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Sabine sat at her desk, absentmindedly tapping her pen against a notepad. The soft glow of her desk lamp was the only illumination in the room, casting long shadows across the chaos of textbooks, scattered notes, and half-empty coffee cups. She needed to call it a night soon; after all, she had been cramming for an exam that wasn’t even due yet. Her head throbbed from the overload of information, everything blurring together into an indecipherable mess. With a frustrated sigh, she ran her hands over her face, exhaustion weighing down on her.
Leaning forward, she rested her chin in her hands, her elbows pressing into the desk as her gaze drifted toward the window. As she viewed the cityscape, she realized how late it must have truly gotten. However, before she could begin sorting through her thoughts, a voice interrupted her.
“Sabine?”
Ling’s voice was soft yet curious, calling from the doorway. Sabine turned slightly in her chair, arching an eyebrow as she took in her roommate’s presence. She hadn’t even heard the door open. Though, now that she thought about it, she must have left it open after her last trip to the bathroom. The dim hallway light spilled into the room, contrasting with the warm glow of her desk lamp. Ling stood there with a knowing expression, shifting slightly, as if debating whether or not to say something. Sabine followed her gaze briefly, taking in the state of her own room. Papers littering every surface, books stacked up, and a neglected dinner plate pushed to the side. It looked like a hurricane had passed through.
“Ling, what’s up?” Sabine asked, rubbing at her tired eyes.
Ling hesitated for a moment, her lips curving into a small, amused smile. “It’s Valentine’s Day, Sabine. You’re really spending the whole night studying?”
Sabine blinked, momentarily thrown off by the comment. “And?” she said cautiously.
Ling leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Z asked me out tonight. It’s been a while since we had time for each other, so she wanted to do something special.” Her voice was warm, almost bathing in affection. “I figured you’d be doing something too… you know, with Klara.”
Heat immediately rose to Sabine’s cheeks, and she turned away sharply, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ling giggled, “Oh, please. You’re not fooling anyone.”
Sabine shot her a glare before sinking further into her chair, arms crossed in clear defiance. She hated how easily Ling could see through her. It wasn’t as if she and Klara were… anything. At least, not officially. But lately, something had shifted between them. More often than not, she found herself stealing glances, lingering a little too long in conversation, feeling something unfamiliar settle in her chest whenever Klara laughed.
Ling must have caught on to the shift in her demeanor because her grin widened. “I just figured your little engineering friend would’ve asked you out for something tonight.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Sabine shot back, rolling her eyes as she refocused on her notepad. Ling only laughed, her amusement carrying out the door as she left.
Sabine exhaled, shoulders slumping as her thoughts circled back to Klara. The mere thought of her sent a flutter through her stomach—an annoying, persistent sensation that she didn’t know how to deal with. She had promised herself she wouldn’t get involved in anything serious, not after the mess that was high school. Her studies came first. They had to.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. With a frown, she pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from Tayane, Klara's best friend.
Why is she texting me?
Tayane: Hi Cllas, Klara totes havn fun tnight.
Sabine furrowed her brows. Was Tayane drunk? And what did she mean by Klara was “having fun”?
Sabine: Are you drunk?
Tayane: Nafhh. Im finee. I'm leaving. Klara sthying here.
Sabine sat up straighter, an uneasy feeling settling in her gut.
Sabine: You’re not fine. Where are you?
Tayane: Oh, wtai. I am hme silllyyy. Oops. Klara is stgill at partyyt. I told her she shld have taken yuuuu with her. She mht have fn more. I thnk hse was sitng on a cocuch.
Sabine: Where. Are. You. At?
Tayane: Shhh, she's rght. I needa gooo to beeed. Alpja Phi hse. Gna go to my dromm. Nighttt Sabbieee!
Sabine’s grip tightened on her phone, her jaw clenching. If she was deciphering Tayane’s messages correctly, she had left Klara at a frat house. Alone. A deep irritation flared in her chest. Klara wasn’t reckless, she was responsible, level-headed. It wasn’t like her to get drunk at some random fraternity party. But Tayane? She had the impulse control of a fruit fly when intoxicated.
