Chapter Text
Sophie used a key that Ryan gave her to let herself into the loft. Something smelled amazing. She opened the door and looked around. There were flowers everywhere, roses to be specific, in several different colors. Sophie didn’t know much about flowers. She had only really been given red roses from Tyler for every anniversary and birthday and special occasion that she didn’t realize they actually came in this many colors. There were candles everywhere but they all seemed to have been recently blown out. Sophie walked through the loft looking for Ryan. “Ryan?” Ryan didn’t answer and Sophie didn’t see her anywhere.
She walked back into the kitchen where she took a peek at the food in the oven that she could smell as she walked up the stairs to the loft and then eyed the expensive bottle of champagne. She couldn’t believe that Ryan went through all of this trouble. It explains why she was at the grocery store at the ass crack of dawn though. Her eyes continued to wander around the loft. That’s when she looked down and saw the note.
It was short and seemed to be written in a rush. Sophie sighed. She wished Ryan would have called her to let her know they were going out on Bat duties. She would have dropped Jordan off sooner and gone with them. She knows Ryan probably just didn’t want to interrupt her day with her sister, but Sophie was the only one on the Bat team that had any type of military and tactical training. She should be the first one any of them call for backup. She took out her phone and scrolled to Ryan’s number.
Sophie to Ryan: Wanna tell me why I didn’t get the invite for Bat duties?
Sophie figured Ryan wouldn’t answer right away so she wandered around the room continuing to take in and appreciate all the time and effort and romance Ryan put in to make the loft feel warm and cozy, and very Valentine's Day. She ran her fingers over some of the rose petals, leaning down to smell a few. About 20 minutes later, Sophie poured herself a glass of champagne and sat on the couch willing her phone to ring. She hated being excluded and hated worrying about Ryan, but she also really just wanted her to come home safely and explain all of this.
The lock on door turned and Sophie sat up straight. Ryan came through the door in a whirlwind of apologies and explanations. “Soph. Hi. I am so sorry. Luke needed my help. So, I went to meet him and it ended up just being some punk teenagers trespassing. I tried to be as quick as I could but I am so sorry. And before you say anything, I didn’t call you because I wanted you to have that time with Jordan, but if the situation got out of hand I would have called you I promise. I just didn’t want to interrupt your day for something as silly as trespassing teenagers.”
Sophie took a sip of her champagne and smiled in amusement at Ryan’s rushed apologies and attempt to prevent an argument. “After you take a breath, you wanna explain all this?” Sophie gestured around the loft and then focused back on Ryan with raised eyebrows.
Ryan took a breath. “I told you I wanted to make you dinner. And the rest.. well, I just wanted to show you that this today isn’t so bad or commercialized or corny. Well, okay it is a little corny but it’s also at least a little bit romantic?” She shrugged. She walked over to the bottle of champagne and filled the other flute. She held up the bottle to Sophie who nodded and held out her flute for Ryan to refill. Ryan placed the champagne back into the ice bucket, turned the oven back on and made her way over to the couch. “I’m guessing you didn’t eat.”
Sophie looked up into her eyes. “No. I was waiting for you.”
Ryan held her empty hand out toward Sophie who looked at it and then back up at Ryan in confusion, but she took Ryan’s hand and stood up. Ryan smiled and tugged Sophie around the loft, letting go of her hand to pick up a few roses from the various bouquets around the living room. Ryan placed her champagne on the counter and picked up a small silver tool. She carefully handled each of the roses she picked and used the tool to gently remove any thorns from the stems. Sophie just watched and waited in silence occasionally locking eyes with Ryan. They shared several small smiles but neither of them spoke.
When Ryan finished removing the thorns she had a small bouquet in her hand. She handed a rose to Sophie who accepted it, but was still not sure where Ryan was going with this. She didn’t have to ask though because Ryan started to explain. “Yellow represents friendship.” She smiled her megawatt smile which melted Sophie where she stood. “I know it took us a long time, but I can’t tell you enough how valuable our friendship is to me Soph.”
Sophie tried to smile instead of grimace at the sinking feeling she felt when Ryan referred to them as friends. She bit the inside of her bottom lip and let Ryan continue.
“Dark pink represents gratitude.” She looked into Sophie’s eyes and Sophie saw how much emotion was behind the darkest shade of brown. “Even though I haven’t always shown it, I am so grateful that you have been supportive. You’ve had my back and you’ve always shown up. Even when I’ve pushed you away. So, thank you.” Ryan smiled and handed Sophie the darker pink colored rose.
