-Who: Meg and Tess What: Learning about Hannah, Worried about Meg, Calming and Discussion When: 7 a.m. ish, September 1, 2019 [backdated] Where: Tess’s apartment, the Bakery in the Marketplace Rating: Medium for traumatic worries Status: Complete!
Tess was not usually an early riser. But today something or someone had disrupted her sleep at a quarter past seven in the morning. Unsure, uneasy - Tess got up and dressed. There were voices coming from somewhere - hurried, panicked, sad. Grabbing her phone and keys, she stepped out of her apartment, the building and followed the voices. The blonde woman wasn’t one to normally open up her mind and read the thoughts of those around her. Wrapping her arms around herself, she found herself close to the Barracks. Tess circled back towards the Marketplace. Then she stopped as the voices now spoke clearly in her mind - ‘dark-haired woman was found dead...disfigured, beaten. Hospital gown, wires. Hannah’.
“...Hannah?” Tess whispered, covering her mouth. She remembered their conversation in the diner and how Hannah had seemed worried to be seen with a telepath. Tess then broke into a run. Worry swelled in her as she ran.
Meg?
Thinking her girlfriend would be at the bakery early, getting started with the pastries, Tess was blind to anyone else around as she rushed past them to get to Meg.
Meg’s head would snap up at the call of her own name which settled into the forefront of her mind. Worry creased her brow; it wasn’t often that her radar went up these days, usually she was carefree and passive, but that single word and the tone she could feel behind it had gotten her attention.
Fingers would drop to the apron tied around her waist, lithe digits unknotting the straps. It was slid off, set aside, and Meg was rounding the counter of the bakery in time to see Tess rushing up toward her. Eyebrows would arch with concern and her feet began to move, carrying her toward her girlfriend with mixed emotions spread across her features. “Tess? Are you okay?”
Arms would envelope the slender blonde and she pulled the woman close once they’d reached each other. “Did something happen?” The inquiry was murmured softly into the shell of Tess’ ear, and then Meg would draw backward only enough to look at the other woman in her arms, searching her face for any signs that she was in danger. “Tess?”
What if they are going after anyone seen with a telepath, with me? Tess thought to herself as she rushed to the bakery. It was as if she was holding her breath as she ran to the bakery and yanked the door open with barely a thought of anything or anyone else than the woman in her path.
You’re okay. The blonde sniffed as she wrapped her arms around the pink-haired woman and held her tight. Tess was trembling and tears smeared against Meg’s cheek as she whispered to her. “I’m...okay.” She whispered back.
Then she felt Meg move so she loosened her hold on her to look into her girlfriend’s eyes. “Hannah Ryers is dead.” Tess rambled in a breathy whisper and then spoke silently and quickly in Meg’s mind, Found in a hospital gown by the Barracks - beaten, her face bashed up, wires in her neck.
There was little now that seemed to really get underneath Meg’s skin - with the exception of a certain brunette she used to sleep with - but seeing Tess upset and being helpless to stop it broke her heart. Hands would rub lightly at Tess’ arms in an effort to console her as she cried. Frowning, Meg waited for the story.
“Of course I’m okay,” she breathed, nodding at the other woman. But she wouldn’t be for long if Tess kept this up. If someone hurt the woman —
And then the words were in her mind without a breath being taken. Meg’s eyes would widen. “Hannah is dead?!” Her breath caught in her throat. Meg didn’t know Hannah personally, only by name, but she was a resident. If that could happen to a resident then which of them were next?
Tess didn’t know what she’d do if anything happened to Meg. And she didn’t want to know. Her hands clasped Meg’s shoulder blades as she breathed through the near-spasm like period of crying.
“Good,” she whispered. Her thumbs thoughtlessly brushed against her girlfriend’s back.
“Yes,” Tess nodded. “And there was a word left with her - ‘retribution’.” She sniffed and her trembling slowly returned from a momentary ceasing. I was afraid...perhaps they thought I had read Hannah’s mind when I spoke to her a little while back.
