#keeping score

You screamed, and Alexia jerked away from you so fast she nearly rolled off the bed, the strap sliding out of you abruptly, making a mortifying wet sound. Your hands scrambled for the duvet, yanking it up to cover both of you, trying to keep some dignity for yourselves.

The door slammed shut so hard that the frame shook, and the few photos hanging on your wall almost fell. You barely had time to see who had opened the door, but of course, you knew who it was.

"I'm so so so sorry!" Clara's voice was panicked, muffled through the door, higher-pitched than ever. "I-I didn't realise there was somebody there… I-I thought you were alone! I didn't mean to walk in - oh my god."

You could hear her footsteps running down the hallway, going god knows where because your flat wasn't that big.

You stared at Alexia in absolute horror.

 Alexia stared back, her face flushed, though now you couldn't tell if it was from exertion of all she had just done, or pure humiliation. 

Her expression mirrored your panic perfectly, and it was absolutely scary because Alexia rarely panicked; she was the one who always remained calm and reasonable.

"Puta madre," she whispered, her thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of her nose, as if she could already feel a headache coming. "Dios mío… I traumatised a child, and she's basically my child, she's my player!"

"Oh my god," you said, your voice barely working. A hand came up to cover your eyes as if that alone might undo what just happened. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god-"

"Amor-"

"She saw-" you couldn't even finish the sentence. "She saw us. She saw you. She saw-" You gestured helplessly at the black harness still secured around Alexia's hips.

Alexia looked down as if she had forgotten it was there, before fumbling with it in a rush, her hands shaking unsteadily with a rare lack of coordination that only made you more nervous.

"My sister saw me having sex! My sister saw me having sex!" You began to say in a tone that came closer to hysteria. "I'm going to pass away. This is surely an omen in some ancient civilisation! Somewhere in the world, this is the star of an apocalypse!"

"I don't think any apocalypse would be this specific, " Alexia murmured, trying to smooth down her hair as if the whole problem of this situation was how out of place a few of her locks were.

You could still hear Clara's relentless footsteps; she was pacing back and forth, and the pattern was irritating you. Tap, tap, tap. You rolled onto your stomach, burying your face into the pillow.

"I'm going to die. I'm biologically going to die of embarrassment… Alexia, you need to call the hospital and tell them I won't be there for my next shift."

"You're not going to die," Alexia said, though she didn't sound too certain. "You've been through worse."

"No, I actually haven't," you mumbled and flipped back over when the pillow grew too hot against your face.

Alexia had managed to get the strap off and was now scanning the room frenetically. "We just, hm, we need to - fuck. Where is my bra? Did you see it?"

"On the lamp," you said weakly, pointing to the other side of the bed.

"Right." Alexia grabbed it quickly, then looked at you, still frozen in the bed, clutching the blanket. "We have to talk to her…like, at some point. Eventually."

"No," you said straight away. "Absolutely not. I'm going to change my name and move to another country, maybe Australia. They have like… koalas and kangaroos, I love marsupials... You can be Clara's legal guardian when I'm gone."

"I'm probably the least person she would want as her guardian right now," Alexia said, drily "I'm not even sure she realised it was me, the room is pretty dark, and I had my back to her."

You groaned, pulling the blanket over your head, hoping that death by asphyxiation would be quick and painless. "That makes it worse! She must think I just let a stranger into our flat!"

"This is so messed up," you continued to half-ramble, half-whine from beneath the covers. "This is honestly worse than any of my 'worst case scenario' exercises, and you know I'm exceptionally creative with those–"

"Mi sol," Alexia interrupted gently, taking the covers from your face and sitting on the edge of the bed. "We were going to tell her anyway, remember? We just did it a little differently than planned."

"A little differently?" Your voice came out as a squeak. "Ale, she walked in on us having sex, for god's sake. We were naked, and we are still naked.

Alexia looked down at herself. "Well…I have my bra on."

"That is not the point!" you snapped, rolling your eyes.

Alexia had the audacity to look slightly amused.

