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“first officer firefly!”
firefly didn't know what to expect when the in-flight service manager bursted into the cockpit, immediately snapping her out of her daydreaming—she had been taken off the flight controls for a while—as captain kafka was currently cruising the plane on autopilot; but firefly definitely wasn't expecting:
“please help, the lead stewardess has been injured!”
firefly bolted out of her seat and right into the plane's business class, eyes zeroing from one end to another to find the assaulter—he stood out easily as he was a big man among everyone else still sitting in their plush seats, towering over a fallen figure—the injured stewardess, firefly assumed. he had a table knife in hand, blood dripping from the blunt end. firefly felt the charge of adrenaline pumping into her heart, and, without delay, rushed into the thick of it, shoving past several onlooking cabin crews.
she crept up on the man, twisting his hand to disarm his weapon; firefly kicked it further away when it dropped onto the floor with a clear ‘clang!’. the man could barely react before firefly was already throwing him over her shoulders—using the precise moment he went off-balance searching for his knife.
in one swift motion firefly took off her necktie, mounting the assailant groaning in pain and tying his hands behind his back. his attempts to overpower firefly ended swiftly with an elbow hit close to the back of his neck—a critical pressure point.
a male steward helped firefly, tying his own necktie around the assaulter’s legs. firefly was sure the hit on his neck knocked him out cold, but tying up all his limbs was as good an assurance as any.
“what happened?” firefly questioned the in-flight manager who had rushed into the cockpit, as she walked around her heading to the injured stewardess.
“he got blackout drunk and was harassing his seatmate with choice words. robin noticed the commotion and intervened… he just swung at her.”
the steward and a kind passenger helped firefly hoist the burly man back to his seat, and firefly briefly wondered if they should bring more ropes and tie him to his seat—before deciding against it. the drunkard would probably sleep through the whole flight in this state. firefly gave a quick nod of appreciation to both men helping her. the passenger sitting next to the burly man looked positively scared for her life—firefly hoped the service manager could aid in calming down the poor woman, so she gently tapped her on her shoulders.
“sorry, manager, do you think you could…” as much as firefly would love to soothe the spooked passenger herself; she had zero customer service skills and training. she sheepishly pointed to the female passenger who looked close to tearing up. firefly assumed that the woman was also the unfortunate victim of the assailant’s harassments before he went violent when the stewardess wanted to stop him.
“oh, oh no…” the manager said, getting to her feet quickly, but then she hesitated, looking down towards the flight attendant also under her care.
“please, you should go, manager,” the wounded stewardess pleaded. she had a handkerchief pressed down a cut on her neck. firefly silently cursed before she kneeled to fill the same space the manager was in. the stewardess blinked at her shoulder marks and wore a gentle smile. “thank you for your help, first officer.”
“are you quite alright?” firefly asked, slowly removing the hand holding the handkerchief to see the injury closer. she proded around the cut as the stewardess took a sharp breath. “ah, i'm sorry, that was too…” firefly muttered in apology.
the stewardess’ eyes softened, and firefly was immediately locked into place when their eyes met. firefly could have sworn she was being physically held by oceans of deep emerald, only to be immediately released when the stewardess softly chuckled, answering her question. “i'm feeling fine, first officer. just a bit shocked.”
firefly glanced behind her and saw the manager was hard at work, and then back to the stewardess, still wide eyed. she looked like the last person in the plane who knew what to do in a situation like this; and her nescience seemed to entertain the injured woman, as she allowed several soft giggles out.
“you can start by cleaning the cut?” the stewardess suggested.
duh. of course firefly knew that. she was an aviation officer before the army honourably discharged her. she'd seen and treated worse wounds than this on the battlefield, had retained some injuries of her own that ultimately necessitied her being released from the army. seriously, she had more than enough first aid training!
it was just that firefly couldn't deal with pretty women… and boy was the stewardess pretty.
firefly flit her eyes away, finally, with much difficulty because she honestly could study the depth of those green irises for a long while, she was sure, but now was not the time for such luxury. she knew she was staring at least, so she quipped a quick “sorry.”
“what for?” the stewardess tipped her head a little and her fluffy wings splayed out alongside the tiny movement.
“uh—” for obvious reasons firefly wouldn't want to explain that she was apologising because she quite clearly was staring… she decided to just go ahead with no explanation and quietly went to work, looking at the first aid kit the manager left. she started by cleaning the injury and applying alcohol with a cotton swab. there was an antiseptic yellow lotion in the kit so she applied that too, carefully as she didn't want to stain the white shirt all flight attendants wore under their blazer. finally, she used the small gauze dressing to cover the wound. “there we go.”
a quick flutter of wings, and the stewardess rewarded firefly with a small smile. “thank you.”
“will you be alright?” firefly asked again. she couldn't help but worry. to be attacked while at work in the plane and forced to share the same closed space with the person who got violent should be quite a hurdle for many… “there's still around five hours left for our flight… by standard procedures i could also ask the captain to reach out to any available terminals for an emergency landing…”
“and trouble the hundreds of passengers and crews we're ferrying? unfortunately, i don't think that's a very good idea. i will be alright, first officer. it's just a small cut... you did well treating me.”
firefly cleaned up the first aid kit whilst the stewardess talked. she'd figured as long as those divine eyes couldn't suck her in she'd be fine but oh aeons the stewardess’ voice was just as riveting.
“i should… get back to the cockpit, the captain would require an update on what happened here in this business cabin…” firefly let drop as she helped the stewardess to her feet.
