LDWS Round 3, Week 2 Voting
This week's prompt was "Close-Up" and had to be between 375-400 words. It also had to be femslash.
1. Author: rocknrolleigns
Title: The Knight and the Princess
Pairing(s)/Character(s) (optional): Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word count: 391
“There. Now let me see.” Alexa puts down the blush brush that she just used and leans back back to observe her handiwork. “Looking pretty.”
The fluttery feeling on her stomach due to Alexa’s proximity hasn’t settled, but Nikki finds herself shaking her head a little. A Pavlovian response to anyone calling her ‘pretty’. Cause she isn’t. All her life, she’s been called so many things-nice ones and the less than nice-but pretty isn’t normally one of them.
Nikki, you’re a lively child; you’re strong; bloody hell, you’re so good at this sport! All of those, but never pretty, or lovely, and definitely not… beautiful.
Her mum loves her anyway, despite the detentions for fighting, the scraped knees, the ripped clothes for running around with the boys. She accepts Nikki for who she is. The knight, never the princess.
Alexa is the polar opposite of her, with her long, blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, and skin so soft it must feel like touching clouds. Stunning isn’t even adequate to describe her. The princess. The kind of beauty that makes Nikki want to keep staring, although the more she stares the more it blinds her.
“No, Alexa, I’m not pretty.” Nikki lets out a smile. Not like you.
Even as she frowns, Alexa’s still irresistible. “Nikki, you are pretty,” she insists, her voice sounding kind and sincere. “Hang on, this can use a bit more blending. Look at me.” She gently holds Nikki’s chin, making her look straight ahead.
Their faces are close; Nikki prays that Alexa doesn’t hear the pounding of her heartbeat. It’s so loud, she can hear it drumming in her ears. Alexa swipes the brush over Nikki’s cheek in a circular motion, the bristles slightly tickle, but Alexa’s blue eyes are fixed on Nikki’s dark ones. After a few long seconds, her hand stops moving.
“I’m not pretty, Alexa,” the words spill out of Nikki’s mouth before she realises, barely above a whisper.
Alexa leans closer, slowly, but too fast at the same time. Nikki’s first instinct is to close her eyes, but she fights it with all her might. She wants to look at Alexa’s face, at her beauty, even if it’s blinding her.
A soft, “You are,” then their lips touch. And all of Nikki’s argument dissolves on the tip of her tongue.
~~~
2. Author: ayumidah
Title: Comfort
Pairing(s)/Character(s) (optional): Mickie James/Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross
Rating: PG-14
Warnings: hints at sex
Word count: 400
The loss of any title is rough. Which is why Mickie James makes the couple hour drive from their home to the hotel that WWE is using during these shows. The look on Alexa's face makes it all worth it when she knocks on their door and Alexa answers, incredulous and sheepish. Even more so when Mickie eases her back inside, pushes the door shut, cradles her face and kisses her.
"Where's Nikki?" she whispers and Alexa blinks, thrown by everything from the last few minutes.
"Um. I sent her out to get coffee, she was..." Alexa exhales. "I needed a minute to myself." She reaches out and brushes some hair out of Mickie's eyes. "You're really here."
Mickie grins at her. "Course I am, where else would I be?"
Alexa makes a soft sound at this, stretching up to kiss Mickie again, and this kiss is desperate, full of Alexa's frustration and sadness, and Mickie groans into it, dropping everything she's holding to lift Alexa up and carry her to the bed. She eases her down and sighs into her skin as she kisses her anew, lightly caressing Alexa's stomach while she lets out these breathless gasps that always makes Mickie feel like she's flying.
They kiss again, Mickie smiling tenderly when Alexa stares at her, beautiful and so vulnerable under her. "I love you, Lexi," she says softly and Alexa arches up into her, dragging her back down for another overwhelming kiss.
"I love you too," she says, and Mickie's chest floods with adoration for her.
"It's gonna be ok," Mickie whispers, pressing her forehead to Alexa's.
"Yes," Alexa exhales, trembling under her. "It will. Somehow--" Her voice stutters, dies away, and Mickie's lips twitch as she tries to regain her train of thought and fails spectacularly thanks to Mickie's ongoing ministrations. "It..." Her eyes flutter, she moans softly. "Mickie..."
