#nobinary!bell

[guigz1-coldwar]

Big love, small hate (+18)

"Small love, big hate"

Plot Summary : It's been some times since Yirina Grigoriev & Sonya Kuzmin started their little love-hate relationship and things goes more spicy between the two....very spicy.....

To read it on AO3, click here !

Words : +4500

Warning : NSFW content....heavy one !

Tribute for @clxudtea for Sonya Kuzmin character

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Nothing could have expected something like this to happen.....

Claiming that you just saw Yirina Grigoriev & Sonya Kuzmin together and kissing and maybe also fucking around in their workplace and it's sure that you will be taken for an crazy person to the eyes of everyone and honestly, no one would have thought of that possibility. Like, everyone saw that the two despited each other to the bones, their arguments has been showcasing it since years and each time, those peoples wondered if one day, the two will cross the line and a big fight will have to occur between the two even if the two know of the consequences of their actions : both will have to face Perseus's personal wrath on them and they wouldn't want that to happen even if they were hating the guy in fact.

Despite all of that, there were nothing that could have show that Yirina & Sonya were now together in an very special relationship since no one wanted to be there with the two together in the same room, meaning that everyone was leaving the place, away from both and thanks to that, the two were able to create their relationship in an discreet way. In fact, it was better to tell to each other their little secrets instead of having everyone watching you and realizing that the two worst enemies inside the Perseus collective were going to start dating....in an strange & special way to say as it was more than an love-hate relationship that the two made....kinda hard to think but for them, they didn't give an fuck about it.....

After having fucked in the showers of the locker room, the two decided to kindle that new relationship. Their arguments that they were having now the next days ? They were half-faking it now, still getting themselves angry against each other but each time, they knew that the next time they will have sex, they will be able to release themselves together, away & alone from the others. In fact, it was helping them by an lot that no one wanted to stay near them when the two got into the same room, allowing them to be free for an long, long, long time before the two part away to their usuals task with no one suspecting them and just thinking that they had an big argument.

The first days after that first event, it was hard for the two to find themselves an occasion to have some relief moments with the other as they couldn't do it in their own rooms and also because sometimes, they were both busy with work on cryptography, the two weren't working in the same unit but an few days later, the two were, by the odds, transferred to the same Perseus base at the Solovetsky islands and for them, it was like an big occasion for them. Since everyone in here know of their hatred, the way was opened for them to release themselves freely and discreetly, they did never do such sex in their entire life.

Since their own rooms weren't worth it, they were doing their business in multiples places around the base. First time in Solovetsky and it was right like the first time : in the showers but then, they didn't do this all the time in that very place. They did this in an watchtower in an hidden part of the base in night and while Yirina was sort of watching around like an normal guard will do, Sonya was just behind her, kneeled, slowly fingering with their left hand, kissing her pussy & playing with her ass with the other hand with Yirina was trying to stay normal, overtaken by how Sonya was doing so well with that. They continued an day in an parked military truck also in night, having Sonya groan almost loudly as they were scissoring with Yirina and that was just an only part of the numerous times they did this.

Their biggest time they did have sex ? It was Sonya's idea to be honest and when they told Yirina about it, the two were more willing to do this for real. They decide to go fuck.....in Vikhor 'Stitch' Kuzmin personal office and to say, this day, they didn't go easy on their own manners. We can say that the two have sex like fucking beasts, taking each other against the walls of the office and trashing the place down but the big thing was when Sonya decided to 'fuck off their brother' and Yirina literally make them squirt on Stitch paperworks on his desk. The two could remember the evening in the military mess when Stitch stormed in in rage, wondering who the fuck has jerked on his plans in his office. The two laughed their asses off of these events the next time they found together again.

Today, it was not another day like the other. Last time before the two part ways, Yirina had an idea and asked Sonya to join at the helipad of the base without telling too much about saying it was like an big surprise to be honest. So, the day came in and Sonya found themselves to wait at the helipad near an MI-24 Hind as Yirina wasn't there yet.

"Sonya but what are you doing here ?" Sonya looked around them to find their own brother, Vikhor arriving on the helipad, seeing them leaning against the soviet Hind, standing up. To say that it wasn't an place that Sonya is using to go. "I've been looking for you since one hour before someone told me that you were awaiting here." He continued as he got next to Sonya, awaiting for an answer

"Because I can't be here ?" Sonya asked back to their brother's face that was still wearing their stupid mask and black hood in the middle of nowhere....honestly, Sonya was wondering of why their brother never change their clothes but why asking ? "Are you still acting like the big tough brother with me or something ?" They added, raising an eyebrow to him as they could see him rolling his only eyes around.

