Romani Noor is an aspiring chemist- well, possible ex-chemist, after she can no longer afford the rise in her university tuition fees.
Her best friend and sister, Juno, is living across the country with her wife, sending Romani occasional cheques t...
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If I hate Romani, why the fuck do I do all this shit to keep her close?
She's sat on the floor with Darin, giving her loving pets and kisses as she admires the collar I picked up for her today. There was a matching leash sat on the kitchen counter.
Yes, they may be stolen but – well, my money was used for other necessities...
"Darin." She coos lovingly at the dog, and it's all I can do to not smile down at my book as she butchers the Japanese pronunciation.
It was cute how she says it, with a European accent to the words.
ダーリン, Darin. It was the Japanese word for darling, though Romani doesn't know that as she smiles at the dog.
I told her this morning I preferred darling over baby; she was warned.
My eyes glide back down to my book, but I find myself reading the same sentence over and over again. I just couldn't concentrate...
My eyes glide back over to Romani, but this time Darin comes running over to me.
"Baby!" Romani calls after her to get her attention and I look to Romani, raising a brow. She notices her mistake and fumbles, "Darin." She tries to say again, and this time I can't stop the small smirk at her pronunciation.
Romani frowns at me deeply, crossing her arms over her chest in a show of cute frustration, "What are you smirking at me for? It's not my fault you picked such a weird name to pronounce." She grumbles, and I pet Darin as she comes up to nuzzle my hand.
"It's Japanese." Is all I offer in a rumble, but out of the peripheral vision of my eyes I can see Romani perk up slightly.
"What does it mean?" She asks, voice sounding much more interested. I don't spare her a glance nor reply. Romani doesn't take well to this, huffing again like a little brat, "Well no wonder I can't pronounce it. It'll have to be baby for now." She says defiantly.
I chuckle subtly at how close the literal translation was anyways. I didn't care what the dog was called – but calling her Darin gave me unlimited opportunities to inadvertently call Romani darling all I wanted.
And best of all, it wouldn't rouse suspicion in River and Valentine.
At least I don't think it will.
The room settles into a silence, the dog still at my feet as I try rereading the same paragraph again for the fifteenth time.
Romani doesn't move from where she's sat on the floor, but I can feel her critical gaze on me as she tilts her head.
"So you fight, huh?" She says all of a sudden, and I snap my eyes to her.
She doesn't seem fazed by my startled reaction, and I mentally curse River for blabbing his fat mouth.
