Val:)

"I may be the second wheel, but without me, she would be a mere unicycle! 😁"

"🤨😕😒"

dana evans is your neighbour 18+, age gap, dry humping, pussy eating <3

you'd never lived in an apartment that held 'get to know your neighbours' night. strange concept, you were perfectly fine knowing just one other person in the building, not by name but politely smiling whilst you gathered your mail. you had enough friends, not a lot, but enough and work was tiring so if you could avoid small talk in the corridor then you were happy to.

then fliers appeared on the lobby notice board.

people have too much time on their hands, you exhaled as you read, also wondering how much buy in this would actually get. your night would be spent the same as any other single woman in their late 20s, finish work, take-out and real housewives, NOT mingling in the hall with strangers.

unfortunately for you, there was a lot of buy in. crowds of people flooded the communal space, all cradling beer bottles and plastic cups like it was some kind of frat party. you had no intention of staying, of chatting or getting involved in any measure but fighting your way through the stairwell, unnoticed with a bag of ramen, proved quite difficult.

"hey! you're 64b right? i'm 68, just above you" a sweet bubbly girl beamed at you, intercepting your path. she was most likely the organiser of this event, like she'd made it her mission to get to first name basis of every single resident in the building.

"oh, yeah. hi.." you weren't rude, you were tired. and you didn't need this adult-friend-making-speed-dating shit. "nice to meet you, i'm just gonna-" trying to slip past.

"you HAVE to meet your neighbours" she ignored your attempt to politely excuse yourself, ushering you back into the crowd of people so close to your front door.

the introductions were tedious, she pointed out the couple to your left, the old man directly beneath you. you stood half smiling, giving your name out and trying to find any morsel of energy to even give a shit. you just wanted to go inside, eat your ramen and go the fuck to sleep. but the conversation left no gaps for your escape, not that you didn't try. you knew politeness would be your downfall one day.

then—

"think you're all keeping this nice gal from her dinner" a petite blonde in grey-blue scrubs broke up the circle you were standing in, eyeing your ramen as she pulled a key from her bag. "and stacey, keep it down out here yeah? need some shut eye" she walked to the door opposite yours, turning the key and giving you a subtle wink as she let herself in.

"sure dana, don't worry we'll keep it-" the girl, whom you now know as stacey, called out as the door slammed "-down"

you smiled, finally finding your own queue to leave.

she found her way into your mind that night, the blonde in scrubs. you weren't sure how you hadn't noticed her before, being in such close proximity and all. not when collecting mail or leaving for work, maybe your schedules were polar to each other but you knew you'd have remembered her. and that wink, nice lady.

⋆˚࿔

after your brief encounter, you found yourself looking out for your neighbour a little more. she clearly kept to herself which just made you more curious. the scrubs suggested some kind of doctor or nurse, the one bed apartment told you she probably lived alone and you hadn't stopped thinking about her no nonsense approach to stacey. she was quite a bit older than you, you could tell that from her voice - a little deep, accent thick.

the day she walked past you she smelt like cigarette smoke and rich perfume, her ears were double pierced and she chewed gum with an open mouth.

the next time you caught her was brief. early morning, pre-7am, in the same clothes as last time. you were taking advantage of the mild air, heading out for a quick run before work and she was clearly starting her day.

you exchanged 'mornings' and then she was gone.

⋆˚࿔

summer brought a heat wave and unfortunately for your building, a strain on the air con.

it was early evening when you heard raised voices in the hall. you stepped closer to your front door, slick sheen across your chest from the growing heat inside your apartment, listening to the other side.

"no you need to come and fix this fuckin thing now. not tomorrow, now. it's 100° in here for christ sake"

you only heard one voice, like she was on the phone.

"jesus-" then silence.

you opened your door to see her stood in a tank and lounge pants, hair stuck to the back of her neck with the rest pulled into a claw clip.

she turned to face you at the sound of the door click, holding up her phone "building manager, piece of shit"

you laughed under your breath. "your AC out too?"

she nodded, shaking her head down at the phone with a raised brow, then shoving it into her pocket.

