Work Text:
Mugs
If there was one thing about Chloe that always struck her as odd, it wouldn't be her weird excitement over going to work, or the farmers market because; those all made sense in their own way. Chloe is a ball of sunshine in a sunshine shaped box. It was Chloe’s mug obsession did not.
Beca would watch from the living room while Chloe rearranged her mugs into two sections, cleaning out the dust building and smile as she put them away. Beca would watch her become giddy when the once dirty mug was cleaned by her, grinning while pouring coffee happily into it.
She’s not sure what Chloe would do if there were too many mugs and the shelf would collapse or there was no more room. The day seemed like it was edging closer with a new ceramic or glass cup appearing every other week or so. Beca’s single mug stayed inside the cabinet Chloe left for any new roommate, along with a bunch of snacks her mother would object her buying at home.
And today, might be the day everything is collapsing.
Beca walks out her room to sit in the warmth of their living room, late fall hitting harsh and cold. She was surprised to see a bunch of mugs sitting across the counter, askew and not in the place they usually stayed. Chloe no where to be found, which is unusual.
“Chloe?”
“I’m here!” Chloe yells from her room, the sound is muffled and Beca can only guess what she is about to walk into. She sees redhead far in the back of her closet, searching for something. Maybe fixing something? Chloe then runs out, and sets down two more mugs down on the counter.
Beca stares, watching Chloe set a few mugs to the side and organize the new few on the shelf. How the shitty wooden shelf isn’t breaking in half she doesn’t know. Incredible will power, and maybe super glue or something.
“When did you start doing this?” Beca asks, plopping herself down at the island.
“Doing what?” Chloe looks up at her, questionably.
“You know, collect mugs?”
Chloe smiles, looking back at the mug in front of her. “I think it’s like when old ladies collect pottery, like really good pieces from all over the world. I just like mugs. A lot easier than like a plate, they're don't chip as easily, or a bowl. A good few of these came from my grandmother who passed away when I was in High school, we used to go to vintage stores and garage sales together and she'd find what she liked. It’s how I commemorate her.”
Beca nods with a smile, Chloe is an open book. She just doesn’t ask stuff like she should. “Is the frog one from her?”
Chloe chuckles. “Yes and no. I was uh, relentlessly bullied as a kid for my hair and other stupid stuff. So while walking home one day this huge frog stopped me in my path on my front porch and I decided to talk to it as a way to get the horrors of my day off my chest. I basically took it in after that and it lived for a good few years then when it passed my grandma found this mug. I’ve had it ever since. It makes me feel good when i see it because it means there are good days ahead.”
“Did you name it?” Beca asks, genuinely looking concerned as replied to Chloe’s background story. “People bullied you for your hair?”
“Freddie, he looked like those chocolates you can find in the UK.” Chloe pauses when Beca snickers, giving her an amused look. “I had super light red hair with light red eyebrows so I did kinda look odd but these girls were relentless.”
“You’ve grown into the redheaded-ness, I couldn’t see you any other way.” Beca says with a smile, and it’s true. Her hair has turned more strawberry blonde than red, but with her bright blue eyes Beca couldn’t see it any other way.
“I tried to go blonde but it didn't work well.” Chloe rolls her eyes at that. “Bad idea.”
Beca chuckles at that image. “Sounds like a mess. Do you have a favorite mug, besides the frog?”
“This one, I love.” Chloe picks up a white mug that reads ‘Worlds most okayest mug’ across the front. “I also have a sun one I really like that I made in a ceramic pottery class in University.”
“How many do you have?”
“I think almost sixty? I haven't done a recount in a bit, but around there. When did you become interested in my mugs?”
Beca shrugs. “Thought maybe I needed to learn more about my roommate.”
“Yeah?” Chloe’s grins. “Well, what do you like? I don't know much about you besides that you steal my fruit, and drinks”
“I don’t steal your drinks.” Beca scoffs, looking toward her hands sheepishly. “I do production stuff for music, like trying to create tracks and creating mixes.”
“Really?” Chloe’s eyes light up, and her hands let go of the mug she was finicking with. “That’s so cool! Do you have anything you can show me?”
Beca rubs the back of her neck. “I just have a bunch of mixes really. Nothing insanely good.”
“Can I hear like one? I love music, you know that. Please?” Chloe can be so silly, and she means that in the least weird sense. She gets a burst of excitement at the randomness of things, and Beca would think she’d find it odd. But with Chloe, it kind of cute.
Beca rolls her eyes affectionately. “Sure I guess. Some other time though, I need breakfast.”
“You can steal an Eggo from my freezer side if you want? For being so nice.” Chloe begins to smirk, hip-checking her as she walks by Beca squeaks and laughs.
“I’ll take whatever I can get.”
performance
Beca sits in the far back row of a small school auditorium, unsure if she really should be here. She’s never heard of a school with four concerts in a year, one for every holiday. The walls are decorated with flowers, and vines of heavy paper twisted together. Few parents sit rows a head of her, she’s really asking for looks by siting in the farthest back she can.