“of course.”
the same male flight attendant who helped firefly approached them and handed the injured stewardess her nametag.
“oh thank you… i must've lost it during the struggle…” the stewardess said softly, pinning it back into place.
firefly gave it a brief look before she meandered away to the cockpit.
robin.
---
“there must be some kind of mistake.” firefly heaved a long sigh after being told by the hotel receptionist that her room was not available. it was late at night, hours after the flight had safely landed. firefly had been taken by the airport security for questioning as a primary witness to the assault on the plane, alongside the in-flight service manager who she'd learned to be himeko. fortunately for the manager, their company had booked her and the captain in a hotel that had not oversold their rooms.
the receptionist at least had the decency to look genuinely apologetic for firefly’s situation. “we can transfer you to our affiliate hotel and also arrange your transportation.”
“yeah…” defeated, firefly drummed her fingers on the counter. that was certainly an option. however, the affiliated hotel was an hour away from the airport, while the one she was in was only ten minutes away by a free shuttle. she'd need to be back in the airport in the morning for the return flight, and staying so far just wasn't feasible, and she was so tired. firefly briefly wondered if she should just return to the airport and sleep in the lounge.
her musing didn't go far as a familiar voice, gentle and warm, perked up right behind her. “oh, is that you, first officer?”
firefly’s turn could've been categorised as a typhoon with how quick it was—surprising both herself and robin, who was actually really, really close.
“oh, sorry.” with robin being so near to her, firefly noticed that the small gauze dressing on her neck was replaced by a different plaster. firefly was reminded of the fact that an ambulance was called to their plane when they touched down. the pilot was relieved robin had received better treatment for her wound, at least. however, she was sure between the two of them, firefly had looked worse off; feeling very haggard.
robin giggled, gracious not to comment on firefly’s exhausted state. “what are you apologising for, first officer firefly?”
“you know my name?” firefly erred for not actually introducing herself and learning robin’s name properly instead of just glancing off her nametag, but… well. they didn't really meet in sort of… normal circumstances.
firefly was sure her being caught without a place to sleep for the night wasn't so typical, either.
“you did the landing announcement and signed off with your call name.”
“right… i did that.”
“obviously i also asked manager himeko for the name of my gallant saviour.”
“ah, gallant… that is… i'm not…” firefly scratched the back of her neck, feeling terribly out of place being thrown such compliments. she could feel her ears and cheeks heating up. “uh—so, you got yourself looked at? by a doctor?”
“i did, only to make manager himeko stop fussing over me,” robin grinned, before resting an elegant finger on her lips, a shush. “but please don't tell her that, she'll keep on hovering around me if you do.”
firefly nodded. she thought that was fair.
“but ugh,” robin groaned. “not being a citizen here, trying to get a doctor to look at me in that busy emergency room all alone, and dealing with our insurance panel at the end of it all was rough… i should never get injured whilst on air ever again.”
“i'm sorry you had to go through that.”
“thank you. i'm pretty sure you had it rough, too. the airport security and the police weren't harsh on you, were they?”
“i think i gave my account as well as i could, but, uh, that wasn't the end of my day unfortunately."
robin shot the receptionist behind firefly a look and smiled. she came forward to the counter and brandished her own booking paper. firefly hovered around the stewardess nervously.
“miss robin, welcome. here is your keycard.” the receptionist warmly welcomes the stewardess.
firefly groaned. she thought that was not fair.
robin's hearty laugh next to firefly made her look up again. “first officer, you should join me.”
“huh?”
“rest together with me in my room. i'm quite sure the replacement hotel they are recommending you is far from the airport. if not you wouldn't have looked so troubled.”
“eh?”
hearing the extreme lag in firefly’s responses made robin playfully roll her eyes. fine. she would take the initiative then. turning back to the reception, robin said. “please cancel the transfer on miss firefly’s behalf. the two of us will gladly share my room instead.”
“understood, miss robin. i hope you enjoy your stay.” the receptionist made a few clicks on her computer and it was official. firefly was staying.
robin grabbed the pilot’s arm and made her merry way to the lift lobby.
firefly’s empty brain didn't catch up until she was pulled into the (probably) last room available in the hotel. once her brain could actually compute, all she saw in the middle of the room was a single (one!) queen sized bed.
she made a beeline to the sofa instead after taking her shoes off. she sat down. still blinking slowly and processing.
“i knew you would do that,” robin quipped near the soft bed, where she was putting away her small luggage. “that sofa looks pretty uncomfortable, though.”
firefly started putting away her stuff too, placing her pilot uniform blazer on the sofa and almost chucking her briefcase away as she grabbed a clean shirt inside it. “uhm… i’ll make do. i will, um, shower first!” and faster than her brain could process, firefly jet into the bathroom, tripping her own legs in the process.
robin watched all of it unfold with both amusement and worry. firefly did look pale, but still robin shook her head at how the pilot had almost lost her footing earlier and laughed softly as she hung her uniform in the small closet.
inside the shower, blasted by hot water, firefly was thinking at a rate she didn't think was possible to achieve. or maybe she was not thinking at all. she didn't know which of those options were better, even!
aeons… what have i gotten myself into?
she turned the shower’s dial to the other end and chilling water hit her instead.
nope, that didn't help. now firefly was just freezing.
she'd become soft. cold water was nothing back in her military heydays.
would she really consider her service years the best times of her life though?