“Lavender represents a unique love.” Ryan handed her the lavender rose and Sophie’s breath caught. Did she say love? “We have had a unique way of getting to this point, Soph. I wouldn’t necessarily say we were enemies, but we were in two very different places and on two different sides of the law. But I always saw that you had a huge and loving heart and cared enough to change and to quit the crows and join the real good guys. We've been in every unique, dangerous, intense situation and still wound up here. I wouldn't change a thing.” Ryan’s eyes sparkled and Sophie was quietly taking in all of her words. Love.
Ryan realized this was probably a lot for Sophie to take in, so she just pushed ahead handing Sophie a Burgundy rose. “Burgundy, represents devotion. And yeah maybe that’s a little deep, but you’ve been a constant in my life Soph. You’re always there. You always check on me and I want to be that for you too.” Sophie takes the rose. The back of her eyes are burning and there are tears pooling in her eyes as she attempts to blink them away.
Ryan laughed softly, looking at the orange rose as she twirled it between her fingers. “So, really it’s technically a salmon-colored rose that means desire. But they only had orange so, close enough.” Sophie chuckled and accepted the rose and looked expectantly into Ryan’s eyes for a further explanation. “I think I have wondered for awhile now what it would be like to be with you, Sophie. I have wanted this, us, for probably longer than I’ll ever admit, but I was too afraid to take that chance. I didn’t want to risk falling for you, and putting you in danger, or falling and you not feel the same way in return.” Ryan’s eyes held so much emotion, Sophie couldn’t look away. “And yes, I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry.”
All of Sophie’s feelings and thoughts and desires were all being reflected back at her through Ryan’s words and her eyes. Ryan smiled, tears building in her eyes, and looked down at the remaining roses in her hands. She picked two this time and handed them to Sophie to add to her small bouquet. “Red roses represent love and admiration and white represents innocence and new love.” Sophie looked into Ryan’s eyes. She knew what Ryan was trying to say but she just wanted to hear those damn words come out of her mouth.
“What are you trying to say Ryan?” Sophie finally finds it in her voice to tease through some stray tears.
Ryan smiles and reaches up to catch those tears from Sophie’s cheeks with her thumb. “What I am trying to say is, I love you, Sophie.” She thumbed more stray tears from Sophie’s cheeks and reached up on her tip toes to touch her lips to Sophie’s.
“These are happy tears right?” Ryan joked but Sophie saw that Ryan eyes held some uncertainty, she needed the reassurance. And Sophie would always give that to her.
“Yes.” Sophie leaned down to bring their lips together again. “I love you, Ryan.” She whispered against Ryan’s lips before kissing her again.
Sophie broke their kiss and looked down at the last rose in Ryan’s hand. “I didn’t realize there were green roses.” Sophie commented as she ran her thumb over the petals of the last flower. When she moved her eyes up to Ryan’s, she was smiling.
“Green roses are considered to be rarer than the other colors. Green roses symbolize new beginnings. Our new beginning.” Ryan handed Sophie the last rose and picked up her champagne flute. She clinked it against Sophie’s.
Sophie’s heart felt so full, she was sure she was grinning harder than she ever had before. She took a sip of her champagne and placed it down on the counter. She walked away from where Ryan stood in the kitchen. She made her way over to the couch and reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the small gift she and Jordan had decided on and walked back toward an adorably confused Ryan.
She held the small box out in front of her and Ryan reached up to take it from Sophie’s hand. “It’s not as romantic as all of this, but-“
Ryan opened the box and audibly gasped and looked up into Sophie’s eyes with tears running down her face. The necklace was simple. A thin gold chain, with a charm in the shape of a rose. It was the color of the dessert rose. The same plant that she kept to remind her of Mama Cora and the same plant that saved her life and Luke's life. “Sophie, it’s- it’s perfect.” Ryan startled Sophie by throwing her arms up around Sophie's neck and hugging her. Sophie wrapped her arms around Ryan’s waist and lifted her slightly off the ground, spinning around once before placing her, gently, back on the floor.
“So, you like it?” Sophie asked even though she was sure Ryan did.
“I absolutely love it! Will you help me put it on?” Ryan held the necklace up to Sophie expectantly. Sophie smiled and nodded and took the necklace from Ryan as Ryan turned around and lifted her hair from the back of her neck so that Sophie could attached the clasp.
Ryan turned around to face Sophie and reached up to cup Sophie’s face in both of her hands. “Thank you.” She whispered as Sophie bent down so their lips could meet again in a kiss so passionate that they both fully felt the others’ love.
They broke the kiss and Sophie leaned her forehead against Ryan’s as she whispered, “Great first Valentine's Day, huh?"