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The floor under Zari groans as she shifts. She shifts her weight again and the floor groans again this time with hands accompanying it, wrapping around her waist to still her movements. So definitely not the floor.
Using her arms to push herself up to get a better view. Under her is Charlie, face contorted into a grimace.
She did remember now that John's spell had gone awry (wow. shocker) and she had fallen through the floor. It appears she wasn't the only one and it looks like Charlie was the one that broke her fall.
“Are you okay?”
“Mostly. What about you?”
She was fine too except for her racing heartbeat that definitely had nothing to do with the hands around her waist that belonged to Charlie. Or the fact that if she leaned down just a little bit that they would be kissing.
“Z?”
Her name whispered this close from Charlie's lips causing the pounding feeling in her chest to settle someplace lower.
“Yes?”
“Can you get off me now? Not that I'm opposed to you being on top but you're kind of crushing me.”
Zari focuses on sighing at Charlie's crassness and not the heat of embarrassment on her skin as she pulls herself up. Out stretching her hand to help her teammate up.
Glancing at her surroundings it appears to be John's house, well if he had any decorating skills. But not enough because the decor was still totally retro.
“When are we?”
Zari ignores Charlie's attempt at a quip to instead focus on the desk that was now close to the door as they walked towards it.
It seemed like the old hotels check in that she's seen in the movies, one that an actual person stands behind and not just a glass window where you swipe your card in front of. It came complete with a bell and a sign in sheet too.
“Z, look at this.”
Zari's eyes follow to where Charlie is pointing, to a calendar that reads today's date. June 27th 2009.
No wonder everything looked retro, though so did most things to Zari.
“Can I help you two?” An aged voice breaks Zari out of her mulling over their current situation.
The voice is attached to a stiff old woman, in posture and demeanor. Kitten heels clacking as she rounds the desk to take her place behind it.
Eyes behind square glasses watch them, looking to be sizing them both up. Though her eyes seem to linger on Charlie a few seconds longer.
That fact makes Zari shift a little as an uncomfortable unknown emotion lashes against her stomach.
A million thoughts run through Zari's head at the women's words trying to come up with a cover story that will make them less suspicious but before she can another voice chimes in. Charlie's.
“Sorry to bugger you so late at night but me and my wife here we're looking for somewhere to stay. Our hotel canclled last minute.”
The old woman raises her eyebrow in question. She wonders if it's because their a queer couple. Can never put anything past early 2000's bigotry.
“We recently got married in the states and decided for our honeymoon we'd come visit my home country.” Charlie continues. “Isn't that right luv?” Charlie asks, bringing their hands that were apparently still in each others to kiss the back of her hand.
The heat that she was pointedly ignoring returns. She clears her throat, trying to focus before she speaks.
“Of course, I couldn't wait to see where my baby grew up, ya know?” Zari's voice is an octave higher like it usually is when she's putting on a performance.
When she looks over to Charlie their usually plastered on mischievous smile looks impossibly wider. At the nickname or Zari easily going along with their ruse, she isn't sure.
The woman looks unamused but simply pushes the sign in sheet towards the two of them.
“There is where you write down your names, and card info, there on the wall is our prices for different types of rooms and the services that came with it.” The old woman drones on pointing to everything she mentions.
Zari goes through the motions of writing their names down. Trying to not feel so grade school as she writes Tarazi as both of their last names. While praying that they swipe her card at the end of their stay and that the legends have swept them up before then. She did not want to be here to witness what would happen when they try to swipe a card that doesn't exist (yet).
After all is said in done the lady slaps two keys to their room on the desk in front of them.
“Your suite is on the upper floor to the right.” The old woman dismisses them with a few simple words.
Charlie and her grab their room keys and start their trek towards their new temporary residence. But as she descends the stairs
she can feel a steely eyed gaze plastered to her back.