Work Text:
It was not entirely rare that Ling Ying came home later than Sabine, but it wasn’t entirely common, either. The healer had a rather strict schedule for herself, but work has been rather busy for the both of them. They have been coming home later each day, and at some point, Sabine felt like she was in a mild competition with Ling Ying to see who could come home the latest. Clearly, she lost today because the door opened to her beloved healer, who caught her slumped on the couch staring stone-faced at the dark screen of their TV still in her work clothes.
Sabine almost didn’t dare to turn around; all that could be seen was an ever-so-slight turn of her head. It was just enough to see a bit of her right profile and a pupil shift from the blank TV to about where Ling Ying stood. Speaking of her (like she hasn’t this whole time), the healer stood there, hand not even off the knob, and just watched. Her face was all different kinds of strained as she tried to bite back the laughter rising in her. She could only put up with it for a second, because the next thing Sabine knew, Ling Ying was bent over laughing– her messenger bag dangling from her hunched over shoulders and her hand still on the doorknob. It was a laugh that made it difficult to keep the healer’s eyes open and gave the scientist a clear view of her dimples. Sabine couldn’t help but also laugh at their strange greeting.
“Why do you look so guilty?” Ling Ying finally took her hand off the door to close it, still trying to recover from the laughing.
“I don’t know? You just caught me off guard, I suppose.” Sabine laughed as Ling Ying plopped right next to her.
There was a slight silence as the two caught their breaths and composed themselves on the couch before Sabine turned her head to face Ling Ying.
Her long ponytail was now loose and showed clear signs of a very long day with each movement of her head. Her brown eyes were sprinkled with fatigue, giving a tired look that was only livened briefly with the amusement minutes prior. The calm smile that she once bore constantly for as long as Sabine knew her was now a tired half-hearted smile when Sabine glanced at her. But it was a good thing, because it meant that she didn’t always feel the need to always put up her best act if she didn’t feel like it. She could also hear it– how tired Ling Ying was– because the breaths were a little longer, because even though they were both quiet people, the healer always made an effort to liven things up when she could. Sabine was secretly glad that instead, Ling Ying curled up on the couch right next to her, head resting on her shoulder.
“You look like you’ve seen better days.” Sabine murmured with a grin as she helped untie Ling Ying’s ponytail.
Ling Ying pursed her lips and swiveled her head to face Sabine, “Actually, I think I’m living some of my best days, now.”
在这儿, 和你在一起。
In here, with you.
They held eye contact for just a moment, breaths wavering. They both quickly ducked their heads in opposite directions. Sabine was a little horrified of what her face may have involuntarily done, because if anything, she could feel how hot her ears were. Ling Ying was no better.
Ling Ying cleared her throat and let out a small laugh, “Though, metaphorically speaking, I suppose I have seen better days. But I think I could say the same for you.”
It was true. If anything, the first major sign was simply the fact that the scientist was just sitting there, blankly staring into space without even changing her clothes. Ling Ying knows Sabine is a meticulous woman; she wouldn’t just forgo parts of her routine without good reason. The second was perhaps an almost unnoticeable drop in her posture: from her reactions to the way she sat on the couch. From her reaction that resembled a side eye of a guilty dog to her slouch that let the couch suck her in a little deeper into the cushions. Her hair was slightly disheveled, like she ran her hand through them– which Ling Ying found that the scientist did often when she was frustrated while reading or writing reports– and smoothed it down again. It left some strands still astray. And while her notable eye bags have lightened since having a better sleep schedule, they seemed a little heavier recently. Her always sharp gaze softened a little with a slight droop of her eyelids, but a little tenser from the strain of staring at either a screen or experiment all day.
While Ling Ying would prefer her scientist to not be tired, she found this sleepy version of Sabine to be an instant cause to hyperglycemia, and she savored it.
“You look tired…-er.” Ling Ying rubbed Sabine’s cheekbone.
“Hm.” Sabine hummed, “I suppose you are right.”
She leaned her head back and let her eyes close, “Instant noodles?”
Ling Ying nodded. Sabine didn’t need to open her eyes to know that, because she could feel it in the slight shake of the couch and the sound of her hair and clothes rubbing. She felt another, larger shake as Ling Ying joined her– head back and eyes closed.
“Let’s give it 10 minutes for a breather before cooking.” Ling Ying murmured sleepily.
