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The smiles, the small touches, the gazes. They both noticed it but neither commented. The comfortable silence was nice. Driving though the Indian terrain was also nice. Sharing stories and jokes, laughing together. Nadine would be lying if she said she wouldn’t miss this once she was done here. Part of her never wanted it to end. Wanted to trail alongside the flirty, boisterous Chloe Frazer forever. But the realistic side of her knew better, knew that she belonged at shoreline and this was a simple bump in the road. A heavy jolt from the questionable driving from Frazer snapped her out of her wishful thinking.
“You sure I shouldn't be driving?” she said light heartedly, a smile coming through her words.
“No, no I’m good, just hard to see with the sun in my eyes” came Chloe's quick response. Nadine could only laugh, she was certainly stubborn.
“”It's getting late, maybe we should find somewhere to set up camp, and rest a bit?” Nadine suggested.
“Set up camp? I normally just sleep in the car”
“But this is a convertible, it only has two seats” She replied “how's that gonna work?”
“Uhhh, I didn’t think about that,” Chloe laughed a little. “We'll make it work,” she said.
Nadine couldn't help the smile that parted her lips. The car stopped suddenly and Chloe jumped out shouting behind her about grabbing something. She bets it’s another one of those silly tokens Frazer has decided to collect whenever she can. This gave Nadine some time to think at least, she watched as the already setting sun got lower and lower in the sky. Darkness starting to sweep over the land. Nadine would admit she was a bit tired, they had explored two of the Indian temples today, and although it was a nice arm workout she knew she’d be stiff tomorrow and a bit sore from all the climbing. She yawned big and wide. The landscape around her now early night with shadows over everything. Chloe was taking a while but Nadine wasn’t worried she could take care of herself. She waited patiently for another 10 minutes and when Chloe still hadn’t returned from her little adventure, she started to get mildly concerned. These little expeditions of her’s normally didn’t take too long. So she called her name a few times waiting for a response. When she heard nothing then she became a little more worried. Chloe could take a while and she wouldn’t be this concerned, but she always replied when Nadine checked up on her. So Nadine decided to go on in and find out what was taking so long. She wandered in and found a bunch of old stone carvings and architecture but no Chloe. She quickly swung across a small gorge to find a little building. Inside was a ledge which looked like it would hold the treasure Chloe normally returned with. Including a round clean spot devoid of dust unlike the rest of the building. This confirmed that Chloe had gotten here ok. But now, nowhere in sight. Nadine's eyebrows furrowed. She looked around for signs of her, she did find a pair of footprints that looked about Chloe's size and were fresh enough. Tracing the tracks made by presumably Chloe, led her through a small cave nearby. When she emerged from it, she could see Chloe standing on the edge of a drop off. She hurried over.
“What the hell are you doing?” Nadine called out to her as she jogged over confusion laced in her words.
“Oh, sorry love, got a bit distracted, come over here” she beckoned. Nadine took confident steps towards Chloe stopping beside her. She pointed out in front of her, Nadine peered ahead. Her eyes went wide. The setting sun was just a slither on the horizon. The setting sun lighting up the underside of the clouds around it, giving off a warm pink and orange glow. She could understand why Chloe had been so entranced by it. It was truly stunning, she glanced over at her, Chloe’s eyes still on the horizon.
“It’s beautiful,” Nadine said quietly to Chloe. Chloe tore her eyes away to lock the two of theirs.
“Yeah” She replied, eyes glued to Nadine’s. They both smiled a little and brought their eyes back to the fading light. They watched the last of the day disappear in a comfortable, beautiful silence. Neither said anything until it was well and truly dark out. Nadine was first to break the silence.
“Don’t scare me like that again, you could have replied”
“Awww, were you worried about me~ how sweet ” she cackled as she ended the sentence finding her partner's concern funny.
“Oh, shut up” Nadine responded with no real bite.
Chloe continued chuckling to herself as she began to make her way back to the Jeep. It didn’t take them long to return to their vehicle but by the time they did it was definitely late enough to start thinking about sleep. Chloe seemed to have the same thoughts, starting to move stuff into the back of the Jeep to make space for them. Apart from their short conversation earlier she hadn’t outlined exactly how they planned on sleeping in this small thing. Nadine watched as Chloe got ready for bed pottering about, grabbing an MRE for the two of them. Starting on a small fire to heat them up over. The crackling of it was comforting, the warmth coming from it welcomed, as the night got colder. Nadine took her seat next to Chloe in front of the fire. She passed Nadine a not very appealing looking, steamy MRE, she thanked her for it and started eating, it wasn’t much better than it looked. Chloe didn’t seem to care and had finished the whole thing in about 5 minutes, now simply waiting for Nadine to finish patently. She could feel Chloe’s gaze on her and smiled but didn’t look over. She would never admit it outloud but she liked it when Chloe paid her attention not because she was in danger or called for it, just because she wanted to, just because she wanted to look at her. It gave her a warm feeling that came from within and not the fire still burning strong. She continued to finish her meal and collected the small metal bowls they brought with them and stored them away in the back of the car.
