Fanfic Update! Pace Line: Two (Whip It, Babe Ruthless/Iron Maven)
TITLE: Pace Line
SERIES: Whip It
AUTHOR: Dreiser
EMAIL: dreiser7@yahoo.com
YAHOO ID: dreiser7
MY WEBSITE: http://www.dreiser.org/
CONTENT: F/F romance. F/F sex. Babe Ruthless/Iron Maven. Sequel to Versus.
SUMMARY: Babe Ruthless and Iron Maven's relationship was all about the pacing.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but my belief Ellen Page's deadpan voice is adorable.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wrote the first fic then I immediately got an idea for a second fic. It's like a disease.
Pace Line
By: Dreiser
Part Two...
It was tradition for the TXRD to advertise the start of their new season with an exhibition bout that was decided with a game of darts. Everyone in the league would head over to ‘Bout Time where they would tape pieces of papers to the dart board with the team names on them and blindfold a chosen representative to throw the deciding darts. Wherever the darts landed were the teams who played in the bout. Unless they landed on the same team twice, in which case the blind dart throwing began again. Razor was this year’s chosen representative and allowing himself to be led along by Manson Sister #1 he threw the darts that had the Holy Rollers and Fight Attendants playing each other.
Bliss sat in the stands next to Smashley and Maggie, her feet bouncing with excitement as the music built up and Johnny announced the line up for the Fight Attendants. Then the familiar and dramatic beat that accompanied any Holy Rollers intro began to play and Johnny put on that exaggerated southern accent as he called out their team name. The crowd erupted into cheers and Bliss went along with them, ignoring the way that Smashley rolled her eyes and Maggie laughed at her.
She disregarded them, deciding it was well within her rights as a girlfriend to root for Maven to a ridiculous amount when they weren’t playing against her. What kind of girlfriend would she be if she didn’t do that? When Johnny announced a start to the bout, stating Maven’s jamming status against Axles of Evil, Bliss rose to her feet and shouted Maven’s name, grinning when she saw Maven raise her hand and wave carelessly in her direction. Bliss delighted in the acknowledgement that Maven heard her, though the other woman’s expression remained a portrait of utter focus and concentration, keeping her gaze ahead on the track.
The moment the whistle blew, she was off like a shot and Bliss began what would be a nonstop cheering session that lasted over an hour. When the bout was over and the Holy Rollers defeated the Fight Attendants by a score of eighty four to forty, with Maven scoring seventy of those points herself, Bliss worked her way through the crowd and to the track. She knew Maven’s habits all too well, how she was one of the more gregarious rollergirls with the fans, posing for photos and often engaging in conversation, and she wanted to get to her before she was swarmed with the inevitable crowd of people.
Standing at the edge of the track, she grinned as Maven skated over to her, leaning over the rail and grinning at her. Maven removed her helmet, revealing her hair to be a glorious mess. “Did you ever stop cheering? I think I heard you the whole time,” she remarked sardonically but from the playful glint in her eyes, Bliss knew the other woman was pleased about this fact. Leaning down for a kiss and chuckling as Bliss stood on her tip toes, elevating herself on the barrier to meet her, Maven murmured against her lips, “I think I’m getting faster. Maybe I’ll out skate you this year.”
“Maybe,” allowed Bliss with a grin, enjoying their friendly competition when it came to jamming speeds. “You’re still too tall for them to use the whip though. That’s always going to slow you down.”
“That’s why I just got to move my ass faster,” drawled Maven, arching an eyebrow and slipping past the barrier to stand next to Bliss who grinned as Maven slipped an arm over her shoulders. They headed out into the parking lot where Cat Tastrophe was manning the merchandise booth and Jackie Daniels was posing with fans for pictures.
Almost immediately, Maven was surrounded with by a group of fans just like Bliss predicted and she started to slip away only to stop as she felt Maven’s hand hold firm on her shoulder. Looking up at the older woman she was met with a rakish smile and twinkling eyes then Maven kissed her, causing some of the said fans eyes to bug out and Bliss thought she detected the flash of a cell phone camera but she could honestly care less. She wasn’t on the fan forums for their website as often as Maven, as she was the one who maintained them, but she knew they were aware of their dating ever since The Whammy’s. Although this kiss, and now the possible photographic evidence of it, would make it all that more obvious. Bliss avoided reading the threads talking about it, not wanting to know what they thought about her dating Maven and vice versa, sure that it would just ruin things to some degree, make her see the TXRD attendants in a negative light depending on what their opinions were and she didn’t want that.
However, she adored Maven for being so openly affectionate. How she never hid the fact that she was with Bliss and in an absurd way it made her feel especially cared for and protected. Like she was something precious and she always felt that way when she was with Maven, she never felt ignored or disregarded, and Bliss wasn’t sure she ever had that with anyone else. Not to this degree anyway and Bliss realized it was easily something she could get addicted to because it felt so good.
After spending a good thirty minutes with the fans, Maven went back to the locker room and changed out of her Holy Rollers uniform. Smirking on seeing Bliss waiting for her, she had her duffle bag slung over her shoulder and as they walked out of the warehouse, Maven moved forward quickly, hugging Bliss from behind, causing the other woman to laugh and jump in surprise. Used to this game, Bliss moved back into Maven’s arms, grinning as she stood on top of the taller woman’s steel toed boots. Normally she hated anything that reminded her of how height deficient she was compared to the rest of the general populous but with Maven’s arms around her waist and her chin resting on the top of her head, Bliss only felt a strange sort of giddiness. They had only gotten a few feet when Smashley appeared in front of them, looking oddly serious.
“What’s wrong?” asked Bliss, instantly concerned.
“Johnny says the hot tub is broken!” Smashley wailed.
“Her world has officially come to an end,” Maven muttered in Bliss’ ear, grinning on feeling the shorter woman repress a laugh.
