Work Text:
When Manon looks back on the past several months, she’s grateful, but almost overwhelmed. The “Bake Off” elevated her career, gave her a level of fame and social media following she never would’ve dreamed of, plus an entirely new cast of friends and family of fellow bakers and former competitors.
It was that new family that she had been spending progressively more and more time with since the show premiered and led her to where she was now.
She rested her back on the cold metal bar of the elevator as she rode to the sixth floor of Ruby’s London loft. Ruby, Briony and Manon had made a ritual out of watching the premiere of each new episode of their season together. Each woman would bring their own bottle of wine and the three would split the bottles evenly as they watched, reminisced and gossiped about their time in the tent.
In her unassuming canvas bag, Manon carried a bottle of chilled white wine from a vineyard not far from her home in Brittany. Manon and Sarah, her ex, whom producers of the show hilariously referred to as her “flatmate,” had bought a case of the wine during a drunken trip back to the homeland. This was the final bottle; it was also the week that Manon was set to be eliminated from the show.
It was a day of mixed emotions.
As the door opened from the elevator to Ruby’s floor, she navigated the wide corridors of Ruby’s building before stopping in front of the door she knew as her “Bake Off” colleague’s home. She took a deep breath as she prepared to face her friends, knowing she was sure to be emotional by the time her elimination appeared on screen. She knocked firmly on the door, which received an immediate “it’s open,” from Ruby’s unmistakable hybrid of British accents.
Manon took a second deep breath and entered.
From the front entryway of the apartment, Manon could see Ruby in a yellow floral sundress, her hair in a high pony, as she stood in her kitchen, resting both arms on the granite of her kitchen island as she scrolled intently on her iPad.
The French baker removed her scarf and her bulky coat and hung it on the adjacent rack. She opted for a comfortable pair of jeans and a warm knit turtleneck. Their contrasting styles couldn’t be more pronounced.
Manon carried her bottle of expensive wine into Ruby’s kitchen, and like a long time friend or family member, placed it in her refrigerator. Ruby paid her little attention, instead devoting her focus on the screen ahead of her and the glass of red wine to her right.
“Where’s Briony,” Manon inquired with her soft voice and melodious French accent.
“She couldn’t make it,” Ruby replied flatly. “Just you and me tonight.”
Manon paused. The two women had never actually spent time together alone without another “Bake Off” alum to serve as a buffer. They got on well together, but transitioning into actual friends instead of just friend-in-a-group was a big step. It made Manon nervous, Ruby was intimidating.
Manon joined Ruby at the kitchen island, stood at the perpendicular corner and poured herself a glass of red, which was open on the counter next to a spare glass. She took a sip and spoke.
“What are you looking at,” Manon asked in a demure tone.
Ruby didn’t answer immediately. She hesitated, broke her stare from the screen to meet Manon’s eyes.
“I’m reading this article about us,” Ruby began. “It’s bonkers.”
Manon tilted her head in confusion, left her spot at the edge of the island, and took her place behind Ruby so she could see over her shoulder.
“Great British Bake Off’s queer fans have huge crushes on Ruby and Manon.”
Manon read the words at a whisper as Ruby waited for her reaction.
“Hmm,” the French woman replied. “That’s funny.”
She returned to her previous spot and grabbed hold of her glass and took another long sip.
“That’s it?” Ruby replied with indignation. “You don’t think that story is mad?”
Manon smirked between sips and then spoke. It was refreshing to see Ruby, normally confident and painstakingly put-together, a little bit frazzled.
“I mean… it makes sense. I think a lot of people probably have got crushes on us. You are obviously very beautiful and I’m good looking, too,” she said cheekily.
The answer didn’t satisfy Ruby.
“But what about that queer part?”
Manon shrugged. While her past relationship with Sarah was well known among her “Bake Off” alums, including Ruby herself, it was mostly a secret to the general public. She didn’t mind men or women finding her attractive, because she liked both as well.
“OK, but you’ve got to read these comments,” Ruby shot back. She was obviously still worked up by what she was reading.
Manon got up again and joined Ruby, this time resting her head on the older woman’s shoulder. It was the kind of physical contact that Manon made regularly with her friends and loved ones, but she could feel Ruby tense as her chin landed. Manon read the words aloud in a hushed tone.
