Chapter Text
Being unofficially on the run certainly made their jobs more difficult.
Mother Superion and the other nuns back at Cat's Cradle did what they could to help, be it from sending them funds and ammunition when they could or tips and information.
Even Jillian helped where she could, sending them all phones and new gear.
It meant that a lot of their time was spent living in the back of their van or holed up in backstreet motel rooms.
There were moments where it felt too much, five people crammed into such a small space for this long was always bound to have repercussions.
Nights where Mary would opt to stay in the van in the parking lot, just to have some time alone.
Lilith disappearing on walks whenever they reached a new town, simply claiming later to be 'scouting the area'.
Camila would plug earphones in when they're driving and disconnect.
Even Beatrice herself, so used to keeping people at a certain distance found herself not sure on how to make a space for herself.
But after the first week, on the nights where they would get a couple of rooms, she would notice that Ava would leave for a couple of hours. Beatrice would find her either next door with Camila hanging out with Mary or more likely, joining Lilith on her walks.
She eventually realised that it was Ava's way of giving Beatrice some space. Ava had never spoken about it and Beatrice had never asked.
She didn't know how to tell Ava that it wasn't necessary, so it remained an unspoken weight between them.
(Beatrice also didn't know who decided that her and Ava should room together, but nobody had ever voiced a protest.)
They've spent three weeks on the road at this point, making their way through Europe, putting an end to any possessions learn about and waiting to see if Mother Superion will come through for them and they can go home.
Although, somewhere deep down, Beatrice didn't want this to end. These moments with Ava fast asleep and snoring gently on her shoulder. A warm but steadfast weight against her side that was equal parts terrifying and thrilling.
It felt incredibly selfish but still, she found herself unable to stop.
A bump in the road caused Ava to jostle, groaning unhappily at the disturbance and sitting up.
The loss of warmth was instant.
"Ugh, stupid roads. What time is it?" Ava asked.
“Past noon. You’ve been asleep for hours.” Lilith commented. “Poor Beatrice has had to deal with you drooling all over her.”
Not for the first time, Beatrice was thankful for the dim light in the back of the van, it made it easier to hide the blush she could feel threatening to make its way to her cheeks.
“I don’t drool!” Ava protested. She turned to Beatrice, pouting. “Do I?”
“You don’t.” Beatrice confirmed.
“Ha!” Ava stuck her tongue out at Lilith and kicked at her foot lightly.
Lilith’s scowl lacked any real heat. Beatrice had found it interesting to see their relationship steadily changing over the last few weeks. While Ava still managed to frequently get under Lilith’s skin, it was often tempered by some kind of understanding between the two.
Beatrice supposed that Ava, of all people, was in the best situation to understand Lilith’s situation. To know what it is like to have powers thrust upon her, to know on some level the fear and uncertainty that Lilith is experiencing.
Their newfound friendship, of all things, was one of the stranger things to happen over the last few weeks, and that’s including the whole Adriel revelation.
“She’s just saying that to be nice.” Lilith replied.
“Children!” Mary scolded from the driver's seat. “Play nice. Don’t make me come back there.”
“She started it!” Ava protested.
“I don’t care who started it, I’ll finish it. Now, we’ve got to grab fuel and food. Do you think you can all chill for another hour?”
“Can we get McDonald’s?” Ava asked hopefully.
“We’ll have whatever is there.” Mary replied.
Beatrice chanced a look at her friend and saw her pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers while Camila stifled a laugh beside her.
These were the moments that Beatrice found herself enjoying. Moments where it almost felt like they were normal, just a group of women on a nondescript roadtrip.
A silence stretched between them all and Beatrice watched curiously as Ava and Lilith shared a long look, Ava tilting her head to the side in some kind of unspoken question towards Lilith and Lilith’s answering shrug.
Silence was not something that Ava could do for long periods, so it wasn’t a surprise when moments later, she turned to Beatrice.
“You wanna take a nap?” She patted her shoulder enthusiastically. “Certified comfort right here, that’s the Ava Silva guarantee.”
Beatrice smiled. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“You sure? It’s not exactly fair that I use you as a human pillow all the time.”
“If I minded I would have said something.” Beatrice replied.
Ava hummed and dropped her head back onto Beatrice’s shoulder. “That’s true.”
When the silence hit again, Camila turned the radio up and the rest of the drive was filled with mundane pop music and the occasional commentary from Ava and Camila.
--
“Apparently, if we keep following this road.” Mary trailed a finger across the map with her finger. “There’s a motel right around here, just outside of this town.”
