Chapter Text
Getting a few bruises from falling flat on her ass was inevitable whenever she was paired up with Annie for sparring. Annie says she doesn’t actually care about the combat practice - some of the booze-reeking ranking officers like to come out to the yard and watch the rookies duke it out when their card games get dull, so it’s actually closer to entertainment for the officers than training for the newbies, she says - but you wouldn’t guess that from how hard she throws her punches.
Hitch cursed and nursed her shoulder after being on the receiving end of another punch Annie didn’t quite pull enough.
“Geez, will you take it easy, Annie? It almost looks like you’re enjoying yourself.”
“...Sorry.” The determined glow in Annie’s eyes that resides there whenever she gets the chance to show off her martial arts skills fades for a moment as she looks at Hitch, but her fists stay raised in a sparring stance.
“I swear, you’re the weirdest. It’s like you get your kicks out of punching people.”
“Ha-ha. Very funny.” Annie’s voice was totally deadpan, but you could see amusement in her face, if you looked very carefully.
One of these days, Hitch swears, I’ll get her to actually laugh.
Hitch keeps talking, if only to delay the next painful contusion Annie is bound to deliver her on her next swing.
“Really, girl, you need a hobby. It’s sad how you find this fun. Come out on the town with me one day, and I’ll show you that there are other, better ways to have a good time besides beating up little old me.”
Before Annie could turn her down or reply with her own dry joke, a ranking officer slunk up at their side. His breath was putrid and there was a drink in his hand. He leered at them.
“You ladies aren’t slacking off and chit-chatting while you’re on the clock, are you?” The asswipe grinned. He took a swig of his drink. “This isn’t playtime, you know. You’re supposed to be sparring. Keeping in shape in case the Titans attack. Go on, Leonhart, let’s see whatcha got.”
Annie glowered at the officer, disgusted. Uh-oh, her scary face. She looked like she would much rather be clocking this goon than Hitch, but alas, the disciplinary actions for using violence against a superior officer prevented her from doing so. Suddenly, without a word, Annie’s leg sweeps Hitch’s feet from under her and she throws her down in one fluid motion.
It was enough to satisfy the officer.
“Good show, Leonhart,” he laughed, while Hitch winced in pain on the ground.
The takedown was so abrupt that Hitch managed to twist her own ankle on her fall. She tried to stand up, but putting her weight on her injured foot shot agony through her body, and she ended up on the ground again. She cried out in pain.
The officer surveyed the situation with drink in hand. He stood looking down at Hitch like she was a funny-looking insect, his lips curling in a disdainful and dispassionate sneer.
“Ah, you sure got her good, huh? She’s hurt? Whatever, you can take the rest of the morning off and take her to the injured ward. Good job, Leonhart.” He stalked away, now that Annie had provided him with sufficient entertainment. As he sauntered off, his eyes hunted down the next pair of rookies he could prey upon and goad.
When he was gone, Annie knelt at Hitch’s side.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really,” she grumbled through gritted teeth. “Shit, Annie, what’d you do that for?”
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I just wanted him to go away.”
“Yeah, well, next time you get mad at one of those assholes, don’t take it out on me.” Hitch sat up again, tried to stand, but it was no good. The pain made her sit right back down. Her ankle throbbed. She almost hissed. “Ouch, fuck...”
“...Sorry,” Annie said again. She looked contrite, her brows knit in concern.
“Well, I don’t think I can stand on it. I must have sprained my ankle.” Hitch wiped the hairs from out of her face, inwardly brooding on how filthy she must be from having been thrown on her ass on the dirty ground.
Annie peered down at her from where she was crouched, taking stock of the situation.
“It’s alright,” she said. Suddenly Annie’s arms snaked under Hitch’s legs and back, and Hitch felt herself being lifted off the ground.
Automatically Hitch clung to her, hands hugging around Annie’s shoulders. She felt her face turn red at the sudden close contact, and at Annie’s rather attractive show of strength and chivalry.
“Uh- Annie...?”
“I’m going to take you to the injured ward so they can look at your ankle. It’s the least I can do.” There was resolve and repentance in her voice.
“Um, thanks, Annie...” she managed to stammer, sounding abashed.
