Lost Then Found
chloe frazer x nadine ross
note: didn't mean to take long ahehe. life ya know. life
1, 3
“not my fault you wanted to test all those teas at the vendor.” nadine lugs her bags around, following the quick pace of her friend who’s urgently searching for the hotel she booked, a full bladder pioneering her near sprint. “look at you.” she chuckles to herself.
chloe gives a side-eye without turning her head, mockingly muttering to herself before saying out loud, “i remember you saying how good they tasted. and you expect me not to try any? also, be quiet. or you’ll be sleeping on the floor.”
nadine huffs through her nose. “unless you can defend two beds, you can’t make that threat.”
again, chloe mocks her, earning a soft kick to her heel that makes her steps stutter. she curses at nadine, a smile arising as a raspy giggle comes her way. the distraction is welcome, the pressure in her bladder subsided at the moment.
almost five minutes later, making their way through the crowd of tourists and locals, the duo finds their hotel. once they’re inside, chloe is at the front desk, getting herself and nadine checked in, the latter looking at the interior of the lobby while studying the people around them, staying alert.
the front desk clerk looks between chloe and nadine before handing them the room key, a genuine smile given when she says, “enjoy your stay. please let us know if you need anything.”
“will do.” chloe nods, returning a small smile, her bladder suddenly reminding her that the clock is ticking. she is off in an instant, heading to the elevators and nearly smacking the top button.
after saying ‘thank you’ to the individual, nadine follows chloe, amused. she feigns a groan and rolls back her shoulders. “i need a shower. imagine that warm water then a nap, ooh.”
“stop,” chloe laughs, walking through the opening elevator. “and i’m surprised you have a nap in you when you were sleeping most of the flight.”
“something called being tired and jet lag. look into it maybe?” nadine stands beside her then presses the button of the room’s floor. looking over at chloe, she pushes air through her teeth. the mimicking sound is quick to be noticed and garners a glare. “i’ll stop.”
trying to bite back a smile, chloe mutters, “unbelievable.”
nadine raises her left brow, watching the number on the elevator change to the third floor after a few seconds. it stops and chimes, the machinery whirring as it opens the doors to the floor. making a gesture for chloe to leave first, nadine bows too, stealing a glance at her backside when she walks out.
the two track down the room, its positioning at the end of the west hallway. unlocking the door with quickness, chloe runs inside and then leaves her bags in the foyer, sprinting to the bathroom after.
“you need to be more aware when you’re entering rooms.” nadine closes the door behind her, checking over the locks before setting each one in place. the first thing she does is dig into her bag and set a security bar under the door knob, slotting it in place against the floor. “bladder full or not.”
“yes ma’am, top security.” chloe sighs, finally relieved. “i will take note of that. but then i wouldn’t be able to watch you do what you love.” she cleans up then comes out of the bathroom, squinting her eyes as she looks around, eyes widening in unison with nadine once she realizes.
a single, neatly-made bed rests in the middle of the room, two chocolates resting on each pillow.
nadine’s head bows and she lets out a breath. “we have connecting rooms,” she assumes, walking forward further and looking along the walls for a door. her search falling short, she looks back at chloe and murmurs her name questioningly. “so while i was preparing for cave-diving, you were planning for a sleepover?”
chloe can’t hold the laugh back while she opens her phone to check her booking details. once she meets nadine’s serious expression, she purses her lips and hums, scrunching her face a bit. “i didn’t do this on purpose if that’s what your saying—”
“that’s exactly what i’m saying.” nadine returns to chloe’s side and looks at her phone with her, eyes narrowed while her lips are downturned slightly. “at least there’s a couch. could pull out”
side-eyeing her, chloe then finds the email and opens it. reading over the receipt, a realizing ‘ah’ softly coming from her. “thought i booked a two bed deluxe and must’ve mixed it with a single deluxe.” she shrugs and then pockets her device. “well…we’ll make do. right? slept through and in worse.”
“yeah. you definitely get the couch, by the way.” nadine grabs her bags and brings them to the more spacious area of the room. “chloe, i swear.”
“what? you’re getting the bed, i didn’t argue.” she lugs her bags to the other side of the room, walking over to the windows and closing the curtains. then she sits onto the couch with a soft grunt. squirming on the cushions, chloe says loudly, “i can affirm that you’re missing out.”
nadine walks away to the bathroom. “i bet.” the door shuts behind her.
forcing her tongue into the back of her front teeth, chloe holds back her smile and narrows her eyes a bit, really getting a feel of the couch. after glancing at the bathroom door, she gets up and goes over the bed, sitting on the edge for a second, standing immediately when she hears movement from nadine. the television stand and the surrounding drawers take up her fake interest.
