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"Boss Nef! I'm back!" Jahoda called out, one hand braced against the wall of the Curatorium while she struggled to catch her breath. Her throat was so dry that it felt like a miracle she'd even been able to get those few words out. She'd been on the run back and forth across Nod-Krai all day, with precious little time to so much as sit down for a minute or get a drink. When Nefer said a delivery was absolutely critical, it was critical. Jahoda knew better than to disagree. Deep down, maybe she knew that she wouldn't really get fired for being behind schedule if it was for the sake of her health, but she didn't want to give her boss a single reason to look at her with disappointment in her eyes. Nefer had given her a new lease on life and a window into a corner of the lawless world of Nod-Krai she never would have gotten into as a common gang member.
Nefer was the best boss she could ask for, and not just because she was the hottest. That… might have had a few things to do with it though.
After a moment to let her breathing start slowing back to normal, Jahoda lifted her head and looked around. Ashru lounged on the counter, flicking his tail lazily. When she approached and reached out a hand, he gently butted his head into her palm, purring loudly. Only then did Nefer offer a belated acknowledgment of her return, voice coming from one of the sofas across the room.
"Ah, Jahoda… I trust you delivered the goods to our client without any problem? Then, while you're up, you can go ahead and feed Ashru his dinner." Ashru meowed in agreement, nudging Jahoda's hand again. All she could do was sigh and give him the scritches and pets he was so politely requesting. Apparently she wouldn't be giving her aching feet a rest quite yet. She glanced over in the direction Nefer's voice had come from, rather belated herself, and what she saw made her breath catch silently in her throat, heat flooding her cheeks. Sure enough, Nefer was lounging on the couch, reading a letter. Next to her, however, was Lauma, snuggled serenely into her side.
"Sure!" Jahoda yipped, mortifyingly high-pitched and on edge for what was a perfectly normal, everyday request. "Right away, boss! Y-yeah, the delivery went fine once I tracked the guy down, no problem at all!"
"Good girl. That's what I like to hear." Jahoda's face was searing. She was pretty sure she could feel a droplet of sweat trickling down from her hairline.
"Hello, Jahoda," Lauma interjected, soft and mellow. Though she had more than enough public speaking experience as Moonchanter, she wasn't so assertive as to project her voice quite as much as Nefer did. Jahoda nearly didn't hear her over the pounding of her own heart in her chest. "A pleasure to see you as always."
"You too, Lady Lauma! Always a treat! Now, um, I should get to it!" she exclaimed, voice still brittle and on the verge of cracking. "Ashru's dinner, that is. Wouldn't wanna keep the poor little guy waiting." Extracting her hand from the cat in question, Jahoda nearly dove behind the counter and out of view, squatting down next to the large sack of cat food stashed underneath.
It had been dark for several hours already, well past proper dinnertime for humans and cats alike. She hadn't been expecting to walk in on any kind of social call, much less one with Lauma. If Nefer's confident, authoritative attitude was undeniably sexy, Lauma was ethereally beautiful. They could play good cop, bad cop with her any day (nope, nope, nope, not thinking those kinds of thoughts about her boss and her boss' lover!)
Jahoda watched kibble pour into the bowl and wondered what Lauma and Nefer were doing out of view. Were they whispering to each other about how entertaining Jahoda's antics were? Trading kisses in the moments they had to themselves? She imagined a soft hand running up a softer thigh, fingers brushing under a skirt, and thought her heart might just explode in her chest. Damn it. This was not healthy. She wasn't doing this. She was going to keep it together until she got home, and then she was going to distract herself from these two infuriatingly gorgeous women by flipping through some of the magazines she'd gotten from Snezhnaya. Yeah, that was all. Just another normal, late night alone.
Ashru's bowl ended up heaped with a little extra food, courtesy of her tired hands and wandering mind, but the mischievous little void certainly wasn't going to complain about that. He deserved a treat in exchange for having waited so long for his dinner. Jahoda sealed up the bag of cat food, then pulled herself back out from under the counter and stood to her full height, metal bowl in hand.
"Here you go, Ashru," she said, and set it right on the countertop so he wouldn't have to get down. It was unlikely that any customers would show up so late in the evening, so as far as Jahoda was concerned, there was no need for much professionalism. Ashru agreed, if the speed at which he settled in front of his dish to chow down was any indication. She watched him for a moment, metal fingers fussing with the frayed end of one of her braids. All her muscles and joints were still screaming, demanding that she sit down and get some proper rest, but with Nefer right across the room, not having officially told her she could head home for the night, Jahoda felt she couldn't let her guard down. Even if her knees felt like jelly.
