Actress/Character One-Shots (WLW)

Sensations - L. Miller

A/N: I'm not sure what content warnings to put on this because it stems from a personal experience that I don't really understand, so please, READ WITH CAUTION. Also, just to be clear, in this Tammy didn't have kids but was married before she joined the heist.

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Zahra was sat on the couch watching the rest of the women play poker around the coffee table, her head on Lou's shoulder. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, and the action drew everyone else's attention.

"You should go to bed if you're tired, Zar," Debbie said as she laid another card on the table. Zahra shook her head against the blonde's shoulder before tucking a strand of raven hair behind her ear while mumbling something about not being tired. She slid her hand down Lou's arm and linked their fingers.

"I can't hold my cards and play if you steal my hand, little love," she mused, kissing Zahra's forehead as a chuckle slipped past her lips. The young woman giggled.

"Too bad, baby, this hand is mine now. I'll hold your cards so you can lay 'em down."

The rest of the women chuckled at the black-haired woman's antics, as well as the way Lou immediately bent to her will. They all knew she had a huge soft spot for Zahra. As expected, the blonde handed her cards over to her girlfriend and continued playing as if there had been no interruption. The game ended soon after, and the group settled around the room as they chatted. No longer than ten minutes after they had all gotten comfortable, Lou felt the grip on her hand loosen. She looked down to see Zahra asleep on her lap with her head on her chest.

"'Not tired' my ass," Nine Ball joked, jerking her chin toward the sleeping woman. Tammy slapped her arm.

"Be nice. She's been working hard all week at university, and you know it; it's exam week for god's sake," she scolded as she gave the woman a glare. Nine Ball put her hands up in mock surrender before taking another sip of her beer.

"Thanks, Tam. I'm just gonna take her upstairs quick." Lou stood up with the sleeping woman in her arms and strode toward the stairs. She carried Zahra easily, closing the door gently with her foot when she made it into their shared bedroom. She laid her down and pulled the covers over her before brushing back her dark hair and kissing her forehead. "Sweet dreams, little love."

Lou shut the door behind her slowly, making sure no sound was made. She skipped down the stairs and flopped down on the couch with a content smile. All eight women resumed their conversations; they occasionally shushed one another when someone's voice grew too loud, in hopes of keeping their ninth member asleep.

Meanwhile upstairs, Zahra's eyes fluttered open lazily. She was confused at first why she woke up in bed when she last remembered being on the couch beside Lou but soon came to the realization that she must have fallen asleep. She chuckled thinking about how many times Lou had carried her sleeping form up those stairs. Moving to sit up, an uncomfortable sensation began taking over each of her limbs. It started in her neck and shoulders, spreading down to her arms, hands, and torso, before finally consuming her legs and feet.

"Not again," she mumbled, her neck straining as she tried to rid herself of the discomfort. It was as if her skin was buzzing and crawling, her body growing hot and feeling cold all at once. The feeling was overwhelming causing tears to spring to her now widened eyes. 

She took the heels of her hands and dug them into her outer thighs, instantly regretting the decision as her discomfort grew with the contact. Zahra kicked all of the blankets away, the fabric being too close for her liking, and moved so her back was flush with the headboard. It felt like her body was at war with itself, one part of her wishing for nothing to touch her skin, the other begging for compression and warmth. The frustration of it all sent tears racing down her cheeks. The raven-haired woman clenched and released her hands as the sensation only grew stronger.