Chapter Text
Sophie is lying face down on her bed, completely undressed, hair unwrapped and barely pinned-up off of her shoulders. She doesn't remember falling asleep. She'd come home in a rush to wash away several of the memories from the evening. In her previous line of work, watching someone die had been an unfortunate reality, but she hadn't had to do that in a while. It never got any easier, but she'd been better at compartmentalizing and functioning when she'd been more prepared for the possibility that it could happen at any time.
This was also the second near lethal fight she'd had in several days, another thing she hadn't had to experience since they'd defeated Black Mask. That part, while pretty terrifying in the moment because she was fighting an ax-wielding man in a pig mask with no real weapon of her own, was also admittedly invigorating. It'd been just as long since she and Ryan had fought side-by-side, and this time was notably different when compared with the times before, not just because both of them were dressed in form-fitting evening wear with prominent cleavage. Of all the reminders she trusted her shower to wash away, she was okay with holding onto this one.
After sending Jordan a text asking what breakfast she should pick up and bring over in the morning, she'd almost compulsively checked her phone from the time she'd stepped out of her car until the time she'd walked into her bathroom, not wanting to miss Ryan's call. She realized Ryan said she'd call the next day, but if there was news, would she wait that long? Sophie wondered if Jada would have a lot to say, or if Ryan would have to work hard to collect information from her. If she'd had the benefit of an interrogation room, Sophie would have eventually cracked Jada. Was Ryan going to rely on some inherent bond to wear her down, or leverage guilt and reasoning?
Of course, if Sophie was honest with herself, a Jada update wasn't the only reason she didn't want to miss Ryan's call.
"Great first date, huh?" She recalled giving into her curiosity about how Ryan would respond to such a comment.
Sophie had told Alice (who was still with Montoya, working the case with the strung up man) this wasn't a date, but what exactly would have been the difference? Ryan could have taken Luke or Mary to that dinner. Hell, she could have gone alone. She didn't know she'd need backup. And, sure, after being invited, Sophie had suggested slipping away to bug Jada's office. So it had become a recon activity, but had it actually started out that way?
Maybe Sophie could pursue her own line of questioning once she got Ryan on the phone, since the first inquiry hadn't been a bust.
"Definitely memorable." The smile Ryan responded with when she'd answered wasn't filled with her typical snark. It wasn't a, 'only in Gotham does dinner with family include a vendetta harboring, bomb building, pig obsessed chef,' sarcastic kind of 'memorable.' Ryan didn't seem to want to wash away the memory in its entirety, either.
In any case, the wondering was making Sophie spin, and the adrenaline that had been carrying her through the night (both natural and injected) was waning rapidly. She just needed to lie down, if only for a few minutes, and then she'd be responsible and complete her nightly routine. Besides, checking her phone incessantly wouldn't make Ryan call any sooner. Time would pass faster this way.
She hears a knock at the door and jumps up, grabbing her robe and rushing to see who on earth it could be.
"Who is it?"
"It's me." Why was Ryan at Sophie's front door? Had she missed her call? She glances at the nearest mirror and is grateful that her makeup has somehow managed to stay relatively intact. Some pats around her eyes to unsmudge her liner will suffice. It's giving smokey eye.
But the robe…?
"Hey! Um… I'm sorta undressed - just got out the shower."
"Do you want me to wait out here?"
It was a nice enough robe: satin and black. And Ryan could wait on the couch while Sophie threw something else on. What was the real harm?
She unpins her hair, and decides to let Ryan in. She opens the door. "No, that's silly, come in. Just thought I should warn you."
Only Ryan's eyes move, slowly taking Sophie in.
"Is everything okay?" Is Ryan here because things didn't go well with Jada? Seems like a leap to have shown up in person for.
"Honestly, I'm just a little keyed up…Hoping you don't mind some company."
Sophie should actually be used to her showing up unannounced. It was just more common for Batwoman to land on her balcony than for Ryan Wilder to be dressed to the nines, in 3 inch heels, walking through her front door with no crisis to avert.
"I never mind your company." Sophie steps to the side so Ryan can enter. Ryan walks just far enough for Sophie to close the door, and when she turns around, there's only a couple of feet between them. "Did you want to talk?"
"Not really."
"Okay. I have wine, if you'd rather just sit…"
"Is that what you want to do? Sit and drink?"
Somehow, Ryan seems closer than before, but Sophie didn't catch her moving.
"I-" Sophie clears her throat, and straightens her posture. "Did you have something else in mind?"
"I just know no 'girlfriend' of mine, who wore a dress like the one you had on tonight, and managed to kick some serious ass in, would be spending the night without me."
"Damn. Sorry I'm not still in it."
"This is good too."
Ryan reaches up, and traces the hem of Sophie's robe from her neckline down the center of her chest to where the tie crosses at her waist. As it's about to fall away, Sophie catches Ryan's hand, pulling her closer, and Ryan meets her halfway until their lips are pressed together. This isn't soft, slow, or teasing. This is an I'm done waiting and I want you right now kiss, lips parted, tongues exploring.
Sophie's back hits the door, and Ryan grips her hips. Sophie grabs back, arms around Ryan's waist, tightening Ryan's hold on her. This is escalating quickly.
Sophie breaks the kiss and looks at Ryan dead on, who responds with, "I've been thinking about kissing you since you climbed out of your car tonight."
"Only kissing me?"
"To start."
Sophie takes that as an invitation and kisses Ryan again. Her fingers trail up Ryan's back until she finds the zipper from her jumper, and then pulls it down. She starts kissing the path along Ryan's neck, giving her the chance to slide her arms out of the black bodysuit's sleeves and once she does, it drops to her ankles.
Ryan pulls Sophie's face back to hers, and then returns her hands to Sophie's hips. She needs to slow this down. Before Ryan can say or do anything else, Sophie gently pushes her away and eases passed her.
She begins walking towards her bedroom, and hears Ryan's heels clunk against the floor, as she abandons the pile at the door. When Sophie arrives at her bed, Ryan is right behind her, hands back at Sophie's waistline. Ryan reaches around and undoes the knot in the robe. Sophie shimmies out of it, and then looks over her shoulder to find that Ryan left more than her shoes at the door. A bronze brown warrior queen stands behind.
Ryan palms the small of Sophie's back and lightly nudges her to move onto the bed. Sophie hears vibrations and tries to ignore them. It could be Alice. It could be Luke. It could be Jordan. It couldn't be Ryan, though, because Ryan is with her. The distraction continues, insisting that attention is paid to it. It's so late, or so early. Why now? Can't it wait?
A small moan slips from Sophie's lips, and it's odd to hear herself in the quiet, with the only other sound coming from her phone. It's too much. She can't block it out anymore and she opens her eyes to find it's in fact early and not late, because the sun has risen. It's cold and bright. Her phone vibrates again, and she reaches for it, learning it's just after seven in the morning. Jordan had called twice. When Sophie didn't answer, she had texted her breakfast order instead.
Sophie rolls onto her back, trying to gather her whereabouts. She's cold because she's sweating and on top of her covers, alone in her empty apartment. It was another dream about Ryan, who hadn't come over, and still hadn't called.