“This isn’t a joke, Maven,” said Smashley, sounding as oddly serious as she looked now. “What sort of party can we have at Hot Tub Johnny’s without the hot tub? It’s like having a barbeque without ribs!”
“I don’t like ribs,” said Maven in deadpan tones.
“I’m not talking to you anymore. You’re not helpful,” Smashley stated, focusing on Bliss instead. “Ruthless! I need ideas!”
“Why not have Johnny do an announcement? Ask if any of the fans know how to fix a hot tub,” suggested Bliss, squinting and hoping that Smashley would find her suggestion helpful. If she didn’t Bliss was certain she would get assaulted in some manner.
“Ruthless! You’re a genius!” Smashley declared and though she had been helpful, Bliss still ended up being assaulted anyway as Smashley gave her a friendly punch to the shoulder that left her wincing. When Smashley disappeared into the crowd calling Johnny’s name, Bliss felt the soft press of Maven’s lips on her bruised shoulder and she grinned at the older woman.
“Are you kissing it to make it all better?” asked Bliss, her voice fond but teasing.
“Something like that,” said Maven and they continued their joint walk through the parking lot until they arrived at Maven’s Triumph Thunderbird. Bliss was unlocking the saddlebag to remove their helmets when Princess Slaya shouted for Maven.
“You guys going to Hot Tub’s?” asked Princess, her gaze drifting over to Bliss who handed Maven her helmet. “Hey, Ruthless.”
“Hey,” Bliss said quietly with a smile. She was still trying to get used to the Holy Rollers being nicer to her. Part of her found it eerie and another part was grateful because the lack of hostility made dating Maven much more simple.
Before Maven or Bliss could respond, Smashley was suddenly there, her arms around Bliss’ shoulder and a huge grin on her face. “I got somebody to fix the hot tub,” she reported. “You have to go now.” She paused and leaned closer, acting as if she had some great secret as she continued, “Half these guys have got a lesbian fetish for you two. It’s going to bring in the money.”
Princess Slaya scowled at this and knocked Smashley upside her head, causing Smashley to release a noise of stupefaction and disgruntlement. They soon descended into a verbal and somewhat physical brawl with Princess enforcing more than once it was disrespectful to speak about her team captain in that manner along with Smashley’s own teammate. In the end, Bliss managed to calm them both down and they agreed to attend the party at the would be fixed Hot Tub Johnny’s place.
When they were left alone, Bliss gave Maven a wry look and Maven chuckled and said, “If I’m the divorced hot mom they’ve got an Oedipal complex about then you’ve turned into my cool boyfriend who buys them weed and is exempt from resentment.”
“Fantastic,” said Bliss dryly, climbing onto the motorcycle and holding onto Maven’s waist, bracing herself as they took off at top speeds and screeched through the parking lot. While she might pretend as if she wasn’t pleased with her new place in the Holy Rollers hierarchy it was something of a lie as she thought it was endearing that their protectiveness about Maven now included her as well. Though Bliss had a feeling it would lead to more than a few fights due to her own less than respectful teammates.
--
One of the many perks of dating another woman was being able to borrow each other’s clothing. Due to their noticeable height difference, Bliss didn’t attempt to wear Maven’s pants but she often liked to wear her shirts, skirts, and shorts. While Maven, in contrast, focused solely on accumulating Bliss’ large assortment of t-shirts. Something that would have irritated Bliss, as she had worked for several years to build up her collection to the massive over seventy status it had now reached, if it wasn’t for the fact that the aforementioned height difference caused said shirts to be wonderfully tight on Maven. And there was very little that Bliss enjoyed more than watching as they rode up to reveal the other woman’s toned and tanned stomach.
Much to the amusement of everyone at the league meeting, Maven showed up sporting Bliss’ green TXRD shirt that had her rollergirl name and number emblazoned on the back. After they went over the dates for the upcoming bouts and various publicity events planned to advertise the new season, including a radio interview with Smashley, Eva Destruction, and Mazel Tough, they headed back to Bliss’ apartment on Maven’s motorcycle so the younger woman could study for her exams.
Bliss climbed off the motorcycle and removed her helmet, rising up on her toes to meet Maven’s lips for a goodbye kiss that would have gone on for much longer than a few seconds if it wasn’t for an interruption in the form of a strangled noise of surprise and the exclamation of her name. Turning around, Bliss was met with the sight of her parents and little sister, and her eyes becoming wide, Bliss wondered exactly how things like this always happened to her.
“Bliss!” her mother said her name again, hand pressed to her chest, the picture of a stunned southern belle. “What in the world are you doing with this woman?”
Looking from her parents to Maven and then back, Bliss gave a nervous smile and said, “Dating her?”
“Bliss,” Brooke said her name yet again, this time with a great deal of annoyance, hands on her hips.
“Now honey,” Earl intervened, directing his wife away from the couple. “Let's not jump down her throat. We need to hear her out.”
The sound of her mother’s irritated protests met Bliss’ ears and she jumped when she felt Maven’s hand at the small of her back. “You okay?” questioned Maven.
“I don’t know,” replied Bliss honestly, still not sure how her mother would truly react in the end.
Once again, her name was called, this time with a quieter but nevertheless impatient tone. Looking at her parents, she was relieved to see her mother wearing a much more approachable expression as she said, “We need to have a discussion about this.” Her eyes locked onto Maven, jaw setting in something of a grimace as she added with emphasis, “Alone.”
Maven frowned at this and said, “Is that what you want? Because if you want me here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Sensing her mother’s objection to this before she even voiced it, Bliss shook her head. Although she was nervous to have this talk with her parents, she wasn’t necessarily afraid of it and she knew if Maven stayed it would only make things unnecessarily complex. “It’s okay,” Bliss reassured. “I’ll call you later, all right? Tell you how everything goes.”
“You’re sure?” asked Maven, the concern etched on her face tugging at Bliss’ heart.