Sabine shoved her phone into her sweatpants pocket and stood up abruptly. She didn’t hesitate as she grabbed her sneakers and car keys, determination fueling her movements. She could deal with Tayane tomorrow. Klara’s wellbeing came first.
The thudding bass from the frat house could be heard even as Sabine parked her car nearby. The house was packed, swarms of students crowding the entrance, their voices loud and slurred. She ignored them, pushing her way inside. The stench of alcohol and sweat was thick in the air, making her stomach churn.
Gross
She scanned the various rooms, her gaze sharp and focused. It didn’t take long to find Klara slumped on a stained leather couch, giggling at something incoherent. But what made Sabine’s blood run cold was the sight of two men flanking her, one with an arm draped over her shoulder, the other’s hand grazing her inner thigh.
“C’mon, let’s go upstairs,” one of them coaxed, brushing a strand of hair from Klara’s face.
Klara giggled, oblivious. “Mmm, I dunno, I’m pretty comfy here.”
The other smirked. “Aw, come on, baby. It’s Valentine’s Day… let’s get out of here, and we can show you a good time.”
Sabine’s stomach twisted at the boys implications. A sharp and cold feeling settled in her chest.
She had heard enough.
“She’s leaving,” she announced, stepping forward.
One of the guys blinked at her. “Uh, who are you?”
Sabine ignored him, pulling Klara up from the couch as if Klara belonged to her. The brunette stumbled into her, laughing. “Ooh, hey, beans,” she slurred, gripping her arm for balance. “You came to party?”
Sabine’s heart stuttered at the nickname, but she forced herself to focus.
“She’s not interested,” she said coolly.
One of the guys scoffed. “She seemed interested—”
Sabine leaned in, voice dark. “You want me to test that theory for you?”
The guy hesitated, then raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, damn. Chill.”
With that handled, Sabine hooked an arm around the techie’s waist and guided her through the dense crowd toward the main exit. The pulsating bass of the music faded slightly as they stepped outside, the crisp night air washing over them in a welcome contrast to the stifling heat of the party.
“Why are you even here Klara?” Sabine asked, her voice edged with exasperation as she kept a firm grip on Killjoy’s waist, steadying her as they navigated the pavement below them.
Klara groaned dramatically, tossing her head back. “Taye said it’d be fun! Then she ditched me. She ditched me, Sabine. Can you believe it?” Her words slurred together as she gestured wildly, nearly toppling over.
“Oh, I believe it,” Viper muttered, her jaw tightening at the thought of her friends’ recklessness.
Klara hummed and leaned her head against Sabine’s shoulder, mumbling, “You smell nice.”
Sabine felt heat creep up her neck. “You reek of beer,” she countered, wrinkling her nose. “How much did you drink?” Klara only giggled at the question, completely ignoring it. Sabine sighed, rolling her eyes. There was no point in expecting a coherent answer. Judging by how unsteady she was, Klara probably wasn’t capable of counting that high right now anyway.
The techie clung to Sabine as they made their way to the car, mumbling complaints about the party, the music, and the weird guys who smelled like Axe body spray. Sabine opened the passenger door and helped her inside, only to find Klara fumbling hopelessly with the seatbelt. With a sigh, she buckled her in, her hands brushing against Klara’s arm in the process. Just as she was about to pull away, Klara grabbed a fistful of Sabine’s jacket, stopping her in her tracks.
“I’m glad you came,” she sighed happily, her unfocused eyes gazing up at Sabine.
Sabine's breath caught in her chest. She leaned in slightly without meaning to. “...You are?”
Klara grinned dopily. “Yeah. I was starting to feel sad… I miss you.”
Sabine’s heart pounded painfully against her ribs. She swallowed thickly, her mind racing with words she wasn’t sure how to say. Before she could figure out how to respond, Klara giggled drunkenly. “You’re blushing… that’s cute.”
