Chapter Text
As much as you would’ve loved to see Rosalind keeping her composure, the way her mask slipped for a split second to reveal utter dismay twisted your guts. You hurried to scoot off her lap, sitting down on the bed next to her while her facial features evened out. The president wouldn’t let on, yet that flicker of… you didn’t know, something in her eyes only worsened the foul rot spreading through your chest. One thing was for certain, though: The mood had been ultimately ruined.
“So Dogtown’s self-proclaimed leader has caged our little Songbird”, Rosalind uttered, more to herself than you while brushing a strand of hair out of her vision. “Tell me what V has told you exactly.”
In a hurry, you went over everything the merc had revealed to you over the holo. Rosalind listened, face motionless. It was uncanny how she had effortlessly slipped back into being the president the moment the bad news had reached her.
“It seems like Reed has the situation under control. Yet it goes without saying you need to get her out of there.” A soundless exhale left Rosalind’s lips when she reached for the hems of her still-dampened blouse, getting dressed again. She didn’t bother buttoning it up; instead, she pushed herself away from the bed and got back on her feet. Her brows furrowed with grim focus as she started to pace around the room. “An FIA agent in the hands of the enemy…”
“Hansen’s must’ve grabbed her the second she lost control over the Chimera”, you thought out loud, kneading your palms. “Shit. Wonder what kind of leverage exactly he has against her. Songbird’s an S-tier netrunner, she probably would’ve found a way to slip past him by now.”
“That is none of your concern.” Rosalind spun around to face you. Her tone had turned sharp like a blade ready to slice its enemies. And… something about that threw you majorly off guard. Your stomach dropped with anxious tension. But just as quickly as her change of demeanor came, it had disappeared again. Instead, it was indifference that evened out her expression.
“Apologies”, the president sighed, focusing on a faraway spot only she could see. To many, she might’ve appeared composed, and yet you caught her picking at her thumb – a little nervous tick she hadn’t done all week. Something about this situation had President Rosalind Myers on edge. Yet, could she be blamed?
“It’s of no use getting riled up over the state of affairs now. I trust Reed and Alex to take any and all necessary action to get her out of this mess.” When she looked at you again, an already familiar mask of calculated composure had encased her features. This wasn’t the first time you wished you could enter her thoughts to see what exactly had her mind occupied. You watched as Rosalind rolled back her shoulders.
“Anyways. One of us should probably make use of that shower.” She had regained perfect control over her posture and display. These past days and hours had made it easy for you to forget you mingled with the most powerful woman of the nation, yet with the way she held herself now – arms crossed behind her upright back, and that absolute piercing clarity in her gaze, it was clear she was in charge again. Not even the fact she still hadn’t buttoned up her blouse could take a hit on the authority she radiated. For a glimpse of a moment, you caught your thoughts slipping back to the more pleasurable things you could’ve been doing instead if V’s call hadn’t caused that pesky interruption.
“After you, dear.” She gestured towards the bathroom door. “I’ll try to get a hold of Reed in the meantime.”
Swallowing down the lump that had formed in your throat upon seeing her like this, you gave nothing but a numb nod. While you reached out to the sweater you had previously dropped to the ground, you gazed up at her again.
“Thanks”, you mouthed as you made your way toward the bathroom. When its metal door closed shut behind you, your insides still writhed with one singular realization: Rosalind knew more about the case than she let on. You had recognized that look in her eyes. She had started scheming the second you told her about the situation, carefully laying out a plan of action in her brilliant mind. A plan that, if executed correctly, could potentially turn the entire status quo upside down. The only question that remained was… How would you fit into her plans?
Minutes later, when the water had drenched your hair, you still weren’t able to find an answer to your question. Steam had dampened the shower’s tiles, singular droplets of condensed water trickling down the sterile bathroom walls. Goosebumps crept over your skin. The water’s heat was exactly what your undercooled, trembling body needed, and yet, you found it difficult to relax your sore muscles. Of course, the chromed-out shoulder played an important role in your discomfort – trying to unwrap the bandage had been tedious, and you had been tempted to ask the president for assistance. However, when you heard her hushed voice uttering orders to her FIA agent on the holo, you were quick to discard the thought. In the end, you had made short work of it and grit your teeth when ripping the bandages from your shoulder on your own. You had hopped under the shower at the speed of light, hoping the rushing water would drown the president’s words. Listening to her conversations had been a mistake you weren’t keen on repeating. You could picture what she was consulting over with her agent anyway: Whispered state affairs, giving orders on how to rip Songbird from Hansen’s blood-dyed claws. In the end, the running water channeled out Rosalind’s alto as you started to wash down your body and hair. The less you heard her talking about the delicate Songbird matter, the less you’d worry – except – you already worried.
