Joey Hudson's Biggest Fan

"You're sunburnt and I ain't seen you so much as take a sip of water since this morning. Come inside, just for a bit. I saved you some dinner."

Joey checked down the road again, and sighed. "There hasn't been a lick of trouble since Rook killed John," she said. "But I can't shake the feeling that he's still out there."

"I know how you feel," Mary said, leading her inside with a gentle hand on her back, careful not to touch the red patches on Joey's shoulders. "I wish I'd seen him dead. Wish I'd shot him myself. Not that I don't trust Rook, but…"

"He's been a problem for so long, its hard to imagine that he's gone," Joey agreed. She set the gun down on the bar top and sat down on a stool gingerly.

"Drink this." Mary set a glass of water in front of Joey. "I'll go get dinner for you."

"Thanks." Joey sighed, leaning her hot forearms against the cool bar top. She should've kept long sleeves and a hat on, but the sun had felt nice earlier. She just wasn't paying attention to her body enough to tell when it started to hurt. She'd done her best to turn that off in the bunker, and now she was having a hard time wriggling back into her own skin.

"You figure we're ever gonna get over this?" she asked when Mary returned. "Feels like half the county's already dead. Even if we survive…"

"We're gonna survive," Mary said firmly, setting the bowl of Casey's now-famous Everything Soup in front of Joey. "I am not letting that son of a bitch beat me, especially now that he's dead."

"Yeah, but--"

"I'm not sure if we'll ever get back to how things were. But we've pulled together, and we'll keep taking care of each other. Someday, it'll all just be a bad memory."

"I wish I was as optimistic."

"Don't worry, Jo. I'll be optimistic enough for both of us, until you're ready."

"I should be out there fighting with Rook."

"You spent weeks underground with that sadistic bastard. I don't want you goin' anywhere just yet. If you were out there with Rook you'd be tryin' to push as hard as she does, and you're in no shape."

"I dunno how she does it," Joey said. "I thought she was so shy when she started at the department. Quiet, unassuming. S'like she came alive under fire. Almost didn't recognize her when John brought her to the bunker."

"Yeah, she's a firecracker. I wish I'd gotten to know her better before hand."

"Yeah, she was livin' here, wasn't she?"

"Yeah, in the back apartment. Hardly made a peep. She used to come in here and read while she ate. I had to practically beat the boys back with the broom to keep 'em from botherin' her. I don't think she even noticed the attention."

"Didn't notice Staci either, and he was pulling on her pigtails like a schoolboy with a crush. He was practically drooling over her."

"Not you, though."

Joey snorted. "I'm not sure Staci was ever aware that I'm a woman."

Mary May laughed. "No, I meant-- oh never mind."

Joey shook her head. "No, go on. Think I'm a bit cooked from the sun."

"I just meant— Did you like her? Like that. I know you like her, everyone does. But you never, uh, had a crush on her or nothin'?"

"Well, I mean, she's cute and all, but not really. Didn't get to know her well enough before, and now that I do know her I can't even think of her as a person so much as an, I dunno, symbol? Plus I've had a candle burning for someone else for a while." She stole a glance at Mary, who was fixated with the counter, wiping a clean rag over the clean surface like she was trying not to seem too interested in the answer. "I guess I should buck up and confess. Not much to lose now."

"I'm distracting you," Mary said quickly, gesturing at Joey's bowl. "Eat."

"Right." Joey's stomach growled violently, reminding her that she really needed to listen to Mary's advice.

If she were braver, she'd tell Mary May how she felt, but bravery was in short supply. She'd used it all up in the bunker, and she couldn't risk the heartache, not with everything so fucked up in her head and out in the valley.

She didn't want to admit it, but John had done a number on her. The torture, the forced confessions, the gleeful and graphic descriptions of what he was going to do to Rook once he caught her, and then the even more gleeful and graphic descriptions of what he'd do to Mary May, once he sussed out Joey's feelings about her. John was more perceptive than he had any right to be, and he'd used that knowledge to crack her open like a nut. John Seed took more of her down to his grave than she'd revealed to another soul in a long time.

She didn't want that to be true, but it didn't change the facts.

That was the trouble with small towns. People got used to things taking a certain shape, and they didn't like when people stepped outside expectations. Very few people even knew she liked women. Mary only knew because she'd bumped into Joey and the girl she'd been dating at the time at a movie theatre in Missoula. It hadn't worked out with the girlfriend, of course— A couple hours drive was alright for a weekend away once in a while, but it was hell trying to maintain a meaningful relationship over that distance, and neither of them wanted to move.

That was usually the way things went. If there were other lesbians in town (and Joey had a few suspects in mind), they were quiet about it, same as Joey. Most people didn't even care, but a few people cared a lot, and sometimes it was better not knowing if your neighbour would hate your guts based on something like that.

She scraped the last of the soup out of the bowl and finished the refilled water. "I guess I should sleep," she said reluctantly. "I'm tired as hell."

Mary hummed. "Come upstairs first."

"Oh?"

"I've got some aloe for your burn. It works like a charm."

"Oh, that sounds nice."

"Come on, hon."

"I should wash my bowl."

