Zora, the more subdued of the two, watched as Iona filled up with a brightness. Very nearly, she was glowing and Zora couldn't help but smile. The werewolf capture squad seemed like a riot set of characters. They'd been slightly obnoxious patrons but were having a right good time on a crusty Tuesday night. She could picture how Iona here fit in.

"I'm a proper detective, then," Zora said as Iona tracked down the bauble. Felt good to solve a puzzle and help a stranger. And bling! There it was, dangling and shiny in the dimmed lighting. She leaned over the bar to have a look when Iona spoke of kissing. It was just an expression, but it made something flip over in her stomach. Zora had to swallow hard. Damn. It took one look by a pretty witch. Merlin, she needed a life.

"What's stopping you?"

Oh shit. She couldn't believe she said that. Sleep deprivation. Well, now the question was just dangling in the air like a sought pocket-watch on a silver chain.

"What's stopping you?" Zora asked. Iona’s blue eyes shot up from the dangling pocket watch to meet the other witch’s gaze. The smile that came was far more playful and amused than it had been. She’d joked before about Zora talking about her arse, but maybe there actually had been something in it. Bruce had always been really bad at seeking out other women who liked her back, and perhaps it was residue left from being pushed away several years ago. But now she had her gaze locked on Zora’s dark eyes and she felt excited. Zora wanted a kiss. Bruce could definitely cater to that need.

She lowered the watch and slipped it in one of the many pockets of her shorts.

“I did just break into your workplace.” She said, starting to slowly move towards Zora, “And you did just hold a wand to my head.” Another couple of steps. But Zora was very attractive, all big hair and dark eyes, and clearly, she wasn’t someone who tried to talk anyone’s ear off.

Now, Iona was close, but not too close. She pulled the ridiculous hat off and threw it back on the now messy pile of lost property items.
“Do you normally kiss burglars, Zora?”

It wasn't easy to forget the strangeness of how Zora came to be flirting openly with Iona, and Iona was kind enough to remind her. Zora would never get a better hook-up story than this, and kiss or not, she came out looking like a badass. She could get used to that sort of thing. Maybe she should be bouncing instead of bartending.

If Iona wanted out she could have left. She had what she needed, Zora had long ceased with her wand. She could have left, but instead she moved closer with almost a dare. She didn't know what to say, only that she'd kick herself if she didn't take a chance.

Before she lost her nerve, Zora pressed herself up on the bar so she was on tip toes. She moved in slow and strong and steady, and kissed Iona on the corner of her mouth.

Well, it appeared that Bruce would never find out the answer to her question, because Zora closed the distance between them and pressed her lips against Bruce’s. It was short, sweet. too short. Iona leaned forward over the bar and her hand went behind Zora’s head, pulling her in for more as her fingers tangled themselves in thick wavy hair. A quick peck was barely worth it. Their kiss grew deeper until Iona pulled back and grinned brightly at Zora. She was feeling decidedly warmer. For a moment, Iona just stared at Zora, her expression frozen in place.

After what felt like forever processing what had just happened, Iona pushed off the bar and moved around the counter, coming behind the bar herself where she closed in on Zora. First move made, she could follow.
“How about you fix us another drink and I’ll hide the watch somewhere else.” But Iona didn’t look like she was about to move away to secrete the pocket watch. Her fingers were instead tracing up Zora’s arm.

The kiss became more and when Iona pulled away, Zora was filled with the flush of the moment. It had been too long. Working in bars, you spent all your effort keeping a guard up that it was easy to forget about the good things. Working late, long hours - didn't help with a love life.

Alright, Zora, Arresto Momentum girl. Can't move too fast, wreck a good thing. It was hard, but Zora caught Iona's hand gently and wound her fingers up in hers.

"Not tonight. Let's ... let it hang." If it was good, it would keep. She stepped away and wrote her address on a bar napkin.

"Owl me this weekend. I'm off."

One minute they were exchanging saliva, and the next, Zora was suggesting that they ‘let it hang’. Iona’s ginger brows furrowing, and she pressed her lips together, rather unimpressed. Had this been yet another of those moments when she’d read it all wrong? Zora had kissed her. Zora had made the first move, and now she was having second thoughts and backing out.

But she pulled away and started scribbling on a napkin. Maybe not second thoughts if this was a real address. Perhaps her new bartender friend didn’t like jumping in with both feet. Zora clearly wanted to paddle. Iona tended to dive. Always had, and probably always would do.

Iona took the napkin and raised an eyebrow, smirking playfully at the brunette.
“You sure you want me to have your address? I might slip my arse through your window at home, too.” If climbing through windows meant she got to snog hot girls, then Iona was all for trying a few more out.

Iona reached for her glass of wine and finished it. She turned on the heel of her boot and made her way back around the bar.
“I’m gonna’ leave through the door. More practical.”

Zora watched Iona and was on the edge of worry she'd ruined something nice. She supposed Iona would just have to trust that Zora wasn't giving her a blow-off. It was hard to know how  a werewolf capturer who broke in through windows on some sort of scavenger hunt would re-act to getting gently let down. Zora guessed they'd both have to take the risk.

At Iona's hopefully-not-empty-threat, Zora laughed through her nose. "I might have to tackle you," she joked back with her characteristic sedateness.

Iona knew how to walk away and Zora watched her go almost changing her mind. Damn.

"Night, then."

When the door closed after her, Zora straighted up and let all the air out of her longs with a vocalized, "woooosh". She ran her hands through her hair and then pulled it up off her neck into a simple knot. Damn.

Fin