"I'm just saying," she shrugged. "At least now there's no question about what we are to each other, you know? Much less confusing for her."

"This is not funny! Why are you making jokes?!"

"I'm not making jokes," she said matter-of-factly. "I'm just offering you a different perspective."

"You can shove your different perspective up your-" You stopped as you heard footsteps approaching the door again.

"Mana?" Clara's voice came through the door, clearly filled with embarrassment. "Is that… is that Rosa?"

You winced at the name. You wished a lightning bolt would strike you right now.

Alexia's head snapped toward you, her eyes narrowing instantly, and all the amusement vanished from her face.

"Who the hell is Rosa?" she whispered-yelled. "And why the hell would she-"

"Not now, Alexia!" you hissed back, waving your hand at her. "We are in a crisis for fucks sake!"

From the other side of the door, Clara kept going, words tumbling over themselves in a classic Serrajordi mental breakdown.

"Because if it is, it's totally okay! I mean… I know you are an adult, and you have a life and… ugh! I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were with someone. I just forgot my charger in your room, and I know you said I couldn't use your outlet, but it is better, and it charges faster, okay? So don't be mad at me, please."

"She's rambling exactly like you," Alexia muttered, her irritation over Rosa seemingly disappearing.

"She is," you groaned, burying your face in your hands.

"Which means she is freaking out-"

"Are you so happy that you psychoanalysed both Serrajordi sisters in one night?" You snapped bitterly

"-and I really need it back because my phone's almost dead," Clara continued, oblivious to the war happening inside the room. "And no one at the sleepover had the right charger, and my battery is at two per cent, so I walked all my way back here to get it. And, before you say anything, I texted you multiple times letting you know I was coming, and you didn't text back! So I just thought you were studying!"

"This is Dante's hell," you whisper to the ceiling, looking at nothing, as if you were having a divine revelation.

"What is it?" Alexia asked. "The situation, or the rambling?"

You shot her a look. "What do you think, Alexia?"

Clara tried again, her voice smaller now, given the lack of response.

"Look, I really need my charger, so please… just wrap yourself and the girl in a blanket, and I'll walk in with my eyes closed, okay? And I'll just grab it and go away-"

"No!" you and Alexia yelled in unison.

"Just give us a second!" you added desperately.

You heard Clara's sharp inhale, like she was trying to calm herself, or possibly hyperventilating. Probably the latter. "O-okay."

You had never dressed so fast in your life. You and Alexia were throwing clothes at each other, nearly leading to another argument, when Alexia insisted on putting her socks on.

"Socks are not the priority, Alexia!" You had hissed. "And I don't fucking know where the other pair is!"

When you finally opened the door, properly clothed (but still utterly mortified), you found Clara standing in the hallway.

Her hands were clasped nervously, and her eyes were squeezed shut, as if she was trying to delete her short-term memory before it could be converted into a long-term one. You bet Clara wanted her hippocampus to be deactivated now.

The moment you spoke, Clara's eyes flew open, and the second she saw Alexia standing next to you, her entire demeanour changed, going from embarrassment to pure shock.

"I-" Clara started, but then stopped. There was silence as she processed the identity of the person in your doorway. "...Alexia?!!"

You looked at Alexia. Alexia looked back at you.

"I didn't, " Clara sounded like she was talking to herself, her eyes darting between you both in disbelief. "When I opened the door, I just saw… I thought it was Rosa? From the hospital. What the hell is Alexia doing here? In your room? What is happening?"

You pretend not to notice the grimace Alexia made at the mention of Rosa.

"We can explain, bebé," you said, trying to keep your voice calm.

"Then do it!" Clara blurted out. She looked like she was on the verge of crying.

She kept staring at Alexia as if she were an alien, then her eyes fell to her torso.

"Your shirt's inside out… capi, yours too, mana. Wait. " And then realisation hit her. "You two were… oh! Oh no. I-I think I'm going to be sick."

You looked down, and fuck, the seams were staring back at you mockingly. you decided to ignore them entirely.

