Two of a Kind (Vance Hopper)

Chapter 20.

     Kitt was the first to wake up this time, slowly beginning to shuffle as she became more aware of her body. She let her eyes flutter open to take in her surroundings. She was laying down with Vance, his head was on her chest with her arms wrapped around his shoulders, holding him in place. Their legs were tangled, but not uncomfortably so. In fact, she was probably the most comfortable she had been in a long time. She moved a hand to his blonde curls and began to gently play with them as she let herself get lost in thought once more. She needed to talk or else she would explode, but what would she say? Would he stay after he listened? There were so many variables, but she was going to go crazy if she stayed quiet. 

     Woken up by the feeling of her fingers in his hair, Vance groaned and buried his face further into her chest before he realized what he was burying his face into. His face burned with embarrassment as he fought the smile off his face. He could have died and still have been happy. He opened his eyes and glanced up to meet her dark blue eyes, and he could have melted at the soft look in her eyes. He swallowed thickly and waited, taking in the moment between them. As much as he wanted this minute to continue, they needed to talk. He needed to understand what was going on in her head, even for just a moment to make sure she was okay. He didn't like the silence. He braced his forearms on either side of her body and sat up, so he was able to look at her and see her whole expression. 

     "What are you thinking? Where is Bottle Bitch, hm?" he asked her, his voice scratchy from just waking up. She bit her lip as she looked up at him, her mind racing with so many different things she could tell him, but which was the right way to answer? Which would be the best to say in this situation? She sighed softly, letting her hand drop from his hair as she decided her next few words carefully. 

     "You," she whispered softly, shocking him. His eyes widened at her honesty, but he stayed silent as he waited for her to continue. "I don't know how you did it, and I should hate you for it, but now I need you to stay. I was fine being by myself, I didn't need anyone else. Then here comes your dumbass, and now I'm scared to be alone," she finished, a weak smile gracing her lips as she watched him take in what she was saying. She couldn't say what she wanted to, not yet. It was way too soon, but she knew he could read between the lines. She watched his eyebrows unfurrow and his eyes light up at her words. She held her breath, waiting for his response as she watched multiple emotions cross his eyes. 

     He released a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding as he heard her confession. He knew what she was implying and to hear her say it out loud, to hear her admit it felt like he had been given a gift on Christmas. He gave her a shaky smile and shifted his weight onto one arm to lift his hand to caress her cheek gently. He took his time to soak in the look on her face, how vulnerable she looked. He knew the amount of trust she was putting in him and it made him feel weak. "I'm here though. I haven't left," he mumbled to her softly, trying not to push her too far. He didn't know how far he could push her before she snapped, and he wasn't trying to find out. Not now. This moment was just too fragile. 

     She knew his thoughts; she could see them on his face, and she fucking HATED it. 

     She moved her hand from his shoulder to cup his face gently, her thumb brushing across his cheek bone as she thought about what she was about to do. It would change a lot between them, and right now she had found her peace. Could she bring herself to change what they had and possibly disturb the peace she was just beginning to build? She pursed her lips as she debated, and Vance could see her thinking. He watched every small movement that she made, every twitch of her eyebrow. He thought she was stunning, even with the still fading bruises and the healing cuts on her face. He couldn't think of anyone more perfect than the redhead in front of him at that moment. He hated how absolutely pathetic this was, how absolutely whipped he was for the small girl below him, but he wouldn't change it.

     He craved it. He needed it like a drug at this point. The way she held his face as if he was fine China that would break if she dropped it. He felt cherished, in a way that he hadn't felt in years. It felt like home. He watched as she finally released her lips, a shaky breath leaving them. He couldn't stand it. It felt like he had been waiting on edge for hours at this point when in reality he had only been waiting for a couple of minutes at best. He hesitated for a moment longer before he pulled her closer, watching her every movement to make sure that this was okay as he continued. He paused just before their lips met, their breath mingling for a moment as he watched her eyes dart from his to his lips. He smiled softly before he pressed his lips against hers, and it was indescribable to him. 

     The kiss was simple and sweet, not lasting too long before he pulled away, yet it was still the best kiss he had ever had. Easily. He watched as a small smile broke across her face before she was pulling him in once more for another kiss, this one less shy and more meaningful to both of them. They had found their own home, even in the midst of the chaos, and they couldn't have been happier.