Annie looked down at Hitch’s blushing face, and a flicker of embarrassment flashed across her features, but she quickly looked away to the path ahead of her, steeling herself. She broke off in a steady walk towards the base, not even paying any mind to the eyes that were on them. Hitch, however, relished the attention.
Here Annie was, cradling her gingerly, bridal style, right after giving her a beatdown sufficient to sprain her ankle. And here Hitch was, enjoying it, blushing like a schoolgirl. Maybe being carried like this by Annie makes up for the pain in her throbbing foot. It sure was cozy here, in her arms. Annie was warm, and her grip was firm and sturdy yet gentle, and Hitch could rest her head on Annie’s strong shoulders. And she was so close she could smell Annie, her distinct, nameless scent, somehow somewhere between fresh linens and the rugged smell of the forest.
Somehow, Hitch couldn’t force the realization out of her brain that she really liked this. A lot. More than when boys at the bar pulled her close for a dance, more than when they would steal a kiss. More than any contact with any man she had ever known. Somehow, with Annie, it was different; it made her feel more girlish and giddy and warm. And the creeping idea that maybe, just maybe, she liked her roomie as more than a buddy, began to take root in her mind... uh-oh.
She looked at Annie: with her intense blue eyes; her gaze that could be as steely and powerful as a lion staring down its prey, or as disinterested and cold as ice; her blonde hair that was always done up in that simple bun that somehow looked so good on her; her flawless skin that Hitch teased to avoid conceding a compliment to her; her short and lithe physique that belied a considerable amount of strength and muscle; her aquiline nose that looked so cute, she just wanted to pinch it; her lips, normally set in a neutral line or a frown, that she wondered what it would be like to kiss— okay, damn, maybe she did have a bit of a crush on Annie. Maybe she was stupid or oblivious or willfully ignorant for not realizing it sooner.
She tried to catch her eye, but Annie either didn’t notice or deliberately tried not to look at her, as she marched along to the infirmary like a determined little soldier.
She let her thoughts flow and accompany every slight shake she felt that came with each of Annie’s steps. Just how long had she been feeling this way about her? Had it been obvious to others? Did Annie know? No, she couldn’t... after all, Hitch hadn’t even realized herself until just now, so it wasn’t likely that Annie had already caught on. What should she do...?
It was intimidating enough before she even considered how Annie felt about her. Was there even a chance Annie could feel the same way? With Annie’s closed-off and introverted nature, it was hard to determine what true thoughts and feelings lie beneath her stolid exterior. But... she never seemed to show any interest at all in men, and Hitch was just about the only person she had bothered befriending in the whole MP brigade, and she apparently cared enough about her to haul her ass all the way to the infirmary, so, maybe she did have a shot... a very slim chance, but a chance nonetheless...
After mulling it over, Hitch came to the conclusion that she had two options. One: she could just shut up and conceal her feelings for Annie and hope she never notices, and wait for the stupid crush to go away. Or Option Number Two: she could exercise some of her womanly charms on Annie, be a bit flirtatious, and observe her response, in order to test out the waters and see if Annie might have some romantic feelings for her.
One of those options sounded like a lot more fun than the other. Yep, flirting with Annie, just for fun. Or for science, shall we say? It would be truly interesting to see how a toughie like Annie would react... This little experiment of hers was a gamble, but it was worth it: there was a possibility that Annie might respond well, might even like her, or grow to like her...
A smirk formed on Hitch’s face as these thoughts churned in her mind. Annie had no idea what was coming for her. She may have literally swept Hitch off her feet and gotten her to blush like a fool, but next time, it would be Hitch’s turn to use her wicked wiles on Annie. There was a reason she was popular with all the boys; she had a charisma, and she was an incorrigible flirt. Soon, she would take action.
-----
Annie lowered her onto the cot gingerly, making the transfer from her arms to the mattress as gentle as possible, wary of her ankle. Hitch immediately missed the feeling of being held by her.
As she was bent over her, and rose to straighten herself, Hitch suddenly reached out and grasped Annie with both hands by the collar of her jacket, pulling her back down to her face.
