Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Duck! Shut up. No one knows." Aubrey glares down from her spot on the tall metal lifeguard chair. She's only up here because it's her assigned slot. It's pure coincidence that her slot is the one watching the pool that Dani's class is in and that her break happens to coincide with the end of said class.

"Then how'd I know?" He grins right back up at her, she can tell he's enjoying this, but she's absolutely not going to fall for it. Duck's smarter than people give him credit for and he absolutely uses that to his advantage.

"How'd you know what?" Aubrey raises her chin defiantly and refocuses on the pool, afterall, she was here for the safety of their swimmers. She was a professional.

"That you've got a massive crush on…" Duck cuts himself off, spluttering as the contents of Aubrey's upended waterbottle connects with his smug face.

"Oops." She should probably feel guilty, but Duck was tough, he'd experienced worse than a bit of water in his time and it was the first thing she could think of to make him stop.

To her relief, Duck doesn't look angry once he's shaken the water off himself. "Okay, okay." He raises his hands in defeat. "Anyway, I gotta get back to my spot." Phew, she was safe. "Enjoy watching Dani's class." He adds extra emphasis to Dani's name, so much, in fact, that Dani looks round.

Aubrey debates jumping off the chair and running for the hills, but the lifeguard shirt, by it's very nature, makes her highly visible. Maybe if she just plays it cool... "I will Duck, because it's my job to watch and make sure everyone stays safe."

There. Nailed it. The fact she could feel her face flushed with heat and no doubt her cheeks would be darkened with embarrassment.

Duck snorts a laugh and throws out a quick "whatever you say, Aubrey." As he ambles away.

Urgh. She needed her friends to stop harassing her about this. So what if she might possibly have the teensiest crush on Dani. It's fine. It's manageable. Dani doesn't have to know, nothing has to be ruined. Aubrey won't scare off the best instructor they've ever had, the seniors of Kepler Leisure Complex would never forgive her.

Aubrey glances around the pool again, checking for anything untoward. It's pretty quiet this morning, just a few quiet lap swimmers in the far pool. A large chunk of this section is closed off for Dani's class although they hadn't arrived yet, judging by the noise from the changing rooms, the participants were nearly ready and chaos was about to descend.

"Hey Aubrey." Dani grins up at her.

Aubrey doesn't mean to squeak instead of replying, but she also wasn't expecting to look down and see Dani, toned arms, pale skin despite being out in the sun all day. Shw looks so painfully hot and Aubrey wishes, not for the first time, that she was brave enough to say that.

Aubrey little was brave in many directions, she left home as a teenager - getting by however she could until she found the path she had carved to lead her here; she could shout up for other people's rights, she'd fought with some absolute horrors for Mama at Amnesty; she tried new foods and spoke to strangers. What she can't do though, was tell Dani she desperately wanted to date her right now immediately yesterday actually.

Dani laughs, Aubrey loves that sound, she wishes she was lucky enough to hear it every day. "Sorry, didn't mean to spook you."

"It's okay. It's good actually. Means you know I'm really paying attention to the pool. No drownings on my watch." Aubrey salutes.

"Thanks Aubrey, good to know you're on the job." Dani smiles in the way Aubrey can never quite parse. It could be flirting, but that's probably just wishful thinking... "It's nice to know you're keeping an eye on me."

Aubrey laughs at the joking implication, tries to breathe in, promptly chokes on her own spit, and hopes there's at least a slight chance Dani might, one day, forget thisbhappened.

"Anyway, I'll leave you to it. Looks like my seniors have started arriving." Dani waves over her shoulder as she heads back to the far side of the pool, Aubrey lets her eyes trace the vine tattoos winding up Dani's legs. She's long given up trying to stop herself admiring everything about Dani.

Dani glances over her shoulder, winks, and continues on her way.

Did she mean to do that?

Aubrey sinks down into her chair and inch as the seniors gathering at the side of the pool start whispering.

They're definitely looking her way.

"Dani?" Muriel shouts, flowery pink swim cap marking her out in the group. Muriel was, according to older residents, already incapable of speaking at a lower volume before her hearing had started to go, but now she operates at one level, and it's yelling.

Dani must respond, though Aubrey can't hear.

"Are you attached, dear?"

Aubrey can't look away. She's been too afraid of asking anyone about Dani's relationship status, worried they'll think Aubrey's only asking because she's got a crush or something. She does, obviously, how could she not? But that's no one else's business.

The other seniors all quiet down to hear the answer.

Dani says something, her back to Aubrey. Shit. She wants to know, she needs to know!

"Oh, so you're not seeing anyone right now." Muriel directs that one Aubrey's way for some reason.

Dani shakes her head, glances quickly Aubrey's way, and shepherds Muriel towards the pool.

Obviously Aubrey doesn't care about that answer, it doesn't affect her at all. She hasn't nearly asked Dani out three times already and had to swerve the conversation in perilous directions to avoid it. But now she knows Dani is single. Things are different, there's a chance, however slim, there's a chance!

Once the seniors are all safely in the pool Dani starts the music. They're weirdly fond of 2000s Europop and Dani caved to their requests about 5 sessions in, which is longer than most instructors before her had lasted without quitting. The self styled Amnesty Aqua Aerobics Seniors (AAAS, pronounced "ass" with great relish by the members) were used to getting what they wanted, and Europop and Dani was what they wanted. Aubrey could empathise, well, with the Dani part anyway.

Dani clicks her mic on so her voice is clear over the music. "Okay, everybody, I want you to start warming up, we have some fun moves today, but I need to make sure you're ready to go - we're going to start by walking on the spot. Make sure you're at a comfortable depth, Mervin, that means you too!"

Mervin bobs forward a few feet, reluctantly parting from his husband.

"Don't pout, Mervin, It's not my fault you married someone tall, you have to consider where you'll stand in your aqua aerobics sessions when picking a partner!" Dani teases as the others laugh along with the well-worn joke. Mervin and Eren are inseparable, so no one bats an eyelid as the taller man walks forward too, waist deep, but nect to his husband. It's adorable.

Marvin just shrugs. "What can I say? He's very handsome."

Dani laughs along with him as she walks on the spot, slowly building up a faster pace and encouraging the others along with her. Aubrey loves watching her teach, she always seems to hit the right tone in a way Aubrey regularly doesn't manage. She's nurturing, firm when she needs to be, and so so pretty.

Okay, so the last bit isn't really needed for the job, but Aubrey can't not notice. She tried, a lot, and it didn't work. But it's obvious as Dani, hair half up in a knot on the top of her head, half down where the wisps are too short to catch, starts to encourage everyone to lift their knees a bit higher. "Remember that you can hold onto the side if you need to, there's no shame in needing a bit of support. My runner beans do and you loved them last week!"

A few people move to hold the edges, Dani clearly keeping a close eye for anyone who needs more help - she comments here and there, making sure everyone is following and feels included; has a spare pair of goggles in her deep cargo short pockets for Martine when her eyes start to hurt from the water she accidentally splashes into them while enthusiastically copying Dani's swishing arms; and demonstrates everything with a grace Aubrey wishes she could figure out. Half the time it feels like her limbs are busy trying to do three different things at once, mostly without her knowledge or permission, it's hard to keep track.