Though, after many more minutes than 10, they were still in the same position.
“...Beans…we need to get up now or we may as well just sleep on the couch.” Ling Ying muttered as she gently shook the scientist’s shoulder, whose head jolted up and eyes fluttered open. Ling Ying chuckled.
“Shit. Ok, ok. ‘Mm…getting up. Let’s go.” Sabine rubbed her eyes and pulled Ling Ying up with her.
Ling Ying laughed as she hopped onto her feet and followed into the kitchen.
She pulled out a tomato and a head of bok choy to try to minimize the damage of eating instant noodles for the 3rd time this week as dinner. They chatted against the trickling sound of water from the sink and the soft gurgling of water being boiled.
Placing the steaming bowls on the table, they sat in silence for a bit as they waited for it to cool down to an edible temperature.
“Thank goodness it’s a 3-day holiday weekend, huh.” Ling Ying chuckled.
Sabine nodded, “Oh, do you have any plans tomorrow?”
Ling Ying’s eyes widened a bit, “Ah- I was going to ask you the same thing–”
“Near the beach there’s–” They both spoke up.
Ah.
Sabine had noticed that Ling Ying always stopped a little longer to examine various pottery or handmade trinkets. Perhaps it has to do with her role as a geomancer.
“There’s a pottery workshop on the main street, and I was wondering if you’re interested.” Sabine rubbed her neck.
Ling Ying’s eyes lit up a little, “That sounds wonderful. We could have lunch at the cute restaurant I was planning to mention.”
They smiled and ate in silence, the sounds of the utensils clinking against the bowls filling the kitchen.
After everything was cleaned up, Ling Ying muttered sleepily, “You can go to bed first. I have to do something.”
Sabine frowned, “Surely work can wait till Tuesday?”
Ling Ying smiled wide, shaking her head, “Not work, something else. Go sleep, 毛豆, I’ll come as soon as I’m done.”
“And you’re always fussing over my sleep schedule.” Sabine raised her eyebrows, “The pottery workshop starts at 10:30. Get enough sleep before then, otherwise Pinto and I will be very lonely in bed.”
Sabine was probably the only person she knew that could say something like that with a straight face. Anyone else would’ve cracked under the delivery of those lines. But the thought of their comfy bed, Sabine, and the plushy bear Sabine got her almost lured her straight to sleep. Ignoring the temptation, Ling Ying pulled out her phone and returned to the kitchen,
In the haze of sleep, Sabine swore she heard the faint sound of a phone alarm going off, and after an indiscernible amount of time, she heard hushed footsteps. Suddenly, a warm, plant, disinfectant, and sweet-smelling someone crawled into her arms. Sabine smiled.
This time, Sabine clearly heard the alarm– her own alarm ringing. Through half-open eyes, she could see light beginning to stream through the blinds and onto the foot of their bed. Ling Ying stirred in the blankets, letting out a small grumble at the alarm.
9:00 A.M. – We can sleep for a little longer, it takes about 23 minutes to get there and we’ll most likely take less than an hour to get ready. Sabine thought, turning off her phone screen.
She could feel the sleep taking her back before her hand returned back onto the bed.
When she opened her eyes again, a quick glance at the clock showed that it was 9:50.
Shit.
Getting up immediately, Sabine shook Ling Ying’s shoulder, “Ling, get up. We have 10 minutes until the 10:00 A.M. bus arrives.”
“Wh–?” Ling Ying got up stiffly, Looking at the time, Ling Ying froze mid eye rub, “We’ve lost a bit of our organization from the VP, huh.”
The two scrambled together to get ready and snatched whatever they thought was needed into their bags. At the last moment, Ling Ying fumbled in the fridge to put something in her bag before leaving and closing the door with a thunk.
All was quiet in their little abode again.
They caught up to the bus at the last moment, squishing themselves in. They got jostled with each bump or stop on the road. With so many people in the bus, it took a little longer than usual, prolonging their sweaty and less than ideal start to their day. After the bumpy ride, they got off and were immediately welcomed with a light salty breeze. They couldn’t stand and cool down, however, as there was only 4 minutes left to get to the place. Grabbing Ling Ying’s hand, the two started to run. Bags jangling on their shoulders, sun splashing on their faces through the spaces between leaves and trees, and beads of sweat slid down their grinning faces. Their laughter filled the street.