Annie was startled, and allowed herself to be handled by Hitch. Her eyes were widened in surprise, eyebrows raised in questioning.
“Oh, but wait, Annie,” Hitch said softly, the hint of a whine creeping into her voice. It was time to be coy. “I want to say a couple things. Thank you for carrying me here, really. You didn’t have to.”
Their faces inches apart, Hitch watched Annie’s reaction carefully, like a cat eyeing the movements of a bird.
Annie seemed almost... flustered? If Hitch could believe her eyes, Annie was blushing, her cheeks tinged an adorable pink. Oh man, Hitch would have to try to make her blush more often, she was too cute.
“It’s no problem. But I did have to. After all, it’s my fault you got hurt in the first place.”
“Aww, that’s very noble of you. You’re so sweet. But wait, you’re right. It was your fault. So... I think you owe me a little something to make up for it,” she practically purred. There was mischief in Hitch’s voice, her eyes, her grin. She pulled Annie just a smidgen closer to emphasize.
Annie’s breath hitched in her throat, and she stared back at her, the horror building in her eyes as she realized that Hitch was right. She did owe her, and she was at her mercy. She got her good. She was a mouse in Hitch’s jaws.
Hitch was beaming devilishly. She was enjoying this way too much. “I think you know what’s coming. You have to come with me for a nice day excursion in town, the next time we’re off and I’m back on my feet. No excuses, no getting out of it. You have to— you owe me!”
Annie fixed her with a glare. Oooh, so scary. Actually, she looked quite cute, with her mean face, eyes full of ire, and the traces of a blush still dusting her cheeks. Then she sighed, shut her eyes, and rubbed her temples with her fingers. “I guess you’re right. Fine.”
“Yay! We’re going to have so much fun, just you wait!” Hitch wanted to jump for joy, and she almost squealed. She managed to limit herself to just shaking Annie back and forth by the collar.
“I’ll try to contain my joy,” Annie said slowly in a voice absolutely devoid of any expression other than sarcasm, after being jerked around like a pendulum. “I think you and I have very different definitions of fun.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’ll have to learn my definition of fun - the RIGHT definition - this time. You already had your fun when you beat me up earlier, remember? It’s my turn.”
“Come on, I didn’t have that much fun. I didn’t even go that hard on you. You’re exaggerating.”
“I’m sitting in the infirmary now, aren’t I? Because of you going crazy with your takedown, I’m off my feet with a bad ankle.”
Annie stumbled for a moment. She got her there, didn’t she? But no, her roomie still tried to protest: “It could have been worse. A twisted ankle is me going easy on you. I’ve broken men’s legs before.”
“Oooooh, you big, bad villain, breaking men’s legs and girls’ hearts, I’m so lucky you spared me,” Hitch teased dramatically.
Annie rolled her eyes and turned her face away, possibly to obscure Hitch’s view of the blush reforming on her cheeks. Despite this, Hitch thought she caught a glimmer of mirth in Annie’s expression.
“Yeah, well, maybe I won’t be so merciful next time,” she grumbled. But it was all in jest. If you knew how to read Annie, you could see the fondness hidden between the jabs.
Their charged banter was cut short when a nurse walked in with his hands on his hips.
“Are you two about finished yet? All of this fuss for a sprained ankle? Holy fuck, someone just go get her an ice pack and let’s be done with this, please.”
-----
A few hours later, the nurses and the rest of the losers in the infirmary had grown sick of her, and Hitch was sent back to her dorm with an icepack and crutches. When she hobbled into their room, Annie was reclining in her bed, folding a piece of paper into an origami crane. She perked up when she heard Hitch enter, and leapt up to lend her a shoulder to lean on and help her to her bed.
“I just sprained my ankle, I didn’t turn into a frail old lady who needs help crossing the street, you know,” Hitch said with a giggle when Annie placed her hand on the small of her back to guide her. But admittedly, she enjoyed the attention and the feel of Annie’s hand on her, although she would have preferred if Annie had just flat out picked her up and carried her like before.
Hitch was both amused and flattered by this gesture, and by how eager and attentive her roommate was. She didn’t take Annie to be the type to dote on others. It was disarming to see someone who is usually so aloof and detached from those around her, being so obliging to her.
