A Different Kind of Shine (Part Nine)
Title: A Different Kind of Shine
Author: Jenn
Rating: R?...could go up in later chapters.
Length: 1983 for this part
Spoilers: All of Season One
Summary: Quinn is a laid back surfer type. Rachel is... well, Rachel. Inspired by this Prompt at rq_meme
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Rachel had spent almost two hours with Shelby at her hotel once everyone had split up. As she made her way down the hall, she maneuvered around the people and trash littering her hallway. She had forgotten about the flier on her desk, reminding her of the party the people on her floor had planned to throw. Grimacing at the couple making out far too close to her room, she unlocked the door and slipped inside.
Only her lamp was on and she could see Brittany’s form curled up in a ball on her bed, sleeping soundly. A figure on her bed caught her attention though and she gasped in surprise before realizing who it was. “Quinn!”
The blonde bit her lip sheepishly at the frightened whisper. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. Britt said I could wait.”
Rachel held a hand to her beating heart and took a breath, taking a step forward. “How long were you waiting?”
Quinn shrugged and replied in the same soft whisper the brunette was using. “I came here after dinner.”
The singer’s eyes widened and she moved closer to the bed, stopping in front of Quinn. “Is everything alright, Quinn?”
Sighing and dropping her eyes for a moment, she gathered her courage and returned her gaze back to Rachel’s. “If you don’t mind, I have a few things I’d like to say to you.”
Rachel hesitated but took in Quinn’s shaking hands and quickly claimed the seat next to her. “I’m listening, Quinn.”
Despite the party going on outside, the room was dark and quiet. Only the sounds of Brittany’s soft breathing matched their hushed whispers and the lack of noise pressed on Quinn’s chest. Feeling her courage beginning to wane, she sucked in a breath and began to whisper what she’d come to say. “Rachel, I know a lot has happened between us and just when you think I’ve taken a step forward, I retreat back two more. I’ve been unfair and unkind to you. The, situation, with Puck was one of my biggest regrets to date and I mean that wholeheartedly. Whatever was or wasn’t going on between us, my actions were as convoluted as they were hurtful.”
Quinn’s eyes began to water and she looked away when a tear slipped slowly down her cheek. She had never in her life cried in front of someone that wasn’t Santana. Whether it was the memories of her mistake or the painful pounding of her heart in her chest, it seemed appropriate that Rachel was able to evoke this reaction in here. When a soft hand reached up to wipe the tear away, she gave Rachel a watery smile and caught her hand, holding it gently.
Rachel swallowed hard at the sight of Quinn’s tears and felt a desperate need to make them go away. “Quinn, you’ve already apologized and I’ve told you that it was alright.”
Quinn shook her head adamantly. “It’s not alright, Rachel. I don’t want you to think it’s alright. I hurt you and that is one thing that I never, ever want to do if I can help it. It made me sick what I did, Rach, and I want you to understand how remorseful I am.”
The brunette was shocked at the vehement plea, piercing for how quietly it was spoken. “I understand, Quinn. You hurt me and maybe it’s something that still hurts but I do understand your remorse and I forgive you, Quinn.”
Quinn let out a shuddering breath, another tear tracing its brother’s path down her cheek. “I also wanted to tell you that I have not been this terrified since I was kicked out of my parent’s house. I’m jumping without a net, Rach, but I need to tell you this.”
Rachel sucked in a breath as she waited for the blonde to continue.
“Ever since I saw you, I have wanted to know you. The moment I caught sight of you, staring out at the sun rise like it held every answer you were searching for, I knew you were special. The thought shocked the hell out of me and when I saw you again, I convinced myself that it was intrigue and attraction but nothing deeper than that. So I tried to open you up to the idea of my way of life. You did and I was proud of you but at the same time I refused to offer you the same kindness and see your view on life and love. But I want to do that, Rach, I want to see the world the way you see it. I’m hoping that between the two of us, we can find a whole new way of seeing things.”