“I’m sure,” said Bliss with a smile and unable to help herself, she moved forward, kissing the other woman gently.
A moment passed as Maven gazed at her, as if trying to discern if Bliss truly meant it or was simply trying to create an escape for her, and eventually she nodded and started her motorcycle back up. Bliss watched her drive away until she was out of sight, wondering if she had done the right thing by sending her away, then turned back to her parents.
“So,” she began, her nervous smile returning in full force. “Discussion time?”
The only response she got was an irritated expression from her mother and a confused look from her father and a little sister who appeared completely unconcerned with the current happenings of those who were her elder. Sighing and rubbing the back of her head, Bliss led them up to her apartment, hoping that Rosa wasn’t home. This really wasn’t something she wanted her roommate to be privy to as Rosa been after her for months to tell her parents about her relationship with Maven.
Gloating would just make an awkward situation worse. Or at least more intolerable. Bliss was certain of that. Just as certain as she wished she had followed her roommate’s advice because maybe things would be less uncomfortable right now. Though she had her doubts as she took in the tight lines on her mother’s face and the perpetually perplexed look her father had.
Honestly, why couldn’t her life be easier?
-
Precisely one hour and forty three minutes later, Bliss was calling Maven and feeling emotionally exhausted but thoroughly relieved. The older woman answered on the first ring, her voice calm and caring as she said, “How did it go?”
“Good,” said Bliss wryly, sitting on her bed, still trying to process everything. “They want you to come over for dinner next Sunday. I’m almost positive that my mom wants to interrogate you.”
“She probably agrees with Bush about water boarding not being torture, right?” Maven remarked humorously. Bliss laughed at this and there was a moment of silence before she said slowly, “You know you can tell me what they said. It’s not going to hurt my feelings. I’m pretty sure I got a decent idea what they said anyway.”
“Yeah?” asked Bliss, lying down on the bed, closing her eyes.
“She’s too old for you, she converted/seduced/manipulated you, and she’s a mean bitch who hit you that time,” said Maven with a drawl and Bliss sputtered at how accurate it was in terms of her mother’s objections. The last comment, however, had come from her father who had actually been the most confused not by Bliss dating a woman but by her dating the jammer who had proved to be the proverbial thorn in her side since she first started playing roller derby.
“You’re psychic,” said Bliss, laughing and despite how tired she felt, there was a happiness in this moment. She suddenly felt much lighter and far more free and it was all thanks to Maven. While she expected her girlfriend to be supportive she had thought a protest of some sort would come over the invitation of dinner but there was nothing. Although Maven hadn’t exactly said she would go to dinner either. Something that Bliss was instantly feeling anxious about. “You will go, won’t you?”
“Baby,” Maven drew the term of endearment out slowly, her tones low and affectionate. “Of course I’ll go.”
“Oh, okay, good… thank you,” said Bliss one after the other, feeling bone weary once again, shifting to lie on her side. “I was totally going to study when you dropped me off now I’m just way too tired. That’s lazy of me, isn’t it?”
“Take a nap, you’ll feel better,” suggested Maven.
Yawning despite herself, Bliss said again, “Thank you. For, you know, listening.”
“Isn’t that part of my job?” inquired Maven with a chuckle. “If I didn’t then you’d have a defective girlfriend.”
Laughing quietly and feeling her eyes drift shut as she did, Bliss murmured, “You really are cute.”
“I know, I know,” Maven’s voice was soft and soothing in her ear. “You have a good sleep.”
Maven’s words were the last thing Bliss heard as she fell asleep after turning off her phone, still clutching it in her hand. Maybe that’s why she dreamt of her, wearing that brash grin she loved so much, as she taught her parents how to roller skate in her dream world where she and her sister sat in the stands eating ice cream and cheering them on. It was a dream that she’d later think was halfway real when Maven proceeded to try and teach her father derby tactics during Sunday dinner.
--
A month after their Sunday dinner, Maven had somehow become a part of her family’s frequent gatherings. Whether it be attending Shania’s pageants, watching football with her father, or giving her mother advice on the best design to use for a custom made gown, Maven was always there. At first Bliss was disconcerted how easily her girlfriend fit into her family but soon she got used to it and sooner than that she was simply grateful for it.
Though her fitting in didn’t take away the air of suspicion her mother retained around her and the remarks she would make to Bliss in private that she still felt Maven was too old for her. She's only thirteen years younger than me, Bliss! Was a constant comment and Bliss had gotten used to it but hoped that eventually her mother would get past it.
Despite how well Maven was getting along with her family, Bliss couldn’t help but feel there was an oddly forced feeling behind it and after one Sunday with her parents, she brought this up when they were at Maven’s loft. The older woman was silent for a long while, then she stood up and walked over to her fridge, removing the dark lager from the Czech Republic that Bliss could never pronounce correctly, and taking a slow drink from it. She had her back to Bliss as she said, “I came out to my parents when I was around your age.” Looking over her shoulder, a twisted smile curving her lips, Maven continued, “That was the last time we spoke.”
“Emily,” Bliss said her name in a hush, rising to her feet and walking over to the other woman.
“They send my Christmas cards back,” said Maven with a caustic laugh. “My fucking Christmas cards. Who does that?” She shook her head and quickly downed the rest of her beer. Setting it on her kitchen counter with an audible clink, Maven looked to Bliss and said, “I just don’t want that happening with your folks. I can’t be responsible for that. I won’t be. It’s too shitty.”
“My parents wouldn’t do that,” said Bliss softly, reaching out to caress Maven’s face, smoothing away the frown lines that had formed, taking in the almost frantic look of worry Maven had. “I know how my mom seems but she wouldn’t ever do that to me. Please don’t worry.” Ducking her head to look into Maven’s eyes, she said, “And stop trying so hard with them, okay? You can just be yourself and I know they’ll like you. My father already says you’re the son he never had, right?”