Squeezing your eyes shut, you tried to allow the water to wash away your concerns, yet whenever you closed them, Rosalind’s calculated guise crossed your mind. Not only once had you thought about just asking her what the great deal about her netrunner was – why Hansen would capture her and hold her hostage – but you knew you were too cowardly to speak up about it. A steadily growing part of you was afraid of confrontation, it was as simple as that. Afraid that too many questions would endanger the fragile, mutual feelings Rosalind and you shared. It was easier for you to pretend there wasn’t a crisis to avoid in Dogtown, and it was even easier to make yourself believe it was just the president and you in a bubble that shielded you from the rest of the world. Yet with every mile taking you closer to the Capitol, that same made-up reality evaded your grasp, crumbling beneath your fingertips.
You turned the water off and wrapped yourself into a surprisingly fluffy towel, leaving the safe haven the shower had posed as. You stepped out into the sterile bathroom and met face-to-face with your own reflection in the fogged-up mirror. After reaching out to wipe its surface with your flat palm, it took you a moment to recognize the drained visage staring back at you as your own. The prominence of your under-eye circles had worsened over these past few days. It didn’t surprise you in the slightest – your biorhythm had been hopelessly tangled and twisted by the routines this trip had forced upon you. Brows knitted together, you continued to observe your mirror image, gaze coming to a stop on a darkened spot of skin located just above your collarbone. A mark, placed by the nation’s head in a moment where circumstances did not matter to either of you. You could practically watch your cheeks getting tinted by numerous shades of red while your fingertips came to rest atop the bruise. One day. That was all that was left of your shared time with Rosalind – and what would come after that? You weren’t sure. And you definitely wouldn’t waste precious time ruining everything by thinking too much about the events that had led to your infatuation with the president in the first place. But oh – that was so much easier said than done.
You turned away from your twin still staring you down in the mirror, rubbing yourself dry before getting dressed again – which proved to be a lot more circumstantial when your shoulder once again reminded you of your restricted mobility. If it continued to bug you like this you had to pay a visit to Vic once you were back in Night City. For now, strings of hissed curses left your lips while you hurriedly got dressed. Keeping the president waiting for her turn was another thing you wanted to avoid.
~*~
Despite wanting to slip under the covers immediately after Rosalind had occupied the bathroom, you still stood at the window, glancing outside through the halfway-closed shutters when she returned. Your bottom lip was partially captured between your teeth, and you were mercilessly chewing down on it. The drenched parking lot outside entered your vision. It was still raining – pouring, in fact.
The bathroom door slid shut with a smooth whirr, but you didn’t quite register it. Not until Rosalind spoke up.
“What are you thinking about?”
You snapped out of your dream-like state, startled by her voice.
“Who says I’m thinkin’?”
You turned away from the window. Rosalind came into view, and despite wearing something more comfortable just like you, she still managed to radiate sheer grace. You couldn’t help but take note of the grey long-sleeve she wore, tightly clinging to her lean body. It posed a stark contrast to her loosely fitted sweatpants – in the same moment, you asked yourself how in the world she managed to make even the most comfy fit look this good.
Rosalind let out an amused hum while she ran a hand through her damp hair. And just like that, you came to the realization how much, in fact, you loved her hair being this undone.
“I’ve spent these last few days crammed into your personal privacy, giving me plenty of time to decipher your facial expressions, sweetheart.” A smirk tugged on her mouth corners. “How you wrinkle your nose whenever something doesn’t sit right with you. How you furrow your brows ever so slightly whenever something takes you off guard.”
“Well, someone’s been watchin’ me closely, hasn’t she?” Despite the shivers her words caused, you still managed to put on a joking tone. You watched as Rosalind circled around the bed before sitting down on her side.
How odd.
During all the commotion you hadn’t grown aware the president and you would share a double bed during your last day together.
“What can I say?”, she shrugged, propping up her pillow, “You have the most observable features.”
Her compliment caught you off guard, making your next breath of air hitch in your throat. Rosalind couldn’t know how much her plain words made your heart rebel against your ribcage. Not only that – you were fairly certain the heat in your face was visible.
“Now you’re furrowing your brows which tells me I did, in fact, catch you off guard.” A nonchalant smile grew visible on the president’s lips.
“Psh”, you waved it aside, “That might explain why I caught you glancin’ at me all the damn time.” A smile stole itself onto your lips as well – one you could barely control. Before Rosalind could reply, however, you decided to give in and answer her initial question – and with that – throwing all your recently made-up principles overboard.
“But yeah, been thinkin’ about the… Songbird-Hansen sitch. I know it isn’t my responsibility to break my head over it all but still. Damn. Bugs me she hasn’t found a way to escape Hansen. Maybe that Chimera hack damaged her cyberware or…” You sighed as you averted your gaze to the scenery outside the window. “I dunno. She should be capable enough to get the hell out of there, so the fact she didn’t...”
