Chapter Text
“I want the two of you to be the cover of Runway's June issue,” Sasha stated, her eyes gleaming with delight as she dropped her request – or rather, demand, as Andy thought.
But before she could cut in and ask why specifically them, Miranda spoke beside her with a neutral tone, and a polite smile plastered on her face. “Of course,” it made Andy do a double take, and the slightest distressed movement from her made Miranda turn in her direction, eyes tinged with concern, meticulous eyebrows raised in question.
“Is there a problem?” Sasha asked.
“No, not at all,” Andy answered. She tried to shake her head in affirmation, but curiosity got the better of her. “If you don't mind me asking, why us specifically?”
Her hand gestured between her and Miranda, who was still facing her, while Andy was craning her head to look at Sasha behind Miranda.
“I thought it might be the perfect avenue for you to come out and confirm your relationship.”
Andy's brain short-circuited, her jaw slacking as Miranda inhaled quickly before turning sharply back at Sasha, who didn't notice their adverse reactions.
“I should've said congratulations first, but I am quite happy for the two of you. Love like yours that has found each other again after twenty years is quite rare to come by, so of course, readers would also eat up such a grand romance.”
Andy was drawing blanks on what to say because everything Sasha said was way out of this world. In what world would Miranda Priestly ever fall in love with Andy Sachs – her annoying features editor, her second assistant who left her on the busiest week of her year, who got her the unpublished manuscript, the holy grail of all interviews, who betrayed her by scheming to buy Runway behind her back so she could be editor in chief forever –
“But the divorce –”
“Was finalized eight months ago,” Miranda effectively cut her off. Andy could barely hear the buzz of her errant thoughts amidst the authoritative calmness Miranda's voice instilled in her.
Andy faced Miranda once again, noting how her piercing blue eyes were clear as a sunlit sea as she held Andy's gaze steadily.
A soft knock on the door pulled Andy away from her musings. It was Sasha's secretary.
“Miss Barnes, your ten o'clock is here. I've led him to the garden, and he's currently nursing himself with Earl Grey tea and scones.”
Sasha dismissed her, then she stood up from her seat, going around her desk as they stood up as well. Sasha leaned in to give them both an air kiss.
“I'm looking forward to reading the draft of that particular issue.”
Andy watched Sasha leave in a blur. She was still feeling quite lost with everything that had just occurred; her mind was replaying what had happened like a broken record, but the sounds of their voices were dissonant. There was only confusion, and Andy was drowning in it until she felt a hand resting on the small of her back, grounding her and guiding her. Andy let herself be led wherever she was being taken. There was comfort in Miranda's presence that enveloped her as they walked together towards the helicopter that had brought them here.
She moved on autopilot, taking her seat on the left, fastening her seatbelt, putting the noise-cancelling headphones over her head, and finally, finding Miranda's waiting hand in the space between them, locking their fingers together as the helicopter took off.
A comfortable silence stretched between them during the ride. Andy found herself stealing a glance at Miranda, who was already watching her with an indiscernible expression that only drew her in. Then she would feel the pad of Miranda's thumb pressing on her pulse point before rubbing soothing circles on her skin. It had the intended effect because Andy's eyes would go there first, then she would go back to looking at the clouds outside the window.
They shared an elevator when they got back to Elias–Clarke. Andy belatedly realized that they had been doing that ever since that enchanting weekend at the Hamptons. Of course, she choked it up with the things that had changed from back then, since she saw Amari sharing the elevator with Miranda, with just the slight difference where she would stand behind the editor. While with her, Miranda would always step aside to make room for her whenever she got in. Their short elevator rides were also filled with conversation ranging from the latest issue to everything happening in their lives outside the office. Andy’s personal favorite was the ones where they’d make plans for their next weekend excursions that had become a weekly occurrence she had been looking forward to.
