Wilde Card, page 29
Bolt had left the keys tucked into the visor. Natalia gave Tia a hand getting into the passenger's seat and then hauled herself up. It was close to 2 in the morning, and she looked tired enough to drop.
“Should I drive?” Tia offered, only half joking.
Natalia smirked and started the engine. “So you do have a secret wish to kill me.”
“I can drive perfectly, thank you very much.”
“Oh yeah?” She swung her head around. “Who taught you?”
Tia realised that admitting Adrian taught her in an abandoned car at the back of a field was not going to do her any favours. She shrugged mysteriously - or, well, she hoped it was mysteriously. Beneath their seats, the engine purred. The truck was a lot bigger when you were looking out of the windscreen, seeing your own distance from the ground.
“Who taught you?”
Talia pulled the truck out onto the road carefully. “Summer did.”
Ah, Summer. Tia hadn't heard the name in a few days, had been wondering when her luck would run out. At the mention of Summer, Tia thought of Natalia’s arm. Almost without thinking, she reached over and pressed her hand to the place where the wound had been. Talia’s arm stiffened underneath her fingertips. She pulled back.
“Sorry, I wanted to see if you had taken the dressing off. I didn't mean to hurt you.”
“You didn't.”
Tia felt an awkwardness then, one she didn't know how to tackle. So she opened her mouth and asked: “Have you heard from Summer since the Nail File Debacle then?”
The corner of Natalia’s mouth twitched. “No, not since the Nail File Debacle.”
“Well, what a relief for your body parts.”
She felt Natalia turn her head, to laugh at Tia or glare - she didn't know, she was looking pointedly out of the window. Sometimes, words just escape my mouth and I have no idea where they come from. A question had been niggling at her for ages - a lot of questions actually. She rarely had the opportunity to talk to Natalia like this, with honesty and camaraderie. She felt like she had to get all the answers out of her that she could whilst she could. She remembered the way they used to chat when they were in college - like they had on the floor of the truck - but now she could picture the secrets Talia had kept so easily from her, the barrier she hadn't even seen. Tia would prod and Natalia would give her a vague answer - or no answer at all - and she'd just accept it. In hindsight, she realised that she should have asked more questions. For Natalia’s sake.
“Did you love her?”
There. It was out. She expected an instant answer but Talia appeared to be thinking about it. Tia glanced out the window, noticing that they were driving through a remarkably grim area. When Natalia finally answered, her tone was contemplative. “No.”
“No?”
“No. I think.”
Tia’s brain stuttered. “Wait, hold up...you think?”
“I-” Natalia hesitated. “I don't know if I really know what love is. I mean, I have my own idea but...I’m not - So no, I didn't love Summer...I think.” Her voice was firm, as was her grip on the wheel. The topic had obviously annoyed her. Tia wasn't nearly as satisfied with the answer as she thought she might be.
“Everyone knows what love is.”
“I don't,” Natalia said simply. “I never knew my parents. All I had was Matthew and he wouldn't know love unless it came in the bottom of a bottle. Who was around to teach me?”
Tia certainly believed that; she had a cold manner with people that could only come from isolation. She hadn't had anyone around to show her love. Everything she was capable of, she'd had to teach herself. But to not know what love is?
“At your house…” Tia faltered. Was it smart to bring this up? “You said that I was the only person you ever loved…”
Talia’s jaw rippled and Tia blanched. She shouldn't have said it. But she hadn't been able to forget about it since the day Natalia grabbed her and shouted so blindly: “You're one of the only people I've ever loved.” It was so unlike Natalia - the unravelling of her composure, the panic in her voice - that Tia doubted she would forget it.
“It's a difficult subject for me. Not…you…not...caring about you...but-” Natalia sighed. “These kind of feelings.”
Tia hadn't noticed the truck coming to a stop. She wasn't sure how long they'd been sitting there. She was about to reply when a hungry face loomed in the darkness, making her jump. It was pale, sparse of hair, female from the looks of it. Big and bloodshot eyes met Tia’s. Beside her Talia chuckled, though it sounded forced - not like the easy laughs she had been sharing all night. “Looks like we're right on time.”
