Work Text:
It's going to rain today. The ache in Nicole's leg tells her so. Perhaps that would be a useful ability, if meteorology didn't exist.
Instead it just makes Nicole wake up before the alarm on days like this.
After spending too much time debating if tossing and turning or the missing body heat would be more disruptive to her wife, Nicole gets up.
Waverly stirs on the bed but does not open her eyes.
Great, that mission failed.
"You're up early," Waverly says, sleep clinging to her voice.
"I have to get ready for work," Nicole informs her, keeping her voice low, as if she hadn't already disturbed Waverly's sleep.
"Mmm, go get 'em sheriff," Waverly mutters, rolling over in bed. She creates a cocoon for herself with the comforter now that her bonus blanket is gone.
Nicole does not imagine that she would be getting anyone today. Most days are slow and boring, even with being the Angel's shield and the sheriff.
She walks to the bathroom to get ready, going slower than usual so she doesn't limp on that leg of hers in case Waverly is watching her. Don't want to worry Waverly for nothing.
Nicole couldn't remember if she even told Waverly that she had broken that leg in three places. That isn't something she really needs to know, anyways.
Once at work, Nicole is proven right about it being a slow day. It's nothing but filtering out complaints and finishing up some old reports.
Half of the complaints are from Bunny Loblaw so it is very easy to just dismiss them. That woman is still as annoying as ever, but at least she keeps Nicole busy.
Nicole absentmindedly scratches at a bite mark shaped scar on her arm. It doesn't hurt but it is known to itch from time to time.
Slow is good, though. Waverly does not have to worry about getting a call about her wife ending up in the hospital. Again.
Nicole should get a punch card for that or something. Would be due a free sandwich at this point, at least.
…Though it would be hospital food so maybe not.
It does end up raining today. Nicole can tell without going outside, not just due to her leg but from the plop, plop, plop coming from the leak in the roof.
They need to get that repaired, it's been there ever since Nicole was a deputy. But the budget is tight already so it'll likely remain until it can no longer be ignored.
Nicole is half way through the paperwork when the last person besides her in the station leaves.
Who also happens to be the only other person who was there today. A new deputy. Well, newish. If they're still around one more week then they'll be the longest lasting deputy to not be eaten by vampires or to have run away, not counting Nicole herself.
Maybe Nicole should get them a prize for that. It would have to come out of her own pockets, though.
The rest of the complaints can wait (she left the worst to last, so it's all Bunny's) so Nicole makes her exit soon afterwards. Plus, if she stayed overtime Waverly would be mad.
And Nicole has had enough time to herself for a lifetime.
It's raining when she leaves. She has to check that it isn't hail, the raindrops feel more like shards of ice. It's freezing cold, just like-
Her heart picks up its pace. Her breath gets stuck in her throat.
No, she is no longer in that tub in Shorty's, drowning herself to save her friends. Her family.
She'd do it again, and again, and again no matter how many times it takes. But it is no longer necessary, and she wouldn't want Waverly to have to kill anyone else to save her.
It's up to her to keep Waverly's darkness at bay.
She'd never admit to Waverly that part of her scares her at times. All relationships have their secrets.
(Though she loves that part of her just as well. That she will not hide. Not ever.)
Nicole chokes out a shaky exhale.
It's just rain, she reminds herself.
She rushes to her car, no longer bothering to hide the slight limp in her leg. There's no one around to watch her.
An episode of Golden Girls is playing on the television. It's one that Nicole can recite by heart.
It's just her and Waverly tonight, Rachel is out on a fishing trip with Nedley.
Nicole has an arm wrapped around Waverly's shoulder, who is nestled in Nicole's side. Waverly is tracing something on Nicole's stomach. She was stabbed there once but there's no scar, thanks to Waverly's father.
(Was it her fault that he died?)
Waverly might not even be aware that she was stabbed there. Not like that's particularly important information or whatever.
There are better things to talk about.
"How was your day?" Nicole asks.
Waverly leans into her neck, her breath warm and ticklish against Nicole's skin. "Same old, same old," she says. "More research for BBD."
She says it like it's nothing interesting, but Nicole can feel her body tense up like a spring.
Nicole pretends to take the bait. "Oh? Anything interesting?"
"Oh I dunno.." Waverly trails off, pretending to hide her excitement. "But we may have a lake monster near by," she says, dragging out the first word.
"A Loch Ness monster in Purgatory?" Nicole asks.
"Well, it wouldn't be the Loch Ness monster since it isn't in Loch Ness. Like there's the Loch Morar monster. She's called Morag like the Loch Ness one is named Nessie. Morag name is actually a pretty common Scotland-“
God, Nicole always loves how excited Waverly gets when talking about her research. How lucky she is to be married to someone as cute, smart, and caring as Waverly Earp.
“There's also Muc-sheilche, that one is in Loch Maree. Oh! They aren't all in Scotland! There's been sightings, or should I say, claims of sightings-"
Waverly’s fingers brushes past a particularly ticklish spot so Nicole breathes heavily through her nose to stop herself from chuckling. The last thing Nicole wants to do is to interrupt Waverly.
“Like there's one in Lake Eerie, Bessie. BBD's trying to figure out which ones are real monsters and which are just like driftwood. So far they confirmed Nessie and Bessie but they are on the fence about the other two-“
Nicole’s shoulder starts to get tired so she rolls it out. She has to remember to keep her stretches for it up. It would be a pain to go back to physical therapy for it after spending so much time getting full movement back after her climbing incident with Shae.
“Oh! We should come up with a name for this one as well! How about-"
Waverly pauses.
"Oh sorry, I'm rambling on, aren't I?" Waverly says, but Nicole doesn't mind. She never does. "How was your day?"
"Perfect," Nicole says.
But her leg still aches.