Annie just smiled slightly at the quip, but didn’t say anything. A smile! Quite a rarity for Annie. Hitch had gotten an actual smile out of her, there was no doubt about it. This was a memorable day, a cause for celebration.
“Ooh, so you CAN smile, after all. Don’t worry, your reputation’s safe with me. I won’t tell anybody, it can be our little secret.”
This remark earned an eye roll from Annie.
“Let’s get you to bed, grandma,” she said dryly with the same smile, as she helped Hitch sit down on the bed. She took the crutches from her and leaned them by her nightstand. She watched as Hitch shifted to lay down.
Annie stood pensive for a moment, and then darted over to her own bed, grabbing a couple pillows.
“You should keep your ankle elevated,” she said, by way of explanation, when she stacked the pillows at the bottom of Hitch’s bed, and gingerly lifted Hitch’s foot to place on top of them. She took the icepack from Hitch’s hands too, and placed it on top of her ankle.
Once again, Hitch was both shocked and flattered that her friend was being so obliging: using her own pillows to make her more comfortable. Annie was just full of surprises today, huh?
“Wow, thanks. Are you sure you want my stinky feet on your pillows, though? Isn’t this where your pretty little face is supposed to go when you sleep?”
“I’ll live. And there is such a thing as doing the laundry, although you probably wouldn’t know anything about that,” Annie sniped, gesturing at the room full of her roommate’s dirty clothes scattered about.
Hitch giggled. “Well, you got me there.”
The conversation fell silent and moments passed, neither knowing what to say.
But Annie lingered by her bed, apparently not wanting to leave her in peace just yet. She stood stiffly, awkwardly, eyes trained away from Hitch’s face.
“Sit down, why don’t you?” Hitch made her voice as inviting as possible, afraid to scare off her roommate, who seemed as skittish as a deer.
It wasn’t often that Annie made herself hospitable to close conversation, and so Hitch took pains not to relinquish this opportunity. She was eager to get to know her roommate better, this stoic and reticent girl, that she so unexpectedly found herself attracted to. Ever since she was assigned as Annie’s roomie, she had felt the desire to peel back her defenses and get to see what the quiet girl was really thinking. She sensed that there was a lot more to Annie than meets the eye, and she looked forward to dispelling some of the mystery.
It was a game she played with herself, a challenge, to get the other girl to open up, chat with her, and make her smile or laugh. And with Annie, all of that was a massive challenge, but somehow unspeakably rewarding and satisfying when she succeeded. So far she hadn’t learned much about Annie, but she did know she had a dry sense of humor, a father who was almost the only person she cared for, and a past she was tight-lipped about; it probably wasn’t pretty, and she got the sense the girl had witnessed a lot of pain and agony in her life. She had seen the Titans with her own eyes, and had helped deal with the Trost disaster with her own hands, after all. She also was surprised to learn that Annie had an affinity for pastries, after one day Hitch had brought home some cannolis from a stop at the bakery on her day off. Annie had looked as blissful as she had ever seen her, pleased to be able to enjoy a treat with Hitch, who was, in turn, delighted that Annie was happy, and also delighted that she had found out that there was something in the world that the blonde enjoyed other than beating people up. It was perhaps the greatest victory and the greatest surprise thus far in her challenge to get to know Annie; the intimidating girl wasn’t the type you’d expect to have a sweet tooth.
Now, in addition to her original mission to get to know her roommate, she also kind of wanted to flirt with her and see where it would take her. And this moment was an excellent opportunity for either of her little operations; she wouldn’t let it slip through her fingers.
To her surprise, Annie actually listened, and did as she was told, albeit while looking as standoffish as ever. She sat at the end of Hitch’s bed, near her propped-up foot. Her gaze was cast down towards her hands, which rested on her knees.
Somehow, Annie’s awkward little self was endearing. Hitch couldn’t muffle a little snicker.
“You can look at me, you know. I don’t bite.” Her voice was light, teasing. She smiled, trying her best to put her roomie at ease.
Almost begrudgingly, Annie shifted to make eye contact with her.
“Happy?” she deadpanned.