The disembodied voices you had heard when you tried to counter-hack the Chimera still lingered in the back of your mind. That hadn’t been Songbird’s doing – and a part of you was certain as hell they hadn’t belonged to Barghest netrunners as well.
So whathad you heard?
The way your name left the president’s lips pulled you back into reality. You turned your head again, meeting with Rosalind’s firm glance. You half expected to get scolded once more.
“Come here.”
She beckoned you over – and of course, you would be a fool not to listen. Still, you hesitated before your feet slowly carried you to her side of the bed. You barely had time to plant your behind onto the mattress when the president tackled you down in a swift blur of motion. Your back and head hit the mattress, wrists captured next to your head by the president who towered over you. Strands of damp hair hung into her face, gifting her a daring appearance.
“It’s touching you seem worried about my people. However, didn’t I tell you the situation is none of your concern right now?” Despite the fact her words trickled from her lips slowly, each spoken syllable was armed with that same dangerous edge you had heard in her voice before. Shallow breaths left your lips as your eyes locked with hers. You searched them for any glimpse of warmth, yet all you found was cold, harsh sharpness.
“You did.” Keeping your voice firm was an almost unachievable task.
“Then why is it you’re still prying into the matter?” The president’s eyes narrowed at you ever so slightly. “Stop breaking your beautiful head over things that currently lay outside your field of reach.”
Rosalind’s iron grip around your wrists disappeared when she sat up straight again, yet the way she dragged her hands down your sides while doing so ignited a whole different fire curling in your stomach. You never left her field of vision. With the way she eyed you, your deprived brain could only come up with one fitting comparison: She was the hunter.
And you were her prey.
“Then… Will you at least tell me what you talked about with Reed?” You had no idea why you still tried to dig deeper. Rosalind’s previous words had already chased enough icy shivers down your spine.
A sigh left the president’s lips, her tone calm as she spoke up.
“You really won’t give it a rest, will you?”
You propped yourself up on your elbows, ignoring the throb your chromed shoulder sent through your nerve endings. At least that meant it was still integrating with the rest of your flesh.
“The only thing I want is answers, Ros. This entire situation… I’m just not seeing the bigger picture here. You made me part of the FIA – shouldn’t I know all the juicy detes of an OP that I’m part of?”
“Even if you’re FIA, some matters are beyond your current clearance.”
“What, and you can’t up my clearance?”, you challenged. “Not even with the… special circumstances we’re currently in?” You were dangerously close to overstepping your boundaries, you knew. And yet, was it wrong you wanted closure?
“Don’t get ahead of yourself now.” The president tsked. Her burning gaze had been fueled by agitation moments ago, yet now, that same fuel had run dry. A sense of defeat washed over her features.
“I’m sorry. I let my emotions get the best of me there”, she uttered, closing her eyes. For a second you didn’t see the president in charge of an entire country – but the woman behind the barrier. “The entire matter is highly classified. I’m afraid I won’t be able to paint a bigger picture with the way things are right now.”
You understood – really. Yet you couldn’t help but be disappointed when Rosalind finally gave you the space to properly sit up again.
“All that matters is that you will go back to Night City and help the FIA secure Songbird again. How you will do that is up to Reed. He will fill you in on the details of your OP once you arrive.” Calm had replaced the acidity aggravating her voice moments ago.
“Yeah, I… get it.” The throb of a beginning headache formed behind your eyes. At least your suspicions had been confirmed now: There was something else the president didn’t tell you – or rather, couldn’t tell you. For today though, you had enough of prying into spaces that weren’t yours to pry into.
“Sorry, I kept digging into the matter.” Part of you felt obliged to apologize while you scooted over to your side of the bed, watching Rosalind do the same while you tried to get comfortable.
“It’s alright. It’s like I said before: I shouldn’t expect you to operate like a fully fledged FIA agent.”
Rosalind turned to her side, facing you. You almost mirrored her – but as soon as you tried turning to your left side, your shoulder reminded you this wasn’t a great idea. You grimaced, rolling onto your back again. Solely turning your head to look at her would have to suffice.
“Asking questions isn’t a bad thing per se. It’s posing those same questions to the wrong people that might ultimately break your neck, sweetheart.”
Only Rosalind could disguise threats like wolves in sheep’s clothes. And yet, with the way her emerald eyes softened before she reached out across the bed to place her hand atop yours, you willingly fell right into the trap.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time now, Madam President”, you joked weakly, attempting to ease the thickness in the atmosphere created by your heated discussion. You succeeded; a delicate laugh left her lips.