Rachel’s mouth opened and then closed again. She couldn’t seem to form a coherent thought. Quinn’s words had short circuited her brain and although she thought she understood what the blonde was trying to say, she still needed clarification. “What are you saying?”
Quinn grasped her other hand and smiled softly. “I’m saying that I want to be with you, Rachel. I want to take you on dates and hold your hand when we walk down the street. I want to call you at the end of the night, just so your voice is the last thing I hear before I close my eyes and dream of you. I want to be with you and only you. No one else.”
Again, she was stunned into silence. Her mind reeled and tried to catch up to Quinn’s declaration and the blonde was silent, giving her time to process. Still whispering, she spoke the loudest thought in her head. “How do I know that you won’t change your mind? What if just one person is not enough? What if I’m not enough?”
The last question was spoken so quietly that Quinn almost missed it. “You are more than enough, Rachel Berry. You’re everything I want and that’s why I want to do this. In all honesty though, you will just have to trust in me to keep your heart safe the same way I have to trust that you will believe in me and help me grow instead of finding me lacking. We both have fears, Rach, so it’s a risk we’d both have to take. But I want to take it, if you do.”
Rachel was quiet for a long moment and Quinn’s hands began to tremble again was Rachel held them. Quinn had just said everything she’d hoped she would and it was slightly overwhelming. Even so, Rachel new immediately what her response would be. So in spite of the concerns and fears that still echoed in the corner of her heart and mind, she gripped the pale hands in hers a little tighter and smiled.
“I want to take it too.”
Quinn felt like an electric current was running under her skin and she was sure she had actually lit up the room when Rachel’s whispered words washed over her. Despite the major changes she felt like she’d undergone recently, she hadn’t changed so much that her visible relief had been quickly followed by a muttered exclamation. “Fuck.”
The word was ragged and soaked in liberation, like Quinn could breathe freely for the first time. Rachel smiled and cupped a porcelain cheek in her hand. “Language, darling.”
Quinn smiled and pressed her face into the palm on her cheek, closing her eyes at the feeling of contentment that suddenly washed over her. Rachel watched her smile and her breath hitched at the happiness she found in that single action. When the blonde tilted her face and leaned forward though, Rachel ran her thumb over pink lips to stop her and then pressed their foreheads together.
“Wait.”
The command fell against her lips and Quinn sighed at the loss. “Why?”
Rachel smiled softly at the slight whine in the blonde’s tone. “I want this to be perfect and right. So tomorrow I will talk to Kate and then you can ask me to dinner. Afterwards, if you feel so inclined, we will revisit this exact position.”
Quinn had pulled back to look at the singer when Kate was mentioned, trying to read the mocha eyes before her. There seemed to be nothing but happiness sparkling in the dark pools so Quinn nodded. Rachel smiled and then turned, pressing her lips to the blonde’s cheek in a lingering caress. Neither moved for a moment, they just sat in silence, their faces pressed together softly.
Reluctantly, Quinn pulled back and smiled softly at the brunette. “I should go.”
Rachel pouted and Quinn had to physically restrain herself from leaning forward and catching that perfect bottom lip between her teeth. Rachel seemed to notice her dilemma and smirked slightly before standing and pulling the taller girl up with her. Tugging her to the door, she stopped and wrapped her arms around the blonde tightly. Quinn returned the embrace before dropping a soft kiss on Rachel’s cheek and slipping quietly from the room.
Rachel leaned against the door for a long moment before sucking in a deep breath, a smile on her face. Looking toward her roommate’s sleeping form, she moved over to the blonde’s bed. “Britt, please tell me you’re only pretending to be asleep because my heart is literally beating out of my chest and I might die of happiness.”
Brittany suddenly lunged forward and pulled her best friend down on top of her, squealing and hugging her tightly. “Oh Rach, I’m so happy for you!”
Rachel laughed and squealed with her, giggling when the dancer rocked her back and forth merrily.