Speaking of changes, there was Miranda again, hanging up her own coat. Andy had loitered in the elevator for a few seconds, letting Miranda get out first, and walked ahead of her towards their office. Now, she's standing still between the two assistants' desks, which were thankfully empty as she doesn't need witnesses to her blatant staring anymore.
So Andy stared, mesmerized and unmoving as she watched Miranda hang up her own coat. Her hands were trembling at her side as the assistant instinct she had developed twenty years ago was jumping at the need to take the coat right out of Miranda’s hands and hang it up herself.
Miranda leaned against the wall, catching her breath as if the mere act she had finished was akin to heavy lifting. Then she arched her back with the gracefulness of a swan.
Andy’s jaw slackened as her eyes hungrily traced the outline of Miranda’s frame. Then Miranda turned her head, sharp blue eyes meeting deep, molten brown before a sardonic smirk was sent on her way.
“Try not to soak the carpet with your drool, Andrea.”
Her hand immediately flew to the corner of her mouth, finding it dry and drool-free.
Andy exasperatedly sighed. Miranda has been weaponizing Andy’s obvious attraction to her in so many ways, and Andy kept on falling for it. Like a fool. Because she was one. A fool in love with her boss for twenty years, and she couldn't deny that Sasha was somehow right, well, half right only since the in love part only applies to her, and her only, and especially not her recently-divorced-for-eight-months-now boss.
She turned on her heel sharply and made her way to the office next door that belonged to her apparent father figure slash fairy godfather slash guardian angel slash the reason why she ended up going back in Miranda's orbit again that she thought she had successfully escaped only to realize that her years away from Miranda has made her bereft of the sun and that she was a wilting sunflower until that day she barged in her office again with an excited hello that was met by an offended stare.
“Nigel,” Andy called, entering Nigel’s office without any preamble. Then she pointed at the wall separating his office from Miranda’s. “I think she’s out to kill me.”
“For drooling?” Nigel asked, not looking at her. Quite focused on the layout in front of him. “You know she’s fond of dogs, Six. Remember Patricia and Gio? And aren’t you the cutest puppy?”
Andy placed her hands on his desk, leaning forward, whispering conspiratorially. “Do you really think she finds me cute?”
“That’s all you got from that?”
Nigel finally looked at her, a bemused expression painting his face. He shook his head once when Andy only raised her eyebrows at him, imploring him to give her more information about the subject of her affections.
“If you think I’m going to help you woo our boss –”
“You already did when you brought me back into her life.”
Andy beamed, crossing her arms proudly.
Nigel picked up his phone and dialed a number.
“Would you mind picking up your stray, brown-eyed puppy from my office?”
“Wait, Nigel – is that – are you really calling –”
“Andrea,” a familiar voice drawled behind her. Andy quickly spun around and saw Miranda leaning against the partition, looking amused, then she tilted her head. “Come along.”
Andy buried her face in her hands, knowing that they were going to talk about what had just happened in the meeting with Sasha.
“I prefer to be cremated,” Andy said in a defeated tone that Nigel only scoffed at as he shooed her away to the dragon's lair, her dragon, who would probably burn her alive. But what a way to go.
“Now, why would I burn you when I can eat you instead?”
Andy tripped straight into Miranda’s waiting arms.
Warmth blossomed in her chest as Miranda’s soft laughter flowed directly into her ear. Andy could only burrow her face deep into the crook of Miranda’s neck, and while she was expecting to be pushed away anytime soon, it surprised her to find the arms that caught her flawlessly were now enveloping her in an embrace.
Their sweet moment was cut off by an exasperated Nigel, who spoke without looking up from the proofs he was reviewing, “Please take your flirting elsewhere. I’m available later for the mutual debriefing that both of you have condemned me with.”
Andy closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling sharply, letting Miranda’s unique scent and personalized perfume invade her senses before pulling back from the woman and putting at least a step between them, schooling her expression to a professional one, but her cheeks were still tinged with a blush that was ever-present whenever she was around Miranda.
