Work Text:
Ring, ring
Andy looked down at her phone. Miranda. She looked at the fountain and then back at her phone. Was this the right choice? As much as she would have loved tossing her phone in the fountain, giving Miranda the proverbial middle finger, it just didn’t seem right. It should, though, considering all that Miranda put her through. The phone continued to ring, pulling her from her thoughts. She made her choice.
“I’m sorry Miranda, I’ll be right in,” Andy said when she answered the phone. Silence on the other end of the phone was the response she was given until she heard a click. Andy pulled her phone away from her ear and stared at the screen. Oh God. She was so dead. She tried to stop her hyperventilating as she made her way up the stairs. There was little resistance from the press now that the editor-in-chief had disappeared inside. Maybe she should have just followed through with her original instincts. Surely, Miranda was about to fire her anyway. Andy took a deep breath and pushed open the door. She was immediately greeted by Miranda and a look in her boss’ eyes she hadn’t seen since that fateful night in the townhouse that featured lying twins and marital conflicts. Andy gulped. Miranda did not say a word as she turned around, making her way to their seats. Andy immediately followed and mouthed a ‘Thank you’ to the ceiling.
She had given her thanks too soon. Andy was restless. She just wanted Miranda to say anything. Anything! Yell at her. Insult her. Another Harry Potter manuscript. Anything besides the silence. Unfortunately, the silence continued even on the ride back to the hotel, and continued as they made their way into the hotel lobby towards the elevators. The elevator door opened and surprisingly, Miranda jerked her head, motioning Andy to join her inside. The tension from the car ride back was ten times more palpable. At least in the towncar, she could distract herself with the sights from the window. There were no distractions here in the elevator, just quiet with the occasional ding as they moved from floor to floor. They had just moved on from the fourth floor and Miranda still had not even glanced in Andy’s general direction. Something inside Andy snapped.
She reached in front of her and flipped the switch over to ‘STOP’. The elevator shook a little bit as it came to a halt. Miranda finally looked over at Andy. The editor’s eyes were wide for a moment before they went back to normal, a scowl now present on her face.
“What the hell do you think you’re-”
Andy moved in front of the switch, blocking and cutting off Miranda in the process.
“Well, I’m already fired, aren’t I?” Andy asked, not backing down, looking Miranda right in the eye. Her boss’ eyes narrowed. “I just wish you would tell me, straight up,” Andy continued, “This silent treatment is torture. Insult me, you’re good at doing that. Hell, you don’t even have to do that! Just, please. Do something. Anything.
“You’re acting like I’m not even here. Like I did leave. Well, I didn’t. I’m still here, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider leaving. Because I did, but only because I wanted to leave Runway , but that would also mean leaving you too.”
At that admission, Miranda’s mouth gaped open, her eyes were wide again. Her boss took a step back. Andy had a soft smile on her face and she let out a soft, low chuckle.
“Now I’m definitely fired.” She said, waiting for Miranda to respond. Instead, the editor moved back over to her side of the elevator. Unsurprising. Andy stole a glance over in her direction and saw that Miranda had an unreadable expression on her face. Andy flipped the switch back over to ‘RUN’. The elevator hummed as it started back up and they continued their ascent.
Eventually, the elevator stopped at their floor and the doors opened. Andy followed Miranda briefly so that she could get to her own room. A circumstance which Andy had thought nothing of before, was now more awkward than ever. At least Miranda was letting her enjoy one last night in the nicest hotel room she had ever stayed in before she would likely be forced onto the first flight home tomorrow.
Andy closed her hotel room door with a sigh. She headed over into the bedroom, setting her phone down on the nightstand, and got ready for bed.
She couldn’t sleep. She checked the time on the alarm clock: 1:00am. She groaned and rolled over to the other side of the bed. She rubbed her hand on face and closed her eyes again. Why had she been so stupid? Maybe just maybe she could have talked Miranda into letting her keep her job after almost leaving her. It was a very, very low chance judging by the look she had seen on Miranda’s face, but at least there had been a chance. But now? Andy rolled onto her back and her hands went to her face again. They rubbed at the tears forming in her eyes. Now, she would not only be unemployed, but she would likely never see Miranda again. She probably wouldn’t be allowed to work in New York ever again. At least her parents’ home was always open. Although, that would come with the catch of having to listen to the “I told you so’s”. Andy groaned again. Andy rolled over to her side and closed her eyes again. Tomorrow (well, today, she reminded herself) was a new day.
