Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was a day like any other, except actually today was quite exciting for the couple. Daya had a free day in her schedule and decided she’d join Bosco at her home bar Grindhaus. The girls were ecstatic to perform ‘Show me how you burlesque’ for the first time since it aired, the fan reception being overwhelming. Outside of that Bosco especially was just excited to show off her hot girlfriend.

They’d both opted to paint at home, just doing finishing touches once they arrived so they could spend the most amount of solo time together.

In their bedroom they had vanities that sat right next to each other, Dayas on the left, Boscos on the right. Their vanities were always as dirty as each other, a mess of eyeliner, highlighter and lashes. They’d both earlier gone into their shared closet that always made them giggle to look at, Boscos half falling naturally a lot more organised as she typically wore much less clothing than Daya.

Bosco finished painting just before Daya, she quietly stood up from her spot mumbling that she needed a minute. This wasn’t unusual for Bosco so Daya wasn’t concerned. Bosco loved Daya to death but by nature was less of a social being, so just going downstairs and getting water by herself was important to keep Bosco charged. That being said Daya had thought Bosco had been slightly quieter than usual today but just chalked it up to bad sleep.

A few minutes later Bosco came back upstairs, lingering in the doorway for a moment to watch Daya. When Daya noticed Bosco she struggled to hide her smile then slowly looked over to the other girl. Bosco looked tired, her face painted, her now blonde hair clipped back and a baggy shirt threatening to fall off her frame, but she looked beautiful.

“Are you okay?” Daya asked sweetly not looking away from Bosco who pulled herself from leaning against the door frame towards their bed. “Yeah” Bosco responded, her voice light and she nodded slightly. Daya looked back at herself in the mirror, needing to focus if they wanted to arrive on time.

The soft hum of the Return To Saturn album made the air lighter, Daya humming along as she finished her nose contour.

Meanwhile Bosco was undressing herself, changing into her leopard print catsuit. Daya watched her through the mirror, hoping Bosco wouldn’t catch her eyes lingering on Bosco's exposed chest as she moved around trying to find where she’d left her pasties. Bosco eventually found the diamond shaped, shiny decorations that she wouldn’t need until later when she did her burlesque number, always starting in the leopard print costume, but wearing them just for safe measures.

Daya watched her as she peeled the sticky back off, then how Bosco turned to Daya with them in hand, Daya's eye quickly darting back to herself in the mirror hoping Bosco hadn’t noticed Daya staring, she did. Bosco chuckled to herself and took a few small steps until she was standing in front of Daya, topless.

“Can you put these on for me, please” Bosco asked, feigning innocence. Daya nodded and let out a little “mhm” putting the brush down, thankful that the layers of makeup would hide her blushing. The taller girl took the pasties from Bosco's hand, putting them on for Bosco, making sure she was fully covered, letting out a little hum as she did.

When she was done, Bosco looked down at herself, then at Daya's hands that awkwardly fell back into her lap. Bosco hummed in approval, leaving a kiss on Daya's hair, saying a quiet thank you as she turned back towards the bed.

Daya finished her makeup and they both finished getting ready, Daya opting for a matching leopard print outfit. They both put on their wigs, accessories, perfume and called it a day. They both packed bags with things they’d need for touch ups at the bar and headed out the front door. Bosco was ahead of Daya, walking downstairs into the lounge room. Bosco sat down on the couch, the silence throughout the house wasn’t uncomfortable but made Bosco feel a bit vulnerable. She pet both of their cats that were sleeping comfortably next to each other.

When Bosco heard her girlfriend's heels clicking as she descended the stairs Bosco placed a kiss on both the cats' heads trying not to look at Daya as she walked closer to the other girl.

“You ready?” Bosco heard come from behind her, looking over her shoulder to see Daya standing there, makeup bag in one hand, car keys in the other, Bosco nodded.

Daya drove, one hand in the steering wheel the other resting on Bosco's thigh, just a little ‘i’m here’ that Bosco always loved, resting her own hand on the top of Dayas.

Bosco looked out the window, at the rain that lightly poured down on the Seattle streets. The car ride was mostly silent, Boscos preferred it that way, enjoying whatever 2000s grunge Daya put on her to pull her into her own thoughts. Sure, it probably wasn’t good for her or her well-being but Bosco was always that kind of person, to let her own thoughts race but mostly keep them to herself.

Daya always secretly wished Bosco would be an easier nut to crack. Daya wore her emotions on her sleeve, so she’d never anticipated the person she’d share her life with to be someone that couldn’t be as open and honest as she was but those brown eyes just pulled her in.

Bosco also never anticipated that she’d end up with someone who thrived in vulnerability and sincerity, but Bosco knew as soon as they saw each other in that werq room that they had something special. Opposites really do attract sometimes.

Once they’d arrived at Grindhaus, Bosco took a deep breath, lacing her fingers with Daya as they walked inside. Bosco smiled and greeted everyone she saw as soon as she walked in, it was so mesmerising to Daya how Bosco could put on a front so easily when she needed to. Daya watched, taking a step back as her girlfriend hugged the door greeted, bartender, host, basically the entire bar, Daya being introduced to every single one.

At this moment puzzle pieces started to come together in Daya's mind, this is Bosco's family, these are a huge part of her life that Daya's only now meeting.

