queen of analogue (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tellitslant) wrote2009-10-18 10:52 pm
tellitslant) wrote2009-10-18 10:52 pm
Entry tags:
FIC: Praise for the City (DCU, Renee/Daria, R)
Title: Praise for the City
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tellitslant
Fandom: DCU: Batverse
Pairing: Renee Montoya/Daria Hernandez
Rating: R
Word Count: 4000
Notes: Beta by the inimitablesoupytwist. Provocation by rysler. ;)
Warnings: None.
Summary: ...and after the Earth shattered and the buildings crumbled, the nation abandoned Gotham City. But even in the No Man's Land it became, there was still beauty to cling to.
For the first time since the no man's land began, Renee woke up warm.
The sensation was so unexpected that she couldn't help but revel in it. Eyes still closed, she luxuriated in the comfort of the mattress below her (slightly less lumpy than the one she had scavenged), the sounds of the morning (not a single scream to be heard), the weight of the woman in her arms –
The woman in her arms? Renee's eyes flew open. For a moment, she was disoriented, and then memory came flooding back. She was in the medical sector: she'd escorted a group of patients up late the day before and Doctor Thompkins had insisted she stay overnight. She hadn't taken much convincing, had nearly fallen into the nearest bed. Someone must have crawled in during the night due to lack of space, or just to keep warm. Simple explanation. Renee smiled to herself: for a moment, she'd worried she'd gotten laid for the first time in months and forgot.
Trying to move as little as possible, Renee glanced down at the woman cuddled next to her. Wow. She was a real stunner, even asleep: short, tousled brown hair, full lips, graceful fingers curled under her cheek. She was thin – well, they all were now, Renee thought – but her cheeks were still full and her eyelashes spread out across tan skin.
Renee, it's been a while, but that's no excuse, she thought to herself. Quit daydreaming and get back to the real world. She slid her arm out from under the other woman's head, trying to be gentle, but the woman twitched and blinked and Renee suddenly found herself gazing at close range into a pair of warm brown eyes.
"Um... hi," Renee said, feeling slightly foolish.
The woman smiled and started to stretch, then froze mid-motion, as if she too had needed a minute to remember where she was. "Oh!" she said, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry – there were no other beds – Doctor Thompkins said –" She scooted back slightly, and Renee tried not to frown at the loss of contact.
Renee smiled as charmingly as she could manage, given the early hour and the chill that was starting to creep under the blankets. "I haven't slept that well in months," she said honestly. "You shouldn't be apologizing to me, I should be thanking you!"
"Are you sure? I really appreciate you keeping me warm, even if you didn't know you were doing it." The woman smiled shyly.
"What you should really appreciate is that I got to take a bath yesterday," Renee cracked. "First time in a week I haven't smelled like the gutters I've been rolling in." That got a laugh, and Renee flushed with pleasure. She sighed and slid back the covers, looking around for the clothing she hadn't slept in. "I'm almost sorry to get up" - whoops, little too honest there, Renee? - "but I should probably thank the doc and see if she needs anything before I go..."
"Wait!" Renee paused in unrolling the jacket she'd been using as a pillow – out of necessity, as the other woman had caught her hand in a warm grip, one that Renee found herself returning without meaning to. "I mean –" The other woman ducked her head. "It's just, I got here after dark last night, I don't know where anything is, and I was wondering if you could maybe show me around a bit before you left?" She looked up at Renee through her lashes, and Renee immediately decided Gordon could wait a little longer for her to report.
"Yeah," Renee said, trying not to sound too eager, "of course. Why don't we go see if we can find a cup of whatever's passing for coffee and I'll give you the grand tour." She stood up, stuffing her feet in her boots before something occurred to her. "Sorry – I'm Renee Montoya..."
The woman smiled, and Renee felt an answering grin spread across her own face. "I'm Daria, Daria Hernandez. Nice to meet you, Renee."
*
Over cups of something that pretended to be coffee, but was at best warm and black, Renee showed Daria around the boundaries of the small medical sector. They chatted as they walked, Renee surprised at how willing she was to talk about herself as long as Daria responded.
"My parents came to Gotham more than thirty years ago. It's the only home they have, so they stayed, and I couldn't leave them, and the commissioner needed bodies, so." Renee shrugged. "Not like I had any other plans."
Daria touched Renee's arm briefly. "I'm sure you're more than just another body here, aren't you? Gordon must be pleased you stayed."
Renee felt her cheeks warm. "Nah, it's numbers that count more than anything here. Not that we have the numbers we need," she muttered under her breath. Not unless we make deals with the devil – no, Renee, don't think about that now. Turning back to Daria, she decided to change the subject. "And what about you? How come you stayed?"
Daria pushed the hair back out of her eyes and laughed bitterly. "It wasn't my idea, actually. I used to be a chef at L'Azzio. Well, believe it or not, when news of the no man's land came through, the Penguin had the entire kitchen crew kidnapped and put us to work keeping him in high-class fish dishes in his lounge. A few of us got out last night, the capes led us here." She rolled her eyes. "Only in Gotham, right?"