“You know, eventually we're going to have to sit down and have a real talk,” Tia said, shaking her head. She knew that meant that she would have to finally address what had happened in the council room...but she was also hoping Natalia would forget about that.
Her expression sobered and she replied, “I know.”
◆◆◆
They worked out a plan; Tia would hand out the packs from the back of the truck whilst Talia drove at a crawl through the area. Vaguely, Tia recognised where they were from her search for Madeline. She was sure the abandoned building was around here somewhere but she didn't mention it to Natalia. Together, they tied one of the truck doors to the side with a long, raggedy strap and they pushed the boxes closer to the front so she didn't have to run back and forth. It worked out that as they passed groups of the homeless, all she had to do was lean down with the packs and pass them over.
It was a sweat-inducing task. When she finally sat down, it was on the lip of the truck, legs dangling over the edge, enjoying the breeze through her hair. Talia, aware that she was close to the edge, drove slow enough that she couldn't go tumbling underneath the wheels. Occasionally, Natalia would shout through the small window between the cab and the back, to check up on her and she would shout back that she was okay, thank you. They cruised through at least three boroughs, passing packs to grateful hands and every time she heard their gratitude, she felt herself smiling wide. She was happy to do something selfless. She imagined this was how Jessie felt every time she helped someone at the hospital. She saw the brief alleviation of desperation in many eyes as they looked up at her and found themselves with supplies. One woman cried, taking the pack in swollen hands, blessing Tia under her breath. Another, sullen and young, asked her where Natalia was. Surprised, Tia told him Talia was just driving and that he would have to put up with her today. The boy snorted and took the pack but he was smiling slightly as he turned away.
In all the eyes she met, Tia was looking for Madeline. She hadn't given up hope that she would find her, as impossible as it appeared to be. It wasn't that she was trying to prove Andy’s journal wrong - she just needed to know that Madeline wasn't out there, that she was dragging Kal into all of this for good reason...that Andy hadn't died for nothing. She knew if she told Talia, she would shake her head and say that Tia was just being emotional. But she hadn't been there, hadn't seen the fear and the panic in that woman's eyes - the imposter - as she gripped her bruised stomach. Tia couldn't just forget it - she needed to know that she wasn't doing all of this based on coincidence.
Hours later, when her eyes grew tired and her limbs were heavy, Natalia pulled over into an abandoned parking lot. There was nothing around, just dirt and rats. She heard the driver’s door slam shut and a moment later Talia was pulling herself up beside Tia. Surprised, she only raised her eyebrows. Driving for hours on no sleep had also taken its toll on Natalia; her eyes were red and her hair a tangle. She looked how Tia felt: drained.
“Shouldn't we go home now?”
“In a bit,” Natalia yawned. “Let's take a break first.”
Behind them sat only one pack. They ripped open a packet of dry biscuits and shared the bottle of water. Tia took swigs and passed it along, relief sliding down her throat. She had done a lot of talking tonight, the homeless were incredibly chatty when they had some food in their bellies. It was nice to just sit, feeling the cool air, knowing she had just been through the most bizarre 24 hours of her life. They crunched on the biscuits, silently, watching oversized vermin race across the road. She wasn't sure when she fell asleep or even how, with her mouth full of food, but when Tia woke up hours later, her head was on Talia’s shoulder and she was out cold against the truck wall. Asleep, she was almost unrecognisable. Tia took a moment to look at her - really look at her - without the scowl, without the sarcasm. Her face was innocent when she slept, her mouth soft, hair falling into her face. Tia moved slightly, to get a better look and the packet rustled under her leg. Natalia stirred, mumbled and jolted awake. The first thing she saw was her, bleary eyed and amused.
Above them, they saw the horizon was beginning to lighten as daylight closed in.
“Shit,” Natalia groaned, passing a hand over her face. “We need to hide this thing.”
