Work Text:
Nura always smelled like cedarwood and old books, along with gasoline and a few other things, a scent that clung stubbornly to her clothes no matter how often she washed them. Dunia had teased her about it once, years ago, after catching her asleep against the shelves of the university library, a half-open tome splayed across her lap. "You’re going to fossilize in there," she’d said, poking Nura’s shoulder until she blinked awake, disoriented. Now, standing in the drafty hallway of Nura’s apartment, that same scent hit Dunia like a punch to the ribs.
The door creaked wider, revealing Nura in a sweater three sizes too big, Dunia’s sweater, stolen last winter and never returned, her hair mussed from sleep. "It’s two in the morning," Nura said, voice rough with exhaustion, but she stepped aside anyway, leaving just enough space for Dunia to slip past.
"You’re doing that thing again," Dunia muttered, toeing off her boots. Frost clung to the laces, melting in slow drips onto the mat. She was smiling brightly as usual, able to tell all of Nura's emotions without even looking at her. That was how well she knew her. And Nura secretly love the fact she did. This beautiful goddess of a woman always showed how she truly loved Nura.
Nura rubbed her eyes. "What thing?" She asked as if clueless to what Dunia was saying. She knew what she was saying. Dunia always knew how she always waited for her. Always. She loved the fact that Nura waited for her.
"The thing where you pretend you weren’t waiting up for me." Dunia tugged at the sleeve of Nura’s, used to be Dunia's, sweater, thumb brushing the frayed cuff. "You’re a terrible liar and I love it." Nura blushed softly and looked away slightly. Dunia grinned even more at that, her beautiful smile shining brightly like sunlight.
Nura's fingers twitched at her sides, her cheeks darkening beneath the dim hallway light. "I wasn't- I mean.. I didn't-" Dunia quietly shushed and kissed her forehead.
Dunia then arched a brow, already moving past her into the apartment, her shoulder brushing Nura’s as she went. The familiar scent of cedar intensified, mingling with the faint metallic bite of the radiator struggling against the cold. "Uh-huh. And I definitely don’t see my tea mug on your desk," she said, nodding toward the chipped ceramic cup still steaming by Nura’s laptop. She chuckled at what Nura did next.
Nura exhaled through her nose, shutting the door with a quiet click. "Fine. I was awake." She crossed her arms, the oversized sleeves swallowing her hands whole. "You texted you were coming over, caused me to be unable to sleep, you know."
Dunia grinned, peeling off her gloves one finger at a time. "At midnight. And you replied in two seconds." She tossed the gloves onto the couch, then reached out, hooking a finger into the collar of Nura’s sweater, the sweater that used to be Dunia's, tugging gently. "Admit it. You missed me, I know you did."
Nura’s breath hitched, just slightly, but Dunia caught it. She always did. Dunia was the love of her life and the one person who helped her out of the comfort zone, along with being the healthiest option out of anyone Nura had ever met before. Dunia only ever wanted the best for Nura and always made sure Nura was confident, giving her all the optimistic points of views she needed and pushed her to achieve her goals. Nura saw Dunia as the perfect woman for her when she realized all of this.
Dunia's fingertip lingered against the soft fabric of the sweater collar, her nail scraping lightly over the exposed curve of Nura's collarbone. "You're shivering," she murmured, though the apartment wasn't that cold, not with the radiator clanking away in the corner, pumping out uneven bursts of heat. Nura swallowed, her throat bobbing, and Dunia watched the movement with a quiet intensity that made the air between them feel suddenly thicker.
"You should've told me your heater was broken," Dunia continued, stepping closer until their toes nearly touched. Nura's breath stuttered, before she caught herself, but Dunia noticed. She always noticed. She adored Nura too much to not notice.
"It's not broken," Nura lied, her fingers twisting in the too-long sleeves. She loved the fact Dunia's old sweater was too big for her. Dunia made it perfect In her mind. And she adored that.
Dunia snorted, reaching up to pluck a stray leaf from Nura's hair, probably from the potted fern by her desk, the one Dunia had gifted her last spring. "Liar," she said, softer now, her thumb brushing Nura's temple as she tucked the strand of hair back into place. "You've been sitting here in the dark waiting for me like some kind of...."
"Like what?" Nura challenged, though her voice lacked any real edge. She was smirking now as Dunia shook her head with a smile. "Like a lovesick hermit. Come on. Lets cuddle on the bed. That will warm you up."
And so they cuddled on Nura's bed, Dunia's arms wrapped around the smaller woman softly and Nura wound up relaxing very quickly in Dunia's arms. She felt safe. Safe and warm and relaxed. Dunia made her feel wanted for what she was, helped her through thick and thin. That was the love, this was true love.
With Dunia, the sun. And Nura, the moon.