering you all the time,” she said with a shake of her head as she made her way towards her bedroom. She nearly stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of a moan, but kept herself in check. Instead, she walked a little faster. For the second time she found herself searching through her drawers for a shirt to lend to Kass, and smiled when she landed on a Pikachu one from one of her many trips to Japan over the years. It was comfortable and adorable, so she settled for that one and headed back into the living room. However, when she caught sight of the woman, she literally froze, inhaled through her nose, and closed her eyes. “Kass,” she said loud enough for the woman to hear. “I don’t know how you see yourself, but I need you to listen to me. You’re so much more to me than just your looks, but holy macaroni Kass, you’re also someone I find so incredibly beautiful. I’m not used to being this attracted to someone that I literally don’t want to keep my hands off of you. So, please, until I can actually do that without messing up anything between us, keep your clothes on.” She ended on a huff as she balled the shirt up and tossed it at the brunette’s head from where she stood. She just arched an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and made it abundantly clear that she wasn’t taking another step forward until Kass was clothed. Her will power would honestly shatter if she didn’t stay rooted where she was.

Kassandra: 

Mid-bite, Kassandra found herself being called out to by Zoey. Opening her eyes in response, she saw the other woman's face with her eyes closed and what looked like a blush tinting her cheeks. Kass smirked at the arched brow, the defensive stance. All of it made heat pool in her belly but then she got smacked in the face with a shirt and remembered that she was standing in Zoey's kitchen with nothing on her top half. Taking another bite of the burger, she chewed it thoughtfully as if weighing her options, noting how the artist seemed to be making no forward momentum to get any closer to her. A pout appeared on her face as she set the burger down. Grabbing the shirt that had fallen to the ground, she began taking steps towards Zoey knowing full well that she was probably going to get a glare. As she passed by the table, she reached out and grabbed a mozzarella stick.

It didn't take long for her to be standing in front of Zoey, a smirk on her lips at the height difference. She was well aware of what was eye level with the other woman. "Holy macaroni is only ever going to be cute when it comes from your lips, babe. Now as for the clothes--I'll put on the shirt. But first, I'm going to need you to eat something. You look absolutely famished. I think I might have even seen a little bit of drool." Kassandra's smirk widened, moving her t-shirt so it was laying along her left shoulder before bringing her now free hand up to trace a thumb along Zoey's lower lip. "Now," She started, holding up the mozzarella stick to wag back and forth in front of Zoey's face. "Can you please make sure you eat something so I can put this shirt on? It's getting kind of nippy in here." Kassandra smiled, a challenge written all over her face, knowing full well that she was being a brat.

Zoey: 

The blonde should have known that Kassandra would do something to further tease her. It was the woman’s M.O. She’d warned Zoey on their date that she hadn’t even seen the tip of the iceberg when it came to her teasing, and well, the brunette was certainly right. Standing in front of the artist still shirtless, was just downright cruel when she couldn’t do anything about it. Still, blue eyes opened when she heard Kassandra’s voice much closer than it should be. “What I look is incredibly turned on,” she retorted back. Zoey lost all shyness as she allowed her blue eyes to very obviously take in everything of the beautiful woman before her. When she’d last seen the brunette naked, she’d been so upset that the artist didn’t allow herself to take in as much as she wanted. It felt like she was taking advantage of the situation. “You’re not making it any easier for me to not drag you into my bedroom right now and let you have your way with me.”

Still, as always seemed to be the case with them, Zoey found herself wanting to play the game laid out before her. So, with boldness she didn’t know she possessed, the blonde said, “bring it closer then,” as she grabbed Kass’ hips and tugged her forward until their bodies touched. Slowly, she took a bite of the offered mozzarella stick, and as she chewed she allowed her hands to glide from the woman’s hips to land on her butt. “Is being closer to me keeping you warmer? Although, I have to say, the effect the cold has on you is something I really enjoy. I might have to just pay a higher electrical bill to keep my house colder at this rate.” The artist gave the flesh beneath her a palms a squeeze before sliding upwards again. They teased Kass’ ribcage and paused for a second on the side of her breasts before going back down to the safety the woman’s hips offered. “I took a bite. Is that satisfactory for you?”

Kassandra: 

The temptation to give into the other woman's words was a struggle but for some insane reason she managed to behave herself. "You couldn't drag me into that bedroom if you tried." Kassandra teased sweetly, knowing full well that while Zoey couldn't do that physically she could definitely just look at her with those eyes of hers and the brunette would be insta-goo. Before she could even remotely know what was happening, Zoey was pulling her closer and suddenly she felt her mouth go dry. Their bodies were now pressed together and--wait--was that a hand on her ass? Blinking slowly, Kassandra looked down to make sure and yes, indeed, that was a hand on her ass. At Zoey's next quip, Kassandra rolled her eyes. It was absolutely adorable that she was somewhat corrupting this blonde or at the very base level of helping her explore her sex-drive side. Never had an orgasm that wasn't self induced? How had she even lived? She hadn't. That was the answer.

Kassandra snorted as Zoey took a bite, going back to her all-too innocent self. So instead of giving a retort, she just nodded triumphantly and extracted herself from the other woman's tangle of limbs. Popping the rest of the mozzarella stick in her own mouth, she grabbed the shirt off her shoulder and threw it on. A smile crossed over her face until she looked down and saw what exactly was on the shirt. "You're kidding me. Zoey. Zoey." Kassandra growled, mostly in a teasing manner and then did a half-hearted attempt at a whine. Even added in a foot stomp for good measure. "I'm a badass. You can't really expect me to wear a Pikachu shirt." Kassandra groaned, moving so she was bending over to rest her forehead on Zoey's shoulder. "A Pokemon is touching my tits. I don't know how I feel about this."

Zoey:

“If I stripped my clothes off while walking to my bedroom, I’m pretty positive you would follow,” she retorted back with a playful roll of her eyes. When Kassandra was clothes again, Zoey was able to relax a little bit. Honestly, at least when she was partially naked around the brunette it had been by accident since she didn’t expect a visitor at such a late hour. What Kass did was deliberate and just downright mean. She’d get her back eventually. While sweet and innocent, that didn’t mean Zoey could just let gauntlets be thrown and not respond. However, she definitely giggled at Kass’ reaction to the shirt she’d gotten. “Sorry to break it to you sweetheart, but you’re kind of with a girl that draws anime and comics for a living. Cute shirts are part of my wardrobe. Plus, I like you in my clothes.” The with part of her comment could be taken as either they were dancing around something or were just physically together at the moment. The blonde tried to convince herself she didn’t care about one more than the other.

“So vulgar,” she teased as she turned her head to kiss the woman’s cheek. “Now come on. I actually am hungry and want to eat. Also, I can’t believe you’ve ignored your sleeping puppy for so long.” She shook her head playfully as she moved to the sofa and rubbed Nugget’s stomach. It had sort of become the puppy’s permanent space in her apartment, and Zoey loved it. She bent over to place a kiss on his little nose before moving to unpack her own food from the take out bag. “All insane sexual tension aside, are you okay? Can I do anything besides turn you on to help you feel better?” Obviously she was skilled at taking the brunette’s mind off of things, but she did was to help make things easier for when they weren’t together too. She took a bite of her burger and danced in her chair slightly as she waited for Kass to join her.

Kassandra: 

"I said tits," Kass said with a sigh, moving to pet her puppy for a moment before giving him a kiss on the head as she moved past him to go back to the table. "That's not vulgar, you're clearly just a prude." She waggled her eyebrows for a moment before tapping her chin thoughtfully with a finger. "Actually I take that back. No prude would have just grabbed my ass. Somewhere underneath all of that adorable blonde hyperactive sweetheart thing you've got going on... There's a minx. I'll find her. Sooner or later." Her body ached when she sat down, the events of the day clearly catching up to her in that moment. Picking up her burger once more, she took another thoughtful bite before answering. "I'm okay. I'm not great, but I'm okay. It was a shock to the system, seeing her again. I've had this... This picture of her in my head. That she just got to live this fairytale life with the guy she left me for. That her parents loved her unconditionally and never found out that she was ever... With me." 

"I said tits," Kass said with a sigh, moving to pet her puppy for a moment before giving him a kiss on the head as she moved past him to go back to the table. "That's not vulgar, you're clearly just a prude." She waggled her eyebrows for a moment before tapping her chin thoughtfully with a finger. "Actually I take that back. No prude would have just grabbed my ass. Somewhere underneath all of that adorable blonde hyperactive sweetheart thing you've got going on... There's a minx. I'll find her. Sooner or later." Her body ached when she sat down, the events of the day clearly catching up to her in that moment. Picking up her burger once more, she took another thoughtful bite before answering. "I'm okay. I'm not great, but I'm okay. It was a shock to the system, seeing her again. I've had this... This picture of her in my head. That she just got to live this fairytale life with the guy she left me for. That her parents loved her unconditionally and never found out that she was ever... With me." 

Zoey:

A laugh escaped her as Kass tried to explain just what she was. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m figuring everything out with you as we go. It’s fun,” she said with a shrug. Zoey let very little upset her if she could help it. “But I’m thinking you’re right the more and more we tease one another.” Zoey continued eating as she allowed Kass to get everything off her chest. The idea of hurting someone else to make her life a little easier wasn’t something that sat well with the artist She was well aware that someone would say that she only felt that way because she was never put in that position, but Zoey was always hyper aware of the feelings of others. Her parents were actually worried about how much she could sacrifice her own happiness for that of others. It left her vulnerable and made it easy for the wrong people to take advantage of her. “I can’t say I understand. The idea of hurting you makes me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t ever knowingly do something to protect myself if I knew it would make things worse for someone else. I’d rather hurt with you than leave you hurting alone,” she said with a shrug. “I’ve always cared a lot about those in my circle. My dad jokes it’s a pack mentality thing since I shape shift.” She couldn’t help but roll her eyes playfully at that because it was such an old joke in their family.

“Realizing she didn’t do what you thought and still caring about her isn’t a bad thing,” she said carefully. The conversation was definitely a hard one to navigate for someone who also had feelings involved. Yes, she had feelings for Theo who was an ex, but they were completely platonic. They broke up because of that fact actually. Her limited dating experience made her feel very out of her depth, and she had no idea what someone else having such a grand effect on a person after so long meant in the grand scheme of things. Were there things unresolved? Did learning that things didn’t go the way they were painted to seem change things? Zoey had no idea. “Maybe talking with her when you’re ready and sorting through it more would give you what you need to not be so hurt by it all.” A closure of sorts. Maybe that was what she needed.