Her voice was thick with fatigue and her face weary. Tia held her hand out. “I’ll drive.”
She knew Natalia was half asleep and drifting back off because she gave Tia the keys without hesitation. She grinned, leaped down and waited for Natalia to slide to the ground beside her so she could secure the doors. Natalia wasn't much help but Tia didn't mind, she was invigorated by the idea of driving the truck. In the cab, she started up the engine and almost purred at the vibration of a 12-wheeler beneath her feet. Talia had curled up on the seat in a way Tia hadn't thought was possible for someone of her length. She looked like an overgrown cat.
She propped open one eye and croaked, “Find a forest. Anywhere with trees.”
“Aye aye Cap’n,” Tia grinned, suddenly wide awake.
She had a vague idea of where they were and used her instincts to steer the truck into a small patch of woodland that had been left to grow naturally. They were covered from all sides by the overgrown greenery. She shook Natalia awake and watched her stretch before glancing around. She seemed to approve of Tia’s choice of hideaway.
“What now?” Tia asked, locking the truck and pocketing the keys.
“We walk.”
She had expected so. They grabbed the last of the water and biscuits and shared what was left between themselves as they walked.
◆◆◆
It was only when they neared the tunnels when Tia realised that her phone had died. She looked at the dark screen with a sinking heart. Jessie was going to kill her.
“I need to get home, fast,” she groaned.
“It's going to have to wait,” Natalia replied, not unkindly. “I can't let you go home in that gear.”
She looked down at herself and swore. She had completely forgotten about the gear until now. She stretched out her arm and observed the bandage wrapped around her finger. She was filthy. She looked sideways and saw that Natalia too, was covered in grime. Her knees were especially dirty, caked in mud from when she had knocked the guard out. When Tia closed her hands, the blood and dirt cracked and shifted in the lines of her palm.
“I would love a hot bath,” she murmured wistfully.
Talia laughed. “Your wish is my command.”
When they finally did get into the tunnels, people gave them sidelong looks as they passed, muttering about the state of them, the fact that they'd been out all night. They didn't see anyone from the night before, who were all undoubtedly asleep. Tia was dragging her feet, she was so tired. She could almost forget that Jessie would be spitting fire about coming home to an empty house. She followed Talia to a much quieter corridor and into a room at the very end. Unlike all the rest of the rooms, this one had a lock - the Rebellion didn't believe in closed doors or secrets amongst friends. Talia used her small bunch of keys and gestured for Tia to go ahead.
It led to a small space carved out in the rock. She had to bend her head slightly to walk through. She heard Natalia lock the door behind them. There was a faint rushing noise and the ring of boots against the ground as Natalia followed her. They walked for maybe a minute when the dark, narrow hallway widened and she found herself standing in an open space.
“Oh, my God.”
Before her was a large, clear, underground bath. Like something out of the books she used to like about the ancient Romans; it was roughly made and not too deep, not like a swimming pool. There was only one way to enter it, and that was from where they were standing. Along the walls were two thin strips of light, just big enough to illuminate the water and the uneven steps. From what she could see, the water was a constant flow, coming from a pipe in the back wall and draining into somewhere she couldn't identify. She could feel the water calling to her, to the blood on her hands, to the sweat along her spine, to the aches in her thighs. Quick as anything, she stripped off the gear. She forgot about anything else, pulling off her vest and flinging her trousers into the far corner. Talia barely had any time to react by the time Tia had darted into the pool, bare except for her underwear. Natalia made a noise in the back of her throat.
The water was warm - just about - but to her aching bones it felt like heaven. She couldn't help a low moan at the sensation of the water against her skin. Standing, the water came up to her hips, just covering her underwear and up to her collarbones when she sat down. The ground underneath her was smooth, worn away by the water over the years but not too slippery. She looked up and saw Talia standing by the edge, looking thoughtfully at her.
“Are you coming in or not?”
She ducked her head, almost shyly. “Do you mind?”
“I never thought I’d see the day when Natalia Archer asked for permission.”