Knock, knock
She shot straight up, pulling the covers off. She wrung her hands as she made her way over to the door. It couldn’t be. Shaking, she opened the door.
There, of all people, was Miranda, standing in that grey robe from last night. She looked terrifyingly similar to how she did last night. Eyes red from tears, make-up removed. No way did Andy’s words have her this… shaken?
“Can I come in?” Miranda asked, softly. Andy closed her jaw, which she just now realized had been open, and stood aside so that Miranda could come in. The editor took a seat on the couch and waved her hand towards the chair. Andy immediately took a seat, her eyes never leaving Miranda. The latter cleared her throat, looking at Andy now with a piercing gaze.
“What did you mean?” Miranda asked.
“Um, mean by what?” Andy asked in response. The rules no longer applied if she was about to be fired anyway.
“When you said you didn’t want to leave me,” Miranda said, barely above a whisper. Andy was now about to fall off her chair. She started fidgeting with her hands. Was she really cruel enough to make her say it out loud?
“Just that. I didn’t want to leave you,” Andy said. Miranda furrowed her eyebrows together, the infamous, icy glare now fully on display.
“Do not lie to me, Andrea. It’s obviously not that simple,” Miranda said. Andy swallowed, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes for a moment before opening her mouth.
“You’re right, it isn’t. Anyway, there’s no point in lying to you now, is there?” Andy paused, but the other woman did not speak, so she continued, “Before we came here, my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend now I suppose, told me that the person whose calls I take, that’s the relationship I’m in. I thought nothing of it at first, just that he was the stereotypical, unsupportive boyfriend.” Andy paused again, trying to read Miranda’s expression, but it was unreadable again.
“But in the car today, after the luncheon,” Andy continued, “I was angry, not just at you for doing that to Nigel, but mad at myself because you were right. I did have a choice. I had a choice in not going to that benefit and missing his birthday party. I didn’t have to go to Paris. Then, I realized he was right. I had a choice and I chose you. Every. Time. I chose you again today, despite my better judgment. I knew you were bound to make me pay for it either way.” Andy laughed as she said that.
Andy dared to look again.
Miranda’s eyes had softened, her mouth slightly open.
“But at least with the decision I ended up making, I would get to see you. One last time,” Andy said, a sad, soft smile now on her face. Miranda threw a hand to her mouth and a choke came out.
It was silent for a moment, Andy’s words hanging in the air as the two women watched each other.
After what felt like five hours, Andy moved to stand up while she said, “Well, I’ll pack-”
She cut herself off as she felt a hand on her wrist. She looked down to see Miranda’s hand clutching her arm. She stole a glance at the woman in question, her other hand moving away from her mouth as she rose off the couch. The editor took a step closer, only a few inches away from Andy now. The hand that was on the younger woman’s arm was now on Andy’s cheek.
Andy looked into Miranda’s eyes again.
“Andrea.”
All bets were off.
She cupped Miranda’s face and hurriedly pressed their lips together. The older woman went still for a moment before returning the kiss. Andy felt Miranda wrap her arms around her waist, pulling them closer together. Andy immediately deepened the kiss, until Miranda pulled her head away. The edges of the editor’s lips were curved upwards. Victory. Miranda moved a hand onto Andy’s shoulder, rubbing it gently before looking into Andy’s eyes and then away again.
“Obviously you’re fired,” Miranda said. Andy opened her mouth to protest, but Miranda silenced Andy by putting a finger on her lips. “Ah, ah. Really, Andrea? I can’t have us working together and Irv finding out. All of that hard work would be gone. No, choose any publication and we’ll get you set up. My reference is a sure thing, as you should know by now. Then, we’ll take it from there.”
“You really do have a plan for everything,” Andy said.
“Hm, if you’re just realizing that now, it’s probably a good thing I am firing you.”
Andy shut her up with another kiss.