Archive of Our Own

Waverly's body ached as she wiped down the veneer of the bar. She'd been tending Shorty's for almost eight hours with barely a break, and her calves were burning.

She glanced at her watch.

Just twenty minutes until she could close.

Why couldn't she just close up now? She didn't know. Silence filled Shorty's. In her mind, tumbleweed scraped across the wooden floor.

She went out back, unloaded the dishwasher, and returned behind the bar with a crate of glasses.

Damn dishwasher. It never dried them properly.

She picked up the first glass and polished it as she gazed out of the front windows.

Hopefully, Wynonna's bus would pull in later. She couldn't wait to hear what ridiculous adventure Greece had thrown at her this time, even if it stirred that familiar pang of jealousy.

She longed to travel.

To see the world.

Or even just leave the town limits.

That would be a first.

She settled into a rhythm until the front door heaved open.

'Are you still serving?'

Waverly froze.

That voice.

She recognised that voice.

She slowly looked up.

A tall, red-headed woman in Docs, jeans and a red-and-navy flannel approached the bar with a small, shy smile.

Waverly swallowed.

'Nicole.'

Nicole thrust her hands into her pockets as she gazed back at her. 'Hey, Waverly. It's been a while.'

Waverly scoffed as she stared back at her.

That was an understatement.

She carefully set the glass and cloth down on the bar.

'I think ten years is a little more than a while.'

It had been a lifetime since that night.

Nicole winced. 'Yeah. I guess it is.' She looked up. 'You look good, though.'

Really?

Were they really doing this?

Waverly ground her jaw.

She had to admit, Nicole looked good, too.

Absolutely gorgeous, with long ruby locks and those smouldering brown eyes that always made her knees wobble.

And that smile.

That easy, dimpled smile.

Gods.

She shook her head. 'Oh, I get by.'

Nicole placed a crumpled bill on the bar. 'Buy us a drink?'

Waverly glanced down at the twenty-dollar bill, then back up at her. She snatched it and immediately pulled two pints of lager.

Nicole glanced at them, then at Waverly with a bemused expression. 'I thought you hated lager.'

Waverly froze.

Nicole smiled faintly. 'You always stole my cider instead.'

Waverly bit her tongue as she opened the till, put the bill inside, the change in her tip jar, and raised an eyebrow in a silent challenge.

Nicole raised her hands. 'Okay, I get it. You're still pissed at me.'

'You stood me up, Nicole,' Waverly replied, leaning against the bar on her elbows.

Nicole sighed as she sat on the barstool. 'Yes. Yes, I did.'

That's all she had?

Waverly picked up her cloth and resumed drying the remaining glasses. She rolled her eyes. 'How have you been, anyway?'

Nicole's eyes lit up. 'I've been good. Really good. How about you?'

'Oh, still here,' Waverly replied with an awkward laugh. 'I broke up with Champ about two years ago, you'll be pleased to hear.'

Nicole beamed. 'Okay, good, that does please me. You deserve better than that chucklehead.'

Waverly couldn't help but smile. 'Yeah, he wasn't the best, was he?'

'No, he wasn't,' Nicole agreed. She was quiet for a moment.

Her cheeks tinged pink as she hesitated. 'Are…' She shook her head. 'Never mind.' She took a sip of beer. 'So what are you up to these days?'

Oh.

Waverly shrugged. 'I spend all my time here. Been putting in as many hours here as I can. Trying to save money.'

'Oh?' Nicole lowered her glass. 'Guess that doesn't leave much time for anything else...Like dating...'

'No,' Waverly replied. 'It doesn't.'

Nicole's brown eyes lit up.

'That's a shame,' she said, failing spectacularly to hide the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she took another swig.

Waverly hated how it rekindled desires she'd thought long buried.

She took a swig of her own beer. 'Why are you here?'

'Ouch, okay,' Nicole said, lowering her glass. 'I guess I deserve that.' She set it on the bar. 'I'm just passing through Purgatory. I thought I'd pop in. See if you were still here.' Her smile was small. 'I hoped you were.'

Waverly looked down at the cloth in her hand.

Because that meant—

No.

Nicole gestured around. 'Shorty still running this place?'

'Yes,' Waverly replied. 'Gus keeps telling him he ought to retire and let someone competent run it, but he refuses.'

Nicole chuckled. 'Wow, things really haven't changed.'

Waverly couldn't help the soft smile. 'No. Purgatory is exactly the same as you left it, all those years ago.'