She scowled. “Don't push it, Wildehurst.”
Tia laughed lightly, trying to ignore the pleasant buzz she felt hearing Talia call her that. Talia gestured at the pile of clothes. “I just didn’t want to intrude.”
“It's underwear, Talia. Nothing you haven't seen before.”
Talia looked away again, quickly, like she had something to hide. And then just as quickly, she began to strip. Tia was glad Talia had her back to her, so she could really watch the way her shoulder blades shifted when she moved and the way her scars looked in the lighting. Talia didn't kick off her trousers like Tia had, instead stopping to fold them even though they were dirty. When she descended the steps and stood closer to the light, the water was lapping at the sharp indents in her hips. In just her underwear, her thighs were magnificent. Tia was glad the light was dim enough that she couldn't see the colouring in her face.
Talia really was perfect.
“This feels amazing,” she groaned, sinking into the pool.
“Why didn't I know about this place?”
Talia leaned back against the wall. “It's locked for a reason. Some kids had an accident a few years ago, before we were even born, and one of them nearly died. He was under for so long that he slipped into a coma. Barely anyone knows about it now and no one has access to it except, of course, leaders.”
“That's crazy,” Tia widened her eyes. “This would be amazing for everyone to relax in after a raid.”
“You really want to float around in all that dirt and hormones?”
Tia flicked water at her. “I'm doing it right now, aren't I?”
Talia chuckled and they fell into silence. Tia could not imagine that she would be able to go back to life before this pool. Luxuriously, she began to scrub at her skin. The dirt immediately began to charge down towards a circular drain at the far end of the pool.
“Sophisticated, this system, for a tunnel pool.”
“Not really, when you consider that these tunnels were initially designed by rich men, scared of nuclear warfare.”
“I, for one, am glad that they were scared. Without this, I think I would have collapsed on my way home.”
“When was the last time you slept?” Talia asked. “Before the truck?”
Tia had to think about it. “Over 24 hours ago.” The trip with Kal seemed like a million years away. She watched as her fingernails glistened under the water, nice and clean.
“Me too,” Talia yawned.
She suddenly ducked her head under the water and flung it back, so that water cascaded behind her. She really needs a haircut. With her hair pasted to her head like an oil slick, she looked older and much more serious. Drops of water ran down her face, over her neck and down her chest. Tia tried to look away but she was so tired that her brain wasn't listening anymore. She needed to distract herself, that was the problem. She decided to take a leaf out of Talia’s book. She stood and tried to pull her hair free but found that it was knotted and tangled. Frustrated, she yanked on it so hard that she slipped and fell onto her behind. Water leaped into her mouth and she spluttered.
“Ouch.”
Talia approached her, hand out. “Are you okay?”
She looked up and laughed. Talia looked so worried, bless her. “I'm fine. Just can't unknot my hair. My hands are like jelly.” They were swollen from her day's activities, her arms basically two giant pulses. She reached for her braid again, and Talia stopped her by placing her hand over it.
“Here, let me.”
Tia didn't even hesitate to give her the space she needed. Tia closed her eyes as Talia got into place behind her, taking her braid in gentle hands. It almost felt like Talia wasn't touching her at all, it was so light. Her hair sifted through Talia’s fingers like water and she untangled the strands with a quiet deftness. Then her hands were rubbing slow circles into Tia’s scalp and she thought she would fall apart right there in the water.
“Oh, my God,” she murmured. “Talia...”
Talia laughed behind her. “Am I doing this right?”
“Yes.”
She began to alternate the circles, running her fingers through Tia’s hair, dragging her hands from the base of Tia’s skull to the top. “I wanted to say thank you for last night. For everything, really.”
“You don't have to-”
“I want to. You always did look after me, despite what I've said to you in the past.”
Tia opened her eyes, because if she didn't she would fall asleep right there in the water against Talia’s chest. She didn’t want to drown. She looked back and met Talia’s amused gaze. Her hands stilled in Tia’s hair. She knew that it was heavy with water, lying flat against her back, reaching the middle of her spine. Talia stroked a strand away from Tia’s face but her gaze was far away.