Beatrice leant against the side of the van and observed the proposed route. “It would be a good chance to stock up on supplies. We’re definitely going to need more clothes if we’re going to continue like this.”
They’d ditched their habits very early into the trip, usually being a nun meant that they could blend in, but following the events at the Vatican it hadn’t been much of a stretch to assume that people would actively be looking for group of nuns.
Mary laughed. “If there’s one thing I miss about Cat’s Cradle, it’s the laundry.”
“And the food.” Lilith added.
Beatrice looked over to Lilith and found her staring at the petrol station, Ava had been the most disappointed that there hadn’t been a McDonald’s or even a Burger King accompanying it, and her and Camila had taken it upon themselves to go inside to buy food and pay for the fuel.
“One of us should have gone with them.” Lilith continued. “Ava is a terrible influence on Camila, they will only bring junk with them.”
It was a pretty accurate assumption to make based on past experience and Beatrice was just about to push herself from the van to go off in search of their friends when Ava and Camila emerged, grinning brightly. Camila, with a bag in each hand and Ava carrying a tray of hot drinks.
She moved considerably slower than Camila, all of her focus apparently being spent on not tripping over her own feet.
“Need a hand there?” Mary asked, grinning at the sight.
“No, no I got this.” Ava reached them and set the drinks on top of the map carefully. “It’s probably not as good as Starbucks, but it was way fucking cheaper.”
“Language.” Beatrice said, more out of habit than actual scolding.
Ava grinned but didn’t offer a comeback, instead holding a cup out to Lilith. “Black, like your heart.”
Lilith scowled but took the offered drink.
“I’m kidding, two pumps of caramel and milk because you’re really sweet underneath that angry exterior.”
If anything, Lilith’s scowl only intensified, though Beatrice was certain she saw a hint of a smile hidden behind the cup.
“Extra shot of espresso for Mary, green tea for Camila…” Ava took her time handing the drinks out before finally turning to Beatrice. “And hot chocolate for Bea.”
Beatrice blinked at the offered drink for a moment, she couldn’t remember a conversation where they had discussed favourite drinks, but somewhere along the line, Ava had apparently taken it upon herself to learn their orders without prompting.
It was more than a little bit endearing.
When Beatrice took the cup from her, Ava leant in a little closer than strictly necessary, grinning.
“I asked them for extra marshmallows.” She whispered conspiratorially.
“Oh, thank you Ava.”
Ava’s grin was as blinding as the halo.
“Did you not get anything for yourself?” Lilith asked.
Ava nodded enthusiastically and jumped to Camila’s side where she rummaged through the bag until she produced a silver and blue can and held it up proudly.
“I’ve always wanted to try one of these! I couldn’t resist. It says it gives you wings, I mean I’ve already got a halo, right?”
The combined look of dread on Mary and Lilith’s face was truly something to behold and it only became funnier to Beatrice when Lilith slapped the can from Ava’s hand before she could open it.
“Hey! What the fuck?” Ava grabbed it from the ground and jumped behind Beatrice before Lilith could do it again.
“Ava, you’re already a walking ball of energy, I don’t want to imagine what you’ll be like if you start drinking energy drinks.” Lilith replied.
“I can’t be held responsible for what happens to you if you drink it.” Mary added, her tone making the statement sound much more like a threat.
“Beatrice will protect me from you guys, right?” Ava asked. “Bea?”
Beatrice didn’t dare look at Ava for fear of being met with puppy dog eyes so she simply sighed.
“Just… Try one and don’t make it a habit.” She held up a hand as she heard Ava suck in a breath. “Don’t make a pun with that.”
Mary groaned and folded the map back up. “Let's hit the road before someone hits Ava-”
(Ava snorted at this.)
“Cam, please tell me there is actual food in there.”
--
Mary held up two keys for the group to see.
“So, this room has two single beds.” She gestured to the key in her left hand. “And this one has a king and a sofa, and before anyone asks, I’m not sleeping in the van tonight.”
“You can take one of the singles.” Beatrice said. “It’s only fair.”
Lilith took the other key from Mary before anybody else could say anything. “Me, Beatrice and Ava will take the other room.”
“That okay with you Cam?” Ava asked. “You did a lot of the driving today too.”
“That’s fine.” Camila smiled. She looked at each of them. “Will you all be okay?”
“If you’re worried that I’m going to smother Ava in her sleep, don’t worry. I’ll be taking the sofa.” Lilith replied, already grabbing her bag and heading up to their room.
“Well… That’s decided then.” Mary shrugged. “I’ll catch you guys in the morning.”
