Who: Laura and Gwen What: Besties Reunion Where: Petal to the Nettle (Laura's flower shop) When: Tuesday? Before all the rain starts Warnings: Some weepiness.
Gwen had been torn as far as staying in the apartment went. On one hand, it was the last thing in her life that felt truly familiar. It was her home, one that she paid for and furnished, a place where Gwen resided. On the other hand, it was also where she operated out of as Oracle, where people could drop by unexpectedly to check in on her or “say hi” as it were. And it was the place where Quinn used to live.
So while she spent most of her time dressed in pajamas and wrapped up tightly in blanket cocoons, she made it a point to leave her apartment at least twice a day. It had been a habit she got into when had been paralyzed back in New York. She’d get up early, sometimes hours earlier as it used to take her some time to settle into her chair, and make sure she could watch the sunrise. And after a long day of frustratingly little progress in physical therapy, she made sure she watched the sunset too. It was both a painful and uplifting reminder that while some things changed, some things never changed.
Her twice daily walks were in much the same manner. The sun had just set and Gwen was making her way back to Bathos when she thought she saw a familiar sign. Petal to the Nettle. It was more than just a clever name. It brought back to mind an old friend who always swore to open up a floral shop titled that. It had been years since she had seen her, and Gwen wondered where she was, what she was up to, and how mad she would’ve been that someone stole her thunder. On a whim she entered the shop, hearing the small bell on the door signal her entrance instead of the electronic chime that most shops had. Cute.
“Hello?” Gwen called out. She couldn’t see anyone behind the counter but maybe there was someone in the back. If no one was there she’d just take a card and call later, but a simple bouquet might be nice for the apartment. Something to change up the scenery, even in the smallest of ways.
Laura had been glad that the afternoon passed mostly quietly, allowing her to catch up on orders and enjoy herself among the green scents of the shop. The sun had just gone down, Laura singing softly to herself as she slipped some greenery into an arrangement, when the bell over the front door rang out softly. She couldn’t help groaning under her breath, hoping that it was someone that would be easily pleased and leave quickly. “I’ll be right out!” she called, and wiped her hands off once she’d placed another piece.
She pushed past the curtain that half-covered the door between the front and the back, peering past plants and displays of cut flowers in buckets of water. She looked around for the customer and saw a woman with red hair off to the side. It reminded her of Gwen, like it always did, but the woman was standing (something she knew Gwen wouldn’t be doing) and looking at the cut flowers. “Can I help you find something?”
Gwen did her best to cover up her shock, but she was sure she was failing miserably. She completely forgot that the last time she had seen Laura, she’d been looking up at her from her wheelchair. As far as she was concerned, in this moment it was the blonde woman before her who’s presence was most shocking.
“Laura?” Her voice wavered slightly at the end, unsure and hesitant and hopeful. It seemed too much of a coincidence, what with the flower shop and the store name, but she still needed to make sure that she had the right person before she launched into a million other questions. “Laura Daniels?” Never mind that she once had a different last name, possibly even had a new one now. She had been a Daniels that day they were first seated behind each other in high school and had been a Daniels ever since.
“Gwennie?” Laura couldn’t believe it when Gwen turned, but it was obviously her, walking around like she hadn’t been able to for years. She practically knocked over a full bucket of baby’s breath as she rushed around to get across the shop. “Oh my god, Gwennie!” If the other woman hadn’t said her name first, Laura would probably not have believed her eyes, but with the confirmation, there was no doubt that it was her friend. It was only a few seconds before she had Gwen wrapped in a tight embrace.
Hearing that old nickname that no one else called her - no one dared call her here - had Gwen laughing, even if she was on the verge of tears. She returned the hug fiercely, another laugh coupled with a half sob that was muffled against Laura’s shoulder. “Oh god, is it really you?” Hope and disbelief warred in her voice and she didn’t dare look up in case she was wrong. “What are you doing here? When did you get here?!” Of course the one time Gwen wasn’t around to closely monitor the comings and goings of Seattle was when her oldest friend came to town.
“It’s me,” Laura said, voice caught in Gwen’s hair as she refused to let go. “I got here a few weeks ago. There was a story on the radio out east about your Bat, and I knew that if you were on this side that you’d be here with him. I was going to start looking for you, but then setting up the shop got crazy, and--” She stepped back, holding Gwen at arm’s length for a moment before grinning. “It’s really you! Look at you!” Tears pricked the back of her eyes even as she smiled, so glad to have found Gwen again.
Gwen let out an incredulous sob. Who knew that having a rep for being a fangirl would’ve helped her out in this way. “Yeah, it’s really me.” Now that they were at arm’s length, her face no longer pressed against Laura’s shoulder, Gwen was immediately aware that she was outright crying. She sniffled and tried to wipe them away with the back of her hand but the tears just kept coming.
She had spent weeks trying keep herself together, brushing off concerns and waiving all guilty apologies from the people around here. Here was someone who knew Gwen from way back when, and who didn’t know what had just happened to her. Someone who didn’t need her to be as strong as she usually was, or even strong at all, so that all their lives life could continue on somewhat like it used to. Here was someone Gwen didn’t have to pretend around. “God, I’ve missed you. You have no idea.”
