Who: Laura Kinney & Grace Harper Where: Monstropolis Royal Palace - Courtyard When: 2/23 What: Laura's a mess, but at least she's trying Rating: PG-13 Status: Closed and complete
As the admittedly terrifying Jason watched from a distance, head tilted to the side in curiosity, Laura Kinney stood in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Monstropolis, clad in her X-Men costume of black leather pants, black leather halter top, and black army boots, a rabid sneer on her face as she flipped from her feet with shocking agility, one singular claw popping from each foot as she effortlessly sliced through a tree, landing on her feet as the tree hit the ground. With a loud, angry growl, she popped the claws from her hands and began to savagely hack at the fallen tree until it more closely resembled a shredded pile of firewood, finally standing amid the remains, panting a bit as she tried to calm herself.
Grace had gotten quite used to making her way over to Monstropolis to visit the Palace. Where she did like being close to Shuri, there never seemed to be anything for her to do in New Wakanda. She offered her services in exchange for regular maintenance, but there didn't seem to be much to be protecting, outside of the occasional invasion. So getting out there and actually trying to live a life outside of being a soldier was good for her. Well... if the person that she had decided to attach herself to was more emotionally available.
She made her way to the Palace with the intention of simply checking on Laura, and to try her luck with Jason again. For some reason Grace had a sick obsession of testing her abilities against a ruthless supernatural killer and she wasn't sure what would break her of it. As she walked up to entrance, she intended on staying a safe distance from Jason and getting out her phone to let someone know that she was there. However, when she looked up, she saw Laura out in the courtyard. She watched intently, licking her lips, waiting until the right moment to walk up to her girlfriend with a smile.
Laura didn't turn her head, or even look away from the mess she'd made... but she still knew the girl was there. Her body still trembled a bit with the rage and hatred tearing through it, but she managed to let one single word slip through her lips. "......Grace."
Carefully, Grace came up behind Laura, placing her hands on the younger girl's hips. "Hey there," she whispered before placing a soft kiss on Laura's neck.
Laura's body remained tense, not yet even beginning to relax. "I tired of this tree blocking the view from my bedroom window."
"Did you at least clear it with Bea before you began slashing at it?" Grace laughed.
".....why start asking first now?" Laura said in that deadpan tone, at least (obviously) trying to be a little more playful (even though technically she was telling the truth there).
"Just thought I'd bring it up," Grace shrugged. "Didn't actually expect you to do something like that."
"So. What brings you by today?" Laura asked, slowly allowing her claws to slide back into her body. She was trying to relax, and knew that was one of the first steps.
"I missed you," Grace pulled Laura a little closer. "I wanted to see you and see how you're doing."
"I'm doing... as well as I can be, I suppose." Laura said with a sigh. letting herself relax slightly as her body rested against Grace's. "Thank you for checking on me."
Grace nodded, "I know. I just wish I could do more."
"I appreciate that. There's just nothing that anyone can do." Laura told her, shrugging a little. "Laura and Bode want to help as well... there's just nothing any of you can do."
"Maybe there's a few things you can teach me, instead," Grace tilted her head.
"....like what?" Laura asked, blinking as she finally turned to face the other woman. "My fighting technique is a little intense... but with your cybernetics you could probably mimic it."
"Nope," she shook her head. "Not talking about fighting."
"Ah." Laura chuckled, cracking a half-smile. "This is a sex thing, yes?" She asked, finding Grace's way of leading to it kind of adorable.
"It is," Grace sighed, feel a little pathetic. "I don't feel like waiting forever."
"Well then. I suggest we go to my room and have sex." Oh, Laura. What passion and humanity in that voice. "I can certainly teach you."
Grace laughed, "had a feeling you could. Let's go do this."
"I'm sorry for upsetting you." Laura told her, as they walked toward the palace gates. "On the network. That was never my intention. I just haven't been able to feel close to anyone since..." she looked at her wrist, at the tattoo she'd had put on it. "since the purge."
Grace took Laura's hand. "Babe... I get it. I do. As much as I expect to feel pushed away, it still sucks."
"I feel like I'm letting everyone down." She admitted, sighing. "Like I'm being a burden and hurting everyone. Palmer keeps reaching out to me even though I treated her like some kind of sex toy. Bode refuses to give up on me even though I keep being rude and dismissive to him. You keep loving me even though you know I might never be able to treat you the way you want me to."
Grace stopped and moved to look Laura in the eye, "you say that like as if you actually believe that I have any expectations or even any knowledge of how any of this is supposed to be."
"I just fear that you'll get bored with me. Or that you'll want more than I'm capable of giving." Laura told her, taking a deep breath. "How fair is it to you, to give your heart to me, only to see me constantly being sad and miserable?"
"I'm not sure how that's presumed to be a bad thing, honestly," Grace shrugged with a small laugh.
"Well then... if you truly understand and are ok with me being like this?" Laura paused, mentally admitting to herself, finally, that the joy and the butterflies she felt with Katie were never going to be replicated. "Then I suggest you cancel any plans you may have had tonight. You're not going to be in much condition to move comfortably."
Grace nodded with a smile, "I'm all yours. I'm not about to go anywhere."