“Should I drive?” Tia offered, only half joking.
Natalia smirked and started the engine. “So you do have a secret wish to kill me.”
“I can drive perfectly, thank you very much.”
“Oh yeah?” She swung her head around. “Who taught you?”
Tia realised that admitting Adrian taught her in an abandoned car at the back of a field was not going to do her any favours. She shrugged mysteriously - or, well, she hoped it was mysteriously. Beneath their seats, the engine purred. The truck was a lot bigger when you were looking out of the windscreen, seeing your own distance from the ground.
“Who taught you?”
Talia pulled the truck out onto the road carefully. “Summer did.”
Ah, Summer. Tia hadn't heard the name in a few days, had been wondering when her luck would run out. At the mention of Summer, Tia thought of Natalia’s arm. Almost without thinking, she reached over and pressed her hand to the place where the wound had been. Talia’s arm stiffened underneath her fingertips. She pulled back.
“Sorry, I wanted to see if you had taken the dressing off. I didn't mean to hurt you.”
“You didn't.”
Tia felt an awkwardness then, one she didn't know how to tackle. So she opened her mouth and asked: “Have you heard from Summer since the Nail File Debacle then?”
The corner of Natalia’s mouth twitched. “No, not since the Nail File Debacle.”
“Well, what a relief for your body parts.”
She felt Natalia turn her head, to laugh at Tia or glare - she didn't know, she was looking pointedly out of the window. Sometimes, words just escape my mouth and I have no idea where they come from. A question had been niggling at her for ages - a lot of questions actually. She rarely had the opportunity to talk to Natalia like this, with honesty and camaraderie. She felt like she had to get all the answers out of her that she could whilst she could. She remembered the way they used to chat when they were in college - like they had on the floor of the truck - but now she could picture the secrets Talia had kept so easily from her, the barrier she hadn't even seen. Tia would prod and Natalia would give her a vague answer - or no answer at all - and she'd just accept it. In hindsight, she realised that she should have asked more questions. For Natalia’s sake.
“Did you love her?”
There. It was out. She expected an instant answer but Talia appeared to be thinking about it. Tia glanced out the window, noticing that they were driving through a remarkably grim area. When Natalia finally answered, her tone was contemplative. “No.”
“No?”
“No. I think.”
Tia’s brain stuttered. “Wait, hold up...you think?”
“I-” Natalia hesitated. “I don't know if I really know what love is. I mean, I have my own idea but...I’m not - So no, I didn't love Summer...I think.” Her voice was firm, as was her grip on the wheel. The topic had obviously annoyed her. Tia wasn't nearly as satisfied with the answer as she thought she might be.
“Everyone knows what love is.”
“I don't,” Natalia said simply. “I never knew my parents. All I had was Matthew and he wouldn't know love unless it came in the bottom of a bottle. Who was around to teach me?”
Tia certainly believed that; she had a cold manner with people that could only come from isolation. She hadn't had anyone around to show her love. Everything she was capable of, she'd had to teach herself. But to not know what love is?
“At your house…” Tia faltered. Was it smart to bring this up? “You said that I was the only person you ever loved…”
Talia’s jaw rippled and Tia blanched. She shouldn't have said it. But she hadn't been able to forget about it since the day Natalia grabbed her and shouted so blindly: “You're one of the only people I've ever loved.” It was so unlike Natalia - the unravelling of her composure, the panic in her voice - that Tia doubted she would forget it.
“It's a difficult subject for me. Not…you…not...caring about you...but-” Natalia sighed. “These kind of feelings.”
Tia hadn't noticed the truck coming to a stop. She wasn't sure how long they'd been sitting there. She was about to reply when a hungry face loomed in the darkness, making her jump. It was pale, sparse of hair, female from the looks of it. Big and bloodshot eyes met Tia’s. Beside her Talia chuckled, though it sounded forced - not like the easy laughs she had been sharing all night. “Looks like we're right on time.”