"Jahoda," Nefer called, right on cue. She knew she was right not to relax! If her boss saw her lounging around just because she thought she wasn't being watched, what would she think? Not that Jahoda was the all-capable woman who could help her run the Northern Intelligence Network, that was for sure.
"Yeah, boss?" she called back, trying to strike exactly the right balance between relaxed and ready for action as she leaned against the edge of the counter.
"It's getting late, and I heard we might be in for some rain tonight besides. Why don't you spend the night instead of trudging all the way back to, oh, whatever hovel you call an apartment? You've had a long day, dear."
Dear? Jahoda's fingers curled so tightly around the edge of the countertop that her knuckles went white. Maybe she'd died trying to make that delivery earlier and this was all some bizarre dream in the afterlife.
"Me? Stay at the Curatorium overnight by myself? Er, that's a little… What I mean is, it's totally not necessary." As she hedged awkwardly, trying to figure out what had inspired this rare burst of pity from Nefer, Jahoda approached the couch where the two older women were reclining, hands loosely clasped in front of her as if in supplication.
"Who said anything about being by yourself? Lauma and I intended to make use of the spare room here ourselves tonight. Making her travel back to Hiisi Island in a hurry seemed silly when I could offer some modest accommodations myself." Nefer flashed a toothy grin, one that Jahoda would normally interpret as a clue to her intentions in inviting Lauma to stay. That time, though, she had to be reading too much into it, because there was no other way to square it with her own invitation.
"Oh! You two…" The spare room was nice, the whole Curatorium was, but there was no denying the fact that it only had one bed, no matter how large or luxurious. "That's all the more reason for me not to trouble you by staying, right? Ehehe, not like I'm a stranger to wandering the streets of Nasha Town at night, no matter the weather. I'll be fine."
"Don't be ridiculous," Lauma interjected, offering her a smile far softer and more luminous than Nefer's (very attractive) mischievousness. "I can't have you going back out on my behalf. Not because you're all fretful about being a bother or making things cramped. I'm certain we can manage for the night. You look like you're about to keel over at any moment."
"She's right," Nefer chimed in, looking up from where she was examining the golden claws affixed to her gloves. "You ought to listen to the Moonchanter's wisdom, Jahoda. Not every day you get her undivided attention, no?" The mischief, the veiled threat, was still there on her face, making Jahoda's heart beat double-time, but frightening her was the fact that she didn't know what the threat was. What was happening to her and why?
"Right, uh… I'm not one to dismiss Lady Lauma's advice. If you're sure, then yeah, I'll spend the night here. Means I won't have to worry about being late to work tomorrow," she quipped awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. "I can sleep on one of the couches. A spare blanket and I'll be just fine."
"Oh, you dense girl," Nefer cooed then, getting to her feet. Lauma didn't follow immediately, just watched her with those gleaming, opalescent eyes, like she knew exactly what was going to happen next. Maybe she did. Maybe they'd planned all that out, Jahoda thought, stilling the tremors running through her body when a gloved hand came up to cup her chin, the points of Nefer's golden claws pressing gently into the flesh of her cheeks. "No, that's not how this is going to work. You need to be well-rested, don't you? Join us in bed. It's large enough for three in a pinch, so long as we squeeze in close."
"Okay." It came out as little more than a squeak. Jahoda nodded, then waited for her boss' hand to release her.
"Good girl. You can borrow some pajamas. They'll be a little large on you, but should be comfortable enough. Go on in." Nefer nodded in the direction of where the spare room was hidden away, as clear a dismissal as any. Hopping to whatever she commanded was instinct enough that Jahoda scampered off before her brain caught up with what was happening.
On her way, she could still hear fragments of the hushed conversation the others were exchanging, including Lauma suggesting that Nefer brew some tea. Normally that would be her job when she was around. She was supposed to do all the annoying, tedious things that Nefer couldn't be bothered to do herself. But, with Lauma, Nefer must have agreed, because she heard the clacking of high heels across the floor, ostensibly going to boil some water.
The room had a small wardrobe, Jahoda's first stop after gently nudging the door closed behind her. It didn't latch, grazing the doorframe and bouncing back to a point where it was ever so slightly ajar, enough for some light from the main room to stream in, adding to the lamp Jahoda turned on upon entering. The wardrobe, though nowhere near as full as she imagined Nefer's closet at home was, had more than she was expecting, all in her boss' size. She unhooked a nightgown from its hanger, a satiny number in a pale Dendro green.
