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In which Tari has a nightmare, and Belle just wants to sleep. Takes place between “Heart to Heart” and “Hack and Slash.”
A door swooshes open. Belle sluggishly raises a hand against the light.
“I swear to God, Evelyn, if this about Tari again, I swear I’ll make you regret it,” Belle threatens, her voice slightly slurred from sleep.
“No, no, it’s Tari!” a familiar voice whispers anxiously.
“Tari?” Belle asks, squinting against the light—all she can make out is a blurry figure with blue hair. She collapses back in her bed with an exasperated sigh. “Sure, why not?”
“Um,” Tari begins. “I, uh—”
“Shut the door if you want to talk,” Belle interrupts, rolling over as she tries to get comfortable again.
“Oh! Right!” Tari squeaks. The door slides shut.
Looking around the room as she waits for her eyes to adjust, she realizes she hasn’t been in Belle’s bedroom before. It’s a lot more spacious than hers, that’s for sure.
It’s also a lot cozier than mine, she notes, feet scrunching the soft carpet. There’s hidden lighting that softly illuminates the walls, ebbing in flowing in a slow, soothing pattern. Belle’s room also has a large desk and a computer, along with a comfortable gaming chair, all luxuries Tari assumes come with seniority. Trophies of past victories line shelves in the back. Tari thinks she can even spot a katana in the dim lighting.
The room feels lived in, she notes with a twinge of sadness. Hers feels cold, sterile.
“Well?” Belle asks expectantly.
“Right, um!” Tari jumps slightly. “Uhm…” Tari dithers, “…how… are you doing tonight…???”
“The hell?!” Belle growls, scowling into her pillow. “You woke me up for this? A cordial hello?”
“No!” Tari exclaims, her voice raising in pitch. “Yes? I don’t know.” Belle rolls over to stare at her. “…ah.” Tari averts her gaze, now suddenly very interested in her shoes. “...I, um, had a nightmare and didn’t want to be alone…” she finally mumbles.
Belle sits up slightly. “So, you came to see me…” she glances at the chrono on her cybernetic arm, “…at nearly two in the morning?”
“I know, it’s stupid, I’m sorry, I’ll leave now,” Tari apologizes, hurriedly turning to leave.
“Wait,” Belle calls with a sigh. She raises the cover on her bed. Tari looks at the raised cover, then up at Belle, who stiffens and looks away, her cheeks turning a tinge of pink. “…you said you didn’t want to be alone, yeah…?”
“Oh, um…” Tari hesitates. “N-no, I don’t want to intrude or anything…” she explains, waving her hands in front of her. As much as I would like to sleep with Belle….
Belle raises an eyebrow. “You mean waking me up in the middle of the night wasn’t intruding?”
“No? Yes? I said I’m sorry,” Tari whines.
“Look, do you want in or not?”
“I, um… I shouldn’t…” she mumbles, hating herself. “Besides, the bed looks too small for the two of us….”
“Ugh, fine then!” Belle growls, more in embarrassment than in actual anger.
Sensing the rapidly closing opportunity, emotion seems to get the best of Tari. “Wait!” she exclaims, rushing forward a few steps. “I’ll sleep with you!” Tari feels heat rushing to her face. “Erm, I’ll lie down with you… I mean….” More dithering. “Just two women sharing a bed. Nothing weird about it….” She laughs nervously.
Belle rolls her eyes. “Just get in.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Tari complies, crawling under the covers as Belle scoots over to make room for her. Even pressed together, the bed is still a little too small for the both of them, so Belle has to wrap her arm around Tari’s waist to prevent her from falling out. Tari takes it as an opportunity to sink further into Belle. Despite her muscled frame, she’s surprisingly soft—and warm.
The bed even smells like her apple-scented shampoo, Tari notes with a satisfied sigh.
Belle sighs deeply as she nestles in for the night, her breath tickling the back of Tari’s head. Closing her eyes, Tari releases another content sigh of her own, allowing herself to enjoy Belle’s warmth, the steady rise and fall of her chest, the sturdiness of her muscled arm around her waist. For the first time since she has arrived at TASCorp, she feels safe and secure. At home.
“Hey Belle?” she calls softly.
“…Yes, Tari?” Belle answers, her voice betraying her annoyance at having her sleep interrupted once more.
“Thanks…. I needed this….”
“Oh.” A pause, then, “You’re welcome.” Belle’s arm tightens around her. “No more nightmares tonight, okay, babe?”
Tari smiles softly, nestling in closer to Belle. “Okay.” Soothed by Belle’s slow, steady breath, Tari can feel herself begin to nod off. “Goodnight, Belle…” she yawns.
Belle chuckles softly behind her. “Goodnight, Tari. Sweet dreams.”