“Right,” Maven snorted, rolling her eyes, not entirely fond of being called a boy just because she liked football. Silence reigned as Bliss searched Maven’s features and after a moment, she said dryly, “You can just ask, Bliss.”
“You haven’t spoken to anyone in your family for that long?” asked Bliss quietly, a feeling of ineffable sadness seizing her.
“Not anyone,” revised Maven, shifting from foot to foot, sighing as she leaned back against the counter. “I’m the oldest of seven kids and my littlest sister, the youngest out of all of us, she called me up about a year ago. She’s younger than you,” Maven noted, a wry grin forming. “Just turned sixteen three months ago. We met up at the Dandelion Cafe so I could give her a present.” Maven was quiet for several moments then added quietly, “She was two when I left.”
“And the rest of your brothers and sisters? They just ignore you?” asked Bliss incredulously, her anger rising.
Shrugging her shoulders, Maven said, “They believe the same as my folks, I guess. I’m a sinner who’s destroying the moral fabric of society and will burn in hell for her sins and all that right wing bullshit we’ve heard a million times.”
“It has to hurt though,” said Bliss softly, looking at Maven with a good degree of worry. “Doesn’t it?”
“I learned a long time ago the easiest way to live your life is to not give a shit about the people who don’t give a shit about you,” said Maven matter of factly, a hard look on her features, her jaw clenched. “That doesn’t change because it’s my family.”
“I’m sorry,” Bliss said this because there wasn’t anything else she could think to say.
“It’s got nothing to do with you,” said Maven, her voice gentle and her expression softened. “This went down long before we ever met and there’s nothing that’s going to change it. That’s how it is. I just didn’t want the same thing happening to you.”
“It won’t,” assured Bliss, holding Maven’s face in her hands, moving in for a soft and sweet kiss. When they parted, she offered a playful smile and murmured, “We can share my family if you want. They’re kind of weird and sort of dysfunctional but they’re fun.”
“Thanks,” said Maven with a chuckle, pushing a stray lock of hair out of Bliss’ eyes. “I think I’d like that.”
Smiling widely, Bliss stood up on her tip toes and kissed Maven again, groaning as Maven deepened their embrace, sucking on her tongue and cupping her ass to bring them closer. While she knew logically she could never do this sort of thing around her parents with Maven she was firmly resolved that eventually they would fully accept their relationship and Bliss wouldn’t settle for anything less. Not after what she just heard about the older woman’s past.
--
Bliss couldn’t be sure, but she thought it was at least two weeks later when a desk magically appeared in Maven’s loft that was perfect for her to do her nursing homework on and a second dresser situated itself haphazardly into Maven’s already crowded bedroom. When she questioned Maven about it, she received a nonchalant reply that she was sick of seeing her slouch over the coffee table when she studied, that it was making her bad posture worse, and Bliss scowled at this, playfully hitting the other woman before she asked about the spare dresser. That, Maven explained in off hand tones, was just logical. Bliss’ clothing was already taking up drawers in her own dresser so she might as well have one of her own so she’d stop invading Maven’s territory.
This was a physical event that symbolized the slow shift in their relationship. Somehow or another, they had become so much closer, and a day didn’t pass where they didn’t see each other or at least talk on the phone and it was just the natural way of things. It wasn’t something Bliss thought about particularly, it had just become part of her routine.
Just like the training she would do with Maven at the warehouse. As one of the team captain’s, Maven had keys to the location and she liked to train there whenever she had free time to try and increase her jamming speed. When Bliss discovered this habit, she wheedled her way into these practices and soon they were holding weekly races against one another.
It was late on a Wednesday night when they were at the warehouse for one such race, lined up against each other, Maven on the outside and Bliss on the inside. “On three,” Maven said, her eyes fixed straight ahead.
“Got it,” replied Bliss, equally serious, her competitive spirit rising as it did anytime she faced her girlfriend on the track.
“One, two,” the words came slowly from Maven. Then she suddenly took off, laughing madly as she shouted, “Three!”
“You’re a cheating cheater!” Bliss cried in outrage, skating after Maven, a scowl on her features.
Still laughing madly, Maven did a maneuver all too similar to Bloody Holly, skating backwards for long enough to blow Bliss a kiss and upon seeing the look of continued outrage, her laughter increased as she turned the right way around and upped her speed. “Come on, Ruthless,” she called in mocking encouragement. “I know you can go faster than this. Or don’t you want to catch me? Maybe I should give you some incentive.” And with that, Maven flipped up the short plaid skirt that was part of her Holy Rollers uniform to reveal a pair of lace panties Bliss had been looking for.
“I knew you stole those from me!” shrieked Bliss, speeding up enough that she could probably reach out and grab the older woman’s flipped skirt. Only she was concentrating in building up her speed as to overtake Maven which she knew would be the ultimate triumph.
Maven didn’t reply, she simply looked over her shoulder and offered that brazen grin that Bliss was so fond of and stuck out the full length of her tongue. It was at this point that Bliss couldn’t take it any longer and forcing her legs to produce a final burst of speed, she slammed into the other woman, sending them tumbling down onto the track, and despite the pain she grinned on hearing Maven’s uproarious laughter. When they came to a stop, they were a tangle of limbs, with Bliss situated on top of Maven who grinned up at her, looking utterly pleased with herself.
“You’re such an asshole,” said Bliss in between heavy breaths, though a fond a smile tugged at her lips.
“I know,” Maven acknowledged, just as she had done at The Whammy’s. She matched Bliss’ smile with a brilliant one of her own, her chest rising and falling as she gazed at the other woman. “But that’s why you're in love with me.”
“No,” Bliss murmured, echoing her sentiments from months ago and leaning down to kiss Maven. “It really isn’t.”
It wasn’t the most forthright or even romantic confession of love that was ever offered and received but it was their way and it felt right. Just like their romance, their relationship, had felt right from the very beginning. And really, that was the only thing that counted.
