Chapter Text
Jean felt her back sticking to the bus seats. She could also feel a headache building behind her temples, maybe she should call albedo. No, he was really busy with university work. He didn’t need to be bother. Klee was babbling about what had happened nursery that day, Jean was trying to listen but she was thinking about how to complete her work for tomorrow, make dinner and entertaining Klee. She tried rubbing a hand across her temples seeing if that would make the headache go away, too lost in her thoughts to realized that Klee had stopped talking.
She looked over at Klee, she had her hand over her eyes, she’s smiling the biggest smile she could make. She was facing a woman doing the same thing. The woman was wearing a purple suit and had her tied in a loose side pony with a purple rose scrunchy. It took her a minute to recognize her. That was Lisa Minci. She lives in the flat above Jean, works in the city library, they’re roughly the same age, she was a graduate of a really prestigious university and she seemed polite. She was one of Jean’s nicer neighbors. That was everything she knew about her.
Ding!
“Next stop Windrise square.” Came the robotic voice. That was there stop.
“Come on, Klee.”
Klee excitedly grabbed her hand and jumped off her seat, she wondered how Klee had so much energy. Lisa got up as well, bending over to pick up her bag. Jean was lost in her thoughts when the bus screeched to a holt before she could grab the railing. She stumbled forward letting go of Klee’s hand to catch herself. Her shoulder slammed in to the pole before she could reach the railing. A shockwave of pain shoot through her.
Lisa’s arm reached out and grabbed Klee to stop her from falling over. As soon as the bus stopped she let go of the child's hand.
“Miss jean are you ok?” came Klee’s worried voice.
“I’m ok. Are you?” Her shoulder twinged as she said it. Klee looked at her skeptically. She knew Klee was an observant child and that she would know that she was lying. People were staring at them.
“Are you alright, hon?” came a voice behind her. She turned around to see Lisa looking at her in concerned manor.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
The doors opened slowly opened on to the deserted Windrise square. Only Jean, Klee and Lisa stepped out.
"Miss jean please can I have a piggy back?"
"I don't think I can."
Klee looked over at Lisa. “Can I have piggyback please?”
“Do you mind?”
She looked at her. She knew Lisa would read to children so assumed she wouldn't do anything to Klee and they were going the same way.
“Go for it.”
She bent down to let Klee on to her back.
“You’re Jean who works at city hall, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t know you had a kid.” She smiled.
“Klee’s not mine. I’m her legal guardian.”
“It makes sense I have never heard a kid call the parent miss”
She chuckled lightly. The blond got a proper look at her face. The light caught her face, her skin was glowing and her hair shone in the light, Jean felt her face flushing."
"Are you sure your shoulder is ok?”
She was about to say she was fine but a shooting pain came from her shoulder.
“I think I’ll just take some pain killers when I get home.”
The taller woman looked unconvinced, but said nothing.
“I think she fell asleep. She’s a such a cutie. Do you mind me asking how did you become this cuties guardian?”
“I don’t mind. I became Klee’s guardian after her mother was killed by a drunk driver. Alice was my mentor and when she died Klee’s brother couldn’t take in so I did. We have lived together for 7 months now.” Her voice came out shakier than she expected. She had been very close with Alice.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you ok?” The brunette looked at her with concern on her face.
“I’m fine.” She wanted to change the subject.
Jean never talked about everything she went through when Alice died. Her life hadn’t been the same since then, so much had changed. Her and Klee lived together, she had a promotion. Then there were all the family issues. Her parents were still arguing and her and Barbara relationship was more strained. It hadn’t even been a year and her life were already a mess. Lisa knew better than to press. Their conversation felt awkward, neither of them knew what to say. Almost mercifully, Klee stirred, as if she knew what she was doing.
They turned the corner to their apartment building.
“So how are we going to handle Klee?” Lisa said.
“I’ll stand behind you and you let her down into my arms for me carry”
“Are you sure you can do that with your shoulder?”
“Um… I’m not sure.”
“Do you want me to carry her up to your flat?”
“I think that’s best.” She winced as she said that.
Lisa gave a gentle smile towards she. It made Her insides melt like ice cream in the summer. Why did this woman make her blushed she barely knew the her. She dismissed those thought from her head and reached for her keys. Jean opened the door as quietly as possible, trying not to create too much noise. She didn't want there land lord to hear them. He was always drunk and would yell at every one making the slightest amount of noise. Klee was terrified of him and as much as she didn't like to admit it, there was a small part of Jean that was afraid of him. Lisa tensed at they entered the lobby of there apartment luckily he wasn't there. The two women still silent made the way to the lift.
As they entered Jean let out a sigh of relief.
"So you're scared of him as well." Lisa smiled, almost teasingly.
"Not really, I'm just afraid he will hurt Klee." She was pretty sure Lisa couldn't tell she was lying.
"Are you afraid of him?"
"A little. He reminds me of some... Bad memories." There was something off for a second in her eyes but she then flashed her a smile. "well that got a little dark."
The doors of the lift opened on to Jeans floor. The floor was completely silent which made the awkwardness return full force. The two women walked towards the blondes apartment. Jean unlocked the door to her for once tidy flat. "Where is Klee bedroom?"
"I'll show you." She lead the brunette into a small bedroom painter a cream color, coved in posters and stickers. "Her bedroom is so cute." Smiled the taller woman as she put the child on her bed. Klee mumbled something as the covers were tucked around her. She looked exhausted. "Sleep well cutie."
They silently swung the door closed. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?" "no I'm fine thank you but I do have something for you." she pulled something from out of her pocket. It was a piece of paper. "What is this?"
"It's my number. Call me if you ever need my help." And with that Lisa left the apartment. Leaving Jean looking at where she had been with a slight blush on her face.