But she also wants to be there for Chloe, and if that is feeling her cheeks burn with slight embarrassment and seeing kids that could be her own friends walk in to sing on stage. So be it.
But it would’ve been nice to know this was going to be a k-12 choir event for her own sanity.
Grades of students fill in, moving toward the front rows. Beca watches for Chloe to walk in with her class, unsure if she teaches a class or a bunch of different classes and will walk in randomly. She doesn’t have to wonder because Chloe then starts walking in with a younger looking class, third grade tops.
Chloe is wearing a beautiful ivory green dress with a white sweater over it, her hair pulled back in a loose braid. One she saw her get dressed in early today, a pout on her lips about Beca working late. Not knowing what was truly happening. She doesn’t see Beca, which isn’t shocking but Beca sits up straighter and keeps on her best smile.
Chloe conducts kids into their seats, moving through crowds to sort more little ones. It’s cute watching Chloe so in her element. Bossy, and forward but not strict. More and more parents come in as the kids settle, and the once empty seats around her have all filled.
Mothers talk over her, yelling for each other to sit near them and fathers act busy on their phones like they were forced to be there. It makes Beca really realize how all places have the same kind of people, just different geological location.
The mic squeaks, and Beca thinks its the principal that goes on stage and introduces the school. He walks off, and a few students walk on to talk about a few announcements happening in and around the school before Chloe walks up. Smiling so wide it must hurt. She introduces the kindergarten class, and a group of little tiny kids walking behind her.
She jumps off the riser, and goes to kneel in the isle as a song starts up. It’s bright, and happy and the kids do a bad job at reenacting the dance moves but they're so small everyone seems to just be in awe.
Beca hadn’t been to a school concert of any sorts since middle school, and she wasn’t fully sure what to expect but this was the closet to what she imagined. Classes come and go, some songs more memorable than others. The younger choir had already gone along with the rest of the elementary grades, when the older choir comes up.
She had realized they don’t actually attend this school, but just come over from the high school for Choir. Chloe steps off her stool, and moves to stand in with the first row, seeing kids turn and smile at her. The piano plays the first few notes before it lets the last note ring and the choir starts.
An A Capella version of “Glow” by Eric Whitacre is sung by the group, it echoes through the small auditorium and creates a sound unlike anything Beca has heard before. The last few notes ring in her ears, and stands quickly to clap without thought. Everyone else rises just as quickly.
The kids bow, and Chloe gives a huge grin while the last group stand up.
Beca feels herself want to tear up with Chloe’s talent, knowing how amazing she is and her heart is so full. She sits herself up straighter just to get her eyes on Chloe. Toward the middle of the song the woman next to her pipes up.
“Is one of those your sibling?” She asks, and Beca wants to laugh and die at the same time.
Beca scratches the back of her neck. “No, uh, I know the choir teacher.”
A smile breaks over the woman's face. “Ms. Beale? Oh she is such an amazing teacher, my son joined the choir program and loves it because of her.”
Beca smiles. “This is my first time at one of these, I knew she was talented but seeing it in action is something else.”
“I hope you come to many more in the future.” The lady smiles, and turns back toward the choir. They had finished, and the applause starts up and goes on for a good minute, all the built up clapping let out for the last song of the night. One of the seniors tug Chloe on stage and make her bow herself.
Beca laughs, and claps harder.
She waits until everyone has cleared out before walking up to Chloe. Who is momentarily busy talking to another teacher, and out of the corner of her eyes can tell someone is there. She says goodbye, turns and squeals. “Beca!”
“Hi babe.” Beca says before being engulfed in a hug, “You were so amazing tonight.”
Chloe laughs wetly, shoving her face into Beca’s shoulder. “I can’t believe your here, I thought you had to work late!”
“Nope, just wanted to surprise you.” Beca says, “And don’t squish the flowers they're still behind my back.”
Chloes eyes light up, and she takes the flowers with a huge grin. Placing a quick kiss on her cheek, her eyes shinning under the dim lights. “These are so gorgeous, thank you.”
Beca hums happily. “Whatever I can do to make my girlfriend happy.”
“Is that what this outfit is trying to do, because it’s working.” She tugs on end of the tie, and Beca lets out a huff. “Love this look on you.”
“I can tell, your toner is out.” She snickers.
Chloe gasps, and smacks her arm. “Who told you that? Stacie?!”
“Fat Amy.” She grins, and Chloe rolls her eyes affectionately, mumbling ‘great’ as they walk toward the exit doors.
“I think we should go out, get something kinda fancy.” Chloe pushes open the auditorium door, and Beca moves to hold it for her.
Beca hums, feigning thought. “Any ideas?”
Chloe shrugs. “You?”