When Kass asked her question, blue eyes closed for a moment because she thought her words were taken innocently. After all, they were said before they dove into what was happening. Apparently not though. “You can take that however you’re ready to,” she said with a sigh when she opened her eyes again and locked them with Kass’. “We obviously aren’t officially together, but I’m — I’m not seeing anyone else, and I’m not remotely interested in anyone else. Still, I know putting a label on things now most likely isn’t the right move with everything, and that’s fine. So, you can take that as the girl you’re physically with in this moment, in this house, draws anime and comics so she has a lot of cute shirts in her wardrobe. That’s okay.”

Kassandra:

'You can take that however you're ready to'. Suddenly the distance between them felt too great, Kassandra moving from where she sat to pick up Zoey's chair despite her being sat in it to scooch it back a bit. It's not like she or the chair were heavy, making sure she didn't jostle the blonde too much. Next came clearing the food away from directly in front of Zoey, which of course didn't take too long and then finally she sat on the table in front of the blonde. Her legs dangled from the table, reaching forward with them to wrap her feet around the legs of the chair to bring Zoey closer once more. Once Zoey was back in her orbit, Kass leaned forward to tip the other woman's chin up to look at her. Green eyes found blue as she smiled gently, albeit sadly as she bit down on her lip. Air escaped her lungs in a low puff as her thumb rubbed back and forth against soft skin for a moment before she leaned forward, closing the distance as she placed her lips against Zoey's. It wasn't heated, just a soft kiss that made her heart pound in her chest until she pulled back enough so she could hold the artist's gaze once more.

"I'm thankful that you understand... That this is all a little bit hard for me. I'm not--I don't let people in. Or at least.. I haven't. Not in a long time. For the longest time... Sleeping around... Fucking a body to forget--it was all I knew. Each time I placed my hands on a warm body, my mind went to her. She was my first love. My best friend. I thought she was my soulmate. But then I grew up." She knew what she meant by that, knew that the world and the choices the people around her had made for her had led her down this path. To this person she'd become. "Every time I met someone that I was attracted to, I fucked them. To make it go away. I'd see her and I'd let it hurt. Over and over I tortured myself. And then eventually I stopped seeing her. I grew to hate her. Part of me still does despite today. Because she broke me. Even if it was out of self preservation."

Swallowing thickly, Kassandra looked down at her knees for a moment before finding those blue eyes once more. "I came here because I had nothing left. I wasn't expecting to meet anyone that made me feel something. I wasn't expecting to find you. To be honest, I'm shocked that we connected like we did. It just felt... Natural. Like... Like breathing. Like opening your eyes and you..." She trailed off, eyes searching Zoey's own as she tried to come to grips with how she felt. "Like before there was no color. I came here and I started to see it. In the people around here. In the beauty of this place. In you. But I tried so hard to not let it bleed into me." Kassandra reached down for one of Zoey's hands, bringing her knuckles up to kiss them gently before squeezing them. "And yet I slowly started to want to be better. I fucked people to avoid the truth. To avoid what I felt. For you. And the second I found out that I... That there were real and true feelings--there was no one else. Just you. And... And I know that's not an answer." The brunette cleared her throat, not able to keep her gaze anymore. "I know that my past is here in the form of my ex and I know there's history. I know some part of me still loves her. Despite all the hate. But...What I also know is that when I stop listening to my brokenness and I listen to what I want... What I want is you, Zoey. I just hope that's enough for now."

Zoey:

While she was surrounded on an island filled with people who had extraordinary powers, she wasn’t used to just being lifted and moved like a feather. A light sequel escaped her as she was moved, but she trusted the brunette more than she thought possible through the weeks they’d known one another. The kiss was sweet. So sweet, that Zoey chased after Kassandra to steal another one before leaning back against her chair. “You know, your strength is something that I know I’ll find more and more sexy as time goes on,” she said with a light laugh. While they were having such a serious conversation, Zoey still liked to add some lightness to things. It was something she always did naturally to show that even with the darkest of topics, some lightness could always be found. 

As she heard Kass explain things, Zoey just sat back and listened. She munched on onion rings as she allowed the other woman to get everything she needed to out. A smile graced her features when she heard how much Kass did want her, and that always filled her with warmth. For someone who claimed to be so broken, she did a decently good job of communicating with the blonde. That was something that meant more to her than anything she could actually explain. When everything seemed to be out, and there was an obvious pause in conversation, Zoey took a breath in and slowly released it. An easy smile stayed on her face to show that nothing was ill received. She just — that was a lot to unpack. “You know, I get the sense from how you talk about how you acted with other women that you think you’re disgusting or horrible, and that’s just — it’s not true. You never led women to believe you were offering more than you could which was a one night stand. Anyone that went to bed with you went so willingly and knowing what you wanted. That’s better than some. I can’t find it in my heart to judge you. How could I? Just you talking about your past behaviors this way proves that you want to get better. You’re so much more than you see, and I’m going to need you to be nicer to the girl I want.”

The last part she wanted to say was much harder for her to get out. She didn’t know how it would be received. Zoey bit her lip as she tried to shove her vulnerability down. “That’s enough for now, of course. I just — what if,” she started before looking down at her lap for a minute. After psyching herself up for a few seconds, she finally looked up again and finished what she started to say. “What if the part of you that still loves her is bigger than you think it is?”

Kassandra: 

It was almost comical for her to hear just how Zoey saw her. Saw her so differently than she saw herself. It was honestly hard for her to hear it, hell, to even let it sink in past the surface. All she could do was listen. Listen and look at Zoey with tear-filled eyes, nodding in some sort of agreement when Zoey told her to be nicer to herself. "I'll try," She offered gently, voice hoarse. "It'll just take some practice. I'm not really good at... Doing that." Her eyebrow raised as the blonde continued, moving onto another point that she honestly wasn't expecting to hear. Let alone think about. Fuck. So she decided to close her eyes and think. Her mind went blank, imagination running wild as she let everything go numb around her.

Two figures stood in front of her, both with their eyes closed. To the right stood Zoey and to the left stood Aurora. Aurora's frame twitched in her mind's eye, almost shifting back and forth between her sixteen year old self and the woman she'd met today. In her mind's eye she saw herself step forward, reaching a hand out for Aurora and felt a warmth before it turned cold to the point that she retracted her hand like she'd been burned. Then she turned to Zoey, hand reaching out as the warmth that she'd felt before was all-encompassing before she pressed it against the other woman's cheek. Green eyes fluttered open, blushing once she realized how she'd actually found herself cupping Zoey's cheek in reality.

Two figures stood in front of her, both with their eyes closed. To the right stood Zoey and to the left stood Aurora. Aurora's frame twitched in her mind's eye, almost shifting back and forth between her sixteen year old self and the woman she'd met today. In her mind's eye she saw herself step forward, reaching a hand out for Aurora and felt a warmth before it turned cold to the point that she retracted her hand like she'd been burned. Then she turned to Zoey, hand reaching out as the warmth that she'd felt before was all-encompassing before she pressed it against the other woman's cheek. Green eyes fluttered open, blushing once she realized how she'd actually found herself cupping Zoey's cheek in reality.

Zoey: 

“Whenever you need a little help, just come to me. My door is always open to you. I’d actually love to help you find an actual place, Kass,” she said honestly. “Moving in with me is too fast. I will not be a stereotypical female-female relationship and u-haul, Kassandra. And yes, I’ve been doing my research.” Labeling herself was not something she was comfortable doing. If she had to, she’d say she was queer since that still had a lot of freedom involved. Still, pigeonholing herself into anything just felt odd. Zoey had always been raised to be such a free spirit.

Hearing how Kassandra felt about Aurora stirred some odd feelings within Zoey that she was not used to. Positive emotions were typically what ran through her, but right then, she knew she felt jealousy. It was so strange. She learned into Kass’ touch and let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “If you think I am under any impression that this,” she said as she motioned between the two of them with a finger before continuing, “will be easy, then you are very mistaken.” That most likely didn’t sound ideal to most people or like a dream, but to Zoey it sounded real. It was why she gravitated towards it and felt so okay with it all despite how tumultuous it could become. “I don’t want a fairytale. Now, I can almost promise you that I’ll most likely get jealous throughout you and your ex sorting things out, but I’ll try not to. Just keep me in the loop even if you think I won’t want to hear it.” With that, she stood up from where she was sitting and moved to stand in between Kass’ legs. The woman was still taller than the blonde, but with her sitting on the table, it was much less of a difference than normal. Zoey wrapped her arms around Kass’ neck and pressed a kiss to her nose before kissing both of her cheeks. “By the way, in case I haven’t been abundantly clear, I like you too. A lot.”\

Kassandra: 

A snort escaped her at the mention of Zoey doing research before she sighed in agreement. "I know I should probably go looking for a place. If you're able to help me then I'm definitely down for it. But it has to have room for Nugget because I don't want him staying cooped up in one room all day." Rubbing the back of her neck, Kassandra shrugged before offering up further information on herself. "I got my mother's money when she died. For some reason she kept me in her will. Plus I have what my father gave me and what I made over the last decade." Kassandra didn't like talking about money. It made her uncomfortable but she knew that the world revolved around it. She just didn't think it mattered how little, or in her case how much, she had in her bank account. "Anyway... I'll be good to buy something. Or rent something. I honestly do not know how the land situation works around here."

Kassandra rose an eyebrow at Zoey mentioning that she might get jealous of her and Aurora. No one had ever been jealous of her before, it was an odd feeling. And to be honest, she was quite surprised that she found herself being honored by that thought? When the blonde moved between her legs, Kass couldn't help but gulp, eyes nearly going cross eyed as the other woman got closer and began peppering her face with kisses. The blush she had on her face intensified at that, unable to meet Zoey's eyes. "You're not supposed to be so cute. Its not fair." She murmured back, placing her hands on Zoey's hips to give them a soft squeeze.