'Wave,' Nicole murmured, giving her what Waverly referred to as her puppy-dog eyes. 'I didn't mean to leave...it just sort of happened.'

'Uh-huh,' Waverly said, finishing the last glass. 'But you did, anyway.'

Nicole sighed and stood. 'I know. I'm sorry. I'll leave you to lock up. Enjoy the rest of your night, Waverly. It was really nice seeing you.'

Waverly flinched as the stool scraped over the wooden floor. She watched Nicole give a small wave before thrusting her hands back into her jeans pockets and walking out of the bar.

She gazed at the space Nicole had just left behind. Nicole's absence acted like a vacuum, stealing all the oxygen from the room.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

'Oh, fudgenuggets.'

Three Days Later

'Enjoy!' Waverly beamed as she placed the customer's food on the table. Her smile faded as she returned to the bar and grabbed a cloth.

I hoped you were.

She shook her head.

She had tried—and failed—not to replay the exchange with Nicole over the last three days.

Nicole stood her up.

She couldn't just waltz back into her life like that hadn't happened.

But by Gods, Waverly had missed her.

'Earth to Waverly—'

Waverly blinked.

Pete York stood in front of her, waving.

'Oh, sorry, Pete.' She smiled thinly. 'What can I get for you?'

Before Pete could answer—

A low, distant rumble.

Not one engine.

Dozens.

Like a swarm of angry bees descending on Main Street.

Shorty's fell silent.

Then—

Several patrons rushed to the windows.

'They're back!'

'Oh, hell...'

'Christ alive,' Shorty muttered as he emerged from the basement.

'Lock the doors, Shorty!'

Shorty ignored them, glancing instead at Waverly.

'Don't make eye contact. Don't piss them off.'

'Who?'

He pointed outside.

'Them.'

Motorcycles.

Dozens of them.

The engines rumbled until they died in perfect unison.

Patrons spilled onto the street.

Waverly followed, arms folded.

Bikers swung off their machines.

Laughing.

Talking.

Stretching.

Pulling off helmets.

A tall biker caught her eye.

Black leather.

A peek of red hair spilling out from under the helmet.

Waverly found herself biting her lip.

Then the helmet came off—

and Waverly's mouth fell open.

Nicole.

Three days ago, she'd been flannel shirts and shy smiles.

Today, she looked like she'd stepped out of an entirely different life.

Waverly's gaze caught the back of Nicole's leathers.

An embroidered white compass rose.

A sprig of lavender woven through it.

'It's the Lavender Riders!'

Gus appeared beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

'Don't get involved with them, Waverly.'

'They're always trouble,' Shorty muttered.

'My cousin swears they got run out of Montana,' an old farmer called.

Waverly barely heard them.

Nicole had found her.

Locked eyes with her.

She smiled.

That dazzling, dimpled smile.

Then she gave a little wave before another Rider bumped her shoulder, laughing as they unloaded the bikes.

'C'mon,' Gus said gently. 'Let's head back inside.'

Waverly reluctantly headed back inside Shorty's and behind the bar.

Patrons filtered in after her, whispers flying across the room.

'You see that big giant out there? I heard he killed a man with his bare hands.'

'Those tattooed women all run drugs, my ex-boyfriend swears on his mama's life.'

'They love to go from town to town and trash all the local establishments.'

Waverly frowned as she wiped down the veneer.

These rumours all seemed wildly ridiculous.

There was no way someone like Nicole would wind up mixed with people like that.

Not her Nicole.

The sweet Nicole who had been there on her hard days.

The dedicated Nicole who helped with her homework.

The loyal Nicole who knew her deepest secrets and stayed—

Until she didn't.

Perhaps she didn't know Nicole at all.

'Waves?'

Pete stood at the bar.

'Can I have my beer now?'

'Right, yeah.' Waverly pulled him a pint, took his bill and handed over the change.

'Thanks.' He glanced outside. 'Didn't you know one of those bikers?'

'Not any more,' Gus cut in. 'I'm telling you, they're washed-up nobodies. Don't waste your time with them, Waverly.'

Waverly looked back out the window.

The giant was kneeling beside a motorcycle while a little girl grinned from the saddle. He made ridiculous engine noises as he gently rocked the bike beneath her.

Then he sat patiently while she braided his enormous ginger beard.

Waverly glanced around the bar, taking the moment of quietness to move from the bar to the window.

She folded her arms as she looked outside.

The bikers had scattered themselves along Main Street.

One of the bikers was dressed in neon purple leathers with a bedazzled denim jacket over the top, emblazoned with the club's colours and LAVENDER beaded on the back.