“You’re really unbelievable.” She gave your hand a squeeze before retreating to her side of the bed now. “We should catch some shuteye. The last leg of our trip might be the longest yet.”
She was right with that of course. However, with everything you had heard this past hour, you knew your racing thoughts wouldn’t allow you to rest. Still, you didn’t object when Rosalind turned off the lights.
Minutes passed. You listened to the raindrops hitting the windows and calmed down your breathing with the technique Rosalind had taught you, yet the drowsiness of sleep’s embrace never came. Instead, you were forced to listen to your own agitated heartbeat thrumming in your chest, while your own blood rushed through your ears relentlessly. The verbal exchange between you and Rosalind still played behind your closed eyes like a tape – once played through, forced to repeat itself over and over again. The air around you was still heavy with emotion. And then, finally, you turned to your left side to face the president in the dark. You ignored the sharp throb that immediately warned you.
“Ros?”
It didn’t surprise you the slightest she hadn’t fallen asleep when she gave you a hum in the darkness.
“There’s… somethin’ I need to tell you or else I might as well combust.”
“We wouldn’t want that to happen, now would we?” Despite all the gloom around you, you heard the smile softening her voice. “What is it?”
You took a deep inhale, then exhaled. There was no easy way to say this, but the words that lingered in your mind needed to be released.
“I know asking all those questions isn’t my place. You’re the president, and you’re under no obligation to let me in on every damn thing happenin’ in your life right now. You’ve got every right to protect state affairs, so I really can’t blame you for keepin’ me in the dark.” You paused. “Guess all I want to tell you with this is… Even if you can’t or don’t want to tell the truth, it ain’t gonna stop me from being your FIA agent. Truth is, fear I might follow you to the ends of this damn planet if you asked me to. You just got me that hooked, Madam President.”
Moments passed in deafening silence. And then, out of the unexpected, Rosalind reached for you, pulling you closer. Her lips found yours even in the shrouded darkness, and yet she didn’t give you time to get adjusted when she pulled away.
“I know.” Her breath grazed your lips before she turned onto her back, tugging you with her. And just like that, you ended up partially on top of her, nuzzled somewhere between her shoulder and neck.
You didn’t complain.
“And yet, you just reminded me why I had no choice but to… develop these feelings.” The way Rosalind struggled with her words was unusual, yet endearing. “You’re stubborn, and not afraid to ask questions.”
“Scratch that, Ros. Was sweatin’ like a sinner in church”, you quipped into the darkness, inhaling her familiar scent. Your shoulder had started to wreak havoc, and you forced yourself to ignore the steadily swelling throb. This moment was far more important than some random neglected body part.
“You didn’t show it.” Rosalind’s alto made your chest vibrate. “Which confirms you’ve got what it takes to become a full member of the FIA.”
Warmth made your insides tingle when her arm snuck around your waist.
“Which is exactly my plan after V gets her cure.” The words had let your lips carelessly – yet it was only when you had released them you noticed their weight. And the truth they held.
Yes, you wanted to continue your merc work together with V after saving her life – but another version of you wanted to serve under the president (in more ways than one). And as this realization buried itself into your mind, with it came the fear. You wanted to make it big in Night City, yet… Was that V’s dream or yours?
If your words had surprised Rosalind, she didn’t show it when she pressed her lips onto your hairline.
“A grand statement for such an early hour.”
You closed your eyes, letting your hand wander to her chest, where it stayed. Her steady heartbeat thrummed beneath your fingertips. “Too much?”
The president released an exhale when her other hand found yours atop her chest. She interlocked her fingers with yours. “Sleep, dear. We’ll talk about this once Songbird is delivered back to Langley.”
And that is precisely what you did. Getting lulled in by Rosalind’s chest even heaving and sinking, your limbs entangled.
~*~
Sundown came, ending your sound slumber. The first thing you noticed was the numb, constant throb in your shoulder, followed closely by Rosalind’s calm features that came into your view shortly after your eyes fluttered open. None of you had moved significantly during your rest – you were still nuzzled closely against her, cheek squished against her shoulder while your steady breath had grazed her neck, and you found her arm still wrapped around your waist. She had kept you close whilst both of you had rested, and yet the oddest thing about the entire scenario was the fact Rosalind was still asleep – something that hadn’t happened once during your trip. Usually, she was the first one to wake up; always ready to hit the road while you were busy trying to win the fight with the warm bed... but not tonight. Her soft breath was all that filled the quaint atmosphere as you lay there, quietly observing her as she slumbered on. You didn’t dare move, not wanting to disturb this fragile, peaceful moment. As long as the president stayed asleep, it would postpone the inevitable end of your journey across the states. You could continue to pretend there wasn’t an OP that needed to be done or an FIA netrunner that needed saving.