well… probably not. it had come to an abrupt end after all. discharged. disabled. severely weakened. and she was supposed to be a career soldier…
at this point firefly just wished she was a bit more prepared for a civilian life. military had been clear cut for her—listen to orders, and carry it out. there was a clear organisation, she had a superior, and she also had subordinates. it was simple. she would have training, drills, handbooks to prep her through any situations. as a civilian she had none of that. once she was out of uniform for good, perhaps even losing the sense of belonging to a place, she was like a fish out of water, splashing about, gasping for breath.
though she doubted anything could've prepared her for robin.
surely the flight attendant did not simply invite just about anyone to bunk with her, right? though firefly also had read how amorous cabin crews and even her fellow pilots could get—sleeping with multiple partners, different one night stands at every lay-bys and the like… she could never imagine robin to be that lustful, though. but… surely everyone would be head over themselves for the stewardess with unmatched looks.
well. firefly should stop looking at robin with the very same lust.
she looked down at the water pooling around her feet. her reflection stared back at her for a brief moment, dispirited, before it broke from drops of cold water.
having had enough brooding and feeling a little bit calmer, firefly stepped out of the shower only to be caught under a reflection of herself again, walking right into the middle of the bathroom’s large mirror. aeons. she looked… unsightly. scars littered her body, some faded, while some looked fresh; as if she'd just gotten it a day back.
firefly never thought there would be a day she'd worry about her scars, but when she got out of the shower, finally, and set her sights on an… intoxication; perhaps that was the way to say it, as if it was the start of a song that played on and on. she'd worry now. robin stood at the mirrors overlooking the night sky. though starless, it seemed to glimmer protectively around the stewardess, and she glowed, as well. hearing firefly leave the shower, robin turned, skin untarnished, a timeless beauty. “firefly! are you alright? you really took your time in the shower.”
“uh, yeah.” firefly was almost speechless yet again. had she really taken so long that robin got worried?
“mm, you do look better now,” robin stepped around the bed to stand before firefly. her wings were frazzled and robin looked small. “i'm sorry, first officer. i wasn't being thoughtful of you at all... i made you join me without considering your feelings. perhaps you'd rather be away to the other hotel after all? i'm sure i could call the reception again and ask for them to arrange the transfer.”
firefly was really causing trouble for the flight attendant now… “no, that's… that's alright. i'm sorry too, i didn't mean to make you worry, miss robin. it's just that i'm really stupid nervous.”
“miss robin?” firefly’s addition of a title to her name seems to alert robin.
firefly scratched the back of her neck. it was damp. goodness, she was already sweaty. “like i said, i'm stupid nervous.”
robin laughed. “which one is more prevalent? i don't think a stupid person could fly a plane.”
“okay, i'm nervous.”
robin tipped her head. “why?”
firefly though it was such a cute habit, though it did nothing to ease her anxiety. “i haven't… i haven't spent a night with anyone ever, since, uh…” she looked to the side. “since i was discharged, i guess. i've always been alone.”
“discharged? like me? like from a hospital?”
“ah, no… i was an army pilot.”
“discharged from the military? oh. i see… no wonder manager himeko rushed to the cockpit to get your help earlier. i know our company have some veterans under employment but i wasn't aware that you were one of them. you're so young, firefly…” robin paused, seemingly deep in thought, before she finally said. “thank you for your service.”
firefly never knew how to act when people expressed their gratitude like this—she wasn't proud of her service—it felt like all she did was ferry infantry to their deaths. she kept her head down, until she saw hands reaching out to hold her own. robin's hands were soft and so, so gentle, as if she was fearful that firefly would break should she touch her any other way.
“you were really brave today.” robin added, still caressing firefly’s hands gently, drawing random lines and shapes on her calloused palms.
that snapped firefly to attention. “you, too. miss robin. i know that you were protecting everyone. you were pretty much blocking that man from hurting other crews and passengers with your own body. it was… admirable.”
“thank you,” robin grinned. a cute flush adorned her cheeks and ears that peeked through the lovely periwinkle tresses. “firefly, i do insist that you rest with me on the bed, there's enough space for the both of us. it's been a long day, and i don't wish for you to wake with a strain in your neck from sleeping on the sofa. i’d rather the pilot be in good shape to fly me back home safely.”
firefly finally had the courage to meet robin's gaze. and to see the pleading seas of green was stupefying, to say the least.
“i promise i won't touch you! on the aeons’ names! i will not even make a single movement once we lay down, i will be bundled up in my blanket and be so still.”
the strong emphasis made firefly chuckle and she missed the low gasp coming from robin when the stewardess heard the delightful sound.
“i don't think i could do anything to change your mind, miss robin…”
robin grinned, wide and cheeky. “you're right about that.”
---
firefly woke up to an armful of robin. the stewardess had definitely broken her promises of no-touching and no-moving, because she was quite literally embracing firefly, arms over her torso and with their legs locked together.
firefly found that she wasn't sore about the broken promises at all. when it comes to robin, firefly thought she would hardly ever be sore about anything.
----
the next time firefly met robin, they didn't even fly in on the same flight, but somehow, perhaps by the aeons’ bidding; they were destined to meet again.
this time around, it was robin who suffered the unfortunate fate of overbooked rooms.
“it's strange that we meet again this way,” robin said pleasantly as firefly came up to the hotel's reception. “let's try your luck, first officer firefly.”
with a room’s keycard in hand, firefly walked alongside a sullen robin. the stewardess was wearing a scarf around her neck, apparently it was a habit of hers she developed since the attack in the plane a few months back—to cover the scar on her neck—but it had become a fashion phenomenon among other stewardess to the point it was adopted as an option in their company's official uniform.
firefly thought nothing of it—of course robin was so beloved she became an icon among the stewardesses.
when they stepped into firefly’s room—well, their room—they both didn't blink an eye at the sole bed adorning the small loft. at least it was a bigger king sized bed this time, although, firefly was certain robin would eventually end up snuggling close to her overnight.
