No Ordinary Love

Nikolette was brought up to the gates of the Mansion that her girlfriend Gwendolyn was staying at. It was rare for her to come here. In fact, it was often rare that the two of them did much seeing of each other at all. Nikolette was busy with the dojo and Gwendolyn had to help with her own businesses.

However, she had watched Gwendolyn in the ring and there was plenty she didn't like about how things went down. She was very conflicted and that was part of the reason that she hadn't necessarily been too sorry they had missed each other so much. What was she even supposed to say to Gwendolyn? She felt like she had to pretend like she wasn't even dating the girl whenever she was at the dojo and that was, unfortunately, not all that difficult to do.

"Right this way, Ms. Tessla." Winston said as he led her through the halls to Gwendolyn's chamber.

"Yeah, thanks, Winston." Nikolette said somberly. "How's Gwennie, uh, doin?" She asked turning to face the older man.

"I suppose you'll see for yourself." He said and stopped at two giant doors. He opened them up and bowed to Nikolette who flashed him a weary smile and stepped through the chambers. Though she was a tomboy, she felt awkward walking through the huge mansion in a ratty pair of overalls. She had a pair of slacks and a button up shirt. She felt even more like a boy so she let her long hair hang freely down her back and shoulders.

"Uhhh, Heya, Gwennie..." Nikolette said with a blush and an unsure voice as she looked down at the plush carpet and the doors were slowly closed behind her.

Upon being guided down the labyrinthine halls of her luxurious estate towards Gwendolyn's master bedroom by her gentlemanly butler, a somber yet melodic tune emanating from the towering double doors would come into clearer reception the closer they approached. Squirreled away in her mansion for the last several days and taking a self-imposed sabbatical from all of her business obligations, the heiress had seemingly vanished from the public eye immediately after her calamitous fall from grace in her Entropy title match.

In her absence, news pundits propagated rumors that she was perhaps relieved of her position in the company due to her loss and portrayal of her families business, which would leave the business world reeling in terms of the future of Primol Corp. Sports industry analysts broadcast their own conflicting rumors about grievous injuries suffered during her match, from concussions to torn ACL's that could have career-ending implications. Burning inquiries that the heiress was able to shield herself from inside her expansive mansion...until her bedroom doors would curiously open without her permission. Seated on the side of her massive Grand King sized bed next to her nightstand with her back to the door and curled up with her legs tucked in front of her, Gwendolyn lifted her head to the familiar creak of her doors being opened.

"...Winston...I believe I gave explicit instructions that I was not to be distur-" Turning her head to address who she thought was her intruding master butler, the heiress' heart and sentence immediately stopped from seeing who had just entered her disheveled room. The unkempt heiress would reflexively bury her reddened face into her kneecaps, waving behind her for Nik to hurriedly close the doors behind her before any of her passing maids or butlers could see her like this. Her iconic golden curls now straightened down her back and over her shoulders, adorned in her silken light blue nightgown with her mesh and lace lingerie underneath. Her room littered with silver food trays and dishes with crumpled comforters atop her bed, the haunting classical music being played from a small sound system nearby.

...Gwendolyn herself remained tight lipped and curled up with her face hidden as this was obviously not how she wanted to be seen by her beloved engineer.

Nikolette looked around as the doors closed behind her. She wasn't sure what she was going to see, but she wasn't expecting ... this. She kept her distance as the music played in the background and she looked over her unusually shy belle.

Taking in everything she saw, Nikolette was silent for a long moment before she stepped forward. It broke her heart to see Gwendolyn this way, but at the same time, she did not like how quickly she fell apart.

When she was close, she simply leaned over and pressed her hand against Gwendolyn's back. She didn't mind not talking and clearly the heiress needed some time to collect herself. She'd give her at least a moment of silent comfort before she decided to say anything.

Gwendolyn remained curled up into a ball while she heard Nikolette enter her unkempt master bedroom. Hiding her face against her bent knees in the ludicrous notion that perhaps not making eye contact with her beloved engineer meant that Nikolette wouldn't be able to see her deplorable state, like an ostrich poking it's head into the ground. For someone who prides herself on being the epitome of grace and elegance to be seen like this, and by her beloved no less, only made her wish to sink deeper into the mattress covers...

"Nnn..." Gwen reflexively flinched from the hand on her back, a throaty groan from the subtle gesture of support and condolence. A comforting sign that Gwendolyn appreciated more than anything else at the moment, as well as the absence of conversation. The silence giving Gwendolyn time to compose herself before poking her head up to prop her chin on her knees, taking a deep breath before finally speaking up.

"...*sigh*...Why must our reunions be perpetually marred by some...element of tragedy?" The heiress uttered with a melancholic tone, twirling her index finger in a constant circular motion on the brief space of mattress between the both of them.