"Look, Clari, we-" you started awkwardly, gesticulating between you and Alexia as if your hands could explain what your mouth clearly couldn't. "We are-"

"You are…?" Clara prompted, her voice rising.

"We are, ugh - well, we-" You winced. "You see, it's kind of a funny story, actually!"

"It is?" Clara asked, her eyes narrowing.

"No. Not really," you corrected quickly, shaking your head. "What I meant is that Alexia and I here–"

"We're together," Alexia said casually, stepping closer to you when it became painfully clear you couldn't form a single coherent sentence. "We have been for about three months."

Clara's mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. "Three months?!"

"Since the storm," you admitted.

"The-" Clara's eyes widen. "The storm? You have been lying to me since the storm?!"

"We weren't lying," you tried, but even you knew it sounded pathetic. "We just... didn't tell you."

"That's the same thing!" Clara's voice cracked. She looked at Alexia, her absolute idol since she was a kid, and then at you. "I can't - I need to… I don't even know what I need! How can my captain be sleeping with my sister! Guys, come on!?"

She turned abruptly and walked toward the living room, sitting down on the sofa. You and Alexia followed hesitantly, your steps careful, as if approaching a wild animal that was about to bite.

"Oh, d-did you do anything here?" Clara asked, suddenly getting back up as if the sofa had burned her. "Kisses are okay, but anything else is absolutely not!"

"The sofa is safe, Clara," you said awkwardly, gesturing for her to sit. "I promise."

"Okay, good." Clara sat there for a long moment, her hands squeezed between her knees, staring at the floor. Poor thing was having a full-on breakdown.

"Clara-" you started.

"I need a minute," she snapped, a pout on her face. "Just give me a minute, one."

You sank into the armchair across from her while Alexia stood behind you, her hand resting on your shoulders. She began massaging your muscles, a display of affection that felt surreal in the presence of your sister, but somehow, alleviated the ache in your body caused by the big explosion of adrenaline, cortisol and every catecholamine there was.

Clara finally looked up; her eyes were a bit red. She was now directing her attention to Alexia.

"I don't understand," she said. " How did this even happen? You two barely interacted when we were at your house during the storm. You were ignoring each other, and when you weren't, you were bickering!… How?! I don't get it!"

You blushed deeply, remembering the night of the storm, the first time you had touched Alexia's body, and how she had touched yours, all while your poor sister was sleeping down the hall.

"We did interact, mhm, cordially, Clara," Alexia said gently. " Just… not when you were around."

"But why hide from me?" Clara asked, her voice filled with genuine sadness. "I haven't done anything wrong. Why didn't you trust me?"

Your heart ached at the disappointment that carved her features. You exchange a glance with Alexia.

"Because we didn't want to make things complicated for you," you admitted. "You are her teammate. She's your captain. We didn't want to put you in the middle of it, especially not when you had finally been promoted to the first team; it would be a lot of pressure on you to carry."

"So you chose to lie to me instead?" Clara's voice was small. "For three whole months?"

The guilt was like a physical weight in your chest. "Technically… yes."

"Does anyone else know?" Clara asked. "Does Gerard know? Or anyone from the team?"

"No," Alexia said, squeezing your shoulders. "You were the first person we were going to tell, and we were going to do it soon, very soon, but well, timing wasn't on our side."

Clara processed this, her fingers twisting together anxiously. "So all those times you said you were busy, but you didn't have any extra shifts… you were-"

"I was with her," you confessed. "I'm sorry, baby."

"And at training?" Clara turned to Alexia. "All those times you asked me how I was doing, how things were at home?"

"I was kinda asking so I could know if she was really okay," Alexia said, not quite meeting Clara's eyes. "If she was eating and sleeping properly."

Clara let out a breath that was almost a laugh, the kind that came from someone who was going mad.

"That's… that's actually kind of sweet? In a really weird, stalker-ish way." She paused. "But it's also really messed up. We are family! We don't keep secrets like that, you-you should have trusted me."

"It wasn't about trust, love," you said quickly, leaning forward. "I just didn't know if you would handle it very well. You are playing for an elite team for the first time. I didn't want your focus to slip or your emotions to get in the way because of me."

