Chapter Text
Sophie led a blindfolded Ryan to her Jeep and securely fastened her seatbelt for her once she was seated on the passenger’s side. She had already put the seats down in the second row of her Jeep Grand Cheroke and set everything up perfectly in the back.
“Soph…” Ryan turned to face her but couldn’t see anything due to the blindfold. “This is giving, kidnapping, not date.”
Sophie could see the slight upturn of her lips, giving away her joking. “You’re lucky the handcuffs I ordered aren’t due to arrive until tomorrow.”
She turned to face forward in her seat again as she bit down on her bottom lip. Sophie smiled and leaned across her center console to kiss her cheek. “Patience.”
Twenty minutes later, Sophie pulled onto a dirt road and laughed at Ryan’s earlier comment. “Okay yes, in hindsight, this is giving kidnapping, potential murder in the woods vibes, but trust me.” She laughed harder when she glanced over at Ryan who was holding onto the door handle for dear life. She pulled into one of the designated spots towards the back of the lot and reached for Ryan’s hand. The shorter roommate turned to face her direction.
“Is this the part where you lead me to my death?” She deadpanned.
Sophie kissed the back of her hand before unbuckling herself and hopping out of her car. She came around to the passenger’s side and leaned over to unclip Ryan’s buckle too, pausing to steal a kiss before helping her out of the Jeep. Once Ryan had stepped out of the way, she kicked the door shut with her foot before taking both of her roommate’s hands and guiding her toward the trunk.
She released Ryan’s hands and hit the button for her trunk to open before reaching up and around to untie the blindfold from Ryan’s eyes. She waited patiently as Ryan adjusted to the change in lighting, hoping she would earn the reaction she was looking for with her plan. She watched as Ryan looked around at the large screen and rows of cars and then as her eyes wandered to the back of Sophie’s open Jeep. There were blankets and pillows and snacks. “Wow.” It was barely a whisper, but Sophie heard.
When she finally met Sophie’s eyes, she smiled excitedly as she sat on the back of the car and quickly took her shoes off before scooting herself back to sit against the pile of pillows. She was glad that she told Ryan to dress comfortably. She looked so cute and cozy in her sweatpants and oversized flannel shirt. “Are you going to join me or just stand there staring?” A playful tilt of her head and the tone of her teasing made Sophie smile and place both of their shoes on the back of her car under the edges of the blankets. She crawled up to sit beside her roommate with a shy smile. So far so good.
She relaxed when Ryan stole a kiss to ease some of her nerves. “This is quite the setup you have here.”
“Don’t be too impressed…yet.” At Ryan’s curious expression, Sophie turned to the side and grabbed the basket full of snacks and handed Ryan her Sour Patch Strawberries and Boom Chicka Pop sea salt popcorn. Curious turned impressed.
“You know my favorite movie snacks?” She squinted at her in disbelief. “Mary told you?”
Sophie looked mock-offended. “Absolutely not. You said during our first movie night that you love the Boom Chicka Pop popcorn because it’s vegan, but you don’t buy it often because the “stupid bag is half full of air,” and the time you forced me to watch the Proposal with you, we argued about the best flavor of Sour Patch Kids and you said that you like the watermelon ones, but there’s something about the strawberry ones that make them the best.”
Ryan’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Wait, so you do hear me when I speak?” She couldn’t believe Sophie remembered these seemingly miniscule things that she’d said. “Half the time I speak to you, I barely get a response.”
Sophie covered her flushed cheeks as she pulled out her own Smartfood popcorn and pretzel M&Ms and handed Ryan her travel mug with hot tea. Ryan eyed her curiously as she took the offered drink. “See…this what is this about?”
The taller roommate tried to swallow some of the nerves. “I’m just…” She struggled to put her thoughts and feelings into words. “You make me… well a little nervous.” She admitted refusing to meet Ryan’s eyes.
“You brought two blankets?” Ryan asked quizzically, trying to change the subject.
Sophie stammered. “Uh…yeah?”
“We could just share one?” Ryan raised her eyebrows.
“Oh yeah… well on the couch we usually… I- yeah I guess we can share.” She conceded.
Ryan’s laughter at her own teasing made Sophie pout. “Soph, I’m kidding.”
Sophie scoots over in mock annoyance and throws one of her pretzel M&M’s at Ryan.
