Chapter Text
Nico shuffles across the landing, her too-long thrift-store pants occasionally catching on the uneven floorboards. There's a chill wafting through the mansion, and it settles in her wet hair, brushing against the unprotected space between her shoulder blades. Sure, being small is helpful when the time comes to duck from a rogue CCTV camera, or crawl under a chainlink fence, but it makes it very difficult to stay warm in a giant draughty building where a "hot shower" is a sputter of lukewarm water from a rusty showerhead made in the early crustacean period, at best. That is to say: Nico is quietly grateful to see Karolina already warming the bed, having made and tucked the extra-thick duvet. She's propped up against the headboard, one of Gert's mildewy hardbacks in her hands. She sees the other girl in the doorway and shoots her a smile.
Nico towels her hair (in vain) one last time, then folds the fraying fabric over the back of a heavy chair. She scoots into the bed beside Karolina, who lets the book fall into her lap and leans her face toward Nico's. Nico grimaces, and Karolina frowns.
"Is something wrong?"
Nico looks down, admitting, "Molly used the last of the toothpaste."
Karolina laughs softly and kisses her anyway, pulling away with a thoughtful expression.
"It's not bad, just... kind of tastes like dumpster bagels."
Nico laughs through her nose and hits Karolina lightly on the arm. She pulls her side of the duvet up to her chin, resting her head on Karolina's shoulder as the book is retrieved. They share a look and an apologetic smile as Nico's wet hair tickles Karolina's neck, but neither care enough to mention it. Nico is too wrapped up in the simple joy of doing something as normal as reading a book, watching the words flicker as the ancient desk lamp beside them hums in the quiet room--
then putters out.
The room is black in an instant, and loud complaints echo from other parts of the mansion as the whole place powers down. A sleepy voice yells for Chase to go fix it, and a sleepier one retorts with an expletive and a plea for 'tomorrow'. Nico sighs, closing her eyes in defeat.
She hears the soft ringing before she sees the light from behind her eyelids. Karolina's glowing hand is tracing the words on the page, revealing faint outlines of the furniture around them.
"Karolina, you don't have to..."
"Just to the end of the chapter."
And so they read. Or at least, Nico's eyes follow Karolina's hand as it brushes the paper. They close the book after a few pages and adjust the pillows to lie down properly. Nico's knees rest against Karolina's legs, and they lie there for a time. At some point, Karolina huffs and shuffles over, reaching her arm under Nico's head to hold them closer. Nico kisses Karolina chastely, smiling at her though she can't see it. Her feet are still cold, and her hair is soaking into the pillow, but she finds that she's stopped caring. She's safe, and she's home.