“right side for me!” robin called dibs and flung herself to the side close to the window.
“ah, how unfair!”
“tsk tsk tsk,” robin tutted, waving her index finger around. “you were too slow, first officer. and to think you're the one with actual military training.”
“well,” firefly sighed as she sat down on the left side of the bed. “at least i won’t have the sun waking me up by hitting a bullseye on my face from ninety three million miles away first thing in the morning.”
“what,” robin gasped. “how do you know that?”
“i spent a few nights here before,” firefly answered with a shrug. “let me warn you, the sun's pretty intense here. also, it's easy to tell from the location of this hotel alone, see, right now it's shaded, the sun is on the other side so surely come morning the sun would rise from the east, where the window is situated—”
robin playfully poked at firefly’s nose and laughed. “i gotcha. you don't have to be such a nerd about it. don't act like you're planning a stakeout operation or something along that line.”
firefly felt her face heating up from the fleeting touch. “i’ll go ahead and take a shower first.”
“mm… i’ll see you soon.”
this time, firefly wasn't such a jittery mess to a point she had taken a thirty minute shower completely unaware of the time passed. and yet, it was still a surprise to step out of the bathroom to see robin had fallen into sleep, still in her stewardess uniform. firefly did feel a little nervous, but to have robin be so relaxed and unguarded around firefly made her feel… she wasn't truly sure… blessed, perhaps, would be right.
robin looked serene in her sleep, so firefly tiptoed around the room slowly so she wouldn't wake the sleeping stewardess. she set an alarm for forty five minutes later, enough time for a good post work nap, she figured. firefly was sure robin wouldn't want to actually sleep until morning in her uniform or ruin her sleeping schedule—if she had a normal one to begin with, surely both of them were suffering from constant jet lags.
firefly didn't really need to set an alarm though, because thirty minutes in and robin stirred awake, blinking softly at firefly's figure next to her on the bed, quietly reading a book. she observed the pilot for a few moments, noting the slight twitch on her lips when she read funny bits, or her cute frown when something in those paragraphs she was reading was upsetting, before firefly finally realised she was being watched.
“good morning, miss robin.” firefly greeted her softly, closing her book.
“mm, you're quite the sight to wake up to. this is so nice. last time you left me alone on the cold bed.”
“well, i… waking up at four or five in the morning… it's a habit from my military days i simply couldn't get rid of.”
robin giggled. “you don't have to explain yourself, firefly. i was just teasing.”
“ah, that is… i see,” sheepish, firefly shrugged towards the bathroom. “would you like to hop in the shower? i’ll go ahead and turn on the boiler for you.”
“okay.”
“yeah?”
“yeah,” robin confirmed. “i’d like to lay down for a bit more, though.”
“you have five minutes.”
an audible gasp left robin's lips. “you're so strict, first officer.”
“if you take any longer than that we would miss dinner time.”
“aww, couldn't we just order room service?”
“i'm sorry,” firefly shook her head, wearing a serious expression. “i can promise you that you wouldn't want to miss out on the dinner buffet. they've always got a delicious spread, perhaps the best in the business.”
robin sighed, dramatically kicking the blanket that firefly had presumably covered her with—and robin was ever so grateful, so—“only because i love you so, first officer firefly.”
if this was set in a cartoonish world, perhaps robin would've been able to see steam working their way out of firefly, with how red her face had gotten.
---
when robin woke the next day, her face blasted by the sun from ninety three million miles away, she wanted to concede defeat.
except she only felt like a winner. firefly was still in her tight hold, and it was already fifteen minutes past seven in the morning, which clearly meant firefly had been comfortable enough to oversleep, and aeons they had to wake up soon and hurry to the airport, but for more than five minutes, robin could bask in the warmth that was uniquely firefly’s.
---
both firefly and robin looked at their separate keycards on the counter for a moment too long.
“is there something amiss?” the receptionist questioned when neither of them reached for their keycards.
“ah, no, we're alright. thank you.” firefly managed, taking her keycard and watching robin pocket hers as well.
they walked silently towards their respective rooms, only to find out their rooms were facing each other.
“...close enough,” robin voiced the thought firefly similarly had. “i’ll see you later then, first officer.”
firefly’s grip on the doorknob tightened. it was now or never—aeons knew when they could possibly meet again. “miss robin,” firefly called the stewardess, who was already halfway through her own door. “if you'd like, we can order room service and hangout in my room after we freshen up?”
robin flashed firefly the prettiest smile the pilot had ever seen. “i’d like that.”