"Mm hmm, I'm here. I'm always here for you, Lexi," she says soothingly, kissing Alexa's brow, down to her cheeks until she claims her lips again, eagerly swallowing the myriad of sounds she makes.
Later, the room is dark, Mickie and Alexa snuggling together under the sheets, fast asleep, when Mickie dimly registers the sound of steps nearby and her grip on Alexa tightens before there's a hideously bright flash and the sound of a camera shutter, followed by a familiar, almost manic giggle. "Say cheese!"
~~~
3. Author: autopsy_mauve
Title : Close Up
Pairings / Characters : Trish Stratus / Lita
Rating : PG
Warnings : None
Word Count : 395
Lita stood in a curtained-off cube in Wardrobe. She heard people mingle, talk, catch up.
She stared at the mirror. Her red dress. The red was loud. Vibrant. Dangerous. Now here she was, dressed to the nines. Hall of Fame.
Trish stood out, in that gauntlet of memories. Her greatest rival. Her greatest challenge. Her best friend. The only person she'd ever wanted. Who was inducting her, making everything mean more, and be real.
Lita let her breath out. Holding it in was bad.
Holding back was bad. Hell, they'd both come up as just chick wrestlers. Arm candy. Lita laughed at her famous thong being the literal A to Trish's T. Bully Ray Dudley, way back, had called her T&A. That she'd be good for that but not a 'real' wrestler.
She'd broken expectations, shattered them. Redefined women's wrestling beyond panty matches and pillow fights.
Trish had been there for all of it. Trish had turned down Playboy. That had really solidified Lita's respect. No matter what people saw, they didn't see Trish. Not as Lita saw her.
And likewise, Trish saw her go from Hardy Girl to Harlot. And now to the Hall of Fame.
Parallel roads and all that.
That energy they had in the ring. An intimacy. A whole other language. Another story. Which nobody ever saw, because even close up, it'd be hard to believe.
Like two women revolutionizing wrestling. Hard to believe, even close up.
Trish Stratus, walking in arm candy and walking out Champion and Diva of the Decade.
Trish handled her different. And Lita reciprocated. Their back and forth was never forced. It all felt natural.
Lita straightened her dress. Yeah, this red was intense. Deep breaths. You got this.
No moonsault, table spot or hurricarana made her heart pound like it did when she was with Trish. In the ring, out of it.
Like her theme music, it just feels right.
That's what she's gonna think of at the podium. How right tonight feels.
And then there's that giggle, and Trish sweeping through the curtain to hug her.
"The red! I love it!"
Lita hugs her, and Trish holds her. Longer than a three count. A five count. At ten, Trish leans down and kisses the gargoyle on Lita's shoulder and grins.
Close up. It's time to rock and roll.
~~~
4. Author: this-is-my-bisexuality
Title: At Least Twice a Year
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Rhea Ripley/Candice Lerae
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word Count: 400
The elevator dings its arrival on Candice’s floor, and she smiles at the other occupant as the doors slide open, and she steps inside. The button for the ground floor is already illuminated, but instead of going down once the doors close, the elevator starts going back up. It climbs up one, two stories, and then shudders to a stop with an unsettling bang somewhere between the fifth and sixth floor.
They stand there silently, tensely waiting for the car to move, for about forty-five seconds before Candice sighs in defeat and presses the button to tell maintenance they’re stuck. This is the third time Candice has gotten stuck in the five years she’s lived in this complex, and the process is almost routine by now.
The minutes tick by, and they still haven’t spoken. The other woman is statue-still next to Candice, and her fist is clenched white-knuckle tight as she tries to steady her breathing. Candice has seen this woman around before, often enough that her face is familiar, and she turns to the woman in concern.
“Hey, it’s okay. This happens at least twice a year,” she says, trying to sound reassuring.
She apparently fails.
“What are you going on about?” the other woman answers with a sneer.
“The elevator. It gets stuck all the time. We’ll be out soon.”
“I’m fine,” she replies, narrowing her eyes at Candice in annoyance, and at this distance, Candice is struck by their color. They’re like arctic sapphires, so bright and so blue that for a moment, Candice is frozen by their beauty.
“Well, you seem anxious.” she says. “I’m Candice, by the way.”