Renee couldn't help herself. She snickered. Daria glared at her, but couldn't keep a straight face: she giggled, and then they were both laughing, almost light-hearted, almost as though the city wasn't rotting around them.
"So now you're stuck here," Renee said once they'd caught their breath. "Not much call for a chef unless you want to go see if you can get your job back from Cobblepot. What'll you do?"
"I... really hadn't thought about it yet," Daria admitted. "I might just stick around the med camp for a while, I'm sure they could always use another pair of hands."
Renee's radio crackled to life on her belt. "Montoya," she answered crisply. "Yeah, hi, Harv. No, I'm still up north, uh, finishing up a few errands for the doc." She deliberately didn't look in Daria's direction. "ETA? Um, I'll probably head out in about fifteen? Maybe thirty? Anything doing on the way down? OK. Catch you later. Montoya out." She clipped the radio back into place and glanced sheepishly at Daria.
"Errands?" Daria asked archly, but she was smiling.
Renee smirked. "If I'd said I was starting the day right with a cup of coffee, I'd be standing night watch for a week and everyone would be competing for the medical run. Even coffee this bad is better than what we used to have in the squad room," she half-joked. And if I told them I'd woken up with a beautiful woman I wanted to get to know better... that wouldn't end well, either. "But I should check in with Leslie and get going, just in case."
Daria took the coffee mug out of Renee's hand and leaned up unexpectedly to kiss her on the cheek. "Go, then, and good luck," she said softly. "And Renee? Take care of yourself."
"I'll try," Renee said, and left while she still could.
*
Several days later, Renee was on radio duty when Harvey came running in. He flew past her, leaving her to contemplate the weirdness that was seeing Harvey Bullock moving that fast. Moments later, he and Gordon both ran back out the door. Renee looked at Bock, who was counting ammo, and they both shrugged.
She didn't get the full story until later, when cops started straggling into the building carrying boxes and bags. Harvey was among the first.
"What's up, Harv?" she asked, gesturing at the piles of... stuff.
Harvey smiled back at her, looking more honestly cheerful than he had in months. "We were digging up near the border, trying to shore up a few buildings. Broke through a wall, turned out we hit a drugstore. These are all medical supplies. The Commish says, we refill our own stock first, then whatever's left hasta go up to Leslie." He flicked a glance over Renee, who had her feet up on another chair. "Don't get up or anything, Montoya, I gotta go finish looting this place. Take it easy." He left, and she grinned. Luck's on our side, for once. Things can change so quickly here.
Grabbing the radio, Renee called it in.
"GCPD calling med sector, come in please." She flicked the radio to receive and glanced at the growing stack of medical supplies. Better send at least two people to make sure it gets there safe, she thought. No use giving it away to some street punk who might get lucky. "GCPD calling med sector, please reply."
"Hernandez here, go ahead," came through the static.
Renee grabbed for the radio, suddenly energized. "Hernandez? Daria, is that you?"
"Renee? Is everything all right?" Excitement and concern warred in Daria's voice.
"Everything's fine – better than fine," Renee assured her. "I just wanted to give the doc a heads-up that we'll be dropping off some supplies we ran across, wanted her to know a couple of us should be there tomorrow before dark."
"How wonderful! I'll pass on the message," Daria promised. There was a pause. "Are you coming up?"
Renee reviewed the duty roster in her head. She wasn't scheduled, but someone would be happy to get out of trekking across the city. "Yeah, I'll be there," she replied.
"Good," Daria said, and Renee shivered. "I'll make sure we're expecting you. I'll be expecting you. See you tomorrow, Renee. Over and out."
Static filled the channel again and Renee sat back in her seat, wondering. Did that just...? A smile spread across her face. I think it did. Huh. She eyed the pile of drugstore booty. Maybe I'd better see if we've lucked into with a miraculous supply of soap today. She sat for a moment more, then a passing figure caught her attention and she bolted out of her chair.
"Lowell, hey, Lowell!" She grabbed the other officer by the shoulder and grinned disarmingly at her. "Listen, Lowell, you don't really want to have to haul ass all the way up north with those drugs and stuff, do you? I didn't think so..."
*
The sun was just sliding behind the broken skyscrapers when Renee and Bock crossed the borders of the medical sector to be relieved of their burdens in a hero's welcome. Renee was exhausted – they'd traveled in daylight because it was safer, but the increased visibility meant they'd been on constant alert, hiding from stray gang members. As a result, she was vibrating with nervous energy that the end of their journey had done nothing to dispel. In the relative safety of the medical camp, her eye flicked back and forth over the crowd, looking for trouble even as she detailed the contents of their delivery to Leslie Thompkins.
Her gaze stopped on one particular face, and she admitted to herself that she hadn't just been checking for problems. She'd been looking for Daria. And Daria was here.
Renee went on answering Doctor Thompkins' questions, but her gaze stayed fixed on Daria's. Daria kept looking back, her face composed, but her eyes bright.