“Very!” Hitch grinned. “But you know when I’ll be even happier? When you and I go on our little day trip soon!”
“Oh, I’m sure you will be. Me, on the other hand, I’m not so sure.”
“Oh, come on, don’t lie, Annie, I know you’re looking forward to it. You know you can’t get enough of quality time with Yours Truly.”
“I think I’ve already gotten plenty of you gossiping about Marlowe and ribbing on me, we don’t need to go shopping for five hours just so you can do it some more.”
“Whaaat? You can never get enough of making fun of old Bowl Cut. Or you. Anyway, we don’t have to go shopping... for that long. We can also go to the bakery or something, since you were so crazy about those cannolis last time.”
“Oh... that sounds good, actually.” It was almost funny how Annie’s eyes visibly brightened at the mention of cannolis.
“Happy now?” Hitch mimicked.
“Maybe...”
“Just maybe?” Hitch grinned, and boinked Annie with her foot. Gosh, despite her cold and tough persona- or maybe because of it- she was just so tempting to mess with. That nose was looking very pinchable right now.
Annie glanced down at the assailing foot. If you were as observant and smitten as Hitch, you might even detect a hint of warmth in Annie’s expression.
“Yeah, just maybe.”
“Well, MAYBE you ought to be more grateful. I could just deprive you of your precious pastries and drag you out shopping the whole day, you know. It’s my right after you sent me to the infirmary, you little shit.”
“For someone with a bad ankle, you’re awfully free with who you insult.”
Hitch guffawed. “My, my, are you threatening me, you big, bad villain, Annie?” she drawled, a playfully dramatic lilt coloring her voice. “You wouldn’t hurt little old me AGAIN, would you? You are one brutal beast.”
When she said this, Hitch nudged her again, and this time let her foot rest on her roomie’s lap.
For just a moment, there was a strange look in Annie’s eyes. For some reason, the villain thing seemed to get a reaction out of her. She tried her best to look unimpressed, but she couldn’t quite stifle the blood running to her cheeks. She faltered for a second before she summoned her composure again to bite back at Hitch in her signature deadpan voice.
“Can you really blame me? Having to room with you would turn anyone into a villain.” Once again, she gestured vaguely to the mess surrounding them.
Hitch laughed again. She kicked her roommate in mock offense, before returning her foot to its place in Annie’s lap. Which Annie seemed to tolerate. She was accustomed to seeing Annie being cagey, but she actually seemed quite comfortable right now.
Hitch was pleased. She considered it a victory that she was able to make Annie feel at ease and be slightly more open with her. Even if she was just exchanging quips with her, Annie really did seem content to be hanging out with her. She wasn’t shutting her out or being a grumpy loner. It was nice. Admittedly, Hitch did savor these dumb little moments with the roommate she had been crushing on.
“Oh please, you poor thing, having to room with a beautiful girl with such excellent taste, who teaches you about fashion, and who is going to take you to a bakery and treat you to whatever sweet you want even after you broke her damn ankle. Oh, boohoo, I feel so sorry for you.” Her chaffing was rife with smug sarcasm. She wiggled her toes as if to emphasize her poor, poor little ankle that big, bad, evil Annie had made a senseless victim of.
Annie was not bothered by the dancing little piggies in her lap. And judging by the amusement in her face, that wicked scoundrel felt little remorse for the ankle she had brutalized, apparently.
“You’re never gonna let me live that one down, huh?” She met Hitch’s puckish gaze evenly. “Also, I wouldn’t really call making fun of the way I dress ‘teaching me about fashion.’”
“Ah, don’t take it personally. It’s all said with love.”
Well—Oops, that was a little too close to the truth. Trying to play it off, she kicked Annie probably a little bit harder than was necessary.
Her roomie didn’t even flinch, just looked back at her, watching her with the same sedate, amused, almost fond expression.
They both stayed that way for a few moments. But under Annie’s gaze, a weird panic crept into Hitch and she jerked her foot out of her roommate’s lap suddenly.
