#recoleta

How many weeks had it been since her partner had departed from the suitcase? Recoleta couldn’t stand another day waiting until she could see you again. She paces around her dorm room while she fixes an iron grip on her book. Stepping over scattered papers and literature present on the floor had become second nature. In fact, her disorganized room felt tidy, in her case it seemed. Last time she had visited a messy room occupied by Editor Hunting, she believed it was a palace compared to Recoleta’s own space.

“Timekeeper had already mentioned that they were coming back within an hour, yet it’s been…” Recoleta begins, stopping in her tracks to glance at the nearest clock. “Fifty-four minutes.” She observes. She lifts her free hand, rubbing the corners of her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. Recoleta didn’t even remember when she had taken a proper rest since your departure. She decided that it was best if she had simply waited longer. All the things she wanted to spew out in that moment deflates into a heaving sigh as she crosses her room in a few strides to reach her desk, placing her book face-down.

A light knock on the door.

Recoleta initially closed her eyes, expecting a certain punk-rocker to drag her out of her room the moment she stepped out of her quiet dorm.

Tap tap… tap.

The fatigue within the poet diminishes. She perks up, her legs moving on their own as she watches the door open, revealing your figure. Recoleta brightens in an instant, rushing over to greet you with a rib-crushing embrace that forces the air out of your lungs. You reciprocate the hug, your arms looping around the other girl’s shoulder in an attempt to soothe her. “Sorry… I never meant to keep you waiting.” You reassure, feeling Recoleta’s fingers tighten from where they were at your garment.

“You actually came back.” Recoleta whispers, her hold loosening yet she had no intention of letting you go. She pulls her head back to gaze at you, and you note the faint glistening that gathers in the corners of her eyes. “You don’t know how much I missed you, mi cariño…” She trails off, mashing her lips against yours with a muffled sob. The action makes you jolt in surprise, but you return the kiss with equal fervor. Recoleta carefully steps back whilst keeping her firm grip on your clothing, maneuvering between the clutter she refused to clean up. Before you knew it, you find yourself tripping backward until your back is met with the unkempt mattress of Recoleta’s bed, with pages of her revisions still present. Recoleta’s hat slips from her head, revealing the disheveled curls that were originally concealed under the accessory. 

You finally break away from the kiss to gasp for air, only for Recoleta to kiss you with growing intensity. Her palms begin to wander without a specified route, hands skimming beneath your shirt and feeling the warmth of your skin. Her kisses are frantic and so is her touch, the desperation evident in the way she presses her body flush with yours just to remember how this moment feels in case you leave again. She travels her digits along the curvature of your spine to the dip of your hips, committing each and every touch into her memory. Recoleta pulls away with a shuddering intake of breath, dazed eyes focussing on your face. Her palms slip out of your shirt to rest against the mattress below.

“Sorry I should’ve warned you…” She begins, stopping short as your hand gently cups her cheek to catch her attention once more. “There’s no need for apologies. I’ve missed you too.” You reply, lips pressing against Recoleta’s in an unhurried manner that makes the poet crumble under your affection. Her eyes flutter close with a helpless whine against your mouth, her fingers tightening around the sheets to ground herself. You hold her face with both of your hands now and gently guide Recoleta as you take it slow, rather than rushing. For the few times you part away for air, Recoleta mumbles “Te he echado de menos, amor…” between breaths. Her tears don’t go unnoticed, either. Her longing for your return caused the poet to grow emotional despite the heat of the moment, her cheeks damp with the aftermath of her inaudible crying.

You respond by lightly flicking your tongue against Recoleta’s lip, a faint squeak emitting from her. She adjusts and manages to make herself relax, granting you permission. Your tongue deliberately delves into the cavern of Recoleta’s mouth, earning you a muffled whimper from the poet. You sensually explore her mouth as you slide one of your hands into Recoleta’s tussled hair, your fingers weaving within the strands. She submits like a puppy, melting in an instant.

Your kisses only grow sloppier once Recoleta takes the initiative in taking over, your tongues dancing in a heated frenzy that’ll leave you two breathless. The moment oxygen became a problem, Recoleta reluctantly broke away from the kiss to catch her breath, the two of you panting softly. Tears well up in Recoleta’s eyes once more, a guilt expression written all over her soft features as her eyes fix on you.

“Sorry querida, I got carried away…” Recoleta apologizes and dips her head into the crook of your neck while you catch your own breath, rendering you incapable of giving a response. Your fingers, still tangled in Recoleta’s locks of hair, gradually loosen to a much more softer hold. Recoleta relaxes now that you were in her arms, her body weight now fully pressing against you. “I missed you a lot. I couldn’t stand another week without my muse.” Recoleta admits, the heat from her neck creeping up to her cheeks and dusting them pink. She’s only grateful that she's able to hide her flushed expression to save her a hint of embarrassment.

“I’ll linger for as long as you need. I don’t think Timekeeper needs me for a while, anyway.” You respond, hoping it would better ease the girl. Silence stretches for a bit longer, a comforting atmosphere surrounding the two of you despite the absurdity of the place Recoleta inhabits. The fatigue comes back to the poet and she falls asleep without allowing you to speak another word, and you simply loop your arms around Recoleta’s neck to hold her while she sleeps.