"Detective Montoya?"
"Huh?" Renee jerked herself out of her silent communication with Daria to find Leslie patiently waiting for the answer to a question Renee had no memory of being asked. "Sorry, Doctor, what was that?"
Leslie smiled at her understandingly. "You've had a long day, Detective. I should let you get some dinner. There are a few beds available, if the two of you don't have to head back too quickly?"
"Yeah, thanks, that would be great," Renee said absently, watching Daria turn and walk behind one of the tents. "You ask Bock if you've got any more questions. I'm just going to, uh, check the perimeter before I relax." She left Doctor Thompkins to count her goodies and made her way through the crowd towards the spot where she had seen Daria disappear.
Renee rounded the corner of a tent and Daria was there, leaning against the crumbling cornerstone of a building, staring off into the distance. She turned and smiled as Renee approached, but didn't move.
"Hi," Renee said, feeling suddenly, horribly unsure. What if she'd misjudged the situation, read Daria wrong? Maybe it would be better to pull back now, before anything serious had happened.
Daria reached out as Renee came closer and drew her in so they were both leaning against the building, shoulder to shoulder. "Isn't it amazing?" she said, as if she was continuing a conversation they'd been in the middle of. "I could never see the stars before, in Gotham. Now they're so bright. And the air is so clear."
Renee glanced up at the stars that were starting to peek over the jagged skyline, took a breath of the cold, clean air. It was almost enchanting, in a way. But her feet hurt, and she was confused, and she slid down the rough brick until she was sitting on the pavement. The chill bit through her jeans. She gazed up at Daria's slim form next to her, her vision suddenly blurry with fatigue, and decided, hell with it. "The view is beautiful," she said sincerely.
Daria looked down at her for a long minute. "Yeah, it is," she replied softly. She rested her hand on Renee's head, lightly, her fingertips brushing the curve of Renee's ear. Renee shivered and leaned her head against Daria's thigh, exhaling slowly.
The moment stretched, darkness enfolding the two of them, until, suddenly, Renee's stomach growled. She gasped, pressing a hand to her abdomen as if that would stop the noise; Daria laughed, a warm, rich sound that Renee immediately wanted to hear again.
"Is that a hint?" Daria asked, amused.
"That we should get to the kitchens before there's nothing left? Probably," Renee replied, making no move to get up.
Daria paused in stroking Renee's hair. "Actually," she said carefully, "if you wanted to avoid the crowds... I do have some food. Back at my room. If you don't mind a cold dinner."
"That sounds great," Renee said, getting her feet under her. Daria offered a hand to help pull her up; Renee took it, and didn't let go once she was standing. "After you," she said, interlacing her fingers with Daria's.
*
"Oh my god," Renee moaned, her eyes fluttering shut. "Jesus, Daria." She swallowed thickly and opened her eyes, blinking in the candlelight. "This is the best meal I've had in months. How did you make something this good here?" She shoveled another bite of the spicy pasta salad into her mouth without waiting for a response.
Daria smiled demurely. "I cleaned out the Penguin's spice rack when I left," she admitted, and loaded her own fork nonchalantly, eyes sparkling.
Renee sputtered with helpless laughter and laid her empty plate on the makeshift table. "Well, if this is what you can do over an open fire, I can't imagine what you can make in an actual kitchen."
"I hope I get the chance to show you sometime." Daria rose, clearing the remains of their meal off to one side of the small space.
Renee looked around. Daria had appropriated a one-bedroom apartment in one of the buildings near the main medical tent. It had clearly been looted, but no one had been able to drag out the huge couch or the bed and all the windows were intact, so it was in pretty good shape, considering. Besides the candles, the only light or heat came from a small fire Daria had laid in a sawed-down tin drum. It was almost cozy, Renee thought.
Daria turned back to her. "Do you want anything else?" she asked. "There's no tea or coffee, but hot water, if you're cold...." She gestured to the fire.
"I am cold," Renee said, and reached out a hand. "Come sit with me."
Daria came without a word, curling herself into Renee's side. Renee turned them so they were lying on the couch, the smaller woman's head tucked under her chin. Daria's hands clutched at Renee's back and Renee buried her face in Daria's hair, inhaling the scent of woodsmoke. She felt the tension ease out of her body.
"Renee...." Daria's voice was muffled. "Before the no man's land, was there... anybody?"
Renee tightened her arms around Daria. "Not for a long time, no." She paused. "What about you?"
Daria shook her head, the motion making Renee aware on a new level of their position. "No one serious," Daria replied. "Renee?" She raised her head to meet Renee's eyes. "I think meeting you made getting stuck here worth it."
Renee bent her head and kissed her.
Daria's mouth on hers brought Renee's entire body alive to sensation. Daria's hands in her hair, their legs tangled together... Renee wanted more. She tugged at the hem of Daria's sweater, dragging it up so she could feel smooth skin under her fingers.
Daria arched backwards at the contact, breaking their kiss. Renee froze immediately. "Is that... don't you..." she managed, worried she was moving too fast.
