Chapter Text
-Beatrice-
The stars shine above. Beatrice cranes her head towards the balls of fire and sighs heavily as one twinkles just that bit brighter. The rooftop of her apartment building is always like this: empty and calm. From here, she can watch the nightlife of the small town carry on as if she never inhibited the place. Friends, lovers, families walk by without the faintest clue that there is someone up here.
This is how she likes it - living life on the sidelines, barely venturing into the town for work or unless she needs groceries or clothes. Anything more than that reminds her of the woman she loves; the way she always wanted to explore, to see, to just…feel the world.
It has been a year to the day since she lost her. Since she lost everything.
Yes, she still keeps in contact with Camila and the others, but she has left that life behind. All the respect and reputation she had built in the church wasn’t for her. It was for Sister Beatrice, and she isn’t that person anymore.
“I’m sorry Ava” she whispers to the open air “I’m sorry I took so long, I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I’m so, so sorry”
Tears trickle down her face and she lets them flow. This day and the many before them, hurt just as much as the event itself. She’d tried everything to numb the pain; alcohol only did the job for a while and she slowed down on the drink after waking up in a strangers bed one morning.
That had taken a considerable amount of therapy to shake the guilt. Her therapist was a middle aged man called Dave who, despite appearances, is incredibly understanding and empathetic. He doesn’t push for answers, only elaborates on what Beatrice is willing to tell him. Over time, she has opened up and talked through most of her trauma. It was hard to come up with replacements for the whole demon-fighting-nun thing but eventually, Dave helped her overcome the guilt and sadness for the most part.
But she never stopped missing her. Never stopped wishing they would see each other again, even if she had to wait for the next life. She would see Ava again, she was sure of it.
-Ava-
“No…no no no!” Fucking Reya. Sending her back to her dimension just to suspend her in mid-air without the slightest hint as to where she was going.
She’s free-falling, down towards an area that is slowly becoming clearer despite the darkness of the night. Huge evergreen trees come into view first. They’re surrounding a dark clearing but Ava can’t figure out what lies beneath her.
She tries to summon the halo to slow her fall but it fizzles and splutters in protest. Reya did tell her that the jump from the other realm would likely drown the Halo of its powers for a while.
A pat on the back and a dodgy ride home is all she got for helping win the war. Apart from getting to keep the Halo - which was now useless to anyone other than Ava since the other realm was closed off and wraiths could no longer cross over. Reya had no use for it and let her keep it as long as she promised to destroy any stray wraiths she came across.
Really, she couldn’t complain. She got to go home. After 5 long, gruelling years, she got to go home.
Speaking of.
The clearing is now in full view and Ava realises with a start that it’s a lake. Their lake.
“Bea” she breathes, before promptly slamming into the water and losing consciousness.
***
-Beatrice-
The following morning, as Beatrice is unpacking a delivery of romance novels in the back of the store, her phone rings in her pocket.
There are only a few possibilities of who is calling. One of them being her boss who is out front serving customers and the others she doesn’t particularly feel like talking to - Camilla or Hans.
Hans has the tendency to invite her out for drinks every other weekend and she hasn’t heard from him in a while, so expects it to be him.
She doesn’t bother to look at the contact and answers the call “Hans I’m busy can this wait?”
“Beatrice” not Hans, but Camilla, sounding a little frazzled.
“Camilla? Is everything okay?”
“Um…” good start “actually, everything might be about to get really okay…”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Camilla sounds apprehensive, but there’s an undertone of excitement in her voice. Considering they haven’t spoken in a few months, this is strange.
There’s a pause long enough for her to worry.
“Cam?”
“Ava’s back”
The earth shifts under her feet and suddenly she’s on her knees, boxes toppled over and books spilling around her.
“Wh-what?” She asks for clarification, her voice hoarse and tears threatening to spill.
“Ava’s back, Beatrice. She called us asking where you were”
“Are you sure?” Again she asks for the news she’s been waiting for to be confirmed. This can’t be a joke, Camilla wouldn’t do that to her. She saw how she fell apart before she left the order, how Ava’s departure broke her.
