Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney / Gyakuten Saiban, its characters and settings, are property of Capcom, and are being used here without permission.  Rated PG, femmeslash.

 

 

Subconscious

Oneshot, written for Edenbound for Yuletide 2007

 

 

Lana Skye released a long, weary sigh as she adjusted her grip on the heavy law texts in her arms.  The hour was approaching 1am already, but there was still much work for her to do.  As a freshman she had taken a campus job in the library thinking it would afford her many opportunities for studying.  In three years that had never been the case, but on these late nights, working long with reading assignments and paper deadlines to look forward to afterwards, she told herself it was worth the effort.  The experience she was gaining through the hours of cataloging and documentation would surely pay off in her professional career.

 

She replaced each volume on its proper shelf, traveling from sections on copyright law to criminal defense and everything in between.  At long last, everything was in its place.  There were still a few students hanging about, but whatever books they left behind would have to be taken care of by the next shift.  She had already stayed long past her appointed time already.

 

By now, Ema was certainly tucked away in bed, sleeping peacefully.  Lana would have to slip home quietly and work mostly in the dark to avoid waking her.  She could have just as easily stayed at the library that was already second home to her and type her paper on the computers there, but she knew if she did so she would probably not return home at all before class, and she hated the thought of her sister waking the next morning to an empty apartment.

 

As Lana grabbed her scarf from behind the desk, the night clerk glanced up from an assignment of his own.  "Are you heading out, Lana?"

 

"Yes, finally."  She smiled wearily as she bundled up for the winter chill that awaited her outside.  "Goodnight."

 

"Did that freshman find you?"

 

"Hm?"  Lana felt a wary sting in her stomach at those words.  She might not be able to escape yet after all.  "What freshman?"

 

"That brunette that comes by all the time," he replied, and Lana felt a little of the color drain from her cheeks.  "Said something about meeting you here?  You were off with the supervisor, so I think she went to one of the study rooms to wait."

 

Only then did Lana remember the obligation she had committed herself to; she often held study sessions for some of the underclassmen, and one in particular had been very adamant about receiving her help.  With finals fast approaching Lana had agreed to meet with the young woman for a few words of advice--a promise which had slipped her mind at some point over the course of the long evening.

 

"Thank you," Lana mumbled distractedly.  It was getting a little late now for a study session, but at the very least she had to offer her apologies.  She hid her things behind the desk once more and headed to the back of the library, where the private study rooms were nestled.

 

The first two were empty, and the third held a small group of sophomores chatting over tests of their own.  Lana was beginning to think that her visitor had left, and was probably thinking very ill of her by now, when she finally came across the woman.  Through the small glass window in the door Lana could see the back of a woman's head visible over a short sofa.

 

Lana took in a slow breath and stepped aside, preparing to ask forgiveness.  "Mia?  I'm so sorry, we had someone call in sick today, and I…."

 

Lana approached, but when she rounded the sofa's arm she found that the young freshman Mia Fey wasn't paying her any attention.  In fact, she was fast asleep, nestled into the crook of the sofa with her hands folded over a book on her stomach.  She must have been carrying on her studying alone in Lana's absence, only to slip into a nap.

 

Lana shifted her weight indecisively.  The right thing to do would be to wake Mia as gently as possible, apologize, and schedule their meeting for another time.  However, it seemed like such a shame, when Mia appeared to be resting so peacefully.  Her lips were slightly parted, so that her breath whispered very quietly through them, her chest rising and falling gently with each inhalation.

 

Her chest, which was only just barely encased in another low cut blouse, Lana could not help but notice with a frown.  Mia Fey was certainly one of the brighter freshmen Lana had assisted, but she couldn't say she much appreciated the younger woman's taste in such revealing garments.  She wondered sometimes if she would understand the appeal, had she been bestowed such eye-pleasing gifts.  Certainly Mia had to realize how simply unprofessional her attire really was.

 

There was a small space on the couch that was not occupied by the slumbering freshman, and Lana sat down carefully on the edge, reaching forward to give Mia's shoulder a nudge.  "Mia.  Wake up."

 

Mia hummed quietly in her sleep, but she did not stir other than to turn her head slightly.  The movement caused her bangs to shift, slipping down her forehead and over her closed eyes.  She did not appear to be waking.