Zoey:

The talk about money wasn’t even really something that Zoey paid full attention to outside of needing to know what listings she should weed out. How much someone made wasn’t something she really concerned herself about. The blonde was more than comfortable enough with her own income, and that wasn’t something she ever thought to look at when thinking of dating. Money came and went so easily in life. That wasn’t something to worry herself over. “You can do either. It all just depends on if you’d rather rent or buy. How long are you planning on sticking around?” Zoey was relieved that their current topic of conversation made that question fit in seamlessly, but she’d be lying if she said she was only interested in the answer because of real estate. 

Staying close to Kass, the blonde laughed lightly and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m only this cute with you.” While the artist was playful and kind to most people, she did have some boundaries she only crossed when in a relationship or dancing around one. She didn’t want the brunette thinking that she treated everyone the same way. That wasn’t a nice feeling. “What else do you want to do with me today? I think you said something about you needing a shower. Would me offering to join you be too torturous for you?” She attempted to keep her tone innocent, but the smile on her face definitely gave away how mischievous she was.

Kassandra:

Kassandra felt her chest tighten at the question that was presented to her. How long was she planning on staying? Originally she only planned on staying long enough to get close to people, get dirt, and report back to daddy dearest. Now? Now she didn't know what she was doing. All she knew was that the thought of leaving and saying goodbye to Zoey left a horrible taste in her mouth. "I don't know, honestly. But I don't really want to leave you any time soon." Kassandra answered far too honestly before realizing exactly what she'd just said. Oh fuck. "I-I mean... Leave here. That--yep. That's what I meant."

Blushing furiously, a hand rubbed the back of her neck as she now promptly avoided eye contact. "Anyway... Yes, I need a shower." The idea of Zoey showering with her made her jaw drop slightly, her eyebrow raising as a wicked grin spread across her face. Just like that she'd forgotten her earlier blunder, pulling the blonde closer towards her. "You in the shower with me? I promise I'll behave. Mostly. Can't promise I won't makeout with you though." Green eyes found blue as she leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to Zoey's lips. Standing up from the table, the brunette grabbed onto Zoey's hand, tugging her towards the shower with a giggle. "How do you feel about being kissed against a shower wall...." She murmured before picking up Zoey and kicking shut the door to the bathroom behind them.

Zoey:

Zoey let herself be distracted from the first part of their conversation for a moment. However, she did squirrel the comment away in the back of her mind. It was something she wanted to touch on. However, she quickly found herself picked up and being walked towards her bathroom which put that thought on hold for a moment. “It would be a waste if we showered together, and I wasn’t pressed against a shower wall,” she said with a smile as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the brunette’s neck. It was just about the only spot she could reach from her position.

When they got to the bathroom, she wiggled out of Kass’ arms and quickly began shedding her shirt. “Just so you know, I don’t want you to leave me anytime soon either,” she said right before kissing Kass again.

Kassandra: 

A pout formed on her lips as soon as Zoey worked her way out of her arms but it quickly disappeared the absolute second that Zoey began taking off her shirt. Without skipping a beat, Kassandra reached for the shirt that Zoey had lent her, making sure to pull it off rather than tear it away given the fact that it wasn't her own shirt. She didn't think Zoey would be particularly too happy with that kind of destruction. Reaching around the blonde, she turned on the water to 'hot' before pulling back to look at the blonde. "Alright, gorgeous, you're taking too long." With a giggle, Kassandra picked up Zoey once more and brought her under the shower. Sure, they both still had the lower half of their clothes on but she didn't really care. Not with the water pouring down around them, not with how Zoey was looking at her. And as she leaned down to connect their lips once more, she pressed Zoey against the wall as steam began to fill the room. 

Kassandra: 

It was nearly three in the morning as Kassandra made her way down the road. Everything in her body ached. Every muscle and bone screamed at her once she’d come to on the pavement. Flashes of what happened scattered through her mind but the more she thought about it, the more sick to her stomach she’d felt. She’d never felt that powerless in her damn life. Luckily for her, or maybe unluckily, no one had been out to witness the incident. Kassandra didn’t have to look at herself in a mirror to know how bad she looked. The bruising, the swelling, the blood. She didn’t know what’s worse… That she had believed the woman’s need for someone to walk her home or that she had eventually allowed herself to be beaten to a bloody pulp. 

Either way here she was, finally standing outside of Zoey’s front door. The brunette winced as she raised the hand that wasn’t holding her ribs, ignoring the pain that shot through her knuckles as they registered against the wood. When she didn’t hear any sound, Kassandra’s voice broke through the cool night air. “Zoey...” She whimpered out, knocking on the door again with more force, ignoring the pain. “Please wake up.” Kass sagged against the door frame, fear sinking in that Zoey was too deep in slumber to hear her. And then the door opened. Normally she’d go damn near cross-eyed at seeing Zoey in that little of clothing but the pain was too much. Blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth as she coughed weakly, looking up at her friend. “Hey you.”

Zoey: 

Since their date, Zoey and Kassandra had hung out a few times. Running into one another more was almost impossible to avoid with her working at the Inn, but she far from minded. The tension between them kept growing, but nothing had progressed which didn’t annoy the blonde. She wanted more than anything for Kass to be ready before they started down a path towards being more than what they were. That was more important than whatever frustrating feelings she was feeling more and more whenever they were together. 

Fortunately, she was a light sleeper which was why she was roused from her sleep by knocking. Not bothering to worry about the fact that she was essentially in a thong and tank top, she hurried to see who in the world could be trying to see her so late. A gasp escaped her when she saw how badly Kassandra was hurt, and she moved to help the woman into her house. “Gods, darling, what the hell happened,” she said as she moved her towards the couch. She gently placed her down as she moved around towards the kitchen to fill a bowl with water and grab a clean washcloth. While she had zero experience in nursing, she moved off of instinct. Then she got an ice pack from the freezer and slowly carried it all back to where the woman was. 

Slowly, she moved to kneel down in between Kass’ legs and wet the washcloth in the warm water. “Do I need to take you to the hospital,” she asked softly as she gently began wiping dried blood off of the woman’s face. She bit her bottom as she concentrated on making sure to not make anything hurt worse than necessary. “I’m happy to take care of you, but there is only so much I can do if things are serious.” Zoey’s skills were great when it came to any artistic area, but that was about it. Well, she was also an exceptional cuddler if she said so herself. “Thanks for coming here too,” she continued as she rinsed the cloth in the water before going back to cleaning wounds.

Kassandra: 

Another weak cough left her as Zoey immediately went to caregiver mode. “You should see the other guy.” She offered up, chuckling despite herself. As Kass sat down on the couch, she felt incredibly self conscious. “I… I don’t want to get your couch bloody. Just–Grab a towel and I can sit on the…. On the floor.” No matter what she said though, she knew Zoey wouldn’t let her do that so she resigned herself to leaning back against the couch, wincing as she did so. “We’re basically Gods. I’ll heal faster than your average human. I hope…” Kass gave a small smile, the movement causing her lip to split even more. Her face turned down into a grimace, letting out a shallow breath. “So no, I don’t think I need the hospital. But uh… Can I make a request?” She really didn’t think that now was the time for her to be talking about this but Zoey was practically wearing no clothing and it was slowly killing her.

“You’re kind of not wearing any clothes and uh…” Kassandra allowed green eyes to travel down Zoey’s form, realizing far too suddenly that she most definitely wasn’t wearing a bra. Oh. “It’s making it incredibly hard to not stay conscious. You can…” A small cough. “You can take that as a compliment because it is one. I just… Would like to not pass out again.” Kassandra gripped the couch, remembering with brutal vivid flashes of what had happened earlier in her night. “Think once is enough for me tonight.” Kassandra grabbed at the blonde’s wrist, stopping the motions she was doing of trying to clean her up. 

“Zo… Please. I’m not in a good mental state right now and you–” The brunette sighed, squeezing the hand that she’d now moved to hold. “You looking like this?” She swallowed thickly before continuing. “Makes me want you more than I already do.” Oh fuck, no, fix that. “And I kind of am not in peak physical condition here to do anything about it.” Sure that totally made up for the charged comment she’d just made. What kind of absolute idiot was she? The kind that let her shit get kicked in, that’s who. But at least making a joke was easier than telling Zoey how much she’d hate herself for finally showing up at her house and not doing what she’d said she would all those nights ago.

Zoey: 

“Who exactly is the other guy,” she asked through clenched teeth. It wasn’t often that Zoey let anger consume her, but seeing someone she very much cared about bloodied on her couch fueled that emotion easily. “I don’t care about my couch more than I care about you. It can get cleaned or replaced.” Her furniture was the least of her worries with what was before her. “We’re very watered down versions of our parents,” she corrected with a sigh. “Sure, it’ll be faster, but not as quick as you think. When the Minotaur attack happened, a lot of us here got hurt. Many were injured for weeks, and broken bones took just as long to heal.” That had been sheer chaos. She’d never ran so quickly in her life to find her parents at the carnival and move them to safety. It was during parents’ week, and she knew parents who had died. They were just mortals after all. Funerals felt like they were never ending the week after. 

The blonde stayed quiet as the request was made. The rambling explanations that came for it after was endearing, but it also made her body run incredibly hot. She tilted her head back and mumbled to under her breath about how the woman in front of her was going to be the death of her before moving to stand up. “Turning me on while I’m going to take care of you is not very nice, Kassandra,” she teased lightly to try and shake off the effects of what had been said. Stopping the air from becoming thick with tension was her number one priority because they seriously couldn’t do anything about it. “I’ll be right back.” 

Once in her room, she just grabbed an old Icaria High School hoodie and threw on a pair of shorts. The whole process took her maybe thirty seconds, but she took an extra minute or two to compose herself from hearing that Kass’ essentially wanted her. That was — well, the most forward either of them had been. It was nice to not be dancing around in the grey area anymore, but Gods, it wasn’t easier to deal with physically. Once she was sure she wouldn’t replay the words in her head anymore, she walked back out with an extra t-shirt and stood in front of Kassandra. “I need to get your shirt off,” she started with. Yeah, that definitely wasn’t helpful. “I have to see how bad you’re injured, and I want to get you out of bloody clothes. Do you want a shower or bath? I can help set one up for you.” Blue eyes met green, and Zoey’s frustration towards whoever had done this only grew. Because of them she had to have more restraint than she would normally, and that wasn’t helpful when she was craving more than ever. “And yes, you’re staying here tonight before you even try and argue with me.”