By the time Aubrey's break arrives and Jake comes to relieve her, Dani is chatting happily with soggy seniors.

"Well, would you look at the time, we'd better get going!" Ethel announces loudly as soon as she sees Aubrey approaching. She grabs Joan's arm before Aubrey can even say hi and wrestles her away.

"But what about the potting soi..." Joan protests weakly.

"You can ask next week." Ethel hisses in what Aubrey has to assume is supposed a quiet voice.

She and Dani stand side by side as they watch them go. "Uh, hi again." Aubrey says. "Do you think they're okay?"

Dani looks slightly nonplussed, but shrugs. "I guess so? I'll drop some of my soil blend over to Joan's tomorrow, I'm just at the farmer's market in the morning but I've got time in the afternoon."

"What're you selling? Maybe I should stop by, it's my day off." Aubrey asks the question before she's even considered that she lives out of a too-small room with minimal natural light and has less than zero idea of how to look after plants. She'd killed Bert the cactus in less than a month. Not to mention Dr Harris Bonkers PhD's tendancy to chew... There was no way he could be trusted alone with anything Dani had grown.

"Oh, it's a mix of produced and flowers, I've got some sweet peas I think are going to go down well, they smell amazing. You should come along."

"I'll be there." Aubrey has no idea which market it is, what time it is, or literally any other useful detail, but if Dani is going to be there and she wants Aubrey to be there too? It's a done deal.

"Cool, do you want my number? That way you can let me know when you're heading down?"

"Yes!" Aubrey grabs for her empty pocket before she remembers her phone is in her locker. "Uh..."

"I'll walk out with you."

--

Aubrey [20:47]
Hey it's Aubrey, just wanted to make sure you had my number
Aubrey [20:47]
for the farmers market
Aubrey [20:48]
Not for anything weird
Aubrey [20:48]
Not that chatting is weird
Aubrey [20:48]
Not that you said you wanted my number for chatting I don't want to assume x

Oh shit. The kiss was just muscle memory, but she should have done that, maybe she should apologise? Explain? Would that make it worse?

Aubrey launches her phone clean across the room, bouncing it off the side of a prop box. It was unfortunate, but this is the only reliable way to avoid digging the hole any deeper. She's learned that the hard way. Instead, she takes a slow lap of her room, well, a short few steps around the walkable bits that weren't crammed with remnants of hobbies that burned bright and short or stage props. She really needs to sort out the storage locker she kept thinking she should get...

Breath evened and panic receding she tentatively approaches her phone. Thankfully the robust case had been worth every penny and the screen is fine. She taps the unlock button to get it over quickly, better rip off the bandaid.

No new messages.

She wasn't sure if the lack of reply was good or bad, but one more message couldn't hurt at this point.

Aubrey [20:53]
What if you ignored all the messages I just sent and pretend the next one is the first one?

Aubrey [20:54]
Hey Dani it's Aubrey this is my number feel free to message any time

She forces herself to set her phone down, practice some sleight of hand for the new trick she's working on, and definitely, not even a little bit, think about Dani.

Aubrey waves the rings with a flourish. "Whaddya think?" Dr Harris Bonkers PhD looks distinctly unimpressed.

"You're wise, Dr Bonkers. I should practice more."

She's about to start over when her phone vibrates and Aubrey throws herself over to it - in a cool, calm, and very chill way of course.

Dani [21:09]
Hey Aubrey, it's Dani. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow x

Chapter Text

Aubrey meant to go to bed at a reasonable time, she really did, but then she had to pick an outfit and when she started looking for her boots she found the wood burning project she meant to finish. That probably would have been fine, but she went looking for her pencils and that led to an online tutorial rabbit hole that somehow spat her out in the bug identification Reddit four hours later.

All of which is to say, despite her intentions to be her very best self this morning, Aubrey is tired... She also might have forgotten to find the boots. At least she set her alarm extra early. There was no way she was missing the chance to see Dani outside of the pool.

She was going to take one last moment to cocoon herself in the safety of her covers though. The room she rented wasn't big, but she did make sure she had a comfy bed. She's debating whether she coould catch just a few more minutes of sleep when Dr Harris Bonkers PhD whines loudly from his cage, and, tired or not, that was enough to get her out of bed immediately. The doctor relies on her, and she relies on that reliance. She might forget to feed herself, she never forgets to feed the doctor.

"Sorry, sorry, give me a minute." Aubrey vaults out of bed, stumbling slightly as she tries to avoid the slightly-more-finished-than-it-was-yesterday wood burning.

She slides the bolt on his cage free with one hand as she grabs for his nuggets with the other. Fresh vegetables take slightly longer to prepare and she can't muster up a lecture on polite behaviour while he waits for it today.

"There you go." She hands over the nuggets and gets a loving bonk to the hand in return, clearly forgiven for being slightly slow on the uptake this morning.

Aubrey surveys her rooms as she cracks the mini fridge open. She really needs to take Mama up on her offer. Amnesty apartments have more space, and access to hot springs too. She should have put in her application months ago, she started, she had every intention of finishing it... She can do that tonight. If she has space then maybe she'll be able to find her boots.

Boots! Farmer's market! Shit! She needs to figure out what she's wearing... And also where she's going. She probably should have asked Dani, but she didn't want to seem uninterested - what if she'd told Aubrey where it was before and Aubrey had just forgotten?

Her phone vibrates loudly against the bedside table, snapping her out of the spiral, and she quickly deposits a handful of leafy greens in the doctor's bowl so she can check it.

Indrid [08:03]
Good morning Aubrey Little, the market is the one near the square. You might find it helpful to bring some of the tape you use for your act. Have fun!
Indrid.

Aubrey has learned that it's important not to ignore any offered Indrid advice so she immediately grabs a roll of duct tape from her magic kit box. Thankfully it's all where it's supposed to be, she's been really firm with herself about that. Lifeguarding and magicianing doesn't leave a huge amount in the budget to replace things that have gone missing - especially not with what Dave is charging her to be here.

She checks the tape is definitely now in her bag and that she hasn't accidentally deposited it somewhere it can be forgotten, then grabs her phone to reply. It's only polite.

Aubrey [08:05]
Thanks Indrid! Ive got the tape

He replies almost immediately with an inexplicable combination of emojis that she knows there's no point in trying to parse.

Well, that was half the battle won. Now, what do you wear to a farmer's market?

Aubrey cracks her drawers and stares at the sea of black that greets her.

She has something floral somewhere. She rummages, certain that she remembers some flowers on a top... Okay, huh... maybe that's actually a 'goth' Hawaiin shirt that Jake got her as a joke and it's more skulls than flowers, so maybe not quite right for the occasion? The market makes her think of swirly skirts and big collars and she's definitely just thinking of social media influencers. There's absolutely no way Dani is wearing anything impractical for work, and therefore Aubrey can wear whatever she wants.

That turns out to be her black tights, red fishnets over the top, black shorts, and a black long sleeved top. Thankfully she finds the errant boots while searching for her denim vest and finds the vest itself right after.