Clara's voice rose slightly, her chin tilting up. "You don't get to decide what I can handle. I'm not a kid anymore, no matter how much you see me like one!"

She was right, of course she was right. So why did it feel like a slap to the face? You had been so focused on taking care of Clara that you had forgotten she had grown up. 

You were left speechless; your mouth was open, but no words were said.

"You're right," Alexia chimed in. "We should have told you. We should have trusted you to handle it… that was our mistake, we are sorry, Clara.

Clara looked at her for a long moment. "This is so weird. You're my captain! You yell at me during training."

"I do not," Alexia corrected gently. "I just give you accurate feedback when I see fit."

"You made me do extra penalty shoots last training!"

"Because you were eight minutes late."

"Yeah, because my sister dropped me off late!" Clara said, pointing at you, before groaning. "And now you're dating her!"

"This is a nightmare," she continued, covering her face with her palms. "Every time I see you in the locker room, I'm going to think about… no. No, I'm not going there."

"Clara-"

"And that bed!" Clara pointed accusingly toward your bedroom. "I have sat on that bed! We have watched movies on that bed! I have taken countless naps on that bed because your mattress is more comfortable than mine! And now I lost your bed, too!"

"Clara, I'm an adult," you tried, your voice a mix of tiredness and apology. "It was my room, in my bed. And you weren't supposed to be home! I-I'm allowed to have sex in my bed."

"I know that!" Clara's voice was strained. "But knowing and seeing, literally seeing, are two very different things! And seeing my captain - oh my god, I saw my captain." She made a strangled noise. "I'm traumatised, and I will be as long as I live."

Despite everything, Alexia seemed to be holding back a smile. "Everyone has-"

"Don't!" Clara held up a hand. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, capi. I know everyone has sex. I don't need to know that you have sex or how you have sex or who you have sex with. You are supposed to be cool and professional and definitely not naked in my sister's bed!"

You buried your face in your hands, mirroring your sister. This was exactly as mortifying as you had feared.

Clara stood up abruptly, pacing the living room. "I need-I need to process this. This is a lot… my brain is fried."

"Take your time," Alexia said for you, since you seemed to have lost the ability to speak.

She paced for another minute before stopping to face both of you. 

"Okay. Okay, I need to ask. Is this serious? Like, actually serious? Or is this just... I don't know, a fling? Or a thing?

"We, well, it's also complicated," You began. "We haven't exactly put labels on in-"

"It's serious," Alexia interrupted. "I really care about her, Clara."

There was silence, but then you finally spoke.

"I care about her too," you let out a long-held breath and looked up at Alexia.

Clara watched the exchange; something in her expression flickered, something that resembled realisation, or acceptance. "How long has it actually been? Like, really together? Like dating?"

"We started seeing each other right after the storm," you said. "And we started, mhm, dating, maybe a month and a half after that? I guess? So it hasn't been that long."

"We wanted to be sure it was going to work out," Alexia said. "Before we told you, or anyone else. We didn't want to make your life at the club awkward if it didn't work out."

Clara made a face. "Okay..." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I mean, I guess I get it? Kind of… I still think you should have told me sooner, though."

"You are right," you agreed.

"And I'm never going to unsee what I saw tonight. Ever."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Clara slumped back onto the sofa, looking exhausted. Then, after a long pause, she looked at Alexia. "You need to promise me this won't be weird at training, please."

"Of course, when we're at training, I'm your captain, and that's it, Clara, don't worry."

"Good." Clara was quiet for another moment. Then, hesitantly, she added. "And you both need to promise to lock the door from now on. And text me when you're here together. So I know not to come home early."

"We promise," you said, embarrassed, cheeks red.

Clara looked at both of you shyly. "Do-do you want me to go back to Lara's? For the night?"

"Of course not, bebé," you said quickly, patting her knee as if she were four. "This is your house, too. Of course you can stay."