"spent my day off sucking on ice and trying not to pass the fuck out" her smile travelled from her eyes to her lips, skin creasing at the edges. she looked at you for a second, titling her head slightly. "we haven't met"

you opened your door more, stepping out into the hall. "we kinda did" you meant that first day she saved you from the crowd.

"mm not properly, doll" she folded her arms, face softening "i'm dana"

you told her your name and she smiled, like it fit you. "you new here? not really seen you around much" you asked her, curious to find any detail, big or small.

"i work a lot and never really been one for stairwell small talk"

"oh yeah, of course- sorry i just-"

"not you kid, the ole neighbourhood watch crew and their building parties" she clearly had the same view of 'meet your neighbour' as you did. your shoulders relaxed. after a second, "you want some ice tea? just made a jug" she gestured her hand towards her apartment.

"won't say no to that" you mumbled, smiling.

her apartment was nice, it mirrored yours just the opposite. you were right to assume she lived alone, there was just one of everything. no manly shoes in the entrance or photos of anyone other than what you assumed were her grown children.

she dabbed her forehead with the back of her hand as you both sipped and made the small talk you claimed to hate.

"so you a doctor or something?" you asked.

"close. nurse. down at pittsburgh general, have been for 32 years"

that confirmed the age gap you already knew was there. it shocked you, how she'd been in a job longer than you were alive and you didn't have to say it for her to know you were thinking it.

"let me guess, you were still in diapers when i was in college?"

"close. i was born about 5 years after you graduated i think" you didn't know why you said it, feeling rude after it came out but she just laughed, shaking her head as she sipped her tea.

"jesus. even my tattoos are older than you"

you weren't sure why you felt that in your stomach. you huffed a laugh to try conceal it, blaming the spreading burn on your neck on the stifling heat.

then her phone rang, you could vaguely hear the building manager say he couldn't come til tomorrow. she was an animated woman, hands flying around, voice raised. you wouldn't want to get on her bad side, you thought. you finished the last sip of your tea, setting the empty glass down and mouthing thank you before excusing yourself while she dealt with the dick on the other end of the line.

⋆˚࿔

you started seeing more of dana. passing in the hall, starting your day, taking out the trash. your conversations became longer and more than just greetings. sometimes you'd forget you were going to work and spend 15 minutes in the hall just chatting.

you got to know her more. she worked day shifts, had 3 daughters, she liked white wine (you saw her bringing a bottle home one night) and she loved her job.

she got to know you more too. where you went to college, how you were allergic to cats and loved to read on the door step when the sun was out.

your grocery hauls were complete opposites. hers were that of an adult with fruit and veg, bottled water, essentials. she made a joke at how your bags clinked like you were hiding the entire liquor store in there and she asked if you knew pop tarts were not a substantial breakfast.

since then, she'd be at your door a couple of times a week with filled tupperware. sometimes it was a full meal, other times fruit salads and home baked biscuits. you returned the favour by bringing a jug of margaritas to her doorstep on a saturday night.

"jesus h christ, did you blend these at all?" dana half laughed, almost choking on your lethal dose of tequila and lime.

you sat on giant cushions in the open window of the fire escape in dana's apartment, the half filled jug between you.

"it's saturday night. we're getting lit"

she rolled her eyes at your lingo.

"it's saturday night and you're getting drunk with your elderly neighbour" she corrected.

"it's my community service, helping out a senior citizen-" she swatted you, spilling some cocktail on your lap as your head fell back in laughter.

"fucker"

"i'm kidding you know" you said after a second. "you're literally like my closest friend right now"

you weren't sure if you were supposed to feel like this about friends. or what it even was you were feeling. you just knew you liked her company, perhaps more than you should. you liked getting to know her, wanting to know everything about her. you knew that you liked women but obviously, you assumed she didn't.

dana sparked up a cigarette, inhaling deeply as the smoke curled above the pair of you. she handed you the tab, exhaling and you took it between two fingers. your gaze didn't break from one another.

"quite fond of you too, doll" that smile again, the one that narrowed her eyes and showed the top of her teeth. fuck.