“You know, eventually we're going to have to sit down and have a real talk,” Tia said, shaking her head. She knew that meant that she would have to finally address what had happened in the council room...but she was also hoping Natalia would forget about that.
Her expression sobered and she replied, “I know.”
◆◆◆
They worked out a plan; Tia would hand out the packs from the back of the truck whilst Talia drove at a crawl through the area. Vaguely, Tia recognised where they were from her search for Madeline. She was sure the abandoned building was around here somewhere but she didn't mention it to Natalia. Together, they tied one of the truck doors to the side with a long, raggedy strap and they pushed the boxes closer to the front so she didn't have to run back and forth. It worked out that as they passed groups of the homeless, all she had to do was lean down with the packs and pass them over.
It was a sweat-inducing task. When she finally sat down, it was on the lip of the truck, legs dangling over the edge, enjoying the breeze through her hair. Talia, aware that she was close to the edge, drove slow enough that she couldn't go tumbling underneath the wheels. Occasionally, Natalia would shout through the small window between the cab and the back, to check up on her and she would shout back that she was okay, thank you. They cruised through at least three boroughs, passing packs to grateful hands and every time she heard their gratitude, she felt herself smiling wide. She was happy to do something selfless. She imagined this was how Jessie felt every time she helped someone at the hospital. She saw the brief alleviation of desperation in many eyes as they looked up at her and found themselves with supplies. One woman cried, taking the pack in swollen hands, blessing Tia under her breath. Another, sullen and young, asked her where Natalia was. Surprised, Tia told him Talia was just driving and that he would have to put up with her today. The boy snorted and took the pack but he was smiling slightly as he turned away.
In all the eyes she met, Tia was looking for Madeline. She hadn't given up hope that she would find her, as impossible as it appeared to be. It wasn't that she was trying to prove Andy’s journal wrong - she just needed to know that Madeline wasn't out there, that she was dragging Kal into all of this for good reason...that Andy hadn't died for nothing. She knew if she told Talia, she would shake her head and say that Tia was just being emotional. But she hadn't been there, hadn't seen the fear and the panic in that woman's eyes - the imposter - as she gripped her bruised stomach. Tia couldn't just forget it - she needed to know that she wasn't doing all of this based on coincidence.
Hours later, when her eyes grew tired and her limbs were heavy, Natalia pulled over into an abandoned parking lot. There was nothing around, just dirt and rats. She heard the driver’s door slam shut and a moment later Talia was pulling herself up beside Tia. Surprised, she only raised her eyebrows. Driving for hours on no sleep had also taken its toll on Natalia; her eyes were red and her hair a tangle. She looked how Tia felt: drained.
“Shouldn't we go home now?”
“In a bit,” Natalia yawned. “Let's take a break first.”
Behind them sat only one pack. They ripped open a packet of dry biscuits and shared the bottle of water. Tia took swigs and passed it along, relief sliding down her throat. She had done a lot of talking tonight, the homeless were incredibly chatty when they had some food in their bellies. It was nice to just sit, feeling the cool air, knowing she had just been through the most bizarre 24 hours of her life. They crunched on the biscuits, silently, watching oversized vermin race across the road. She wasn't sure when she fell asleep or even how, with her mouth full of food, but when Tia woke up hours later, her head was on Talia’s shoulder and she was out cold against the truck wall. Asleep, she was almost unrecognisable. Tia took a moment to look at her - really look at her - without the scowl, without the sarcasm. Her face was innocent when she slept, her mouth soft, hair falling into her face. Tia moved slightly, to get a better look and the packet rustled under her leg. Natalia stirred, mumbled and jolted awake. The first thing she saw was her, bleary eyed and amused.
Above them, they saw the horizon was beginning to lighten as daylight closed in.
“Shit,” Natalia groaned, passing a hand over her face. “We need to hide this thing.”
Her voice was thick with fatigue and her face weary. Tia held her hand out. “I’ll drive.”