 Kassandra: 

Everything swam for a moment as Zoey said that one particular thing. Yeah, no, she definitely hadn't been trying to achieve that effect but here they are. The blonde left the room and that gave Kassandra enough time to fully assess the extent of what had led her here to this moment. How was she supposed to explain to Zoey that she'd allowed herself to be hurt halfway through, to feel all that pain as if it was her birthright for being some kind of fucked-up bad-egg of the family. Before she could allow herself to do any more self-loathing, the other woman was returning with a t-shirt in hand and--hold on--had she just said she needed her to take her shirt off? Fuck. She knew Zoey was in the right here but she wasn't necessarily ready to start stripping in front of her. Not that that would normally be a problem, Kassandra knew she was fit. Not that that was even a problem. The problem was it was Zoey and when she thought of getting undressed in front of the blonde, it involved reciprocation.

Sighing, Kassandra stood with a small whimper, staggering slightly before standing up as straight as she could manage. The thought of having to twist her arms to take off her shirt sounded absolutely horrendous so she just decided right then and there that she needed a better solution. "I'm sorry..." She mumbled before grabbing the front of her shirt, pulling in an effortless motion as it tore away from her body. Her bra-clad chest, toned stomach and arms were now on full display. And sadly, so were the deep purple and black bruises. Most likely a couple bruised ribs, maybe cracked at most. Definitely some cuts and scrapes. Not to mention bruised knuckles, a black eye, busted lip and probably a concussion. Overall, she felt like shit. "I'm not going to argue with you about staying the night. I knew that I'd be staying over the second that I decided to walk here."

Biting her lip out of nervous energy resulted in pain, making her wince once more. "I don't know who she was. She was just..." Kassandra closed her eyes, thinking back to what the other woman had done. "She said she needed someone to walk her home. And then she got mad at me and started throwing punches. But it felt more than that. Everything got so dark. Not just outside but in my head. And after a while of trying to defend myself..." The brunette trailed off, not sure if she should tell Zoey this next part. But once again her brain and mouth weren't communicating and it was all tumbling out before she could stop it. "I gave up. I let her do this to me. I couldn't stop it, its like all the darkness in my head and every... Every bad thought I've ever had was bombarding me at once. And it felt like I needed it all to just... Stop. All the pain and fear and hatred. For one glorious second... Right before I blacked out--it was gone. I felt... Peace." She couldn't look at her, knowing that this was probably the moment that Zoey turned around showed her the door. After all, what kind of fucked up person let this happen to themselves?

 Zoey: 

Blue eyes widened as the shirt was ripped from the woman’s body. Then, her eyes took a moment to gaze over all the skin that was suddenly before her. Without even realizing it, her hand reached out and with the most feather-like touch, the index finger of Zoey’s right hand lightly ran over the muscles on Kassandra’s stomach. When she felt the muscle shift beneath her touch, she snapped out of it and shifted her gaze’s intentions from appreciating towards inspecting. The bruises looked bad, but she didn’t think ribs were broken since Kassandra showed no difficulty breathing. Zoey was far from a professional, but she knew she had no chance of getting the woman to the hospital without using some serious pouting or guilting tactics. She’d use those if it appeared things got worse through the night. “Good. At least you know how things work with me already,” she teased. Zoey was far from dominant or commanding. She just liked to make sure those she cared for were taken care of, and since Kass was injured, she’d not be too keen on letting her out of her site unless necessary. 

The more Zoey heard about what happened that evening, the more she could feel her blood beginning to boil. The urge to shift and follow the scent that she was sure she could smell on Kassandra was stronger than she’d felt in a very long time. Her mind went through possible animals that could do the most harm or at least scare someone, but she closed her eyes and counted to ten. Violence wasn’t ever how she approached things. She did however want to go to the police. It wasn’t her place though, and she seriously doubted the injured woman would. All she could do was comfort and care. When she noticed that Kass’ gaze wasn’t on her, she gently cupped her cheeks and guided green eyes towards her blue. “Powers,” she said gently. “It sounds like it was the demigod’s ability. Even though a lot of us on the isle get along and use our abilities responsibly, there are bad people among us just like in the real world.” Zoey liked to think the best of everyone, but she’d learned young to be wary of demigods’ abilities unless she knew them well. Fortunately, she had a better instinct than most and did avoid anyone that screamed danger to her. “It wasn’t your fault. Someone just took your darkness and used it against you. We all have some.”

When she was done talking, she removed her hand just because restraint while keeping such an intimate position wasn’t something she had a lot of. “I think your ribs are bruised or fractured. Fortunately, all you can really do for that is rest. So, do you want me to take you to bed now and get you fixed up with some ice, or are you going to shower first?” She went through all the steps that would be needed for either action in her head, so she could get a head start on doing everything needed to make Kass more comfortable. Then, her mind suddenly stopped as she remembered a very adorable puppy. “Nugget. We need to get him. Do you want me to call Noreen and ask if she’d be willing to bring him over? I think she’s on schedule as the manager tonight if I’m remembering the schedule correctly.”

 Kassandra:

The second that Zoey's outstretched fingers touched her abdomen, Kassandra felt a gasp leave her throat. As they moved softly against her skin, she tensed. Not from pain but something that she really wasn't about to admit to the woman before her. The fingers remained on her skin for so long that all she could feel was the heat bubbling up in her stomach flushing her skin, knowing that if Zoey didn't remove her hand she'd feel the warmth. Luckily for her, or maybe unluckily, Zoey decided to touch her again, this time on her face so their eyes were locked in one of their now very famous staredowns. Fuck. "I let her do that to me. You know I've got strength. If I really wanted to get away.. To knock her out.. I could have. But I didn't. Powers or not, I wanted to let myself feel all that hurt and that pain." With a deep breath, she sighed, hands coming up to cover over Zoey's just in time for the blonde to pull them away from her face.

Hearing how concerned Zoey was for her made her chest ache that much more, and then of course she immediately thought of Nugget. How was this woman actually real? She didn't know if she believed in angels but if she did, Zoey definitely had to be one. At the mention of Noreen, Kassandra flinched visibly. "No! I mean, that's okay. I can just give you my.. My key. Just please don't be gone too long. Or you can call one of my neighbors. The lady across from me is pretty nice and she likes Nugget. Maybe she'd be fine with... With watching him." Kassandra winced as she gave the other woman options, her body throbbing with pain as some of the shock began to wear off. "Zoey... I'm sorry you have to see me like this. But thank you for taking care of me when you didn't have to." With little effort the brunette brought up one of the hands that she was holding, kissing the palm of her hand gently.

"I can.. I can try to shower while you're gone." Kassandra gave a halfhearted smile as she slowly dropped Zoey's hands to let her own fall by her sides. "I'll--I know where the bathroom is." With a staggering step, she turned around and began to hobble towards the shower, placing her key down on the couch as she walked past it towards the bathroom. As she turned, her back was now visible to Zoey, more bruises and cuts now on display. As well as a long and jagged scar that ran down her right shoulder-blade, barely visible through the long brunette curls that bobbed gently against her back. Kassandra didn't even bother shutting the door as she turned on the shower, back to the open doorway as she began the painstakingly long and painful process of unbuttoning her jeans.

 Zoey: 

“Then, instead of beating yourself up like you like to do,” she started teasingly to ensure Kass knew she didn’t judge her. She couldn’t do that. Everyone had their own troubles, their own trials. All she could do is try to understand, and then try to help make things better. “Look at the bright side. You wanted to face it and feel that pain,” she said softly. “While I’m not happy with your methods or coping mechanism, because I prefer to see you not get hurt, you at least confronted them. Now, you can decide how best you want to deal with them since they are fresh in your mind, and hopefully, heal not just physically, but emotionally too.” Zoey didn’t know who had caused Kassandra so much pain in her life, but Gods, did she want to have a few choice words with them if she could. The woman before her was good. Genuinely, and so sweetly good. She just didn’t show that to everyone. 

Zoey giggled lightly because she just couldn’t help it. “It’s cute how you think you need to give me a key when I’m currently running the Inn until Marci gets back.” Getting to nugget wouldn’t be a problem for her at all. It was getting over the fact that she didn’t want to leave Kass that would be, but it would be fine. The woman was an adult. A hard headed one, but an adult nonetheless. There wasn’t much more trouble she could get herself into. “I’ll go grab the baby,” she reassured gently. They’d both feel much better with him prancing around the house anyway. The kiss to her palm made her visibly soften and let out a soft sigh. “I’ll always take you as you are, Kass,” she promised with a shrug of her shoulders in an attempt to take the weight off of the statement. “You’re accepted with me. Just, don’t go giving me anymore heart attacks, okay? I hate seeing you hurt.” 

As she watched Kassandra barely be able to make it to the bathroom, Zoey sent up a silent prayer and followed the woman a few seconds later. When she leaned against the doorway, she saw how it was taking the injured woman much longer than necessary to unbutton a pair of jeans. Slowly, she walked forward and replaced the brunette’s hands with her own. “Just — don’t think about it,” she said in reference to how much tension was constantly growing between them. Then, she unbuttoned the jeans herself and then knelt down slowly to push them down the woman’s legs. She didn’t dare look up from her position as she told Kass, “hand on the counter to keep your balance,” before helping her step out of them. As soon as that was done, she stood up and took three steps back to the doorway. “I’m going to go get Nugget now, but I’ll be right back. You can use the towel hanging right next to the shower. I just did laundry today. And you should find an extra toothbrush in the medicine cabinet if you want to brush before we settle in.” Blue eyes barely managed to stay locked with green as she spoke, and when she felt them dipping, she turned on her heel and headed towards her purse.

 Kassandra: 

Purposefully not looking at the blonde, Kass let her gaze tear upwards to the ceiling as hands took work of what she'd been trying to do. She didn't even register how easily her body just followed Zoey's instructions without even thinking about it. Bees. Mayonnaise. People that chewed when they talked. Anything and everything that would make her not at all feel as turned on as she was. Slowly her libido evened out, nodding as Zoey instructed her about where everything was. Once she left the bathroom, Kass waited until the front door shut with a click, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Hands made slow work of her underwear, before she stepped into the shower. Warm water hit her skin and Kassandra let out a pained cry. Steadying herself against the wall for a moment, she stared down at her feet as the water sinking down into the drain turned crimson.