⋆˚࿔

it'd been a few months since you first met dana and your friendship had grown into something you both treasured dearly.

you'd end up at one another's place at least once a week. the nights when she wasn't too tired from her shift or you hadn't been pulled away by your other friends. you'd much rather spend your time with her, not that you'd admit it.

it was all nice and neighbourly. knocking on each others door with take-out or a bottle of wine. somewhere along the line you'd swapped numbers. that was originally for the purpose of dana taking in your parcels when you weren't home, keeping each other updated for anything in the building but it soon became a text chain between friends.

use the back entrance, stacey's on the rampage

got some of your mail, let me know when you're home and i'll come drop it

hey, is your power out?

don't suppose you fancy a glass of vino 🍷

one evening you'd managed to get yourself roped into going to the bar with some work friends. the cocktails fell down your throat far too easily and by 9pm you were more than tipsy.

you weren't quiet coming home. stumbling up the stairwell, talking to yourself, an oop when you missed the top step, dropping your purse. a door next to you clicked open.

"someone's had a good night" dana picked up your purse and you beamed up at her, pulling yourself up by the hand rail.

"daaaaana, hey"

"you smell like a brewery" she laughed, lightly holding onto your upper arm to guide you to your front door.

"just had a few drinkypoos" you hiccuped. "you wanna come in for one?" your words weren't slurrred but it was no secret you were drunk.

"i think you've had enough" she pulled your key from your hands as you struggled with the lock, turning the key in one smooth movement for you to enter.

you walked through your apartment to the sofa, falling onto it as dana dropped your purse next to you, headed to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.

she returned and you couldnt help but notice the glow on her face, the softness in her eyes. you took the glass and just held it. "drink" she urged, stern but not unkind.

sipping from the glass, you held her gaze. there was something between you, something that felt different in that moment. her finger came up to tip the glass further, pouring more liquid down your throat, until she was content you'd had enough.

"good girl" she took the glass away from you and despite your thirst being quenched, your mouth suddenly felt dry.

she saw you swallow thickly. her lips parted slightly. the skirt you were wearing had ridden up to your thighs with how you were sat.

"now get some rest"

you were still sat in the same position when you heard your front door click behind her. what you didn't see was dana stood in the hall for a second, breathless like she'd just ran the length of your apartment. you didn't know she thought about turning round, coming back in. not knowing what she'd say but considering it all the same. she pondered for a moment, one hand on her hip, the other tousled in her hair.

"fuck" she thought about how you'd looked at her just moments ago. how you reacted. her chest tightened, unknown feelings creeping their way into her conscience.

she didn't turn round. she fought the urge, heading into her own apartment.

you managed to sober up relatively quickly. downing more water, a couple advil and a luke warm shower to cool the heat between your legs. good girl, it replayed in your mind over and over as the stream poured onto your skin. what the fuck? your neighbour, your friend, a woman almost twice your age, a woman who you had no confirmation had any interest in women whatsoever, a woman you couldn't have.

it was hard to get dana out of your mind as you lay in bed, not that you really tried. the room was dark with the exception of a bedside lamp, quiet. it was then you decided to pick up your phone.

you: you awake?

you didn't expect her to be with the time. but then the bubble appeared.

dana: yeah, everything ok?

you hesitated for a second.

you: just wanted to say thank you for earlier

you: not sure i'd have made into my apartment without you

that's not really what you wanted to say.

dana: just doing my community service, helping out the drunk and disorderly...

you laughed at her using your own words against you.

dana: assume you're feeling better?

you: much

you: followed the nurses orders with water and two advil

it felt a little loaded to send but you did anyway. then the bubble appeared and disappeared enough times to cause you panic. you almost sent another message, something flat and obviously platonic, maybe even just a 'anyway, good night' to kill the conversation.

then—

dana: good girl

you didn't even know you were clenching your thighs til you felt the flutter between them.

in 64a, dana's mouth went dry as she pressed send. it was a lot for her, being bold like this. she didn't know what she was doing or what her intentions were but for once in her life, she ran with it. ran with the knot in her stomach, the throbbing sensation between her legs.