Sabine scowled, quickly retreating as she shut the door with more force than necessary.
God, she needed to get it together.
“You’re staying at my place,” she declared, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the car.
Klara grinned lazily at her. “You like me?”
Sabine’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I like making sure you don’t choke on your own vomit in your sleep.”
Klara snickered, resting her head against the window. “Mmm-hmm. Sure.”
The ride home was relatively quiet, but every time Klara mumbled something, Sabine felt her ears burn. It was infuriating how much this woman got under her skin, how much her presence affected her. Did Klara even realize how much she cared? How much she worried about her? It had to be obvious, yet in her current state, Klara was utterly oblivious, her every drunken word only serving to fluster Sabine further.
When they finally arrived at the apartment complex, Sabine pulled into her usual parking spot and cut the engine. She exhaled, stealing a glance at Klara, who sat slumped in the passenger seat, her bangs falling messily over her face, lips slightly parted. She looked utterly at peace, despite the chaos of the night.
Sabine shook her head, pushing the thought aside. She leaned over and nudged Killjoy’s shoulder. “Hey. We’re here.”
Klara stirred, blinking sluggishly before squinting at her. “Huh?”
Sabine rolled her eyes but softened her tone. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”
Stepping out, she walked around to the passenger side, only to find Klara struggling with the seatbelt buckle. Her fingers fumbled over the latch, missing entirely.
Sabine sighed. “Jesus, you’re useless right now.”
Klara pouted. “I’m a genius, actually.”
Sabine chuckled and reached across her to unbuckle the seatbelt. As she did, their arms brushed again, sending an unwelcome jolt of warmth through her. When the belt came loose, Klara slid out with ease, only to sway dangerously on her feet. With a huff, Viper looped an arm around her waist again, guiding her toward the apartment building. The weight of Klara leaning against her was oddly comforting, a thought Sabine immediately tried squashing.
“You’re the best, beans,” Klara mumbled as they reached the front steps. “Sooo nice. And warm.”
Viper tensed. Klara’s breath was hot against her collarbone, her fingers loosely gripping her jacket. It would be so easy, too easy to just let herself indulge, to pull her close, to lose herself in this moment. Instead, she shook her head and focused on unlocking the door. The sooner she got Klara to bed, the better.
Inside, she led Killjoy to a chair in the kitchen, kneeling to remove her ridiculous looking sneakers. The German rested her head against Sabine’s shoulder while she worked, her breath tickling her neck and sending shivers down her spine. Once the shoes were off, Sabine carefully pulled away and guided her toward the stairs.
Getting Klara up to the bedroom was an ordeal. She was practically dead weight, her steps uneven, her grip on Sabine loose. After a few near-misses, Sabine gave up and, with a grunt of effort, hoisted her over her shoulder.
“Sabiiiii,” Klara whined, weakly kicking her legs. “Put me down! You’re being rude.”
“I could leave you at the foot of the stairs,” Sabine threatened, climbing another step. “Don’t test me.”
“Fineee.”
After some struggling, Sabine finally managed to get her into the bedroom. She carefully laid Klara on the bed. “Stay here,” she ordered before heading back downstairs to fetch water, aspirin, and an extra blanket from the couch. While Sabine was at it, she pulled out her phone and sent Tayane a quick text. She figured Taye would wake up freaking out tomorrow about the night prior.
When she returned, Klara was lying on her side, head propped on her arm, a small, sleepy smile on her lips. “Took you long enough,” she teased with a giggle.
Sabine rolled her eyes tossing the extra blanket on her bed; as well as setting the water on the nightstand before grabbing the remote to turn on the TV. She flipped through Netflix mindlessly before shrugging off her jacket, tossing it over the chair.
“Let me get you something to sleep in,” she muttered, rummaging through her dresser for a spare T-shirt and shorts. Klara was smaller than her, so they would undoubtedly be a bit big on her.