The shock on her face was well worth it for Sophie who laughed, until she felt a flying sour strawberry hit her forehead. Ryan giggled and scooted herself over closer to Sophie who had run out of room to figuratively run. “Two blankets are always better than one…” Ryan tossed one over them as she cuddled next to Sophie, followed by the other. “Especially, since it’s so chilly.” Fall had just hit and the cooler temperatures at night were already making Sophie shiver slightly.
Sophie smirked as she turned her head to face Ryan.
“What?” Ryan squinted at her with only the soft glow of the screen lighting her face.
“There are other ways to keep warm.” Sophie pulled Ryan’s leg to rest in between her own as she ran her hand up Ryan’s sweatpants clad thigh.
“Hm…” Ryan reached her hand over to wrap behind Sophie’s neck, pulling her in for a slow kiss.
After a loud rumble of thunder, the screen went black which made both women tense for a moment. Sophie remembered she strung small lights along the top of her Jeep and felt around for the small switch. She finally found it once her eyes adjusted to the darkness and wished she had been ready to take a picture of Ryan’s reaction. Mouth slightly open and eyes wide and sparkling with the reflection of the lights.
An announcement came through the speakers in Sophie’s car. Due to inclement weather, the showing of The Woman King will be postponed an hour. You are welcome to wait until the storm passes. The snack bar will remain open during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Sophie felt a pang of disappointment. Her date plans did not include Gotham’s unpredictable weather. Ryan must have felt the change in her roommate’s mood. “Soph?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you have a sunroof in here?”
“Yeah? Why?” Sophie’s confused. It’s torrentially down-pouring. What does Ryan want to do with the sunroof?
Without responding, Ryan wiggled her way out of Sophie’s embrace and maneuvered her way into the driver’s seat. Sophie leaned up on her elbows as she watched Ryan’s tiny frame situate herself in her seat. She hit a few switches and they both looked up to the roof of her car as the piece blocking the view of the sky moved slowly to the side. Ryan turned off the car again and moved herself back into her original position after pulling Sophie more into the middle of the car, so their heads were directly under the sunroof.
“I love this.” Ryan stated while looking up through the glass of the sunroof.
Sophie glanced at her with a crease between her eyebrows. “What? The rain?”
The shorter of the roommates smiled softly, meeting Sophie’s gaze for a moment before turning back toward the sunroof. “Mhm. Rain, storms…it’s nice, peaceful.” She had closed her eyes while Sophie continued to stare, tracing the outline of her face under the soft glow of the fairy lights. Personally, Sophie hated the rain. It ruined her plans, it made everything smell weird, she hated when her hair got wet. “Just close your eyes for a minute.” Sophie furrowed her brows again but closed her eyes. “Listen to the rhythm of the rain drops, take a deep breath.” Sophie listened and took a deep breath and then opened one eye to chance a glance at Ryan who smiled like she could feel Sophie watching her. Without opening her eyes, she found Sophie’s hand between them and laced their fingers together as she rubbed her thumb in soothing circles. Sophie closed her eyes and tried again to hear what Ryan heard in the rain drops.
“It’s relaxing. Calming, water sounds.” Ryan’s eyes remained closed, while Sophie took another peek at her roommate. “When I was a baby, I was very colicky. Apparently, the only sound that would put me to sleep was the sound of running water.”
Ryan never really shared much about herself. Neither of them had, besides the basics. For Sophie, it felt like Ryan opening this door for them was the next step and she would meet her each step of their journey.
The rain started pouring down in buckets, ricocheting off the metal and glass of the car. Streaks of lightning lighting up the sky, even louder rumbles of thunder shook the car. One particularly loud and sudden rumble of thunder caught Sophie off-guard as her body tensed.
Ryan finally opened her eyes and turned to face her. “It’s just thunder. You’re not scared, are you?”
Sophie turned toward her too. “I’m not scared it’s just loud. Everyone knows the safest place to be in a storm is the car.”
“I can put some music on…” Ryan offered.
“Oh great, something we haven’t fought about yet. Let’s see your taste in music then.” Sophie playfully rolled her eyes.
Ryan’s smile would light up the car even without the small fairy lights. “My music taste is superior. You never know what you’ll get when I hit shuffle. A little bit of this and that…”
Sophie eyed her skeptically. “If you start playing heavy metal in this car, I’m out.”