---
robin never returned to her own room after their joyous dinner, eating overpriced hot meals delivered straight from the fancy hotel's kitchen and watching a silly soap opera on the television. the show was dubbed in the country's native language and without any subtitles available; only on account of it being a typical soap opera could both robin and firefly infer on the show's happenings.
firefly hadn't suggested that robin should stay either, yet as the night came to an end, they had pushed the single beds together in a comfortable silence, and robin had climbed onto the combined bed with no hesitation.
they hadn't lied down so close to each other but firefly knew come morning robin would be clinging to her as she always did; and, again, firefly wouldn't be sore about it.
but to wake up the next morning slowly slipping into the little space in between the connected beds was rather comical. firefly chuckled lightly to herself, studying how tightly robin held onto her body, the stewardess' embrace being the sole reason she hadn't really fallen into the void space that was in between the singles.
there was nothing quite like waking up next to robin. it was a strange feeling, yet it also felt right—as if firefly had always belonged there. ever since leaving the military firefly had been flitting about; looking for a place to belong—to have a new purpose, to be made for something, to feel alive again.
perhaps she wasn't made for something, but someone.
firefly didn't want to ponder on that thought for too long, feeling rather undeserving of robin's affection. she didn't want to start unpacking that woeful feeling of meagreness either. she groaned. at times like this, a run would probably make her feel better.
firefly gently untangled herself from their game of twisted limbs, and regrettably, the void space actually sucked her in.
robin woke up when she felt firefly’s flailing hand grab at her body, and oh, the chorus of laughter that followed the sleepy stewardess blearily opening her eyes and seeing firefly in a pickle was genuinely a delight to firefly, in spite of the unfortunate situation the pilot had trapped herself into.
perhaps staying in robin's warm embrace would've been a better choice.
---
firefly hadn't entertained that strange feeling of insufficiency much after they parted that day. nor did she ponder much on her growing feelings for robin.
ever since she had left the orphanage for the military boarding college at the age of thirteen, firefly had taken to live slowly through her days; not thinking too much of the past or the future, only truly basking in the present.
it would hurt too much, she had reasoned, to wonder what had happened in her past, or what would happen in the future. logging her life day-by-day was drilled into her in the military college, and at the end of every day she was far too exhausted to really think too much about anything in particular.
her grip on the sink she was hunched over tightened. perhaps she should get back to living on such gruelling schedules, to the point she'd have no time at all—if only to shut up the noisy thoughts in her brain and remove the force pressing down on her chest.
firefly was seeing nothing, yet everything at the same time, her ears only hear statics, and her knees buckled under invisible pressure. she slumped down to the floor, heaving, yet not registering if she's actually breathing at all.
it had to be that day of drowning, here once again, a cold wash only firefly could feel. she couldn't move, couldn't muster any strength at all. the immense pressure crept up her limbs, lethargic as they were, and firefly felt like she was barely above water, her shallow breath bubbling to the surface.
normally, firefly could deal with such sudden bouts of distress in due time. she'd went through enough training, enough therapy, to deal with psychological losses. yet, for some reason, she was caught severely unprepared by the creeping sorrow. perhaps it was bold of her to ever think she was getting better in the first place. if she'd truly gotten better, would she have been let go?
“firefly.”
so unaware and drowned out was firefly to not notice robin had waded to the centre of this punishing waterhole, arms set around firefly’s body, holding her firmly.
“it's alright, i'm with you. take a deep breath.”
firefly gasped. an order. she had to see it through. a deep breath. that was all she needed to do.
“good,” robin dug for firefly's hands. “unclench your fists. slowly, now…”
firefly zeroed in on her hands and was shocked to see how red they'd gotten. they looked ready to bruise. had she been punching the walls? herself? she could only hope she had spared anyone else from being hit. “robin…”
robin gasped softly. her hands flew to gently cradle firefly’s anguished face. “yes, it's me. can you see me? look at me, okay?”
“i didn't… i didn't hit you? d-did i?”
“no, you didn't,” robin assured her, thumbing away at the tears escaping firefly’s out of focus eyes. “you broke a mirror, but it's alright. it can be replaced,” robin kept firefly’s sight forward, towards herself as she quietly shushed her. “and there are no shards from the mirror. it's a clean break. i didn't get hurt, firefly.”
“okay,” firefly took another deep breath, feeling her tense shoulders slowly become loose. “s-sorry.”
robin drew shapes around firefly’s pale cheeks. “for what?”
“uh—m-made you sit on the toilet floor… with me.”
letting out a light chuckle, robin softly murmured. “this is nothing.”
robin kept firefly in her hold until her breathing turned stable. even then, she didn't let go. instead, she rested firefly’s head on the nook of her shoulders, humming a gentle tune as her hands caressed down firefly’s light hair.
firefly closed her eyes, and listened. robin’s humming was a soothing sound, dulcet tones creating a wordless melody, it helped firefly drift away from the danger of drowning as she savoured each note.
the stewardess slowly pulled back, stunning green eyes pouring out endless warmth. “are you feeling a little better?”
“i, uh, i’m not feeling any worse.”
“that's a start,” robin looked at the pilot's sprawled briefcase lying a metre away from where they were sitting. “do you have medications for these bouts?”
“i-i don't. not anymore. i always needed to declare them for every flight… and when one needs so many flight hours…”
“too much of a hassle?”
“...i hate paperwork.”
robin giggled.
firefly’s shoulders dropped as she sighed. “and i thought i was getting better,” she let her head drop, too. “coming here was a mistake…”
robin was a smart woman. it was easy to put two and two together. “you had tours here.”
the army veteran sucked in a breath. “yeah, two of them. the first time, i was fresh out of graduation from military college… second lieutenant, i had three squads under my command,” firefly shook her head and chuckled at the memory. “the enlisted men, all of them senior to me in years they've served… they didn't like that they had to listen to a commander who had zero experience on the battlefield at first. took a long time for me to gain their respect, but i eventually did earn my place among them. they're good men. on the second tour i was already an army aviation officer, so… it wasn't any easier, but…”
robin didn't need more words than that. “i'm sure it was difficult.”
“it was…” firefly snapped her head up when she realised they were still sitting on the toilet floor. “w-we should… probably go.”
robin allowed light chuckles to escape her lips again. “does sitting on the airport's toilet floor bother you that much?”