She grabs a cool pack from the fridge, fits it into her bag, and clicks her tongue at Dr Harris Bonkers Phd. "I hope you're ready for an adventure! We're going to see Dani." She says, and probably only imagines that he's more enthusiastic than usual as he allows her to place him carefully into the pet carrying portion.

--

"Hello, friend Aubrey!" Ned calls, he's sat in a large, comfortable looking camping chair behind the "Cryptonomica" stall. Kirby, his assistant, seems to be ferrying a selection of the shop stock as well as some Lamplighter newspapers to the table from the beaten up van while Ned surveys.

"Hi!" Aubrey waves as she walks over, unsure where is best to stand to avoid hindering poor Kirby. It seems unfair that he's doing the bulk of it, but, then again, she's not sure that he'd welcome Ned's interference. Maybe this was his arrangement. She waves, and he nods but returns immediately to his task.

"Are you here to see young Dani?" Ned asks. He's smiling broadly, but Ned's pretty much always smiling broadly.

"Uh..." She is, clearly, but she doesn't need Ned teasing her as well as Duck. "I..."

"Say no more, say no more." Ned nods knowingly, not that Aubrey has any idea what he thinks he knows, she didn't say anything!

He busies himself with moving a Bigfoot statue forwards and backwards, eventually coming to the decision that Kirby was right and it was best where he had initially placed it. Aubrey takes this attentiveness as her cue to walk on, waving goodbye as she strides away. Well, she starts striding, then swiftly realises she doesn't actually know where Dani's stall is... Maybe there's a map?

Sabine waves her over before she's had the chance to look. "Aubrey! Sweet girl! Look at you! Come here, come here!"

Aubrey knows better than to resist an order from Sabine.

"How's your father doing, Aubrey dear? And the charming Doctor, of course!"

Aubrey spins round so Sabine can see Dr Harris Bonkers PhD through the clear bubble in the backpack.

"Ah! There he is!" Sabine's adoration for her rabbit meant Aubrey always had time for her. It was probably also why Aubrey provided so many free classes at the club Sabine ran for her fellow seniors (not that they ever let her leave without tips, cakes, woodwork, and all manner of other gifts, no matter how much she had said it wasn't necessary.)

"Can I give him some carrot tops? Don't worry, I know the sugary bits are bad for him." Aubrey nods, appreciative of how much Sabine had brushed up on rabbit health. There'd been an incident with a carrots years ago now, and none of them had forgotten it.

"Sure." Aubrey backs up so the Doctor is within reach. "You can pop them in the top if you want? Or I can bring him back later when he's on his lead. But only if he's behaving." She adds the last bit in a louder voice.

"Oh! No no! The good doctor would never misbehave, would you my friend?" Sabine clucks at the rabbit. "So cruel of her to make such accusations against your good character."

Aubrey laughs fondly. Kepler had adopted her fast, and as much as she'd planned to stay on the road when she first left home, there was plenty to keep her here. She didn't feel claustrophobic in the way she had back at the house - she loved her parents, but her feet were itchy. Now though? They liked right where they were planted. Well, not right here, she had a friend to go and find.

"Anyway, you should be getting along dear, will you give Dani these? You don't need to say they're from me. Just say they're for her and she'll know." There's a moment of rustling and Sabine hands some flowers over Aubrey's shoulder, they're wrapped in newspaper and tied with a black and orange bow.

"Woah, cool!"

"Yes, I thought you'd like that. I think she will too, a lot."

"How did you know I was..."

"Go on dear, get on your way. Goodbye Dr!" Sabine turns away to attend to the buckets she was lining up in front of her stall.

Aubrey shakes her head. As much as she loves Kepler, there's still some things she hasn't quite wrapped her head around yet.

Speaking of not wrapping her head around things... where was Dani's stall? Scanning the tables around her didn't offer much help, people were still setting up, but she didn't recognise Dani's plants anywhere.

"Aubrey. Hello!" Eren's deep voice pulls her attention as he waves and beckons her over to a table covered in a pristine bright red cloth. "Mervin, she's here my love."

"Ah! Aubrey!" Mervin pops up from behind the table arms filled with brown boxes. "We've been baking!"

"We?" Eren asks, smile plain in his voice.

"Eren has been baking." Mervin corrects himself. "I did such a bad job when I tried to bake Baklava that he banned me."

"It has been 14 years, my love, and I still wonder how you did it." Eren pats him fondly on the arm. "But that is not what we needed you here to talk about, is it, Mervin?"

"What? Oh. Yes! Sorry, no. Er... hang on."

"Aubrey, will you please give these to Dani? You do not need to tell her they are from us. She'll understand." Eren nudges Mervin, who promptly hands over a box full of delicious looking sweets.

"Thank you." They say together and wave her off before she can thank them (or buy her own box... maybe she can come back later, they look incredible. )

It's only when she's two stalls further down the row that Aubrey realises they hadn't asked where she was going either.

Her phone buzzing in her pocket distracts her just as she's tempted to turn around and ask what's going on.

Dani [08:53]
Hey Aubrey, nearly set up, I'm in the far corner today. Might see you later.

Aubrey's feet are moving before she can finish shoving her phone back in her pocket, she's not too far away and she really really wants to see Dani.

The only problem, is that she hadn't banked on seeing Dani like this.

Aubrey stops abruptly in the middle of the path, not even thinking about who might be behind her, because Dani's there, and she's reaching up to hang her banner, and her top has ridden up, and her vine tattoos snake over her hips and maybe Aubrey isn't actually worthy to be here in her presence because Dani is a real life goddess.

There's a loud cough from a stall to her right. Aubrey glances round quickly, worried she's been caught staring, but Zofia doesn't say anything, just stands, surrounded by her soaps, and tips her head in Dani's direction. Aubrey doesn't need further convincing. Zofia doesn't say much, but she's always right.

The sun is filtering through the trees, casting soft beams of light across Dani as she stretches even higher, straining to try and reach the top of the tent and attach the banner. Aubrey picks up her pace, she can help, especially in these boots - they're big and stompy and add at least a few inches to her height.

"Hey Dani, can I..." Dani eeps in surprise at Aubrey's words and the banner drops on top of her as she loses her grip on it.

"Well fuck." Dani says from under the thick material.

Maybe it's not too late to run away? Dani might not even know it was her...

"Hi Aubrey."

"Hi." Aubrey pauses awkwardly as Dani tries to wriggle free from the canvas, unsure if it's okay for her to help, but there's no way Dani wants to stay trapped. She puts the flowers down carefully. "Sorry, here, let me..." Aubrey grabs the edge of the banner and lifts it free.

Dani grins up at her. "Nice to see you."

She has freckles, Aubrey hasn't realised before, she hasn't been close enough, but there's just the lightest dusting across Dani's nose and cheeks.

"It's really nice to see you." Aubrey means it with every fibre of her being. She loved seeing Dani, talking to Dani, admiring Dani.

Aubrey has to stop staring. She doesn't want to. Dani's eyes are so richly brown they're almost a deep orange; she smells floral and earthy in a way that makes Aubrey think of digging your toes into cool grass on a hot day; and the peach fuzz on her face looks so soft that Aubrey only just catches herself as she begins to raise her hand to cup Dani's cheek. At least Dani seems to be staring back. Maybe it's been a less weird amount of time than Aubrey thinks?

