The morning light filtered in through the cracks in the curtains, casting a muted glow across the room. Lena was the first to stir, her body sore from the chaos of the night before. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving her feeling exhausted, but also strangely satisfied. She shifted in bed, glancing over at Tara, who was still sound asleep beside her. They were tangled in the sheets, their bodies pressed close, the comfort of their shared space offering some semblance of peace after the madness of the warehouse.
Lena sighed, her mind already working through the aftermath. Her plan to torture Rick had seemed so straightforward, but in the end, it had been over too quickly. He was dead, and now they had to move on to the next targets. As she lay there, thinking, the words slipped from her lips without realizing. "My plan was to torture Rick, but he got killed so easily."
Tara, still half asleep, chuckled at the statement. "Well, guess he wasn't much of a challenge after all," she murmured, her voice low and playful. "The next ones? Oh, they'll get the full treatment, I'm sure."
Lena smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly in satisfaction. "You're right," she said, her voice calm but edged with the cold determination that had been her constant companion. "And now, I realize why Rick didn't pick us that night. His plan was to kidnap us, keep us for himself."
Tara nodded, her expression darkening as the reality of what they'd almost been subjected to hit her again. She shifted in bed, rolling toward Lena, and looked her in the eye. "Lena," she said softly, "I think I'm starting to feel something more than just gratitude toward you. I kinda... love you."
Lena raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "What? You a lesbian now, Tara?" she teased, her tone light but laced with amusement.
Tara's eyes sparkled with mischief as she rolled onto her side, closing the space between them. "I'm not kidding," she replied, her voice low and serious now. "After everything we've been through, I can't even stand the thought of men anymore. The way they treat us—I'd rather be with you. Honestly, I think I could... have sex with you." Her words were bold, but there was no hesitation in her tone.
Lena couldn't help but chuckle, moving closer to her. "Same here," she said, her voice dropping a notch, laced with the same intensity that had carried them through the night's chaos. "It's like... we're unstoppable, aren't we?"
Their moment of closeness was interrupted by the sound of a door creaking. Owen, who had been sleeping on the couch in the other room, had gotten up and was standing in the doorway, his face flushed red. His eyes went wide when he saw the scene unfolding before him.
"Uh... I... I wasn't—" he stammered, but his words were cut off as his embarrassment grew too much to handle. He quickly turned and bolted toward the bathroom, muttering to himself.
Tara and Lena exchanged a quick, knowing glance, their faces lighting up with mischievous smiles.
"Maybe there's one male I don't hate," Tara mused, her voice teasing.
Lena's eyes followed Owen's retreating figure with a grin, and she couldn't resist the chance to mess with him. "I think he's turning all red, don't you?"
Tara smirked. "Yeah, he's probably in there jerking off. He's got it bad for you, Lena."
Lena laughed softly, her expression playful. "Guess I've got that effect on people." Her tone was light, but there was an edge of confidence in it. "We could really have some fun with this."
They could hear Owen's frustrated sigh from the bathroom, and it only made them laugh harder. Tara pulled herself up from the bed and stretched, glancing over at Lena with a wicked smile. "You know, I think we've got this whole thing figured out. The two of us—together—we could rule the world, Lena."
Lena nodded, standing up and walking over to the window, looking out at the morning sun. "Yeah," she said, her voice calm but filled with determination. "But first, we take down the rest of this trafficking gang. Then, nothing's gonna stop us."
The rest of the day passed with an air of calm between the three of them. It was almost surreal—the sense of peace after the storm. The sun shone brightly outside, but inside, Lena, Tara, and Owen were taking a much-needed break. They didn't speak much, but there was an unspoken understanding between them. Their bond had strengthened over the chaos of the night before, and they all knew that things would only get more intense from here.
Later that afternoon, they all gathered around the small kitchen table. Owen, his face still a little flushed from the earlier awkwardness, was making coffee, while Lena and Tara sat close together, whispering and laughing softly. Despite the weight of their mission ahead, there was a lightness to their interaction, a shared moment of relief after everything they'd been through.
Lena looked at Tara, her gaze steady. "We'll get them, Tara. All of them."
Tara's lips curled into a small smile, her eyes shining with determination. "We'll make them pay."
Owen, who had overheard their conversation, looked up from the counter, nodding. "I'll help you guys. I'm not leaving you two out there alone."
Lena's eyes softened as she looked at him, and for a moment, she felt something akin to gratitude. It wasn't love, not yet, but Owen had proven himself useful, and she couldn't ignore that.
Tara raised an eyebrow at him. "You sure about that, Owen? After what you saw this morning?"
Owen chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I—uh—I'm sure. Let's just focus on taking down the gang, yeah?"
Lena smirked, the tension from the earlier teasing moment easing. "Yeah. But don't get too comfortable, Owen. Things are only gonna get crazier from here."