Author: Jenn
Rating: R?...could go up in later chapters.
Length: 1983 for this part
Spoilers: All of Season One
Summary: Quinn is a laid back surfer type. Rachel is... well, Rachel. Inspired by this Prompt at rq_meme
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Rachel had spent almost two hours with Shelby at her hotel once everyone had split up. As she made her way down the hall, she maneuvered around the people and trash littering her hallway. She had forgotten about the flier on her desk, reminding her of the party the people on her floor had planned to throw. Grimacing at the couple making out far too close to her room, she unlocked the door and slipped inside.
Only her lamp was on and she could see Brittany’s form curled up in a ball on her bed, sleeping soundly. A figure on her bed caught her attention though and she gasped in surprise before realizing who it was. “Quinn!”
The blonde bit her lip sheepishly at the frightened whisper. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. Britt said I could wait.”
Rachel held a hand to her beating heart and took a breath, taking a step forward. “How long were you waiting?”
Quinn shrugged and replied in the same soft whisper the brunette was using. “I came here after dinner.”
The singer’s eyes widened and she moved closer to the bed, stopping in front of Quinn. “Is everything alright, Quinn?”
Sighing and dropping her eyes for a moment, she gathered her courage and returned her gaze back to Rachel’s. “If you don’t mind, I have a few things I’d like to say to you.”
Rachel hesitated but took in Quinn’s shaking hands and quickly claimed the seat next to her. “I’m listening, Quinn.”
Despite the party going on outside, the room was dark and quiet. Only the sounds of Brittany’s soft breathing matched their hushed whispers and the lack of noise pressed on Quinn’s chest. Feeling her courage beginning to wane, she sucked in a breath and began to whisper what she’d come to say. “Rachel, I know a lot has happened between us and just when you think I’ve taken a step forward, I retreat back two more. I’ve been unfair and unkind to you. The, situation, with Puck was one of my biggest regrets to date and I mean that wholeheartedly. Whatever was or wasn’t going on between us, my actions were as convoluted as they were hurtful.”
Quinn’s eyes began to water and she looked away when a tear slipped slowly down her cheek. She had never in her life cried in front of someone that wasn’t Santana. Whether it was the memories of her mistake or the painful pounding of her heart in her chest, it seemed appropriate that Rachel was able to evoke this reaction in here. When a soft hand reached up to wipe the tear away, she gave Rachel a watery smile and caught her hand, holding it gently.
Rachel swallowed hard at the sight of Quinn’s tears and felt a desperate need to make them go away. “Quinn, you’ve already apologized and I’ve told you that it was alright.”
Quinn shook her head adamantly. “It’s not alright, Rachel. I don’t want you to think it’s alright. I hurt you and that is one thing that I never, ever want to do if I can help it. It made me sick what I did, Rach, and I want you to understand how remorseful I am.”
The brunette was shocked at the vehement plea, piercing for how quietly it was spoken. “I understand, Quinn. You hurt me and maybe it’s something that still hurts but I do understand your remorse and I forgive you, Quinn.”
Quinn let out a shuddering breath, another tear tracing its brother’s path down her cheek. “I also wanted to tell you that I have not been this terrified since I was kicked out of my parent’s house. I’m jumping without a net, Rach, but I need to tell you this.”
Rachel sucked in a breath as she waited for the blonde to continue.
“Ever since I saw you, I have wanted to know you. The moment I caught sight of you, staring out at the sun rise like it held every answer you were searching for, I knew you were special. The thought shocked the hell out of me and when I saw you again, I convinced myself that it was intrigue and attraction but nothing deeper than that. So I tried to open you up to the idea of my way of life. You did and I was proud of you but at the same time I refused to offer you the same kindness and see your view on life and love. But I want to do that, Rach, I want to see the world the way you see it. I’m hoping that between the two of us, we can find a whole new way of seeing things.”