"Okay, good, because I think I need to process this in my own bed," Clara said, standing up and heading for her room. "My own bed where nobody is... doing anything… I think I'll text Lara and tell her I'll pick my bag up some other day."

"Clara," you started. "Do you want to talk more about that? If you have any more questions-"

"Can we not?" Clara interrupted, her voice softening. "I just… I need to sleep, I'm tired, and I really wasn't expecting to find out you were dating my captain when I came back for the charger."

As if the word reminded her, she darted into your room, eyes strictly on the floor, and emerged seconds later with the forgotten charger. She turned towards her own room and then paused, looking down at her feet.

"Look," she said. "I don't hate this. I just need time to be okay with it."

"That's alright," you said softly. "I get it, we can talk more when you want to."

"And, please," Clara said, pointing between you and Alexia. "Please, no sex tonight. Really, I beg you with all my heart."

"Clara, for the love of god, stop mentioning sex," you begged. "There won't be any more of that tonight. I swear."

"Good… just making sure," she muttered. "I would like to sleep without my noise-cancelling headphones."

"You are safe to sleep without them," Alexia said. "But if you want, I can leave. I don't mind, I don't want you to be uncomfortable in your own home."

Alexia's words caught you off guard. You turned to Alexia, but she wasn't looking at you; she was looking at your sister. You realised then that if Clara asked her to go, she would be out the door in seconds, regardless of how much you wanted her to stay.

That made something grow warm in your chest. You wanted to smear her face with kisses.

"Of course you weren't rude, silly. This was a situation I wish hadn't happened. I'm sorry for going behind your back and, well, for the door." She paused. "You know Alba, you know my sister, I would be a mess if I walked in on her, especially with a friend of mine."

"No," Clara said. "I don't mind you staying…I'm sorry if I was rude."

Alexia rolled her eyes playfully.

"Friend?" Clara repeated, and you saw a little spark of pride on her face. "You think we are friends?"

Alexia smiled. "Well, I think sisters-in-law should probably be friends, right?"

Clara practically beamed." Yes, of course," and then, her eyes widened as if a thought had struck her.

"Wait… please don't ever come into my room. There's a poster of you on my wall, and now that you are basically my sister-in-law, I think I'll take it down. it's… definitely way weird now."

"You can give the poster to me if you want," you teased, feeling that the tension of the day was finally disappearing, bit by bit, but clearly, you had misread the moment.

Alexia let out a chuckle, but she quickly masked it when Clara shot you a look of utter disapproval.

"It's too early for jokes, Y/n !"Clara snapped and rolled her eyes one last time before disappearing into her room and clicking the door shut.

"Damn," Alexia whispered. "She's stern."

you frowned. "I think she likes you more than me now."

"I think you are right," Alexia agreed instantly, mischief in her voice.

"Excuse me?" You said, indignant. "You are supposed to say she loves me more than anything because I practically raised her."

Alexia shrugged as she sat on the sofa and tucked her feet, turning to face you. "Well, it's my poster she had on her wall, right? Not yours."

"I bought her that poster," you muttered, a pout returning to your lips.

"And when you bought it," Alexia tilted her head, a lazy smile on her face. "Did you know I was going to be your future girlfriend? Or was it some kind of manifestation?"

You threw your head back against the armchair and groaned. "Can you stop? I have blushed enough times today, there's barely any blood left to rush to my cheeks."

Alexia hummed. She reached out, hooking her fingers into the waistband of your pants, and tugged until you ended up on her lap.

"But you look so pretty when you're flushed."

She pressed a soft, lingering kiss to your cheek.

"Besides," she whispered, her voice honey sweet, "if you really want a poster of me, I can give you one. A private edition, sí?" A teasing smile curved her lips. "No need to take Clara's hand-me-downs."

"Alexia," you said in warning. "No sex tonight. You heard her."

"And who's saying anything about sex?" she asked, her tone changing to one of complete innocence.

You tucked your head into the crook of her neck, hiding your face against her warm skin to muffle your groan. "You are making me horny on purpose."

Alexia chuckled, and the air from her nose was hot against your skin. "I'm not doing such a thing, mi sol."