Turning back, Sabine found Killjoy struggling to pull off her cropped hoodie, the fabric tangled around her arms. With an amused sigh, she stepped forward and helped tug it over Klara’s head, only to immediately regret it when she was met with bare skin and a yellow laced bra.
Her cheeks burned. Looking away, she cleared her throat. “Do you need help with your jeans?”
Klara had already begun wriggling out of them, kicking them to the side with little grace. Now dressed in only her undergarments, Sabine bit the inside of her cheek, determined not to show any reaction as she gave Klara the spare clothing. The German managed to put them on with only slight difficulty, her arms flopping out of the sleeves as she put them on.
Once Klara was dressed, Sabine took her time adjusting the blanket around her shoulders, ignoring the urge to linger. With a sigh, she pulled away and stepped back intending to sit at her desk and resume studying. Before she could, a hand clumsily grabbed hers, causing her heart to leap in her throat.
Klara looked up at her, eyes tired but warm. “Stay with me… please? You need a break, beans. You work too hard… you need to sleep too, you know… it worries me, when you overwork yourself…” Klara stated as well as she could.
Sabine froze. There was no way she could deny this. Not when Klara was looking at her so softly. With a reluctant sigh, she slid under the covers beside her. Klara beamed at her before curling up, resting her head against Sabine's shoulder, arm slung loosely over her torso. Sabine couldn’t help but be still, hyperaware of every movement, every breath. Klara must have felt it, because she looked up, meeting Sabine's gaze with a sleepy smile.
"Is this okay?" she whispered sloppily.
Sabine nodded stiffly. It wasn't as if she could deny what was already happening. "Just get some rest. I'll be right here."
Klara snuggled against her side, relaxing once more. "You always look out for me," she mumbled.
"Someone has to," Sabine replied quietly, her body slowly adjusting to Klara's warmth.
"Well, I'm glad its you..."
Sabine closed her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to stay still.
Don’t get used to this, she told herself.
But damn, was it hard when Klara fit so perfectly against her side. She was so warm, so soft, so comforting.
After a few moments, the sound of light snoring met Viper's ears, and she dared to glance at Klara. The German's features were relaxed, her breathing deep. Sabine studied her quietly. She'd never noticed before how long and delicate her lashes were.
Without meaning to, she found herself brushing a strand of hair out of Klara's face. She paused for a moment, but the woman stayed asleep. Sabine couldn't help herself as her eyes flicked to her lips. The thought of kissing her—
Sabine sighed, leaning back again and allowing her eyes to shut so she could stop letting her thoughts wander. Sleep came slowly, but she relented to its call eventually. The weight of Klara pressed against her was oddly soothing, and it didn't take long for exhaustion to overcome her.
Only an hour had passed when Sabine fluttered her eyes open. For a moment, she lay there in a dazed, sleepy state, unsure why she had woken up. The room was still dark, the glow of the TV washing over her disorderly room. A muffled whine could be heard beside her, the shift of limbs against fabric. Her heart raced as she turned to face Klara. The engineer's brows were furrowed, as if she was thinking.
"Klara, you're awake?"
"Yeah...just thinking," the techie replied.
Sabine sighed in relief hearing that the girls speech was clearer than what it was earlier. She must be sobering up, at least a little.
“…I think I remember those guys asking me to go upstairs.”
Sabine tensed. “…Yeah?”
The techie frowned slightly, as if trying to piece it together. “I don't remember much before that or much after...but I remember they kept saying it’d be fun, I didn’t wanna go. I liked the couch. One of them tried to kiss me just before you saw me I think?"
Sabine's hands threatened to ball up into fists, yet her hands stayed in place. One of them was rubbing small circles on Klara's back unintentionally. "He didn't right?"
Klara shook her head smiling, as if she would have let them. “I dodged, it was weird. I didn't like how I ended up there.” She looked at Sabine then, a small, sleepy smile on her lips. “I do know one thing...that I like this.”