Ryan chuckled as she scrolled through her playlists. “Trust me, you won’t want to leave this car until this storm passes.” They both looked up at the dark sky, rain, still falling heavily.
A familiar melody filled the space between them, and Sophie’s eyes lit up this time as she smiled.
“See you already like my music and on the first song.” Ryan’s cocky grin widened.
“How can you not love Victoria Monet’s music?” Sophie quipped.
“True, true. Although this one is just the interlude.” The short song ended and transitioned into another song that Sophie didn’t know.
“Play it again.” A demand. Ryan raised her eyebrows. “Please?” She punctuated her request with a kiss to Ryan’s hand that was still tangled in her own.
“Wait...are you finally going to sing for me?” Ryan asked, eyes lighting up.
Sophie sat up and picked up the small remote for the lights. She tapped the top edge and cleared her throat.
“Is this thing on? Mic check 1, 2. Mic check 1, 2.” Sophie forced her express to remain stoic as Ryan’s laughter filled the car.
She winked at her roommate, lying next to her with an expectant expression. “This song is dedicated to the hot groupie up front.” She pointed at her, playfully, touching her index finger to the tip of Ryan’s nose.
Ryan laughed again at Sophie’s goofiness as she wrinkled her nose at the touch. She was ready to hear this infamous singing of hers though. She hit play on the song again and laid back, waiting.
With her fake microphone in hand, Sophie closed her eyes and sang, making sure she was slightly louder than Victoria so her own voice could be the main focus.
Go head act a fool in it
Freestyle with me 'til you find your groove in it
Ryan had sat up as Sophie’s voice overtook the small space, beyond impressed at the captivating cadence of her singing. She remained quiet but intent, memorizing the way she closed her eyes and seemed to lose herself in the melody while Ryan lost herself in the lyrics spilling from her roommate’s lips.
U-haul 'cause I might let you move in it
'Cause I ain't had nobody hit it like you hit it
And it feels like I'm gonna know you for the rest of my life
It's safe to say that we might even be falling in love
Ooh, love, love, love
Ooh, love, love, love…
Sophie’s voice was beautifully, soulful with just the perfect level of rasp, different to the original artist of the song, but no less impressive. Victoria Monet definitely had at least one thing right, they might be falling in love, or at least Ryan was, even before the singing. But the passion behind Sophie’s voice only made her fall harder in that particular moment.
“Soph…” She didn’t have the words. “Wow.”
She smiled shyly at Ryan who still sat, practically starstruck. “Speechless huh? Maybe, I should sing more often. Midargument perhaps? That way I’ll actually get a chance to speak and make my point.”
“Very funny.” Ryan rolled her eyes. “As long as I can place my requests…?” She added, hopefully.
After an hour of waiting for the storm to pass, snacking on their popcorn and candy, and Ryan begging Sophie to sing just one more song, as Sophie continued her teasing response of, I’m not a jukebox, the theater announced that the premier would be rescheduled, since the rain had yet to stop.
_________
Ryan sat on the counter while Sophie puts away their leftover snacks and drinks. Sophie finished and just stared as Ryan scrolled through TikTok laughing hysterically at some man who makes videos with his Doberman. She was so beautiful. Her laugh was contagious. She was kind and caring and fierce and loving. She was patient and understanding. She was supportive and thoughtful. Ryan Wilder was everything. Tonight, was the first of many firsts, for Sophie as an individual and for Sophie’s relationship with Ryan.
“Ryan?” She was laughing so loudly she couldn’t hear her.
Sophie walked closer and tapped the top of Ryan’s phone. “Hello? Earth to Ryan? And you say talking to me is like talking to a brick wall.”
Ryan wiped a tear from her eye from laughing so hard. “Sorry, what did you say?”
Sophie took a step closer, nudging her knees apart enough to make space for her. “I said… I want you to be my girlfriend.” She hadn’t actually said the words before now, but that’s what her mind had been screaming at her to say for the last few hours.
“Is that a question or do I not get a say in the matter?” Ryan teased, appearing to be easing some of her own internal battles. The smile on her face, no less bright and contagious.
“We already Uhauled… isn’t this what comes next?” Sophie asked.
Ryan bursted into laughter. “Sophie Moore, have you been on urban dictionary looking up lesbian vernacular?”