"Forget it. It'll keep till the morning."

Joey pushed up from the bar and trotted up the stairs after Mary May, dropping into a seat on the edge of the bed where Mary directed her.

"Oh, I don't want to get goop on your shirt. Maybe you should take it off," Mary suggested, digging through a box, the contents rattling around as she searched for the aloe.

Joey did so automatically, her brain catching up with the fact that she was suddenly a lot more naked than she'd anticipated, in front of Mary May. The worn out bralette she had on underneath barely qualified as clothing.

She reached for the pump bottle of aloe when Mary sat down with it in hand. The bright green gel smelled like summer to Joey, reminiscent of every other beautiful sunny day when she'd forgotten to reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating.

Mary pumped some of the aloe into her own hand and tucked the bottle between her legs. "I've got you," she said. "You just sit there and look pretty."

"I'll try," Joey said, thinking of how rough she'd looked last time she looked into a mirror. Purple bags under her eyes, bruised and battered from the crash and the subsequent days with John Seed as her only company, if she got any at all.

She hissed as the cool gel touched her shoulder, instantly cooling a little of the heat emanating from her skin. Mary diligently slathered it across her arms and chest while Joey sat there with her eyes closed, trying very hard not to make things weird by moaning or breathing too heavily or making too much eye contact.

Still, her eyes flickered open when Mary leaned forward to smooth some aloe across Joey's neck. Mary's pretty, freckled face was right there, close enough to kiss.

"Hey, Jo, can I tell you something?" Mary asked, applying some to Joey's face as well, fingers gently spreading cool relief across her forehead and cheeks.

"Sure. Anytime." Joey fixed her eyes on the tiny scar on Mary’s cheek, something she’d had for ever— From a crash off Drew’s dirtbike when she was ten. Anything that belonged to Mary May’s older brother belonged to Mary too, no matter how hopping mad Drew got about it. Mr. Fairgrave always took Mary’s side. Maybe that was why Drew joined Eden’s Gate, a few years back.

Even with all the chaos now, no one had seen Drew anywhere. The cult had simply swallowed him up, same as it did to so many others. He hadn’t even come to Mr. Fairgrave’s funeral, in the end. Joey had been the one that wrapped a comforting arm around Mary May’s shoulders and tried to be there for her. Even with puffy red eyes and washed out by the black dress she’d worn, Mary May was the bright centre of the room, making people laugh with stories about the old man, easing the sting of loss for everyone but herself.

That was just how Mary was. Strong, certain, unshakable.

Something in her eyes was uncertain now, though. She bit her lip for a moment, mulling over her words before she spoke. “I’m real glad that you don’t have a crush on Rook.”

Joey raised her eyebrows. “Why’s that?”

“I always kind of thought blondes were more your type.”

Lightning lanced through Joey’s body as Mary May met her eyes, something long left buried finally coming to the surface. Did Mary know? How could she, when Joey had spent so much time and effort choking down her feelings? She’d put the friendship first, because the idea of ruining that with a confession had been unbearable, so sure that her feelings could never be returned. But the way Mary was looking at her now…

It was now or never. Everything going on only proved the need to clear the air. One hand drifted forward unbidden, bridging the gap between them, palm settling on Mary’s knee with the weight of wasted years. “Definitely. One in particular.”

Mary’s fingers were still slightly tacky with drying aloe when she settled them over Joey’s hand. “Oh yeah? You ever gonna make a move?”

“Wasn’t sure she’d be into it.”

“Well, I think she would be. I think you should kiss her next chance you get. Uncertain times and all that.” She made a funny face, looking away and then back at Joey, a blush creeping up on her cheeks. Her fingers twitched, like she was considering pulling away but couldn’t quite bear to. “You do mean me, right? I didn’t read that wrong? I’m a bit new—”

Joey closed the distance between then and kissed Mary, smiling against her lips when Mary made a soft sound of surprise. “Of course I mean you,” she said. “It’s been you for a long while. I just didn’t think you liked women.”

“Well, I kept tryin’ to convince myself I didn’t.”

“How’d that work out?”

“Terribly. Last time I went on a date I almost threw up after he kissed me goodnight.”

“And how are you feeling now? Should we get a bucket?” Joey teased.

Mary May scoffed, scooting closer. “Shut up and kiss me again.”

Joey was only too happy to do what she was told, cupping her hands around Mary’s face as she kissed her, slow and soft, tongue flicking out against Mary’s top lip when she sighed and leaned into Joey’s touch. The moment almost felt surreal, something too good after those weeks of suffering under John’s tender care. Something she’d dreamed about but never dared hope for, finally becoming reality at the end of the world as they new it.

Mary's hands found Joey's waist and pulled her down over her as she laid back. Joey slid her knee between Mary's thighs, propping herself up enough that she could find the edge of Mary's shirt and drag her fingers up her stomach softly. Mary inhaled sharply, a breathy laugh that was half whimper leaving her lips as Joey's mouth moved along her jaw and down her neck.

"Stay here tonight?" she asked. "Please?"

Joey hummed her assent, touch sliding up until her fingertips brushed the band of Mary’s sports bra. “Anything you want, honey.”

