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Becky feels a body slumping against her.
Sitting in the back seat of the taxi next to her is her best friend, co-star, and partner-in-scene: Freen.
Gently, she takes the glasses slipping on Freen’s nose off, hanging them by the leg on her shirt. Burying a quick kiss in her friend’s hair, she turns back to the window and watches the city go by.
Today has been a busy day of photoshoots and interviews, but on top of that, the older woman is still recovering from her stomach pain and cold. She’s emotionally, physically, and mentally spent. Her social battery is empty and all she wants to do, Becky knows, is go back to her condo and crawl into bed.
Between the two of them, Freen definitely gets sick more often. She’s wholly unprepared, absolutely blindsided by the overwhelming support and sudden fame following GAP. Since starting their press tour, Becky has watched the other woman deal with panic attacks and stress-related stomach aches under constant scrutiny of cameras and fans. She does her best to support Freen, but sometimes she worries she’s not doing enough.
The taxi comes to a halt in front of Freen’s place, snapping her out of her thoughts. Carefully, she helps Freen out of the car and up the stairs, twisting the key into the lock as she’s done many times before. With a steady hand, she leads her friend into the bathroom and gently cleans both their faces of makeup.
Sticking a toothbrush in Freen’s hand, she watches in amusement as Freen brushes her teeth on autopilot. She quickly brushes her own teeth and changes into her sleepwear. Then, she leads the other woman to the bed and hands her soft clothes to change into.
She listens to the thumps and shuffles from the adjacent room as she takes out her contacts. When she returns, she finds a drowsy Freen clad in a tank top and a pair of her plaid pajama pants curled up beneath the covers. The sight is too adorable.
Becky leans over and gives her a quick kiss on the forehead before stepping away to check the locks on all the doors and windows for a final time. She shuts the lights off in the other room and pours two glasses of water. When she returns to the bedroom, she finds Freen still awake and very clingy. No sooner has she slipped under the covers than the older girl presses their bodies together. This physical request for attention brings a smile to the younger girl’s face.
Freen is so protective and caring of Becky, and she shows it through her actions. Whether it’s using her body to block her younger friend from the massive crowds of fans at their events, or offering a hand when they climb down the stairs, or protecting Becky’s head when she enters an automobile… she could list examples for a while.
Usually, Freen prefers to be on the giving end instead of receiving physical affection and acts of service. So she lets herself be babied, because it does feel nice. Unlike most of their friends, Freen isn’t condescending or infantilizing in her care. And it works out well because her love language involves verbal affirmations and gift-giving, mostly. But sometimes, other methods are more appropriate. Taking care of Freen when she’s feeling sick is one of the ways she can show the love back in a way the older girl is familiar with. It’s Freen’s turn to be babied now.
Twisting around, she clicks the bedside lamp off, bathing the room in a blanket of darkness. Then, laying on her back, she lets the other girl rest her head on her shoulder. Their legs tangle together under the thin blanket and together they both expel a grateful sigh.
The day is over. They can finally rest.
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Freen wakes in the throes of a familiar nightmare. Her brain likes to play tricks on her, whispering fears into existence and expanding them, filling every crevice of her mind. Tonight, she dreamt again about the world suddenly hating her, turning their backs on her just as quickly as they thrust her into the limelight. Friends, family, and fans alike cut her out and forgot about her.
She struggles to muffle the noise, seeing Becky snoring beside her in bed. Neither of them get much sleep these days, so any precious time spent resting is not to be interrupted. To her relief, the younger woman stays asleep. Carefully, she extricates herself from the twisted covers and stumbles to the balcony door.
Once outside, she sighs into the warm air. Looking over the horizon, she notices the sky turning lighter. Dawn is her favorite time of day. As a morning person, she loves how the world wakes up, stirring into action. It’s motivating.
Freen doesn’t know how long she stands outside for, leaning on the railing lightly. Time has a funny way of slipping by when she’s not paying attention. At some point, Becky wakes, notices she’s not in bed, and finds her way outside as well. She hears the footsteps, then feels the arms snaking around her waist from behind. Becky’s chin finds home on her right shoulder, molding the front of her body with Freen’s back.
The physical touch grounds her, fetching her wandering mind from up above and bringing it back to her body. The nightmares aren’t real, and she has people who love her. Even if she falls out of fame, she’ll be all right. She knows that Becky will be by her side through it all. That’s how love works.
Turning around in the hug, she buries her face in the crook of Becky’s neck. The warmth wards away her fears and anxiety, ushering in a sense of comfort and calm instead. While a dull pain still spreads through her body, it feels less severe when she’s in Becky’s arms.
The shorter girl presses her nose under Freen’s jaw. Silently, Becky assures her that she is the most important thing in her life. Even more than sleep.
Speaking of which. Since her mini-breakdown is over and she feels stable enough to return to the bed, they really should sleep a little more. They have another busy day ahead of them, filled with fan meet preparations and press promos.
Becky follows easily, letting her lead them back inside, back under the covers. They cuddle up in a familiar formation, arms and legs thrown haphazardly over each other.
As she feels her best friend’s body slacken beneath her, she can’t help but thank the universe for letting their paths intersect.
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