“it's unhygienic.” firefly simply murmured.
“you're a piece of work, first officer firefly.” the stewardess laughed as she helped the pilot rise to their feet.
firefly blinked, testing her slightly cramped legs. robin had yet to release her hold on firefly's hands. “do you mind that, miss robin?”
“no,” robin easily confessed. “i don't mind that at all.”
firefly nodded slowly, lost for words. she was pulled in for another warm embrace by the stewardess. firefly rested her jaw on robin's shoulder, feeling her cheek tickled by the stewardess' wing and hair.
when they separated, robin's eyes lingered on firefly's own, the colours had returned to the sunset shades and robin smiled; unwilling to completely part. “now, we should go see what our hotel's fates are like.”
firefly couldn't help but chuckle at that. “i hope even if we got separate places you wouldn't mind spending your night in my room. i don't think i’d want us to part ways...”
“or you could spend your night in mine,” robin squeezed the pilot's hands. a welcomed gesture as always, as firefly slowly intertwined their fingers. the pilot's touch was warm, and robin was relieved that firefly wasn't willing to make her farewell quite yet. “we could switch it up.”
“yeah. i’d like that.”
---
they did have separate rooms booked for them, but as discussed, firefly walked downstairs to where robin's room was, and was greeted by the same sight as before—robin illuminated by the stars as she stood by the window, and the stars were plentiful that night.
even after two full years of peace, the war torn country had been rebuilding slowly, delicately, and the five stories hotel they were staying in was the tallest structure for more than a mile out. the sky glimmered with little light pollution, bestowing radiance of an angel to the figure witnessing how brilliant they shone.
“firefly,” robin laughed from the window. “close your mouth, you're letting flies in.”
firefly’s hands flew to manually move her jaw to a close, because her face was just losing all control at that moment. she shouldn't be blamed for being so flustered—robin was gorgeous, her beauty looked like it came from the cosmos. she was wearing an elegant dress that accentuated her shoulders and collarbones.
it was only natural firefly was attracted to her light.
“i'm… criminally underdressed… for something.” firefly muttered when robin closed their distance, her stunning silhouette leaving a string of enchantment in firefly’s quickly pumping heart. the pilot was, unfortunately, wearing her military issued tee with an ‘army’ printed in bold that had slowly become a common lineup for her pyjamas, as well as grey sweatpants.
robin laughed heartily. “well, we did flew in from fashion's raison d'être, it seemed like a missed opportunity not to buy a dress or two. i'm just testing how it fits.”
firefly’s brows raised in appreciation. “uh—it fits you well.”
robin let off a happy giggle. “i sure hope so! you were staring.”
the pilot closed her eyes and moved her head to the side. “right, sorry.”
“the last time someone eyeballed me like that,” robin started, palming firefly's jaw to make her look again. “they wanted to be my dance partner at a ball. so, firefly, would you like to be my dance partner?”
“i should've liked a warning if we were really to dance; i would've worn something more… fitting. well, not that i have much in my briefcase, but surely we would've been better off dancing should i be in my pilot suit than my jammies…”
“oh, firefly, you don't speak much, but when you do,” robin giggled. “you just tattle off. hold me, would you?”
“r-right.”
“you're so cute.” robin said as she guided firefly to the window, then brought the pilot's hands to her hips. with firefly’s hands where robin needed her, she secured her own around firefly’s neck, then rested their foreheads together and started humming a soft melody.
they swayed to robin's lyrical hymns, with the stewardess' back towards the window. robin tucked her head to the side, on firefly’s strong shoulder, and the pilot faced the view outside.
there really was not much to see besides quiet streets, and firefly thought she'd seen enough on their way to the hotel. however, the last time firefly was here, she only remembered destruction. so for her to experience this was…
they had paused their combined movements, so robin sighed and pulled firefly even closer. “you fought for this peace, firefly,” robin turned to her side so she could also look outside the window. “i think you deserve your very own peace, too.”
robin wasn't wearing her heels, and although really the two of them didn't differ too much in height, firefly looked much taller that night—the pilot was no slouch, robin was sure, but… the bigger presence settled in her heart like it had always belonged there.
and perhaps robin should make do with it. firefly had her gaze set on robin, sunset eyes wide and incredibly stunning, reflecting the galaxies staring down at them. robin's eyelids flutter under the intense gaze, starry shades peeking shyly to meet dusk; before darting between firefly’s eyes and lips. when firefly didn't move a muscle as robin approached, the stewardess closed what little distance was left.
the first meeting of their lips was hesitant, and for a moment robin thought she was dreaming, and she'd jolt awake in a matter of moments. that was until firefly met her lips to deeply kiss her back, though she seemed to have no idea what to do with her hands; one of them fluttered about robin's wings, not touching them—firefly didn't know if she had permission to, and she'd read how sensitive they were.
but firefly wasn't rejected, robin was still kissing her. there was a certainty to the slow glide of her lips, and firefly took that as a non-verbal permission, threading her fingers through feathers. robin gasped softly into the kiss, before parting almost breathlessly.
firefly studied the stewardess' flushed face, not catching refusal or discomfort; so she knew—robin wanted this, wanted her. the thought of that was almost too much. with hesitant breaths, firefly realised that she was crying after all. but the tears that spilled hotly down her cheeks weren't painful, but of relief, so she made no effort to stop them. her tearful gaze moved from robin's similarly glistening eyes to her parted lips, but before firefly could move back in, robin took the initiative, making the decision for firely to sink into each other again.