They stumbled through the door and were greeted with a person at the desk.
“Can I get your name?” The person asked.
“Sabine.” She breathed.
“Ah, ok. The workshop will start shortly, though, apologies, we never got what type of pottery you two would like to make. Did you guys want to do different ones, or like a,” They glanced at the two, flushed from running and still holding hands, “couple’s set, or…?”
The two stiffened, releasing their grip, “Uh, n…oh, we, uh–”.
The worker at the desk paused for a moment in confusion, and quickly retracted their question, “Sorry, sorry, I was just listing your options and assumed you two…”
“No- Well, we–” Sabine fumbled her words.
More silence.
“Can we take a look at the different types?” Ling Ying laughed nervously.
“Yes.” They smiled awkwardly.
In the end, Ling Ying chose to make a little flower pot for their succulents and Sabine chose to make a small plate to hold little trinkets.
After they were all situated and given a block of clay, the potter taught them some basic hand movements and skills to work the clay and wheel.
Taking a quick glance at Sabine, she seemed to be in deep concentration trying to cut her flattened slab of clay in a perfect circle on the wheel. The slight furrow of her eyebrows and intense look while being hunched over her work was not an uncommon sight, and Ling Ying always admired her focus. But perhaps it was the way her hair that she’s always kept short was tied back today, or the fact that she was busy struggling with clay that made the sight even more endearing. Ling Ying decided that she’d put all her efforts into making her pottery, and began working on hers. Maybe she became too focused, though, because the clay shaped a little too easily under her hands.
Sabine quickly caught on, and quickly tapped Ling Ying’s foot with her own, “Ling, stop for a second. Your radiance.” She muttered in a low voice.
She stopped to see that within a minute or so of focus, her once block of clay was a little too well shaped compared to the rest of the people in the room. The flower pot had almost a perfect shape to it– perfectly symmetrical and all.
Ling Ying gave Sabine a worried side eye before quickly reverting the pot back into a lump of clay.
“It is slightly overwhelming to get your hands into it,” The potter walked over, noticing the strangely shaped lump of clay on Ling Ying’s wheel, “But making mistakes is part of the process, you can always restart. Do you need any help with it?”
Ling Ying froze for a moment, her clay-stained hands hovering over the clay, “Uh, yes. Thank you.”
In the corner of her eye, she noticed Sabine ducking her head a little, trying to conceal her laughter.
They spent the rest of their morning working on their clay. They would be able to see the hardened form out of the kiln tomorrow and paint them. The two walked out in the direction of the restaurant Ling Ying found; faint streaks of clay on their clothes could still be seen.
The restaurant wasn’t very large, but it had a nice spacious look to it and potted plants around the place for an earthy, cozy feel.
“I hope the food will be to your liking.” Ling Ying peeked from the laminated menu.
“These all look very appetizing. The atmosphere is nice, too. Good find.” Sabine nodded.
While waiting for their food, Ling Ying furrowed her eyebrows, fidgeting in her seat.
“Is something wrong?” Sabine in turn furrowed her eyebrows too, with a slight look of concern.
“No, I just…I feel like I’m forgetting something…Brimstone told me the other day-” Ling Ying quickly stopped.
Sabine tilted her head slightly in confusion, “I’m sure it won’t be an issue ‘till Monday. You talked to Brimstone recently?”
“Uh, yeah, we uh, caught up on some things.” Ling Ying glanced to the side.
Their food was served and the two thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely a change of pace from their instant noodles or takeout. A very good one at that.
When they stepped outside of the restaurant, they were met with the heavy wave of afternoon sun. They took some time walking around, window shopping, taking in AC from various shops, and enjoying each other's company before settling on a concrete ledge facing the beach under some shade. They sat in silence for a while, soaking in the cool, salty breeze and watching the beachgoers go by.
Sage suddenly rummaged through her bag.
“At this point, it’s not much of a surprise, but, I made cookies yesterday.” Ling Ying quickly added upon seeing Sabine’s conflicted expression, “Don’t worry, I followed the recipe closely this time– I didn’t eyeball any of the measurements– and I consulted Brimstone as well. I tried one and I thought they were good. Sweet, but good. I hope you’ll like them.”
Sabine chuckled, taking a cookie from the bag, “Don’t worry, I enjoyed those cookies even if you put a little too much baking powder.”