"It's fine, it's fine," Daria assured her, kissing her lips briefly. "But your hands are freezing!" She took Renee's wrist and drew her hand up between the two of them. "Let me warm you," she said huskily, and slid two of Renee's fingers into her mouth.
The enfolding heat and the pressure of Daria's tongue sent a bolt of desire through Renee. Daria's eyes, fixed knowingly on Renee, didn't help either, or the leg she slid over Renee's, bringing their bodies even closer together. "You feel so good," Renee whispered, drawing her fingers out of Daria's mouth to kiss her, gratified to hear the other woman's breath hitch. "I want to feel all of you."
This time, when Renee pushed Daria's sweater up, Daria offered no resistance, only helped her slide it all the way off. She was wearing a t-shirt below that and Renee pulled it off too, running her hands over Daria's skin and pressing open-mouthed kisses to her chest.
Daria was shoving at Renee's own clothing and, impatient, Renee rose to her knees to deal with it herself. Straddling Daria on the couch, she pulled her layers of shirts over her head. Daria ran her hands possessively up and down Renee's sides. "You look beautiful in the firelight," she said.
"Just in the firelight?" Renee joked, hovering over Daria and dropping teasing kisses on her cheeks.
Daria laughed, then sobered. "Not as beautiful as you looked walking into camp tonight. I was so worried you'd get attacked on the way and I'd never get to touch you...." She drew a shaky breath, then went on before Renee could reply, her tone deliberately lighter. "So I suppose I'd better enjoy it now I can, right?" She slid a hand down and rubbed Renee through her jeans.
Renee curled her hand behind Daria's, showing her where to put her fingers. "Not exactly what I thought seize the day meant, but I'm not arguing. God!" She arched into Daria's touch, cupping her own breasts through her bra.
"Carpe noctem, then," Daria said, and pulled Renee down to lie on her, skin to skin, and kissed her. "Come to bed with me, Renee."
Renee laughed against Daria's lips. "Like you have to ask." She pulled Daria up, only to have her turn away.
"Just let me build up the fire first," she said. "Don't want it to go out." She added another plank of wood to the flames – a cabinet door, Renee saw. The fire flared briefly, etching lines of strain on Daria's forehead. Bending in, Renee kissed them away, silently swearing to do her best to keep them from returning. She drew Daria close to her.
"I wish you wouldn't worry about me," she said, looking into the fire. "I'm going to have to go back to Tricorner tomorrow. Gordon needs me." Needs to use me. But maybe I don't mind so much any more. Maybe I can handle it a little better with someone to come back to. "I don't know when I can see you again, but it'll be as soon as I can. So I don't want to have to think about you worrying all the time, okay?"
Daria cupped Renee's cheek and kissed her gently. "I think it's too late for that," she said, "but I'll try. If you promise me that you'll be careful. Don't let anything happen to you, Renee."
"I promise," Renee said, meaning it even as she knew it was a promise she could never really keep, not in Gotham, especially not now. "Nothing's going to take me away."
"Damn right," Daria said fiercely, and led Renee to the bed.
They pulled off the rest of their clothes quickly and slid under the covers, curling together to regain the warmth they'd lost. Daria drew a lock of Renee's hair down past her breast, then let it spring back into place. "I wish I could see you better," she said wistfully, her hands exploring Renee's body.
"You're – doing fine," Renee gasped, writhing as Daria found a particularly sensitive spot with fingers and tongue. My turn. Moving quickly, she pinned Daria to the mattress. "Close your eyes," she said, and disappeared under the covers for her own exploration in the dark.
Renee wanted better lighting, too, wanted to watch Daria respond to her touch, but she was a pragmatist, after all. Daria cried out softly as Renee slid two fingers inside her – the same two that had been in her mouth earlier – and Renee decided she really didn't have anything to complain about. She flicked her tongue out, felt Daria tighten around her, and smiled. Nope, nothing at all.
Daria was gasping for breath when Renee crawled back up from under the covers, but still had her eyes closed. She didn't open them until Renee kissed her. "Still think you need to be able to see?" Renee asked.
Daria spread herself over Renee so they were face to face. "Not for that," she whispered. "But I want to watch you. I want to see your face when I touch you." She trailed her hand down Renee's body, gaze fixed on her face. "I want to see what I do to you." She curled her fingers, barely brushing them along Renee's wet folds. Renee moaned, arching into the touch. Daria smiled and kept teasing her. "I want to know what you look like when you just can't wait any more." She turned, using her thigh to press her fingers into Renee.
Renee wrapped her arms around Daria, fingers digging into her flesh as they rocked slowly together. Even in the dim light, their shared gaze was deeply intimate, frightening and arousing at the same time. Renee kissed Daria and let herself fall into sensation. Time enough to worry later, after the no man's land. Now she would grab a little happiness while she could.
*
The next morning, Renee woke up feeling better than she had in months. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and why. Then she glanced down at Daria, curled up in her arms again, and smiled. Only in Gotham, she thought, bending to kiss Daria awake. Sometimes I think it's worth it. Sometimes I love this city.