their next kiss was deeper than the first. it tasted of salty tears but also of longing, and firefly shuddered at the realisation that robin not only cared for her, but desired her. robin was crying as well, little melodic sobs that get drowned by firefly kissing her back with everything she had—all the love and passion she couldn't personally put into words.
their fumbling hands were all around their bodies, and robin had taken the liberty to close the curtains sometime during their passionate kiss, which wasn't exactly graceful with how much they were crying, but it felt perfect. firefly knew it was perfect because she was sharing it with robin, and she even knew should they part they would always find each other again.
robin had gently pushed her towards the bed while their lips were still connected. the pilot sunk down when the backs of her knees met the edge of the bed, and brought robin down with her as she still had the stewardess in her hold. what little breath firefly had was stolen from her lungs at the sight of robin hovering over her, the natural light streaming from the window caught robin’s light periwinkle hair, surrounding her with a soft, starry glow. firefly was all too happy to accept robin's weight on top of her as the stewardess leaned in for another kiss.
when they parted, robin wiped the remaining tears spilled down firefly’s flushed cheeks. “is this really okay?”
firefly cupped robin's face and moved to plant a chaste kiss on the corner of robin's lips—hoping that was enough of an answer. feeling robin's body pressed against hers was so distracting she couldn't even speak. she rested her hands on robin's hips, eager to discover which spots on the stewardess’ body would respond readily to her touch, but from the way robin was hungrily kissing her back, firefly’s needs grew beyond what she could control. she helped robin take off her army shirt before firefly realised that—
“oh, aeons, firefly.”
right. her scars. robin's eyes focused on the ugly one occupying the space under firefly’s breast, a shrapnel that took out her right lung and rendered her physically incapable of performing her assigned duty; thus, her discharge. there were other scars on her abdomen and shoulders but robin gently caressed the one on firefly’s chest. firefly found her voice again, somehow. it cracked, but it was enough. “i'm not hurting anymore.”
robin's wings fluttered and her eyes grew teary again, so firefly sat up, lifting robin on her lap, and with one fluid but careful movement, drew robin's dress over her head. she was then momentarily stunned as she was greeted by soft, bare skin. robin was not wearing anything underneath the pretty dress.
“miss robin…” firefly gasped softly. she had the stewardess on her lap so she could feel a slight dampness coming from robin.
“sorry,” robin looked sheepish as she shifted eagerly on firefly’s lap. “it's just that you're so beautiful, firefly.”
“i'm not, you're beautiful, miss robin.”
“we can agree to disagree.” robin said, meeting firefly’s lips again, and that was as far as they could get on that subject. the kiss was fiercer this time as robin dove in determination as she found the scarred breast to fit perfectly in her hand. the moment her palm made contact, firefly let out a gasp. she parted the kiss to focus on firefly’s breasts, rewarded with a low sigh when she started kneading them, gently at first but slowly increasing in force.
soon robin was pinching and rolling the pert nipple in her hands, memorising the perfect shape and softness. it was unfortunate but she had to climb out of firefly’s laps so she could dip her head to take the other nipple in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the stiff nub. firefly gasped, arching her torso into robin. a clear approval that made robin feel a surge of satisfaction, clenching at her heart that felt so full.
robin was suddenly aware that firefly was still wearing her sweatpants while she was already bare naked, but she couldn't quite convince herself to stop what she was doing. the beautiful noises spilling from firefly’s mouth and the shaky hands stroking her hair urged robin to keep going, and, oh, the hard, slick nub of firefly’s nipple fit so perfectly in her mouth as she painted circles and flicked it softly with her tongue.
“wait.”
robin immediately stopped, releasing the slick tip of her new lover's breast with a pop, nearly whimpering at the loss as she blinked confusedly towards firefly, a little hurt at the thought of stopping there when it was obvious they were both worked up and needed each other.
“i'm sorry,” firefly assured her. “i didn't mean you should stop. just… let me get this off…” firefly shifted away from robin, rolling sideways and pulled off her sweatpants in a hurry.
robin supposed it was a good thing firefly was wearing her sweats instead of her suit pants. they always looked too tight and filled, which could be tricky to take off. her suspicions were correct as firefly was bare in front of her—stunning from the play of taut muscles under so much skin. robin was hard pressed not to pant or moan embarrassingly, just from seeing firefly in all of her naked glory.
“aeons…” robin cursed again. “you're so fucking hot.” she was ready to be rebutted, but to her surprise, firefly only smiled softly at her. robin couldn't help it, she had to seal that shy and cute smile forever in memory, so she kissed her. a quick touch before robin gazed down at firefly in obvious desire, and she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in between firefly’s thighs. so she went there with purpose.
it seemed like robin wasn't the only one embarrassingly wet already. entranced, robin drank the sight in, lavishing attention on the muscles and scars on firefly’s legs. the soft pink lips underneath firefly’s hard belly and a patch of light curls were parted and glistening. robin swallowed at the tight red bud of firefly’s clit peeking out. she was dripping for robin.
robin never had the power to deny firefly anything, but her undoing would be a soft, “please, robin,” escaping firefly.
perhaps the drop of title also helped.
firefly sighed at the first cautious swipe of robin’s tongue, but the stewardess wanted to make sure firefly never forget her, forget this, so she increased her efforts, searching out for the sensitive clit. firefly rewarded robin with a much louder moan and a fresh flood of heat when robin folded her lips around it and sucked. she rocked her pelvis against robin, attempting to establish a rhythm. “ah… r-robin.”
robin wanted to pull back in fear of going too far, but then she heard her name; again and again, sung by firefly as she tugged her fingers harder in robin's hair and wings. her wings twitched as she moaned into firefly’s entrance. firefly echoed her, so robin returned to the task with more enthusiasm as firefly’s hips pushed down to take two of robin's fingers inside.
it didn't take robin long to figure out what firefly liked best. a few experimental thrusts, a searching curl and hook, a combination of sucking and licking and robin unlocked a new stream of moans and whimpers. again and again robin pressed as firefly tightened around her, coating robin's chin and palm in slippery warmth.
firefly pulsed around robin, her insides trying to draw her deeper. her pelvis and thighs trapped robin's head, and she knew firefly’s release wasn't far off.