“I’m sure” Camila’s voice turns soft “she said that she wanted to tell you everything in person but that she’s okay and we don’t have to worry about the Holy War. It’s done, everything is finished”
Done? Finished? Ava’s back, and there’s no threat? It feels too good to be true. There’s nothing Beatrice wants more than Ava back, and to have the threat of war distinguished at the same time is almost enough to make her believe that God finally listened to her.
“Thank you, Cam. I-“ her throat is closing up, but she pushes the rest out “I need to find her”
“I gave her your address, she’s on her way now”
“Thank you, thank you Camilla”
“No problem Bea. Now go get your girl” she teases and Beatrice realises that her friend has been rooting for them harder than anyone else.
The call ends and Beatrice moves quicker than she has in the last year, reflexes returning in an instant. She doesn’t want to leave her boss with too much to do so she finishes unpacking the boxes in a record time of 3 minutes and rushes out the front.
“Ester, I’m so sorry but something has come up and I need the rest of the day off” she’s already gathering her bag and uneaten lunch.
Ester, the older woman who owns the bookstore and has taken Beatrice in like a daughter the past 10 months turns to her with a smile.
“No problem honey, I hope everything is okay?”
“I’ll call and explain later, I really need to go”
She’s waved off and sprints out of there.
-Ava-
“Thanks Cam, I really appreciate it. Speak to you soon”
The walk into town had taken roughy an hour, and she’d managed to gain enough sympathy from a local coffee shop owner in order to use their phone.
She’s beat. The fall into the lake had knocked her out instantly and she woke up at the shore, shivering badly but bones all healed and the halo slowly warming up her extremities. Walking out onto the street, her clothes are still damp and the material is sticking to her skin in all the wrong places, but she couldn’t care less.
Camilla had given her an address, albeit after battering her with questions about what happened and how she was. Now, Ava was on her way to Bea’s place with renewed energy. She was going to see the woman she loves for the first time in 5 years. It had been 1 year on Earth, Cam had told her as much. The first year Ava spent away was filled with painful healing processes and nightmares. Most nights she would wake in a hot sweat screaming, images of her last moments on earth rattling through her brain. All she had wanted back then was to fall into Beatrice’s warm embrace and be held. Her wish hadn’t changed much since, if she was being honest. The biggest difference now though, was that it was entirely possible.
What would Bea say when she sees her? Would she be happy? What if she was angry at Ava for leaving? What if she didn’t love her back? Ava thought she had heard the faint whisper of an ‘I love you’ as she passed through the portal, but what if that was just her imagination? What if Beatrice didn’t love her the same way and she’d set up her own life here, away from her past? What if she’d found someone to love properly and wanted nothing to do with Ava, nothing to do with the things that had only brought her pain.
Rounding the corner of the street, Ava was spiralling in these thoughts when footsteps echo behind her, increasing in pace and intensity. Every one of her muscles tense, and she prepares for an attack. The war may be over, but her instincts are carved into her soul.
Just as the footsteps sound like they’re close, she turns sharply and grabs the wrist of the person behind her, twisting and pinning the assailant to the wall beside them.
She comes face to face with the most beautiful eyes she’s ever seen, slightly older than the last time but still holding that same deep understanding. A light dusting of freckles across soft cheeks, leading into a strong jaw that Ava’s been dreaming of. And…a nose ring? Ava will come back to that at a later time.
“Bea” she breathes.
“Ava” Beatrice says reverently “it’s true…you’re really here”
“Yeah” her laugh is watery and she nearly chokes on the emotions flooding through her “I’m here” relief, tiredness, happiness, but most of all: love “I’m home”
“You’re home” Beatrice smile lights up the world and Ava lives out her dream: sinking into her arms.
They stay there, snuggled close to each other leaning up the wall in the middle of the street, crying into each others embrace and letting all the years of pain and worry go. Beatrice smells like fresh laundry and lavender, hints of the same perfume she used to use peaking through. But the overwhelming scent of just her enraptures Ava’s senses.
Eventually, after what Ava couldn’t tell was minutes or hours, they separate and lock eyes again.
“Ava, I-“ Beatrice chokes out, tears at the corners of her sparkling eyes. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Once she opens them again, there’s an emotion there that Ava first noticed while they were hiding out in this very town. “I love you” she says with a gentle smile.
Beatrice loves her. After all this time, she loves her. Still loves her. Ava knew she wasn’t making it up, there had been something wonderful building between them before everything went to shit, and she wasn’t going to waste any more time.
