Work Text:
Her heart pounds in tandem with Cyprin's as they hold her in their arms, tight and secure. The ladder shakes from the force of her fall- and Cyprin's desperate bid to catch her, but stays upright, as if to say that it was her fault she fell.
And it was- her foot missed the step on her way back down, and she thought for sure she'd wind up with the wind knocked out of her, and a concussion to boot. Maybe even something broken, if she landed wrong. But despite her mistake, and her split-second certainty that she was about to face the consequences of too-little sleep and a long work day, Cyprin was there to save her.
They must have called out for her when she fell, too, because she could hear the distinct sound of fear in their voice. Afraid that they wouldn't make it in time, or that she would get too hurt to help them with the case.
Or maybe, just maybe-
"Em?" The blood pounds in her ears, drowning their voice out, and she screws her eyes shut. "Emily, are you alright?"
When she opens them again, she looks up into Cyprin's face, worry etched into every divine feature. Their brows are drawn together, and their eyes swim with emotion so strong she has look away, down to their lips pulling a tight frown. They're moving, she realizes- talking to her.
She starts in their arms, and blinks a few times as her situation comes back to her. Cheeks growing red, she shakes her head, shooing off the rest of her daze.
"Emily?"
"I'm- fine," she finally manages, feeling more embarrassed the longer they hold her. Not that she wants them to stop.
"Are you sure? You didn't hit anything on the way down, did you? Nothing twisted?"
"No, I- I think I'm okay." She pauses, fighting back her blush and working up the strength to look them in the eye again. The worry is still there, but less, now that she's responded. She beams at them. "Thanks to you."
It's their turn to avoid her gaze, as their own cheeks- and the very tips of their ears- turn pink. They shift from foot to foot, jostling her lightly as they do it, and clear their throat. A nervous laugh leaves them when they still again.
"I just wanted you to be okay."
Something hangs in the air between them, something more than the tense silence. It becomes clear what it is the longer she feels their heat pressed against her, in every single spot of her that touches them. And just as it becomes clear to her, it becomes clear that it can't happen. She turns into them, lips pressed against the stark white of their button-down as her arms come around their shoulders, and she shifts there in their arms, like she's about to leave and climb out of them. Instead, though, her lipstick catches on the fabric on their shirt, staining it with light pink.
She pauses, wincing, and opens her mouth to apologize when she looks up, and catches Cyprin watching her again. The worry is gone, replaced by heat- and something more. For a moment, she would almost say they look enraptured by her. It's enough to wipe the apology from her tongue.
Her words are gone just in time for Cyprin... Alex?... to tilt their head down towards her. And if she used her hold on them to push herself up, just so...
Their lips brush, sparks erupting between the two of them in a rush. Somehow, she's the one to take the initiative, pressing into them further and solidifying their kiss into something that can't be written off as an accident. It's certainly not one, although she might think it a mistake later. They might, too. But for a brief moment, they relax into her, giving her the safety and the pleasure of their company.
And when a hand slides up the back of their neck to find purchase in their hair, sparks light up again, warm and bright and... real?
Bright flashes break into her vision, and she wonders if maybe she really did hit fall to the floor and hit her head. But no- when she opens her eyes fully, she sees them: silver sparks zipping over Alex's skin, and hers. Their aura is warm and fast, almost tickling her as it passes over them both.
Too soon, she breaks away from them, breathless for a reason entirely not entirely unrelated to falling. There's a question in their gaze for all of a second before they catch on to why, and they promptly cut their aura off.
"...Sorry," they murmur, voice too rough for what they'd just been doing. They swallow, and then move to set her down. Not acknowledging what happened- the aura or the kiss- they ask one last time, "Are you sure you're okay?"
She's a little light-headed. And dizzy. And she could stand to catch her breath for a bit. Not really okay at all, in that sense.
"Yes," she says anyways. It's not a complete lie. "I'm okay."
They nod, decisive, then take a step back.
"I think that's enough cameras; you can head back to the office, I'll-" they glance down to their shirt, and the pink painted on it- "stick around to make sure they work before heading up."
"...Right." She waits a moment longer, wondering if they'll say or do anything more. When they don't, though, she nods their way and straightens up, combing her hair back into place with her fingers. "I'll see you up there."