Right now, it was just her and you, nestled together in a more or less comfortable motel bed in the middle of nowhere while the setting sun painted the sky red. A few stray sunrays managed to slip through the halfway-closed shutters, casting a golden glow across Rosalind’s figure. A smile stole itself onto your features when you closed your eyes again, focusing on the president’s warmth.
Yes, this situation made it easy to just… pretend.
Rosalind moving beneath you, however, was enough to burst the delicate bubble. Fingers started tracing feather-like patterns onto your skin, triggering tingly shivers that almost aligned with your fluttering heartbeat.
“How late is it?” Sleep had stolen itself into her voice, making it appear hoarser, deeper. And fuck, if there was anything you wanted in this moment, it was to wake up next to her every day, solely to hear her speak like this.
“Don’t you mean ‘early’?”
“Definitely too early for you to crack jokes like this”, Rosalind uttered into your hairline. You didn’t get the chance to apologize when she moved again, attempting to sit up. You protested, not wanting to leave the cozy sheets, but it was to no avail. You had to let go of her, and while Rosalind’s warmth around you disappeared, it was then your shoulder ultimately started to ache again.
Yes, sleeping on top of your shoulder for the sake of some closeness hadn’t been one of your brightest decisions. You cursed, rolling onto your back while watching Rosalind get out of bed.
“Damn, not even gonna let me enjoy some morning cuddles?” You rubbed your eyes to the point of seeing stars.
“Don’t you mean ‘evening cuddles’?” She gave you no time to answer her own interpretation of your smartassery. “We’ve got a tight schedule ahead of us tonight. As far as sharing tranquil moments go, I’m afraid this one was our last.”
“Don’t remind me…” You groaned when you rubbed your shoulder, trying to bring some life back to it. It was then you realized that massaging a body part made out of chrome brought no results. You forced yourself to sit up as well, even though sleep still had you tightly in its grasp.
It was beyond your understanding how Rosalind already picked up her clothes again and vanished into the bathroom while you still fought to stay awake. Yawning, you reached to the nightstand, checking your phone. V had texted you again.
>> Did Myers kill you after I forced you to deliver the bad news? :S
Your thumbs fluttered over the display as you typed an answer.
>> I mean if she wanted to kill me she didn’t show it sooo
Glimpses of Rosalind flickered through your mind. How her eyes had narrowed after you had briefed her. And then, something else crossed your mind.
>> Said you had more bad news tho…
>> HOW bad xactly?
You didn’t expect V to answer right away, yet when three dots started to appear in the chat’s corner, your heartbeat accelerated.
>> ngl, might mess with your perception of certain people
>> let’s just leave it like that
>> like I said, I’ll tell you once you’re back in NC. Till then enjoy your romantic getaway with Madam Prez :S
As if that would ease the guttural anxiety clinging to your insides. You threw your phone back onto the nightstand before falling back into bed with a sigh, rubbing your temples. V’s texts still lingered. Your perception of who? The president? Yes, she kept secrets – yet were some of those secrets bad enough to destroy the delicate net of emotions that fate had spun around the two of you?
You didn’t want the answer to ruin this last day spent on the road. Washington was within reach, and with it the fact you had to bid farewell to the president. That alone spoiled the mood as it was.
You still lay in bed, arms wrapped around your eyes and thus, shielding you from the bright ceiling lamp when the president returned to the room. Her clothes rustled as she placed them back into her luggage.
“Still didn’t manage to escape the sheets?” A slight tint of amusement laced her words.
“Do I look like I did?”, you uttered with a sigh. “Shoulder’s stiff, I’m sleepy and overall not very motivated to hit the road.”
For a moment you heard nothing but the president’s footsteps approaching the bed. When you slowly removed your arms from your face, Rosalind entered your vision. She stood at your side of the bed, leaning over you ever so slightly, a single hand around the bedpost. With the way the ceiling light illuminated her striking features from behind, she appeared like a saint.
“Oh, you poor, unfortunate soul.”
Sarcasm, very untypical for her, drenched her voice before she leaned down deeper, causing your breath to get stuck in your throat. “Would you rather sit in the Oval Office and try to fix the political mess Space Force One’s crash created, then arrange a few bribes to be paid and – let’s not forget I got a bunch of rogue nomads to wipe off my country’s soil while my people are still dealing with traitors from Night City’s failed annexation?”
You blinked perplexed before shaking your head.
“Think I’ll pass.”
A tiny, mischievous smile tugged on the president’s mouth corners.
“Then stop complaining, dear.” Her voice was as smooth as silk as she bent down to your level to press her lips atop yours. For a fraction of a moment, your heart ceased working. “Come now. I needn’t remind you of our tight schedule.”
When you finally found the strength to sit up, the warmth of her lips still lingered on yours.
