Staring at the familiar brick wall, Niska basks in the afterglow. Astrid had long since gone to sleep, leaving Niska to ponder with her thoughts. They had snuggled for a while, enjoying the sated experience before deciding to detach from one another and provide some space to breathe.

Niska doesn't mind, though; she prefers distance in order to regroup her thoughts.

The minutes feel like seconds except they turn into hours.

"You're so soft."

Niska blinks at the sound, happy that Astrid is awake, yet she has yet to reach out and touch her. She doesn't dare initiate contact first, no matter how much she wants to turn over in the bed and kiss her.

Its been quite a number of weeks now, enough for Niska to know she cares for Astrid. Really, truly cares. More than she has for anybody she can think of, aside from her family, of course. There's no ownership involved, rather running on something quite in-explainable. Whatever this flow of connection is, its seamless.

So Niska could lie right now — she could for that's what she's been doing up until now — though she would rather view it as omitting the truth than deceit. Her eyes close upon contemplation, for aren't they one of the same?

Her focus returns when delicate fingers trace over her shoulder blade; maybe some honesty would not go amiss?

"I woke up like this." The chuckle is not something she expects to receive, and she hasn't really time to respond, for Astrid is splaying her fingers across the expanse of her back, quick to voice her reply.

"Flawless."

"I wouldn't say that."

"No, its.. Nevermind." She turns around then, twisting her head to catch the remnants of a smile, wishing she understood the meaning behind it. Instead she leans forward, embracing Astrid, the desire to kiss her suddenly overwhelming. Clearly the move wasn't anticipated, for it takes Astrid a moment to reciprocate, slow to awake her motor skills.

Their lips lock together in a passionate exchange, hands desperate to quell the itch within, the need to explore and devour flesh.

"You say I'm soft," Niska recalls breathlessly, trailing her lips over Astrid's neck before biting the skin before her, "I think you're mistaken." The moan is enough to make Niska want more, making her descent to her shoulder blade, then to her chest and down still, that is until a shrill sound interrupts the moment.

"Ah crap, its the alarm." Astrid squirms away, batting at the alarm clock on the side. Niska settles back, wondering how the alarm came to exist in her flat when she never purchased one. Looking around the room, she notices a few objects not belonging to her, in-fact.

"I have to get up, I have an early shift." The begrudging tone of her voice is enough to shake Niska from her reverie and focus back on the woman climbing out of bed.

"No, you should stay." She moves to the edge of the bed, raising an arm to rest on Astrid's side, only to second guess at last minute and hover hesitantly in the air. Astrid leans into the touch, and settles temporarily into Niska, stealing a moment before the madness begins again.
Niska doesn't want for it to end, though.

The frown causes Astrid to snicker lightly, and caress her cheek in hopes of making her feel better.

"I wish I could, but I need to pay the bills and this job helps to do that."

"But you stay here most of the time."

"While this is true, I still have an apartment to pay for when I'm not here." The tiny kiss Astrid leaves on her nose makes Niska's face contort before she decidedly looks away, bashfully.

"I will be back later." Astrid steals another kiss before removing herself from Niska's arms, stepping away with a spring in her step. It however dulls when she hears the quiet query muttered in the room.

"You promise?" Niska's not sure what prompt her to ask, maybe its because she can't stand to be away from her for too long. Maybe its some deep-seated guilt at having not revealed any ounce of truth to her, and fearing she will lose her as a consequence?

Or maybe, just maybe, its because the world is harsh and Astrid is a sanctuary in the midst of it all.

Astrid returns to the bed, her eyes rich with sincerity. There is a delicacy to the moment which she appreciates and laps up, earnestly.

"I promise."