The taller roommate laughed and shook her head, not knowing how to respond to that. Thankfully, her roommate was rarely lost for words. “I’ll have you wearing flannels in no time.”
“Although I admit, this style works for you...” Sophie ran her fingers down the seams of her open flannel starting at the collar. “I don’t think it would suit me the same.” They didn’t break their eye contact as Sophie slowly pushed the fabric down her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. She pulled her roommate to the edge of the counter and wrapped her arms around her back as she leaned in for a kiss. “I had a dream about this…”
“Oh?” Ryan discarded her phone on the counter and ran her fingers up the length of Sophie’s arms before interlacing her fingers behind her neck, pulling Sophie even closer as she deepened the kiss. “Tell me...” She leaned in to whisper against Sophie’s ear. “Better yet, show me.”
Ryan’s hands moved down to Sophie’s waist, wrapping her legs behind Sophie’s thighs. Sophie tilted her head back giving Ryan access to her neck as she alternated kissing, licking, and grazing her teeth along her smooth skin.
Sophie’s pulse had quickened, and her breathing had become erratic. Somehow, she remembered her question remained unanswered. “Wait…” She held Ryan’s face in her hands, looking into her impossibly dark eyes. “…you’re distracting me.”
Her devilish smirk and the way her fingertips were dancing along the waistband of her sweats were almost enough to let it go until later, but Sophie wanted the answer, needed an answer.
“Aht aht.” She laced both of their hands together. “Let me rephrase, since you’ve probably already forgotten the question.” Sophie brought their linked hands behind her back so that Ryan was leaning forward into her space. “Ryan Wilder, may I have the pleasure of calling you my girlfriend?”
“Hmmm. We barely agree on anything, you hate my movie choices and questioned my music taste. You are annoyingly neat, and I know that you clean up after me as soon as I leave for work.” Sophie couldn’t believe she was really weighing the pros and cons right now. “On the other hand, after that little private concert and a ridiculously cute first date….?” Ryan paused leaving Sophie hanging on. “Hmmm…” She wiggled one of her hands loose and tapped her chin with her index finger, giggling as Sophie raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “Yes, Sophie Moore, I’d love to be your girlfriend.” With an annoyed sigh of relief, Sophie smiled and leaned in to seal their relationship with another kiss. After only a chaste touch, Ryan leaned back while Sophie chased her lips.
As ready and willing as she was, she already knew Ryan was going to make their first time slow and sensually torturous. Her impatience was buckled up for the ride right alongside her. Ryan had now freed both of her hands from Sophie’s gentle grip and used the freedom to pull the burgundy Henley over the taller woman’s head, dropping it to the floor on top of her discarded flannel. Sophie felt her eyes roam over her torso and arms and chest, as she held back from touching her just yet. “Are you sure?” Ryan’s whispered question was soft and gentle. She would never push. She was willing to wait until Sophie was sure she was ready.
“Yes.” Sophie had never been surer. She took Ryan’s hands and placed them on her skin. Her cold hands made her shiver. The realization dawned on her that Ryan knew what she was doing, while Sophie had somewhat of a clue but not the same level of experience as Ryan. She was suddenly struck with panic and felt the need to vocalize a disclaimer. “Um…I might not be good at first…” She whispered back shyly.
“They do say practice makes perfect.” Ryan jokingly reassured her, but she could sense Sophie’s nerves. She took her chin between her index finger and thumb and tilted up, but only slightly. “Hey…” She waited for their eyes to connect. “We’ll go slow. There’s no rush.” Sophie nodded; lips twisted to the side in worry. Worry that she wouldn’t be good, worry that she wouldn’t be enough, worry that this wouldn’t last, worry that her feelings for Ryan wouldn’t be reciprocated, worry that she may have rushed this, worry that she and Ryan could potentially ruin their friendship and roommate situation. Her overthinking was now ruining the moment. She casted her eyes down again, thinking maybe she wasn’t ready.
“Soph, look at me.” Ryan waited for her eyes to focus on her again, finding that same empathy and understanding she always found comforting in her dark eyes. “Regardless of if you’re ready right now, or next week, or even months down the road, I’m in this for the long haul.” That seemed to be the words she needed to hear and was finally able to turn off her overthinking long enough to know that she was more than ready, especially since that damn dream of hers always cut off before this part. She smiled softly before capturing Ryan’s lips, pouring her feelings into this moment until she had the right words to say.