“Ruby and Manon are so cute together,” one comment read.
“I had a dream about Manon and Ruby moving in together and now I’m sad it was just a dream,” read another.
“I’m not ashamed to admit it, I ship Ruby and Manon.”
Manon paused over that last one.
She turned to her left to face Ruby.
“What does this mean… ‘ship?’”
She whispered softly into Ruby’s ear and pointed at the word on the screen.
Ruby inhaled deeply before responding.
“It means like…” she trailed off. She reached for her glass of wine, now nearing its end, and finished off the last gulp. “It means that they, like, they like to imagine we are together. They pretend that we are a couple… like lesbians — or whatever.”
Manon smirked and Ruby could feel the change of her expression on Manon’s mouth through the fabric of her dress. Ruby was hyper-aware of Manon’s body on her own and the scent of her hair and skin.
Manon could tell that Ruby was waiting for a response — some sort of shocked outrage at the idea of the two of them being lovers. She didn’t respond. Instead, she left her spot on Ruby’s shoulder, grabbed her empty glass and headed for the refrigerator to fish out her ex-lover’s wine. Ruby’s eyes followed. With the expertise of someone from the land of grapes, she quickly and confidently uncorked the bottle. Ruby watched every move; she was captivated by the French woman, for reasons she couldn’t explain.
Manon held the cork in her hand and then directed it towards the Londoner. It was customary to smell the cork of an expensive bottle of wine to truly appreciate the craftsmanship and the dedication that went into the winemaking process. It wasn’t unusual for the women to offer a sniff of the cork, but something about this current predicament felt… different.
Ruby leaned forward and closed her eyes as Manon waved the cork near her nose. She inhaled the scent deeply. Manon never dared to cross the threshold of friendship with Ruby, but as Ruby breathed in deep, she began to appreciate her former competitor in a new light. Her warm skin, her sleek black hair, her athletic frame and her plump red lips. She considered the woman in front of her for the very first time, and if past experience had taught her anything, Ruby was probably thinking the same thing.
Manon pulled the cork away and the lack of the sweet aroma made Ruby’s eyes flutter open. Manon had closed the gap between them; she was almost sitting in her lap. Ruby could smell the woman’s scent; she admired every speckle in her brown eyes. She shivered as Manon’s thumb landed on her cheek.
Ruby fought the urge to turn away, but as Manon’s lips approached, she froze.
Manon’s lips landed softly on Ruby’s and Ruby was shocked by how natural it felt. The kiss was slow and deliberate, but tender and soft. Before long Ruby felt her body relax as she melted into the French woman in front of her and before long she realized she had begun kissing the taller woman back. Ruby may have been shocked and disgusted by the comments she had been reading earlier, but now, she could admit, she and Manon made a cute couple.
Manon released Ruby’s chin and her hand had migrated to the back of her head. She pulled the older woman closer to her body and Ruby felt herself surrendering to the pleasure.
As the French woman introduced her tongue into Ruby’s mouth, Ruby was shaken back to consciousness. Her eyes shot open and her mind went clear again. She softly pushed Manon away, just far enough to grab some air.
Ruby’s mouth was agape and her eyes bounced back and forth between Manon’s eyes and lips. Manon smiled deviously. The younger woman tilted her head and went in for round two and Ruby almost gave in, but she pushed Manon away once more.
“I’m not queer, you know,” Ruby whispered unconvincingly.
Manon smiled.
“I believe you,” she lied.
Manon kissed her again and this time, Ruby committed. She allowed Manon to cradle her body and welcomed the younger woman’s tongue into her mouth. She knew she wasn’t being very convincing after declaring she was straight, but Manon's touch made her not care as much. Ruby’s hands began to wander up the fabric of Manon’s shirt, the French woman’s flat tummy felt so soft and sensual on the pads of her fingertips. As Ruby continued to get more brazen and desperate for Manon’s touch, the French woman pulled the Indian baker’s hands from under her shirt.
Ruby’s eye shot open with disappointment as Manon deprived her of what lied beneath her sweatshirt. Manon smiled playfully and kissed Ruby on the cheek, then grabbed her hand and led her to the couch with minutes to spare before the episode premiered.
Manon no longer dreaded watching. Ruby no longer cared what the people on the internet said.