~*~
The last leg of your journey to the NUSA’s Capitol proved to be uneventful. You had taken the wheel again after proving you were able to lift your left arm again – you could, but Rosalind needn’t know about the pulsing agony that still spread through your nerve endings whenever you did so. The weather had cleared up, and once again, the moon and stars were your sole witnesses when Rosalind, after one or two hours spent on the road, placed her hand atop your thigh – where it would stay for the remainder of your journey.
That is until you checked the gas tank and realized it most likely wouldn’t suffice to take you to Washington. Rosalind didn’t know that the last stop at another CHOOH2 station was exactly what you needed. During the somber drive spent in comfortable silence, a plan had started to manifest behind your eyes. After getting up, the president had mentioned the tranquil moments you had spent in bed together would most likely be your last for this trip, and you were desperate to prove her wrong. The truth was, you weren’t planning to release her back into the hands of her Secret Service just like that. Even if the uncertainty of what would become of you and her loomed over your shoulder with every step, you wanted these last few hours to count – and now, you knew exactly how you’d achieve just that.
After filling up on CHOOH2 and paying for the fuel, you had left the gas station’s shop with a bottle of Gin – not the most expensive option thought, because, let's face it: Your payroll as a merc just wasn’t sufficient enough for that. Careful not to let Rosalind see it, you stashed the bottle in the back of the trunk before making your way towards the front again.
“What were you doing back there?”, the president inquired while you confirmed you were still en route on the navigation one last time.
“Checked our ammo”, you quickly waved it aside, gaze fixed on the Thorton’s navigational system. “Alright. If we continue at this rate we should arrive at Washington around nine a.m.”
“The FIA will be present to guarantee safe passage”, Rosalind mused, gaze fixed on a faraway spot on the horizon before reaching for her pack of cigarettes. “Reed has arranged a meeting point on a helicopter landing site just outside D.C.”
“And here I thought I’d finally see the state Capitol”, you sighed, turning on the ignition. “Guess that’ll have to wait.”
“You will, sweetheart. Another time, though”, the president answered after lighting her cig, smoke curling around her lips.
“I’ll hold you to that, Ros.” With a smile tugging on your lips (which might also have had to do with the fact the president was quick to place her hand atop your thigh again), you proceeded to steer the Thorton towards your final destination.
Hours passed, which Rosalind and you spent letting your thoughts wander. The silence only got broken by either yours or the president’s occasional commentary on the passing scenery outside. Soon enough, the darkened skies outside disappeared. As the starlight slowly vanished off the firmament, a fragment of silver lining appeared on the horizon. Dark blue made way for lighter hues which were soon replaced by pinkish glints of the imminent sunrise – and this was your sign. Unbeknownst to Rosalind you had checked the navigation for any possible elevated viewing spots in the area, and for once, luck had been on your side. When you exited the highway, however, Rosalind was quick to notice.
“You’re going off-route.” A quite precise statement out of the president’s mouth, one you acknowledged with a brief nod.
“We are.”
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Although Rosalind didn’t sound too bothered, you noticed the tightening grip of her fingers around your thigh.
“Do you trust me, Ros?” Your eyes not once averted from the road ahead, taking you further away from the highway.
“You know I do, but-”
As a rare instance, you wouldn’t let Rosalind finish her sentence while you slowed the Thorton’s speed.
“Then let me do this, Ros. Please.” Now it was you who reached out to place her hand atop her thigh. “Also I swear I’m not abducting you.”
“Things abductors say shortly before they abduct someone”, the president sighed. “But alright. Let’s just hope your detour doesn’t set us back on the schedule.”
You breathed out.
“Can we fuck the schedule for once?” Annoyance laced your voice while you steered the Thorton off the sealed road. The landscape changed, and where once paved roads had led your way, they got replaced by rocky ground. The pathway carried you further away from the main streets, into the wilderness of Virginia where it soon led you to higher terrain... A few dried bushes and a lot of dust were your only companions while you slowly, steadily approached the hilltop.
“Only if you tell me what’s so important you’re taking us off-route.”
“You’ll see in a few minutes.”
Rosalind’s sole response – an anticipated sigh – got drowned by the engine.
It didn’t take you much longer than those few minutes to reach the top. You let the car roll out before coming to a stop not far from the ledge. Turning off the ignition, you turned in your seat to face the president, whose skeptic facade spoke volumes.
“This is our last stop before we reach the Capitol. Think we should… kinda savor this moment before we go our separate ways in a few hours.”
You watched the skepticism upon the president’s features turn confused for a moment before the furrow of her brows evened out again.
“And… How do you propose we savor this particular moment?”, she inquired while you reached out to open the door.
“I’m gettin’ there, don’t worry.”