“I happen to know a really nice Tex-Mex place near our house, rhymes with Chi and ends with potle. I don’t know how fancy it is though.” Beca smiles, and Chloe laughs, shoving her shoulders. They begin down the street, moving toward the closet subway track.
“You’re such a dork, and fine we’ll get Chipotle. Though, it’s not fancy.” Chloe raises her eyebrows at her, like waiting for her to fix that problem.
“We can get fancy breakfast tomorrow instead?” Beca says, “I know a good place that serves really good eleven pm pancakes.”
Chloe lets out a heavy dramatic sigh. “Sure.”
couch
“Becs?”
Beca blinks bleary eyes awake, rubbing them to see a tall figure in front of the television. Some kind of ‘Price is right’ playing behind. Slowly the thing comes more into focus through the darkness, and it’s. “Chloe?”
“Hi.” Chloe smiles, that can be heard through her words going high. “I just got home, and it’s like two am and I didn’t think you’d want to sleep on the couch.”
“Oh, uh.” Beca smacks her lips, her arms asleep underneath her. She had stolen a bit of Chloe’s alcohol, not enough to be noticeable but enough to just settle into the warmth of herself and not think about her horrible job. Forgetting just how sleepy it made her. “I think I'm good here.”
Chloe’s face contorts, she can’t tell what facial expression is there but the glow of the television shows something. “Are you sure?” Apprehensive maybe.
Beca hums, dropping her face into the pillow below her. She couldn’t have been asleep for long, the last time she saw was one-twenty. Pleasantly buzzed on a stolen fizzy alcoholic beverage between a dozen shoved in the fridge, and a glass of wine. “Yep.” She pops her ‘p’ for good measure and it makes Chloe laugh.
Chloe sits on the couch beside her, and she feels hands run over her head into her hair. Soft fingers against her scalp. It makes Beca fall further into the cushions, and she lets out a happy hum of pleasure. The room is quiet, and she almost settles into sleep.
“Did you take something of mine?”
The words are almost a velvety purr, fishing line with delicious bait on it ready to be taken. Chloe’s voice laced with something more, like she knows but wants Beca to spill it.
Beca raises her head, staring up at Chloe who has a innocent resting face on. She squints at her, then settles back down. “Uh no. My own stuff.”
Chloe hums thoughtfully. “Are you sure you dont want to sleep in your own bed?”
“I dont want to get up.”
“I’ll take you.”
Beca lets out a confused hum. “What?”
“Flip over,” Chloe pushes her shoulder gently. She places a gentle kiss to the front of her crown, then stands up. Beca feels herself be pulled up, arms wrapped under her legs like the moment in a movie when the main character has been injured and the mighty prince must come in.
Beca grips onto Chloe’s neck, not going far but it’s enough she feels uneasy about the entire thing. Chloe drops her onto the bed, and a second later the covers are on top of her, soft and warm around cold arms. Chloe places a kiss gently against her lips, unmoving Beca feels the sensation and it passes as Chloe disappears out of picture.
The room is dark, but oddly not dark like it usually is. The shadows of the city below aren’t there like usual. Uncanny in a way.
“Beca?”
Beca’s name is loud in a way she cannot describe, and she can’t place where its coming from. Her body won’t move as much as she attempts to settle herself, and the sensation of warmth is leaving her with every passing second.
Something pokes at her cheek, it’s not painful but annoying. It pulls her away from the warmth even more and she squirms as best she can.
“Beca, are you asleep?”
Beca startles awake, blinking quickly. “W-what?”
“Oh sorry, you fell asleep.” Chloe smiles sheepishly, “On the bag of chips too.”
Beca blinks, the apartment is bright with the kitchen lights and the sun falling through their apartment windows. ‘Sex and the city’ displays on the screen an episode she doesn't recognize and Chloe has a glass of wine sat next to her can of Diet Coke. She rubs her face, and her fingers show smeared eyeshadow. “Sorry uh, I don’t remember even falling asleep.”
Chloe shrugs, pulling out the not warm bag of crushes chips and siting it on the table. “I would've changed the channel if you were so bored.”
“No no it's okay, this is okay.” Beca stretches her back, mumbling a groan as she moves her neck in a stiff circle. “I had this weird dream.”
“What about?”
Beca recalls it in slow motion, Chloes voice velvety and warm lips against hers with no rhyme or reason. She feels her cheeks getting pink just at the thought and shakes her head. “Can’t remember now, just knew it was weird.”
Chloe gives her an confused expression, but looks on. “Well I just rented The Hunger Games movie again, so we are watching that. Have you read the book?”
“No, I don’t think so. Is it good?"
Chloe nods excitedly. “And the movie has Jennifer Lawrence. Win win for me.”
Later on Beca will think about how that would be one of many dreams she’d have about her roommate until she ever followed her brain and did something about it. But for now, she tries to shrug off the pink dusting her cheeks and tip of her ears and Chloes hand is tight around her shoulder.
The smell of her shampoo, lotion and candles all making a dizzying warm aroma of Chloe.