Once they’d made it backstage the room of half dressed queens erupted in smiles and laughter as Bosco walked in, and every single one gave Daya the same amount of attention as she’s ‘family’, according to one of the queens as they pulled Daya into a tight hug.

The rest of the afternoon went accordingly, Daya very quickly became loved by the locals at Grindhaus, she watched Bosco from the wings as she performed to Amy Winehouse doing her beloved burlesque number.

Daya had given Bosco a quick kiss when Bosco came off stage in nothing but pasties and underwear. Bosco's ankle slipped at one point during the performance, a mishap that the audience didn’t even notice but she knew Bosco would beat herself up over.

These thoughts were pushed to the back of Daya's mind when she heard her name announced for her final number, just a few more minutes and she’d be able to spend the rest of the night with Bosco and all her new friends.

Daya finished her number by stapling a dollar bill into the side of her thigh. The audience stands up and cheers, Daya's chest is rising and falling rapidly but keeps a smile on her face, the spotlight on her making her feel alive. She blows a kiss to the audience and walks backstage, the adrenaline wearing off and she feels good, ready to just sit down with a drink.

When Daya makes it through a corridor and into the backstage area, nearly tripping on about 3 wigs on her way she makes it back to her little corner where her makeup bag sat, and no Bosco. Daya's eyes scanned the room but couldn’t see her girlfriend anywhere.

Daya's shoulders fell, disappointed. She grabbed her powder walking over to one of the mirrors, fixing under her eyes. When she was finished another queen walked in, one that Daya recognised from Bosco's photos and stories about the bar.

“Hey Jane” Daya spoke up, getting the other girls attention.

“Do you know where Bosco is?” Daya asked, trying not to let any concern in her voice show. The other girl continues moving to sit in the chair next to Daya to fix her wig. “No I haven’t, sometimes when socialising gets a bit much for her though she’s usually outside, through that door” The other girl said, pointing to a door that led to an employee only parking lot.

“Oh okay thankyou, i’ll go check”

Daya put away her powder, if Bosco wanted to be alone Daya was more than happy to go sit down inside with a drink, but obviously just wanted to check her girlfriend was okay first since she’d been acting off all day, probably just tired.

Daya's heels clicked against the hardwood as she approached the door. She slowly pushed it open and when she did she saw Bosco. Sitting in nothing but pasties and underwear in the empty, dark parking lot, smoking a cigarette on the curb.

This definitely was a rare sight for Bosco, to be completely honest Daya didn’t even know she still smoked, Daya being under the impression it was really only a ‘few times a year’ thing, she must've borrowed someone else’s.

Daya quietly sat down next to her girlfriend who only then realised Days was there, her head snapping toward Days, her eyes wet.

“What’s been going on?” Daya asked, looking into Bosco's eyes, this was so unlike her. Bosco was sitting, her knees close to her chest, one elbow resting on her knee, the other holding the cigarette close to her lips. She wasn’t expecting anyone to come out here and see her like this.

Daya looked down at her girlfriend, mostly naked and crying in the cold, alone. Bosco slowly looked away from Daya when she asked the question, taking a long drag of the cigarette, her eyes landing on whatever was in front of her. Her hands shook as she pulled it away from her mouth, Daya could see it.

Daya's eyes never left Bosco who dropped her head, her forehead resting on her forearm, her shoulders shaking. Before Daya could react by pulling her girlfriend into her arms Bosco lifted her head, dropping her cigarette onto the floor, putting it out with her heel then curling back in on herself.

Daya shuffled closer, her arm wrapping around until it was holding Bosco's other shoulder, allowing the older girl to lean into her. After a few moments Bosco lifted her head, resting it against Daya's shoulder, her hands covering her mouth to stifle the sobs that forced their way through her lips.

Bosco cried, and Daya let her. Bosco's eyeliner was running down in black streaks totally ruining her makeup, but you know what? for once Bosco was letting herself cry, not trying to hold back tears or apologise for being a burden. She was hurting and letting Daya see that, and to Daya that was everything.

Daya would hold Bosco's shaking frame every single day if that’s what it took for Bosco to stop bottling up her feelings.

After a few minutes of raw, unfiltered sobs against Dayas shoulder the other girl had begun to calm down, the tears still flowing but no longer taking over her whole body.

“Do you want to go home, baby?” Daya asked, sweetly. The blonde couldn’t look into her eyes but nodded. As if being able to read Bosco's mind Daya spoke up. “I’ll go say goodbye to everyone, just tell them you’re not feeling well, they won’t mind” Bosco once again nodded, they both stood up, Daya properly pulling Bosco into her arms.

Bosco's tears continued to flow, against her wishes and was too exhausted to apologise for it, just letting her girl hold her.

Eventually they’d made it in the car, Daya saying a quick goodbye to everyone who wished Bosco well. They were now both in the car on the way home, Daya turned the radio on quiet, just so that Bosco wouldn’t feel too self conscious in the silence. During the entire car ride, Daya's hand never left Bosco's thigh. Bosco looked out the window, not daring to look at her girlfriend.

Bosco cried quietly the entire drive home, Daya giving her space just whispering an occasional “it’s okay to cry, just let it out” "you're safe”

By the time they’d made it home Bosco was done with crying, a few occasional tears slipping down her cheeks regardless. Her makeup looked rough, her cheeks covered in black streaks, her forehead red from resting it against the window and her lips swollen, but to Daya she was still the most beautiful girl she’d ever seen.