Day 17 - Sensory Deprivation
(Does this count as Kink if there is no sex & its fluff but it was requested so here you go)
"Sweetheart," Maggie's voice was soft, tender, her hand moving lightly down Alex's tear-streaked face, caressing her cheek. The blonde's hair, usually so perfectly styled, now stuck to her damp skin, framing her face in wild, messy strands. Alex tried to catch her breath, but the sobs wracked her body, unrelenting, and Maggie's heart clenched at the sight. She hated seeing Alex like this, so vulnerable, so overwhelmed.
"It's okay, babe," Maggie whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Alex's forehead. "I'm going to take care of you."
They had been about to have sex. When weren't they, these days? Alex had been insatiable, her desire seemingly endless, and Maggie had been happy to oblige. But now, looking back, Maggie realized the signs had been there all along. Alex was using sex the same way she'd used alcohol, as a way to escape, to numb the pain. It was her unhealthy coping mechanism, the one she always fell back on when things got too hard.
Alex's chest heaved as she tried to steady her breathing, but the tears continued to fall, her body shaking with the intensity of her emotions. Maggie's hand never left her, her thumb brushing away the tears as she softly guided Alex down onto the bed, her movements slow and careful.
"Shhh, I've got you," Maggie murmured, her voice a soothing balm against Alex's raw nerves. "You're safe with me."
Alex didn't respond, her body stiff and trembling as she clung to Maggie, her fingers gripping her bare shoulder as if she were a lifeline. Maggie could feel the panic coursing through Alex, the way her breathing hitched, the way her muscles tightened. She knew this was more than just a meltdown. This was Alex spiraling, drowning in her emotions, and Maggie needed to pull her out.
"Sweetheart," Maggie whispered, brushing her lips against Alex's temple, "I'm going to help you. But you need to trust me, okay?"
Alex nodded weakly, her eyes squeezed shut, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She was too far gone to speak, but she trusted Maggie. She always trusted Maggie.
"Good girl," Maggie murmured, her hand moving gently to Alex's hair, stroking it in soft, rhythmic motions. "I'm going to take away some of the noise, some of the things that are overwhelming you. It's going to help, I promise."
Alex didn't resist as Maggie moved to the dresser, pulling out a blindfold and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. The sensory deprivation gear was something they had used before, but never like this. It had always been part of their play, part of the games they indulged in behind closed doors. But tonight, it wasn't about dominance or control. It was about love, about giving Alex the space to breathe, to come back to herself.
Maggie returned to the bed, kneeling beside Alex, her hands gentle as she placed the blindfold over her wife's eyes. "Just relax," she whispered, her fingers brushing Alex's hair back as she tied the fabric securely, blocking out the light. "I'm right here."
Alex let out a shaky breath, but the moment the blindfold was in place, Maggie could feel some of the tension leave her. The darkness was a relief, a way to shut out the world and everything that was pressing in on her.
Maggie's hands moved slowly, carefully placing the noise-canceling headphones over Alex's ears. The quiet hum of the world outside faded away, leaving Alex in a bubble of silence and darkness, just her and Maggie. The overwhelming stimuli that had been crashing down on her were gone, leaving her with only the sensation of Maggie's warm hands on her skin.
"There we go," Maggie breathed, even though she knew Alex couldn't hear her. "You're okay. You're safe."
She could see the effect it was having on Alex immediately. Her breathing, which had been ragged and shallow, began to slow, her body relaxing against the bed. Maggie continued to stroke her hair, her touch light and comforting, watching as Alex slowly started to calm down, her tears drying as the panic ebbed away.
Maggie stayed with her, patient and quiet, her presence a constant anchor as Alex drifted in the stillness. It was as if the world had fallen away, leaving just the two of them in this peaceful, private space. Maggie didn't need to say anything; she just needed to be there, to let Alex know that she wasn't alone.
After what felt like an eternity, Alex's body relaxed fully, her breathing even and calm. Maggie carefully removed the headphones first, the quiet of the room slowly filtering back in, and then she untied the blindfold, gently pulling it away from Alex's face.
Alex blinked, her eyes red and swollen from crying, but there was a softness to her expression now, a sense of peace that hadn't been there before. She looked up at Maggie, her lips trembling slightly as she spoke for the first time since the meltdown began.
"Thank you," Alex whimpered, her voice hoarse but filled with gratitude. "I—" she paused, swallowing hard as her emotions caught up with her. "I don't know what I would've done without you."
Maggie smiled, leaning down to press a tender kiss to Alex's forehead. "You don't have to do anything without me," she whispered against her skin. "I'm always here for you, Alex. No matter what."
Alex let out a deep, shaky breath, her body sinking into the bed as the weight of her emotions finally lifted. She was still raw, still vulnerable, but with Maggie by her side, she knew she would be okay.
Maggie climbed into the bed next to Alex, pulling her into her arms and wrapping her in the soft blankets. They stayed like that, curled up together, the quiet of the room wrapping around them like a protective cocoon. There were no more words, no more tears, just the quiet comfort of being together, of knowing they didn't have to face the world alone.