Characters: Karolina and America NPCs: --- Location: Murray Hill, NYC Timeline: 12/22 (backdated) Description: Karolina wants to show America something very important. Rating: PG-13
After a cold weekend, it was back to being unseasonably warm, albeit wet and rainy. Karolina had texted America to see if the girl could take a walk with her. There was something she was very excited for her girlfriend to see. From the school, they headed eastward until they hit the quiet, brownstone-lined streets of Murray Hill. She stopped in front of a terra cotta colored building, fishing out a set of keys. She walked up the front steps, unlocking the hallway door.
“Almost there,” she promised as they started up the hallway stairs past other apartments. They walked up to the fourth floor before stopping. She unlocked the door there. “Hello?” she called out, looking to make sure no assistants or anybody else was underfoot. “Okay, let’s go in…” Since it had been raining, she nudged her shoes off and left her umbrella in the front hallway. The hallway opened up to an empty living room, kitchen area. “What do you think? I mean the windows aren’t huge, but they do let a good amount of light in.”
She rocked back and forth on her heels, feeling pleased with herself. The condo had cost her a good chunk of the money she had made thus far, and securing it had been something of an ordeal. (Her agent had helped keep her from tearing her hair out.) Still, it was home. Now that she didn’t have to stay on the SHIELD campus anymore, it could be even more of a home.
---
The concept of going for a walk with Karolina was a welcomed distraction from the boring bullshit that seemed to inhabit this dimension. Though admittedly the holiday gifts she’d been working on for her girlfriend were taking up a lot more of her free time then she’d expected as well, so at least she wasn’t left to complete boredom. The thought of reaching out to her friends had crossed her mind, but at the same time she wasn’t sure who was around and who would actually want company at the same time. With all those complications America had mostly been keeping to herself.
Eyes had wandered along the path they took, remembering where they were going so that she could easily find her way back, and the bruiser had made easy, idle conversation as she inquired about how Karolina was, how her job was going, how school was going, how her friends were doing, etc. It was all a well established pattern of questions now, the things she asked every time they met up after not seeing each other for a little bit, and every time the questions were sincerely interested to know the answers as well and her attention to when Karolina spoke, and tone of her own voice rang true of that every time.
At the stop in front of the building, and Karolina producing keys America blinked, confusion briefly knitting itself across her face as Karolina messed with the lock. Whatever was going on here she hadn’t a goddamn clue. Was this going to be some sort of meeting? Did Karolina have a friend who lived nearby? Regardless of the questions trailing absently through her head America followed along wordlessly as the other woman seemed to be checking things as they walked, and obeyed any cues given by Karolina for movement or silence.
Stepping into the empty apartment was even more confusing and this time the bruiser didn’t bother dismissing the look that etched itself across her face, but toed off her hi-tops without undoing the laces to follow in behind her girlfriend.
Though at the question America began a closer inspection of the surrounding area, trying to segment the sections of the place and form an opinion of it, even if she didn’t entirely get what the deal was still… And honestly had almost no experience with inspecting living areas.
“It’s…. Nice…?” There was a lingering confusion she hadn’t bothered to cover up this time as the bruiser still wasn’t sure why the hell they were here.
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Karolina laughed at her girlfriend’s reaction, shaking her head. “Sorry, sometimes I forget that you can’t read my mind.” She gestured around them. “I bought this. Had to agree to be the face of a spring line to close on the place, but it’s mine.” She walked over to the fridge, which had some scarce groceries in it, and pulled out a bottle of water. “Two bedrooms...I wanted to make sure my friends had a safe place to crash if they wanted it.
“My assistant is scouting some furniture deals so that it isn’t so empty. Once I close out this semester at the Academy, I can live here full time.” She cracked open the water bottle, taking a sip as she made her way to America’s side. “It’ll be nice to have some privacy finally.” In fact, they had some at the moment. She smiled sweetly at her girlfriend, reaching out to play with one of America’s brown curls.
---
The explanation of the situation caused the reserved, unsure, observance to instantly fade from America's posturing, and something much more relaxed and mildly curious took over as eyes wandered over the new area in a different light. This time examining the place not as a possible threat that she may need to defend against, but as if she were assuring it met the standards she believed Karolina needed. As if she were working on remembering the details, and accepting the place just the way it was.