"Can we— Would it be moving too fast--" Mary's cheeks turned from pink to red, and she shut her mouth, embarrassed.

"Mary May, I've known you for twenty years, and I've wanted this since high school. We can move as fast as you like." Joey let her hand move further up so she could gently squeeze Mary's breast, her thumb ghosting across her nipple.

"Since high school?" Mary asked, an incredulous laugh shaking them both. "Oh my God, Joey, we're both so stupid."

Joey grinned, rearing back so she could pull Mary’s shirt off, then the bra a moment later. "Did you wish it were me when you were letting Evan Pierce finger you in the back of my truck on prom night?"

Mary nodded. "That's why I chose your truck instead of his. Smelled like that body spray you used to wear. Evan's truck smelled like gym socks and weed."

Joey laughed as she guided Mary back down. "You're ridiculous."

"Yeah. I know I am. I wish I’d been brave enough to say somethin’ back then.”

Joey shook her head. “We would’ve broken up when I went to college, and that could have wrecked our friendship. I don’t love you just because you’re a hot hometown blonde, Mary May, you’re also my best friend. So stop worrying about what could have been, and tell me that I can make fifteen years of fantasy come true.” She nudged her knee up a little higher, her own core pulsing when Mary ground down against it.

Mary’s ears went as red as her face. “Yes, please.”

Joey kissed across the curve of Mary’s breast, lips latching onto her nipple. Mary May’s hands curled around the back of Joey’s neck, cool against the sunburned skin. The gentle touch stung just the slightest bit, but it was nothing, really, compared to the last weeks. Freedom was worth the cost, and the warmth of the late summer day was too. It was so easy to take it all for granted, the blue sky, the wind on her skin, the smell of rain and the song of cicadas at the height of noon. The stars in the sky, the glimmer of humour in Mary May’s eyes, the soft sound of her laugh, the wrinkle in her brow when she was working through a problem. Joey hadn’t appreciated all those things the way she ought’ve, and she’d been given a second chance to do things right.

How sad was it, that it took the worst days of her life to remind her of what was important?

She fumbled with Mary’s belt one-handed, popping open the button on her jeans so she could slide a hand under the waistband of her panties, fingers sliding through the coarse hair on Mary May’s mons and down to the wet heat below. Mary May shivered from the touch, a breathy laugh leaving her lips. Joey laughed too, releasing all the darkness still weighing on her mind, letting the sun rise at long last.

Joey sank down, pulling Mary May’s jeans and underwear fully off so she could settle between her legs, hitching Mary’s thighs over her shoulders. She teased along Mary’s labia with her fingertips, circling her clit with her tongue. The salty tang of Mary’s arousal sent a tingle down her spine, her own clit throbbing in response to the other woman’s moans.

Mary’s legs tightened around Joey’s ears as she pressed a finger inside her, resting her chin on her palm so she could get comfortable, curling her fingers as she kissed Mary’s clit, finding a steady pattern that made Mary May yank her pillow down over her face to muffle herself.

Joey looked up. “No, don’t do that. Let me hear you, baby.”

Mary May peeked over the edge of the pillow, face red up to the blond roots of her hair. “O-okay,” she said breathlessly. “It feels really, uhn—” The rest of her words were turned unintelligible as Joey dropped back down, returning to the very enjoyable task of making Mary May come.

It didn’t take long before she was practically fluttering around Joey’s fingers, soaking Joey’’s face with a gush of wetness that dripped down her wrist and onto the bed below. If she’d been thinking ahead, she might have thought to lay a town out underneath Mary’s hips, but it was too late, and she didn’t intend on stopping. She brought Mary May to another peak, then another, stopping only when Mary begged her to stop, over stimulated and shaking like a leaf.

Joey dropped a wet kiss on Mary’s lips, letting her taste herself before she flopped back onto the mattress beside her, catching her breath.

Mary looked over at her, pink-faced and panting, her blue eyes bright. “Woah. You’re, uh, real good at that, Joey.”

“Yeah? Give me a minute to rest my jaw, and I’ll do it again.”

Mary giggled, rolling herself into Joey’s side, her touch trailing down Joey’s flank. “What about you? I want you to feel good too.”

“No rush, baby. We’ve got time for that too. I’ve been thinking about this for a lot of years.” Joey leaned her head against Mary’s, closing her eyes for a moment as she committed the moment to memory. “I’m sorry it took the end of the damn world for me to tell you what I felt.”

“It’s okay, Jo. When this is all over, we’re gonna build a whole new one, you and me. And it’s gonna be better than any bullshit New Eden, and better than this old world too. And we’re gonna be happy,” Mary May promised, her voice a fierce whisper of tenuous hope and that fiery conviction that Joey already knew so well. “You’ll see.”

Joey smiled, angling her chin forward to press a kiss to Mary May’s mouth. “Okay. You just tell me what to do, Mary May. I’ll follow your lead.”

The weeks in the darkness had made her feel small, but now she was out from under it, and Mary May was sunlight and love and everything good in the world, and laying next to her made Joey feel like she was a giant, big enough to take on the violent, changing world outside with renewed vigour.

They’d find a way to make it all right, but it could wait until the morning.