"No, it's just that I'm worried about you !" Stitch replied, sounding more normal than an real worried person would be honestly and Sonya could see through it and by the way, his response was meaning the whole contrary : why is he saying no just to say after that he's worried. "So, what are you doing here ?" He asked again.

"I'm waiting for someone." They responded, looking away from Stitch, trying to found Yirina with their eyes but she wasn't there for them....what are you planning, Yirina ?.....they thought inside their head before looking back to Stitch who was pretty curious about it.

"If you're waiting for Freya, it's gonna be damn long because she's not here." Stitch expressed as he remember when Sonya told him about their new-found relationship with the norwegian Perseus agent that was Grigoriev girlfriend before Sonya stole her from Yirina....but Sonya wasn't thinking of Freya....they were thinking of Yirina herself. They were stll in relationship with Freya but since her love & hate relationship began, their thoughts was mainly focused on the redhead woman.

"I'm waiting for Grigoriev." They said clearly to him and by hearing that, Stitch's only eye goes wide at this. Why Sonya is waiting for their worst enemy to come in here with nobody around them to control them in case ?

"Wait, are you serious, Sonya ?" He started to raise his voice to them, not angry at all but more confused in fact as he was starting to wonder in his head what's got into Sonya. "You know what will happen if you two fight ?" He asked rhetorically as he was the one who warned them about the consequences of their actions if the two start to fight. "What's wrong...."

"Nothing's wrong, Stitch." Sonya cut their own brother straight like that. With Sonya, it was obvious that you could be cut in your words by them. They are rude, no one can complain about it, it's their true state. "She just told me to come here, that's it." They added, annoyed by their brother's presence around them. "I don't know but do you have better things to do like : finding the person who has fucked up your office ?" They asked and honestly, she was keeping her calm as inside of them, they were laughing as hell before they make an little laugh escaping their mouth.

"That's not funny." Stitch exclaimed, poking at them as he could remember the face he has done when he saw all of his paperworks wet......he didn't know that it was Sonya themselves that orgasmed on it and frankly, if they could tell him the truth, they would do it gladly right at his face. "When I will find the one who did this...." He clenched his right fist showing to Sonya, affirming his brutality towards those who is making troubles with him.

"Good for you." They breathed, rolling their eyes in annoyance from their brother before they look into an specific direction, finally seeing Yirina Grigoriev arrive. "You know what ? You need to leave before she try to break your arm." They pointed at her direction for Stitch, who when he saw her, he only wanted to stay here, fearing that the two will fight. "You're deaf, Vikhor ? Fuck off !" They ordered & even if they were more younger than their brother, they were still acting rude towards me.

Vikhor peaked his head to see Yirina, wearing an pilot outfit and behind her back, an strange black bag. He remember well that he saw her beating two guys who were trying to harass a young female recruit : the two guys did literally have their both arms broken and had to stay in the hospital for days. He was seeing her like an big threat even to him & his legendary brutality towards his enemy. As Yirina finally put her feets on the helipad that he decide to resign himself to leave the place, leaving Sonya alone with their 'worst enemy', the two exchanging an quick look to each other....more as an warning for Stitch and an death threat for Yirina.

"You're late." Sonya started as Yirina was opening the bay door of the hind, making Sonya to move from the helicopter.

"Got to take something for me in my room." Yirina stated, putting her black bag inside the helicopter, placing it well before she got out of the helicopter. "Something to spice things up."

"Because our relation isn't spicy enough ?" Sonya raised an eyebrow at hearing this. "I thought that fucking in Vikhor's office was the best we can do...." They admitted as it was like their master plan to 'fuck off their brother' but what is Yirina preparing for them in reality if that event wasn't the best ? "What are you planning ?"

"Wait & see, sweetheart." Yirina teased, making Sonya blush from that compliment.

"Fuck you." Sonya said back in an lovely voice making Yirina smile as it was like an sort of affection....weird one between the two.....They started to look around, wondering of something. "So, we're now waiting for the pilot ?" They asked before Yirina looked at them, seriously.

"Bitch, I'm the pilot." Yirina exclaimed, showing to Sonya her whole outfit she was wearing. Sonya's eyes went wide at this, they thought that Yirina was going to be an co-pilot or that someone else will maybe drop them somewhere discreet. Even, they just thought that they were going to fuck in the Hind's bay, still in here.

