#like none of the completed chaptered stories pass 20k and this one might follow the pattern

[squiddybeifong]

Table for Two, Chapter 9

On Ao3 here:

Atole and Dracula

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Barbara smiled as Raven helped her through the doorway, infinitely glad that her girlfriend’s apartment was on the first floor. As she shed her water-soaked sweater, Babs heard as the door shut and felt when the baker placed a kiss to her temple. 

Raven’s hands rubbed her goosebump-covered arms, worried that her favorite redhead was going to shiver her freckles off, “You wanna shower? There’s still plenty of hot water.”

“I’m fine,” Emerald eyes beamed up at her, “I’ve got you to keep me warm.”

There was a crack of thunder and both women looked to the window, seeing as the downpour of Gotham’s spring showers continued. Raven’s lips quirked down into a frown at the chill in the air, her apartment’s heating not enough to keep up with the old building’s draft. 

“How about I fix us up something to drink?”

Once she was sure that Babs was dry enough, she let the librarian get comfortable on the couch and headed to the kitchen. Brushing aside the cookbooks that she’d yet to put away and regretfully gazing at the still-soaking mixing bowls she accidentally left out overnight a few days ago, Raven considered the teas she had. Scrunching her nose when no particular flavor called out to her, her gaze settled on the bag of masa harina that Kori left behind after their last tortilla-filled study session. Peeking into her ever-growing spice cabinet to check that she had enough cinnamon, Raven called over her shoulder, “You ever tried atole?”

Babs hummed back, her attention on setting everything up the best she could with one hand, “Yeah, you’re gonna make some?”

Pulling out the brown sugar and checking that she had enough milk, Raven nodded to herself, “I think I have enough for both of us.”

Quickly grabbing a pot, Raven’s steps faltered as she caught sight of Babs relaxing on her couch, her arms in the air as she stretched. Her heart fluttering at the curve of her shoulders and the lazy way her glasses nudged out of place the baker was overcome with the urge to kiss her girlfriend. Feeling heat flush her face, Raven bit her lip and hastened to cook their drinks as fast as she could. 

When the smell of cinnamon and warm milk began to fill the air Babs grabbed her bag and pulled out her most recent check-out. She peeked at the thick square of plastic in her hand, smiling down at the dramatic painting that lined its cover. Gotham’s Public Library held many classics within its walls but this ensemble cast was supposedly the best audiobook that they carried. 

She slid the disc into the side of Raven’s old laptop, smiling as her girlfriend sat down next to her. Holding the two mugs of atole as pale hands wrapped them up in a few well-worn crocheted blankets, Babs sank against the warmth of her girlfriend’s side. There was a dull whir as the disc spun in Raven’s laptop, slightly shaking the machine as the audiobook prepared to play. 

A hum slipped out of Barbara as she took as big of a sip as the heat of her drink would allow, already feeling the cold being pushed out of her limbs. 

The audiobook started to play, filling the room and drowning out the patter of rain outside. As the cast began their rendition of Stoker’s most famous novel, Raven lazily trailed her fingertips up and down her girlfriend’s bicep to trace the top of her cast and then slide back up, gray eyes closing as she listened to the story. Her black nail polish was sharp against the dull white of Barbara’s cast, matching the multiple signatures and doodles that temporarily adorned her arm.

Pale pink lips spread into a lazy smile as Babs kept shifting against her side, the words coming out in a drawl, “Someone’s antsy.”

“And someone’s fingers are very warm,” The redhead immediately countered. There was half a  beat of silence and then Raven let out a laugh, her shoulders shaking as Babs buried her face in the crook of her neck, realizing what she had just said.

As the audio continued Babs pushed through her slight embarrassment, sing-songing out, “Well,  you know what they say about dark hair and handsomely good looks…” 

Gray eyes flicked to her face, not even trying to hide her amusement. Raven raised a brow as she playfully noted, “Last time I checked, Dracula was dark and ominous, not a pretty redhead.”

That got her a kiss to the underside of her jaw. Raven laughed at the sensation, tilting her head back and just barely remembering not to spill her drink as Babs nuzzled against her pulse. She felt as the librarian’s lips spread into a content smile against her skin and let her head completely fall back against the couch’s back, her heart thundering at how happy she was.

The rain continued to pound on the window but neither one minded. Babs wiped away any smudge her chapstick may have left of the baker’s neck and sipped at her drink, sighing in content as she rested her full weight against Raven. 

Another languid kiss was pressed to the back of her head. Smiling like the lovestruck fool that she was, Babs let her eyes close as she listened to the muffled beat of Raven’s heart. She balanced in that state of comfort-induced sleepiness as the next chapter started and Simon Vance’s voice filled the air.