"These are for you!" She says abruptly. holding out the treats from Eren and Mervin, then grabs the flowers from the ground. "These too." There. She extracted herself flawlessly. Perfect dismount.

"Thanks Aubrey." Dani examines the flowers. "These are lovely choices."

"Sabine said you'd like them." Aubrey nods.

"She wasn't wrong." Dani bent her head to smell the flowers. "They're gorgeous."

Not as gorgeous as you. Aubrey stops herself from replying. Instead, focusing on practical help. "Did you need a hand with your banner?"

Dani gives her a long once over, probably assessing whether she's tall enough to make much difference.

"Or I can hold you up." Aubrey blurts out.

"Oh. You can, can you?" Dani asks, eyebrow raised and smirk apparent on her face.

"Definitely." Aubrey knows she can. She opens her arms, ready to prove it.

"Maybe you should put your rucksack down first?" Dani asks.

"Oh, yeah, good catch." She'll give the doctor some extra hay later to make up for the oversight. She'll get him out on his leash as soon as they've finished doing all their banner related aerial stunts.

"Okay, ready." Aubrey holds her arms out again, unsure if it's really sensible for her to be offering to pick Dani up and hold her against herself. How do people usually do this, should she kneel down and offer her own knee as a step? Help Dani onto the table? Just try and hang it herself and save the crisis for later?

"Hmm, I think maybe it'll be easier if you do it." Dani says thoughtfully.

"Oh, yeah, I can try to..." Aubrey grabs a corner of the banner and looks for the hook she needs to find to fit the toggle in the material. "...Woah!"

Dani hoists Aubrey into the air. "Yeah. That's better."

It is. Aubrey looks down at Dani gazing up at her, holding her without any apparent struggle, she can't remember the last time a partner had scooped her up like this. She didn't realise she was so into it. Looking down at Dani's face, smug as it was... if she wanted to she could kiss Aubrey's stomach, ruck up her shirt and ruin her easily...

"Aubrey, the banner?" Dani sounds more amused than annoyed.

"Shit. Yeah. Uh." Aubrey reaches for the toggle and hastily slots it through the hole in the side of the banner, hoping it was the right way round because she certainly hadn't checked.

"Are you good?" Dani asks.

"I'm really really good."

She's even better when Dani lets her gently down to the ground, Aubrey's body still pressed firmly against hers.

"Hi." She says again once she's back on solid ground.

"Hi."

"So you're really strong, huh?" Aubrey asks, immediately kicking herself for such a lame question. She should say something pithy, let Dani know she's fun, funny, smart, not just... bad at words. Dani makes her really bad at words.

"It's all of those pool triceps dips." Dani winks.

"Are you allowed to tell me trade secrets like that?"

"Hmm, I wouldn't want them to take away my aquarobics instructor badge."

"Well I guess I won't tell anyone." Aubrey is fairly convinced she would do anything for Dani at this point.

"Good. I'd hate to have less excuses to see you."

Aubrey's barely processed what Dani said when the sun disappears as the banner falls on them both. "Aw beans."

Chapter Text

It doesn't take them too long to extract themselves, would have taken even less time if they could control the giggles. Aubrey's gasping for air, holding onto Dani, being held back, both of them laughing at the absurdity.

They pause a moment there, freed from the banner, appreciating the fresh air, reluctant to move away from each other.

"The banner's new." Dani manages to choke out between her slowing laughs.

Aubrey's very aware that she's still holding onto Dani's arms and, more importantly, that Dani's hands are on her hips. She doesn't want to move.

"I'm not sure what to do. I guess maybe I don't need the banner? I mean, people will see me and see the plants and figure it out." Dani still hasn't let her go. Maybe people can just help themselves to the plants and they can stay here like this.

"Oh! I have duct tape. That should help, right?" Aubrey must find Indrid some obscene new flavour of sugar syrup or something to say thanks. He really liked the marshmallow sprinkles one last time.

"You're perfect!" Dani says. "That is, you're prepared." She winces slightly. "You've got what I need."

"Yeah I do." Aubrey half wishes she hadn't said anything, she doesn't want to let go, Dani's arms are soft and firm all at once and she wants desperately to be allowed to place a soft kiss on each shoulder. "It's really strong tape." Maybe she can just play for a little more time, she doesn't want Dani's hands to be anywhere but where they are now.

"Oh really?" She feels Dani's hands flex against her and Aubrey tries to commit the sensation of them on her to memory before Dani moves them. Instead of pulling away though, Dani loops her hands behind Aubrey's back pulls her even closer into a hug. "Thank you, Aubrey."

Aubrey should reply, say something cool, breezy, a quick 'no problem, always happy to help'. Instead she just sighs, content to be held, content to feel Dani's chin tucked over her should, Dani's arms pulling her closer, Dani's scent wrapping itself around her.

"See! I told you that it would work." Ethel's voice is immediately drowned out by a round of loud shushing.

Aubrey and Dani turn their heads in unison.

"Are you all okay there?" Dani asks, gently releasing Aubrey, but not stepping too far away.

"Do not mind us." Eren waves his hand dismissively. "We are just trying to solve a tent problem, and we have done so, now we will all go back to our stalls, won't we?" He directs the last part to his fellow aqua aerobics students.

"I think I actually need to stay here and..." Ethel starts.

"No you do not Ethel, you left your purse at our stall and will come with us to get it back. We're all going now." Eren's tone doesn't leave any room for argument and the seniors file away, albeit some of them more reluctant than others.

"That was weird." Aubrey says, nodding after them as Ethel turns around for a third time to look back at them.

"Hmm." Dani looks thoughtful. "It was, yes."

"I hope there's not a problem with all of the tents. Maybe they were struggling with their signs too... Oh! Wait! Tape!" Aubrey remembers what she was supposed to be doing and retrieves the roll from a pocket in her rucksack. While she grabs it she makes sure to reassure Dr Harris Bonkers Phd that she'll release him soon. He's usually patient, but she can tell he wants to be involved in the excitement (which is exactly why he's not allowed out.)

When Aubrey turns back around, duct tape held aloft in triumph, Dani is scooping up the banner. "I think maybe if I hold and you stick? You've got a bit of height on me in those boots." Dani flicks her eyes down and Aubrey can almost pretend she's looking at her legs and not the boots at all. Aw beans... she needs to be careful not to get swept up in wishful thinking. It had bitten her before.

"Sounds good." Aubrey slots the tape round her wrist. "I make an excellent tape dispenser."

Dani laughs with her as she flips the banner the right way round (oops) and holds up the first section for taping.

They make short work of the task, and when they step back to admire the banner Dani smiles happily.

"It looks great!" Aubrey says. There's delicate vines twisting around the edges of the banner, surrounding the words Dani's Plant Amnesty. She had worried about making it wonky, but thankfully everything looks okay.

"I thought it was a fun design, and I do love it when people bring me plants to help. Did I show you the cactus from last week?"