 

Lana sighed.  She considered leaving Mia alone to sleep, and simply leaving a note detailing how sorry she was, and to call her once she awoke.  But chances were that Mia also had papers and other assignments to work on as well, and allowing her to sleep through the night undisturbed might very easily prevent her from completing something important--this was the time of year when no one had a minute to spare, even for rest.  By retreating, Lana may be harming the very young woman she had promised to assist.

 

Lana reached out again, but she was distracted at the last moment, and instead of jostling Mia awake she brushed the dark bangs out of her eyes.  It was a gentle, almost fleeting gesture, but it turned out to be more effective than her subtle shake had been.  Mia hummed again, and even before Lana could pull her hand back, her eyes fluttered open.  She regarded Lana sleepily for a moment before recognition showed in her face.  Slowly, she smiled.

 

Lana sat frozen.  In the quiet of the study room Mia's tender smile was almost too sweet, and it captured Lana's attention more sharply than it ought to have.  When she regained enough of her senses to retrieve her hand from where it still lingered at Mia's temple, Mia's own hand rose to take it.  Rather than let her retreat, Mia held Lana's hand against her shoulder.

 

"There you are," Mia said in a quiet, almost sing-song voice.

 

Lana swallowed hard and managed to pull the words out of her throat.  "I'm sorry.  I had to work late, and…I completely forgot…."  There was no need to talk so softly now that Mia was awake, but with their surroundings so still it seemed wrong to disturb them.

 

"It's okay," Mia assured.  "I know how busy you are."  She pulled the pulled the book off her stomach with her free hand and set it carefully on the floor.  She did not, however, make any move to sit up or even release Lana's hand.  "What time is it?"

 

"Almost one-thirty…"  Lana glanced between Mia's face and curled fingers, her awkwardness transforming gradually into a strange, anxious energy.  Mia was still smiling at her in that half-adoring way Mia often did.  There was nothing strange to Lana about being looked up to by a fellow student, but when Mia fixed her with those round brown eyes of hers, it felt like more than simply that.

 

Lana licked her lips and continued.  "I was going to let you sleep, but I didn't know if you might have other work to do before tomorrow…."

 

Mia's fingers tightened subtly, and with a deeper smile she pushed herself up in a sitting position.  As close as they already were, she had no trouble leaning forward to press a small, but surprisingly tender kiss to the corner of Lana's mouth.  "Thank you."

 

Once again Lana was rendered motionless; as startling as the contact was, it had come so softly that she was unable to properly react.  Though her lips parted they wouldn't draw breath.  As the seconds ticked past, Mia's amusement only seemed to grow.  With a quiet chuckle she leaned in again, this time kissing Lana full on the mouth.

 

Lana was able to react with only barely more motivation than a moment ago.  Her hand twisted against the grip it was held in, and she managed to take Mia by the shoulders, intending to push her away.  It was a weak effort, and by the time she managed to get any strength in her arms she had already experienced a full taste of Mia's full, sensual lips.  She had already felt the unexpected shiver of pleasure when Mia's firm breasts--which were so lately the object of Lana's disdain--pressed so insistently against her own.  For that brief moment before Lana managed to separate them, Mia uncovered and nurtured in Lana a startling and even exciting new sensation.

 

"Sorry," Mia said quickly, the moment Lana succeeded in urging her back.  She giggled, and began to nudge Lana back herself as if she hadn't been the one to initiate that moment of contact after all.  "I must have still been dreaming."

 

Lana leaned back, feeling stupefied and…strangely raw.  "Dreaming?" she echoed.

 

Mia drew in her legs, and retrieved her book as she climbed off the sofa.  "Never mind.  Hey, let's go get some coffee.  It'll wake us both up."  She offered her hand.  "You still have a paper to write before tomorrow morning, don't you?"

 

Lana regarded the hand, and though it occurred to her that she should have been cautious, she accepted it with very little hesitation.  Once Mia helped her to her feet, she was hesitant to separate from her again.  "All right," she accepted dully.

 

"Good."  Looking very pleased with herself, Mia turned to head out of the room.

 

Lana watched her go, still feeling mystified by the whole affair.  As she followed she pressed a hand lightly to her chest, and noticed the uncommonly swift pulse of her heart.  Deciding herself foolish, she shook her head and hurried to Mia's side. 

 

 

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