Bini Imagines or AU's

Gwen Apuli

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The afternoon sun filtered through the large windows of their cozy dorm, casting a soft, golden glow across the small kitchen. It was peaceful, a moment of quiet calm in the usually chaotic world of college life. Athena sat cross-legged on the kitchen counter, her attention absorbed by a book, occasionally flipping a page as she lost herself in the story. The smell of fresh ingredients and sugar filled the air as her roommate and best friend, Gwen, stood by the oven, baking a fresh batch of cookies.

There was no need for words between them; the comfortable silence they shared spoke volumes. It had always been like this—just the two of them, content in one another's company. Athena loved it. She loved how she could sit here for hours, her book in hand, with Gwen moving around the kitchen, focused on her baking. The soft clinks of mixing bowls and trays were a soothing backdrop to Athena's reading.

Athena was so engrossed in her book that she didn't notice when Gwen finished placing the last batch of cookie dough on the tray. It wasn't until she heard the soft click of the oven door shutting that she glanced up. Gwen was wiping her hands with a towel, her face slightly flushed from the heat, looking effortlessly beautiful as always.

"Here," Gwen said with a small smile, walking over to Athena and holding out a spoon filled with leftover raw cookie dough.

Athena's eyes lit up at the sight of the sweet treat. She took the spoon from Gwen with a playful grin, sticking her tongue out to lick it clean. The rich, sugary taste melted in her mouth, and she hummed in satisfaction.

"You always make the best cookies," Athena said, her voice muffled by the spoon.

Gwen chuckled, her laughter soft and warm. "You say that every time, Ath."

"Well, it's true every time," Athena shot back, flashing Gwen a mischievous smile before setting her book down on the counter.

Gwen tossed the towel over her shoulder and leaned against the counter next to Athena, her gaze soft and affectionate. For a moment, neither of them said anything, just enjoying the quiet intimacy of the moment. Athena had always been comfortable around Gwen, but lately, things felt different. There was an undercurrent, something unspoken lingering between them, and today, it felt more palpable than ever.

Athena turned her head to look at Gwen, her heart skipping a beat when their eyes met. Gwen's face was inches away, her dark brown eyes sparkling with amusement. Without warning, Gwen reached out, dipping her finger into the leftover dough on the spoon. She smeared a little bit of it onto Athena's lips, grinning mischievously.

"There. Now you're part of the baking process," Gwen teased, stepping back with a playful smirk.

Athena blinked, taken off guard. For a moment, she just stared at Gwen, processing what had just happened. Then, slowly, she brought her hand up to her mouth, feeling the sticky dough on her lips. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she wiped it off, her eyes never leaving Gwen's.

Gwen's teasing expression softened when she noticed the intensity of Athena's gaze. Neither of them said a word as the air between them shifted, becoming heavier, more charged. The playful atmosphere that had filled the kitchen just moments ago was now replaced with something much deeper—an unspoken tension that neither of them could ignore any longer.

Athena swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. Gwen's eyes were locked on hers, and it was impossible to look away. The seconds ticked by slowly, the world outside of this moment fading into the background. It was just the two of them, standing in their small kitchen, yet it felt like everything had changed in an instant.

"Gwen..." Athena whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile moment they were caught in.

Gwen took a slow, steady breath, her eyes flicking down to Athena's lips and then back up again. "Athena..." she replied softly, her voice thick with something unspoken. She didn't move, didn't break eye contact. It was as if they were both waiting for the other to make the first move.

Athena felt her pulse quicken. She didn't know what she was supposed to do next. All she knew was that something between them had shifted. Something she couldn't take back. Her fingers twitched at her sides, her body frozen in place.

And then, before she could second-guess herself, Athena leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Gwen's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she met Athena halfway, her hand instinctively reaching out to rest on Athena's waist as their lips brushed together in the softest of kisses.

The moment their lips touched, it felt like the world stopped spinning. It was sweet, slow, and tentative, like neither of them wanted to rush this—like they'd both been waiting for this moment for a long time. Athena's heart raced in her chest, her mind going blank as she melted into the kiss, savoring the warmth of Gwen's lips against hers.

Gwen's fingers tightened slightly on Athena's waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened, becoming more certain, more intense. Athena's hand slipped up to cup Gwen's cheek, her thumb gently brushing her soft skin as she poured everything she couldn't say into the kiss. The taste of cookie dough lingered between them, adding a sweetness that made the moment even more perfect.

When they finally pulled back, both girls were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they tried to steady their breathing. Athena's heart was racing, her mind spinning, but all she could focus on was how close Gwen was—how she never wanted to let this moment end.

Gwen's hand remained on Athena's waist, her thumb rubbing small circles against her skin. She let out a soft, breathless laugh, shaking her head slightly as if she couldn't believe what had just happened.

"That was... unexpected," Gwen murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her breath warm against Athena's lips.

Athena chuckled, her fingers still resting gently on Gwen's cheek. "Yeah... but it was good, right?"

Gwen pulled back just enough to meet Athena's gaze, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, it was."

For a few moments, neither of them moved, both caught in the afterglow of their kiss. Athena's heart swelled with emotion as she realized what had just happened—that they had crossed a line, one they couldn't uncross. But in this moment, with Gwen so close, it felt right. It felt like everything was falling into place.

Gwen was the first to break the silence, her voice soft and tentative. "Does this... change things between us?"

Athena looked into Gwen's eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, but all she saw was the same affection and warmth she had always known. Only now, it was deeper. Stronger. Athena smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.

"Yeah," Athena whispered, her voice filled with certainty. "But I think that's a good thing."

Gwen's smile widened, relief flooding her features as she let out a soft, contented sigh. "Yeah. Me too."

Athena's fingers trailed down Gwen's arm, lacing their fingers together as they stood there in the kitchen, the smell of cookies still lingering in the air. Everything had changed between them in that single moment, but for the first time in a long time, Athena wasn't afraid of the change.

She was excited.

As they stood there, hand in hand, the warmth of their newfound connection filling the room, Athena realized that this was the beginning of something beautiful—something she had always wanted but never knew how to reach.

And now, with Gwen by her side, she couldn't wait to see where it would take them.