Nikolette turned her head when Gwendolyn finally rose and spoke. "Gwennie..." She said. "We both know the answer and neither of us wants ta say it." She said softly. "So, just shut up an hug me and then... tell me what all this is about." She said and motioned to the room before opening her arms and leaning forward to slip her arms around the heiress.

She rubbed Gwendolyn's back. "I know ya had a rough match, but that's no reason ta get all Howard Hughes on me." She said and then closed her eyes. "But... I heard the rumors..." She said in a worried tone.

Gwendolyn slumped into Nikolette's arms and lightly chuckled from the Howard Hughes comparison, not believing she was in that much of a dire strait. A little bit of humor to alleviate the gloomy mood as the heiress hugged Nikolette back, pleasantly reminded of how warm she was. Slinking down after the affectionate embrace, the heiress would rest the side of her head on Nikolette's lap like a makeshift pillow while the rest of her body sprawled out along the mattress.

"I...never intended for you to see any of this. It's...unbecoming." Gwendolyn sighed as she looked out towards the night sky through the open window in front of them. "I'm aware of the ludicrous rumors swirling in my absence. Beleive me, the truth is far less riveting. I'm simply...having trouble...coping. Your dojo compatriots and that detestable interloper Von Creuzfeldt all taking great delight in stacking the odds against me. I hope your friends are proud of their honorable victory...double teaming and robbing me of my chance to cement an everlasting legacy in this league with my record breaking title reign simply because I-!!..." Gwendolyn remarked with a growing and teeming ferocity in her tone, tensing up in agitation before taking an extended breath to settle herself down.

"...and...your...absence…throughout it all, wasn’t unnoticed…"

"Well, bein with ya means I'm supposed ta see ya when yer at yer worst and not care one bit." Nikolette said and ran her fingers down Gwendolyn's long, blonde hair. "Ya think ya can keep me from seein ya without yer make up for the rest of yer life?" She said and smiled.

Her smile faded quickly, though. She knew what it was like to go through a tough loss, but that wasn't it. She had to get right to the elephant in the room and Nikolette furrowed her brow.

"Gwennie..." She said in a low tone, warning her lover not to push things further. "Is that somethin ya wanna get into right now?" She said. "Cause you know why I wasn't there..."

Gwendolyn's tempered breathing and having her flowing blonde locks stroked seemed to put her back at ease as she affectionately nuzzled against Nikolette's lap. "Hmm...that may have been the plan all along~..." The heiress teased when Nik mentioned that eventually she would have to see Gwen sans her cosmetics.

"...yes...I know." Gwendolyn remained relatively silent after Nikolette's warning about the direction of the conversation, closing her eyes and being generally unresponsive as she breathed through her nose against Nik's thigh. Her beloved engineer's willingness to overlook her immoral actions in order to keep their love afloat was a rather prickly subject, an uneasy and non-verbal agreement that teetered like a house of cards. It allowed Gwendolyn to continue carrying on the way she has, but forever barred Nikolette from being seen by her side. Finally opening her eyes into slits, Gwen opted to abandon approaching that topic and instead thought it best to reveal what was truly troubling her.

"...my parents are summoning me home. They view this entire debacle as my opportunity to cut my losses and put this entire endeavor behind me before I suffer any grievous bodily injuries. They...believe I've proven my point to them already."

Nikolette chuckled at Gwendolyn's words, smiling as she teased. She was glad for the levity but things changed quickly once again, even if the subject Nikolette thought she was going to be bringing up was set aside.

Nikolette frowned when Gwendolyn spoke and began to rub her back a bit. "But..." She began. "Ain't that good?" She asked. "That you proved yer point?" She said, trying to clarify what she meant. "So, what're they gonna to do?" Nikolette asked, hugging Gwendolyn against her. "Can they make you quit?" She wasn't sure, really.

Gwendolyn noticed that on reaction to hearing her parent's command that Nik instinctively asked numerous follow-up questions and hugged her closer, as if she were literally in danger of being whisked away from her that very second. The heiress started guiding her dainty hand up and down Nik's thigh through her workman's pants as a calming and reassuring gesture to soothe her nerves.

"Nothing is outside the realm of possibility when they are involved...*sigh*...but...I know them. From the blasé manner in which they spoke to me over the telephone, I would find it hard to fathom that they have taken even the slightest interest in my exploits. Perhaps being kept up to date of my affairs by an individual on their staff. Be that as it may, the choice is still technically mine. Although, one path puts me into direct conflict with my parents wishes..." Gwen would shuffle and curl up her legs along the bed as if she were retreating into herself at the thought of confronting her parents.