She surges forward and kisses her. Beatrice, in all her put-togetherness and boarding school etiquette, pulls her in with a ferocity she wasn’t expecting. Her tongue swipes across Ava’s bottom lip, requesting access. Ava grants it to her, like she wouldn’t give this woman absolutely anything. Their tongues fall into sync and the kiss goes from desperate and messy, to soft and languid. Neither of them want to stop, but they’re still in the street and Ava needs to tell Beatrice that she feels the same.
Reluctantly, she pulls back and rests their foreheads together.
“I love you too”
***
-Beatrice-
Ava had managed to keep quiet for roughly 3 hours before the inevitable question rose. They had both changed into comfortable clothing and settled down in her apartment for the afternoon, catching up on lost time.
“Okay,” she leans back from her spot on the couch, eyeing Beatrice suspiciously “I can’t avoid it any longer - when did you get the nose ring?”
A laugh bubbles out of Beatrice before she can stop it. It’s been a long time since she felt this loose, this happy.
“About 6 months ago. I always wanted one when I was younger but my parents wouldn’t allow it and then I joined the order” she explains “I walked by a tattoo parlour one day and thought, why not?”
“Why not” Ava echoes. She looks at her like she’s hung the stars, Beatrice doesn’t know what to do with that look.
“What?” She asks shyly.
“It’s just-“ Ava sighs happily “I’m just so glad you’re doing things you want to do, making your own path. I know leaving the order must’ve been a hard choice for you, but you seem so much more yourself” she tilts her head “I’m proud of you Bea.”
Beatrice has spent her whole life moulding herself into something that someone, anyone, could be proud of. Having Ava, of all people, validate her existence sweeps away the rubble of the walls that Ava had already chipped away at in the time they had known each other. No words are enough, she can’t explain how deeply she feels for this woman.
Ava smiles knowingly and reaches out to cup a hand to her face. “I love you so much, the thought of you is what got me through the toughest parts of my time in the other realm. I would wake up day after day and the only thing keeping me going was the possibility of returning home to you”
Beatrice turns her head to press a kiss into Ava’s palm. When she looks back up, warmth and kindness are shown in Ava’s eyes and she soaks it all in.
Ava had told her about what she experienced on the other side and it wasn’t pleasant. Gruelling battles, endless training, but what hurt most of all…Ava was alone. No one else there was human, no one there understood what she was going through, they only wanted her help. And because Ava was too good, too kind, she gave her everything to those who needed it.
But she was done now, and she needed someone to take care of her - not that she wasn’t capable of doing that herself.
“I do have to let you know though,” Ava interrupts her thoughts with a sly grin “nothing could’ve prepared me for how hot you look with that thing” she punctuates her statement with the tip of her finger poking the metal ring inside Beatrice’s nostril.
It takes her by surprise - both the contact and the compliment. “Hot?” She laughs, taken aback.
“Mhmm, yep” she pops the ‘p’ and pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.
Beatrice’s eyes immediately zone in on the action and her stomach flips. She wants Ava, this is something she’s known since the early days of her becoming the warrior nun, but what’s new is that Beatrice can now act on that want. Back then, she allowed herself to give into Ava in small ways. Touches here and there at the bar, contact in sparring and cuddles at night where no one could see them, wrapped up in blankets contained by the safety of darkness.
Now, as they’re sitting on Beatrice’s couch face to face, she wants to touch everywhere she stopped herself from touching before, taste the places she’s only dreamed of. She wants to give in.
So she does.
She brings her hand up to Ava’s neck and pulls. Ava gasps as their lips crash together and suddenly hands are gripping at her shirt like a lifeline. Her whole body is on fire. The kiss is filthy, each of them not holding back any restraint, years of longing finally getting it’s release. Muffled gasps fill the air and small curses tumble out of Ava like she can’t control it. Ava bites Beatrice’s bottom lip and Beatrice moans into her, the last of her resolve cracking. She pushes Ava backwards until she’s lay down on the couch and slots a knee in between her thighs.