It was as she was fingering the fabric uncertainly, boots already kicked off into the corner, that Lauma knocked on the door. She was trying to be polite, exactly as one would expect from her, but that gentle motion alone caused the door to swing open a bit more. Jahoda clutched the nightie to her chest reflexively, although she hadn't had a chance to begin undressing.
"Sorry, did I startle you? Mm, forgive me for saying so, but you seem awfully on edge tonight, even more than I've come to expect from you based on our past meetings."
"No, it's fine," she insisted with a wave of her mechanical hand, pulling off her hat and goggles next to set them both aside on a nearby table. "Me, on edge? Nah. No way. I'm chill. Just kind of a weird night, you know? I wasn't expecting to end such a busy day with a work sleepover…" Jahoda chuckled awkwardly, trying very hard not to visibly lose it over rambling so pathetically to one of the most adored women in all of Nod-Krai, like they were remotely on the same level.
Lauma, nobly pretending not to notice her mild panic (because surely she knew, the Moonchanter was far too perceptive not to know the sort of effect she had on people), began divesting herself of her accessories alongside Jahoda. It felt forbidden to see Lauma without her jewelry, to let her eyes trail up the creamy skin of her legs as she unfastened the laces of her sandals.
"Is that so? Are you that uncomfortable around Nefer? Even when you work together so well? Or is it me who makes you nervous?" Her lips crooked into a smile, so warm and beckoning that Jahoda went to unbutton her shorts without thinking. Urgh, she did need to change. Lauma's eyes definitely followed her hands, lingering on the additional V of bodysuit made visible with the fly of her shorts undone. "Because, truthfully, I think she's wanted to extend an offer like this to you for quite some time now. It was just a matter of finding the right opportunity to, ah, get closer…"
"Neither of you make me nervous. Anyone would be a little intimidated about sharing a bed with two of the most beautiful women in Teyvat! That doesn't say anything about me! I, wait, what do you mean about Boss Nef wanting to do this for a while?"
Lauma must have decided that she hadn't yet shocked Jahoda enough for one night. Rather than answering in words, explaining the bizarre mystery that she'd begun to weave for her, she stepped closer, the fabric of her dress rustling. That elegant head, crowned in heavy antlers, bent to press a soft kiss to the center of Jahoda's forehead, where the blonde wisps of her bangs had been pushed aside. She went deathly still, body locking down so thoroughly it couldn't betray so much as a tremble. A kiss from Lady Lauma. And, making her feel even more like she'd violated some unspoken law, Lauma leaning down to reach her gave Jahoda an unbroken look down the insufficient front of her dress. It was impossible not to look like she was staring into the other woman's ample cleavage when that was exactly what she was doing.
"Seriously, what was that for?" she ventured softly, shorts hanging open around her hips.
"Just that. We've shared an interest in extending an invitation for you to join us in bed, should you be amenable to it," Lauma explained. When she raised her head again, her expression was as placidly reassuring as when she was speaking to the Frostmoon Scions. So Jahoda assumed, anyway. She was still a little distracted. "Tonight, however, it seems you're much too tired to do anything but drink some tea and go to sleep, hmm? Other activities may have to wait for another time, if you have interest to begin with."
"I have interest!" Jahoda blurted, too abrupt and too forceful. Quite the unmistakable message, when she was still struggling to break the hypnotic trance Lauma's chest had inflicted on her. Laughter followed, tinkling and melodic, and that was what finally broke her gaze, allowing her to stare down at the floor as she awkwardly continued undressing.
"Noted. Then, when you're rested…" Lauma trailed off meaningfully, and staring at the floor the way she was, Jahoda saw the fabric drop to pool suddenly against the wood. They surveyed each other in quiet, equal hesitance radiating from them both despite the obvious gap in experience, and dressed in their borrowed nightclothes without another word being exchanged.
It was like that that Nefer found them, bringing a small tray with three cups of still-steaming tea. It was such an unusual sight, her boss serving drinks like, well, like Jahoda herself, and she ended up making a strange, embarrassing noise in the back of her throat from the effort it took to hold back laughter. The borrowed nightgown was predictably large on her too, neckline nearly as low as her bodysuit and far less proper thanks to its looseness. Nefer's gaze lingered shamelessly, as Lauma's did before her, and Jahoda struggled to understand what either one of them could find so alluring about her body when they both looked as stunning as they did.