She knew Natalia was half asleep and drifting back off because she gave Tia the keys without hesitation. She grinned, leaped down and waited for Natalia to slide to the ground beside her so she could secure the doors. Natalia wasn't much help but Tia didn't mind, she was invigorated by the idea of driving the truck. In the cab, she started up the engine and almost purred at the vibration of a 12-wheeler beneath her feet. Talia had curled up on the seat in a way Tia hadn't thought was possible for someone of her length. She looked like an overgrown cat.
She propped open one eye and croaked, “Find a forest. Anywhere with trees.”
“Aye aye Cap’n,” Tia grinned, suddenly wide awake.
She had a vague idea of where they were and used her instincts to steer the truck into a small patch of woodland that had been left to grow naturally. They were covered from all sides by the overgrown greenery. She shook Natalia awake and watched her stretch before glancing around. She seemed to approve of Tia’s choice of hideaway.
“What now?” Tia asked, locking the truck and pocketing the keys.
“We walk.”
She had expected so. They grabbed the last of the water and biscuits and shared what was left between themselves as they walked.
◆◆◆
It was only when they neared the tunnels when Tia realised that her phone had died. She looked at the dark screen with a sinking heart. Jessie was going to kill her.
“I need to get home, fast,” she groaned.
“It's going to have to wait,” Natalia replied, not unkindly. “I can't let you go home in that gear.”
She looked down at herself and swore. She had completely forgotten about the gear until now. She stretched out her arm and observed the bandage wrapped around her finger. She was filthy. She looked sideways and saw that Natalia too, was covered in grime. Her knees were especially dirty, caked in mud from when she had knocked the guard out. When Tia closed her hands, the blood and dirt cracked and shifted in the lines of her palm.
“I would love a hot bath,” she murmured wistfully.
Talia laughed. “Your wish is my command.”
When they finally did get into the tunnels, people gave them sidelong looks as they passed, muttering about the state of them, the fact that they'd been out all night. They didn't see anyone from the night before, who were all undoubtedly asleep. Tia was dragging her feet, she was so tired. She could almost forget that Jessie would be spitting fire about coming home to an empty house. She followed Talia to a much quieter corridor and into a room at the very end. Unlike all the rest of the rooms, this one had a lock - the Rebellion didn't believe in closed doors or secrets amongst friends. Talia used her small bunch of keys and gestured for Tia to go ahead.
It led to a small space carved out in the rock. She had to bend her head slightly to walk through. She heard Natalia lock the door behind them. There was a faint rushing noise and the ring of boots against the ground as Natalia followed her. They walked for maybe a minute when the dark, narrow hallway widened and she found herself standing in an open space.
“Oh, my God.”
Before her was a large, clear, underground bath. Like something out of the books she used to like about the ancient Romans; it was roughly made and not too deep, not like a swimming pool. There was only one way to enter it, and that was from where they were standing. Along the walls were two thin strips of light, just big enough to illuminate the water and the uneven steps. From what she could see, the water was a constant flow, coming from a pipe in the back wall and draining into somewhere she couldn't identify. She could feel the water calling to her, to the blood on her hands, to the sweat along her spine, to the aches in her thighs. Quick as anything, she stripped off the gear. She forgot about anything else, pulling off her vest and flinging her trousers into the far corner. Talia barely had any time to react by the time Tia had darted into the pool, bare except for her underwear. Natalia made a noise in the back of her throat.
The water was warm - just about - but to her aching bones it felt like heaven. She couldn't help a low moan at the sensation of the water against her skin. Standing, the water came up to her hips, just covering her underwear and up to her collarbones when she sat down. The ground underneath her was smooth, worn away by the water over the years but not too slippery. She looked up and saw Talia standing by the edge, looking thoughtfully at her.
“Are you coming in or not?”
She ducked her head, almost shyly. “Do you mind?”
“I never thought I’d see the day when Natalia Archer asked for permission.”
She scowled. “Don't push it, Wildehurst.”