Meg sighed softly. Her arms wound back around her girlfriend and she held her, clung to her. “I’m so sorry for your friend,” she offered, pressing warm kisses on Tess’ cheek. Sadness settled into her heart.
She doubted that the Government was targeting specific residents, Tess had never done anything wrong and it didn’t make sense. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Tess didn’t know Hannah that well. But she seemed like a nice woman, smart, but lonely. She held Meg, still fearful of losing her. Closing her eyes, the blonde was comforted by the other woman’s kisses.
If the killings had moved from guards to the residents, it could only get worse. “Ditto,” she whispered and turned her head to press her lips against Meg’s cheek. I love you.
Her smile bloomed at those words. “I love you too,” she breathed, pressing a kiss upon Tess’ cheek. “Maybe we should talk about moving in together. I mean, if you want to.” There wasn’t an expectation but it might give them both peace of mind to know that they’d be coming home to each other.
Tess’s grip on Meg’s shoulders relaxed, comforted by their exchanged words and the kiss. Then she let out a tiny breathy laugh of happiness and relief at her girlfriend’s discussion proposal. “Yes, I think we should...I mean I’d like that. I want to.” She smiled, dimples forming and deepening. It would be comforting to be sure of Meg’s safety with her coming home to one place that would be their place, their home.
Her smile spread at the words, the acceptance. Megan would nod. “Good. I can move into your place, or we could ask for a bigger place.” Who knew how that was supposed to work. Her place was cluttered. She would need a place to work and create that was hers, but otherwise she was at Tess’ mercy.
“Are you going to be okay? I can close the bakery down. Laura will be here soon, I can leave a note for her.” She didn’t want to put the burden of the day on the other woman but her girlfriend was more important than a bakery.
“Whichever is fine as long as you have a place to keep making art,” Tess offered as she moved her hands to the tops of Meg’s shoulders. She wasn’t sure how asking for a bigger place would work. She wouldn’t have her girlfriend give up what she loved to do.
“I am. You’re okay. We’re okay.” She smiled and leaned in to rest her forehead against Meg’s.
Nodding, Meg drew her girlfriend close again. Arms would wind around the other. “You never have to worry,” she assured Tess. “I’m always going to be here to keep you safe.” They couldn’t be joined at the hip, that wasn’t healthy, but they’d talk later about communication.
“And neither will you.” Tess replied as she curled her arms around Meg once more. “You know I will keep you safe.” She took in a deep breath and let it out. They all had to be more careful, more aware of their surroundings. “I think I’ll head back to my apartment and clean it up a bit before my shift at Josie’s.”
Nodding, Meg held onto her girlfriend for a few moments more. A kiss would be pressed upon lips and then she was pulling backward, away. “Okay. Be safe, check in with me, Okay? I’ll text you, too.” Being in constant communication was good for relationships.
“I’ll bring you a sweet treat home,” she promised.
Tess breathed in Meg’s sent as they held onto each other. Then she held her breath as she returned the kiss. Exhaling, she nodded. “Okay. I will. When I get there, when I leave for work.”
Then Tess winked. “You know I only need you.” She said as she pulled back and took one of Meg’s hands in one of her own.
When the kiss was broken Meg smiled and nodded, pulling away slowly. “Okay!” Glad that both of them seemed to be on the same page she knew she had to get back to work.
A soft laugh and redness crept across her cheeks. “You’re too sweet. Get out of here you sweet thing,” she giggled, shooing Tess away with her free hand all the while squeezing Tess’ fingers with their clasped ones.
Tess was thankful everything was okay with them and her fears were allayed. Nodding, she smiled.
She tilted her head and smirked. “Oh, okay. But I will see you tonight.” Tess snickered and squeezed Meg’s fingers back before letting go. She blew her girlfriend a kiss and slipped out of the shop, looking over her shoulder as she left.
A hand would lift in a wave as Tess turned to go. She smiled, waiting until her girlfriend was gone before she would turn and go back to her own work. She knew they would see each other again, same as always.