Author:
tellitslantFandom: DCU: Batverse
Pairing: Renee Montoya/Daria Hernandez
Rating: R
Word Count: 4000
Notes: Beta by the inimitable
soupytwist. Provocation by rysler. ;)Warnings: None.
Summary: ...and after the Earth shattered and the buildings crumbled, the nation abandoned Gotham City. But even in the No Man's Land it became, there was still beauty to cling to.
For the first time since the no man's land began, Renee woke up warm.
The sensation was so unexpected that she couldn't help but revel in it. Eyes still closed, she luxuriated in the comfort of the mattress below her (slightly less lumpy than the one she had scavenged), the sounds of the morning (not a single scream to be heard), the weight of the woman in her arms –
The woman in her arms? Renee's eyes flew open. For a moment, she was disoriented, and then memory came flooding back. She was in the medical sector: she'd escorted a group of patients up late the day before and Doctor Thompkins had insisted she stay overnight. She hadn't taken much convincing, had nearly fallen into the nearest bed. Someone must have crawled in during the night due to lack of space, or just to keep warm. Simple explanation. Renee smiled to herself: for a moment, she'd worried she'd gotten laid for the first time in months and forgot.
Trying to move as little as possible, Renee glanced down at the woman cuddled next to her. Wow. She was a real stunner, even asleep: short, tousled brown hair, full lips, graceful fingers curled under her cheek. She was thin – well, they all were now, Renee thought – but her cheeks were still full and her eyelashes spread out across tan skin.
Renee, it's been a while, but that's no excuse, she thought to herself. Quit daydreaming and get back to the real world. She slid her arm out from under the other woman's head, trying to be gentle, but the woman twitched and blinked and Renee suddenly found herself gazing at close range into a pair of warm brown eyes.
"Um... hi," Renee said, feeling slightly foolish.
The woman smiled and started to stretch, then froze mid-motion, as if she too had needed a minute to remember where she was. "Oh!" she said, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry – there were no other beds – Doctor Thompkins said –" She scooted back slightly, and Renee tried not to frown at the loss of contact.
Renee smiled as charmingly as she could manage, given the early hour and the chill that was starting to creep under the blankets. "I haven't slept that well in months," she said honestly. "You shouldn't be apologizing to me, I should be thanking you!"
"Are you sure? I really appreciate you keeping me warm, even if you didn't know you were doing it." The woman smiled shyly.
"What you should really appreciate is that I got to take a bath yesterday," Renee cracked. "First time in a week I haven't smelled like the gutters I've been rolling in." That got a laugh, and Renee flushed with pleasure. She sighed and slid back the covers, looking around for the clothing she hadn't slept in. "I'm almost sorry to get up" - whoops, little too honest there, Renee? - "but I should probably thank the doc and see if she needs anything before I go..."
"Wait!" Renee paused in unrolling the jacket she'd been using as a pillow – out of necessity, as the other woman had caught her hand in a warm grip, one that Renee found herself returning without meaning to. "I mean –" The other woman ducked her head. "It's just, I got here after dark last night, I don't know where anything is, and I was wondering if you could maybe show me around a bit before you left?" She looked up at Renee through her lashes, and Renee immediately decided Gordon could wait a little longer for her to report.
"Yeah," Renee said, trying not to sound too eager, "of course. Why don't we go see if we can find a cup of whatever's passing for coffee and I'll give you the grand tour." She stood up, stuffing her feet in her boots before something occurred to her. "Sorry – I'm Renee Montoya..."
The woman smiled, and Renee felt an answering grin spread across her own face. "I'm Daria, Daria Hernandez. Nice to meet you, Renee."
*
Over cups of something that pretended to be coffee, but was at best warm and black, Renee showed Daria around the boundaries of the small medical sector. They chatted as they walked, Renee surprised at how willing she was to talk about herself as long as Daria responded.
"My parents came to Gotham more than thirty years ago. It's the only home they have, so they stayed, and I couldn't leave them, and the commissioner needed bodies, so." Renee shrugged. "Not like I had any other plans."
Daria touched Renee's arm briefly. "I'm sure you're more than just another body here, aren't you? Gordon must be pleased you stayed."
Renee felt her cheeks warm. "Nah, it's numbers that count more than anything here. Not that we have the numbers we need," she muttered under her breath. Not unless we make deals with the devil – no, Renee, don't think about that now. Turning back to Daria, she decided to change the subject. "And what about you? How come you stayed?"
Daria pushed the hair back out of her eyes and laughed bitterly. "It wasn't my idea, actually. I used to be a chef at L'Azzio. Well, believe it or not, when news of the no man's land came through, the Penguin had the entire kitchen crew kidnapped and put us to work keeping him in high-class fish dishes in his lounge. A few of us got out last night, the capes led us here." She rolled her eyes. "Only in Gotham, right?"
