@hellpopgroove thanks for the ask :) keeping this in my inbox because you sent a second prompt and I might get back to it some time, and if it was out of my inbox I'd surely forget about it!
It's late by the time the meetings are done, and Deborah wants nothing more than fall into bed and ignore the rest of the world until her show on Saturday, and next to her Ava seems to be flagging as well - so much for the stamina of youth. Alas, they have to catch a plane back home first. The fact that it's a private plane which would wait for Deborah doesn't matter, she needs to be home tomorrow for contract negotiations, they can't stay another night at the hotel.
Ava shuffles onto the jet after her, eyes drooping, and Deborah pulls her into the seat next to hers before she can fall. Ava leans against her, mumbles something and falls asleep with her head on Deborah's shoulder.
Deborah tries to tell herself that the only reason she enjoys it so much is body heat, isn't there some psychological bullshit about needing to be hugged sometimes to be happy? It has absolutely nothing to do with it being Ava, who could never love her back. She fails at making herself believe this, and curses herself for not even being able to stop caring for the younger woman back when she betrayed her, because surely if that had no effect, nothing is going to make this infatuation disappear.
Then, she yawns. Well, at least Ava had a good idea when it comes to how to spend the flight home...
~
Deborah wakes to the sound of Ava shuffling with her backpack next to her. The plane is landing, she smiles knowing they will be home in less than an hour now, and she feels surprisingly well rested for a plane nap. Maybe that's an Ava-effect as well - she always sleeps better when they're falling asleep watching TV together.
"Pass me my phone?"
"Aww, dang," Ava looks up startled, apparently she hadn't noticed Deborah was awake. "You looked so peaceful, I wanted to - oh, but this is better! Can you wait a second? I wanna take a picture of you right now!"
"What?" Deborah gapes at her. Her hair is surely a mess, she didn't take off her makeup before falling asleep so she must look a fright... But Ava is looking at her so earnestly, so hopeful, Deborah sighs and nods for her to commence even if it turns out to be some sort of joke. Though really, Ava is much too funny to rely on that cruel sort of humor, Deborah thinks with a smile.
"Perfect," Ava murmurs, and a moment later she holds her phone screen under Deborah's nose. "You're so beautiful."
~
Feel free to reblog!
I might turn this into a longer piece for Ao3, but for now I hope you enjoyed this one-shot :)
Still taking prompts!