It hurt but she managed as she rinsed her body off to the best of her ability. Shampooing her hair was the most difficult part and by the end of it, Kass was holding back tears. Her mind replayed over and over the events of what happened, followed by Zoey's words. Did she know how to heal? And even beyond that, could she heal? Kassandra didn't know how that was even possible. This was who she had been since she was sixteen. Broken. If Zoey had even know half of the chaos that had filled inside of her own head.... Would she be able to say what she'd said earlier? Would she still care? Or would she finally realize that she wasn't worth it. Swallowing thickly, she just focused on the wall ahead, letting her mind cloud with memories of her mother. Of Aurora. Of this woman who had brought it all to the surface. Green eyes brimmed with tears and then her knees gave out, collapsing in on herself as she sat on the floor of the shower. Knees pressed together as she pulled them up to her chest, holding on for dear life as she shook, sobs taking over.

Eventually they died off and yet Kassandra still stayed in that position; holding onto her knees as she stared almost lifelessly in front of her. She didn't hear the front door open. Didn't hear her puppy bark excitedly before jumping up on the couch. Hell, she didn't even realize that the water had run cold. All she could do was stare at the floor, head swaying gently as she lost herself to the demons in her own head. What would her father say if he know how weak she really was? He wouldn't have a use for her anymore. And if he didn't then Zeus sure as hell wouldn't. Well. If Kratos had actually been keeping his part of the bargain. The deal with the devil she'd made. It was funny, or at least, she'd find it funny if she could process humor.. Her father had made a deal with the devil to reward himself. And now.. Now Kass was essentially following in his footsteps. What a fucking pair they made.

 Zoey” 

Walking to grab Nugget had been a rather uneventful adventure. She’d gotten to the Inn, checked in with everyone to make sure all was well since she was there, and then let herself in the room to grab the puppy. He was always so excited to see her, and she made sure to grab his things as well. Zoey knew that she had more than enough clothes that would work, but she made sure to grab some pants for Kass since their height difference was quite stark. Once everything was thrown into her oversized purse, she scooped the puppy into her arms and headed back to her house.

The walk gave her time to sort through her thoughts. Everything with Kass was turning out to be nothing like she expected. The woman definitely brought a liveliness to her life, and she couldn’t deny their chemistry if she tried. Still, she worried that past demons would lead to her getting hurt, but it wasn’t enough to make her step away. If she didn’t show that it was worth it, Zoey was afraid Kassandra would continue thinking she wasn’t. The artist wasn’t sticking around because she felt it was her job to correct that thinking. She just — wanted to. Sometimes it really was that simple.

When she got back in the house, she called for Kassandra after taking off her shoes but heard no response. That worried her, so she left Nugget to get comfortable and quickly moved towards the bathroom. The sight broke her heart, and she couldn’t help but curse herself for not moving faster to get back home. Zoey grabbed the towel off the rack, turned off the water, and then moved to kneel in the tub. “Kass, honey,” she said as she wrapped the towel around her shoulders. She leaned forward and kissed the other woman’s forehead. “Hey, I’m home. I’m here. Let’s get you out of this tub.”

 Kassandra: 

The only thing that broke her out of her stupor was a kiss being placed against her forehead, Kass delirious as she looked up to see Zoey's face swim into view. "I'm... When did I sit down?" She blinked in confusion, looking around at her surroundings. When had a towel gotten wrapped around her and when did Zoey get back? Everything felt out of place, off. And as she stood up, her vision blurred for a moment. Sucking in a deep breath, Kass moved the towel so it was wrapped around her body. Not like Zoey had definitely not gotten an eye-full as she stood but still, for the first time in her life she was feeling self-conscious about another woman seeing her naked. Okay, second time. No matter. "Did you grab some... Some sweats for me? I don't know if I can get back into those jeans comfortably."

Kassandra moved back out of the bathroom and saw Nugget. The puppy immediately heard his owner and jumped off the couch, sprinting at full speed for his owner. As he jumped up to her, the brunette hissed in pain but pet him anyway. She couldn't fault him for being excited. Even if she was pretty battered right now, it was nice being reminded that there was someone out there that loved her unconditionally no matter what. She continued to pet him, just standing there wrapped in the towel. After about three minutes of this, Nugget barked happily before leaving to go sit back down on the couch. At the bark, Kassandra blinked as if coming out of a stupor. "Wh... When did I get here?" Her brow furrowed in confusion as she looked around before shivering, her attention now focusing on the fact that she was still very much naked and this towel barely left anything to the imagination. Oh.

 Zoey: 

I don’t know, darling, but let’s get you out,” she said gently as she helped Kass maneuver herself as much as she could. Zoey could tell something still wasn’t quite right, but she didn’t want to do something that could make it worse. The artist mostly focused on being respectful with her gaze. Since Kassandra obviously wasn’t okay, it was much easier. Physical and emotional turmoil was just too much to try and make light of. “I did. I picked up some clothes for you. You can stay with me until you can move without wincing if you want.” While she wasn’t happy about Kass living in the Inn, she wasn’t going to offer for her to move in given the development of her emotions. That was just too much too quickly. 

When the brunette moved out of the bathroom towards the living room, Zoey just leaned against a nearby wall and watched. A smile formed on her face as she saw the duo interact. They were incredibly cute together. It was when she heard Kass’ voice change to something closer to normal that she moved. “I got home to see you sitting down in the tub. You looked like you’d been crying, and you were hardly answering me. I got you out like five minutes ago, and the little man is who you headed towards.” That was about all she could do in terms of filling in the blanks since she’d walked during the tail end of things. “Let’s get you dressed,” she suggested as Zoey put her hand on the small of the woman’s back and led Kass to her room. 

When they got into her bedroom, Zoey told her to sit on the bed while she went to go get the clothes she’d gotten from the inn. She was back in the room quickly and unpacking what she’d brought. “I got underwear too because I figured having your own is a comfort every girl should have.” Once everything was laid out to give Kassandra choices, Zoey went to her closet and pulled out one of her hoodies. It was another from high school when she was in the art club. She hoped that it would bring the brunette comfort if she wanted to wear it. “Also, I’m not ignoring the bathroom. I’m just — not pushing it. If you want to tell me, I’ll always be here and willing to listen. That’s up to you. I just want to make you feel better as much as I can.”

 Kassandra: 

Kassandra's body moved on auto pilot as she listened to the other woman speaking to her, hands loosening their grip on the towel. It was as if her brain wasn't registering shame anymore after her breakdown in the shower, the brunette not caring as the towel fell to the floor exposing her naked and toned form. Numbly reaching for the underwear she put them on and then moved to put on the pair of sweatpants. Her knees were weak and they almost gave out, Kass sitting on the corner of the bed as she took in a shaky breath. Her hands went to hoodie next, letting out a small yelp as what sounded like faint pops happened as she put the article of clothing on her. Finally it was finished and she was dressed, hair still wet from her shower as she let her head lull to the side, green eyes finally finding blue. She scooted backwards onto the bed and laid down on it, a grimace on her face as her body got adjusted to the new position before she relaxed. Her hand reached over to where Zoey was standing at the edge of the bed, stretching until she made purchase with her fingers.

Tugging on the hand in her own, Kassandra pulled Zoey towards her, hoping she would lay down next to her as well. When they were both comfortable, Kassandra stared back up at the ceiling, losing herself in her own head for five or so minutes until she began to speak. "My dad cursed me." Her voice came out softer than Zoey had probably ever heard it and to add to that, it sounded so distant... Like she was a million miles away. "Before I was born. I don't really know when. All I know is that in exchange for him growing stronger, his firstborn would be given a curse. The curse of foresight." Her hands weren't doing their normal thing that they usually did when she was anxious, the expression on her face blank. Emotionless. "Its not what anyone would think it is... It's not a full-fledged vision. Its just... Flashes. Flashes of my future. Flashes of other people as long as I'm a part of their lives. I saw my mom kicking me out before it even happened. I saw something bad happening before I knew that my mother had been..." Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment as if collecting herself. A few more moments passed and it almost seemed as if she'd fallen asleep until she spoke again.

"I had flashes of you. Or... Well... I thought they were of you. And I got so scared. That I'd hurt you." Still she didn't look at Zoey as her eyes opened once more, focusing on the ceiling above her instead. "I'm poison, Zoey. Everyone I get near, I destroy. My mother. Aurora. My friends from high school. All of them knew me and knowing me was enough to send them all fleeing. Something inside of me is not good. I know that now." One of her hands moved to lay over her heart, fingers curling slightly against the fabric of the hoodie. "But then there's you. For the first time since I was sixteen... There was a spark. Someone that made me want to pretend that I'm not this messed up person that pushes other people away because she'd been hurt so many damned times. I couldn't stop myself from getting to know you. And it was so easy. Like breathing. But then I had flashes. Of me and a woman with blonde hair having... And I thought that... That I could change my fate. But it was never you in those flashes, I know that now."

Everything was coming out in slow and even tone, Kassandra still just staring at the ceiling. She'd never been this calm while talking about her feelings but this whole disassociating with a concussion seemed to have loosened her tongue and her worry. "That woman tonight reminded me how broken I really am. I've been pretending since I was eighteen that I'm not. That I'll be fine. That everything is just one big fucked up mess and it's just how its meant to be." She bit her lip, not even wincing this time as she was too lost in her own head before she turned on her side to face Zoey. Green eyes found blue but it was as if she was looking through the blonde. "I look at you and I want to be selfish. I want to be okay. I want to kiss you until we both can't breathe. I want a lot of things. Things I can't have." Her eyes seemed to focus on Zoey's for a moment, lids heavy with sleep. When her face had gotten closer to Zoey's, she had no idea. "Things I don't deserve." Kass whispered, head moving forward against the pillow until her lips were mere millimetres from Zoey's, her breath puffing against them. Eyelids slid closed fully this time as the almost faintest brushing of lips occurred. And then? Nothing. Kass didn't close the microscopic distance, didn't pull back. She just stayed there until finally it was clear what had happened; her hand clutching to the front of Zoey's sweatshirt, the brunette fast asleep.