That was weird. She tried not to dwell on the fact that when Annie looked at her like that, with all her attention fixed on her, with... warmth? in those intense eyes of hers, it fried her brain like an egg. Oh Sina, maybe she was in deeper than she knew. Slipping up like that and getting so worked up over stupid little stuff Annie does... it just keeps getting worse. She had to mentally reset herself, reminding herself it’s okay, it’s just dumb, stupid Annie, her roommate, her friend. And SHE was supposed to be the one making Annie’s knees weak, anyway. She knew she could do this. Just get your head in the game, Hitchie...
After her little simp episode was over, and she had regained control of that smitten little brain of hers, she looked back at Annie. And she was kinda surprised by what she saw. Or what she thought she saw.
Maybe this was pure imagination on Hitch’s part, but was that disappointment that she perceived in Annie’s countenance from when she moved her foot away? No, she dared to think that she wasn’t delusional, and that she could in fact read her friend’s faces. It was subtle, but it was there: a dissatisfied look in her eye, and the slightest of pouts.
Was Annie pouting because she moved her foot out of her lap? Now, what’s up with that? Maybe the sullen girl actually liked when Hitch invaded her personal space, although she was too proud to admit it openly. Did Annie actually want to be near her and feel close to her? Maybe Hitch could get away with a little more goofball antics and physical affection for her in the future without the fear of the blonde breaking her legs in retaliation.
Feeling emboldened by this thought, Hitch made another play in her game. She scooched over to one side and patted the mattress beside her.
“Why don’t you sit next to me, hmm?” she coaxed in a low voice, her eyes bright, with a grin to match. Quite a smooth recovery from the jittery mess she was just a second ago.
Annie paused and seemed to consider, her gaze flitting from between Hitch and the spot she gestured to.
“Okay.” She crawled over the bed on all fours and sidled up beside Hitch.
She sat there, clutching her curled-up legs to her chest. She rested her forehead on her legs.
Hitch thought of how cute she looked with her head peeking out from her knees.
She’s such a dork, Hitch thinks. An awkward, stiff little dork whose first instinct was to curl up into a ball like an armadillo, instead of, like, asking to cuddle or something like a normal person. Well, maybe that cuddling bit was wishful thinking.
She reached up and placed a hand on her roommate’s knee. Annie eyed said hand warily.
“You can come out of your shell, you little turtle,” she teased, pulling on Annie’s knee slightly to remove her from the little ball she had coiled up in. She succeeded in unfurling her, as Annie let her knee fall and then shifted to sit cross-legged.
When Hitch made no move to detach her hand from where it rested on her knee, Annie didn’t protest.
“Thanks for hanging out with me,” Hitch said suddenly. Her words surprised herself.
“It’s not like you to express gratitude,” Annie responded, her tone dry and calm as usual.
“Well, I’m expressing it, so get over it,” Hitch shot back gruffly. But then her voice softened: “Seriously, I... like hanging out with you.”
Annie made eye contact with her again, studying her for a few moments without speaking. And Hitch felt once again like she was going to blush and maybe short-circuit from the intensity of Annie’s undivided, warm attention. The weight of both Annie’s intent eyes and Hitch’s vulnerability in sincerely expressing her appreciation of her friend made the blood rush to her face. And it threatened to scramble her brain like an egg once again. Thankfully, Annie brought her relief by finally breaking the silence, before Hitch could fall too deeply into another lovestruck daze or embarrassing spasm.
“I like hanging out with you too.” Annie smiled. “But don’t tell anyone. Remember? I have a reputation to uphold, like you said, right?”
She would never get used to that smile of Annie’s. It was a treat every time she saw it. It seemed like she was seeing it more frequently, and man, she wanted to see it even more.
Hitch let out a bubbly laugh that had been welling up in her chest, a weird byproduct of these currents of affection for Annie.
“Alright, I won’t tell anyone. Your secret’s safe with me.” She squeezes Annie’s knee for emphasis. “The streets will never know that MP Extraordinaire Tough Girl Annie Leonhart is capable of smiling adorably.”
Annie rolled her eyes, glanced away, still smiling.
“MP Extraordinaire? I don’t know about that.”
“Well, I do. You’re certainly a try-hard and expert when it comes to combat practice, as evidenced by my beautiful broken ankle.”
Annie play-groaned. “It always comes back to your ankle, huh? When will you let it go?”