Dani had not shown her the cactus from last week, so Aubrey delights in looking through the photos of how it had been when Dani was given it, and how it looks now by comparison. Dani tells her about changing the soil, drying it out, and making sure it had the right pot and proper drainage.

Aubrey has never been so invested in plant health. She's half tempted to get another one so she can half kill it and get to listen to Dani talk about how to look after it properly. Maybe she would come over and do a demonstration in Aubrey's room if she asked her nicely... It's adorable watching her become more animated as she talks about the importance of knowing what soil, pot, and feeding regime is best for each plant.

They begin to shuffle plants onto the table, still talking as they do. Once everything is laid out, Aubrey finally releases Dr Harris Bonkers Phd, making sure to clip him firmly into his harness. She wishes he was less of an escape artist outside of their act, but at least she was prepared now. The first three leashes she'd tried had been really ineffective, but this one had stood the test of rabbit willpower and time.

Watching Dani work was the perfect way to pass the morning. She was just so good with everyone who came, taking the time to reassure people who had dropped off plants the week before, reminding them that judgement wasn't the point of the service, and offering advice as needed. Everyone left looking lighter (well, apart from the guy who tried to tell her she was wrong, but Dani told him to leave before Aubrey's will power snapped and she threw a pot at him or something.

Aubrey played with the doctor, wandered out to different stalls, but always drifted back. For once, she isn't worried about overstaying her welcome, Dani looks so pleased every time Aubrey gets back that she doesn't doubt her presence is wanted. Especially not when she keeps bringing Dani treats - she had the extra two shows this month and money is slightly less tight than usual, and Dani really looks like she could use something cool to drink, or a nice flower patterned fan, or a chunk of brownie that some children were selling. Well, the last one was extortion, there wasn't really a choice when they came up and started trying to get a sale of out of her. They were very cute and very insistent that she support local youth innovation.

"You don't have to keep bringing me things, you know." Dani says, she's between customers and perched on the edge of the table, legs dangling down, second bite of brownie on its way. Usually it'd worry Aubrey to hear that statement, but Dani was just being matter of fact. Dani would tell her if she was doing something wrong, she knew that.

"I know I don't have to, but you deserve nice things and I want to."

Dani looks at her for a long moment. Aubrey squirms slightly under her gaze, unsure of what's happening.

"Would you like to go for a drink after the market?" Dani asks quickly, breaking the moment before Aubrey can build it up into a point of anxiety in her head.

Aubrey does, very very much want to go for a drink with Dani.

"I would love to, but I have to practice today, I've got a show tomorrow and..."

Dani sits up. "Can I watch?" She asks excitedly.

"The rehearsal?" Aubrey tries not to sound surprised.

"Yeah. Or the show. Either!" Dani doesn't sound like she's joking. This might be real? "Both?"

"Of course." Aubrey finds herself agreeing, as if her room isn't horribly untidy, as if she has room to practice with another person in there, as if she can use magic and make herself brave enough to ask Dani out...

Oh, maybe there's something in that? The Lady Flame is a lot braver than Dani. She's less impulsive too... kind of...

"Maybe we can grab dinner after." She says, because why not? Friends are allowed to go for food together, friends didn't want to stop hanging out either, they did things to prolong their time together... Aubrey really didn't want them to just be friends.

"I'd like that."

--

"Uh. Just to warn you. My apartment is pretty small." Aubrey doesn't know if it's considered polite to bring it up, but the direct approach seems best.

"Okay." Dani gives her a slow, encouraging smile.

"It's messy."

"Hard not to be when you've got all your stuff in a small space." Dani shrugs.

She's right of course, but Aubrey hopes against hope that she hasn't accidentally left any bras strewn about or anything else embarrassing littering the flat surfaces.

Aubrey cracks the door and crosses her fingers. Thankfully, her room is about as respectable as it can be.

"Oh cool!" Dani is looking round the walls at the various posters in different states fo disrepair. Then she focuses in on the wood burning project. "Did you make this?"

Aubrey feels heat rising in her cheeks, which is ridiculous, she's a showman, she loves being centre of attention.

"Yeah, I was working on it last night." Aubrey nods.

"I might have to commission you." Dani says, still admiring it. "I think something like this would look lovely on the stall. In fact, maybe you could do a few to sell each month?

"Oh... yeah. Yeah, I could do that." She could definitely do that, she could definitely come and run her bit of the stall, meaning she had to be there with Dani, meaning they got to be together. Maybe that was a future in which she was brave enough to ask Dani out properly, they could get a proper little pen for Dr Harris Bonkers Phd to hang out in and she could have a whole host of pot plants that Dani made sure she looked after...

"Aubrey?"

Shit. She drifted off there.

"Sorry, I lost track for a moment. What were you saying?"

"I'm excited to see your act." Dani says, then flops down on her bed, and isn't that a sight. Dani, focused on Aubrey, lying back, stretched out over her pillows, long limbs and tight muscle, and Aubrey wanted desperately for it to be okay to touch her, to be allowed to kneel in the space between her legs and worship her like she deserved.

Instead, she grabbed her top hat. "Prepare to be amazed."

Chapter Text

Aubrey takes her final bow with Dr Harris Bonkers Phd balances perfectly on her back, exactly liked they'd practiced. Dani claps hard and looks genuinely delighted, so the treat training regime was definitely worth it, even if she had occasionally found rabbit kibble in her hair for a few weeks in there.

"That was great!" Dani kneels up, still clapping. The safest version of a standing ovation possible on Aubrey's bed.

Dr Harris bonkers picks that moment to jump from Aubrey's shoulder and into Dani's, thankfully, waiting arms.

"And you did a great job too, Dr Bonkers." Dani smooths her finger across the space between his ears.

Aubrey tries to ignore the way it makes her stomach swoop. Dani has clearly been paying attention to make sure that she pets him in a way he likes.

"He's so soft!" Dani's attention is fixed on the rabbit. "I love him."

Aubrey definitely shouldn't be jealous of him. And she isn't. Definitely not.

She takes off her top hat and sets it carefully on her desk, well, on top of a pile of books on top of her desk, before settling on the bed next to Dani.

"Hey, do you know that there's an outbuiling at Amnesty Lodge that residents can book out for events?" Dani asks casually, doesn't even look up from her petting.

"I, uh, no, I didn't know that." Aubrey replies, but makes a mental note that that's another good reason that she should definitely get her application written and submitted to Mama.

"It'd be cool if you lived closer." Dani says, finally looking up. "I could come and watch your rehearsals all the time."

"And then you could put me to work in your vegetable patch?" Aubrey teases.

"I think you'd really suit my spare pair of gardening gloves, and your're clearly pretty good with your hands."

"That would come in handy when tending to your garden." Aubrey says, not realising the implication until Dani has started laughing.

There's a moment where she debates embarrassment, but settles on laughter again. She just needs Dani to realise that she's not lying, she is very good with her hands and Dani deserves to be well tended to.

—

It turns out that sometimes the best motivation comes in the form of shoulders, shoulders you spent a good chunk of the night thinking about kissing your way along; or the promise a partial tattoo makes of there being more to discover; or a particularly pleasant dream about waking up wrapped in strong, wiry arms, with soft blonde hair tickling your face. In the end though, it's the less fantasty focused and more concrete chance of running into Dani every day for the rest of the time they live at Amnesty Lodgings that finally gives her the push to get the application sorted.