End
SERIES: Whip It
AUTHOR: Dreiser
EMAIL: dreiser7@yahoo.com
YAHOO ID: dreiser7
MY WEBSITE: http://www.dreiser.org/
CONTENT: F/F romance. F/F sex. Babe Ruthless/Iron Maven. Sequel to Versus.
SUMMARY: Babe Ruthless and Iron Maven's relationship was all about the pacing.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but my belief Ellen Page's deadpan voice is adorable.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wrote the first fic then I immediately got an idea for a second fic. It's like a disease.
Pace Line
By: Dreiser
Part Two...
It was tradition for the TXRD to advertise the start of their new season with an exhibition bout that was decided with a game of darts. Everyone in the league would head over to ‘Bout Time where they would tape pieces of papers to the dart board with the team names on them and blindfold a chosen representative to throw the deciding darts. Wherever the darts landed were the teams who played in the bout. Unless they landed on the same team twice, in which case the blind dart throwing began again. Razor was this year’s chosen representative and allowing himself to be led along by Manson Sister #1 he threw the darts that had the Holy Rollers and Fight Attendants playing each other.
Bliss sat in the stands next to Smashley and Maggie, her feet bouncing with excitement as the music built up and Johnny announced the line up for the Fight Attendants. Then the familiar and dramatic beat that accompanied any Holy Rollers intro began to play and Johnny put on that exaggerated southern accent as he called out their team name. The crowd erupted into cheers and Bliss went along with them, ignoring the way that Smashley rolled her eyes and Maggie laughed at her.
She disregarded them, deciding it was well within her rights as a girlfriend to root for Maven to a ridiculous amount when they weren’t playing against her. What kind of girlfriend would she be if she didn’t do that? When Johnny announced a start to the bout, stating Maven’s jamming status against Axles of Evil, Bliss rose to her feet and shouted Maven’s name, grinning when she saw Maven raise her hand and wave carelessly in her direction. Bliss delighted in the acknowledgement that Maven heard her, though the other woman’s expression remained a portrait of utter focus and concentration, keeping her gaze ahead on the track.
The moment the whistle blew, she was off like a shot and Bliss began what would be a nonstop cheering session that lasted over an hour. When the bout was over and the Holy Rollers defeated the Fight Attendants by a score of eighty four to forty, with Maven scoring seventy of those points herself, Bliss worked her way through the crowd and to the track. She knew Maven’s habits all too well, how she was one of the more gregarious rollergirls with the fans, posing for photos and often engaging in conversation, and she wanted to get to her before she was swarmed with the inevitable crowd of people.
Standing at the edge of the track, she grinned as Maven skated over to her, leaning over the rail and grinning at her. Maven removed her helmet, revealing her hair to be a glorious mess. “Did you ever stop cheering? I think I heard you the whole time,” she remarked sardonically but from the playful glint in her eyes, Bliss knew the other woman was pleased about this fact. Leaning down for a kiss and chuckling as Bliss stood on her tip toes, elevating herself on the barrier to meet her, Maven murmured against her lips, “I think I’m getting faster. Maybe I’ll out skate you this year.”
“Maybe,” allowed Bliss with a grin, enjoying their friendly competition when it came to jamming speeds. “You’re still too tall for them to use the whip though. That’s always going to slow you down.”
“That’s why I just got to move my ass faster,” drawled Maven, arching an eyebrow and slipping past the barrier to stand next to Bliss who grinned as Maven slipped an arm over her shoulders. They headed out into the parking lot where Cat Tastrophe was manning the merchandise booth and Jackie Daniels was posing with fans for pictures.
Almost immediately, Maven was surrounded with by a group of fans just like Bliss predicted and she started to slip away only to stop as she felt Maven’s hand hold firm on her shoulder. Looking up at the older woman she was met with a rakish smile and twinkling eyes then Maven kissed her, causing some of the said fans eyes to bug out and Bliss thought she detected the flash of a cell phone camera but she could honestly care less. She wasn’t on the fan forums for their website as often as Maven, as she was the one who maintained them, but she knew they were aware of their dating ever since The Whammy’s. Although this kiss, and now the possible photographic evidence of it, would make it all that more obvious. Bliss avoided reading the threads talking about it, not wanting to know what they thought about her dating Maven and vice versa, sure that it would just ruin things to some degree, make her see the TXRD attendants in a negative light depending on what their opinions were and she didn’t want that.
However, she adored Maven for being so openly affectionate. How she never hid the fact that she was with Bliss and in an absurd way it made her feel especially cared for and protected. Like she was something precious and she always felt that way when she was with Maven, she never felt ignored or disregarded, and Bliss wasn’t sure she ever had that with anyone else. Not to this degree anyway and Bliss realized it was easily something she could get addicted to because it felt so good.
After spending a good thirty minutes with the fans, Maven went back to the locker room and changed out of her Holy Rollers uniform. Smirking on seeing Bliss waiting for her, she had her duffle bag slung over her shoulder and as they walked out of the warehouse, Maven moved forward quickly, hugging Bliss from behind, causing the other woman to laugh and jump in surprise. Used to this game, Bliss moved back into Maven’s arms, grinning as she stood on top of the taller woman’s steel toed boots. Normally she hated anything that reminded her of how height deficient she was compared to the rest of the general populous but with Maven’s arms around her waist and her chin resting on the top of her head, Bliss only felt a strange sort of giddiness. They had only gotten a few feet when Smashley appeared in front of them, looking oddly serious.
“What’s wrong?” asked Bliss, instantly concerned.
“Johnny says the hot tub is broken!” Smashley wailed.
“Her world has officially come to an end,” Maven muttered in Bliss’ ear, grinning on feeling the shorter woman repress a laugh.