“Maybe the day I die.”
“Keep it up, and you might find that day upon you a lot sooner than you think.”
Hitch gasped for effect, raising a hand to her mouth. “Annie the big, bad, villain makes an appearance again. I’m soooo scared.” To show how scared she was, she reached up and flicked Annie in the face.
To her credit, Annie received the flick with grace. She sat there cross-legged with the dignity of a monk, calm and unbothered, looking back at Hitch with an even gaze and a perfect little smirk.
“You’re soooo annoying,” she mimicked Hitch’s drawl.
“And you love it.”
“...Maybe.”
“Aww, just maybe?” Hitch whined.
Annie glanced down at the hand that still rested on her leg.
Seeing this, Hitch realized that she had been absently stroking her thumb across Annie’s knee. Damn, the affection was coming out of her automatically now. This crush really was bad. Maybe that was a bit too much physical affection for Annie at this point- that uncertain panic filled her again and she withdrew her hand suddenly.
Annie caught her wrist before she could pull back fully. The movement surprised both of them, and they stared at each other for a moment, while her wrist remained in Annie’s grasp.
“It’s okay,” Annie said quietly. “You can... keep doing that.” She looked away, bashful. “I... liked it.”
It only took a moment for Hitch to get over her embarrassment. Seeing her roommate like this washed it away: Annie was so cute. Apparently this supposedly cold, aloof loner liked Hitch’s warmth and touch more than her reputation would suggest.
“If you say so, Miss Leonhart. As you wish,” Hitch cooed with a beam on her face.
She put her hand back where it belonged, and continued swiping her thumb back and forth on Annie’s knee gently.
Sheepishly, Annie looked back at her and managed a little smile.
“Uh, thanks, Miss Dreyse,” she echoed.
Hitch couldn’t hold back a giggle at this gawky little nerd.
“No problem, dork.” She gave her knee an affectionate squeeze and then went back to rubbing with her thumb.
They fell into a comfortable silence. The taller girl slipped into her own thoughts. Hitch was cozy, reclining on her comfy mattress, feeling the warmth of Annie beside her. She felt like a queen, lazing on her back, and getting the royal treatment of Annie’s attention. Something about having Annie near her, and also being able to run her thumb along her back and forth, back and forth, had such a restful quality.
It also filled her with warmth to know that Annie actually enjoyed it. Apparently she even enjoyed it enough to demand that she continue when she stopped— wasn’t that something? It seemed that even someone as stoic as Annie could have a needy and affectionate side... the thought excited her. She was the only one seeing this side of Annie. And she wanted to see more of it. And with the way things were going, it seemed that she would. Her little mission to get Annie to open up, as well as her little flirting operation, were only just beginning, and were still met with success and good signs so far.
Her gaze fell to her own fingers, the thumb still stroking her roommate’s knee back and forth. It was like she was petting a kitten. A kitten whose only affinities were pastries and dry jokes and beating people up. A kitten who had a closet full of nothing but identical sweatshirts. Still, a very cute kitten, and very soothing to pet. How blissful. She couldn’t help but smile.
Her eyes returned to Annie’s face. Unbidden, a sudden desire to kiss her roommate burgeoned in her mind. Dammit, Hitch, could you stop being lovestruck for maybe two seconds?
But the image of her kissing Annie wouldn’t leave her mind’s eye. Who knows... maybe this idle fantasy was quite possible in reality. She had been scared Annie didn’t like her at all, and would never reciprocate her crush, but judging based on how the girl has been acting towards her... She felt a sense of hope start to submerge her fears of rejection.
Her reverie was interrupted by Annie’s soft voice. A pleasant interruption.
“How is your ankle? How are you feeling?”
Hitch met her roommate’s eyes and did her best to pretend she wasn’t just thinking of kissing her. Hopefully there was no incriminating blush damning her face.
“It still hurts, but it’s alright, I’ll survive...” It took all of her willpower to bite back another snide joke about big, bad villain Annie victimizing her foot. She didn’t want to taunt this gentle and concerned Annie away. “Thank you for asking.”
Annie gave a nod in response.
Silence filled the air between them again. Hitch didn’t mind. She just kept rubbing her thumb gently along Annie’s knee.