she waited for you. nervous at your reply. hoping she wasn't mistaken by this, whatever the fuck this was.

you: dana

fuck it.

you: can you come back over here

this could go one of two ways, the way you want or the way in which you've read this so incredibly wrong.

it was the longest five minutes of your life, between sending that message and hearing the knock on your door.

when you opened it, she was facing away. turning when she heard you. you could see her breathing heavy, the rise and fall of her chest. you stepped back slightly and she stepped in. then it was just the two of you, stood silent in your hall. your oversized tee had wet patches on the back from your damp hair, you saw dana's eyes glance once over you, suddenly aware you're naked on the bottom half beside underwear.

she was in similar loungewear you saw her in one of the first times. she wore a gold cross on her neck, something you'd noticed before but not really paid attention to.

"i-" you started. she stopped you.

"i don't know what i'm doing" her eyes wide, voice low. "this isn't- i've never-"

you extended your hand to hold hers.

"dana-"

"i don't know why i feel like this" there was an undertone of panic and vulnerability. "about you"

you could feel your heart in your ears, in your chest, in your stomach.

"i'm twice your age, i shouldn't feel like this about you" she spoke quietly, as if being loud would make something real.

"but you do"

a moment. your thumb brushed over her hand.

"i do"

before you could stop yourself, your lips were on hers. she stilled for a second, and then she let herself feel. she kissed you back, hands tentatively finding the base of your neck as yours found her waist.

then it got messy and heated and the two of you were stumbling from the hall to your bedroom one door down.

she was panting into your mouth as you led her backwards, calves hitting the bed.

"fuck dana, wanted this f'so long" you breathed between her lips. "tell me you want this"

dana moaned, it slipped out before she could stop it, pulling back from you. "want this. please"

you were soaked. you had been since you were full of booze and she'd touched your arm in the hall. but now her tongue was in your mouth and your hands were slipping under the hem of her tank, feeling skin you'd never felt.

"can i?" you tugged at the material and she nodded. she was naked under that, her hands came up on instinct to cover her bare tits, you replaced them with your own, pulling away slowly.

"wanna see you" she let you, your mouth watered at the sight. they were incredible, nipples hard from your fingertips ghosting over the skin. she exhaled deeply, breath hitching when your lips skimmed the flesh of her neck.

your fingers trailed from her chest, grazing skin down her sternum to the waistband of her trousers. you felt her move against you the closer you got. you flattened your palm against her stomach, sliding it beneath the elastic and finding her without panties, hot and needy, her bare cunt dripping and begging for you.

dipping your index and middle finger through her wetness, dana whimpered, mouth parting.

"mmm, fuck-"

you swiped your fingers a couple of times, spreading her wetness and then you pulled away. fingers glistening in the dim light. the noise she made when you sucked her off your middle finger made your pussy twitch.

"taste so good dana" you kissed her, light and loving. "so fucking good"

you pushed her softly onto the bed, standing above her as you pulled your t shirt over your head, leaving you almost equal in your clothing. her eyes wandered all over you and you watched her take it in. when you pulled her trousers down her legs, you couldn't believe the sight. her laid back, naked and yours.

when you crawled onto the bed, she moved herself back on her elbows to make space for you. you nudged her legs open by the knees, they fell apart with ease and she shuddered at the cool air against her bare cunt.

she was nervous. not because she was inexperienced - this may be her first time with a woman but she was no stranger to sex. in fact dana would have always considered herself a sexual person, in touch with her own desires however it'd been so long. so long since her divorce, since she'd slept beside someone, felt that kind of intimacy. then seeing your body and youth almost intimidated her. but the way you looked at her soon seemed to negate all of that.

when you were between her legs, lowering yourself to become face to face with the slick mess, she felt sexy. and wanted. you wanted her.