Laura started to cry too at the sight of Gwen’s tears, though it was coupled with a quiet laugh. “I’ve missed you too. It’s been too long.” She felt like she needed to know everything that had happened to Gwen while at the same time telling her everything that had happened on her own end of things. She laughed again wetly at the thought of how they must look, and shook her head. “Come on, I’m going to lock the door and get us some tissues...” She leaned back in for a second though, giving Gwen another quick squeeze before pulling away and heading for the door.
Gwen could only laugh at the hug before she turned away, hands frantically wiping at her face as Laura closed the door. She took a few deep breaths and a few steps to clear the air and her head. There wasn’t anywhere they could both sit, but the counter by the register was enough for her and she leaned on it, looking up only as Laura return. “Tell me everything,” she demanded like only an old friend was allowed. “I mean I see you finally got the shop. I guess you really are the only person who was clever enough to think of it.”
Laura laughed and pulled Gwen away from the counter and into the back room where she’d placed a couch for catching moments of rest while working on arrangements. She grabbed a box of tissues and tugged Gwen to sit next to her, placing the box between them. She smiled a bit at the comment about the shop’s name. “I started it back east. That’s where I went after I crossed over... Lived there for a few years, started my shop. Then I heard about your Bat and came out here. It doesn’t sound very exciting when I put it like that.” She laughed again even as she wiped carefully at her eyes.
The flop on the couch was a good move, breaking a bit of the sad tension even if there was now a box of tissues between them. They would likely need them soon, and as if on cue Gwen watched Laura dab at her eyes. “It is exciting,” she reminded her and offered her a tissue, just in case. “But come on, nothing happened back there? Nothing? No one? It’s not like Batman’s anything new for us. It’s just like back in New York.” Not exactly, but she wasn’t about to explain that now.
Laura gave Gwen a look, momentarily ignoring the questions about being back in DC. “Just like New York? Why don’t I believe that?” She tapped lightly at one of Gwen’s legs, obviously meaning the fact that her friend was up out of her chair when the doctors had said she never would be. “And you know why I came over. Why are you here? Did you follow him over?” The emphasis on him made it obvious that she was talking about the Bat.
“You make me sound like a stalker!” Gwen nudged her friend’s shoulder not so gently. “When I got here, there was no Bat. Things were a little rough, back when I was...” This time it was she who gestured down to her legs. “So I left. You can’t honestly give me crap for wanting to just pick up my stuff and go somewhere else. Somewhere no one knows who you used to be, or what you used to have?”
Laura shook her head, her voice softer now even though she was still smiling a bit. “No, I can’t blame you for that at all. It’s why I came over in the first place. Fresh start...” She gave Gwen a wider smile and even laughed a little again. “And it’s why I came here too, I guess. Though I’m finding more past here than I really expected.” She grinned again and leaned her shoulder against Gwen’s.
That sounded like a story, but since Laura wasn’t opening up immediately, Gwen didn’t push it. Whatever moved her friend west would have to wait for another day. “So how’re you liking Seattle so far?” She had already leaned her head on her friend’s shoulder and looked up at her with a curious look. “It’s really something, isn’t it?”
Laura shifted almost automatically to accommodate Gwen’s head on her shoulder and leaned her own head against it. It was something they’d done a thousand times before, and it felt like nothing had changed. “It is. It’s... interesting. Sometimes I feel like I’m still in DC, but then I’ll run across something - or someone - that reminds me that I’m on this coast now.” She paused, staring at some light peach colored roses before smiling slightly. “I think it’ll be fine. Mostly. I just have to get used to it.” Another pause, and then she smiled more. “And having a friend here will probably help now.” She nudged Gwen a bit again with a quiet laugh.
Gwen sighed happily at the nudge, the first truly content sound she had made in weeks. Usually she was more wary of people walking in from her past, but this was Laura. She hadn’t been coworkers of any sort back home and she hadn’t been embroiled in the vigilante scene at all. She was just a friend, her best, her most normal for lack of a better term, and Gwen was in dire need of normal. “How’s business at least?” She lifted her head slightly to give a worried look. “You didn’t by chance work an Arbor Day party for Monarch Industries, did you?” It was a silly fear, if Laura had seen her at the party they would’ve had a reunion then, and not now. But still she felt the need to ask.
Laura smiled again at the question about her business. “It’s good. I’m starting to get orders in more and more. And I think people back in DC are telling their friends out here to come to me. Word of mouth is the best advertising.” She made a rude noise, though, at the mention of Monarch Industries. “No.” She knew her reply was clipped, and that her anger showed through, but the thought of working for Orin in any capacity - especially after running into him the other night - was entirely distasteful to her. It might be cutting off a large business opportunity, but she wasn’t in that dire of a situation.
“Oh?” The rude noise caught her attention before she would’ve made one of her own. Granted, Orin Monarch did make the headlines in ways that warranted noises like that. But Gwen knew that he had some good qualities, reasons and examples she couldn’t exactly explain there. And Laura wasn’t one for celebrity gossip. That noise meant something and Gwen gave her a searching look, polite but still demanding to hear the story.