“This isn’t a joke, Maven,” said Smashley, sounding as oddly serious as she looked now. “What sort of party can we have at Hot Tub Johnny’s without the hot tub? It’s like having a barbeque without ribs!”
“I don’t like ribs,” said Maven in deadpan tones.
“I’m not talking to you anymore. You’re not helpful,” Smashley stated, focusing on Bliss instead. “Ruthless! I need ideas!”
“Why not have Johnny do an announcement? Ask if any of the fans know how to fix a hot tub,” suggested Bliss, squinting and hoping that Smashley would find her suggestion helpful. If she didn’t Bliss was certain she would get assaulted in some manner.
“Ruthless! You’re a genius!” Smashley declared and though she had been helpful, Bliss still ended up being assaulted anyway as Smashley gave her a friendly punch to the shoulder that left her wincing. When Smashley disappeared into the crowd calling Johnny’s name, Bliss felt the soft press of Maven’s lips on her bruised shoulder and she grinned at the older woman.
“Are you kissing it to make it all better?” asked Bliss, her voice fond but teasing.
“Something like that,” said Maven and they continued their joint walk through the parking lot until they arrived at Maven’s Triumph Thunderbird. Bliss was unlocking the saddlebag to remove their helmets when Princess Slaya shouted for Maven.
“You guys going to Hot Tub’s?” asked Princess, her gaze drifting over to Bliss who handed Maven her helmet. “Hey, Ruthless.”
“Hey,” Bliss said quietly with a smile. She was still trying to get used to the Holy Rollers being nicer to her. Part of her found it eerie and another part was grateful because the lack of hostility made dating Maven much more simple.
Before Maven or Bliss could respond, Smashley was suddenly there, her arms around Bliss’ shoulder and a huge grin on her face. “I got somebody to fix the hot tub,” she reported. “You have to go now.” She paused and leaned closer, acting as if she had some great secret as she continued, “Half these guys have got a lesbian fetish for you two. It’s going to bring in the money.”
Princess Slaya scowled at this and knocked Smashley upside her head, causing Smashley to release a noise of stupefaction and disgruntlement. They soon descended into a verbal and somewhat physical brawl with Princess enforcing more than once it was disrespectful to speak about her team captain in that manner along with Smashley’s own teammate. In the end, Bliss managed to calm them both down and they agreed to attend the party at the would be fixed Hot Tub Johnny’s place.
When they were left alone, Bliss gave Maven a wry look and Maven chuckled and said, “If I’m the divorced hot mom they’ve got an Oedipal complex about then you’ve turned into my cool boyfriend who buys them weed and is exempt from resentment.”
“Fantastic,” said Bliss dryly, climbing onto the motorcycle and holding onto Maven’s waist, bracing herself as they took off at top speeds and screeched through the parking lot. While she might pretend as if she wasn’t pleased with her new place in the Holy Rollers hierarchy it was something of a lie as she thought it was endearing that their protectiveness about Maven now included her as well. Though Bliss had a feeling it would lead to more than a few fights due to her own less than respectful teammates.
--
One of the many perks of dating another woman was being able to borrow each other’s clothing. Due to their noticeable height difference, Bliss didn’t attempt to wear Maven’s pants but she often liked to wear her shirts, skirts, and shorts. While Maven, in contrast, focused solely on accumulating Bliss’ large assortment of t-shirts. Something that would have irritated Bliss, as she had worked for several years to build up her collection to the massive over seventy status it had now reached, if it wasn’t for the fact that the aforementioned height difference caused said shirts to be wonderfully tight on Maven. And there was very little that Bliss enjoyed more than watching as they rode up to reveal the other woman’s toned and tanned stomach.
Much to the amusement of everyone at the league meeting, Maven showed up sporting Bliss’ green TXRD shirt that had her rollergirl name and number emblazoned on the back. After they went over the dates for the upcoming bouts and various publicity events planned to advertise the new season, including a radio interview with Smashley, Eva Destruction, and Mazel Tough, they headed back to Bliss’ apartment on Maven’s motorcycle so the younger woman could study for her exams.
Bliss climbed off the motorcycle and removed her helmet, rising up on her toes to meet Maven’s lips for a goodbye kiss that would have gone on for much longer than a few seconds if it wasn’t for an interruption in the form of a strangled noise of surprise and the exclamation of her name. Turning around, Bliss was met with the sight of her parents and little sister, and her eyes becoming wide, Bliss wondered exactly how things like this always happened to her.
“Bliss!” her mother said her name again, hand pressed to her chest, the picture of a stunned southern belle. “What in the world are you doing with this woman?”
Looking from her parents to Maven and then back, Bliss gave a nervous smile and said, “Dating her?”
“Bliss,” Brooke said her name yet again, this time with a great deal of annoyance, hands on her hips.
“Now honey,” Earl intervened, directing his wife away from the couple. “Let's not jump down her throat. We need to hear her out.”
The sound of her mother’s irritated protests met Bliss’ ears and she jumped when she felt Maven’s hand at the small of her back. “You okay?” questioned Maven.
“I don’t know,” replied Bliss honestly, still not sure how her mother would truly react in the end.
Once again, her name was called, this time with a quieter but nevertheless impatient tone. Looking at her parents, she was relieved to see her mother wearing a much more approachable expression as she said, “We need to have a discussion about this.” Her eyes locked onto Maven, jaw setting in something of a grimace as she added with emphasis, “Alone.”
Maven frowned at this and said, “Is that what you want? Because if you want me here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Sensing her mother’s objection to this before she even voiced it, Bliss shook her head. Although she was nervous to have this talk with her parents, she wasn’t necessarily afraid of it and she knew if Maven stayed it would only make things unnecessarily complex. “It’s okay,” Bliss reassured. “I’ll call you later, all right? Tell you how everything goes.”
“You’re sure?” asked Maven, the concern etched on her face tugging at Bliss’ heart.
“I’m sure,” said Bliss with a smile and unable to help herself, she moved forward, kissing the other woman gently.