Ava whines in response and grinds down “Bea” she gasps “fuck, Beatrice” a sharp intake of breath ”I’ve been waiting 5 years for this. Touch me” another movement of her hips, more frantic than the last “please“
Beatrice pulls at the hem of Ava’s sweater and she immediately moves to take it off. Beatrice does the same with her t shirt and halts before descending down again. Ava doesn’t have a bra on and her chest is on full display.
“Ava” she runs her hands up Ava’s sides and cups her breasts in awe “you’re beautiful”
“So are you Bea, holy shit” she laughs lightly, fingers tracing Beatrice’s stomach and leaving goosebumps in their wake.
Beatrice leans back down and licks into Ava’s mouth, eliciting a moan from the shorter woman. She moves to trail a path of kisses across her jaw, latches onto her neck and sucks, feeling her pulse thrum under her tongue. It’s sure to leave a mark but the reaction it gets from Ava is enough to encourage her to keep going. Her lips find their way to the valley between Ava’s tits and she licks a stripe all the way down her middle before coming back up to encircle a hard nipple.
Ava arches into her mouth and tangles her fingers into her hair, pulling them closer together. She writhes underneath her and whimpers when Beatrice lets go with an audible pop. No time is wasted before she gives the other nipple apt attention.
“Fuck that feels good”
“I’m just getting started Darling”
The pet name slips out without her meaning to say it, but as she looks up, Ava’s eyes darken and suddenly she’s not so shy to use it again.
Her fingertips find their way to the waistband of Ava’s sweatpants and she pulls the elastic an inch away only to release it with a snap. Leaning to ghost her lips over the shell of Ava’s ear, she says, low and throaty “take these off Darling”
Ava shudders as her jaw slackens. “Fuck, okay, yeah definitely can do that”
Beatrice chuckles as she helps Ava manoeuvre out of the clothing.
“If I’d have known this was an effective way of getting you to listen, I’d have used it a long time ago” she teases.
Ava barks out an incredulous laugh and narrows her eyes “Sister Beatrice” she purrs, somewhat sarcastically but the heavy tone she uses does something to Beatrice “you have no idea how good I am taking orders.”
Fuck.
“Fuck”
Ava’s eyes widen and a huge grin splits across her face, a mischievous expression breaking its way through. She’s basking in the echo of the swear word coming out of Beatrice’s mouth.
“Language” she chides with absolutely no sincerity.
Beatrice ignores the remark in favour of pressing kisses into her neck, knee returning to its previous position between Ava’s legs and pushing up to put pressure on that sweet spot. Ava groans and grips her shoulders, blunt nails dragging marks across and then down her back.
The dull sensation of pain sends shockwaves through Beatrice and her skin prickles with flames. Her kisses become sloppier as she trails a hand between their bodies and down towards Ava’s centre.
When she reaches her goal, she’s met with a sinful amount of wetness.
“Ava,” she sighs as she glides her fingers through slick folds, gathering the liquid on her digits.
“You make me crazy Bea, you do this to me. Only you” Ava pants and bucks up into her hand “I need you.”
Beatrice obliges and sinks two fingers into her with no resistance. The movement draws out a choked gasp from Ava and as she draws back to get a look at the magnificent woman, her eyes are closed.
“Open your eyes” she commands and Ava complies immediately.
Ava’s pupils are dilated and her lips are parted just enough for Beatrice to see her biting down on her tongue. She leans down and sucks her lips into her own, pushing back into her at the same time. Her movements start off slow but develop into a fast and steady rhythm, fingers curling and hitting a spot that makes Ava moan freely.
Beatrice will remember this moment for the rest of her life. She’s been waiting and hoping that Ava would return and now she has her back and they’re connected in every way possible.
“Ava” she groans. She’s so wound up from pleasuring Ava, so close to cumming right there and then without even having been touched. Nothing could’ve prepared her for how this would feel, how holy it was to have her love pressed so close.
“Bea” Ava whines and bites her lip, one hand gripping the back of Beatrice’s neck, keeping their foreheads together and the other curling into the skin of her back “please, don’t stop” she says, as if Beatrice would even think about that. Another deep, guttural moan tears it’s way out of her throat and Beatrice doesn’t think she’s ever heard anything so insanity inducing. “Fuck, I’m gonna-“ and then her entire body locks up as her eyebrows knit together and her jaw drops open in a silent scream. Beatrice feels Ava’s walls flutter around her fingers and wetness floods its way over her palm and down her wrist. She slows her pace as Ava’s hips roll into her, riding the last high of her orgasm.