 Zoey: 

Everything that had been said to Zoey was a lot to take in, and she was partially thankful that Kass had fallen asleep. There was no way she’d be able to articulate the response that Kass deserved right away. So, the illustrator stayed awake. She made sure to wake Kass up every forty minutes to ensure she didn’t fall into a coma due to her concussion, and then just thought out everything that had been laid before her. Their upbringing, their lives couldn’t be more different if they tried. Zoey’s father and step mother had done everything to protect her growing up. This left the artist wondering just what words she could offer to provide comfort. 

Fortunately, staying up late or even all night wasn’t something that bothered Zoey much. She’d spent many nights up until morning before a deadline to make sure everything was perfect. So, she was happy to keep nudging Kass awake and letting Nugget up on the bed to lay at their feet. After nudging Kass into semi consciousness at seven in the morning, the blonde called her dad and asked if he could open up the shop for her. The friendly man was happy to help even before hearing the reason why, and Zoey was thankful. She promised that she’d get in eventually, but he told her not to worry. Between the Inn, the comic shop, and her work as an illustrator, he was worried about her running herself a little ragged. With that taken care of, and Noreen being more than capable to handle things at the Inn, Zoey started on a light breakfast. She made them toast, two fruit bowls, and poured some OJ. When it was all set she placed Kass’s food on her side of the bed on the nightstand, and did the same with her own on her side. She’d already placed some aspirin beside the brunette too because she was positive she’d need it.

Zoey carefully crawled back into bed and placed a kiss on the brunette’s cheek. She’d been tempted since their brush of lips last night to finally kiss Kass, but she held back. They obviously had things to talk about, and she was happy that the other woman would be more conscious and alert to take in everything she had to say. When green eyes fluttered open, the artist smiled. “Good morning beautiful,” she said sweetly. “Take it easy getting up, okay? I’m pretty sure you’re going to feel like one big bruise.” The blonde did her best to help the woman maneuver into a comfortable position. It didn’t take long for Nugget to waddle his way between his owner’s legs and settle back down to sleep. Zoey smiled at the adorable dog. “Before I say anything, how much do you remember telling me last night? You didn’t embarrass yourself or ruin anything before you panic. I just need to know how much I need to fill you in on before I respond. You passed out on me before I could.”

 Kassandra: 

Drifting in and out of sleep all night was honestly a terrible experience. Kassandra wanted to be grumpy but it was all her own fault. Luckily though, this pattern of barely any sleep made it so she wouldn't dream which was a blessing. Soon the morning light and Zoey stirring her woke her up again. Her body felt like it had a concrete mold poured atop it, the woman groaning as she struggled to move her limbs. A kiss was placed against her cheek and finally did she allow herself to open her eyes. One of them looked definitely worse for the wear and it would have been slightly comical if not for the reason she'd actually gotten her shiner. "Good morning, babe." Wincing as she sat up, Kassandra leaned against the headboard just in time for Nugget to excitedly meet her. Reaching forward, the brunette began to pet him just as Zoey started talking once more. And suddenly, just like that, she was wide awake.

Everything about last night was a hazy blur. Except for the fight, that is. Trying to remember everything after that came slowly, like waves lapping at the shore as the tide rolled in. "I..." Placing a hand against her face, Kassandra closed her eyes as she tried to remember it. She'd gone to Zoey's.... Taken a shower... And then she'd talked on the bed with h--The color drained from her face, her hand falling into her lap as she looked at Zoey directly. "Oh. I told you about... Me." Swallowing thickly, she immediately brought her hands together as she started to pull and pinch at her fingers, anxiety very apparent on her features. "So now you know, I guess. Uh... Surprise? I've never actually... Told anyone about those. So if you could just keep it between us.." She trailed off, mind racing as more bits and pieces of last night began to flutter in and out of her memory. One particular memory swam into view and Kassandra felt her stomach drop like a rock. Was that just a fantasy or had that actually almost happened? Should she even ask? Fuck. "Did I... I tried to kiss you. Was that... Did that actually happen?"

 Zoey: 

Zoey patiently waited for everything to come to Kassandra. She took a bite of her toast and took a sip of her juice. When everything did come, she set the cup back down. Thankfully, she finished swallowing her sip because she was sure she would have accidentally spit it out by the last question. For some reason, she hadn’t expected it, and she didn’t let her mind settle on what had almost happened because she’d crave it even more. After clearing her throat she answered, “You brushed your lips against mine.” Blue eyes sought out green so the woman beside her could see how she wasn’t at all mad. “I didn’t lean the rest of the way in because I didn’t want to hurt you, and I want you a little more conscious when we have our first kiss.” The artist needed Kass to know she still was interested. Reaffirming that throughout the conversation was her biggest priority. 

“I’m not going to tell anyone about anything you told me. That’s — it’s not my story or information to tell. You never have to worry about me betraying your confidence.” Gossiping was never something that the blonde liked taking part in. The most she’d share with her siblings, Jack, and Dex was how much she liked Kass and what she liked about her. Everything else, that just wasn’t necessary for anyone else to know. “I’m not going to say sorry because I don’t pity you or think that anything about you is so sad that you need an apology. They, from my experience, apologies never really do much. People say them so often, they’ve lost their meaning and morphed into something less genuine.” That didn’t mean that Zoey didn’t apologize when she needed to, but she reserved them for when she truly hurt someone. “You said so much, and I spent the night wondering what was the best way to tell you how I feel about it all, but I still just don’t know where to start. So, if I make a jumbled mess of this, please just ask me to clarify something.”

Zoey moved on the bed so she turned her whole body towards Kass. She bit her bottom lip nervously for a second before letting out a sigh. “All I care about are two things. Firstly, will you ever hurt me intentionally? Secondly, will you always try to talk to me? If the answer to the first is no and the second yes, then nothing else matters in my eyes. I don’t see you as this living, breathing, walking bundle of destruction. Relationships come with hurt. My parents have the best marriage I’ve ever seen, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen them hurt one another. Either through stupid words, forgetfulness, or just moments of complacency it’s happened. So, I wouldn’t walk into anything with you expecting not to get hurt. That’s just — it’s an unrealistic expectation that will just lead to disappointment. You can’t have that expectation either. All that matters is your intent.” Intent meant everything to Zoey. It was the difference between forgiveness or not in her eyes. While she was incredibly caring, she wasn’t stupid. If anyone hurt her purposely, then she no longer kept them in her circle. Cutting them out completely wasn’t possible due to the size of the island, but the relationship she had with the person would never be the same.

“Lastly, when it comes to the idea of deserving me, you — I can’t have you looking at it that way,” she said softly to ensure she didn’t come off as angry at the phrasing or idea. She just believed it wasn’t healthy for either of them. “If I want to be here, you need to trust my judgement about what I think I can handle, and what I see in you. You keeping yourself away from me or stopping something from happening because you think it would be selfish due to an idea of you destroying me would mean that you don’t think I can make my own decisions. You’ve laid everything on the table for me, and I took none of it lightly. I sat with it in between waking you up throughout the night. The conclusion I came to is that I want to show you how special you are to me. I can’t predict the future and say it will end well, but I can say that even if I knew it wouldn’t, I’d still say the same because the journey would be worth it no matter the ending.” With that, Zoey let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. She thought over everything she’d said, and she was happy with it. All that she wanted to get across, she thought she had. That was what she cared about most.

 Kassandra: 

When. The word repeated itself on a loop in her brain for what felt like eons. It began to jumble in with everything else that Zoey started to say and when the illustrator began to speak up on how she felt, panic settled in her belly. But it wasn't panic, not really. It was nerves. Butterflies, more like. Something that she hadn't felt in so long. It washed over her like a tidal wave and honestly she was probably having the wrong reaction to everything that Zoey had just said to her. Was continuing to say to her. It all felt surreal and also right on the nose to how the blonde's nature was. From the moment she'd met her, Kass had known that Zoey wasn't the type of person to beat around the bush when it came to stuff that needed to be said. The only thing that hadn't been so blatantly obvious to her was the whole feelings avenue but that's because of her own emotional constipation. She waited and waited, the butterflies consuming her stomach, making every nerve-ending feel like it was on fire. For the first time in over a decade, she felt... Relieved? It was strange, not having any secrets. Well... Mostly. She didn't know if she was ready for that discussion. Hell, she didn't even know how she truly felt about that whole situation anymore. It's not like she was getting anywhere with it. Maybe she didn't have to continue down that path... Maybe it was finally time to let all of her demons lie.

Without even processing what she was doing, Kassandra once again had her body moving of it's own accord. Her body was stiff from what had happened the night before but she couldn't stop it even if she tried. There was a small smile on her face as she moved out from under the covers and towards Zoey who was still sitting there on the bed, no clue as to what was about to happen. The brunette now had moved so that either leg was straddling Zoey's lap, sitting down as gingerly as possible while also putting most of the weight on her knees. Her right hand cupped Zoey's jaw, thumb tenderly caressing her cheek. "No." She answered honestly, swiftly realizing that she hadn't specified what that was for. A laugh bubbled out of her throat as she quickly tried to clarify. "No, I won't hurt you with intent. And yes, I will always try to talk to you. Whatever I feel for you... I'm going to be honest, I'm not fully prepared for it. Honestly I'm kind of scared because I'm used to being hurt. But I... I trust you. I want to try." Another giggle came this time before she turned serious, green eyes finding blue. "May I kiss you?"

Normally she wouldn't have asked. You see, Kassandra West had always taken what she wanted. Women weren't playthings, sure, but she did have fun with the ones that consented to just sex and only ever just sex. This was different. This was wanting the strings. This was desire before the kiss. This was excitement and joy and fear all wrapped into one big ball of tension. This was what her heart had forgotten it could feel. And sure, it might not end well. Hell, it might not even truly start. She honestly didn't know what would happen. But she wanted to try. Not just for Zoey but... Selfishly? For herself. She wanted. Right then and there, Kassandra catalogued in her mind to do some research into seeing someone that could help her with these mental hurdles that had been thrust at her from other people and then by herself. Whatever damage she had, she couldn't just continue to slam it onto Zoey. Not all the time. But for now? For now she waited with baited breath. And with the knowledge that her puppy was intently watching this whole thing going down with a lazy happy look on his face.

