Chapter Text
"Ah thanks, luv."
Tracer slipped her sunglasses down her nose to look up at her girlfriend to accept the offered beer. Ice cold and frosty, the can wasn't exactly at serving temperature for a proper pint, but in the tropical heat it was just the thing.
A soft breeze fluttered over the idyllic beach, bringing a pleasant coolness with it. Hanging high in the sky, the sun bathed every inch of the secluded cove – not even the sheer rocks and magnificently eroded cliffs surrounding it could conspire to spoil the perfect summer sun.
Emily found herself admiring their lovely surroundings. The azure water, the lush mountains and white beach – everything as if straight from a fancy travel guide. Even after staying for almost two weeks, she could not help but marvel at it all. An impossibly beautiful place mere mortals could usually only dream of visiting, much less vacation at without being swamped by hordes of tourists. Just one of the perks of having a girlfriend with a pilot's license and access to an advanced VTOL jet.
Standing next to said girlfriend, the hiss of escaping carbonation brought Emily's attention back to the true jewel of this little paradise. Leisurely kicking back in a sunlounger, the hero of the King's Cross Uprising took a languid sip of her drink. It was as if the heat had sapped the pep out of her, leaving her knocked out on the comfy bed-chair. Emily had to admit, the generous helpings of beer, ice cream and barbecue might also be to blame.
Summoned by these thoughts, a parade of redheads flash in Emily's mind. Each carried a platter of ribs, an outsized sundae or refreshing drink. Down from the chic bungalow nestled between the cliffs, they marched over to the beached hero. The procession stretched for hours... days... More or less the whole stay. Emily blushed at the thought.
Not exactly unrelated, her eyes strayed to Tracer's midsection, covered in navy fabric as it was. Emily had purposefully bought this dark one-piece to make her girlfriend's burgeoning gut less conspicuous on this trip: she did not want Lena to spend the vacation worrying about spilling out of a bikini. After all, there was no denying the intervening months since Christmas had done little to shave off the holiday pounds Tracer had put on. Admittedly that was from staying at Emily's place and enjoying her... generous hospitality.
Not that this vacation was making Lena any easier to contain either. Watching how her girlfriend's belly stretched the swimsuit fabric taut, Emily felt heat rising in her cheeks... something tingling inside her, agitated by the fluttering of butterflies. It hadn't felt quite this way when Tracer was... smaller.
Emily found herself studying the way the seams of the one-piece struggled helplessly. Perhaps she had bought it a couple of sizes too small. Or perhaps she had overdone it...
Once more Emily's thoughts strayed to all the extra helpings of heavily marinated steak. Lovingly prepared breakfasts in bed, often so massive it meant a couple of hours sleeping in for Lena. The endless refills of beer and soda, not just because she loved taking care of her girlfriend but because she loved the effects they had on her – although Emily would hardly admit it, even to herself. She had just happened to pack too many supplies, that was all.
"Ahhh..." Tracer leaned her head back and let the cool beverage slide down her throat. "You're a real lifesaver, babe."
Welcoming the distraction, Emily blinked. Tugging at her sarong, she cleared her throat evasively. Rather than confront these strange feelings, she fumbled with the cooler bag slung over her shoulder and pulled out another beer. "W-would you like another?" she asked, then hastily added before her eyes could stray again: "F-for the heat of course!"
Lazily, Tracer tossed the empty can aside. It clattered against a dozen of its kin, a small graveyard of aluminium beside her seat. "You spoil me," she chuckled, taking the offered beer without even thinking.
Her words only made Emily's blush intensify even further. Biting her lip, the redhead could only utter a confused "Uhm..." – tinged with equally confused lust.
Observing her girlfriend over her sunglasses, worry pushed Tracer a few inches out of abject indolence and enervation: "The sun getting to you, luv?"
Patting her cheeks, Emily did her best to assure her she is fine.
"You know..." A smirk cut ever so slightly into Tracer's soft cheek. "...maybe you should try one, too? They're quite... refreshing." Languidly, she rolled the can in her hand, inclining her head to let its cool surface caress her throat. The beginnings of a double chin cushioned the can as it slid over her skin.
Emily's eyes went wide. She looked close to erupting in a cloud of steam.
With a teasing giggle, Tracer opened the can and took a sip. "Seriously, I don't want you running yourself ragged." Stifling a yawn she lazily scratched the side of her full belly: "I totally appreciate the drink, though! I've just been feeling a bit... I dunno, heavy... the last couple'a days?"
"M-must be the weather..." Emily managed evasively. Even just lying there, Lena was being so sexy her words might very well cause the redhead to explode. She considered taking the last beer for herself, just to ease Tracer's worries. However, she found herself unable to stomach even the thought of drinking anything. Already she felt fit to barf from all the pent-up... feelings inside of her.
Through all this, Emily saw her girlfriend watching her; fearing she might say something, anything, that could poke a hole in her tangled mess of sensations and thus unleash the unknown desires. She gasped as Lena opened her mouth to speak... breathing a sigh of relief when she hesitates.
Eyes darting around, Tracer sniffed the air for a moment. She gave Emily a sidelong glance: "Is that... lunch I'm smelling?"
Emily's face cracked into a wide grin, happy for the reprieve. "Fish and chips a la tropic barbecue!" she declared, continuing to smile broadly so Lena wouldn't notice her lip quivering. She leaned over and placed a kiss on Tracer's forehead, her hand "accidentally" caressing her lover's bulging midsection: "I should go and make sure everything is okay."
"Need any help, luv?" Tracer grunted, trying to break through the lethargy enough to sit up.
"Even heroes need their rest." Emily plopped the last beer on top of Tracer's gut and helpfully pushed her sunglasses back into position with a wink: "Leave everything to me. If you're lucky you might even get some 'dessert'."