Simple Complexity

Part 1

They were comfortable, they had been for a long time, it was natural, they just fit. They worked together well, with ease, always being able to read the others' thoughts, and coming up with answers simultaneously. As much as Erin rolled her eyes, or sighed hard at the younger woman, she always ended with a soft smile, their eyes meeting briefly.

When Erin had accepted the Swiss Army knife it was a moment, a moment for Holtz, passing on her feelings, her wants and needs. A secret message. Permission. And as Erin took the gadget from the engineer's hands, almost disappointed, Holtzmann knew that it was the first step for her and she felt that was enough of a first go, an attempt of sorts and the knife symbolised more than just a small trinket, it was simple complexity, a mirror of Holtzmann.

Holtzmann decided to leave her tinkering for another night, and she slid onto the couch next to Erin, the physicist pulling the extra material toward her colleague, the blonde tucking it around her, knees up and she flicked on the television.

'Wanna watch something?'

Erin shook her head not looking up, still engrossed in her book.

Holtz shrugged and browsed the titles on the screen, the Firehouse was almost dark, a light on in the lab upstairs and a small lamp on a table next to Erin gave the woman enough light to read.

'Er?'

'Mmm?'

'What's your favourite perfume?'

Erin looked over at the woman, knitting her brows.

'Just...you know,' Holtzmann murmured, 'making conversation.'

Erin scrunched her nose in confusion.

'Probably Harvest Moon.'

Holtzmann nodded at the woman, storing the answer in her mind, in the little box of Erin.

'Yours?'

Holtzmann closed one eye in thought, pursing her lips.

'Anything with cinnamon in it.'

Erin smiled, 'You do smell like cinnamon sometimes,' and Erin smiled, 'and soldiering, and sometimes iron.'

Holtzmann laughed, feeling herself blush as she flicked through titles on the screen.

'Harvest Moon,' Holtzmann said with a smile, 'that's the coconut stuff you wear yeah?'

Erin nodded.

'I like it.'

Erin smiled, meeting the eyes of the woman next to her and Holtzmann turned back to the television, selecting a title.

The older woman turned back to her book, adjusting herself on the couch, curling more into the blanket and cushions, and resting her elbow on the back of the couch.

'Erin?'

The brunette didn't look up, 'Yeah Holtz?'

'What are you reading?'

'Ummm,' Erin flipped the book over, showing the woman the cover, 'just a romance novel.'

The blonde smiled, 'I didn't pick you for sappy romance Miss Gilbert.'

Erin snorted pausing, 'It's...nice.'

'Nice?'

'Yeah, you know, silly romance.'

'You think romance is silly?'

Holtzmann turned to face the woman, Erin turning too.

'No,' Erin said quietly, 'romance....like this stuff, ' she gestured to the book, 'doesn't exist in the real world, so it's good to read.'