Chapter 24: Cuddle Tax and Pocket Hoarding
Aria blinked herself awake, blinking blearily in the dim light leaking from the cracked emergency panel overhead. The faint hum of the power still running made her feel like they were somewhere almost normal. For a second, it almost felt like waking up from a long nap in a hotel.
Until her eyes focused — and landed straight on Selene.
Aria froze.
Selene was lying next to her, close enough that their knees brushed under the makeshift blanket they'd bundled together. Her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted, hair soft and tousled around her cheekbones like she hadn't just taken out half a pack of roamers yesterday. She looked perfect. Unreal.
And Aria… was staring.
She tried to look away, she really did. But her gaze drifted back to Selene's lips.
They looked soft. Cold. Kissable.
Her stomach flipped. She swallowed hard.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Inches. She leaned in just a little. Then a little more. Close enough that she could feel the chill radiating off Selene's skin. Close enough that her breath hitched in her throat.
She whispered, almost to herself, "I'm really about to try and kiss someone while they're sleeping? Am I —? Seriously, what's wrong with me?"
Before she could bolt back in embarrassment, a voice hummed low near her mouth.
"I was wondering how long you'd take."
Aria squeaked. She jerked back so fast she nearly fell off the pile of jackets.
Selene opened her eyes slowly, lazy amusement stretching across her face. "Morning, gorgeous."
"You were awake?" Aria's voice cracked like a broken flute.
"For a while now." Selene rolled onto her side and propped her head up on her elbow. "Didn't expect a surprise attack, though."
"I wasn't going to kiss you!" Aria lied, burning red to her ears. "I mean — not really — okay, maybe — but I was just curious!"
Selene leaned in close, brushing her cold lips across the corner of Aria's mouth. "You're cute when you're panicking."
Aria groaned and covered her face. "Kill me now."
Selene chuckled, then kissed her again — a full, soft kiss this time. Aria melted into it, hands tangling in Selene's collar as she pulled her closer. She stopped thinking.
When they finally pulled apart, Aria was breathless, lips tingling.
Selene smirked. "You always taste like something sweet."
"Stop it," Aria whispered, blushing harder.
"Nope. Not when I have a perfect little water goddess trying to sneak a kiss in the morning."
"I hate you."
Selene leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You didn't hate it when my hands were under your shirt last night."
Aria made an embarrassing choking sound.
"Want me to remind you where I put my tongue and finger?"
"Selene!"
"I could do it again."
"You're evil."
Selene only winked and stood up, stretching her arms over her head. "Come on, Breakfast Goddess. We've got ransacking to do."
Aria, still red - faced, summoned her pocket dimension with a flick of her fingers. "You don't get breakfast after saying that."
Selene grabbed a protein bar mid - air before it could float into Aria's hand. "Too late."
They ate heavy — not survival - ration heavy, but full - meal heavy. Aria pulled out a sealed bento box with rice, tamago, seaweed, and chicken katsu. Selene stared at her like she'd just summoned a five - star chef.
"I've been collecting," Aria said smugly, holding out a tiny frozen tiramisu like a magician revealing her best trick.
Selene took it reverently. "You're so full of surprises."
"Pocket dimension, baby." Aria grinned. "Infinite storage. No payment."
They packed up and moved through the rest of the store — deeper into the massive back end of the market. It wasn't like the other places they'd scavenged. This one was pristine. Untouched. Somehow still powered. The lights overhead buzzed, security cameras tilted lazily on their hinges, and the air conditioning actually worked.
It felt eerie. Like a place frozen in time.
"Why's this place so… clean?" Aria asked, sweeping dust off a crate of toys still in shrink - wrap.
"Could be people avoided it," Selene said, checking the corners like always. "Or something scared them off."
"That's comforting."
"Just saying."
Aria opened the next door and gasped. "Holy Molly."
It was a full - on supply heaven. Shelves of food, racks of new clothes, entire aisles of water bottles, sports drinks, soda. Snacks still in boxes. Freezers lined the back, buzzing quietly. The cold air made Aria shiver in excitement — or maybe that was just Selene's aura behind her.
"Oh my god. I can't not take everything."
Selene smirked. "Then start hoarding, princess."
Aria got to work.
She opened her dimension and started throwing things in by the armful. Chips, cookies, packs of dried fruit, imported candy, every cereal known to man. She grabbed entire boxes of pasta, jars of sauce, towers of canned food. Baby food, protein powder, cooking oil, fresh vegetables still misted on their stands.
From the freezer section: seafood, crustaceans, shellfish, beef, lamb, pork, goat, frozen dumplings, milk — dairy and non - dairy — every kind of cheese, tubs of ice cream. Soy milk, tofu, chocolate bars, even random fancy bottled water she didn't recognize.