"oh my god- mmph" the first swipe of your tongue had her head thrown back. she lay flat on the bed as you worked her up, holding both thighs steady, licking up to her swollen clit.

you moaned into her, nails digging into skin as she started to roll her hips against your face. god it was hot. she whimpered and moaned and muttered your name over and over. "oh fuck, yes- there, that's-" her own cry cut her off as you curled two fingers deep. they slipped in with ease, her own arousal and your saliva dripping from your fingers as you pumped in and out.

you came up for air, resting your cheek on the inner of her thigh as you started fucking her, hard. the noises were obscene, slick and squelching with every move.

"doing so good baby oh my god i wish you could see what i can" you kissed her thigh, she moaned your name. "so fucking good"

"fuck you're gonna make- make me cum" her accent sounded thicker as she moaned, unbelievably sexy. you could tell she was close the way her cunt started to clench around your fingers. "don't stop"

like hell you would. hands squeezing her thigh, you worked your hand hard inside her and brought your lips to suck softly on her clit. the dual sensation had dana's back arching from the bed, handed fisted in the sheets and her toes curled against your back.

"yes yes yes ye-" with one final fuck of your fingers and pop of your tongue, she fell silent and rigid. then a looooong groan drew from the back of her throat, hoarse and deep. you worked her through it, until she was breathless and shaking, lifting your head up away from her.

"m gonna need a minute, hon"

you smiled. she was glowing, sweaty and messy. hair had fallen into her face, cheeks rosy and chest flushed.

"that was so fucking good dana" you kissed up her body, bringing your leg to straddle one of hers. your mouth landed between her tits, softly sucking the skin there, her hand found your back, stroking lazily across your shoulder blade.

"you're telling me" she laughed under her breath, still trying to regain some composure.

you were so turned on. seeing her cum like that, how bad she wanted you and you her. you hadn't even noticed your hips rolling against her thigh.

she had.

her hands snaked down your back, finding your ass. she squeezed over your panties, smirking at the wetness she could feel against her leg.

"did that turn you on huh?" she tensed her leg a little, giving you more to work against. "seein me cum like that?"

"shit" you moved harder against her, voice all whiny and strained.

"you wanted this for a while didn't you" her hands helped you, digging into your ass, pulling you into her. "wanted me, naked and wet for you"

you'd drenched your panties by now, dripping onto her skin. the wet material slick against your pussy felt so fucking good, your movements became more erratic, chasing your pleasure, needing to cum so bad. and her words only made it worse.

"good girl, just like that, gonna cum for me?"

fuck. there she goes praising you like that, knowing what it does, knowing that's what got you both here in the first place.

"fuck dana 'm gonna- mmm"

you fucked her leg whilst whining her name, brows knit, eyes screwed shut until—

"look at me. look at me when you cum baby"

your mouth fell open and everything building in the pit of your stomach grew hot and tight. you came all over her leg, a flood of wetness drenching you both, a guttural cry unleashed.

it shocked you both. how hard you came undone just from that. when you fell on the bed next to her, you both lay in silence, just the sound of hot breath and quiet traffic outside.

"stay tonight?" you managed, eventually.

when you turned your head, hopeful she'd agree, dana met your gaze with a glint in her eye.

"if you'll have me"

obviously, it's kind of understandable since she’s really only in season 1 before she disappears early in s2, but she deserves so much more recognition

she was such an incredible character like. tough, brilliant, completely straightforward, and utterly, fiercely unapologetically herself. she literally almost gets blown to pieces by a van, and instead of taking things easy, it triggers this wild, reckless, completely fearless adrenaline rush. she decides she's going to live exactly how she wants, on her own terms, rules be damned.

and they tried to police her private life and put her on desk duty, she literally stared down Cragen and the whole NYPD hierarchy. she told them straight up that her personal life was none of their fckn business and refused to apologize for a single thing. she knew her worth and wasn't about to let them shrink her or make her feel small.

ALSO?? can we PLEASE talk about her being Munch’s partner? their dynamic was absolutely the fucking best. Munch being...you know, Munch, and Jeffries just standing her ground, giving it to him straight, and matching his vibe perfectly omfgggg chefs kiss like not gonna lie... they were both so sexy together lol.