But what intrigued Waverly were the impressive six-inch heels they wore and the massive lilac-permed hair.

They turned around. The biker, wearing heavily contoured makeup, was arguing with a heavily tattooed woman with a bright pink neon mohawk.

They were holding up a brand new portable speaker. 'What are we going to christen this baby with?'

'It's gotta be some 4 Non Blondes!' the mohawked woman replied.

The drag biker snorted. 'Absolutely not. If it ain't Cher, baby, it ain't playing.'

'Then why ask, Velvet?'

'Because this is a democracy!'

A woman with long black hair and tanned, tattooed skin stepped forward and swiped the speaker from the biker's hands and walked away.

'Rosie!' they gasped, chasing after her with surprising grace in their heels. 'This is a war crime!'

Waverly snorted softly as she watched, her brows knotted.

How were these the same bikers that apparently ran drugs or killed people?

They laughed too loudly.

Dressed too brightly.

Took up too much space.

And somehow...

Waverly found herself wishing she knew what that felt like.

'She looks good, doesn't she?'

Waverly turned, her eyebrows raised.

Wynonna stood behind her, gazing out of the window. She nodded. 'Nicole, I mean.'

Waverly's gaze returned to the window.

Nicole was leaning against her motorcycle while Rosie held the portable speaker hostage.

She was laughing.

Fully.

Velvet tried to wrestle it back.

Rosie danced effortlessly out of reach.

Nicole collapsed against her bike, wheezing with laughter.

Waverly's smile was small.

She hadn't seen Nicole laugh that freely since high school.

'Rosie!' Velvet cried. 'Gimme it!'

'Hey! That's what the first song should be!' the pink mohawked woman shouted, pointing. 'ABBA, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!'

'Yessss,' they cried, jumping up and down on their heels. 'Rosie, give it back!'

Rosie just shook her head. 'No, Velvet, your music privileges have been revoked until we move on.'

Velvet collapsed to their knees dramatically. 'You slay me, Rosie!'

Nicole was now bent over against her bike, wheezing with laughter.

'See?' Wynonna said quietly. 'You can't believe everything you hear, Wave. Especially not in this town.'

'Waverly!' Shorty shouted. 'I need you back at the bar! Got customers waiting.'

'Coming,' Waverly said, reluctantly pulling herself away from the window.

She shuffled back behind the bar and swallowed as a tall woman with long silver hair braided to her waist approached.

She wore faded black leathers, softened by age, with a compass rose and lavender patch across the back. A small trans flag pin gleamed proudly on the front.

She smiled, grey eyes bright with life.

'Hi, sweetie. I was wondering if you sold bottles of water. We're a bit parched out there.'

Waverly's brain stuttered for a moment before she nodded. 'Er, yes, how many would you like?'

'How many could you spare? I can pay.'

'We have boxes down in the basement. Twenty-four in each, but they won't be chilled—'

'That's fine, hon.' She opened her coin purse and pulled out a few bills. 'Will that cover it?'

Waverly counted the money.

Almost a hundred dollars.

She looked up at the woman in shock.

'M-More than enough. In fact, entirely too much—'

'Keep it.' She winked. 'You seem like a good kid. Put it in your tip jar.'

Waverly blinked. 'T-Thank you.' She gestured behind her. 'I-I'll just fetch it for you.'

She wandered down to the basement, grabbed a box of bottled water, and carried it back upstairs.

She placed it on the bar with a grunt. 'Is this going to be okay?'

'Oh, that's perfect, hon,' she said, picking up the box. Her gaze lingered for a moment. 'I can see why Haught is smitten with you.'

'I—What?' Waverly spluttered, freezing as she collected up the cash from the bar.

The woman just chuckled as she carried the box out of the bar, the door being held open by Nicole.

Waverly's brain promptly forgot how to function as Nicole walked into the bar. She had unzipped her leather jacket, revealing the usual flannel underneath.

Oh, Gods, she was absolutely smoking, and Waverly swallowed thickly.

Nicole approached the bar with a coy smile.

'Hey, Waves.'

Waverly knew she was staring at her. She couldn't help it.

'Y-You're one of them?'

Nicole's smile faltered as she sat down at the bar. She looked down. 'You seem disappointed.'

'I'm not,' Waverly said quickly. 'I'm... surprised.' She could feel everyone's eyes on her. 'Can we go somewhere more private?'

Nicole looked up, her face softening. 'Of course.'