A moment passed as Maven gazed at her, as if trying to discern if Bliss truly meant it or was simply trying to create an escape for her, and eventually she nodded and started her motorcycle back up. Bliss watched her drive away until she was out of sight, wondering if she had done the right thing by sending her away, then turned back to her parents.
“So,” she began, her nervous smile returning in full force. “Discussion time?”
The only response she got was an irritated expression from her mother and a confused look from her father and a little sister who appeared completely unconcerned with the current happenings of those who were her elder. Sighing and rubbing the back of her head, Bliss led them up to her apartment, hoping that Rosa wasn’t home. This really wasn’t something she wanted her roommate to be privy to as Rosa been after her for months to tell her parents about her relationship with Maven.
Gloating would just make an awkward situation worse. Or at least more intolerable. Bliss was certain of that. Just as certain as she wished she had followed her roommate’s advice because maybe things would be less uncomfortable right now. Though she had her doubts as she took in the tight lines on her mother’s face and the perpetually perplexed look her father had.
Honestly, why couldn’t her life be easier?
-
Precisely one hour and forty three minutes later, Bliss was calling Maven and feeling emotionally exhausted but thoroughly relieved. The older woman answered on the first ring, her voice calm and caring as she said, “How did it go?”
“Good,” said Bliss wryly, sitting on her bed, still trying to process everything. “They want you to come over for dinner next Sunday. I’m almost positive that my mom wants to interrogate you.”
“She probably agrees with Bush about water boarding not being torture, right?” Maven remarked humorously. Bliss laughed at this and there was a moment of silence before she said slowly, “You know you can tell me what they said. It’s not going to hurt my feelings. I’m pretty sure I got a decent idea what they said anyway.”
“Yeah?” asked Bliss, lying down on the bed, closing her eyes.
“She’s too old for you, she converted/seduced/manipulated you, and she’s a mean bitch who hit you that time,” said Maven with a drawl and Bliss sputtered at how accurate it was in terms of her mother’s objections. The last comment, however, had come from her father who had actually been the most confused not by Bliss dating a woman but by her dating the jammer who had proved to be the proverbial thorn in her side since she first started playing roller derby.
“You’re psychic,” said Bliss, laughing and despite how tired she felt, there was a happiness in this moment. She suddenly felt much lighter and far more free and it was all thanks to Maven. While she expected her girlfriend to be supportive she had thought a protest of some sort would come over the invitation of dinner but there was nothing. Although Maven hadn’t exactly said she would go to dinner either. Something that Bliss was instantly feeling anxious about. “You will go, won’t you?”
“Baby,” Maven drew the term of endearment out slowly, her tones low and affectionate. “Of course I’ll go.”
“Oh, okay, good… thank you,” said Bliss one after the other, feeling bone weary once again, shifting to lie on her side. “I was totally going to study when you dropped me off now I’m just way too tired. That’s lazy of me, isn’t it?”
“Take a nap, you’ll feel better,” suggested Maven.
Yawning despite herself, Bliss said again, “Thank you. For, you know, listening.”
“Isn’t that part of my job?” inquired Maven with a chuckle. “If I didn’t then you’d have a defective girlfriend.”
Laughing quietly and feeling her eyes drift shut as she did, Bliss murmured, “You really are cute.”
“I know, I know,” Maven’s voice was soft and soothing in her ear. “You have a good sleep.”
Maven’s words were the last thing Bliss heard as she fell asleep after turning off her phone, still clutching it in her hand. Maybe that’s why she dreamt of her, wearing that brash grin she loved so much, as she taught her parents how to roller skate in her dream world where she and her sister sat in the stands eating ice cream and cheering them on. It was a dream that she’d later think was halfway real when Maven proceeded to try and teach her father derby tactics during Sunday dinner.
--
A month after their Sunday dinner, Maven had somehow become a part of her family’s frequent gatherings. Whether it be attending Shania’s pageants, watching football with her father, or giving her mother advice on the best design to use for a custom made gown, Maven was always there. At first Bliss was disconcerted how easily her girlfriend fit into her family but soon she got used to it and sooner than that she was simply grateful for it.
Though her fitting in didn’t take away the air of suspicion her mother retained around her and the remarks she would make to Bliss in private that she still felt Maven was too old for her. She's only thirteen years younger than me, Bliss! Was a constant comment and Bliss had gotten used to it but hoped that eventually her mother would get past it.
Despite how well Maven was getting along with her family, Bliss couldn’t help but feel there was an oddly forced feeling behind it and after one Sunday with her parents, she brought this up when they were at Maven’s loft. The older woman was silent for a long while, then she stood up and walked over to her fridge, removing the dark lager from the Czech Republic that Bliss could never pronounce correctly, and taking a slow drink from it. She had her back to Bliss as she said, “I came out to my parents when I was around your age.” Looking over her shoulder, a twisted smile curving her lips, Maven continued, “That was the last time we spoke.”
“Emily,” Bliss said her name in a hush, rising to her feet and walking over to the other woman.
“They send my Christmas cards back,” said Maven with a caustic laugh. “My fucking Christmas cards. Who does that?” She shook her head and quickly downed the rest of her beer. Setting it on her kitchen counter with an audible clink, Maven looked to Bliss and said, “I just don’t want that happening with your folks. I can’t be responsible for that. I won’t be. It’s too shitty.”
“My parents wouldn’t do that,” said Bliss softly, reaching out to caress Maven’s face, smoothing away the frown lines that had formed, taking in the almost frantic look of worry Maven had. “I know how my mom seems but she wouldn’t ever do that to me. Please don’t worry.” Ducking her head to look into Maven’s eyes, she said, “And stop trying so hard with them, okay? You can just be yourself and I know they’ll like you. My father already says you’re the son he never had, right?”