Aubrey got the forms printed at the library last time she was thinking about trying to move somewhere with actual space. She knows they're here somewhere, it's just the exactly where part which is tricky. After a hunt spanning her desk, magic box, and even under the bed, she's about to give up and treck back to the library when inspiration strikes and she remembers something slipping off the desk when she was reorganising a few weeks ago. Reorganising is a generous term for piling too many things on top of it, but still... Sure enough, she finds the forms half spat out from the back of the desk which is wedged into the corner of the room, and, after a month spent 'getting round' to filling them out, she finally cracks out her pen. She'll take her motivation in whichever form it comes.

—

"Thanks Aubrey." Mama takes the papers and places them on her desk. "You'll be needing these." Mama holds out a closed fist and nods at Aubrey, encouraging her to hold her hand out too.

Aubrey does and Mama drops a set of keys into her open palm.

"The big one's for the front door, the smaller one is for your room. I put you in thirteen, thought you'd get a kick out of that."

Aubrey states at the keys in her hand. "Don't you need to read my application?" Aubrey's brain hasn't caught up with her mouth yet. She wasn't expecting this to be so immediate… surely Mama had a queue of people wanting to move in? There was no way this room was just going spare… There was no way Aubrey was the only applicant.

"Kid, I've been saving this room for you for months, I'm just glad you finally got your application in."

"Oh…" The news catches up with Aubrey. "Oh! Mama, thank you so much!!" She throws herself at the older woman, wrapping her arms around her overly stiff body. Mama freezes for a second, then relaxes, patting Aubrey on the back with one large hand.

"It's what you deserve. Remember that you can book out the communal barn too, you get access to the hot springs, and there's space in the communal fridges, just make sure you label your stuff if you don't want Barclay using it to invent something incredible."

"Thanks Mama."

"Do you know when you're moving in?"

"Uh…"

"Let me know when you do, someone will help with a van. You'll have hands this side too." Mama nods definitively, grabs her wide brimmed hat from a peg by the door, and sets it atop her head. "Anyway, I'm heading out, but it's all yours. Remember you can always pick up some shifts in the cafe if you need to as well - it's open to residents." Mama nods once and she's gone before Aubrey can do anything but thank her again.

Aubrey's voice is small in the quiet office. "Did you hear that Dr Harris Bonkers Phd?" She whispers over her shoulder. "We've got a new place to live."

Aubrey looks at the key in her hand. It would be rude not to have a quick look… just to know what she's going to be working with. Room thirteen! Mama was right, she loved that, unlucky for some, but definitely not for her.

She leaves Mama's office and heads out towards the reception desk, nodding at Barclay as she does.

He waves. "Hey Aubrey! Glad you'll be joining us. It's about time."

Aubrey grins her most confident grin and tries not to internalise the timing comment. She knows there's no way Barclay is making fun of her, it's only her own shame about her lack of organisation putting that thought in her head.

"I've got to speak to Dave, but yeah, I don't think it'll be long."

"Tell us when you're moving in? I'll make something special, and remember that we'll all help too. Don't try and do it all on your own." Barclay smiles at her, as if what he has just said isn't remarkable, as if he'd offer this for anyone. He probably would, she realises, it's just who he is, but it means a lot all the same.

"What are you signing us up to help with now, Barclay?" Dani's voice comes from the mud room at the back of the reception.

Barclay laughs easily. "You love helping out, Dani, thrive on it, I've heard."

"Uh huh." Dani opens the door and looks through. "Oh, hey Aubrey." Dani smiles easily. Hopefully it means she's as glad to see Aubrey as Aubrey is to see her.

Dani's clearly been out in the garden, her hair scraped back and tucked up into a cap, dirt on her knees, on her cheek, random pieces of grass are stuck to her woven trousers.

She's so beautiful that Aubrey's mouth is open before she's had time to think. "Dani! You look…" Gorgeous, amazing, hot enough to crop up in my thoughts at least five times a day but you already do that so it won't make a difference… Aubrey desperately tries to redirect before she embarrasses herself. "… like you've been gardening."

Barclay makes a strangled noise like he's trying to hold back a laugh and raises an eyebrow. "You doing okay there, Aubrey?"

Aubrey glares. "Fine thanks, Barclay."

"I have been gardening." Dani smiles as she walks over, then gives Barclay an easy hug. "I checked on the blackberries, the netting really helped with keeping the birds off this year, so you might be in luck for the jams." She turns her attention to Aubrey and moves forward slightly.

Aubrey mirrors the motion, is she going to get a hug too? She can't just initiate, not with Barclay here, but maybe… The moment's gone though. Dani's face is hard to read, there's no obvious disappointment, at least Aubrey hasn't let her down.

"We're being signed up to help you?" Dani asks.

"You don't have to, either of you, but I won't say no, I've got a fair bit of stuff to move."

"You're moving?" Dani sounds excited for her, it makes sense, her room is ridiculously small. Dani didn't even realise how cold it got in winter.

"Yeah, I'm actually…"

"…She's taking room thirteen." Barclay says.

"Oh!" Dani looks genuinely delighted. "I'll definitely help with that. I've got my van."

"Yeah, that's true, you won't need the pickup. I'll let you two sort it out, I've got some paperwork to get on with." Barclay waves and heads into the office.

"So. We're going to be neighbours." Dani says.

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll see you around the corridors. Which room are you in?"

Dani grins. "Twelve."

Aubrey laughs a sharp, joyful sound. "So we'll literally be neighbours."

"We can be metaphorical neighbours too if you'd like?" Dani laughs. "Wanna go check out your room? I can show you the way?"

"I was just going to head there, and a guide would be very much appreciated. I haven't been up to the lodgings before, just into the cafe."

"Well then, follow me!"

Dani gives a surprisingly comprehensive tour, telling Aubrey about the sticky door that Mama's in the process of fixing, the window that has the best view of the sunrise from the landing, and the dark corner she'd brightened with some shade loving plants.

"And here you are. Do you want me to leave you and the Doctor to look around?"

"No!" Aubrey says quickly, probably too quickly. "I mean, uh, if you'd like to hang out it's nice to have the company."

"As long as you don't mind me muddy." Dani gestures to her clothes.

"I'll take you any way you come." Aubrey flushes a deep red. "I mean… er…" She turns away and shoves the key into the door, hopeful that Dani might just forget what she said.

She throws the door open quickly and steps inside, hopeful that the transition will save her and Dani from the discomfort of her apparent inability to hide the planet sized crush she has on this wonderful woman.

"Oh…" Aubrey forgets her embarrassment. There's so much room… "It's light."

"Mmmhmm." Dani says, right behind her.

"It's so nice." Aubrey's voice wobbles slightly. She hadn't realised how much she hated being crammed into the tiny room with one small window.

"You deserve nice things." Dani says softly as she lays a hand on Aubrey's shoulder. "So does the Doctor."

"Oh, yeah, I should let him check it out."

Dani shuts the door behind them as Aubrey removes the rabbit from her carrying rucksack. "What do you think?" She asks him.