Your heart palpitated in your chest, its rhythm uneven while you went around the Thorton, reaching its trunk. The bottle of cheap Gin entered your vision immediately while you simultaneously heard Rosalind open and close the passenger door. You quickly grabbed the booze, slamming the trunk shut before coming to stand next to the president, arms crossed and staring into the distance.
“Alright. What is it that you have planned now?” It wasn’t hard to notice the slight note of impatience lacing her alto.
You took a deep breath in and out before voicing your thoughts.
“Well – like I said, this is our last stop before reachin’ Washington. So I thought we kinda… could celebrate?”
Rosalind’s mouth corners twitched into an amused smirk.
“Are you that desperate to get out of my company?”
“No! Shit, that came out wrong”, you sighed. “Ignore what I said. Point is…” You revealed the bottle you had held hidden behind your back. Before the president got the chance to comment on that as well, you had already spoken again.
“Madam President – do you want to share this bottle of cheap Gin while watching the sunrise together?”
A moment passed, spent with Rosalind taking her sweet time to react.
“That’s why you abducted me off-route? To drink off brand Gin?”
“Yes. Got a problem with that?”
The president averted her gaze, losing her fight against the smile appearing on her lips.
“I’ve been proposed to in more odd ways.” And with that, the president gently took the bottle from your clammy fingers. “It would be a delight.”
Not much later the two of you had gotten as comfortable as you could get, sitting down on the hood of the Thorton that had accompanied you for over 2,500 miles. You pulled your knees towards your chest while watching the president break open the Gin bottle’s seal.
The slowly rising sun painted the surrounding scenery like its canvas. Pinkish and orange hues tinted the landscape far below you while the first shy sun rays struck your form.
“Well then. What are we drinking to?”, Rosalind asked, still inspecting the bottle’s inscription.
“To the misadventures of the president and her agent”, you answered promptly, which earned you one of Rosalind’s rare chuckles.
“Misadventures… How fitting.”
You desperately tried to turn your attention to the spectacular sunrise in front of you, but all effort was for nothing. You couldn’t help but watch as the president brought the bottle to her plush lips, taking a chug. Only to squint her eyes and flinch when the alcohol started traveling down her throat.
“No offense, but where did you find that stuff?” Although she tried to hide it, Rosalind grimaced.
“Look, you can’t ever expect to find better shit than this at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Probably far away from the stuff you’re probably drinkin’, huh?”
“That’s… one way to describe it.” Rosalind cleared her throat, passing the bottle to you who took a hefty sip.
“I’ve had worse”, you concluded, although the alcohol burning down your throat was almost enough to immediately revoke that statement. The cough bubbling up in your throat probably made you seem like you weren’t used to drinking, and yet, the absolute shit aroma was to blame.
“Okay, maybe not”, you wheezed.
“Well – it serves the purpose.”
You handed the bottle over to the president again who took another chug.
“Think the more you drink, the better it gets.” The way Rosalind hardly kept herself from showing how rancid the Gin really tasted was enough to make you snort. Silence fell over you while the sun steadily rose higher. A breeze had picked up, blowing through your hair. You shivered.
“Had someone told me a week ago I’d be sittin’ on a car top in the middle of nowhere, sharing a bottle of cheap booze with the president… Man, I would’ve punched them”, you started, more to yourself than to Rosalind, who handed the bottle back to you. “It’s just… surreal.”
“Funny you mentioned it”, the president uttered, absentmindedly reaching for her pack of cigarettes, “I’ve just had similar thoughts.”
“And now, it’s… over. Just like that…”, you trailed off, taking another sip. Rosalind was right – with every sip, the booze started to taste less and less like piss. You focused your attention on her and watched while she lit her smoke. It didn’t surprise you in the slightest when she offered you a hit. You accepted, of course. Smoking came to you so naturally it scared you.
“Shit... Remember it like yesterday. I thought V was fuckin’ with me when she told me we gotta rescue the president. Didn’t believe it until you smashed me against that safety door in your downed space plane.” The smoke’s strong taste lingered around your taste buds while you spoke.
“I can’t blame you. Hearing So Mi state V and you were our only contacts on the ground…” The president trailed off when you handed her back the lit cigarette to take a hit. “I thought it would be my last day on this damned planet. Getting shot out of the sky while simultaneously getting told two random mercenaries would get me to safety… I could’ve strangled Songbird right then and there. Even though none of it was her fault.”
“Well, you were highly stressed so… Understandable”, you shrugged, reaching for the Gin bottle again. “Think I might’ve gay panicked a little when you manhandled me like that so… No bad blood.”
“You what?” Rosalind’s plucked eyebrow rose skyward.
“Gay panicked.”
Although the president looked absolutely bamboozled by your odd choice of words, you were met with quiet acknowledgment.