A few moments of quiet passed. "Well," Alexias said, breaking the silence.  "that went… better than expected, actually."

"She didn't kick you out," you agreed, leaning back into her chest, feeling her arms close around you. "She's probably going to ask for a lobotomy tomorrow, but…"

"She'll be okay," Alexia murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple. "She just needs a little time; in a week, it will be like nothing happened."

"Yeah, probably." You closed your eyes, feeling the exhaustion settling in. "At least it's out now. We don't need to hide anymore."

"Yeah," Alexia agreed. "Things will be easier."

You sat there for a few minutes in comfortable silence, but then Alexia's body shifted, and of course, she couldn't help herself; her voice came out careful and a bit too casual.

"So... who's Rosa?"

You let out a dramatic groan. "Really? Now?"

"Clara was convinced Rosa was in your bed," Alexia pointed out. "So yes, now. Who is she?"

You turned in her arms to look at her, seeing the slight tension in her jaw despite her casual tone. "You're jealous."

"I'm not jealous," Alexia said unconvincingly.

"You are," You replied with a small smile. "And you are never jealous."

"I'm just curious and inquisitive"

"Inquisitive…right," you echoed and couldn't help but smile. "Rosa is the head nurse at the hospital."

"And?"

"And nothing. She is just the head nurse; we work together on some shifts."

"Clara thought she was here having sex with you," Alexia said flatly, but at the same time, her thumb found your hip, circling the bone slowly. "That doesn't happen for no reason."

You sighed. "Okay, fine. Rosa has been... flirting with me ever since I started at the hospital two years ago."

Alexia's entire posture stiffened, and you immediately felt the way her muscles went rigid beneath you.

"Flirting," she repeated, tasting the word in her mouth. "With you? For two years?"

"Yes, flirting. But I never...it's completely one-sided, yeah? I promise, and of course I don't encourage it."

"Why didn't you ever mention her?" The brunette asked, and her voice was close to a whine. "You could have… I don't know, just talked to me about her. I talk to you about training all the time."

You bit your lip, looking down at your own hands. "Because, honestly? I just didn't think she was important. I barely think about her."

"But Clara knows about her," she said, letting her chin rest on the top of your head. "If Clara knows, then you must have mentioned her once or twice."

"Clara comes by the hospital when I forget my lunch sometimes," you explained. "The nurses love her to pieces; they give her snacks and sandwiches, Rosa included. And you know how Clara is, if I told Rosa I was dating someone so she would stop flirting, Clara wouldn't give me peace until she found out exactly who it was.

"You can tell her now," Alexia said a little too quickly, a slight edge to her voice.

"What?"

"The nurse, Rosa or whatever," Alexia said, that familiar pout forming on her lips. "Now that Clara knows, she can know too. And she will stop flirting with you once she knows you are dating the Spanish captain."

You stared at her, half-endeared, half-astonished, "Alexia."

"Sí, mi sol?"

"Why do I feel like you are secretly happy my sister walked in on us just so I would have an excuse to tell Rosa I'm taken?"

"I'm not," Alexia said, but she smiled, looking far too pleased with herself to be convincing.

"Oh my god… you are!"

"I'm not happy Clara was traumatised," Alexia clarified. "But I am happy that now everyone will know we are dating, including nurses who should learn to respect professional boundaries."

You couldn't help but laugh. "You are so ridiculous."

"Mhm, when it comes to you… maybe," she murmured, tugging you closer and pressing a kiss to your cheek. "Now let's sleep, por favor. I'm so tired. "

"Good idea," you replied, "I'll need at least twelve hours of sleep to recover from this."

You moved quietly through the flat towards the bathroom, careful with each move not to wake Clara up. The sudden change from the soft carpet to the cold of the bathroom tile sent a shiver up your spine.

Alexia reached into her overnight bag and pulled out her toothbrush. For a moment, the two of you simply stood there, shoulder to shoulder at the sink, the mirror catching the small and ordinary intimacy of it, of what you thought would take a bit longer to happen.