Sabine felt her breath leave her, the touch of her hands faltering for just a moment before she continued the slow, steady movements. "This...?" She began but fell quiet.
The brunette reached forward, running a gentle finger along Sabine's jaw before cupping her cheek. Sabine held her breath as she leaned into the touch hesitantly.
Klara nodded, “Cuddling with you.”
“…You’re clingy when you’re drunk.” Sabine stated in nearly a whisper.
Klara hummed, nuzzling closer retrieving her hand. “I’d still do this sober.”
Sabine's heart stuttered at that.
She was so, so screwed.
They fell silent for a few moments. Klara was staring up at her with half-lidded eyes and Sabine had trouble pulling her gaze away. She didn't even know if she wanted to. It was so tempting—too tempting—to just lean in.
Just then, as if the techie could read her mind, Klara gave a small sigh and rested her hand over Sabine's chest. Sabine's breath hitched as she realized her thumb was resting just over the curve of her breast.
"I really want to kiss you right now," Klara admitted, her gaze still holding Sabine's.
Sabine swallowed hard, heat crawling up her neck again. She couldn't tell if it was the alcohol speaking or not. "...You're drunk."
Klara's fingers curled slightly, "I'm not that drunk anymore..." she replied, her tone somewhat even.
"Klara—"
Sabine froze when the hand cupping her face moved to the back of her neck, the thumb brushing lightly along her pulse point.
"So you don't want to kiss me?" Klara breathed, leaning up and resting her forehead against hers gently. Klara's eyes not daring to unlock their connection with Sabine's emeralds.
Sabine's gaze flicked to her lips for just a moment before she exhaled heavily, trying to remain calm.
Klara must have taken it as a rejection, because she suddenly pulled away, an embarrassed blush staining her cheeks. "...Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
Sabine reached for her before she could fully retreat, pulling her into a kiss.
She wasn’t sure which of them was more shocked by the suddenness of the kiss, but it hardly mattered. Klara let out a soft, startled breath, her fingers instinctively trailing down the curve of Sabine’s torso before gripping the fabric of her T-shirt at the dip of her waist. Her grip was hesitant yet firm, as if grounding herself in the moment.
Sabine pressed in, the warmth of her body closing the space between them as she tilted her head, her fingers threading into Klara’s tousled brown locks. Her nails grazed lightly against Klara’s scalp as she deepened the kiss, her lips parting to take more, to demand more. There was a faint taste of cheap beer on Klara’s lips, but it was forgotten by their softness, the way they melted so easily into her own.
Sabine was the one to pull away first, yet she didn't let go of her. The breathy whine Klara gave when the kiss broke only made Sabine's grip on her hair tighten.
Klara smiled a little, a giggle escaping her as she kissed Sabine's jaw.
Sabine could only stare, still not quite sure if any of this was real. She was so lost in remembering the feeling of Klara's lips, the way her body pressed against hers. The way her cheeks were flushed, lips still parted, pupils wide and dark.
"That was better than I imagined," Klara admitted with a slight giggle.
"You thought about it?" Sabine asked.
"I have for a while, actually," Klara replied with a small blush, biting her lip. "Is that weird?"
Sabine smiled wryly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "...Not at all. Though, I would have rather kissed you in a different circumstance."
Klara's face broke out into a beaming grin, and before Sabine could do or say anything else, Klara had pushed her back onto the bed with a soft thud, kissing her gently.
"Mmm...what happened to letting me rest?" Sabine teased as Klara moved on top of her, her lips finding the corner of her mouth.
"That's still a good idea," she admitted between kisses. "But I'd much rather be doing this..."
"If you insist."
Klara giggled against her lips. "Oh, I insist."
And for the next several minutes, the techie made good on her words. Sabine felt herself melting under her touch, the warmth of her lips, the heat of her body pressing against her. The world faded away to only this, only her, only them.
When they finally broke apart, both gasping for air, Klara curled against Sabine's side with a contented sigh, burying her face into the crook of her neck. "God, you're perfect."