“I have to say…”, the president started after taking another drag of smoke, giving her cig a pensive look, “I wasn’t sure taking this trip around the states would be a good idea. You managed to prove me wrong.”
With the sizzling cigarette in hand, she looked at you, a ghostly smile appearing on her features. Heavens, how utterly beautiful she was. Stunning, strong-willed. Your heart threatened to burst with the sudden wave of overwhelming affection threatening to wash you away. So much, in fact, that you feared you’d tumble down the Thorton’s hood right then and there. But oh, well. That also could’ve been the alcohol in your mostly empty stomach.
“You showed me aspects of my country I wasn’t aware even existed. And your unconventional way of handling things, well…” Now it was Rosalind who trailed off, the rest of her thoughts forever lost in obscurity.
“Earned me a medal of honor, I know”, you joked, which was enough to elicit a soft chuckle from the president’s lips. You could’ve listened to it all day.
“Who knows.” Rosalind reached for the Gin again. “My point is… I need to thank you. As corny as it sounds, this week reminded me a lot of my days in the Navy. Admittedly, everything we did lacked discipline, and yet…”
Rosalind averted her gaze into the sunrise illuminating her features. The same breeze that ran through your hair had also picked up hers, strands of hair getting blown in and out of her face. “It’s been a while since I’ve felt this alive.”
Her words struck a chord in your very heart. Pensiveness had seized her expression when you observed her features.
“Jesus fuck, you’re beautiful.” You had mouthed those words into the winds before you knew it. Yes, you were definitely getting tipsy.
“Oh, sweetheart”, the president uttered, the slightest smile washing over her lips, “I’m an old woman.”
You scooted closer to her on your rear, reaching out to her. It felt odd as your gentle fingers took hold of her, turning her chin to face you.
“And that means I can’t think you’re beautiful?” Your words were only a murmur while you locked gazes, and then, lips. And this kiss was… different. The way she moved her lips against yours had nothing to do with the heated tension between the two of you finally breaking away and unraveling your heart’s desire. This kiss proved to be so much more delicate, so much slower. Full of unspoken promises. So sweet it tore you apart, even when Rosalind pulled away.
“You remember I told you I can’t guarantee you anything that goes beyond this trip.” Her voice was hoarse – if from the Gin or the kiss, you didn’t know. You nodded, melting into her touch when she cupped your cheek. Her breath grazed your lips.
“Didn’t forget. But the trip ain’t over just yet.” You ran your thumb over her cheek, studying her features. You wanted to hold on to her, hell, you felt like a drowning sailor holding on to a piece of driftwood. Your need for this woman threatened to fog your senses.
“Yeah. You really are the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.” Your whispered words got choked by the president’s lips pressing atop yours. Her arms reached around your form, and while she held you close, you grew more and more eager to just forget the world around you a little while longer.
Later, when the sun had risen significantly higher in the sky, you still sat there, head resting atop Rosalind’s shoulder, fingers intertwined on top of the car hood. The bottle of Gin had ended up getting discarded in the far back of the Thorton’s trunk after both you and the president had agreed on the fact it was counterproductive to drink on an empty stomach – especially when you’d reach Washington before you could properly sober up. However, that didn’t mean you didn’t feel lightheaded when Rosalind turned her head to murmur something into your hairline.
“I realized I never really asked you about what kinds of food you like to eat.”
“What?” You squinted your eyes. Like so often, Rosalind’s query had managed to catch you off guard. “And here I thought my questions were random… Are you drunk?”
“Even if I were, rest assured you wouldn’t notice it. So?”
“You realize you’re talking to someone who exclusively feeds herself with cheap junk food that mainly consists of scop, right?”, you inquired with a sarcastic smile.
“And that means you never dreamed of trying… ‘authentic’ food?” Rosalind raised an eyebrow.
“… Fine”, you sighed. “If you really wanna know, heard a lot of good stuff about Italian food. But like, the real Italian food, not only the scop-replicas they’re sellin’ in restaurants. Talkin’ authentic pasta, saltimbocca… Man, even a plain ol’ pizza without all the… weird stuff they put on them these days.” It didn’t surprise you when your mouth started to water. The feeble breakfast at the motel lay back multiple hours and you just had downed a quarter of a bottle of Gin. And God help anyone who dared to make you hungry while tipsy.
“Okay I gotta stop now or my stomach might start digesting itself”, you uttered.
“We should be on our way anyways”. the president stated, making an effort to get down from the car top, but not without giving your hand one last squeeze. “Thank you.”
“For what exactly?” You immediately missed her already familiar warmth when Rosalind eventually pulled her shoulder from underneath your head.
“For making me remember what it feels like to live.”
Rosalind’s words would echo in your mind long after the hilltop lay abandoned in the morning light again.