Selene just watched her, arms crossed, leaning against a freezer with an amused look on her face.
"You're ridiculous," Selene said, voice low and playful. "Do you plan to open your own apocalypse Costco?"
"Why not?" Aria huffed, wiping sweat off her forehead as she pulled sandals, slippers, shoes, socks, gloves, and five puffy jackets from a shelf. "I'm singlehandedly restarting civilization."
"Singlehandedly hoarding all the good snacks."
"Same thing."
They kept going. Toys, tools, hygiene kits, extra batteries, waterproof lighters, duct tape, LED lamps, bags of rice, giant water jugs, even stuffed animals that made Aria pause.
She picked up a penguin plushie and held it up. "Zero would love this."
Selene tilted her head. "You naming your pocket dimension?"
"Yup. Zero. Like a void. Or… like I'm building something from nothing."
Selene smiled. "It suits you."
Aria grinned. "Thanks."
By the time she was done, she was drenched in sweat and practically sagging. Her legs ached, arms sore, chest heaving.
Selene walked up and tilted her head. "You look like you're about to fall over."
"Because I am," Aria panted. "That was… a lot."
Selene crouched down. "Want me to carry you?"
Aria didn't even hesitate. "Yes, please."
Selene scooped her up bridal-style, as if Aria weighed nothing, and started walking. Her body was cold, like usual — crisp, refreshing cold against Aria's overheated skin.
"You're like a walking freezer," Aria murmured.
"You're welcome."
The lights above them flickered as they made their way back to the employee area. Aria nuzzled her face into Selene's shoulder, completely spent. She'd forgotten how nice it felt to be held like this — secure, close, effortless.
By the time they got back to the same locker room from before, it was full - on night.
Selene eased Aria down onto the rough floor, careful not to jostle her too much. Without missing a beat, she grabbed a broken locker panel and a dented metal chair, dragging them over to the door. With a grunt, she shoved them into place, creating a makeshift barricade that creaked under the strain.
Aria just flopped onto the patchwork bedding, running a hand through her messy hair without bothering to fix it. She let out a tired sigh.
"Dinner?" Selene asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aria's fingers glowed faintly, and in a blink, two bowls of instant ramen — spicy miso and garlic chicken — appeared, sealed tight, along with a thermos filled with hot vegetable broth. "Keeping it light tonight. I've got enough saved up to survive on for weeks. Figured no need to risk it."
Selene smirked, nudging her knee against Aria's. "Look at you, the ultimate prepper."
Aria scooped up a forkful of noodles and slurped, eyes half - lidded. "Gotta stay fueled if I want to keep kicking ass."
They ate side by side, knees brushing softly. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable — it was a quiet kind of peace, like the world had slowed just enough for them to breathe.
"So," Selene said after a moment, "what's the secret to making instant noodles taste like a gourmet meal?"
Aria chuckled. "Magic. Or maybe just a killer thermos and a whole lot of patience."
Selene shook her head, smiling. "I'm impressed. You've got skills."
Aria looked over, her lips twitching into a grin. "Just wait until you see what else I can do."
Selene's eyes flicked to Aria's face, a spark of something warm passing between them. "I'm already looking forward to it."
After they finished, Aria yawned and curled up under the blanket, eyes already half-closed.
Selene sat beside her, watching with that familiar, soft smile. "You know, that woman we saved earlier? She wasn't entirely wrong."
Aria blinked up at her, curious despite herself. "Oh?"
Selene's smirk deepened. "Yeah. You are beautiful. I think she's just jealous — which explains all the venom. People hate what they can't have… or be."
Aria's cheeks flushed a warm pink. She hummed softly, a little shy, and looked away. "Thanks, Selene."
Without missing a beat, Selene leaned down and brushed a quick, tender kiss to her lips.
Aria smiled, breath catching. "You don't have to say things like that, but… thank you. I'm liking you a lot, you know."
Selene's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Good. Because I'm not planning on stopping."
Aria yawned again and mumbled, "Can we cuddle?"
Selene didn't answer with words — she just slid in behind her, arms wrapping snugly around Aria's waist.
Aria nestled into the cool curve of Selene's body and sighed. "You're freezing."
Selene's breath tickled her neck. "And you're fire."
Aria smirked, "No, I'm water."
Selene kissed her shoulder softly. "Water boils under heat."
Aria pulled the blanket tighter around them, cheeks burning a little. "You flirt way too much."
Selene's grin was undeniable. "You love it."
She didn't argue.
As the lights dimmed and quiet settled in, Aria felt it again — that flicker of hope, that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay. At least for tonight.