Chapter Text
"Seriously? Gross."
Laura lifted her eyes from her computer screen and watched Gordon gingerly pick her discarded gym clothes off the chair that sat across from her desk. He dropped them on the floor with a face and a shiver.
Laura rolled her eyes at his dramatics. "Oh come on, they're not as bad as all that you fastidious queen."
He held a hand to his chest in mock injury, as he sat down. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing," he accused with a wave of his finger. "Your trainer's not your type and still, you've gone to the gym four days in a row this week and you went at least four last week."
Laura raised an eyebrow. "A lady can't put a little extra effort into herself?"
He narrowed his eyes and tossed the file he was holding onto the desk. "Of course she can, then she can go and put all kinds of effort into the pretty, young thing she's got waiting at home."
Laura's mouth dropped open, but she soon burst out laughing as her pen went whizzing past Gordon's head. "Ewww, " she cried, as he ducked. "Please don't ever phrase it like that again."
He chuckled and wagged his eyebrows. "Tell me I'm wrong though, Ms. Oh-this-interview-with-mayor-Pete-just-happened-to-come-up?"
Laura had the decency to blush. "Can't a girl use her power and connections for her own wanton gain?"
Gordon nodded. "After all the shit we've been through, we deserve it," he agreed, sobering slightly and tapping a finger over his heart. "But seriously don't overdo it. I mean you look fucking amazing, but that warzone didn't do either of us any favours."
Laura sighed. "I know, and thank you for looking out for me," she added with a soft smile. "I promise nothing too strenuous."
Gordon grinned. "Except at home," he added with a wink.
"Why the hell do I keep you around?"
"Who the fuck else is going to put up with you."
They laughed but both of them knew the sober truth. Twenty odd years ago they met at YDA, their secrets safe between them. When Laura was outed, she went to Gordon's apartment, and they cried all night over a couple bottles of wine. She was fired a few days later. Despite Laura's protests, he quit in solidarity the next day.
They had commiserated again that evening. "Did you really tell them to eat shit?" Laura asked, reaching into another takeout container.
Gordon scoffed. "I did, but now I wish I'd have said every lowdown thing that crossed my mind."
Laura smiled across the cramped coffee table in her cramped apartment. "We'll get our turn," she said firmly.
Gordon nodded. "We will. I hope you know now you're stuck with me."
Laura handed him the last egg roll. "I wouldn't want anybody else."
"I'm happy for you."
Gordon's voice brought her back to the present.
"I wasn't sure about rise and shine Barbie, but she's growing on me."
Laura shook her head and sighed. "I told you to stop calling her that."
Gordon waved her objection away, and continued. "Better than your last string of wet blankets."
Laura raised an eyebrow.
"Too serious," he went on. "Bradley drinks and eats gluten and doesn't take all this shit so seriously. You're different. You compliment each other. She's feisty."
Laura groaned. "Don't I know it."
Gordon feigned shock. "Laura 'satisfaction guaranteed' Peterson can't keep up?"
She groaned again. "You'd think someone who has to get up at three in the morning would be more interested in sleep."
Gordon laughed heartily. "Girl can't get enough of you. Take it as a compliment!"
"Especially at my age," she added.
Gordon scoffed. "Don't say that. You're as hot as ever."
"Oh, please," she dismissed him. "I'm starting to feel it."
Gordon rejected this with more hand waving. "Stop," he insisted. "You're sexy, you're gorgeous, you're sophisticated, you're accomplished- feel free to stop me anytime," he cut himself off with a chuckle.
Laura laughed along. "Thank you."
Gordon started ticking off items on an imaginary to do list. "Stroke ego: check. Play therapist: check. Prevent diva meltdown-" he stopped to dodge another pen that whizzed by.
"You're an asshole."
"Oh, what's this?"
Laura looked down at Bradley who was curled on top of her while they were reading on the couch. Laura had her pajamas on, loose pants and a soft t-shirt Bradley was currently running her hand under.
Laura tossed her book aside. "What's what?" She inquired, combing her fingers through silken, blonde hair.
Bradley raked her nails down Laura's abdomen. "Have you been working out extra? 'Cause I'm pretty sure these sexy ridges here are a new development."
Laura chewed the inside of her cheek. "I may have been going a little extra lately," she admitted, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Well it's working for you," Bradley stated, still running her fingers up and down under Laura's shirt. After a few more passes she let out a little moan. "It's working for me too. God, how can you keep getting sexier?"
"Sexier?" Laura repeated. She'd been going to the gym to make certain she could continue to keep up, not shift things into a higher gear.
