June 20: D/J, Running Away Together

[kinetic_elaboration]

Daria/Jane, established relationship AU

700 words, 20 minutes

For Year of the OTP 2025, April: running away together

*

Jane is already in possession of the tools by which their vandalism will be accomplished, so Daria takes on the role of primary lookout. It’s all very well-planned: a tense, taut moment now, before a flawless execution. Trent waiting in the parking lot as their getaway car, hopefully not asleep.

The high school feels uncanny at night, the overhead lights shining that brighter and the hallway that much more surreal, fake in its brightness. Their poster is the last of the dozen arbitrarily chosen finalists. None of the vaguely milling parents and administrators and occasional other students seems at all bothered that Daria and Jane are standing just in front of their entry, so that it is not properly visible.

 

Briefly, Daria thinks they have an opening. Then—no. Jodie approaching. They warn her off—you don’t want to be here when what’s about to go down, goes down. She finds them weird, but no weirder than usual. As soon as she’s safely out of the way, Daria gives the signal, Jane swiftly turns, pulls her lipstick out of her pocket, defaces their poster with a giant circle and a line through it in the style of Brittany Taylor, and then turns around again and grabs on hard to Daria’s hand. 

And they’re off. Speed walking first to draw less attention to themselves, full out running as soon as they turn the corner. Their boots squeak on the linoleum floor when they take another turn, the front door in sight now, and then bolt toward it. Daria struggles to keep up with Jane’s runner’s gait but they’re still linked, hand in hand, and she’s got the adrenaline going for her. They throw their full weight against the bar of the door to push it open, heavy and unyielding, and then stumble out over the threshold into the cool, clear night. 

From there, they allow their steps to slow. There’s no one coming after them, as far as they can tell. But they keep up a jog well enough, around the side of the building, and into the shadow, where Daria realizes she’s been smiling this whole time, where she finds herself crowded up against the brick and Jane’s warm body against hers.

They kiss slow and breathless, still laughing in between.

“That was a rush,” Jane murmurs, as she links her fingers through Daria’s, presses the back of her hand up against the wall right next to her head.

Daria hums and nods in agreement. “We should engage in petty crime more often.”

“It’s a turn on.”

Such a turn on.

She leans forward, insists on kissing again. This time, there’s a new emphasis to it, an urgency stronger than the breath that’s still not come back to her: she will let herself lose all oxygen, entirely, before she gives up kissing Jane. Gasps a little at the press of hips against her hips. Jane’s other hand settles just above her waist and presses there, and Daria wishes with a stumbling, confused urgency that they were skin to skin.

Naked outside of the high school at eight o'clock at night. She’s losing her mind. Sometimes Jane makes her feel that way, in the best way, in the most intoxicating way.

They’re nose to nose, still gaining back that breath so they can feel the other’s on their lips. Jane lets go of her hand and instead settles her palm gently against Daria’s cheek. And Daria wraps her arms around her, safe, like she never wants to let go.

“Our ride awaits,” Jane murmurs.

“Our ride might be asleep.”

She smiles. “He’s probably fine. You want to go to my place? Enjoy one last night of freedom before Ms. Li throws us in jail for our crimes?”

One last night. Somehow she thinks they’ll get away with it. But she’s willing to play fugitive for a little longer, to let that sense of urgency and the illusion of the highest stakes carry her away. She nods. When Jane’s hand finds hers again and pulls her upright again, away from the wall that had been holding, she feels now, so much of her weight, she shivers a little, and manages to smile.