His first hops are cautious, unfamiliar space, unfamiliar smells. By the time he's completed a tentative lap Aubrey can tell he's going to like it here.

"Is he okay?" Dani asks, watching as he jumps and twists.

"He's more than okay, the binkying mean he's having a great time."

"I guess he'll have more room here."

"Yeah, even with the furniture I can't believe how much space we're going to have."

"And remember there's storage for your show equipment, there's a barn dedicated to it and a section for each room."

Aubrey looks at the room, her new room, with sunlight, an alcove for her desk, a bathroom attached… "Wait, there's a bath and a shower?"

"Yeah, and they're all yours."

Aubrey's too happy to kick herself mentally for not doing this sooner, but she promises herself she'll never put off something like this again.

"When do you think you'll move in?"

"I don't need my stuff, maybe I can just stay forever." Aubrey jokes.

"We can go get it? I'm not teaching until this afternoon. What shifts are you on today?"

"I'm on late today."

"Well then." Dani grins. "Let me get the keys."

—

Aubrey can't find it in herself to be embarrassed about the state of her room. She managed to chuck everything strewn about or private into a bag in the time it took Dani to find a park for the van, so any chaos after that could be blamed on the moving. The lack of planning should probably be stressful, but honestly this was the best way for Aubrey to do big tasks. No time to work herself up about it, no time to procrastinate on the doing, just a short deadline and the need to act. She rang Dave on the drive over, he said there was a waiting list, so didn't seem overly worried about Aubrey leaving mid month. Jake had agreed to mind Dr Harris Bonkers Phd while they began the move.

"Hey!" Dani says. "Where do you need me?"

Aubrey tries not to snort out a laugh, they're probably not in double entendre territory, even if she did get away with it before, and she doesn't want to come off as sleazy. It doesn't work.

Dani laughs too and wiggles her eyebrows. "Okay, I'll rephrase. What can I do to help?"

—

They don't manage to pack everything, but the majority is done within a few hours. Thankfully Aubrey travelled light when she left home and hadn't accrued too much along the way. They take the bed, Aubrey is determined not to spend another night sleeping here, but can't get the drawers into the van along with the other bags and boxes. Thankfully between them both they manage to carry everything handily, Aubrey tries her best not to stare at Dani's arms flexing or back muscles standing out as she carries things, but it's impossible. She loves the shape of her, the capability of her, spending time with her. The conversation has flowed so effortlessly, Aubrey doesn't feel awkward when she somtimes jumps about in topics, and Dani's funny and smart and knowledgeable about everything from fitness to invasive worms and what to do about them.

By the time they're loading the last lot of goods into the van a group of seniors from the class are massed there.

"Sweet girls! Hello, hello!" Sabine greets them. "We were just out taking in the scenery, getting some fresh air, and we recognised the van, we thought we would tell you how much you really do inspire us to look after our health, Dani."

"Nice to see you all." Dani packs the box she's carrying into the van.

"Hello Aubrey, hello Dani." Ethel shouts.

"Hi Ethel!" Aubrey makes sure to raise her voice as she shoves the final bag for the day into the van. It takes a few goes, but she gets the door shut.

"What are you two doing?" Joan asks. "Are these all floats for class this afternoon?"

Dani laughs. "Not quite, we're moving Aubrey in."

There's a loud chorus of "ooooooh"s.

"Anyway, we'd better get going if you want me to be on time for class this afternoon." Dani opens the passenger door for Aubrey and helps her in.

Aubrey can definitely get into the cab without assistance, but she isn't going to turn down a chance to hold Dani's arm. It'd be surly to refuse.

"Bye everyone!" Aubrey waves from the passenger side window. "See you later."

Dani starts the engine and waves too.

"Congratulations!" Joan shouts after them as they head out again.

Aubrey's left a lot of places in her life, this is one of the ones she won't miss.

—

"See! There, we did it." Ethel says loudly, the others watch carefully to make sure the occupants of the van hadn't heard, but thankfully they seem safe.

"I must admit, I didn't expect them to move in together quite so fast, but I'm glad they've finally figured it out." Mervin says. "Thank goodness we decided to help them."

Chapter Text

They were here somewhere, Aubrey was 100% sure that this was where she had carefully placed thrown her goggles, or at least her mask after the last octopush league night of the season. She grabbed handfuls of clothes and threw them towards her bed, hopeful that she could shake the snorkel loose, or her scratched up emergency goggles, she'd take anything at this point. The shabby dresser she’d scored from the side of the road, treated for woodworm (well, treated for woodworm after Mama had pointed out the holes and made her do it so that the Lodge didn’t fall down around their ears) and painted black with red flames licking up the drawers hadn’t revealed anything useful. The goggles weren't tangled in the clothes, weren't in her kit bag (she really needed to keep them in her kit bag), weren't anywhere. Shit. She couldn't be late today, Dani had offered to drive and Aubrey couldn't make her late too.

There was a soft knock at the door. No no no no. Not yet. Aubrey checked her watch. She had time! She was supposed to have time, but it always ran through her fingers when she wasn't looking, no matter how hard she tried to grab onto it.

"Hey Aubrey, can I come in?" Dani asks.

"Yes." She says with her traitor mouth because of course she can't turn down the chance to see Dani slightly earlier than she would have.

"Everything okay?" Dani looks down at her in slight bemusement.

"Yep! Just doing my stretches, you know…" Aubrey flails her arm slightly, as if that somehow justifies her crouched position and the flurry of clothes surrounding her.

"And you're definitely not looking for these?" Dani holds out Aubrey's goggles, strap dangling from one long finger.

"My hero!" Aubrey jumps out of the crouch and grabs for the goggles. "However can I repay you?"

Aubrey's joking when she says it, Dani never asks for payment for any of the small kindnesses she offers Aubrey, not that Aubrey demands any payment for the things she brings Dani either. They've fallen into a neat groove of looking out for each other, thinking of each other, treating each other. It's for this reason that she doesn't expect Dani to do anything more than laugh, she doesn't, instead Dani gives Aubrey a slow smile that sears its way right to the core of her.

"I can think of a few ways."

Oh. Oh. "Well you know I'd do anything for you, care to share?" Aubrey doesn't step back. She's been getting bolder with Dani lately, proximity has done wonders for her confidence.

Dani has gone from an etheral being to the woman who lives nextdoor, she's no longer a mystery. In the last month Aubrey's seen her sick, she's seen her over-tired, she's seen her in her bunny pyjamas that Dr Harris Bonkers Phd definitely approved of. She's still etheral, but Aubrey's no longer in lust with the concept of Dani, she's in lust with the reality of Dani herself and it's becoming much trickier to be cool about it. Especially when Dani keeps doing things like crooking her finger so that Aubrey's grip on her goggles pulls her even further forward into Dani's space.

She could let go.

She doesn't.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I wouldn't want us to be late." Dani keeps the tension for a moment, then lets the strap of Aubrey's goggles drop.

Aubrey could move back.

She doesn't.

