If Kaia didn't already trust Imani with her life, she would have been a little daunted by how quickly her fondness for the other girl grows tenfold as soon as she thoroughly reads her lyrics for the very first time.

The fact that Imani writes stories about the moon and the stars in her songs doesn't surprise her at all. Kaia's smile widens with every word she reads, the hope shining through the alphabets strung together leaving her chest warm in more ways than one.

Kaia had always thought that Imani was beautiful.

But if she had thought that it was the extent of her adoration, she was devastatingly wrong. Because now that Kaia has gotten a peek inside the artistic side of Imani's mind, she feels like she could burst from the love she feels in this very moment.

It is a little unfair, though, how long she spends doting over Imani's lyricism, because she's well-aware of how Sean and Juni are also equally brilliant. She's a little stumped by the massive difference in their styles—the way Juni's words are often playful and focus on the little joys of life, Sean's words are the exact opposite with their thunderous honesty about the less bright parts, and Imani's words are like the calm waves of the sea—but with a shake of her head, she reminds herself that this is why they all work together so well.

She knows that Layla and Ved often contribute to the writing as well, and are the heads behind the structures of all of their songs, which automatically means that Kaia's work is considerably less with their band than there usually is with other musicians.

That puts her in a spot where her main focus is to figure out how they should bring LM to light in a way that gives way for their friendship to not just breathe, but visibly bloom. Kaia already knows that they'd do well, but there's no way she'll allow 'well' to be the edge of their exposure to the world. They were already doing well. They don't need Abyss for that.

Kaia wants people to see them and immediately know that their bond isn't manufactured. She wants people to see them on camera and know that this is how they are behind it too. She wants people to feel as strongly about them as she does. Right off the bat.

She needs to know their views on this before she can plan anything further, though.

Leaning back on the couch, she stretches her arms above her head and then rolls her head to the side with a wince to get rid of the twinge in her spine. Right when she's wondering if she should throw herself into the bathroom for a quick warm bath to relax her muscles, Bowie grabs her attention with a bark.

She cranes her neck to look at him, only to find him wagging his tail wildly and eagerly shuffling his paws as he stares outside the window.

"Bo?" she calls, but the dog pays her no mind, only letting out another bark. Louder than the one before. Kaia blinks a few times and sets her laptop aside so she can walk over to him. "Whoa, easy boy, who is it?"

Her palms have barely settled on the glass before she looks down, and finds the subject of Bowie's interest talking to the building security guard, looking small from her living room.

Aching body forgotten and a warm smile immediately slipping onto her face at the sight, Kaia pushes herself away from the window to make her way to the bathroom so she can wash away any leftover traces of tiredness off her face.

She's already set the tea kettle on the stove by the time the doorbell rings.

Kaia knows her cheeks are flushed with happiness when she opens the door.

The sight of Imani's shy smile is the first thing that greets her, but before either of them can react further, Bowie barks loudly to announce his own presence, and Kaia opens the door wider with a roll of her eyes to let Imani in, who immediately crouches in front of Bowie with a coo.

Kaia gently closes the door behind them, and leans her back against it with her arms folded across her chest, the familiar warmth that blooms under her skin every time she sees Imani with her dog making itself known again.

"Hiii," Imani sings, taking Bowie's big face between her hands, voice already getting high and sounding like she's talking to a baby. Ever since Kaia told her that Bowie likes being talked to, Imani has made it a point to have a whole conversation with him every time they meet. Kaia is so impossibly fond of them, she feels like her heart could flutter straight out of her chest.

After a minute or two of watching Imani lovingly run her fingers through Bowie's fur, Kaia clears her throat. "I'm going to go check on my tea, so just call me over when it's my turn, okay?" she teases, and warmth seeps into her belly at the giggle that Imani lets out in response.

Imani straightens up nonetheless, but not before pressing the softest of kisses to the top of Bowie's head—as she always does—before she turns to Kaia with her arms open.

And Kaia more than willingly lets herself be wrapped in Imani's fresh, freesia scent with a grin, basking in the familiarity with which Imani always tucks herself under the chin of the person she hugs in a way that makes her look way smaller than she already is.

"So dramatic," Imani says in her ear with a playful click of her tongue, but Kaia doesn't miss the hitch in her breath when she wraps her arms around Imani's waist. When she pulls back to look Kaia in the eye and tilts her head to one side, the latter tightens her arms a little. Just a little. "Hi."

Kaia barely, barely makes it in time to internally squash the urge to lean in and kiss her. Don't, she tells herself, returning Imani's smile with a warm one of her own. Don't go there. "Hi."

While Imani searches her face, Kaia allows herself to stare back. When Imani's hand comes up to tenderly brush the bangs off of Kaia's forehead, she closes her eyes and locks away the delicate moment somewhere safe. Somewhere she can reach for it and remember it whenever she wants. "You look tired," Imani says, and when Kaia opens her eyes, Imani's smile has dimmed a little.