Tia laughed lightly, trying to ignore the pleasant buzz she felt hearing Talia call her that. Talia gestured at the pile of clothes. “I just didn’t want to intrude.”
“It's underwear, Talia. Nothing you haven't seen before.”
Talia looked away again, quickly, like she had something to hide. And then just as quickly, she began to strip. Tia was glad Talia had her back to her, so she could really watch the way her shoulder blades shifted when she moved and the way her scars looked in the lighting. Talia didn't kick off her trousers like Tia had, instead stopping to fold them even though they were dirty. When she descended the steps and stood closer to the light, the water was lapping at the sharp indents in her hips. In just her underwear, her thighs were magnificent. Tia was glad the light was dim enough that she couldn't see the colouring in her face.
Talia really was perfect.
“This feels amazing,” she groaned, sinking into the pool.
“Why didn't I know about this place?”
Talia leaned back against the wall. “It's locked for a reason. Some kids had an accident a few years ago, before we were even born, and one of them nearly died. He was under for so long that he slipped into a coma. Barely anyone knows about it now and no one has access to it except, of course, leaders.”
“That's crazy,” Tia widened her eyes. “This would be amazing for everyone to relax in after a raid.”
“You really want to float around in all that dirt and hormones?”
Tia flicked water at her. “I'm doing it right now, aren't I?”
Talia chuckled and they fell into silence. Tia could not imagine that she would be able to go back to life before this pool. Luxuriously, she began to scrub at her skin. The dirt immediately began to charge down towards a circular drain at the far end of the pool.
“Sophisticated, this system, for a tunnel pool.”
“Not really, when you consider that these tunnels were initially designed by rich men, scared of nuclear warfare.”
“I, for one, am glad that they were scared. Without this, I think I would have collapsed on my way home.”
“When was the last time you slept?” Talia asked. “Before the truck?”
Tia had to think about it. “Over 24 hours ago.” The trip with Kal seemed like a million years away. She watched as her fingernails glistened under the water, nice and clean.
“Me too,” Talia yawned.
She suddenly ducked her head under the water and flung it back, so that water cascaded behind her. She really needs a haircut. With her hair pasted to her head like an oil slick, she looked older and much more serious. Drops of water ran down her face, over her neck and down her chest. Tia tried to look away but she was so tired that her brain wasn't listening anymore. She needed to distract herself, that was the problem. She decided to take a leaf out of Talia’s book. She stood and tried to pull her hair free but found that it was knotted and tangled. Frustrated, she yanked on it so hard that she slipped and fell onto her behind. Water leaped into her mouth and she spluttered.
“Ouch.”
Talia approached her, hand out. “Are you okay?”
She looked up and laughed. Talia looked so worried, bless her. “I'm fine. Just can't unknot my hair. My hands are like jelly.” They were swollen from her day's activities, her arms basically two giant pulses. She reached for her braid again, and Talia stopped her by placing her hand over it.
“Here, let me.”
Tia didn't even hesitate to give her the space she needed. Tia closed her eyes as Talia got into place behind her, taking her braid in gentle hands. It almost felt like Talia wasn't touching her at all, it was so light. Her hair sifted through Talia’s fingers like water and she untangled the strands with a quiet deftness. Then her hands were rubbing slow circles into Tia’s scalp and she thought she would fall apart right there in the water.
“Oh, my God,” she murmured. “Talia...”
Talia laughed behind her. “Am I doing this right?”
“Yes.”
She began to alternate the circles, running her fingers through Tia’s hair, dragging her hands from the base of Tia’s skull to the top. “I wanted to say thank you for last night. For everything, really.”
“You don't have to-”
“I want to. You always did look after me, despite what I've said to you in the past.”
Tia opened her eyes, because if she didn't she would fall asleep right there in the water against Talia’s chest. She didn’t want to drown. She looked back and met Talia’s amused gaze. Her hands stilled in Tia’s hair. She knew that it was heavy with water, lying flat against her back, reaching the middle of her spine. Talia stroked a strand away from Tia’s face but her gaze was far away.