Bradley lifted her chin so she could look Laura in the face. "Yeah. Look at you."
But Laura shook her head. "I refuse to believe, at my age, that I'm getting sexier."
"Well believe it," Bradley stood firm. "I'm the truth teller. I'm telling the truth."
Laura sighed. "Does it ever bother you?"
Bradley lifted up, hands on the armrest, Laura's head trapped between them. She looked down into dark eyes. "Does what bother me?"
For the first time since they met, Laura looked away before answering a question. "That I'm almost a decade older than you."
There it was. The one insecurity of their relationship for her that remained unspoken.
Bradley didn't say anything at first. She only grunted with effort, as she struggled off Laura and sat herself up. "You're serious?" She finally asked.
Laura sighed and sat up as well, nodding in response.
Bradley shook her head, flabbergasted. "Babe, I honestly don't think I've ever thought about it," she reached over and took Laura's hand. "You're so hot, you have to know that."
Laura looked at Bradley and then away again. "I mean," she started. "Not to sound conceited, but yes, I know I'm not completely unattractive."
Bradley rolled her eyes. "There's an understatement."
Laura gave her a pointed look, but appreciated the levity. "Okay, let's set aside my physical attributes for a minute, because if I'm being honest it's not so much how I look that's bothering me."
Bradley tilted her head and waited for Laura to continue.
"I suppose, what I'm worried about is being up to the task."
Bradley's forehead crinkled. "What task?
Laura sighed, she had hoped she wouldn't have to spell it out. "Sex, sweetheart," she stated, trying not to sound exasperated.
Her answer only seemed to confuse Bradley further. "Wait, what? You," she emphasized. "You, Laura, don't think you're…" she trailed off still trying to arrange her thoughts.
Laura sighed and folded her hands in her lap, fidgeting with her rings.
"Oh, babe, no," Bradley went on, reaching forward, and calming Laura's busy hands with her own.
Laura tried to look away to hide her vulnerability, but Bradley reached up and caught her chin.
"You have nothing to worry about. Please, believe me. You have definitely been up to the task."
The double entendre wasn't lost on Laura who let out a watery chuckle.
"Yeah?" She inquired, finally meeting soft, blue eyes.
Bradley smiled. "Oh yeah. Big time," she emphasized with a wink, making Laura laugh again. "But seriously, babe, you really have nothing to worry about. Everything about all that is really amazing. Mind blowing. Earth shattering. I can't get enough."
Laura nodded. "I suppose, I just worry, a day will come when you'll still want that, and I won't be able to deliver."
Bradley shook her head. "First of all, there's way more to our relationship than just sex. Do you really worry that one night I'll be disappointed I only had five orgasms instead of six?"
It did sound ludacris when Bradley put it like that. Laura took a deep breath and collected herself before speaking.
"I suppose this is all just a massive conglomerate of my fear of getting older and my fear of losing you."
Bradley sat up straighter and shook her head. "Never."
"I've heard that before."
"Well then those girls were idiots, and as we all know I am very, very intelligent. I know you've had the rug pulled out from under you a bunch of times in your life babe, but I promise," Bradley continued, squeezing Laura's hands. "I am not going anywhere. Do you believe that when I say it?"
Laurs nodded. "Truth teller," she replied, offering the hint of a smile that Bradley was quick to return.
"Exactly. I'm not lying when I say I think you're the hottest, smartest, most amazing creature on the planet, and I am very much aware how lucky I am to have you in my life. I'm not about to squander that."
Laura smiled. "Thank you for putting hot before smart. I needed that."
Bradley laughed. "Seriously though sweetheart, I love you. The sex is just an incredible bonus, and I'm a glutton and I can't get enough of you. And no matter what age we're at, I'm always going to want you."
"Yeah?" Laura asked, that last remnant of doubt still clinging on.
Bradley let go of Laura's hands, and started sliding them back up Laura's shirt. "Oh yeah. You're gonna have it going on for years to come Ms. Peterson, and I'm gonna be here for it."
"Thank you," Laura laughed, leaning forward for a long, slow kiss.
Bradley pulled back, fingers still drawing patterns across Laura's abdomen. "So does that mean you're going to stop working out so much?"
Laura gave her a pointed look. "Maybe. Why?"
Bradley shrugged, attempting to remain indifferent. "Just wonderin'."
"Oh yeah?"
Bradley let one of her hands roam higher. "I just think that… it's really working for you," Bradley reiterated her earlier statement.
Laura smirked. "Working for me, or working for you?
Bradley moaned, as her nails scraped down Laura's stomach. "Why can't it be both?"