Ava’s shoulders sag and she relaxes back into the couch with a light huff of breath, whimpering slightly as Beatrice pulls out.
“Shit” she laughs, her hands coming up to cup Beatrice’s cheeks. She’s smiling wide, eyes sparkling in the low light. “That was amazing” her gaze flickers between Beatrice’s eyes and she tilts her head up to connect their lips, soft and languid.
“Ava,” Beatrice sighs contentedly as they part “I’ve missed you so much, you’re so beautiful” she can’t stop the smile that breaks its way out, not that she would want to.
“I love you Bea”
“I love you too, Ava”
Ava’s hands lose the place on her cheeks and slither down her body as she leans further upwards and whispers into her ear “my turn.”
With the skill and precision of a trained warrior, Ava flips them over so she’s now hovering above Beatrice. The triumphant grin she flashes is smug and Beatrice has a hard time forming any words.
“I want to make you feel good” Ava purrs as she licks a stripe up Beatrice’s neck.
“You already are” she huffs out, blood coursing through her veins like molten lava.
Ava hums against her skin and continues her path downwards. When she reaches Beatrice’s covered chest, she asks “can I take this off?”
Beatrice nods and watches her bra meet the clothes strewn about the floor. When she looks back, Ava’s eyes are trained on her tits with a hunger she’s never seen before. Lust, pure lust, is what she sees and it only serves as fuel to the fire burning across her body, seeping into her pores and settling in her gut.
Fingers tug at her waistband and she helps Ava remove the rest of her clothes before she can even ask. This pulls a light giggle from the woman above her and she cocks an eyebrow in question, “eager aren’t we?”
“How could I not be? I’ve seen the way you move, heard the gorgeous sounds you make when I touch you” she takes Ava’s hand and presses it into her chest with a sigh.
“God, Bea” Ava moans “having you like this is…” she takes a shuddering breath “insane, mind bending, sexy.” In a flurry of kisses and soft bites that cause Beatrice to twitch and writhe, Ava positions herself between Beatrice’s legs.
Ava hooks her arms under her thighs and pulls her close, placing soft kisses either side of where she’s needed most.
Slowly, she licks into her and a gasp chokes it’s way out of Beatrice.
“Ava” she pleads, desperate for more.
Ava hums and Beatrice feels the vibrations in her spine. Her hips buck uncontrollably and her hand shoots to the back of Ava’s head, fingers entwining in her hair. She tugs at the strands in her grip and Ava moans hard, sending tendrils of electricity up her spine again.
She feels Ava’s tongue press into her clit and all sanity is lost.
“Fuck, yes Ava”
Ava starts to form tight circles round the sensitive nub and Beatrice can’t piece together any coherent thought. All that’s running through her mind is Ava, Ava, Ava.
Pleasure courses through her entire body, her grip tightens unconsciously on Ava’s hair but it only seems to spur her on. The movements get faster but no less precise. It’s like everything she does, everything she is, was made for Beatrice. Made for her to love, to enjoy, to bask in the wonderfulness that is Ava Silva.
Ava closes her lips around her clit and sucks. Beatrice cums fast and hard, white flashes blinding her vision and a loud, hoarse moan ripping its way out from deep in her gut.
As she returns back to earth, panting hard and trying to rebalance herself, Ava stills and watches from between her legs. She’s grinning, clearly proud of herself. Her lips are shiny, wet from cum and Beatrice pulls her in for a fierce kiss, moaning softly as she tastes herself on Ava’s tongue.
They part and stare into each others eyes, the moment lingering in the air, neither of them wanting to break it.
Eventually though, Ava’s arms start to shake from holding herself up and she collapses into Beatrice’s arms and nuzzles into the crook of her neck. They sigh in unison, drawing a chuckle out of the both of them.
“Thank you, Ava. I love you” Beatrice says softly.
“You’re gonna get tired of me telling you how much I love you”
Beatrice chuckles and turns to kiss the top of Ava’s head.
“I could never get tired of you, my love”
***
-Ava-
Ava wakes up some time later, naked and cradled in Beatrice’s arms with her face still tucked safely in the crook of her neck. The sun is setting and the apartment is bathed in a golden glow.