“Yeah, sorry. Haven't mastered that one yet.” The words were clearly joking even if there was a mild amount of snark to them.
“Makes sense.” This time the words were thoughtful as her eyes continued to scan over the place. In fact, America didn't even fully take in how close Karolina had gotten to her until the other woman was playing with her hair. A soft smile arose.
“Is it going to have enough sun for you?” There was legitimate concern in the words, though she seemed more curious than upset at the moment even if there were clearly thoughts ticking away behind her eyes.
---
“Yeah, I’ll be okay. And there’s access to the roof too.” It wasn’t a true finished rooftop, so it wasn’t made for hanging out on. Still, Karolina anticipated spending some time up there to get her vital solar rays. “I chose a fourth floor walk up for the extra sunshine.” She tugged on America’s hand, leading her down the empty hallway to the room that was going to be her bedroom. “I’m going to repaint pretty much everything, but…”
She moved to one wall of the room, standing in the middle of it with her back to the wall. “I want to put the bed here. A nice big bed. Comfy sheets...and a projector or something so we can watch movies in bed and stay snuggled up all day. Pretty perfect plan right?” She held a hand out for America to join her. It had been nice coming up with all kinds of ideas about what she could do with the space, but she really wanted her girlfriend to have some input as well.
---
“Good.” America nodded her understanding and agreement of the situation of Karolina having access to the roof being important. With the tug at her arm the bruiser easily followed along, eyes scanning over what was revealed to her in a casual observance, just letting everything sink in.
“Colors in mind?” If this was something Karolina wanted to talk about America certainly didn’t mind helping the conversation along, though as it wasn’t her space she didn’t have much input on it. Though as they moved into the next room and her girlfriend started laying out her plans for the room America couldn’t refrain from the smile that crossed between being pleased, and thrilled with the idea. However, perhaps what struck her more was how beautiful Karolina was when she was filled with ideas and excited about things like this. How wonderfully she lit up a room, even when she wasn’t aglow.
“Yeah. Perfect.” The delayed delivery and the soft dreamy intonation of the words - regardless of herself - would reflect just how love struck with the other woman she was. How the words didn’t fully reflect just her thoughts on the idea laid out, but what she thought of the woman in front of her as well. The slight and stupid smile on her face would be another clue as she meandered over to Karolina was, taking the other womans hand.
“Got a lot of plans.” There was no negativity in the words. The sentence was simply a statement of fact as she intertwined their fingers and brought both hands up so that the bruiser could place a soft kiss against the back of Karolina’s hand without a second thought.
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“I’ve got all kinds of plans,” Karolina cooed, turning around until America was between her and the wall. “And some of them have you in it...I hope that doesn’t bother you.” She smiled as she placed her hands against the wall on either side of America’s head, leaning in to initiate a deep and passionate kiss. If it was one thing she’d learned since re-entering the public spotlight, it was that privacy was a commodity, and while her new home was very nice, it could have been a shack for all she cared as long as it was one that offered her time to be alone with the people she cared about.
She let one hand slip from its perch on the wall, burying her long fingers in America’s curls. It had been a long time since Karolina had been intimate with anyone, and while she had no intention of taking things that far on this first visit, the prospect that it could now maybe happen someday excited Karolina. She was a little flushed when she finally pulled back for air.
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“Long as you’re okay being in mine.” The words were assured, cool and definite as they were given without missing a beat to Karolina’s commentary about her plans and where America may be in relation to some of them. It was easy to lean in and meet her girlfriend for the kiss, easier to return the intensity and desire present as the bruiser had been longing for the other woman for months at this point. Yet, before she knew it the kiss was over and America leaned forward slightly as Karolina pulled back letting the kiss linger for just a few seconds longer.
However, she couldn’t help the slight self pleased smirk the rose with eyes lingering over her girlfriend as she caught her own breath. Reaching up a hand cupped Karolina’s face before her thumb stroked over the other woman’s cheek. Only a moment would pass before America found herself leaning in for another lingering kiss. This one didn’t last as long as the first, but the separation was only slight as America shifted up so that she could lean her forehead against her girlfriends - there was only around a couple inches difference in their height now - briefly with a breathy murmur of words.