Rachel’s mouth opened and then closed again. She couldn’t seem to form a coherent thought. Quinn’s words had short circuited her brain and although she thought she understood what the blonde was trying to say, she still needed clarification. “What are you saying?”
Quinn grasped her other hand and smiled softly. “I’m saying that I want to be with you, Rachel. I want to take you on dates and hold your hand when we walk down the street. I want to call you at the end of the night, just so your voice is the last thing I hear before I close my eyes and dream of you. I want to be with you and only you. No one else.”
Again, she was stunned into silence. Her mind reeled and tried to catch up to Quinn’s declaration and the blonde was silent, giving her time to process. Still whispering, she spoke the loudest thought in her head. “How do I know that you won’t change your mind? What if just one person is not enough? What if I’m not enough?”
The last question was spoken so quietly that Quinn almost missed it. “You are more than enough, Rachel Berry. You’re everything I want and that’s why I want to do this. In all honesty though, you will just have to trust in me to keep your heart safe the same way I have to trust that you will believe in me and help me grow instead of finding me lacking. We both have fears, Rach, so it’s a risk we’d both have to take. But I want to take it, if you do.”
Rachel was quiet for a long moment and Quinn’s hands began to tremble again was Rachel held them. Quinn had just said everything she’d hoped she would and it was slightly overwhelming. Even so, Rachel new immediately what her response would be. So in spite of the concerns and fears that still echoed in the corner of her heart and mind, she gripped the pale hands in hers a little tighter and smiled.
“I want to take it too.”
Quinn felt like an electric current was running under her skin and she was sure she had actually lit up the room when Rachel’s whispered words washed over her. Despite the major changes she felt like she’d undergone recently, she hadn’t changed so much that her visible relief had been quickly followed by a muttered exclamation. “Fuck.”
The word was ragged and soaked in liberation, like Quinn could breathe freely for the first time. Rachel smiled and cupped a porcelain cheek in her hand. “Language, darling.”
Quinn smiled and pressed her face into the palm on her cheek, closing her eyes at the feeling of contentment that suddenly washed over her. Rachel watched her smile and her breath hitched at the happiness she found in that single action. When the blonde tilted her face and leaned forward though, Rachel ran her thumb over pink lips to stop her and then pressed their foreheads together.
“Wait.”
The command fell against her lips and Quinn sighed at the loss. “Why?”
Rachel smiled softly at the slight whine in the blonde’s tone. “I want this to be perfect and right. So tomorrow I will talk to Kate and then you can ask me to dinner. Afterwards, if you feel so inclined, we will revisit this exact position.”
Quinn had pulled back to look at the singer when Kate was mentioned, trying to read the mocha eyes before her. There seemed to be nothing but happiness sparkling in the dark pools so Quinn nodded. Rachel smiled and then turned, pressing her lips to the blonde’s cheek in a lingering caress. Neither moved for a moment, they just sat in silence, their faces pressed together softly.
Reluctantly, Quinn pulled back and smiled softly at the brunette. “I should go.”
Rachel pouted and Quinn had to physically restrain herself from leaning forward and catching that perfect bottom lip between her teeth. Rachel seemed to notice her dilemma and smirked slightly before standing and pulling the taller girl up with her. Tugging her to the door, she stopped and wrapped her arms around the blonde tightly. Quinn returned the embrace before dropping a soft kiss on Rachel’s cheek and slipping quietly from the room.
Rachel leaned against the door for a long moment before sucking in a deep breath, a smile on her face. Looking toward her roommate’s sleeping form, she moved over to the blonde’s bed. “Britt, please tell me you’re only pretending to be asleep because my heart is literally beating out of my chest and I might die of happiness.”
Brittany suddenly lunged forward and pulled her best friend down on top of her, squealing and hugging her tightly. “Oh Rach, I’m so happy for you!”
Rachel laughed and squealed with her, giggling when the dancer rocked her back and forth merrily.