SHIP — LARA X Y/N

written by — @Minaliter (Me!)

The music from the party downstairs had faded into the background, leaving only the soft hum of the night and the occasional clink of distant laughter. Y/N was tired, the weight of the evening's festivities finally catching up with them. The air in Lara's apartment was cool and calm, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere they'd just left.

Lara stood in the doorway of the bedroom, her arms crossed casually, watching Y/N with a gentle smile as they fumbled with the zipper of their dress. The fabric clung to their skin in all the wrong ways now that the excitement of the night had passed. They were grateful, though, for the privacy, and even more so for Lara's presence. It had been a while since they'd spent time like this—just the two of them, away from the world.

"Need help?" Lara's voice was quiet, her tone warm with concern.

Y/N glanced over at her, the offer sounding more like an invitation than anything else. Their heart skipped a beat at the sight of Lara—her usual confident demeanor softened in the quiet of the bedroom, her posture relaxed, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on her features.

"Yeah," Y/N admitted with a sigh, turning their back toward her. "I'm... I'm a little out of it."

Lara's smile widened as she approached, her steps silent on the wooden floor. She reached for the zipper of the dress and pulled it down slowly, the cool air hitting Y/N's skin in contrast to the warmth of Lara's fingers. There was something so intimate about the moment—how Lara's touch was gentle, respectful, but not without a trace of lingering affection.

Y/N let their head fall forward, feeling the weight of the dress slide off their shoulders as Lara helped them free of it. As the fabric pooled at their feet, Y/N was left standing in nothing but their underwear, the vulnerability in the air palpable. They could feel Lara's gaze on them, and it sent a flutter of warmth through their chest.

"Are you cold?" Lara's voice was soft, almost concerned.

Y/N shook their head, glancing over at her with a small, appreciative smile. "No... just a little tired."

Lara's fingers brushed against their skin as she carefully folded the dress and set it aside. Her touch lingered for a moment, the simple gesture sending a shiver down Y/N's spine. Their eyes met, and something shifted between them—an unspoken understanding, a shared connection that had always been there, even if neither had acknowledged it aloud before.

Lara reached up, her thumb grazing Y/N's cheek as if to reassure them, her touch tender. "You're beautiful," she whispered, her voice low and sincere.

Y/N felt their pulse quicken at the words, their heart racing at the intensity in Lara's eyes. They moved closer without thinking, drawn to her like a magnet, the space between them closing in an instant.

The kiss was soft at first—just a gentle press of lips, hesitant, as if testing the waters. Y/N's breath hitched, and when Lara deepened it, a spark flared in Y/N's chest. It wasn't the frantic kiss of a party, but slow and thoughtful—two people who had been circling around each other for far too long, unsure of what came next.

Lara pulled back just enough to look into Y/N's eyes, her forehead resting against theirs. "Is this... okay?"

Y/N smiled, a little breathless. "Yeah. More than okay."

And as Lara kissed them again, this time with more certainty, Y/N melted into the moment, forgetting about the party, the night, everything except for the warmth and comfort of Lara's arms around them.

They didn't need words now. Just the quiet intimacy of the moment spoke volumes.