Sabine felt herself blush at the praise, "Mmm, I think you're still drunk."
Killjoy giggled softly. "Maybe," she admitted. "Though...even when I'm not, I'll still say it. You're amazing."
Sabine closed her eyes as she pulled her closer, holding her tightly.
She could get used to this.
And as she listened to the soft breathing of Klara next to her, Sabine found that she really didn't want to fight it her growing feelings anymore. Maybe it was alright to want this, she realized as she felt Klara's steady pulse against her fingertips, her breath warm against her neck. Maybe, just for this once, she could let herself be selfish. Her eyes slipped closed as sleep washed over her. Her last conscious thought was one of acceptance and maybe even relief.
-
The aspiring chemist woke up to the sound of retching. She was off the bed in seconds, heart pounding as she followed the noise to the bathroom. The door was cracked open, and inside, Klara was hunched over the toilet, trembling.
Sabine didn’t hesitate. She stepped in, kneeling beside her, one hand reaching to gather Klara's messy brown hair and hold it back.
The techie groaned weakly, resting her forehead against the porcelain. “Ughhh… I hate everything.”
Sabine exhaled, rubbing gentle circles into her back. “Welcome to the consequences of drinking.”
Klara whimpered, shifting slightly to lean into the other woman's touch. “Never again. I swear.”
Sabine smirked. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Klara groaned again before another wave hit, and Sabine stayed put, steady and unwavering. When it finally passed, Sabine helped her sit back against the tub, handing her a cool washcloth.
Klara pressed it to her face with a relieved sigh. “…You’re really good at this.”
Sabine arched a brow. “At dealing with drunk idiots?”
Klara chuckled weakly. “At taking care of me.”
Sabine hesitated. “…Who else would?”
Klara lowered the washcloth, her tired green eyes soft. “I like when it’s you.”
Sabine looked away, ears burning. “You said that last night too.”
Klara grinned, even in her miserable state. “And I meant it.”
Sabine gave an embarrassed huff and helped her up. Killjoy swayed slightly before finding her footing, steadying herself on Sabine's shoulder. Sabine then grabbed a small cup of mouthwash for Klara and poured it in a small disposable cup. Klara took it gratefully and swished it around before spitting it out in the sink, feeling a little more refreshed.
The older woman frowned slightly as she examined the dark circles under the other's eyes. "How much did you have to drink anyway?"
Klara sighed, a small grin pulling at the corner of her mouth. "Apparently too much to remember..."
Sabine snorted. "Come on, you're resting for a while longer.
"I can go back to the dorms. You don't need to deal with me. You're supposed to be studying anyway..."
"I am not leaving you to sleep this off alone in some empty dorm room."
Klara nodded in acceptance as Sabine guided her downstairs.
"By the way, where is your roommate Ling?" Klara asked, "I didn't wake her, right?"
Sabine chuckled half heartedly, helping her get comfortable on the couch, "She went out with her girlfriend last night. She probably stayed the night at her place."
Klara gave her an embarrassed smile. "I hope she won't be mad I stayed over."
Sabine waved the comment off. "She won't care. Here's the remote, I'll make you some tea."
The brunette smiled. "You're too good to me."
Viper huffed in reply, not saying anything before stepping away to fill the electric kettle with water. She waited at the counter waiting for the water to begin heating up; before placing a green tea bag into one mug. As she worked, she couldn't help the small, contented smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.
Her mind flashed back to last night. The softness of Klara's lips, the warmth of her body against her own. It was perfect. Better than she could have imagined. And now, there was a certain sense of security, knowing Klara's feelings were mutual. How they got there, could have gone better, still in the end, Sabine supposed she wasn't complaining.
Once the kettle finished it's crying, she filled one mug with hot water. Mixing another with instant coffee before carrying them carefully into the living room. Klara had curled up on the couch, eyes fixed on the TV as some old cartoon played. She turned when Sabine approached, her expression brightening as she accepted the mug of tea.