“Right,” Maven snorted, rolling her eyes, not entirely fond of being called a boy just because she liked football. Silence reigned as Bliss searched Maven’s features and after a moment, she said dryly, “You can just ask, Bliss.”
“You haven’t spoken to anyone in your family for that long?” asked Bliss quietly, a feeling of ineffable sadness seizing her.
“Not anyone,” revised Maven, shifting from foot to foot, sighing as she leaned back against the counter. “I’m the oldest of seven kids and my littlest sister, the youngest out of all of us, she called me up about a year ago. She’s younger than you,” Maven noted, a wry grin forming. “Just turned sixteen three months ago. We met up at the Dandelion Cafe so I could give her a present.” Maven was quiet for several moments then added quietly, “She was two when I left.”
“And the rest of your brothers and sisters? They just ignore you?” asked Bliss incredulously, her anger rising.
Shrugging her shoulders, Maven said, “They believe the same as my folks, I guess. I’m a sinner who’s destroying the moral fabric of society and will burn in hell for her sins and all that right wing bullshit we’ve heard a million times.”
“It has to hurt though,” said Bliss softly, looking at Maven with a good degree of worry. “Doesn’t it?”
“I learned a long time ago the easiest way to live your life is to not give a shit about the people who don’t give a shit about you,” said Maven matter of factly, a hard look on her features, her jaw clenched. “That doesn’t change because it’s my family.”
“I’m sorry,” Bliss said this because there wasn’t anything else she could think to say.
“It’s got nothing to do with you,” said Maven, her voice gentle and her expression softened. “This went down long before we ever met and there’s nothing that’s going to change it. That’s how it is. I just didn’t want the same thing happening to you.”
“It won’t,” assured Bliss, holding Maven’s face in her hands, moving in for a soft and sweet kiss. When they parted, she offered a playful smile and murmured, “We can share my family if you want. They’re kind of weird and sort of dysfunctional but they’re fun.”
“Thanks,” said Maven with a chuckle, pushing a stray lock of hair out of Bliss’ eyes. “I think I’d like that.”
Smiling widely, Bliss stood up on her tip toes and kissed Maven again, groaning as Maven deepened their embrace, sucking on her tongue and cupping her ass to bring them closer. While she knew logically she could never do this sort of thing around her parents with Maven she was firmly resolved that eventually they would fully accept their relationship and Bliss wouldn’t settle for anything less. Not after what she just heard about the older woman’s past.
--
Bliss couldn’t be sure, but she thought it was at least two weeks later when a desk magically appeared in Maven’s loft that was perfect for her to do her nursing homework on and a second dresser situated itself haphazardly into Maven’s already crowded bedroom. When she questioned Maven about it, she received a nonchalant reply that she was sick of seeing her slouch over the coffee table when she studied, that it was making her bad posture worse, and Bliss scowled at this, playfully hitting the other woman before she asked about the spare dresser. That, Maven explained in off hand tones, was just logical. Bliss’ clothing was already taking up drawers in her own dresser so she might as well have one of her own so she’d stop invading Maven’s territory.
This was a physical event that symbolized the slow shift in their relationship. Somehow or another, they had become so much closer, and a day didn’t pass where they didn’t see each other or at least talk on the phone and it was just the natural way of things. It wasn’t something Bliss thought about particularly, it had just become part of her routine.
Just like the training she would do with Maven at the warehouse. As one of the team captain’s, Maven had keys to the location and she liked to train there whenever she had free time to try and increase her jamming speed. When Bliss discovered this habit, she wheedled her way into these practices and soon they were holding weekly races against one another.
It was late on a Wednesday night when they were at the warehouse for one such race, lined up against each other, Maven on the outside and Bliss on the inside. “On three,” Maven said, her eyes fixed straight ahead.
“Got it,” replied Bliss, equally serious, her competitive spirit rising as it did anytime she faced her girlfriend on the track.
“One, two,” the words came slowly from Maven. Then she suddenly took off, laughing madly as she shouted, “Three!”
“You’re a cheating cheater!” Bliss cried in outrage, skating after Maven, a scowl on her features.
Still laughing madly, Maven did a maneuver all too similar to Bloody Holly, skating backwards for long enough to blow Bliss a kiss and upon seeing the look of continued outrage, her laughter increased as she turned the right way around and upped her speed. “Come on, Ruthless,” she called in mocking encouragement. “I know you can go faster than this. Or don’t you want to catch me? Maybe I should give you some incentive.” And with that, Maven flipped up the short plaid skirt that was part of her Holy Rollers uniform to reveal a pair of lace panties Bliss had been looking for.
“I knew you stole those from me!” shrieked Bliss, speeding up enough that she could probably reach out and grab the older woman’s flipped skirt. Only she was concentrating in building up her speed as to overtake Maven which she knew would be the ultimate triumph.
Maven didn’t reply, she simply looked over her shoulder and offered that brazen grin that Bliss was so fond of and stuck out the full length of her tongue. It was at this point that Bliss couldn’t take it any longer and forcing her legs to produce a final burst of speed, she slammed into the other woman, sending them tumbling down onto the track, and despite the pain she grinned on hearing Maven’s uproarious laughter. When they came to a stop, they were a tangle of limbs, with Bliss situated on top of Maven who grinned up at her, looking utterly pleased with herself.
“You’re such an asshole,” said Bliss in between heavy breaths, though a fond a smile tugged at her lips.
“I know,” Maven acknowledged, just as she had done at The Whammy’s. She matched Bliss’ smile with a brilliant one of her own, her chest rising and falling as she gazed at the other woman. “But that’s why you're in love with me.”
“No,” Bliss murmured, echoing her sentiments from months ago and leaning down to kiss Maven. “It really isn’t.”
It wasn’t the most forthright or even romantic confession of love that was ever offered and received but it was their way and it felt right. Just like their romance, their relationship, had felt right from the very beginning. And really, that was the only thing that counted.
End