They bid their goodnights and Beatrice was soon left in the parking lot alone with Ava, staring up at the door that Lilith had disappeared behind.
Ava rocked on her heels for a moment before sliding her sword over her shoulder. “Let’s do this then… Bea, you good?”
While they had slept in the same room countless times over the last few weeks, and even found themselves pressed together (for warmth, it was natural instinct for their bodies to seek out heat) in the back of the van, this would be the first time that they had shared a bed.
It was going to be another first for Beatrice, and that was a revelation that left her uncharacteristically frozen on the spot.
She blinked away her anxiety at hearing the concern in Ava’s voice and forced a smile at her friend. “Of course, lets not keep Lilith waiting.”
--
Ava, Beatrice noticed, always left her sword in the same place when they stayed in motels. It was always propped up beside the bed on whichever side was closest to the door.
Beatrice was certain it was a habit she’d picked up from her, the first time Ava had woken them both with a nightmare, Beatrice had accidentally freaked her out more by immediately producing a knife from under her pillow.
Ava found the memory funny now, but Beatrice could imagine that in the moment, being greeted with a knife when you’re still battling with the lingering effect of a nightmare hadn’t been a particularly good experience.
Ava also usually showered first, so having Lilith in their space who had already claimed the shower by the time they made it to the room had already thrown a small wrench in their usual routine.
Instead, Beatrice now found Ava sat cross legged on the bed, snacks spread out around her as she sorted them into some kind of order while Beatrice busied herself with moving around the room, checking the locks on the doors to the balcony and unpacking her own bag.
“Are you okay?” Ava asked again.
“I’m fine.” Beatrice replied, pulling out an oversized hoody to sleep in.
“It’s just that… You’re doing a really good impression of me right now.”
Beatrice froze, turning to meet Ava’s steady gaze.
“Usually i’m the one who can’t stop moving.” Ava continued with a shrug. “It feels weird seeing you do it, so what's up?”
Since when was Ava this observant?
“I…” Beatrice let out a breath and took a seat on the bed so that she could face Ava. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
Ava frowned and tilted her head to the side as she regarded Beatrice. “Why would you make me uncomfortable?”
Beatrice averted her gaze in favour of looking pointedly at the bed.
It took a few moments, but Beatrice heard the soft intake of breath, the quiet ‘Oh.’ on the exhale.
She already knew that Lilith wouldn’t swap with her or Ava, she steadfastly refused to share with anyone.
Beatrice was about ready to grab her bag and retreat to the safety of the van when she felt Ava’s hand on her cheek, the grip was gentle as she turned Beatrice’s head so that they were face to face.
“Beatrice, listen to me when I tell you that you do not make me uncomfortable. Nothing about you makes me uncomfortable. I love being around you.”
“Ava-”
“I mean it Bea. You’re fine. Would it make you feel better if I slept in the van?” Ava asked.
Beatrice grabbed Ava’s hand. “No, that’s… That’s not necessary.”
“So you’re okay with sharing the bed?”
“I… Suppose.” Beatrice looked down at their joint hands. “You like being around me?”
“I believe I said love, but yeah, why wouldn’t I?” Ava stretched her legs out so that they bracketed Beatrice’s body. “You’re kind of a badass.”
She flipped Beatrice’s hand and began to draw idle patterns along her palm, the sensation sent a shiver along every vertebrae of Beatrice’s spine.
“You’re my best friend.” Ava continued, considerably quieter. “And…”
The door to the bathroom opened and Lilith stepped out, apparently oblivious to the pair as she walked through the room.
“The water pressure of that shower is terrible, but it’s hot.” She said idly.
Ava stared at Beatrice for a long moment, her eyes were soft and attentive before she let go of Beatrice’s hand and rolled off of the bed.
“That doesn’t sound promising, but okay.” Ava replied.
Beatrice took a moment to run her hands over her face, counting her breaths until she felt her heartbeat begin to steady.
Ava disappeared into the room next and Lilith regarded Beatrice for a few moments before slipping onto the balcony and leaving Beatrice alone with her thoughts.
--
Beatrice could trace the outline of Ava’s figure in the moonlight. The curve of her shoulder and the loose wisps of hair that fell free from her ponytail.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Ava shifted, rolling onto her back.
Beatrice wondered what Ava was going to say to her before Lilith had interrupted them.
“I love being around you.”
When Beatrice woke up a few hours later, the first thing she noticed that Ava wasn’t beside her.
When she looked around, she saw the sofa was empty.
The final thing she noticed was that Ava’s sword was missing.