"Getting cozy, are we?" Nefer asked, setting the tray down atop the dresser and raising an eyebrow at them both. She'd lifted her eyes, but almost too far. It felt more like she was looking at Jahoda's forehead than meeting her eyes, something she had to lift a hand to her own face to understand. Her skin was ever so slightly sticky there, glistening with Lauma's lip gloss. Oh.
"Yes, dear, I'd say so. Little Jahoda knows all about our plan."
"Got into all that without me, hmm? Well, it can't be helped now. What did she think?" It was instinct to shy away from any potential disappointment Nefer might express in her or something she was involved in, but really, she didn't seem surprised at all. She may very well have expected Lauma to give her the rundown while she was busy preparing the tea, just like she must have expected that Jahoda would be receptive to the offer. Still, Jahoda waited a few moments, eyes bouncing back and forth between the women on either side of them, until it became clear that she was expected to be the one to reply.
"I was… crazy flattered, Boss Nef. I could never have imagined either of you would be interested in me like that. So, yeah, I really like the idea. Uh, however much I'm allowed to participate in this…" Relationship? Would it be too presumptuous to say that, when Lauma had given no indication of anything beyond sharing their bed? "I want to. Whatever. Anything you want."
"Think about what you want, then," Nefer instructed, a smile unfurling slowly across her lips. "I may be your boss during the work day, but I have no intention of coercing you into more than you're prepared for. If you don't wish to date us, there won't be any hard feelings." She dragged a fingertip along Jahoda's jawline, claw scraping gently, and Jahoda leaned into it like Ashru, eyes wide. "Lauma wouldn't have it if I tried to keep you awake much longer, so that simplifies matters. Still, I have to steal this much from you." She tipped Jahoda's chin up, leaned down, and connected their lips in a kiss.
Jahoda gasped into it, lips parting against Nefer's, and the opportunity she inadvertently offered was seized immediately. Nefer's tongue slipped into her mouth and explored its new space, warm and confident. When she drew back, leaving Jahoda dazed and blinking at her, she merely smiled, looking every bit as assured as she always did.
"Think it over," she said again. "And please, have some tea."
"Okay. Thanks." Jahoda picked up one of the untouched cups of tea from the dresser, then Lauma took the one remaining. They sat on the bed together, not yet crawling under the covers together. Nefer, meanwhile, embarked on the same nighttime routine of undressing for bed as they had already finished. They were united, that time, in watching her. Jahoda diverted her gaze to Lauma after a few moments, unable to shake the feeling that she was about to be scolded for her ogling, but Lauma just smiled at her.
"Beautiful, isn't she?"
"Gorgeous," Jahoda agreed with feeling.
"I can hear you two, you know," Nefer chimed in not a few seconds later, looking as though she'd shed a few years along with her accessories and makeup. "Don't think you'll get some extra favors by flattering me."
"Oh," Lauma replied without hesitation. "I would never think that of you. We can get favors without any flattery at all." She set aside her teacup primly, looking as mischievous as Jahoda had ever seen her.
Nefer, to her surprise, didn't push back on it at all. If she'd chosen to keep up the verbal sparring and insist that there was no way she would be so generous without getting anything in return, she would have won easily. Lauma didn't strike Jahoda as the argumentative type, especially not when it came to the woman she was in love with. But Nefer smiled, freshly clad in a silky nightgown of her own that matched the borrowed ones they had on, and climbed into bed as well. On the opposite side from Lauma. With Jahoda sandwiched comfortably in the middle.
"Is this alright with you?" Nefer asked, before she could open her mouth to ask the same. She nodded jerkily, taking another long gulp of her tea to delay the need to reply. Jahoda was used to laying down alone in her little apartment, not with warm bodies on either side of her.
"It's good."
"Good," Nefer and Lauma said at almost exactly the same time, overlapping so well that Jahoda couldn't help but laugh.
"You two are way too in sync. It's no wonder so many people are intimidated by such a power couple." Or… soon to be a power trio? Could she eventually be so well-coordinated with those two that they were finishing each other's sentences? "Oh, but I think it's super cute though. Not scary at all. I think anyone would dream of having a relationship like that."
"Anyone… including you? If business is slow tomorrow, perhaps we could both afford a day off. If we can tempt Lauma into remaining in the city another day too, who knows what sorts of things we might get up to? Give that some thought as you're drifting off to sleep."
Bookended by two delightedly evil smiles, wearing a skimpy nightgown that didn't belong to her and feeling steadily sleepier from the hot tea, Jahoda couldn't have been happier.