"Thanks, beans," she hummed, sipping the warm liquid carefully.
Sabine shrugged and settled down next to her on the couch, taking a sip of her own coffee. The flavor wasn't great...but she sipped away.
"Sabine," Klara said, breaking the silence. Her tone was uncharacteristically serious. "We should probably talk about last night."
"Do you remember?" Viper asked, watching her closely.
Killjoy nodded, eyes dropping down to her lap. "I do...at least the important parts that I recalled from waking up a second time. Did I do anything stupid?"
Sabine couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "Stupid is a strong word, but yeah. You were a mess."
The German groaned and buried her face in her hands. "I'm sorry," she said, voice muffled by her fingers. "I can only imagine."
Sabine laughed again before growing more serious. "Do...you remember...us kissing?"
Killjoy paused, eyes flicking up to meet Viper's gaze. She bit her lip, her cheeks turning red. "I do."
"What are your thoughts on...it? The kissing, the cuddling, the feelings...?" Sabine asked slowly, voice level despite her heart hammering away in her chest.
"I like you," Klara blurted, as if the words had been threatening to spill over for ages.
Sabine froze, the mug of coffee suddenly forgotten in her hand. Her voice died in her throat as she carefully set the ceramic mug down.
Klara laughed nervously. "I'm not good with this sort of thing. I just thought you should know. I have for a while." She exhaled, "I know I was drunk when it happened, but...but it wasn't just the alcohol speaking. It wasn't."
Sabine stared at her for a moment.
Klara shifted slightly in her seat. "Sorry, that was stupid." She cleared her throat, looking down at her lap.
Sabine said nothing. Instead, she took the mug from her hands, carefully placing it on the coffee table.
"What are you—"
She didn't let Klara finish.
Sabine moved in, gently pushing the brunette back until she was laying against the couch. Sabine braced a knee on the cushions, her other leg finding purchase between Klara's knees as she straddled her lap.
The techie inhaled sharply, staring up at Sabine, eyes wide. Sabine brushed a strand of hair from the other woman's face, smiling softly as she met her gaze. "I like you too, idiot."
The German let out a small laugh, "Gott, you really like doing that don't you?"
Sabine didn't respond as she cupped the other woman's cheek, brushing her thumb against the soft skin of her cheekbone. Klara smiled softly as she leaned into the touch, eyes closing in contentment. "So, this is what sober feels like...I think I like it better than being drunk."
Sabine hummed in agreement, "Mmm, it does have its benefits...like you being able to answer questions with a sound mind."
"Like...?"
Sabine grinned, leaning in, "Like, would you be willing to go on a date with me after exams?"
Klara smiled, pulling her in and kissing her. "Absolutely."
Sabine smiled into the kiss, a sense of relief washing over her. When she finally pulled back, she let her thumb run over Klara's bottom lip. "Well...now that that's out of the way," she murmured, leaning in again. "How about you finish that tea while it's still warm."
The techie smiled as Sabine shifted back off her and settled back down beside her. They both sat there for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence before the sound of knocking on the door met their ears.
Klara blinked. "That can't be Ling already?"
Sabine groaned and stood to her feet. "Stay here," she commanded and went to answer the door.
When she swung the door open, Taye stood there, hands in her hoodie pockets, looking sheepish.
“Hey…” The Brazilian started. “Sooo, I, uh, kinda wanted to check in on Kiki. Also, uh… my bad.”
Sabine’s stare could have frozen fire. “Your bad?” Her voice was quiet, deadly.
Taye winced. “Okay, I really messed up—”
“Damn right you did.” Sabine stepped out, shutting the door behind her so Klara wouldn’t hear. “You left her there, Tayane Alone. Drunk. With a bunch of frat guys trying to get her upstairs.”
Taye's face fell. “Shit…”
“Yeah. Shit.” Sabine’s eyes burned with fury. “She could’ve been hurt. Do you even understand that?”