Miranda’s eyes only crinkled in amusement, then her hand was on the small of Andy’s back again, pulling her into the office with her. Andy expected Miranda to drop her into the seat right in front of her desk, but Miranda steered them both to the couch in the corner, hidden away from prying eyes.
“So we’re in a relationship,” Miranda began, legs crossing with one hand resting on her lap while the other one was tangled with the soft waves of brown locks of her supposed lover, her body turned towards Andy.
“Fake dating,” Andy supplied, her voice cracking as her eyes tried to focus on something else aside from the woman in front of her.
“Fake dating,” Miranda repeated, her voice was cold, and it sent shivers down Andy's spine. It wasn’t the pleasant sort.
“Aren’t we?”
“Is that what you want?”
Andy exasperatedly sighed.
There are many things she would want to have with Miranda, but she knew there were limits to those wants, and she’d grown to appreciate this easy friendship that had settled over them to lose it by honestly admitting that she was madly in love with her.
“I care about you, the magazine, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure we’re sailing smoothly.”
I love you. I’m content with taking whatever you deem worthy to give to me. I love you. I can’t lose you again. I love you. I’m fine with staying just like this. I love you. God, this is going to hurt, but loving Miranda is as simple as breathing. I love you, you, you…
“Then we’ll proceed as Sasha had instructed.” Andy’s heart constricted as she took note of the lack of warmth in Miranda’s voice.
“Hey,” Andy muttered, taking Miranda’s hand in both of hers as she scooted closer; she could feel her warmth seeping through their clothes as they sat close. “You don’t have to force yourself. We’ll figure something out. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“You know I hate repeating myself, but I will ask again, Andrea. Is this something you want?”
Miranda held her gaze; there was no escaping it, and Andy, besotted Andy, could only momentarily drown in them before finally letting out the words her heart yearned to say.
“Yes.”
Time was frozen between them, then Miranda sighed, her shoulders sagging in relief, her hand that was ensconced in Andy’s hands moved to lace their fingers together. While her hand that was tangled in her hair cupped her jaw, and Andy watched it all unfold silently in suspended disbelief.
Miranda leaned in and pressed her lips to the corner of Andy’s mouth. Andy swore that her lips touched the very edge of hers before she jolted, but Miranda remained close, her hold on Andy prevented her from pulling away completely.
“We need to work on your reactions to my affections, baby,” Miranda rasped, her breath tickling Andy’s ear.
“God, what did I get myself into?” Andy mumbled as her head hung low, desperately trying to hide her flushed face away from Miranda, who merely embraced her again, her forehead resting against Miranda’s shoulder.
“I haven’t even started romancing you yet,” Miranda teased, and Andy responded by poking her sides.
“Hmm, this might be the first relationship I’m going to have with someone who knows all my complexities,” Miranda mused, her hands tangling themselves in Andy’s hair again, nails scratching her scalp, which ended up distracting her from her thoughts on how to survive this.
“Don’t go overboard or else you won’t have a girlfriend to fake date with,” Andy mumbled, but when Miranda’s hand stilled, she immediately looked up. “What’s wrong?”
Miranda’s hands came up to frame her cheeks, the pad of her thumbs tracing the cheekbones dusted with pink.
“Miranda?”
Andy had not received a verbal answer, but Miranda, leaning in, nuzzling their nose together, her lips barely brushing Andy’s, was both an answer and a question as her blue eyes darkened as each second passed.
Andy audibly swallowed as she understood that the ball was on her court. Miranda was leaving it up to her on how they should proceed; the limitations of this ‘relationship’ were all dependent on Andy, and she had full control over where this was heading.
It was exhilarating. It was dangerous. She could easily lose herself, and she’d come out broken, and yet at her moment’s hesitation, every moment she had shared with Miranda in the span of twenty long years came to mind. Every exception Miranda had let her have was vividly displayed as her eyes fluttered closed. Andy leaned in and finally pressed their lips together.