Once again she thought about how comfortable she was. How right this seemed. It was like the two of them were exactly where they belonged. She felt the most at-home she’d ever felt since leaving her hometown for the MP brigade. It almost scared her, how right this felt, how much she liked just being near Annie.
The thought that Annie might enjoy her just as much was the hope that she clung to; it was what kept her from burying her feelings completely until they smothered out and faded. Instead of masking her affection for Annie with her characteristic mockery and mean girl antics, she was actually taking a chance and letting her fondness show itself. So here she was, laying beside her roommate, tenderness showing through with every soft movement of her thumb. And it felt totally right. She was glad to be here with Annie.
The pure contentment she was experiencing emanated onto her face, as her lips curled up into a smile. She shifted her gaze to Annie’s face, and she halted her ruminating to get a good look at the girl who was just frequenting her thoughts.
Annie still sat cross-legged, hands folded in her lap. Her eyes were shut, and her expression and posture had the grace and serenity of a girl deep in prayer.
She was almost afraid to break the silence and disrupt the state of tranquility Annie was in. But then the blonde extended her arms in a stretch, letting out a yawn while she did so. It reminded Hitch of a cat.
“Are you tired?” asked the injured girl.
Annie peeped one eye open while she performed a shoulder stretch, one hand touching the other behind her back.
“Mmm,” Annie hummed in a non-answer.
Hitch’s fingers had now progressed to tracing lazy shapes on Annie’s knee.
“Why don’t you lay down?” Hitch suggested after doodling a heart on Annie with her pointer finger.
Annie still peered at her with one eye open, until she finished stretching both of her shoulders. She let her hands fall back into her lap, and then she deigned to stare back with both eyes. Annie’s intense eyes glinted with a strange look- disappointment? And she hesitated before answering.
“...Okay.” She shifts away from Hitch to the other side of the mattress, making a move to stand up and leave for her own bed.
Before she can stand, Hitch snatches her wrist and pulls her back toward her. Once again, Annie is startled and doesn’t resist Hitch’s grip. Instead, she just peers back at her with confusion. The bewildered look on Annie’s face- as well as Annie’s utter obliviousness to her question- makes Hitch break out in laughter.
When her giggles subside, she meets Annie’s gaze, a fond look shining in her eyes.
“I meant... here. Next to me. If you want.” Her voice is soft.
“Oh.” Annie breathes out, and they’re close enough that Hitch can almost feel it on her face. Annie is still leaning over Hitch, her wrist ensnared in the other’s grip. Their eyes are locked.
Automatically, Hitch’s eyes flicker unbidden to Annie’s lips for a moment. She could just close her eyes and lean in and...
But Annie straightens, and pulls her face away.
“Okay. I want.”
She gently removes herself from Hitch’s grasp, but positions herself again on the bed, lying on her back, next to the other girl.
Hitch’s heart had been pounding wildly in her chest, but with the moment passed, it began to settle down. She felt the heat in her cheeks, and she willed it to go away. With Annie this close to her, she couldn’t be looking like a blushing, crushing mess, or the other girl was sure to pick up on it.
She worked up the courage to glance back at Annie. The shorter girl seemed oblivious to her predicament and to the almost-kiss that had just happened: Her expression was neutral, and she looked comfortable (by stuffy Annie standards) reclining on the bed. Her eyes were half-closed, staring idly at the ceiling; they flickered once to meet Hitch’s own eyes, but after Annie gave her a brief, bashful half-smile, they flittered back away. After a minute, Annie’s eyes shut, and she laid there, as still and stolid as a statue.
The only sound between them was their breathing.
After a few minutes, Annie’s breaths got deeper, slower. Hitch studied her. She didn’t have her “mean face” on yet; that must be for when she was dreaming. Right now, she looked even more serene in sleep than she did in wakefulness.
The last thing Hitch recalls thinking before falling into a slumber was that she supposes this will be the best nap she’s ever taken. Even better than all the times she’s slept through office work shifts with Annie or Marlowe. So I guess this sprained ankle was really worth it, she thinks.
With Annie dozing beside her, Hitch drifted off to a gentle sleep.