#hcmoheart

blake: you know that you're the most beautiful creature in the universe, right?

The night was long and creeping into the morning hours. Aj cleaned up the bar as she sent her employees home for the night. Always such a night owl, she never minded staying behind. Being surrounded by booze was no longer an issue for her or even a temptation. She placed the last stool on top of one of the tables as she made a mental note to fix that flickering ‘S’ in the neon sign outside. Aj walked over to the bar where she wiped down the surfaces, but was soon surprised by the sound of the front door opening. Dammit, she forgot to lock the fucking thing. For being the owner of the place, she was shit at following procedures sometimes. “We’re closed, as you may have been able to tell by the clear signage on the door if you bothered to read,” she spoke out bitterly as she tossed the rag in her hand into a hamper nearby. She looked over to see who it was and caught sight of a familiar woman. Her lips thinned momentarily, almost wishing she could eat her previous words. “... Though, I guess I’m not opposed to you staying for a bit.”

She was actually nervous for tonight. She hadn’t seen the other in a while and a mutual friend had invited them both. She knew Anais would be here as well. She had thought she had been ready, that her feelings for the other had diminished, hell she had even dated someone else for a few months. But now that she was sitting here she felt the hurt creeping back up. 

Ilsa didn’t know too much about the woman she was due to meet today, only that she had retired from the FBI at a surprisingly young age. Most agents Ilsa knew across the globe stayed with their respective agencies well into their later life, until retirement or death took them, however not this agent. The information given state that she was only in her early 40′s, which left the younger woman confused and curious. 

She had met the other a year before and they had some fun times. Nothing too serious, but she remembered her. Now that she was teaching in the city she knew Marlow lived in she decided to call her, seeing if the other would be willing to meet up. They would meet up even if she didn’t want it, if she wouldn’t say yes, a meal she would be but it was Marlow’s own choice if she would be a willing victim and maybe live through the night.

It was, quite frankly, just her luck that her car would decide to have an absolute meltdown on her way back from her latest case. Of course, when she had told her superior that she didn’t need the jet, that she would happily take the scenic route, she hadn’t expected to wind up stranded on the side of a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, her luck had changed somewhat when a kind young couple offered to tow her to a nearby repair shop, and she had gratefully accepted.

roxi arrived to the others space unannounced. big sunglasses hung on her nose despite the dim living room. jangling jewelry, and keys made her announcement before her mouth did. the woman leaned an elbow into the back of the couch. the soft fabric dipping into it's structure. she was casual. rings clicked while she spun them absentmindedly. her eyes flicked to the reality show melting across the others television. “wait - don't tell me. yeah, say, is this the one where they pretend this is all about love?” the way roxi talked made bullshitting seem charming. almost.

the woman didn't mean for her voice to come out clipped with authority. “you should have dinner with me.” stated. clearing her throat, catherine realized how commanding she sounded. then winced at herself. she tugged at her sleeves again. unnecessarily. christ. she was a cardiologist. she survived on long showers and partial sleep. gave life where it wanted to fail...and she couldn't simply ask someone out to dinner properly. catherine's tone tilted into sarcasm. a familiar shield. “i mean..tonight...or soon." hands clasped together. "gosh, i'm really bad at… this.”

silence stretched like elastic. she forced herself to stay still in front of the other woman. to not fill the quiet with humor. or retreat. "no," posture straightened. shoulders back, chin leveled. with a clearing of her throat, catherine inhaled a sharp confidence. "you should have dinner with me. tonight." definitive. "- because we've been friends for so long, and you've seen me make really dumb decisions." lightly. "-and you do everything for me. so. let me make you dinner. in a romantic way." not in a we're great friends sort of way.