“what are you doing?” nadine exits the bathroom, refreshed, looking over chloe as she returns to the main room. she starts taking off her boots, setting them beside the bed, ready to unwind for a moment.
“taking your advice and putting safety first.” chloe closes the drawer she’s looking through, facing her companion after. “or…what…” her words trail off, her silence beckoned by the first tug of nadine’s shirt over her head, the happy trail leading up from her waistband sparking intrigue. “you…don’t want me to care now?” she looks away and then glances back at her companion, walking slowly to her luggage and actually getting the bags situated.
facing away from chloe, nadine unhooks her bra and throws that aside too, a fresh leisure shirt found in her luggage for her to put on. “what? maybe you should get some rest.”
chloe tilts her head, sight smoothing along the flexing muscles in nadine’s back and arms, her lips parting with no words coming out. she thinks about something for a moment, scoffing at herself and shaking her head. her hands mess with the same shirt again and again, peering at nadine for a few seconds more before focusing on finding the right garments to take a nap in. “you get rest.”
nadine turns her head, looking over her shoulder. “what do you think i’m going to do? on the bed.”
“about that.” chloe stands, pointing at the comfy-looking mattress with her index fingers while she holds a thoughtful expression. “how do we go about scheduling when we switch?”
“to do what?” nadine takes a bag of snacks she bought from a vendor and opens it, wiggling it toward chloe in an offering motion.
she starts to wave it off but then changes her mind, heading over to her on that side of the room, trying to keep her focus on the food. “to use the bed.” she holds her hand out, beckoning nadine to serve her what she prefers instead of her digging in. “i can make a schedule.”
nadine scoffs, withholding her snack at the moment. “how long is this room booked?”
“a week give or take. why?”
“well, that week—give or take—is how long i’ll be on the bed.” nadine pops another chip into her mouth before giving chloe some. “think of it as a consequence. you know, things that happen when you lack focus or don’t pay attention.” she puts the bag in chloe’s hand, a downturned smile on her lips.
mouth open in astonishment, chloe clutches the bag subconsciously, crinkles speaking for her. “you’re not serious. and don’t say—”
“as a heart attack.” nadine unbuttons her pants before walking off the bathroom again with a fresh pair of sweats. “you like when i say that,” she says from inside the space.
a quick release of air through her nose accompanies a chuckle, chloe’s brown skin still warm from what her sights held just minutes before. “you don’t know what i like.” her smile expands hearing that laugh from the bathroom.
while nadine is in the bathroom, chloe changes her clothes too, disposing of her dirty garments in a separate bag. she dusts the chip residue from different spots in her outfit, brows furrowing with focus and confusion at the spread of food debris from just a few pieces.
“made a mess?”
chloe jumps at her companion’s voice and sudden proximity, looking up from cleaning the edge of her shorts. her lips jut slightly, dialogue halted once seeing nadine’s nipples poke from her thin, soft, dark green shirt. “um. yeah.” she chuckles to distract herself, gaze returning to her own body. “a very self-destructive snack by the way.”
nadine eyes chloe’s thighs, watching her slender finger swipe at the seasoning peppered onto the fabric of her clothes. she then tilts her head, her own fingers twitching when a thought to help arises. “or maybe you’re just a messy person. i’ve seen your place.”
“talking mess when you’re not in it and using up my groceries? that’s a new low, ross.”
“i said this to your face, standing in your kitchen, office and living room.” humored, nadine picks up the bag and continues snacking. “i’m just glad you don’t have a pet with that.”
a final swipe made to her shirt, she pats off her hands after. “you mean you don’t support the idea of me getting a cat?”
“do you even support it?” she sits on the edge of the bed, looking over at chloe, those gray eyes already settled onto her. “this is the first time i’m hearing of it. cats need attention and affection—are you home enough to do all that?”
chloe sneaks onto the bed and lays herself out, stretching and groaning lightly, feet purposely touching nadine’s right elbow. “sounds like you’ve thought it out more than me.”
humming, nadine looks to her friend’s feet, sight slowly traveling up her body before meeting her gaze. “i’ve been around you for a while; imagining your life with these little additions is what i do on my free time.”
chloe’s big toe nuzzles into nadine’s lower bicep softly. “aw, you like me that much?”
a disgusted look laced with playfulness is given to her, before nadine responds, “hardly.”