the first time they kiss, sitara’s still talking about the sharks, and she can’t stop giggling. they’re on their way out of the aquarium and she’s thoroughly content. however places like this always look a little bit different when they’re devoid of people, and instead of taking the sliding walkway, sitara takes a moment to really take in the creatures that swim overhead. it’s like they’re in a different world here, and she doesn’t hesitate when josh comes close to her. she moves to her tiptoes and yanks him towards her with the hem of his hoodie. her lips crash against his and he’s taken back, but he returns the kiss. it doesn’t last long though as a member of the staff claims they’re closing in a few minutes. sitara can’t help but giggle as she leads him out. her lips are gentle, moreso than the morning light that drifts into the apartment as she’s curled up next to him. they’re both begrudgingly awake after spending the first night together. somehow she wonders if she might have taken advantage of him, but the grip he has on her tells her other wise. she can only imagine how wrench and the others will react to the marks on josh’s neck and shoulders but in all her lack of being awake she presses kiss after kiss to his frame. she’s not remotely awake, but she’s affectionate and very few have ever been lucky to see this side of her. he knows how lucky he is. josh takes ill given advice from wrench, he presses her against a wall when they’re alone in the hackerspace. in one of the few dark corners the large area holds and sitara is taken back, but she kisses him in return. nipping at his lower lip before it clicks in her head; this is not josh. this is not the timid guy she knew that was afraid of touching her too roughly for fear of hurting her. she informs him of this, and his reply is sheepish; i thought that’s what you wanted? she lets out a sigh of disapproval. she kisses him, and this time it’s gentle, her hand cupping his cheek as she claims she wants him, not someone he’s pretending to be. she’s drunk, he’s hyper off of one too many redbulls and they’ve done it; they’ve taken down blume. she brought him back to her place, which truthfully had morphed into their place over the time they’ve been dating. it’s eager and lustful and as the kiss breaks it’s filled with laughter and a bit of disbelief. they won. they did it and she can’t seem to stop touching him or vice verse. it’s a night for celebrating, and she’s almost one hundred percent sure that no one lasted at the hacker space; everyone’s gonna be coming in late tomorrow. two weeks and things are good. dedsec’s work is never done, but they’re fighting the good fight and things are… better. better than they’ve been. sitara can’t stop smiling, and it’s not forced any more. it’s reminiscent of their first not-date-date; the two of them sitting on the rooftop except they lingered. they didn’t have to worry about being hacked, about being worried. josh was distinctly different, he’d changed a lot in the time it took, but they all have. silence washes over them, but it’s not uncomfortable, and when sitara goes to say something. he kisses her. it’s gentle because josh doesn’t know how to be anything else. she smiles into the kiss as her hand grips the edge of his hoodie, keeping him close. she couldn’t be happier if she tried.