Laura hadn’t planned on telling Gwen about it, but the curious little question along with the look combined to make her sigh and give in, still unable to keep secrets from Gwen after so many years. “Ugh, fine, nosy. I had a... a thing. With the head of the company. Back in DC. It wasn’t even that big of a deal, I guess, but I thought it was going fine, but he’s apparently an asshole, and bailed on everything after a month. With no reason why, just up and left. And then!” Laura sat up enough to face Gwen more, starting in on a rant like nothing had changed between them. “And then I get here, and I’m leaving the shop the other night and run into him - completely drunk! - on my way home! And get this! He has the nerve to ask if we’ve slept together! Now I know he’s got a new hanger-on every night, but you’d think that after a month of us - even if it was a few years ago - he’d still know who I was, right?!” Her hands moved as she talked, gesturing out motions as she really got going.
Gwen listened with rapt attention. Her friend was gorgeous, and Monarch was charming, at least from the few times they talked on comm. But the fact that these two people, strangers in her mind, came together a few years ago had her shocked, and her dropped jaw said as much. Her shocked expression quickly gave way to a sterner one. She could let slide a lot things that Monarch did but mistreating her dearest friend wasn’t one of them. “He should, which means he’s lying or he’s a bigger ass than I’ve heard.” She had only started to play catch up with the news she had missed and it hadn’t escaped her that Monarch’s public image had become increasingly more self-destructive since the Mockingbird incidents. Still. “The city’s a big one. Hopefully that’ll be the last time you ever run into him.”
Laura made another disgusted sound in the back of her throat and leaned against her friend again. “Ugh. I hope so. Last thing I need is to be seeing his stupid handsome face everywhere. I just want to go about my business and leave it at that.” She sighed, something oddly quiet after her outburst, and combined with describing Orin as handsome, it hinted that things weren’t quite as cut and dry in her mind as she might wish they were. “Anyway, that’s ancient history. It happened right after I got here. And we have better things to talk about. Like you...” She poked at Gwen’s leg gently. “You’ve got some interesting news, don’t you?”
Gwen pressed her lips together in a small attempt at not laughing, with little success. Stupid, handsome face? Oh, she understood. But she let it slide, and let out a sigh as the topic of discussion turned back to her. “It’s… complicated,” she said lamely, hoping that would be enough. It was more than a complex story, it was a downer. Everyone who mattered knew some bits and pieces of what happened, and never pushed for anything more. Laura knew nothing, and even though Gwen could easily remove all the vigilante aspects, it wasn’t a fun story. “It just… I didn’t ask for it. I mean, I had been thinking about it. Who wouldn’t? But… this wasn’t what I wanted.”
Laura ignored Gwen’s laugh other than making a face at her, and after a moment just looked at Gwen for a long time before she nodded slightly. She knew there was some bigger story behind it, but she let it go for the time being. She sighed again and leaned in to hug Gwen tightly. “Okay.” She had met enough people from Musings that she figured the cause must be related to someone’s ability, but she wasn’t going to push Gwen to talk about it.
Gwen started to falter under Laura’s stare. She wanted to tell her. She wanted to tell her everything. But it was so much of a burden to hold onto. Sometimes she could barely wrap her own head around it; how could her friend, who never had anything to do with the ordeal? And when she was wrapped up in a hug she sniffled softly. “It’s just been… shit.” She laughed into her shoulder. She wasn’t one for lots of cursing but sometimes it was the most appropriate. “Just complete and utter fucking shit.”
Laura squeezed Gwen a little more and sighed, voice going softer. “Oh, Gwennie. I wish I’d been here sooner...” She didn’t know what had happened, but anything that made her friend sound like that wasn’t good.
Gwen couldn’t rightfully agree. There was some part of her glad that Laura wouldn’t ever know what happened. But for the sake of moving on, lest she have to explain herself, she nodded. “Me too. I’m just trying to get back to something a little more normal.” At least that lie wasn’t as bad as the other. “Something a little more normal.”
Laura went quiet for a very long moment before taking a breath and forcing a smile on her face. “You know what’s normal? ...Margarita night. I think we should revive the tradition. If any night needed it, it’s tonight.”
It took a long moment but soon Gwen was laughing. First it started off soft, her usual response to the notion and then, as the memories of other Margarita nights, both awful and amazing, it grew in volume. Memory after memory came to mind until Gwen was wiping tears from her eyes, this time from laughter. “If our old Margarita nights are anything to go by, then I really pity Seattle.”
The laughter was infectious, and after a moment, Laura found herself giggling along with Gwen. The old margarita nights were pretty legendary, and there was no reason not to resurrect them. She grabbed Gwen’s hand and tugged lightly. “Come on. I found a place that sells them by the pitcher. It’s close by, and they have free chips and salsa.” She grinned a little. “As long as you promise to not dance on the tables.” She tugged again as she stood, pulling Gwen toward the door for a night she suspected they both needed.