 Zoey: 

When Kass began moving, Zoey had no idea what to expect. However, she could safely say that she didn’t expect to have the brunette straddling her lap. It wasn’t a development she would complain about though. Her hands moved on their own to slide from the woman’s hips to the small of her back under the hoodie she was wearing. “I’m not going to go anywhere,” she said easily in response to Kass’ not being ready. “Whatever you are ready for, just let me know, and we’ll go from there.” 

The question caught her by surprise, but a small smile formed on her lips. Slowly, she arched her body up to brush her lips against Kass’ in the manner the woman had last night. “After teasing me with this last night,” she replied with a smirk. “Yes,” she finished as she tugged on the woman on top of her to get even closer somehow. A part of Zoey was worried about hurting Kassandra’s lip, but if the brunette didn’t seem to mind, then she wouldn’t either.

 Kassandra: 

Hands slid under the hoodie she was wearing, causing her back to arch up into the touch. Not from pain, from something else entirely. A blush settled on her cheeks as she fully realized the complicated positioning she'd put them in. How it must look to have the taller of the two on top. Probably a good thing they weren't at the Inn where her mirror was... Nevermind. Not the right time to think about this. Nodding at what the other woman had to say, Kassandra leaned down, her hand sliding from the girl's jaw to the base of her skull as fingers slid through golden hair. Just as she was about to kiss her, she winced and pulled back once more. "Okay I just need to make one thing abundantly clear." She murmured before pulling back to lock their gazes again, almost feeling bad for the dark pools that were staring back at her.

"I want to be good for me, not just you." Kass's voice was firm, resolute. And then it all crumbled when she realized how awful she'd worded that. "Wait, no... That's not what--That came out wrong. I just mean..." She trailed off, her other hand moving up to grip at Zoey's shoulder as she tipped her head back and sighed. "You deserve the best things, Zo. I think anyone that comes into your orbit knows that. And for a long time.. I didn't think I deserved that same regard. But I do." Kass nodded, as if reaffirming that to herself before smiling shyly at Zoey. "Now that I got that out of the way... Are you sure you're okay with me kissing you? Because if you want me to go even slower, I can. I'm also straddling you. Which normally..." And thus began the rambling.

 Zoey: 

Zoey’s eyes were about to close when she heard Kass start talking again. Her eyebrow arched in silent question of what else the brunette wanted to talk about. It was somewhat torture. The artist was positive she’d never been more turned on in her life, and they hadn’t even done anything yet. Although, their build up had been going on for weeks. Her limited experience didn’t tell her if this was customary or not. However, when she heard Kass speak, she couldn’t help but giggle. “I like the way you said it,” she answered honestly. “I want you to do your healing for yourself. I want to be a bonus to what you do and who supports you. I don’t want to be your reason.” That was far too much pressure, and that could cripple a relationship if done too early. 

Relationship. Was that what she wanted? She’d been so focused on trying to see if Kass could feel the pull between them too that she hadn’t thought about it. However, the word didn’t give her worry or anxiety. Instead, she thought of more dates, sleepovers, and days with Nugget. All of it was pleasant and warm. They’d cross that bridge when they got to it though.

When Kass started rambling again, Zoey smiled as she brought one hand up, fisted the front of the hoodie the brunette was wearing, and gently pulled her down so their lips connected. The blonde tilted her head for a better angle and couldn’t help but sigh into the kiss. After a few seconds, she pulled back slightly and noticed that her breathing was heavier. That reaction from just a kiss? An amazing, butterfly inducing kiss, but still, the simplest of contacts? ‘Gods,’ she thought to herself. How she was going to resist the woman on top of her was a mystery. “Sorry, you were taking too long,” she said bashfully. “You rambling is seriously cute though.”

 Kassandra: 

Lips pressed to her own in a gentle manner and Kassandra felt herself melt. Fingers tightened against the base of Zoey's scalp, scratching gently. It wasn't anything more than a pressing of lips and she was already out of breath. Zoey pulled back sooner than she would have liked but maybe it was okay because she needed oxygen, her lungs feeling as if they were on fire. When she apologized for kissing her because Kass had taken too long, the woman in question smiled widely as her nose crinkled. "You're lucky I like you, Katz. I don't let just anyone call me cute." Licking her lips, she took stock of their position and came to the conclusion that this simply wouldn't do. Gently pressing a finger to Zoey's shoulder, Kass pushed her down onto the bed as her arms went on either side of the other woman's head. Nugget jumped off the bed, deciding that this was getting a little too cramped for him and began running circles around the couch. 

Kassandra brought her hand to trail her knuckles down Zoey's cheek, turning her wrist slightly to run her thumb along Zoey's lower lip. Cheeks were rosy and her curls were messy but she didn't care, not giving it a second thought as she leaned down. The second their lips touched, Kassandra felt butterflies fill her stomach once more. She couldn't tell if that was her who moaned but at this point she didn't care as her lips slid over Zoey's in what she hoped would one day become a practiced motion. Normally her hands would be trailing across skin, undoing buttons and tearing off bras. Not this time. Not with her. Her hands remained on either side of Zoey's head, being as respectful as she could. She hadn't even allowed herself to deepen the kiss, giving the blonde full control. After all, they had time.

 Zoey: 

When she heard what Kass said, she couldn’t help but smirk. Zoey leaned forward and placed a kiss on the woman’s cheek. “What about adorable,” she asked before moving to place another kiss on the woman’s jaw. “My favorite is nerd though,” she added lastly as she moved down to place a kiss on Kassandra’s neck. Barely managing to show some restraint, she pulled back slightly, but when she did she just kept going until her back hit the mattress. Blue eyes looked up at Kass and felt her body temperature rise gradually.

Between the feeling of the pressure of the other woman’s body and the kiss, Zoey knew she moaned and couldn’t care less. The kiss lasted longer than the last, and when she broke it, she went right back in for another one. She wouldn’t allow herself to deepen it though. Gods, she wanted to. But, she could feel the cut on Kass’ lip and worried about it splitting open again if she lost control. So, in between another series of kisses, she mumbled, “considering how badly I want to bite your bottom lip, I think we stop before I make you bleed.” Zoey’s hand had traveled further up the brunette’s back as they kissed, and she felt it resting between slender shoulders. She couldn’t help but be thankful that she hadn’t dug her nails down. That would have caused more pain than pleasure with the bruises she’d seen last night. In an attempt to keep her body from reacting, Zoey just kept talking. “In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve never felt this much before,” she said as she lightly tugged on Kass to let her weight fall a bit. It wasn’t like the other woman would squish her. “Sex wasn’t something I even thought a lot of. I found it as a necessary act sometimes in relationships, but I never wanted it. Then, well, I feel, no I know I want you. I just, when it happens, know I won’t know much of what I’m doing.”

 Kassandra: 

Restraint was definitely not her best friend but she could manage. She wasn't a complete and utter horn-dog. At least, not all the time. There was just something about finally kissing Zoey that had her wanting to not stop. Not until they both couldn't breathe. Not until they were both...... Okay, nevermind. Maybe it was a good thing that the blonde was telling her they should cool off. Kassandra couldn't stop the pout though, lower lip slightly jutting out as she sighed. The pout faded away as the woman underneath admitted something that she hadn't even thought to question. "You've never... Felt this much?" Her head cocked to the side adorably, choosing now to get off of Zoey. If she stayed on top of her, then Kassandra might keep kissing her and eventually this position would make her ribs ache more than they already did.

Moving backwards, Kass moved to lay down next to the blonde. Her body rolled so it was flush against Zoey's, entangling their legs as she reached down with a hand to interlace their fingers together. Bringing Zoey's hand up to her lips, she kissed the other woman's knuckles softly, her eyes fluttering shut as she did so. "Have you ever been... Have you ever had sex with another woman before? Also uh... Just so you know its not one sided. I want you. More than I ever thought I possibly could. But I won't ever put you into a position that you don't want to be. When and if you ever feel ready..." Her gaze was soft, green eyes finding blue before she placed a gentle kiss to Zoey's temple. "I haven't... It's just been sex to me. A way to get off. To let off steam. I don't want that with you. One day, if you you're okay with it, I want to..." Kassandra's gaze drifted down to Zoey's lips as she pulled away to look at her. "I don't want to rush, I want to spend the time to commit every inch of you to memory. If that's alright, I mean." The brunette whispered, suddenly feeling very self conscious.

 Zoey: 

When Kass moved to lay beside her, Zoey easily turned on her side to face the woman as well. The blonde still couldn’t believe how anyone could see the brunette as anything but a giant softy, but she wasn’t about to complain. “I’ve never felt this much physical attraction to someone before. It’s never been hard for me to be restrained in these things, but I seriously struggle around you and love teasing you. I seriously think I sometimes do it without realizing,” she said with a chuckle. It was just so natural to do. Half of the things she did around Kass she did without thought or much effort.

“I’ve never had sex with a woman before, no,” she said with a shrug. “The only person I have had sex with is Theo. I’ve kissed girls before, and I know I’m attracted to women. I just — I guess I’m more complicated in seeking relationships than most people.” Zoey never rushed getting into one, and she was very comfortable being in her own company. The artist loved those around her so much that she never felt lonely or rushed to find that sort of connection. As Kass continued to talk, Zoey closed her eyes and counted to ten slowly. They were laying on her bed talking about something that would not cure the burning she suddenly felt in her lower abdomen. “Trust me, wanting to or being ready to isn’t the problem,” she said with a smile once she opened her yes again. “It’s more that this between us is something, and I want to make sure we do it right. You’ve been hurt before, and I want you to feel safe and ready before you get into something again. I can wait. I’m not going anywhere.”

 Kassandra: 

The knowledge of Zoey never having sex with a woman before was only slightly terrifying. She'd had encounters with women before that she'd been their first time and yeah, she'd bragged about how good she'd make it for them. And sure, on some level she probably did. But that was hard and fast. There were no pleasantries. Barely any kindness. Just booze and getting fucked until you passed out from exhaustion. Kass had only ever done it slow with one person and the thought of going slow, of letting herself strip down? She wasn't quite sure if she was going to be able to handle it. Come to think of it... She couldn't remember the last time she actually fully removed all of her clothes while being with another person. Maybe that was okay, maybe it was better that way. To not remember her when she was laying next to someone who she was desperately trying so hard to trust.