"I... may or may not have slept a little late last night."

Imani hums, scrunching her nose. "I wanna ask how late but I also don't wanna, like, nag."

"You can ask," Kaia assures, and then clears her throat. "Can't promise I won't lie, though."

With a laugh, Imani pushes her away, which is kind of pointless considering that the very next second, she reaches for Kaia's arm for support so she can toe her shoes off. Kaia internally pats herself on the back for bringing the smile back to her face. "God, you're so annoying," Imani says, but her fingers have now slid down and locked around Kaia's wrist so she can pull her into the living room.

Kaia thinks that she has made a lot of good decisions in her life. Telling Imani that I like her is the best one yet, though, she muses, letting herself be dragged inside.

Imani lets out a noise of disapproval as soon as she spots Kaia's laptop on the couch. "Weren't you supposed to have the day off?"

"Maybe I was watching a movie or something. Have a little faith—"

"Yeah? Which one."

"Uh..."

"Exactly." Imani stares up at her with her hands on her hips for effect, and Kaia can't hold back the smile that tugs at the corners of her lips. She would have reached out and pinched Imani's nose if she hadn't added a, "And you were going to check on your tea, I think."

"Ah, fuck, hold on." Kaia speedwalks into the kitchen to turn the stove off, Imani's laughter resonating behind her. Her presence always seems to fill the house with comfort; warm in a way that Kaia wasn't used to before.

They've only been dating a few weeks, and get along like friends more than anything. Well... minus for the times when Kaia has to work really, really hard to push back the part of her that urges her to kiss Imani every time she's within touching distance.

She knows Imani is comfortable around her, had already been wondering before Juni, with a secretive little smile on their face, told her one day that Imani is only this playful and unreserved with people she would trust with her life.

Kaia doesn't want to do anything to taint that.

And honestly, most of the time they spend together is because of work anyway.

Imani is sitting on the couch and leaning down to pet Bowie's fur when Kaia comes back with two steaming mugs of tea.

"Stay for dinner?" She offers, handing one of the mugs to Imani before sitting down as well and getting a shy 'thanks' in return.

"Ah, I'm supposed to invite you over instead, actually," Imani says, pulling her legs up on the couch and crossing them under her. "Lay got that job as a designer at Coronet so we're celebrating and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be allowed inside the house if I don't bring you with me."

Kaia laughs, feeling a surge of genuine happiness rush through her veins at the news. She knows Layla had been struggling with her old modeling gigs, and the fact that she can finally work in an environment where she's a hundred percent comfortable makes Kaia heave a relieved sigh.

Besides, the agency has been working very closely with Abyss for years now. Kaia not only trusts them, but also believes that this is going to be convenient for Layla when she has to hop between the two careers for a little bit.

"Of course," Kaia replies softly, a playful undertone to her words. "Only because I don't want you roaming the streets, though."

Imani laughs, and Kaia worries that she's beginning to fall a little in love a little too soon.

She sobers up pretty quick though, and looks down at her mug when she speaks. "I know that you, uh... always tell us to take some credit but..." She glances up at Kaia, the smile on her lips a little shy and the look in her eyes a lot grateful, "I really hope you know that none of this would have been possible without you."

That's not true, Kaia wants to tell her, but she knows Imani would just shake her head and tell her to stop being so humble. But Kaia wishes she could tell her that she really does mean it. She knows their band would go places with or without her.

But because Imani doesn't believe it, at least not right now, Kaia reaches for her hand and brings it to her lips, and brushes them across her knuckles instead.

"I've been meaning to talk to you guys about something anyway, so dinner together sounds great," Kaia tells her after a few moments, aware that the heat that she feels on her cheeks probably shows on the outside too but choosing to ignore it. When the smile on Imani's face grows amused, Kaia quickly looks away and clears her throat. "I was thinking we could go for a narrative or concept for your first music video later and work with something that lets people know where your roots are instead."

When she looks at Imani, she finds her listening attentively.

"I know we were also inclined towards a performance video at some point, but I feel like a combination of that and a bunch of stuff from your lives together would make a really, really beautiful blend."

"So like... a documentary?"

"Yeah, but make it lighter." Kaia squeezes Imani's hand in her hold where it's resting on her lap. "Like a vlog, almost."

Imani tilts her head to one side, and a moment later, makes an affirmative noise in her throat.

"We already have loads of recordings we could use."

"Exactly what I was thinking." Kaia confirms. "I just need to know if everyone else would be comfortable with that, and if yes, then we can start working on it right away."

Imani rolls her eyes good-naturedly, and Kaia doesn't miss the fond lilt to her lips. "Ved is going to be overjoyed, if anything. He's the one who always goes around recording everything."

Kaia chuckles. "I can assure you, his hard work won't go to waste."

a/n: ah, yes, 2k+ words of kaia and her big brain purely for self indulgence