“Rhea.”
The name pulls a smile out of Candice. “It’s nice to meet you, Rhea.”
Rhea raises a sarcastic brow and then eyes Candice from head to toe before taking in their surroundings. “Wish I could say the same, mate.”
She doesn’t get the chance to respond, and her giggle turns into a gasp as the elevator shivers and shakes around them. It drops a few feet as the motor restarts, and Rhea’s hand darts out to grasp hers in a fearful grip. Her palm is warm and slightly calloused, but her fingers are long and delicate where they tangle with Candice’s, and her heart flutters in delight.
When they’re safely on the ground floor, and the doors to freedom finally open, they’re still holding hands.
~~~
5. Author: LogicStates12
Title:Moments
Pairing(s)/Character(s) (optional): Nikki Cross/Alexa Bliss
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word count:399
It's the kind of easy morning they so rarely get. Nowhere to be, nothing to do.
For once, they can actually sleep in.
Then again, Alexa's a creature of habit, happily set in her routine. She's never been one to sleep in- even if she can. She's always got to be go go go.
Instead, she props her head up on her hand, and watches Nikki sleep.
The rise and fall of her chest. The way her dark hair fans across her pillow. Her mouth slightly open as a trickle of drool snakes down her lip.
Alexa would have found it gross, if not for the fact it's so thoroughly Nikki.
Even in sleep, Nikki Cross carries a sort of chaotic peace.
Holding back a laugh, Alexa watches Nikki roll over and wrap an arm around her. She doesn't sleep well unless she's touching some part of Alexa.
It's an odd quirk that Alexa finds endearing.
Alexa drops her hand and falls back to her pillow. After a few moments, she shifts enough so Nikki's head tucks neatly beneath her chin.
Alexa buries her nose in the top of Nikki's head and breathes in the sweet scent of Honey Vanilla Shampoo. It's a scent Alexa's never particularly cared for until it began reminding her of the one she never expected to find.
From a distance, Nikki Cross appears to be an eccentric mess.
But from close up, she is so much more.
Alexa trails her fingers down Nikki's bare arm, memorizing every inch of flesh. The last thing she wants is to wake her love, but then again, these moments are few and far between.
Not surprisingly, Nikki stays asleep. She could sleep through an earthquake- a fact that amuses Alexa to no end.
Alexa takes this moment to reflect on all that she has been so lucky to get. These are the moments where it all makes sense, and Alexa knows it's okay to slow down and take it all in.
She never meant to fall in love. It happened when she least expected it. One second, she had her nefarious plot. The next, she'd fallen in love with the last person she'd ever expected.
She's fallen in love with the way Nikki got so excited about everything and anything. She's fallen in love with the way Nikki says her name.
Alexa Bliss loves everything about Nikki Cross.
~~~
6. Author: Sethsevolution
Title: “Hey Intern, Where’s my coffee?”
Pairings/characters: Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross
Rating: Teen
Warnings: none
Word Count: 398
Leather jacket and jeans, no shirt. That’s what the girls put Alexa in that morning for the first shoot. A classic look. The studded boots were a little too tight on her toes and hot camera lights bounced off of the metal studs on her shoulders. A thick metal chain hung right between the jacket lapels, against her bare chest. It was heavy and awkward, but it completed the look.
The photographer, Aleister, was famous for being quiet, but he had a good eye, and he was able to easily move around and direct Alexa on what angles to take.
Alexa wasn’t new to modeling, but having someone else knowing what their job actually entailed made things easier for her.
Someone who didn’t know how to do their job was obviously the new intern, Nikki something or other.
She ran around excitedly, always a bit too loud. It was only her second day, but you’d think she’d stop being so energetic by now.
Alexa stepped off the set, ready for an outfit change.
“Intern,” She called without even looking up from the bracelets she was trying to take off. “Where’s my coffee?”
Before she could even turn to look for the new girl, Nikki popped up beside her, coffee in hand, a grin on her face.
Alexa grabbed her coffee, not saying a word. Nikki got right to task helping Alexa remove the jewelry. She was standing very close against Alexa as she struggled with the tiny clasps. So close up against Alexa that the blonde could count Nikki’s eyelashes if she felt inclined. Perhaps she did, because Nikki was warm and smelled like coffee ground and cupcakes.