"You know," you murmured around a mouthful of white foam, nudging her side with your elbows. "You could leave that here."

"That?" she asked, pausing with the toothbrush halfway to her mouth.

You pointed at her brush with your chin, and then at the ceramic blue cup on the counter, currently holding only Clara's toothbrush. Alexia's eyes followed yours, then her gaze returned to you. 

There was a playful shimmer in her eyes, the way they were narrowing just slightly as she smiled down at you.

"Are you sure?" she teased as she leaned closer, her voice low near your ear. "What are the chances Clara wakes up tomorrow, forgets we are friends now, and uses my toothbrush to clean the toilet out of spite?"

You rolled your eyes and rinsed your mouth, shaking your head as you placed yours next to Clara's. "Knowing her? I think it's much more likely she would use mine."

Alexia chuckled and set her brush next to yours. The sight of the three toothbrushes felt right.

Both of you washed your faces before finally heading back into the bedroom.

Alexia locked the door behind her and immediately began to undress, and by then, you were barely awake. Your eyelids were almost closing, and your bones felt heavier than they were. 

The only thing you wanted was your bed and Alexia to be in it, too.

You rummage through your drawer, looking for an old shirt and hand it to her without saying anything; you knew she had brought her own clothes, but you felt the urge to see her wearing something of yours. Alexia took it without a word, pulling it over her head.

Then, you stripped down yourself, using your freewill to sleep in your underwear.

You didn't miss the way Alexia's mouth turned into a smirk, or the way her gaze swept over your body quickly, up and down, before settling in your face.

Her jaw tightened, and she inhaled deeply before looking away. The poor girl really was trying to keep her promise to Clara… no sex tonight, but oh what a torturous task that would be.

"You should put a shirt on," Alexia said, her tone far too professional and controlled for the intimate atmosphere of your room. 

"Why?" you asked, pushing just enough to see her squirm. The teasing was taking a lot of energy from you, but it was worth it.

"It's cold," she claimed, but the way you looked at her made her swallow, and suddenly, she began fidgeting with her finger, as if she needed somewhere - anywhere - to put them.

"It's twenty-eight degrees, amor," you purred, leaning just enough that your voice brushed her ear.

Alexia let out a soft, strangled sound, squeezing her eyes shut, and for a heartbeat, neither of you moved.

But then, she said under her breath. "Please?"

You laughed softly at that and crawled into bed, the mattress dipping under your weight as you turned your head to look at her silhouette in the dark room.

"No. I'm hot," you said easily "And I don't like to sleep with my clothes on."

Alexia let out a frustrated huff as she climbed into bed beside you, deliberately leaving a good ten centimetres of space between your bodies. She put her hands behind her head, staring straight up at the ceiling. 

You watched her; her jaw was still tightened.

"You are making this harder on purpose," Alexia murmured.

You smiled into your pillow.

"You are a mean woman," she continued. "Very mean to your girlfriend."

"No," you said, closing the gap she had so carefully set between you, your body seeking hers like a magnet. You draped yourself over her, your head resting on her chest as your limbs tangled lazily with hers. "I'm a very good woman, and I'm very nice to my girlfriend." 

Alexia sighed beneath your ear before she pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

"You always do that," she whispered. "Sleep glued to me, like a koala."

"It's comfy," you mumbled, your eyes already closing, "I like it... sleeping together reduces cortisol and increases dopamine and oxytocin, and if I remembered correctly, you once said that you would never deny me cuddles."

For a moment, Alexia didn't respond. You were just about to sleep when her voice reached you.

"I would never deny you anything."

a/n: I hope you guys liked it! part 3 coming soon <3

Didn't quite make it to post the last bit on the fic anniversary, but I did it!

The chapter 9 musical cue is Blue Bell by Golden Daze.

This is the last time I ever "have" to transcribe music for this fic and I had such trouble choosing the last song. I had four options with pros and cons and eventually went with this one... I went more with the mood of the scene it's used in rather than the song itself. Also it was the easiest to transcribe 😆.