#minffel is mentioned and is the focus of the other fic

[gemsofthegalaxy]

Hospital waiting room in the early hours of the morning w/ minffel! or Church tucked away on the edge of town with only a glowing cross to light it up w/ minlace (bc i know you also love minlace c:)

I legit took over two weeks to do these, oops, but since the first one ended up fitting with a post-finale story I wrote I think it was worth waiting.  

The story nothing like a hospital waiting room for an existential crisis can be found on ao3 by clicking here and corresponds to the minffel prompt, but readers may want to check out Isn’t this just like us (found here) 

But, for the other prompt, we have shorter minlace fic here (and there’s also some mild jacoffel!!!!

Isabel turns off the ignition in the car and looks over at Renée, whois frowning at her.

“What?” Isabel says. Renée just continues to frown, looking up at the lit-up cross on top of the church they’re parked in front of. “Oh,please. There’s gotta be a bathroom in there, it’s a church, there’s no way it’sunlocked.”

“I just… this feels weird. I dunno.”

“Well, go in the woods, then. See if I care,” Isabel says with a groan. “You’rethe one with the weak bladder here,” she takes her hands off the wheel andhuffs.

“Oh, don’t give me that,” Renée scoffs. 

Renée sighs a moment later and glances to the backseat,where Doug and Daniel are cuddled up and snoring loudly. She gives a tiredsmile and then shakes her head.

“Fine,” she mumbles, unclipping her seatbelt.

“Want me to come in with you?” Isabel asks.

“I’m just going to the bathroom, I think I’ll be alright,” Renéesays, rolling her eyes.

“Suit yourself. Just trying to use the buddy system, that you instated.”

“Ugh,” Renée groans, “if you want to come in there’s,nothing stopping you. Why are you so damn snippy tonight?”

“I’m not,” Isabel bristles.

“Yes, you are,” Renée says, then puts her hand on the handleof the car door.  

“Just go, so you can come back, and we can leave,” Isabel says, and Renéetakes in a breath through her nose, muttering one last ‘fine’ before she getsout of the car. “You’re snippy, too,” Renée overhears Isabel grumble.

Renée wanders into the dark church alone, using her phone toilluminate the way and searching for the bathroom that has to be in this place. Thankfully, she finds it in the firsthall, before even reaching the pews. Thankfully, she finds a light switch in the bathroom, but it’s still not very bright. It’s a little creepy, but after she pees, she takes a moment to smooth out her hair andlook at the deep, dark circles that have been under her eyes for what seemslike years now.

She heaves a grand sigh, and then walks back out in to thehall, starting towards the little porch where she first came in. When she takes astep past the first door something grabs onto her, saying a quick “BOO!”

Renée lets out a loud shriek like Isabel has never heard, andIsabel pulls her in to her body, cackling loudly.

“LOVELACE,” Renéescreams at her, whacking her on the side of the arm as Isabel starts to nearly crywith laughter. “I’m going to strangleyou, I can’t believe you just fucking didthat I swear to god,” Renéescoffs, entirely indignant as she grips Isabel’s biceps and shakes her alittle.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Isabel gasps, “holy fucking shit, Igot you tho.”

“I hate you,” Renéesays, and Isabel just bubbles with a laughter again, though much lighter thanbefore.

“I’m sorry, I was just too good an opportunity.”

“I’m gonna kill you,” Renée mumbles, dipping her head toIsabel’s chest.

“For real, I’m sorry. Well. Sort of,” Isabel says, petting Renée’shair. “But, uh… I’m sorry for the other stuff more.”

“Huh?” Renée asks, her face in Isabel’s collar. She snakesher arms around Isabel’s waist, and Isabel hugs her back.

“For being kind of, well, mean tonight. I’m just- I’m reallytired. This trip has been exhausting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been fun, but…”

“I get it,” Renée says, “it’s actually really draining to goto Disney World, and then decide to take a road trip back. Even after spendingcountless years in space getting used to high-stress situations.”

“It’s just really shitty when your vacation turns out to bea source of stress in and of itself, you know,” Isabel grumbles. “Nothing’s everas relaxing as I want it to be. That’s no excuse to take it out on you, though.”

“You’re forgiven,” Renée says. “I’ve had a rude tone withyou, too, anyway. It’s okay.”

Isabel hugs her tighter, and Renée nuzzles her head againstIsabel.

“Well, once we get home, we can try and take some trips to,like, beaches, and mountains. We’ll stay there for a while, so we’re notpressed for time. And we won’t schedule and plan the hell out of it. We’ll finda way to force ourselves to relax. Or die trying,” Renée says, making a noise ofamusement.

“Sounds like a plan,” Isabel says, laughing airly. “We should probably getback to the car.”

“Yes, and out of this creepy little church,” Renée replies.Isabel ducks her head forward to kiss her, and Renée accepts it, placing a handon Isabel’s cheek. After that, Renée sighs happily and they walk out withIsabel’s arm around her shoulders.

Renée gets in the passenger side and Isabel slides in thedrivers seat.

“Um, guys, did we hear, like… screaming? In there,” Dougasks, his voice sleepy and concerned.

“Yeah, I scared the fuck out of Renée. Hid in the hallwayand grabbed her.”

“HAH!” Daniel throws his head back. “Nice. Classic. That’sfucking great.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Renée mumbles. Isabel smirks and flips herhand behind the seat, Daniel leans forward and high-fives her.

“She even kissed me afterwards,” Isabel says.

“Sneaking into a lone church at 2am to scare and then kiss another woman?Iconic. You’re an inspiration to me every day, Izzy,” Daniel says.

“Thank you,” Isabel says, smirk evident in her voice.

Doug snorts, but he leans forward,“And are you alright, Renée?”                    

“Yeah, I’m fine. My heart startedbeating again, anyway.”

“Well, that’s… the optimal statefor it to be in, at least. Y’know, beating,” Doug says. “God, I’m tired.”

Isabel chuckles again as she puts thekey back in the ignition, then starts the car. “Same,” she says with a sigh.

“Let’s get home,” Renée says,looking back to smile at Doug. He returns the smile, and then leans back andloops his arms around Daniel again. Dan puts one arm around Doug’s shoulder andplays with his hair, the other coming around to hold Doug’s elbow where his armis wrapped around Daniel’s waist.

“Here we go,” Isabel says,glancing at Renée with a smile. Renée smiles back and leans over to kiss her onthe cheek before doing up her seat belt as Isabel pulls out of the church parkinglot and starts to drive along the way.