When Nikki was done, her big eyes turned to Alexa’s. Softly, she asked “How’s the coffee, Alexa?”
Alexa realized then that she hadn’t even taken a sip of the coffee yet. She took a nice gulp and was very pleased. “Perfect.”
Nikki grinned and stepped back, body twisting back and forth like a little girl.
Alexa looked her up and down as she drank more of her coffee and liked what she saw. Alexa put the coffee down, removing the jacket off her shoulders, and giving the intern a good view.
Maybe the new intern knew how to do the job right.
Maybe, considering how Nikki’s eyes raked over Alexa’s body, the intern knew how to do many things right.
~~~
7. Author: storyranger
Title: it’s not copying (if you do it better)
Pairing(s)/Character(s) (optional): Becky Lynch/Charlotte Flair
Rating: Teen
Warnings: None
Word count: 400
When most people think of Charlotte Flair, adjectives like confident, arrogant, and self-assured came to mind. “Insecure” was not a word people associated with the Flair family.
But behind the scenes, even Charlotte Flair had her bad days. Judging by the sighs and coming from the bathroom, today was one of them.
Becky, scrolling through Twitter and growing increasingly aware of their (earlier than usual!) call time, was about to knock on the door when Charlotte burst forth, proclaiming with false bravado, “I’m ready for my close-up.”
“You’re always ready.”
“Not true. There was that time my implant ruptured. That wasn’t very photogenic.”
“Char, you could have both boobs rupture, two black eyes, and a broken nose, and you’d still be gorgeous.”
“Okay, now you’re really off your rollers.”
“Off your rockers, babe. The phrase is ‘off your rocker’.”
“See! I may be the pretty one, but you’ve got the brains.”
“So you agree now, you’re the pretty one!”
“Nope, I’m not falling for that, miss ‘oh, I just woke up like this, my Irish skin never breaks out and my eyes never look puffy’.”
“You’re smart too. We never would have made it to the main roster if it wasn’t for the 4HW.”
“Ah, yes, very smart, copying my dad’s very successful stable, so clever.”
“Yes ‘so clever’! It worked, didn’t it? And you knew it would work, when the rest of us were skeptical. Besides, it’s not copying if you do it better. It’s evolving.”
“We did do it better, didn’t we,” Charlotte muses, and Becky can’t help but smile as she watches the clouds slowly lifting off her girlfriend’s face. Whatever demons were plaguing her today seem to have been assuaged, and her wonderful, cocky, maddening girlfriend was back. Becky moves to steal a gentle kiss, but Charlotte catches her by the back of the neck and holds her in place for a deep, passionate one. Becky’s torn, knowing where this could go and getting a thrill down her spine at the thought. Painfully aware that they most definitely can’t get there and be on time to the arena, she pulls away and breaks the spell.
“Come on, lass. We’re cutting it close as it is.”
Charlotte pouts, but she straightens up and grabs her suitcase without complaint.
Sex can wait. She booked them for late checkout, didn’t she?
Maybe Charlotte is the smart one, after all.
~~~
8. Author: ambruises
Title: only on camera
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Asuka/Io Shirai
Rating: Teen
Warnings: None
Word count: 400
“Give,” Asuka says, but her tone makes it a question. She tracks the photographer’s gaze as he looks at the Women’s Championship title belt around her waist. Wordlessly, he passes her the camera and exits the room.
Io is sparkling.
Asuka remembers the elation of her first championship, how it validated her decision to leave everything she knew behind. She also remembers how quickly that wore off when she lost it. But Io remained by her side, and now Asuka gets to celebrate the accomplishments of the woman she loves so much.
The click of the door’s closing elicits a change in Io. Instead of sparkling now, for Asuka, she smolders. “What’s this?” Io asks, her head tilted and her eyes locked on Asuka. The title is held loosely in her right hand, the metallic tip of it resting against her hip.
“Photos of the champion,” Asuka says, watching Io through the camera lens. “Just for us.”
“Asuka,” Io laughs. “We can’t. It isn’t our camera. They will see everything.”
“Who would risk the wrath of two champions?” asks Asuka, moving closer to Io. She wants to be as close as possible. She wants to capture the fire that is Io Shirai.
