Chapter Text
“Because of course she lives in the nicest fucking place ever,” Courtney muttered to herself, entering the apartment building. Twelve stories, the facade broken up by a repeating pattern of balconies and tinted glass windows, definitely a pool and exercise center somewhere. Likely a CEO or three, probably more than a few minor celebrities. Definitely not a place she belonged. Invisibitch broke into places like this, she didn't live in them. As if to prove her point, a man wearing a watch that was worth more than everything she owned (not a high bar, but still,) stepped out of the lobby elevator, ignoring her like she was someone’s forgotten DoorDash order.
There was still time to bail, make up an excuse- her cousin offered to let her crash on his couch, or one of her apartment applications got accepted at the last minute. No, then she'd ask when the housewarming party is and that would turn into a whole thing. Maybe she could give vanlife a try.
She checked the address in her phone for the third time, sighed, and slipped in the elevator door just before it closed.
There's always a home here for you, Courtney.
She just didn't expect Blazer- shit, Mandy, to literally mean that when she was getting loaded into an ambulance two weeks ago, but it turns out when your roommate is cousins with someone from Red Ring, it's probably not a good idea to keep living with them. It also turns out that when you arrive at the office at the ass-crack of dawn to use the showers and gym when you’re supposed to be on medical leave, you run into your bleeding-heart workaholic boss who immediately offers to let you stay in her guest bedroom when she learns you’ve been living out of your car for the past week.
Invisibitch would have immediately said “Hell no, I'm not your fucking charity case,” or something to that effect at least. She then would go and steal something from Blazer’s office to feel better.
Invisigal on the other hand was still trying to get the hang of letting people be nice to her, so she reluctantly accepted Mandy’s offer. And then made her promise not to tell the rest of the team.
So that's how she got here, duffel bag slung over her good shoulder, riding up way too many floors to her very nice boss’s fancy apartment. She took a puff of her inhaler, wishing it was a cigarette.
The elevator stopped at the tenth floor with a ding. She shuffled down the hallway, stopping at number 1009, and pressed the doorbell. There was a muffled crash from within, followed by what definitely sounded like a swear, and then “Coming!”
The door opened to Mandy, flushed, hair pulled back in a messy bun, “Hey! So sorry, I was expecting you’d just text me when you got here. The elevator needs a keycard to let someone up.” She glanced past her down the empty hallway.
“I used to break into rich people’s homes with very expensive security systems for a living, an elevator isn't exactly going to stop me.”
Mandy grimaced, “You really can't say these things to me, Courtney.” She stepped back, letting her into the apartment and gesturing to take her bag, which Courtney waved away.
She whistled. “So this is Casa Blazer?”
The entry door opened into a large open concept space, with a kitchen and bar, a modest dining table, and further back the living room area that opened onto a balcony from the floor to ceiling windows.
“Um, yeah, welcome! Forgive me, I don't have guests over much.” Mandy said, leading them to a hallway off the kitchen. She pointed to the door on the right. “Bathroom’s there. Your room is here, but give me a minute. I was just moving some old stuff out of the closet so you can have some space.” A box lay in the hallway on its side, its contents spilling out. “Make yourself at home, help yourself to anything in the fridge, there's not much but I was planning on ordering some groceries later-” Mandy continued, carting the box off to another room down the hall.
“Yeah, thanks, don't worry about it. I don't have all that much stuff anyway.” Courtney said, setting her bag down and walking into the living room area to check out the view. Of course it was spectacular. She wondered if she could get used to this.
Look, I've got an extra bedroom I'm not using, you’re welcome to use it. Until you find a new place, of course.
Mandy refused to take any rent. This was just until she could find a new place. How many new places had Courtney had? This was the third one this year. Getting used to a place was a luxury she was rarely afforded. From childhood she had bounced between family members, then foster homes, then either couches, partners’ places, or whatever shoebox she could afford with no credit score or job history. This was definitely the nicest place she had ever stayed. Legally, at least. Breaking into people's homes to stay in while they were on vacation in Europe for the summer didn't count.
Mandy’s place was nice. Too nice, almost. The living room had a large, L-shaped couch, perfect for flopping down and enjoying the frankly, ridiculously large TV on the opposing wall. It wasn't nearly as bad as Robert’s travesty of an apartment, but other than some questionably alive plants wilting in a corner, the room barely looked lived in.
That tracked, from what she knew of Mandy the woman practically lived at the office. It would make sense that she was a neat freak too.
“Okay, I’ve cleared out half the closet,” Mandy said, emerging from the hallway. “If you need more space, let me know and I can move some more stuff around.”
Ugh, why was she so nice, it was unfair. “That’s fine, you really don't need to go through all the trouble for me.”
Mandy stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s no trouble. You deserve to sleep in an actual bed and not a car after literally taking a bullet for someone.”
Courtney’s stomach flipped, and she pulled out her inhaler as an excuse to break eye contact.
“Yeah, well. Guess you’re rubbing off on me.” Phrasing, god damn it.
For a second, Courtney thought the Mandy’s face turned the slightest shade of red, but it must have been a shadow as she turned around to lead them back to the guest bedroom. “Is that your only bag or do you have more things to bring up?”
“I've got a few things down in my car, yeah, but could only carry this on account of my very heroic bullet wound. Doctor’s orders. If only there was someone with super strength who could fly the rest of my stuff up here.”
Mandy crossed her arms, but smiled. “Don’t push it. Give me your keys and tell me where you parked.”
“Yessss, thanks boss!” She dug her keys from her pocket and tossed them over. “Handicapped guest parking spot, there's a suitcase and two boxes in the trunk. Oh, and can you grab my Starbucks drink I left in the front seat?”
Looking like she was already starting to regret her offer, Mandy sighed. “We are definitely getting you an actual parking spot.”
Courtney grinned and snapped a finger gun at Mandy. “I owe you one big time, Mands.”
“You can start by not calling me ‘Mands.”
“Sure thing, Mando.” That earned her an exasperated groan. “Are you sick of me yet?”
“I'm going to get your stuff before I change my mind.”
Courtney could get used to this.