Aubrey doesn't think about anything other than how much she wants to kiss Dani right now. There's something here, something bright and hot and she wants more than anything to blow gently on that spark and ignite it. She only pins her feet to the floor through sheer willpower alone, there was no way that lunging at Dani would end well. Maybe Dani's just messing about, maybe Aubrey's imagineing the tension. They'll just leave. She can pretned it didn't happen. That it doesn't keep happening.

Dani doesn't move.

They really shouldn't be late.

Aubrey leans forward, it's imperceptable, she'll get away with it, Dani won't even notice and for a delicious moment Aubrey will get to think about how she could have just tilted her face up and…

She doesn't need to, Dani's tilting her face down, lifting her hand to Aubrey's face.

Shit. It's happening, it's finally happening.

Dani cups Aubrey's cheek in her hand, runs her thumb across Aubrey's jaw line and it's like she's striking a match, Aubrey's burning and burning and burning. There's sparks everywhere Dani's hand connects.

Dani brings her lips to Aubrey's, pausing just an inch away. "They're really good ideas though." She whispers.

Aubrey would like to pretend she doesn't whimper audibly.

Dani steps back. "Come on, we'd better get on the road."

"Guh." Aubrey says, helpfully.

"Don't forget your bag." Dani points at Aubrey's swimming kit, abandoned in the goggles hunt.

Aubrey grabs it quickly. "Hey Dani?"

"Yeah?" Dani turns around, paused in the doorway.

Aubrey walks forward, squeezing past as she says. "You've got great ideas."

—

The aqua aerobics class is even busier than usual, Aubrey's sure of it. She doesn't know if there's ever been such a big turnout, it's been getting better every week. It's a good job they close off the whole pool for the session, at this rate they'll need to get Dani a better microphone. They are definitely rowdier than usual today too, Dani's got her mic turned up loud enough for Aubrey to hear her crisp and clear at the top of the lifeguard chair.

"Everybody, I need you to concentrate!"

The glob of senior citizens in the pool don't move.

"I'm doing some good moves today. There'll be tricep dips on the side of the pool!" Dani tries to tempt them with their favourite. Judging by the continued chatter, it fails.

"Hi Aubrey!" Ethel bellows, waving happily from the side of the clump.

Aubrey waves automatically, but drops her hand fast when Dani turns to glare.

"Sorry." She mouths.

Dani shakes her head.

"Dani. We want to know about how living together is going." Ethel shouts. "Can you tell us about it and then we'll do our dance." Ethel adds some jazz hands, Aubrey can only assume for effect.

The others nod enthusiastically.

"You're here to do aerobics, not to find out about how Aubrey is finding living at Amnesty Lodgings. You can ask her later."

Dani bends down to crank the music. "Now, everyone bounce your shoulders."

Aubrey focuses very hard on the pool, she's responsible, she's alert… but it's also important to be aware of your sorroundings, she reasons, she can't let Dani fall in, it's only sensible to keep an eye on her too. The problem is that Aubrey loves watching Dani work, obviously she keeps an eye on everyone else, but her gaze is drawn back to Dani more often than it really should be. It's the fluid movements which show off her strength, the way she manages to be so attentive despite having such a large group, the smile that breaks across her face only when she's particularly pleased with someone's progress. Aubrey wants desperately to impress her like that.

She catches Duck waving his arms out of the corner of her eye and swiftly turns her attention to him, worrying about some kind of emergency. It turns out he's just keen to bully her some more as he does his earth to Aubrey sign. She rolls her eyes as big as possible, hopes he can catch the distain from the other side of the pool. He's clearly overdue a reminder about how he acted when Indrid started working with them. Aubrey barely teased him at all! Apart from all the times she did… aw beans. She had definitely created this problem for herself.

Duck sticks his tongue out in response to her eye roll, so Aubrey sticks hers out and twists it sideways for flair. Duck always pretends to be disgusted, but she's seen him unsuccessfully practicing it in the mirror before. He shakes his head and turns away which means she's definitely won, so it's a shame that when she turns her attention back to the pool, smug in her victory, she realises that Dani is looking her way. Hopefully she doesn't think Aubrey's immature. Hopefully the laugh Dani is definitely stifling is with Aubrey and not at her. Hopefully she wants to hear more about the tricks Aubrey can do with her tongue… Shit. No, she definitely shouldn't be thinking like that, and especially not at work, but she couldn't stop thinking about the nearly kiss. Dani had definitely been flirting. Definitely. Probably.

Misreading this would be really bad. Really really bad.

But also, how many ways could you really interpret what happened?

Aubrey just had to hope that Dani was planning to tell her some of her very good ideas later tonight.

That also meant that Aubrey had to work out how to get through the rest of her shift without staring at Dani the whole time…

It would be easier if she wasn't currently doing some kind of shimmy and hip rotation combination that had the seniors hooting with laughter.

Aubrey manages to cling to her shreds of professionalism for the rest of the class, holding herself back from diving down from her chair as soon as the class is done. Not that she could have gotten anywhere near Dani, as she's immediately swamped by the class.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Ethel shouts, followed by loud, conspicuous shushing from Mervin and Eren.

Aubrey can barely see Dani through the crowd, but when she does catch a glimpse of her face, she's laughing.

There's a series of thunderous splashes which announce the end of peace, the pool is open to the public again and the hornets are here in their matching yellow and black swim suits. Their arrival means that Aubrey needs to find her whisle and feel super bad about harshing fun for safety's sake.

As she yells Hollis' name, in what she already knows is a vain attempt to stop them and their crew creating a ramp with the floaties, she can almost swear she hears Ethel over the din announcing "…you'll have to tell her soon."

She misses Dani's reply as Jake, who is off duty, but should definitely know better, goes flying off the makeshift ramp and barely misses the side as it collapses under him.

Aubrey rushes to the side in time to see him pop up looking sheepish.

"You know why that was a bad idea, right?" She asks Jake.

"Uh huh."

"Are you bleeding? Please tell me I don't have to fill out an accident report."

Jake gives himself a quick pat down. "Everything's still attached, dude. I'm sorry."

Aubrey lets the tension drop from her shoulders, only slightly, but enough. "Good, I'm glad you're okay."

With that, she turns to her least favourite part of the job.

"But you can't do that again, you'll get hurt and fired."

Jake looks sheepish enough, so Aubrey redirects herself.

"Hollis." Aubrey tries to inject as much authority as she can muster into their name. Prepared for them to make an argument about the importance of creativity and adventure.

"I'm sorry Aubrey. I didn't want Jake to get hurt."

"Okay!" Aubrey's tempted to leave it at that, but remembers she should probably do some kind of professional reeinforcement of the rules. She gives Hollis the safety spiel, they look deathly bored, but nod in the right places "… so next time you need to think about the safety of everyone involved before you try a stunt."

Hollis tries very hard not to roll their eyes and Aubrey appreciates that fact. It's hard being a pool cop, especially when the ramp did look rad, they just needed some more support underneath… maybe she and Duck can try later once the pool was closed to the public. Speaking of the public… Aubrey glances around for Dani.

"Your girlfriend already headed through to the changing rooms." Hollis says before bombing into the pool.

"She's not my…" Aubrey's words are lost in the splash.

Dani isn't her girlfriend, but Aubrey wishes she was.