Biting her lip, Kassandra nodded in response to everything Zoey told her. She wanted to respond, to give her some kind of reassurance that without a shadow of a doubt, she was with her. That she wasn't going anywhere. Could she give that to her? Could she give the one thing that terrified her? "Thank you... For caring. And I wish I could just tell you I'm ready right now. Because... Hell, I want you. I want you more than I've wanted anyone in a long time. But you're right..." Kass sucked in a deep breath, eyes closing for a moment before exhaling and opening them. "I have been hurt before." Green eyes looked down at their joined fingers, playing with Zoey's. "I can tell you about her.. If you want. T-Them. I can tell you about my ghosts."

 Zoey: 

Some people might be disappointed at the answer they got, but Zoey honestly wasn’t. She was happy that Kassandra was honest. It was healthier that way. Jumping head first into something that terrified you would only lead to problems, and that wasn’t what she wanted for them. “I don’t wish that,” she said sweetly as she pushed down the urge to flip Kass on her back and straddle her hips. Those ideas were getting distracting. “I want what’s best for you. I really do care about you which means being selfish with you isn’t something I can let myself do. I promise that if I ever get really upset or sad that I’ll talk to you because pushing what I want to the side all the time isn’t healthy either, but I’m really okay with waiting. Finding you is already such a bright spot that I didn’t expect to happen when it did. I can be patient for anything else.” Being around Kass without escalating things would be hard, but Zoey figured she could find some buffers. Brining Kass around her friends would happen eventually anyway, and that was a sure fire way to keep things cooler between them when they hung out.

“You don’t have to open all of your deepest wounds for me right now, darling,” she promised as she leaned forward ever so slightly and pecked the woman’s lips. It had been a solid ten minutes since they last kissed, and that was just bothering the artist apparently. “It’s not some exchange that you have to give me to validate you needing time or anything. I think you need to come to terms with them first before you can share them with me. Otherwise, it could just bring up a lot of nasty, mean memories that you aren’t ready to face again. I’m already going to have a hard time sleeping when worrying about you joining Fight Clubs late at night. If I add worries about you having nightmares, you’ll never leave this bed.”

 Kassandra: 

On some level, Kassandra didn't believe that she deserved this. Not the kindness or the patience or the caring. But here Zoey was, doing all of those things and making her want to kiss her until her lungs felt like they were on fire. So when Zoey pecked her on the lips, for one mind-numbing minute Kassandra almost let herself indulge. Almost being the operative word. "I'll talk about them when I'm ready, promise. Having one be dead and the other a million miles away from me--I guess it makes it easier to finally move on. I never think I really realized how much I was holding onto while I was in Portland." For a moment she got lost in yester-year but just as quickly snapped out of it. 

A grin did settle over her face at the idea of never leaving this bed with Zoey, the idea ramping up the temptation she already felt. "If you keep teasing me about staying in this bed, then I'll eventually have to do your bidding." Kass' grin turned into a smirk as she took the opportunity to roll onto Zoey, straddling her once more as she pinned the blonde's hands above her head in a fluid but gently motion. Leaning down, she moved her mouth next to the other woman's ear to whisper sweetly into it. "Is that what you'd want, Zoey?" Kassandra pressed a heated kiss to the blonde's neck, chuckling lowly. "No one's ever made me beg before." The brunette pulled back enough to lock their gazes, eyebrow arched as she looked directly to Zoey's lips. "Maybe that's about to change."

 Zoey: 

The blonde was about to respond to the more serious conversation at hand when she suddenly found herself back on her back with a weight once again against her. Her hands being pinned up above her head added another element of arousal she wasn’t ready for which caused her to subconsciously roll her hips upwards as a light moan left her lips. The words, the kiss, and sensations were enough to make even Zoey say screw it all to hell and give into everything stewing between them. Was it the opposite of what she’d said literally minutes ago? Yes, but she couldn’t find an ounce of care in her body right then. It was all being drowned out by need instead.

When green eyes met her own, she knew her gaze most likely reflected the arousal she felt coursing through her. “I do have the perfect headboard to keep you chained here, Kass,” she teased back without even thinking much about the words she was saying. Her voice was lower than she was used to hearing it, but her attention was completely on the all too satisfied woman above her. “Although, being the one to finally make you want to beg is enticing. Tell me, Kass, is knowing how much I want you driving you crazy? I bet me adding that waiting isn’t my problem didn’t help either, huh?” Acting innocent while being downright flirty was apparently Zoey’s game, and she wasn’t about to pivot away from it.

 Kassandra: 

The smirk would have dropped off her face at the mention of being chained to the headboard if she hadn't remembered that they wouldn't be able to contain her. "You're adorable if you think that's going to be able to stop me. I'm kinda strong, remember?" She wanted to keep teasing but then Zoey started doing just that, her voice low and husky to a point that Kass felt her whole body heat up. A growl tore through her throat at that comment, one of her legs moving to slip between Zoey's own. "You drive me crazy. And I think I do the exact same thing right back." Green eyes were surely dark with lust by this point and as she moved her body forward to bring their lips together, she tried to ignore the way her thigh moved of its own accord.

One hand held down Zoey's wrists after bringing them together while the other trailed down her body to bring a hand under her shirt to lightly graze against her stomach. Pulling back slowly, she kept their mouths close together, each word that she spoke causing lips to trace over the others in a tempting motion. "Say the word and I'll play nice, Zoey." She pressed a kiss underneath the blonde's jaw, sucking softly for a moment before looking back at her with yet another smirk. "Because if you're fine with it, I'm fine with acting like a horny teenager and making out with you for the better part of the afternoon. Or we can just relax and watch a documentary?" Kassandra offered, moving her thigh upward in a complete acknowledgement of what she was doing. "Tell me what you want and I'll do it. Your wish is my command." If Zoey could do the whole innocent move, Kassandra would definitely be a little demon.

 Zoey: 

“If you’re going to break my bed, I don’t want it to be with you getting out of restraints.” Zoey was partially surprised at how easily the flirtations came from her. It wasn’t like it was a banter she partook in regularly. Yet, it was surprisingly instinctual. When a leg slipped between her own, Zoey let out a gasp. Her back arched slightly as she moved her hands to grasp at Kass’ hips. She nearly gripped tightly but was still sound enough to remember the bruises that could still be there. “You know we do,” she said with a breathy chuckle. “We’ve been teasing each other for weeks.” The words were barely out before they were kissing again.

“A documentary,” she asked back with a smile. “First off, I’d start showing you anime, but we both know we wouldn’t watch it. We’d wind up just like this or something like it, but on the couch.” Her eyes closed as she thought about whether she’d be able to restrain herself. Considering how much her hips wanted to grind down on the thigh pressed against her, she didn’t think restraint would be her strong suit. “I want you right here. I took the day off. My dad is covering the shop. Let’s not waste it.”

 Kassandra:

Zoey was going to be the death of her, she was sure of it. Between her gasps and the way her body moved perfectly against her own, Kassandra was in utter fucking bliss. "I wasn't trying to, if I'm being honest I was kind of nervous when it came to doing anything too forward with you. You made me nervous but in a good way. Don't worry about that." Kassandra blushed, kissing her once more with vigor, all tongue and teeth nipping on lips as she pulled away before Zoey spoke again.

'I want you right here'. The words Zoey uttered made her mouth go dry and her stomach do flips. Just as she was about to lean down and kiss the blonde again, that all too familiar feeling washed over her. Her vision blurred before her expression went blank as three flashes repeated behind her eyes. A suitcase being loaded into a car. A small scar on a cheek. Waves crashing onto the shore. To anyone that was watching her, all they'd see is Kassandra go completely still while her eyes moved rapidly back and forth. Her breathing had halted as the images assaulted her vision until they disappeared, leaving her trying to get her bearings on top of her--well, she didn't know exactly what Zoey was to her. But that was an interesting choice of direction her brain had almost led her to. "I... Sorry, sorry about that."

 Zoey:

The kiss took Zoey’s breath away and made it difficult for her to actually focus on them wanting to go slow. She reciprocated with as much urgency as she received and was definitely breathing harder when Kass pulled back. She was about to lift her head up to trail kisses along the woman’s neck when she noticed the change in Kassandra’s demeanor. Everything seemed to freeze for the woman on top of her, and even when she lightly called her name, she got no response. Not quite knowing what to do, Zoey just patiently waited to see if there was any sign of her coming out of whatever was happening. 

When Kass spoke again, Zoey moved one of her hands to cup the woman’s cheek. “Hey, sweetheart,” she said with an easy smile. “Either, I’m affecting you way more than I realize, or that was an example of those visions of yours that you told me about. It was kind of like That’s So Raven,” she said teasingly. She wanted to joke to show that she really wasn’t upset about it happening when it did. It wasn’t like the woman could control when they happened. “You okay? Do you really need that documentary?”

 Kassandra: 

Nodding slowly, Kass sighed and chose this moment to lay down onto Zoey, nuzzling into her neck. "If I'm hurting you by laying on you, just let me know. I don't wanna smoosh you." Kassandra breathed out against her skin, knowing full well that their height difference of doing this was comical at best. "Would you hate me if I told you that I never watched that show. I was more of Phil of the Future kind of girl. Aly Milchalka can get it." Biting her lip, Kass brought her head up enough to look at Zoey before giving her a small peck on the mouth. "I'm okay," She said gently before nuzzling back into Zoey's neck. "But yeah that's what happens... I don't really know what it means. Maybe I'll figure it out later. Remind me to write it down later okay?"

Kassandra hummed into Zoey's neck contently, allowing her eyes to close once more as she felt the heavy weight of sleep hitting her once more. All thoughts of the food that Zoey had brought her faded from her mind as she snuggled into the woman beneath her. "I'm gonna take a little bit of a nap on you which means prime cuddling with Kassandra time. Push me off if I get too heavy. Okay babe?" The words were mumbled sleepily as she let out a small yawn, her breathing evening out in seconds as, true to her word, she drifted off to sleep.

 Zoey: 

The blonde giggled lightly as she started rubbing up and down the brunette’s back absentmindedly. “You’re not heavy, Kass,” she promised as she felt her eyes begin to droop. Not getting any sleep was going to catch up to her quickly with them staying in bed, but she wasn’t against some nap time. Especially when it was with such a gorgeous woman.