“come for me, my heart.” robin urged firefly one last time, curling her fingers at the smooth spot deep inside firefly and swirling her tongue around the swollen bud trapped in her mouth that had been throbbing, desperate for release.
it was too much. firefly arched her body, head tilted to the ceiling as she came undone. robin mourned the fact that she couldn't quite see how beautiful firefly looked in her release—but surely there would be another time for that. for now, she lapped on the wetness spilling into her mouth. she continued thrusting her tongue inside of the pilot, prolonging the release and relishing in every little pulse she could feel before firefly slowly settled. she felt firefly’s hands guiding her wings, so robin drew upwards and was treated to the sight of firefly looking utterly dazed and ravishing.
robin drunk the sight in, utterly proud of herself and feeling her heart grow in tremendous amounts. she ached, sure, but robin was satisfied with just this. so when firefly breathlessly tried to get up, sunset eyes alight with purpose, robin laughed. “don't you dare.”
firefly looked genuinely hurt to have robin's hand pressed on her chest, her words weighed down in her heart.
“it's okay,” robin kissed her softly. firefly could taste a hint of herself. “you don't have to return the favour, firefly.”
“but, you're—”
“when a woman says she doesn't want to be touched…”
firefly got the message, she wasn't about to force robin into unconsented sex, but she couldn't let it go quite yet. “next time, please, robin...”
she sounded so determined that robin had to giggle. “next time, i promise. i just wanted tonight to be just… you.”
“i understand.”
“you do? good,” robin lied down next to firefly with a relieved sigh. “i really thought i had to drill it into your thick skull.”
“am i that thick?”
“you are a piece of work, my heart. i honestly didn't know how tonight was going to go. i thought you had no interest in me.”
though her breaths were steadying, robin's words seemed to just stop the air from coming into her weakened lungs completely. “robin,” firefly managed. “you're quite literally the most beautiful woman i've met. inside and out. a noble heart when i first met you, and you kept pouring that heart out for me—we were apart for a long time, but it felt like you were with me all the while. i couldn't stop thinking about your open smile, that only seemed to grow wider the more we knew each other.”
robin graced firefly with the very same smile she was smitten with. “that's because i'm happy.”
“really?”
“see? why the need for confirmation? you are thick.”
“okay,” firefly sighed and rolled to her side, facing away from robin. “but i'm your thick head now.”
that made robin laugh heartily. “you're pouting, my heart, but i suppose you are my thick head,” she shifted closer to firefly, planting a tender kiss on her forehead, then snuggled up close. “good night, firefly.”
“good night, robin.”
---
service manager himeko observed her lead stewardess closely. she seemed to have an extra spring in her steps, her wings kept fluttering, merry; and her gentle smile was unwavering as a drunken passenger berated her for a minor fault. himeko felt a sense of deja vu as the situation was escalating due to the passenger's intoxication.
himeko gasped, her mind working on overdrive. before she could do anything to de-escalate the tension—the co-pilot she was about to grab from the cockpit—first officer firefly rushed past her to grab onto the drunken man’s raised hand. her grip must've been so strong because he immediately grunted in pain.
“sir, i suggest you sit back down,” firefly almost growled the command. the man was struggling against her vice grip, so another hand moved to push against his shoulders. “last warning, i will not allow you to hurt anyone today.”
the drunken man seemed to have understood his place, and grumbled back to his seat, red faced. himeko’s attention was then grabbed hold by the surprising intimacy shared between the first officer and her lead stewardess—firefly was fussing, checking every surface on robin's body for a sign of violence, and she was so gentle about it. a total turnaround from moments past when she instilled genuine fear in someone.
“i told you i'm quite alright.”
“i'm just making sure.”
“what's wrong with just taking my word?”
“not with how trouble always seems to find you.”
robin shrugged lightly, then palmed her chest. “i've got a noble heart, remember?”
firefly rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “get the man some water, would you? i don't care if he's asking for more spirits, give him water. if he's got something to complain about, just tell him the cockpit isn't far from here and i can hear everything.”
with that, the first officer rushed back past himeko, her bright eyes still sporting a dangerous glimmer, muttering darkly. “why is it that there's always drunkards at tens of thousands of feet above ground? next time someone tries to hurt robin i’ll throw them out of the fucking plane.”
himeko had never heard the first officer curse before. she slowly turned towards robin, who was humming to herself as she cleaned the service tray, completely unbothered by whatever she had undergone. she noticed himeko staring at her eventually, but didn't press further as she was called away by another stewardess from the economy cabin. himeko watched her leave, then glanced towards the direction of the cockpit. “huh. i guess i should've seen that coming,” she smiled pleasantly. “...they're cute together.”
---
- END -
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p.s: 100 kudos bonus yay!!