Renee couldn't help herself. She snickered. Daria glared at her, but couldn't keep a straight face: she giggled, and then they were both laughing, almost light-hearted, almost as though the city wasn't rotting around them.
"So now you're stuck here," Renee said once they'd caught their breath. "Not much call for a chef unless you want to go see if you can get your job back from Cobblepot. What'll you do?"
"I... really hadn't thought about it yet," Daria admitted. "I might just stick around the med camp for a while, I'm sure they could always use another pair of hands."
Renee's radio crackled to life on her belt. "Montoya," she answered crisply. "Yeah, hi, Harv. No, I'm still up north, uh, finishing up a few errands for the doc." She deliberately didn't look in Daria's direction. "ETA? Um, I'll probably head out in about fifteen? Maybe thirty? Anything doing on the way down? OK. Catch you later. Montoya out." She clipped the radio back into place and glanced sheepishly at Daria.
"Errands?" Daria asked archly, but she was smiling.
Renee smirked. "If I'd said I was starting the day right with a cup of coffee, I'd be standing night watch for a week and everyone would be competing for the medical run. Even coffee this bad is better than what we used to have in the squad room," she half-joked. And if I told them I'd woken up with a beautiful woman I wanted to get to know better... that wouldn't end well, either. "But I should check in with Leslie and get going, just in case."
Daria took the coffee mug out of Renee's hand and leaned up unexpectedly to kiss her on the cheek. "Go, then, and good luck," she said softly. "And Renee? Take care of yourself."
"I'll try," Renee said, and left while she still could.
*
Several days later, Renee was on radio duty when Harvey came running in. He flew past her, leaving her to contemplate the weirdness that was seeing Harvey Bullock moving that fast. Moments later, he and Gordon both ran back out the door. Renee looked at Bock, who was counting ammo, and they both shrugged.
She didn't get the full story until later, when cops started straggling into the building carrying boxes and bags. Harvey was among the first.
"What's up, Harv?" she asked, gesturing at the piles of... stuff.
Harvey smiled back at her, looking more honestly cheerful than he had in months. "We were digging up near the border, trying to shore up a few buildings. Broke through a wall, turned out we hit a drugstore. These are all medical supplies. The Commish says, we refill our own stock first, then whatever's left hasta go up to Leslie." He flicked a glance over Renee, who had her feet up on another chair. "Don't get up or anything, Montoya, I gotta go finish looting this place. Take it easy." He left, and she grinned. Luck's on our side, for once. Things can change so quickly here.
Grabbing the radio, Renee called it in.
"GCPD calling med sector, come in please." She flicked the radio to receive and glanced at the growing stack of medical supplies. Better send at least two people to make sure it gets there safe, she thought. No use giving it away to some street punk who might get lucky. "GCPD calling med sector, please reply."
"Hernandez here, go ahead," came through the static.
Renee grabbed for the radio, suddenly energized. "Hernandez? Daria, is that you?"
"Renee? Is everything all right?" Excitement and concern warred in Daria's voice.
"Everything's fine – better than fine," Renee assured her. "I just wanted to give the doc a heads-up that we'll be dropping off some supplies we ran across, wanted her to know a couple of us should be there tomorrow before dark."
"How wonderful! I'll pass on the message," Daria promised. There was a pause. "Are you coming up?"
Renee reviewed the duty roster in her head. She wasn't scheduled, but someone would be happy to get out of trekking across the city. "Yeah, I'll be there," she replied.
"Good," Daria said, and Renee shivered. "I'll make sure we're expecting you. I'll be expecting you. See you tomorrow, Renee. Over and out."
Static filled the channel again and Renee sat back in her seat, wondering. Did that just...? A smile spread across her face. I think it did. Huh. She eyed the pile of drugstore booty. Maybe I'd better see if we've lucked into with a miraculous supply of soap today. She sat for a moment more, then a passing figure caught her attention and she bolted out of her chair.
"Lowell, hey, Lowell!" She grabbed the other officer by the shoulder and grinned disarmingly at her. "Listen, Lowell, you don't really want to have to haul ass all the way up north with those drugs and stuff, do you? I didn't think so..."
*
The sun was just sliding behind the broken skyscrapers when Renee and Bock crossed the borders of the medical sector to be relieved of their burdens in a hero's welcome. Renee was exhausted – they'd traveled in daylight because it was safer, but the increased visibility meant they'd been on constant alert, hiding from stray gang members. As a result, she was vibrating with nervous energy that the end of their journey had done nothing to dispel. In the relative safety of the medical camp, her eye flicked back and forth over the crowd, looking for trouble even as she detailed the contents of their delivery to Leslie Thompkins.
Her gaze stopped on one particular face, and she admitted to herself that she hadn't just been checking for problems. She'd been looking for Daria. And Daria was here.
Renee went on answering Doctor Thompkins' questions, but her gaze stayed fixed on Daria's. Daria kept looking back, her face composed, but her eyes bright.
"Detective Montoya?"