Taking a bite, Sabine's eyes lit up a little, “Ling, this is really good. Brim knows his baking, too.”
“You’re not going to compliment my efforts and improvements?” Ling Ying pouted as she took a cookie as well.
“I’m saving my best compliments as my last. But of course, Ling, these are perfect, you should make them again sometime.” Sabine leaned in to give Ling Ying a kiss on her forehead.
“OHO! What do we have here?” A loud, gruff voice belted out in a Swedish accent.
The two froze in their place.
她妈的。 我忘了。 他们不能等一下再來吗？
Damn it. I forgot. Couldn’t they wait a moment longer to come over?
Breach, Neon, and Deadlock walked over. They were hard to miss, from Breach’s height, volume, and ginger hair, Neon’s bright blue and yellow hair, and Deadlock’s freckles.
“Hoyy, Sage! Viper! Good to see you two doing well.” Neon waved, with a smug grin on her face.
“Seems like we’re interrupting a bit.” Deadlock chuckled.
Ling Ying smiled gingerly and Sabine’s expression instantly erased any trace of warmth that was only for Ling Ying to see– her increasingly reddening face was an exception.
Brimstone had mentioned that the 3 were traveling to their area to have their prosthetics and suit maintained. Clearly, Ling Ying had forgotten.
“What are you guys doing here?” Sabine tried to compose herself.
“Just getting our stuff checked up.” Breach flexed his prosthetics, “You two seem to be having a good time.”
“Fantastic time.” Sabine deadpanned.
They had a quick chat, catching up on what they were up to. The conversation quickly became quick teases at the two, so Sabine shooed them away before they could bring up anything more.
“Bye Sage! Bye Viper!” Neon shouted, still with her massive grin.
Deadlock and Breach waved. They could still hear Breach’s laughter as they watched them walk away.
Sabine turned and stared at Ling Ying, “We need to move to a deserted island at this point.”
Ling Ying laughed, she could still feel the heat on her cheeks, “It’s just our luck.”
The sun eventually made it a little hot even under the waning shade. They decided to go to a little shop near the area to buy some drinks to wash down the cookies and keep cool. Sifting through the selection, they decided the flavored sparkling water sounded enticing. The two spent a good minute bickering about one of the pronunciation of one of the brand names in the selection.
“Don’t trick me, there is no way the end is pronounced with a “y” when it is spelled with a “x”.” Ling Ying turned her head towards Sabine, still bent over looking at the drinks.
“I’m not. I believe the brand used a French word, and then it got an American pronunciation.” Sabine crossed her arms defensively.
“English…” Ling Ying muttered, shaking her head.
In the end, they chose ones in pretty glass bottles. Even if they were more expensive, the two concluded that they indeed deserved it.
They spent the rest of the afternoon walking on the beach and soaking in the salty breezes.
Sitting on the sand, their pants cuffed, shoes set to the side, they watched the sun slowly set. Condensation dripped down the glass bottles as they finished the last of their sparkling water. The bottles reflected the light from the sun, shining pretty colors onto the sand. The faint sound of waves, people laughing, and occasional seagulls filled their silence. The scent of the shampoo they use, her rough yet comforting hands, her soft yet firm grip– the two wished these moments would last longer.
“Today was wonderful.” Ling Ying murmured, leaning on Sabine’s shoulder.
“Mmm.” Sabine hummed in agreement, “I think we did pretty good, too.”
Sabine could feel Ling Ying grin on her shoulder. “Yeah, we did.” Ling Ying Let out a small, happy sigh.
Suddenly, the healer turned towards Sabine and gave her a quick kiss on both cheeks.
Sabine’s eyes widened a little. Both their faces got increasingly hot, not because of the remaining sunset heat.
“A reward for your amazing pottery date today.” Ling Ying laughed, seeming a bit flustered, “And I told you, I’d get payback for teasing me sometime.”
“I don’t need to tease you today to see your flustered face.” Sabine chuckled.
She cupped Ling Ying’s cheek and leaned forward, “I need to make up for the one we got so rudely interrupted for and more for today.”
“Beans!” Ling Ying laughed harder as Sabine sprinkled kisses across her face.
The salty wind blew, the orange glow of the sunset blanketed them, and the waves applauded. They would be taking the glass bottles they stuck in the sand home– a little piece of their time today that they could look at whenever.
Today was their day, and so was the next, and next, for a very long time, together.