The concept of having to sleep in the small space left in the vehicle was hard to grasp.
“So how exactly are we supposed to both sleep in this thing?” she asked Chloe hoping she had an answer.
“Easy, I sleep in the car, you sleep on the ground” she grinned as she said it, apparently proud of her little joke.
“Funny, but seriously how's this gonna work?”
“We’ll just top n’ tail it” came her honest reply.
“Sorry?” Was this some Australian joke she should know? Apparently picking up on Nadine's confusion she explained the style of sleeping to her. Nadine could see how this would work and was prepared to try it. She took her shoes off and undid her hair from it’s casual pony-tail, and Chloe did the same, it caught Nadine's attention. Watching as the raven locks were moved around with experienced fingers, tugging and brushing through the hair. She glanced up and locked eyes with Nadine smirking a little, causing Nadine to look away and return to her own bedtime routine. If not blushing more than she should have been.
Now they were awkwardly trying to get into position half climbing on each other to get it right, both laughing.
“Ah, your foot’s in my face!” called Chloe's cackling voice from the other end.
“Sorry” Nadine called back, chuckling as well. They both finally got comfortable and laid there in silence as they looked up at the night sky. Stars shining from far above, crystal clear in the cool air. It was nice. Nadine sighed as she closed her eyes. Sleepiness taking over.
Nadine woke up first, she knew this because she felt a heavy weight on her chest looking down to see not Chloe’s feet but her peacefully sleeping face resting right there. Somehow throughout the night she had turned herself all the way around 180 degrees. Nadine was not complaining. She studied Chloe’s sleeping face, her eyes scanning her every feature. All the little scars, all the slight bumps of skin texture. The way her makeup-less eyelashes looked; bare and pleasing. Nadine had the sudden temptation to touch them. To feel the feathery feeling of those lashes against her skin. Her thoughts drifted to them on her cheeks, her face so close she would be able to feel them flutter as she blinked. Her lips so close she would be able to feel the soft breath seep from them onto her own. She felt Chloe shift while she slept her head using her bosom as a pillow and softly swishing her face further in for comfort. Nadine didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Just layed there in silent surrender. Cheeks warm. Those same eyelashes slowly opened blinking several times as if in confusion. Then she peeked upward, to see Nadine awkwardly smiling down at her. She blinked a few more times then looked down and made urgent movement away. Sitting up she was now straddling her by mistake, legs on either side of Nadine’s. Nadine just carefully brought her own legs up, knees to chest. Arms wrapping around them. Neither said anything. Chloe coughed a little and started moving to the side of the car. Nadine had the sudden urge to just keep her close. Not in a persuasive or sexual way, she just carefully extended her hand to catch Chloe’s arm before she left the vehicle. Chloe’s head snapped around, eyes unsure but not denying the touch. She carefully, slowly leaned closer to Nadine. Nadine, just as cautious, pulled her steadily towards herself. Once Chloe was close enough Nadine wrapped her arms around her, gently, as if she were fragile. Chloe turned into the embrace, facing her. Gradually getting closer. Nadine lowered them down. Mirroring the way they lay earlier. Chloe sighed audibly, becoming soft in Nadine's arms. She never closed her eyes fully, staying completely aware of the situation and never moving away. They laid like that peacefully, throughout the early hours of the morning.
Once the sun began to rise they began separating, sitting up properly and waking up fully. Thankfully it wasn’t awkward and they both began to get ready for the day in their own ways unpacking stuff and discussing breakfast foods. Chloe refused an MRE’s as breakfast claiming it to “lack energy” whatever that meant. Before long they were back on the road, Chloe dodging trees and rocks left and right. Chloe once again stopped to grab her precious tokens. She returned this time with a large smile on her face. When inquired about it Nadine was told that she had collected them all, with excitement spreading across her smile and in her voice. She started to drive in the complete opposite direction they were heading before. Nadine didn’t mind. They eventually arrived at yet another old fortress. Chloe beckoned for Nadine to come this time and so she made her way out of the Jeep and followed Chloe inside. Chloe gained a new bracelet smiling ear to ear. She continued to make her way through the antique structure. Leading Nadine to a clearing. Her eyes widened and her mouth turned up in an easy smile as she spotted one of her favorite animals (Chloe XD) monkeys. She saw more as she made her way through the area. Reciting the name of the breed, Chloe commented back that she found her adorable. Nadine blushed.
“And now you're blushing”
“Shut up”
They locked eyes and smiled at each other, Nadine wouldn’t forget this moment no matter what happened in the future.This moment right now, would remain as it is, innocent and beautiful.