"Huh?" Renee jerked herself out of her silent communication with Daria to find Leslie patiently waiting for the answer to a question Renee had no memory of being asked. "Sorry, Doctor, what was that?"
Leslie smiled at her understandingly. "You've had a long day, Detective. I should let you get some dinner. There are a few beds available, if the two of you don't have to head back too quickly?"
"Yeah, thanks, that would be great," Renee said absently, watching Daria turn and walk behind one of the tents. "You ask Bock if you've got any more questions. I'm just going to, uh, check the perimeter before I relax." She left Doctor Thompkins to count her goodies and made her way through the crowd towards the spot where she had seen Daria disappear.
Renee rounded the corner of a tent and Daria was there, leaning against the crumbling cornerstone of a building, staring off into the distance. She turned and smiled as Renee approached, but didn't move.
"Hi," Renee said, feeling suddenly, horribly unsure. What if she'd misjudged the situation, read Daria wrong? Maybe it would be better to pull back now, before anything serious had happened.
Daria reached out as Renee came closer and drew her in so they were both leaning against the building, shoulder to shoulder. "Isn't it amazing?" she said, as if she was continuing a conversation they'd been in the middle of. "I could never see the stars before, in Gotham. Now they're so bright. And the air is so clear."
Renee glanced up at the stars that were starting to peek over the jagged skyline, took a breath of the cold, clean air. It was almost enchanting, in a way. But her feet hurt, and she was confused, and she slid down the rough brick until she was sitting on the pavement. The chill bit through her jeans. She gazed up at Daria's slim form next to her, her vision suddenly blurry with fatigue, and decided, hell with it. "The view is beautiful," she said sincerely.
Daria looked down at her for a long minute. "Yeah, it is," she replied softly. She rested her hand on Renee's head, lightly, her fingertips brushing the curve of Renee's ear. Renee shivered and leaned her head against Daria's thigh, exhaling slowly.
The moment stretched, darkness enfolding the two of them, until, suddenly, Renee's stomach growled. She gasped, pressing a hand to her abdomen as if that would stop the noise; Daria laughed, a warm, rich sound that Renee immediately wanted to hear again.
"Is that a hint?" Daria asked, amused.
"That we should get to the kitchens before there's nothing left? Probably," Renee replied, making no move to get up.
Daria paused in stroking Renee's hair. "Actually," she said carefully, "if you wanted to avoid the crowds... I do have some food. Back at my room. If you don't mind a cold dinner."
"That sounds great," Renee said, getting her feet under her. Daria offered a hand to help pull her up; Renee took it, and didn't let go once she was standing. "After you," she said, interlacing her fingers with Daria's.
*
"Oh my god," Renee moaned, her eyes fluttering shut. "Jesus, Daria." She swallowed thickly and opened her eyes, blinking in the candlelight. "This is the best meal I've had in months. How did you make something this good here?" She shoveled another bite of the spicy pasta salad into her mouth without waiting for a response.
Daria smiled demurely. "I cleaned out the Penguin's spice rack when I left," she admitted, and loaded her own fork nonchalantly, eyes sparkling.
Renee sputtered with helpless laughter and laid her empty plate on the makeshift table. "Well, if this is what you can do over an open fire, I can't imagine what you can make in an actual kitchen."
"I hope I get the chance to show you sometime." Daria rose, clearing the remains of their meal off to one side of the small space.
Renee looked around. Daria had appropriated a one-bedroom apartment in one of the buildings near the main medical tent. It had clearly been looted, but no one had been able to drag out the huge couch or the bed and all the windows were intact, so it was in pretty good shape, considering. Besides the candles, the only light or heat came from a small fire Daria had laid in a sawed-down tin drum. It was almost cozy, Renee thought.
Daria turned back to her. "Do you want anything else?" she asked. "There's no tea or coffee, but hot water, if you're cold...." She gestured to the fire.
"I am cold," Renee said, and reached out a hand. "Come sit with me."
Daria came without a word, curling herself into Renee's side. Renee turned them so they were lying on the couch, the smaller woman's head tucked under her chin. Daria's hands clutched at Renee's back and Renee buried her face in Daria's hair, inhaling the scent of woodsmoke. She felt the tension ease out of her body.
"Renee...." Daria's voice was muffled. "Before the no man's land, was there... anybody?"
Renee tightened her arms around Daria. "Not for a long time, no." She paused. "What about you?"
Daria shook her head, the motion making Renee aware on a new level of their position. "No one serious," Daria replied. "Renee?" She raised her head to meet Renee's eyes. "I think meeting you made getting stuck here worth it."
Renee bent her head and kissed her.
Daria's mouth on hers brought Renee's entire body alive to sensation. Daria's hands in her hair, their legs tangled together... Renee wanted more. She tugged at the hem of Daria's sweater, dragging it up so she could feel smooth skin under her fingers.
Daria arched backwards at the contact, breaking their kiss. Renee froze immediately. "Is that... don't you..." she managed, worried she was moving too fast.