It felt like coming home, like a tide to a shore that has returned after flowing along with the waves. Kissing Miranda was like an inevitable waiting to happen. Andy gasped into their kiss when she felt Miranda’s tongue swiping her lower lip. She parted them, welcoming her in, her breath catching in her chest as Miranda explored her thoroughly, leaving no space untouched, claiming everything Andy has, and Andy lets her, lets her take, lets her have her because she was. She belonged to Miranda, and years of separation haven’t changed that.
When they parted, Andy immediately felt bereft, and she allowed herself to chase after Miranda. She heard her chuckle before pressing their lips again. The kiss was slow, unhurried like they had all the time in the world, but before Andy could deepen it, a sharp knock came from the closed glass door of Miranda’s office, prompting her to push herself away from the editor in a flurry of panic.
Opposed to her, Miranda calmly turned her head in the direction from which it came; she didn’t move away from Andy, her hands were still on her face and neck. Andy gaped at the mess Miranda’s hair had turned into. She immediately went to fix it, feeling Miranda stiffen for a second before relaxing again under her touch. When she pulled her hand away, Miranda caught it in hers and placed a kiss inside her palm before securing it in hers, keeping Andy close at her side.
Nigel entered; his face remained passive, but his eyes were gleaming with mischief. “Should I send your assistant to make a relationship disclosure at HR?”
“How thoughtful of you, Nigel.”
“We’re fake dating.”
They both said at the same time. Andy ignored the way Miranda’s hold on her tightened; she shouldered on and kept her eyes on Nigel. “Want to help with the narrative?”
Nigel’s eyes went from her, and Miranda, who sat still beside her, never letting go of her hand.
Nigel shook his head before letting out a resigned sigh as if he had accepted his fate and involvement in the mess that was inevitably created by two women who couldn’t bring themselves to be completely honest with each other.
“First, tell me how the two of you ended up in this situation. Keep the details of why you were eating each other’s face to yourselves,” Nigel said, throwing a smirk at Andy’s sputtering then his eyes lingered at Miranda for a bit before returning his attention to his mentee who was animatedly explaining with one hand in the air, making gestures while her other hand was holding Miranda’s, with her thumb rubbing gentle patterns on the back of the editor’s hand.
When Andy had finished explaining, she was completely out of breath, and it felt like she had just run a marathon.
“So let me get this straight,” Nigel said in a serious tone that immediately disappeared in the midst of his laughter, which Andy nervously shared as Miranda remained quiet beside her. “Sasha assumed you two were in a whirlwind romance, asked you to be the cover of the June issue in relation to Pride month, and none of you bothered correcting her?”
“Yes,” Andy affirmed.
“Have you gone senile, Nigel?” Miranda muttered, her eyes narrowing, daring her dear friend to continue.
Nigel ignored her. “We’re two months away, and you intended to use that to build a narrative for the optics so when you both appeared on the cover, no one would question it?”
Andy wordlessly nodded. Now that she didn’t have anything to focus on, her mind kept going back to the kiss she shared with Miranda. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood to smother the smile that kept on making itself known as she remembered how soft Miranda felt against her.
Then her phone rang. She immediately fished it out of her pocket and answered it. “Jin?”
“Oh, thank god you answered. You weren’t in your office, and the meeting’s about to start in five minutes.”
Shit. She almost forgot about the joint meeting the features department had with the photography department.
“I’ll be there in two. Save me a seat. Thanks.”
Andy began to extract herself from Miranda, but the editor kept her tight hold on her.
“Miranda,” Andy gently said, and maybe it was the remaining adrenaline rush that pushed her to kiss Miranda squarely on the lips, but she could hardly regret it. It worked. Miranda was stunned enough from the unexpected kiss that she let go of Andy’s hand. “We’ll talk more later, baby.”
With that, Andy trudged away to her office, gathering her things, and most importantly, to let out a silent scream of happiness and helplessness.