'I'm going on my break,' Waverly called out to Shorty. She stepped out from behind the bar and tugged on Nicole's arm, and through the bar until she reached the back door. She breathed a sigh of relief to see the alleyway empty.

Nicole followed her outside.

'Wow. I didn't expect you to bring me to the back alley...'

'Shut up,' Waverly snapped, then shook her head. 'No. Sorry. I didn't mean that.' She rubbed her face with her hands. 'Nicole, you're a biker?'

'Well...yeah.' Nicole shrugged. 'I own a motorcycle, and I'm part of the club.'

Waverly folded her arms as she stepped closer. She lowered her voice. 'Do you hear the rumours about yourselves?'

Nicole snorted. 'No, but coming from Purgatory, I bet they're priceless.'

Waverly hesitated. 'Well…they do seem a little far-fetched…'

'Let me guess,' Nicole said, sounding tired. 'We're hooligans, causing trouble wherever we go. Or we've been run out of every town south of Alabama. Or, my personal favourite, that we're dangerous and will kill you if you just look at us.'

Waverly looked sheepish as she scuffed the ground with her shoes. 'Yeah…something like that.'

Nicole sighed as she leaned against the wall. 'Yeah. We've heard 'em all.' She shrugged. 'It doesn't bother us. We know what the truth is.'

'Which is?' Waverly asked gently.

'We're a family,' Nicole said simply. 'So of course we're loud and boisterous. What family isn't?'

Waverly's face creased in confusion. 'But what do you do?'

'Help people, Wave,' Nicole said softly. 'What else would we do?'

Waverly blinked.

That wasn't what she'd expected.

Nicole sighed. 'Eve founded the Lavender Riders over thirty years ago.'

'Really?'

Nicole smiled. 'Turns out a trans woman with a motorcycle and a stubborn streak can change a lot of lives.' She shrugged. 'She changed mine.'

Only then did Waverly realise who she'd just sold the water to.

She wet her lips.

'When did you join?'

Nicole hesitated, looking down at her Docs.

'Wave...'

'Please, Nic.' Waverly's voice softened. 'You left me alone at that high school gymnasium, on prom night. Then disappeared without a trace. Without a word. You know how long I saved up for that gorgeous teal ballroom gown. I deserve to know why.'

Nicole closed her eyes.

'I didn't mean to stand you up, Waves. Really.' She looked at her. 'My parents found out. About me. About us.'

Waverly swallowed. Her voice was shaky. 'How?'

'They saw me in my prom outfit,' Nicole answered, staring at the floor. 'Questioned me, seeing as I'd left school already.'

Waverly bit her lip as she listened.

'And?'

Nicole was silent for a moment. Her throat worked.

'They kicked me out. That night. Didn't even let me pack.' 

Waverly's fingers curled around her own elbows.

She couldn't imagine being nineteen and suddenly having nowhere to go.

She'd always thought Nicole's parents were odd.

Bigoted?

Never.

Nicole rubbed the back of her nose. 'I was too upset to take you to prom. Too hurt to say why. I had no phone, either. I just...walked. Probably for miles.'

Waverly's face fell.

'Oh, Nicole...'

Nicole half-shrugged, as if it didn't affect her. But her brown eyes had glossed over.

'Eve found me on the side of the road, sobbing. She took me in. No questions asked.' She smiled faintly. 'I've been with them ever since.'

The two of them stood there in silence, the weight sitting heavily on Waverly's chest.

A voice cut through.

'Haught?'

Nicole turned around and smiled thinly. 'Hey Rosita.'

Rosita raised an eyebrow. 'You good?'

Nicole nodded. 'Yeah.'

'We're heading up to the motel. Eve asked if you were coming now or joining later? Tank's gunna wait until the others arrive later on.'

'I'll be there,' Nicole said. 'Give me five.'

Rosita nodded, giving Waverly the once-over. She smirked, her onyx eyes sparkling. 'I'll say one thing, Haught. You've got taste.' She winked and then disappeared from the alleyway.

Nicole's cheeks pinked as she looked away, unable to meet Waverly's eye.

Waverly folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, her hazel eyes sparkling with mirth. 'Nic?'

Nicole held up a finger and shook her head. 'Don't—'

Waverly bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

She hadn't allowed herself to hope since the other night—

but the evidence was becoming clear.

Maybe Nicole wasn't over her, either.

Nicole shook her head as she glanced up at the sky. She blew out a breath. 'Look. We're setting off tomorrow. Heading towards the Niagara Falls. Velvet Voltage—Jordan, they've never been, and they won't quit badgering us until we do.'