For the first time in years, she feels safe. Home isn’t a place, it’s a person, and her person - her home - is Bea.
The thought brings tears to her eyes and she carefully pries herself from Beatrice’s grasp before they fall and get them wet in the not so fun way.
Her movements cause Beatrice to stir, eyebrows furrowing and fingers flexing as if searching for something to hold. She’s adorable when she’s sleepy. Ava had almost forgotten the lazy Sunday mornings they shared back when they were in hiding.
After having to get up at the ass crack of dawn for training most days, Ava had convinced Bea that Sundays were meant for rest. There had been some resistance at first but eventually, she gave in and that was when Ava learnt that Beatrice - despite how much she would deny the fact - loves to sleep in.
Letting Beatrice sleep for the moment, Ava grabs her sweatshirt from the floor and throws it on. She flicks on the floor lamp in the corner of the room and makes her way over to the kitchen area where she finds the ingredients for an easy dinner.
Just as she’s plating up the food, a groan echoes from across the room and she looks up to find a bleary eyed Beatrice staring back at her. God she’s so cute.
“Hey sleepyhead” she teases.
“Hi” Beatrice smiles lazily and gets up to throw on her t shirt before padding over to the kitchen. Arms circle her waist as she finishes pouring them each a glass of water and she turns to kiss the woman she loves. The kiss is brief but full of love and Ava sighs, content with how everything has turned out.
“So,” she starts as she takes the plates over to the table.
Beatrice follows with their waters and sits down opposite her.
“So…?” She questions with a shy smile on her face.
“I know this is a bit backwards, considering the events of the day and us confessing our love and all that” Ava throws a hand back nonchalantly.
She braces herself to ask the all important question. Beatrice’s hand moves across the table to lay on top of hers, thumb gently caressing the backs of her knuckles encouraging her to go on.
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
Beatrice visibly lights up and ducks her head as she bites her lip. It’s infuriatingly adorable.
“Yes, Ava. I’d love to be your girlfriend” she says softly.
“Phew!” Ava wipes her brow sarcastically, bringing a laugh out of Beatrice “that could’ve been awkward”
“Very awkward” Beatrice rolls her eyes lovingly.
“I was actually thinking” she continues, picking up her fork and digging into the pasta Ava put together “that you could move in here?”
Ava freezes, forkful of food halfway in her mouth. She doesn’t know why the question takes her back. Realistically, it shouldn’t come as a shock. They lived together before. But that was out of necessity, for their training and safety.
Now though, the threat of Adriel no longer lingers overhead, they’re safe. Beatrice is asking Ava to move in because she wants her to. And that, in itself, busts open Ava’s heart more than she thought it could.
Beatrice has always valued her privacy. Back in their old apartment she would keep all of her things separate and meticulously sort the laundry to ensure Ava’s clothes stayed in her drawer and her clothes would stay in her own drawer. Slowly, Ava managed to steal the odd sweater or pair of sleep shorts. Beatrice did eventually notice but she never said anything, just smiled and ducked her head away trying to hide it. Ava had kept those small victories close to her chest, not wanting to burst their bubble of ignorance. The first time she wore one of Bea’s sweaters, she breathed in the scent of her neckline like her life depended on it.
“Ava?”
She’s snapped back into the present by Beatrice’s hesitant question, giving her an imploring look. She clears her throat as she puts her fork down.
“Sorry, just got lost in my head for a moment there” she laughs nervously.
“You don’t have to say yes,” Bea hurries out, hands flexing on the table “I don’t want you to think you’re being forced into this. You probably want to get your own place and get used to normal life again, I can help you look for somewhere if you like? I’m sure Hans would love you have you back at the bar if you want to start work and-“
“Bea” Ava cuts of her rambling and grabs both of her hands across the table “of course I want to live with you”
“You do?”
“Yeah!” She laughs “I’d be stupid to give up the opportunity”
Beatrice visibly relaxes as she releases a long steadying breath “okay” she smiles “okay, good. I’m glad”
Ava gives her hands a squeeze before they go back to eating. By the time they finish their food, the sun has set and the only light in the apartment is coming from the lamp in the living room.
They settle back down on the couch and watch movies, cuddling into each other and letting time pass by without any fear that it’s running out.