"It's fine, it's fine," Daria assured her, kissing her lips briefly. "But your hands are freezing!" She took Renee's wrist and drew her hand up between the two of them. "Let me warm you," she said huskily, and slid two of Renee's fingers into her mouth.
The enfolding heat and the pressure of Daria's tongue sent a bolt of desire through Renee. Daria's eyes, fixed knowingly on Renee, didn't help either, or the leg she slid over Renee's, bringing their bodies even closer together. "You feel so good," Renee whispered, drawing her fingers out of Daria's mouth to kiss her, gratified to hear the other woman's breath hitch. "I want to feel all of you."
This time, when Renee pushed Daria's sweater up, Daria offered no resistance, only helped her slide it all the way off. She was wearing a t-shirt below that and Renee pulled it off too, running her hands over Daria's skin and pressing open-mouthed kisses to her chest.
Daria was shoving at Renee's own clothing and, impatient, Renee rose to her knees to deal with it herself. Straddling Daria on the couch, she pulled her layers of shirts over her head. Daria ran her hands possessively up and down Renee's sides. "You look beautiful in the firelight," she said.
"Just in the firelight?" Renee joked, hovering over Daria and dropping teasing kisses on her cheeks.
Daria laughed, then sobered. "Not as beautiful as you looked walking into camp tonight. I was so worried you'd get attacked on the way and I'd never get to touch you...." She drew a shaky breath, then went on before Renee could reply, her tone deliberately lighter. "So I suppose I'd better enjoy it now I can, right?" She slid a hand down and rubbed Renee through her jeans.
Renee curled her hand behind Daria's, showing her where to put her fingers. "Not exactly what I thought seize the day meant, but I'm not arguing. God!" She arched into Daria's touch, cupping her own breasts through her bra.
"Carpe noctem, then," Daria said, and pulled Renee down to lie on her, skin to skin, and kissed her. "Come to bed with me, Renee."
Renee laughed against Daria's lips. "Like you have to ask." She pulled Daria up, only to have her turn away.
"Just let me build up the fire first," she said. "Don't want it to go out." She added another plank of wood to the flames – a cabinet door, Renee saw. The fire flared briefly, etching lines of strain on Daria's forehead. Bending in, Renee kissed them away, silently swearing to do her best to keep them from returning. She drew Daria close to her.
"I wish you wouldn't worry about me," she said, looking into the fire. "I'm going to have to go back to Tricorner tomorrow. Gordon needs me." Needs to use me. But maybe I don't mind so much any more. Maybe I can handle it a little better with someone to come back to. "I don't know when I can see you again, but it'll be as soon as I can. So I don't want to have to think about you worrying all the time, okay?"
Daria cupped Renee's cheek and kissed her gently. "I think it's too late for that," she said, "but I'll try. If you promise me that you'll be careful. Don't let anything happen to you, Renee."
"I promise," Renee said, meaning it even as she knew it was a promise she could never really keep, not in Gotham, especially not now. "Nothing's going to take me away."
"Damn right," Daria said fiercely, and led Renee to the bed.
They pulled off the rest of their clothes quickly and slid under the covers, curling together to regain the warmth they'd lost. Daria drew a lock of Renee's hair down past her breast, then let it spring back into place. "I wish I could see you better," she said wistfully, her hands exploring Renee's body.
"You're – doing fine," Renee gasped, writhing as Daria found a particularly sensitive spot with fingers and tongue. My turn. Moving quickly, she pinned Daria to the mattress. "Close your eyes," she said, and disappeared under the covers for her own exploration in the dark.
Renee wanted better lighting, too, wanted to watch Daria respond to her touch, but she was a pragmatist, after all. Daria cried out softly as Renee slid two fingers inside her – the same two that had been in her mouth earlier – and Renee decided she really didn't have anything to complain about. She flicked her tongue out, felt Daria tighten around her, and smiled. Nope, nothing at all.
Daria was gasping for breath when Renee crawled back up from under the covers, but still had her eyes closed. She didn't open them until Renee kissed her. "Still think you need to be able to see?" Renee asked.
Daria spread herself over Renee so they were face to face. "Not for that," she whispered. "But I want to watch you. I want to see your face when I touch you." She trailed her hand down Renee's body, gaze fixed on her face. "I want to see what I do to you." She curled her fingers, barely brushing them along Renee's wet folds. Renee moaned, arching into the touch. Daria smiled and kept teasing her. "I want to know what you look like when you just can't wait any more." She turned, using her thigh to press her fingers into Renee.
Renee wrapped her arms around Daria, fingers digging into her flesh as they rocked slowly together. Even in the dim light, their shared gaze was deeply intimate, frightening and arousing at the same time. Renee kissed Daria and let herself fall into sensation. Time enough to worry later, after the no man's land. Now she would grab a little happiness while she could.
*
The next morning, Renee woke up feeling better than she had in months. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and why. Then she glanced down at Daria, curled up in her arms again, and smiled. Only in Gotham, she thought, bending to kiss Daria awake. Sometimes I think it's worth it. Sometimes I love this city.