Io transforms like a chameleon. Her body settles into a pose of pure seduction, one thigh jutting out towards the camera, her mouth parted, and her hair covering one eye. Then she moves, touches the bare skin of her stomach uncovered by her ring gear, trails her hand slowly across it.
Asuka circles Io like prey, her camera hungry for more. When she’s directly behind Io, only inches away from her, Io lifts her left hand and the silk curtain of her hair to expose the curve of her neck as she turns her face towards Asuka. They are so close that her breath makes Asuka’s own hair flutter.
Finally, Asuka stands directly in front of Io, uncertain of whether to capture the slick shine of Io’s lips or the soft slope of her cheekbone or dark dilation of her eyes. Then, suddenly, Asuka can see nothing at all.
When she lifts her head, Asuka finds the title belt pooled on the ground at Io’s feet. One of her hands covers the camera lens, and the other cups Asuka’s face.
The photograph of the night lives in Asuka’s mind, a close-up of two pairs of lips pressed together.
~~~
BONUS - This following drabble is NOT part of the voting, it’s just here for some extra reading enjoyment! Thank you again for wanting to continue to write the drabbles!
Author: Penelo14
Title: Connected Hearts
Characters: Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Allie
Pairings: Charlynch
Rating: E
Warnings: N/A
Word count: 398
The mall wasn’t too crowded today. People walking around, window shopping the various stores.
And here Charlotte was being dragged by her girlfriend to the card shop.
“Baby, the store’s not gonna move,” the blonde laughs.
“But I want to see the best cards first,” the Irish woman replies. “I need to make sure my deck is ready for the finals next week.”
Right, the Genex finals. The finalists of the three blocks face off to be crowned the winner. Becky has trained so hard to even make it this far. She could make history as the first woman to win the whole thing.
In fact, no female duelist has even entered prior to her.
Now she just needs to get past Kenny Omega and Jay White. They are both very powerful duelists. Kenny has a lot of machine monsters while Jay focuses on swarming the field with warriors.
As they were walking, Charlotte spots a beautiful necklace in a display case for Lana’s Treasures. It was a silver chain, with two silver hearts linked together, each with a gemstone.
“Bex wait! I have to pee!” Charlotte giggles, pulling to make her stop.
Becky laughs as she halts, “Want me to wait for you?”
“Nah, you go on ahead. I’ll meet you in there.”
Becky nods, pecking her girlfriend’s lips before heading to the card shop.
Once Becky was out of sight, Charlotte enters the store.
“Welcome!” an employee, Allie according to the nametag, chirped. “How can I help you?”
“Um, may I see the heart necklace on display please?”
The woman nods, leaving to retrieve it and unhooking it from the manikin head.
“It’s so beautiful,” Charlotte breathes. “Is it possible to change the color of the stones?”
“Yes. Are you making a list for your boyfriend?” she winks
Charlotte giggles, “It’s more me getting an engagement pendent for my girlfriend.”
Allie smiles, “That’s awesome.”
“It brings her saying to life: ‘Our hearts are always connected’,” she grins.
“How long have you known her?”
“Since high school. Saved her one day, and now we’re here.”
She couldn’t help but think about the past as she was deciding on the stone colors. Her and Becky have been through so much, both wonderful and terrible.
There’s no one else Charlotte wants. Becky is everything to her.
After the tournament, win or lose, she’ll give her girlfriend a lasting memory.
~~~
As of right now, voting will stay open until Monday at 6pm EST.
You all have 1 vote for most favorite and 1 vote for least favorite drabbles. Participants are encouraged to vote, but you may NOT vote for yourselves!
I should explain a bit more how this works, I guess. The winner isn't decided by whoever gets the most most fav votes. Each most fav vote gets +1. Each least fav gets -1. Once those are tallied, a winner will be determined. If there's a tie, there will be a tie breaker so that there is one winner and one person eliminated.
Please, try not to vote on a drabble just because you like a pairing. Take into account the quality of the writing and how well it fits the prompt!
When you vote, please fill out the poll, stating the number and the title of the drabbles. Also, if you don't have an LJ account, you may message me on my tumblr. Please, do not send them anon. And the same rules apply, I need the number and the title of the drabbles.
Poll LDWS Week 2