Taye nodded quickly, guilt plain on her face. “I swear, I thought she was okay! I only left ‘cause I—” She groaned, rubbing her forehead. “Honestly, I don’t even remember why. But I should’ve never left her. That was stupid. And dangerous.”
Sabine exhaled sharply. At least Tayane knew how bad she screwed up.
“I’m sorry,” Taye said sincerely. “Really. It won’t happen again.”
Sabine stared her down for a long moment, then finally sighed. “Good. Because if it does, I will personally make you regret it.”
Taye swallowed hard, "Is...she okay?"
Sabine glanced toward the door, then back at the other woman. “She’s hungover as hell. But she’s okay.”
Taye sighed in relief. “Can I see her?”
Sabine crossed her arms. “You can see her...and only if you make her laugh.”
Taye grinned, some of her usual energy returning. “Oh, easy. Watch this.”
She stepped inside, dramatically throwing her arms out. “Kiki! My dearest, most forgiving friend! I come bearing apologies and—” She paused. “Damn, you look awful.”
Klara, still curled up on the couch, slowly lifted her middle finger, "Fich dich (Fuck you)." she muttered under her breath.
Taye burst out laughing. “Okay, she’s fine.”
Sabine rolled her eyes, but there was a small, almost invisible smile on her lips.
Taye walked over to Klara, her usual bravado fading away. She took a seat beside her, a worried look on her face. "...Sorry. For ditching you and all...you're my best friend, I shouldn't have left you in that situation."
Klara sighed and leaned her head on the other woman's shoulder. "It's fine. I know you didn't mean it. You can be dumb sometimes, but you're not an asshole."
Taye smiled and hugged the brunette close. "If I ever do that again, you can punch me in the face, okay?"
The German smiled tiredly, "Sounds like a plan."
"And now you're getting the best hangover cure I've ever discovered...that being...Sabine here!" Taye winked at the Viper.
Sabine stared, "I can believe you call this dumbass your best friend."
Klara chuckled and extended a hand to Sabine, who took it without hesitation. Sabine sat on the couch as Klara scooted over, snuggling against Sabine's side. She wrapped an arm around Klara, holding her close.
Taye smiled at them before standing. "Okay, my work is done here. I'll leave you two to it. But uh, be safe okay? Don't do anything I would do!"
Klara flushed and glared at her, "Get out Taye!"
The other woman laughed as she began exiting the apartment. "You got it. See ya Amiga!"
Klara sighed and rested her head on Sabine's shoulder, eyes slipping shut. She hummed as she felt a gentle kiss against the top of her head, a smile gracing her features as she allowed herself to be lulled to sleep by Sabine's gentle caresses and the warmth of her body pressed against hers.
-
The sound of the front door clicking open caused Sabine to look up. Ling stood there, hair tousled from the wind as she shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up on the hook. She smiled upon seeing the pair, but Sabine felt her cheeks warm a little in embarrassment at their position.
"I guess we'll have to talk about boundaries in the apartment now," Ling joked with a teasing smirk.
"Shut up," Sabine snapped with a blush, pulling the blanket closer around herself and Klara, who was now sleeping soundly against her chest.
Ling shook her head smiling, "Hey Sabine?"
"Yes?"
"I'm happy for you," Ling hummed before retreating to her room.
Sabine sighed, her lips brushing against Klara's temple a small smile forming. She closed her eyes and relaxed back against the cushions.
For now, she was content to stay here, to hold Klara and bask in the comfort and safety she felt in the other's arms. After all, exams were around the corner and once those were over...she was taking her out on that date. The thought alone made her feel warm, happy even, something she had long thought herself incapable of feeling. Maybe it wasn't so bad to let herself feel this way. It was scary. It was unknown. But she had to admit that...it also felt nice. For once, Sabine thought as she rested her chin on Klara's head, letting herself enjoy the simple domesticity of it all. For once, maybe it was alright to let her guard down, just this once. And as Klara sighed contently in her arms, Sabine decided it was more than worth the risk.