Waverly smiled. ‘They…sound like a character…’

'Oh, God yes,' Nicole said, rolling her eyes fondly. 'Solid person. Always has your back.'

Waverly nodded. 'I'm glad you found a family, Nicole. You deserve it.' She patted Nicole's arm. 'I'm glad to see you. You look really good, too.'

Nicole let out a soft laugh. Her eyes glossed over once more. She thumbed behind her. 'I've gotta go.'

'See you around?' Waverly asked, hopeful.

Nicole shrugged, but a small smile crept on her lips. 'I'd like that…' She turned and walked away from her.

Waverly watched her go. 

She cupped her mouth with a hand, choking back a sob.

All these years, she had been furious with Nicole for standing her up.

For humiliating her at her high school prom.

When the reality was that Nicole didn't have a home.

The ground shook as a dozen engines roared into life, the vibrations passing through her.

'At least she does now…'

The Next Morning

Waverly peered out of her apartment window at Main Street.

She'd barely slept.

She kept thinking about how Nicole's parents had cast her out at nineteen.

All because she loved a girl.

Loved her.

She imagined Nicole wandering the road alone.

Maybe she was already dressed for prom.

Thank God Eve found her.

The Lavender Riders weren't the scary biker gang Purgatory made them out to be.

With Eve, Rosita, Velvet Voltage and Tank...

It felt like the worst thing they could do was drag you out dancing.

They weren't apologising for who they were.

Waverly wasn't sure she'd ever known how to do that.

Though she did wonder whether Velvet DJ'd.

One thing was clear.

Nicole still had feelings for her.

Maybe.

Her gaze drifted to the motorcycle helmet resting on the kitchen table.

Get out there, babygirl.

You're not going to scratch that itch stuck behind a bar.

She wanted to travel.

Otherwise, what had she been working all those years for?

The low rumbling, droning sound shook the entire building. 

She could see the sea of black in the distance. 

It looked as though the Lavender Riders were saying goodbye to Purgatory first.

Waverly stood, grabbed her faux-leather jacket and slipped it on. Then picked up the helmet and the letter before nerves could get the better of her. 

She locked up her apartment, placed the letter on the bar and exited out back. 

The grumbling had come to a stop as she hid in the alleyway. 

It wasn't too late.

She could still turn back. 

She took a tentative step forward. 

Then another. 

Before she realised, she was at the front of Shorty's. 

Bikers had taken over the road, with Eve and Velvet arguing over whether it was too early or not to be playing queer anthems, taking the centre stage. 

Waverly spotted Nicole's tall frame amongst the fray. 

Nicole was resting against her motorcycle, twirling her helmet in her hands as she was talking to Rosita and the pink mohawked woman. 

Waverly took another step forward. 

Rosita tapped Nicole on the shoulder and pointed. 

Nicole turned and locked eyes with Waverly's. Her eyebrows rose, eyes sparking with something dangerous. 

Hope. 

Waverly steeled herself with a sharp breath and stepped forward, weaving between the bikes until she reached Nicole's. 

She stood in front of her, her stomach bottoming out. 

This was reckless.

She could still turn back.

She swallowed. 

She looked at the helmet in her hands.

It still smelled new.

'Room for one more?'

Nicole straightened and gently rested her hands on Waverly's shoulders.

'Are you sure?'

Waverly shook her head.

'No.'

Nicole's shoulders dipped.

'But that's exactly why I want to do it.'

Nicole raised an eyebrow. 

'Besides, I'd love to see the Niagara Falls,' Waverly said, her grin crinkling her eyes into half moons. 

Nicole shot a glance at Eve. 

Eve caught Waverly's eye and winked.

'Hop on, hon. Welcome to the fold.'

Nicole smiled, took the motorcycle helmet from Waverly's hands and helped her put it on, checking that it was secure. 

Waverly met her eyes, her heart racing in her chest.

Nicole then offered a hand and helped Waverly onto the Harley-Davidson before mounting it herself.

'Hold onto me,' she said, fastening her own helmet. 

Waverly's arms snaked around Nicole's slender frame as the engine roared into life. 

Several engines around them also thundered to life.

Donna Summer burst loudly from Velvet's speakers, echoing down Main Street.

The Riders rolled out together, laughing unapologetically.

Waverly tightened her arms around Nicole.

She relished the feeling of being close to her after all these years.

The smell of vanilla and grease.

It smelled like home.

And for the first time in years...

She didn't feel like she was taking up too much space.

She didn't look back.