"I'm going to put my life in your hands while you're flying that ?" They pointed at the helicopter and Yirina nodded.

"Just get in or it will be no sex today....and I'm pretty sure that you want my fingers." Yirina proclaimed as she could see Sonya having chills at hearing the end of her sentence. Thinking of this was making Sonya so.....horny to not be able to have an fun moment with Yirina. "Install yourself into the front cockpit and we're off."

"Where are we going exactly ?" Sonya questioned as they start to move to the cockpit like Yirina asked them.

"Somewhere nice & quiet in the island....should be alone for an big while." Yirina replied, not giving the exact location as she install herself into her seat, getting everything to work as she could see Sonya looking an bit troubled, installing themself at their seat....everything will go fine....Sonya thought. "And here we go !" Yirina scoffed as the Hind was slowly taking off the helipad.

In fact, Sonya was quite surprised that Yirina was doing so well with the Hind as it wasn't an easy chopper to control in reality. Yirina, having the commands flied away from the base, advising Sonya to not touch anything at her control board as they were sit in the gunner position....and Sonya be Sonya, they didn't listen to it and unwillingly make the Hind fire some bullets into the sea as the helicopter was flying towards it. Sonya was kinda feeling bad to not have listen to Yirina but Yirina forgave them, just asking that they didn't do this again.

To reassure Sonya during the flight, Yirina told them about how she did learn of flying an helicopter for her 18th birthday and to say, she was doing so well that it was recomforting Sonya to, in fact, have put their life in Yirina's hands. For now, it was almost 8 years that she was like an master on doing this, making Sonya wonder about how Yirina didn't put herself as an full-pilot instead of been an cryptographer like them but she prefer to decrypt things all day than flying an chopper all day....less stressful....

Yirina, after 10 minutes of flying, decided to land the helicopter in an very isolated place in the Solovetsky Island, very far away from the monastery and that's what she has been having in head all the time : be away from Perseus. After she landed the Hind, she was the first one to get out of it and she then opened the cockpit door of Sonya themselves.

"You're okay ?" Yirina demanded after she opened as she was seeing Sonya an bit out of themself, trying to catch an breath.

"Yeah, I'm good." They breathed, grinning to Yirina as she was offering her hand to them as an sign of gratitude to get out of the helicopter. They took it and start to get out with Yirina's help before they managed to hit the ground with their feets and then, the two got closer, their hands wrapping around each other at their wraists level. "You...you're looking lovely in that outfit." Sonya admitted with an smile as they moved to kiss Yirina at her neck.

"Mmhm...but I'm sure that you're more interested by what's below it." Yirina said, her voice at the beginning, moaning because of Sonya's kisses at her neck before she decide to move, getting Sonya's back against the helicopter and then, she put her left hand inside Sonya's pants. "Tell me.....did you fuck with Freya these last days ?" Of course, it was an question that was in Yirina's mind.....They never actually dumped Freya after the two launched their little love & hate relationship.

"Yeah....yeah....oh god." Sonya replied, starting to feel her hand touching their pussy without stroking it actually, Yirina only wanted to make things clear....she was the one in control in here....like the two agree the last time they had sex. Sonya, they were still having sex with Freya but everytime, they were always thinking that it was Yirina doing this.....they couldn't know why ? I despite this girl and one day, I kinda feel so in love and hate with her.....they thought to themself. "Yirina, you want to...punish me ?"

"Of course....in an lovely way..." Yirina affirmed before she start to slowly stroke Sonya's pussy....she could feel it already wet and it was exciting her at all level. "Jesus, you're horny as hell." She said, astonished to feel that sensation along her fingers as she was going to stroke further with her left hand. Her right hand was behind Sonya's neck, controlling it and she was focused on their face, wanting to see every reaction from her stroking....damn, Sonya was so wet that Yirina start to think Sonya only wanted to have sex in their life....if only Perseus wasn't existing....

"Yirina...." Sonya chuckled as they were feeling so damn overtaken that they decide to literally remove their pants, making Yirina's eyes go wide....she didn't even need to do it by herself to be honest. "Please...I....lick me...finger me...I'm yours." Sonya affirmed, not moving at all after they removed their pants, just awaiting for Yirina to do what they told her.....their voice was sounding so pleading and it was very different from the other times...they were meaning it by an lot. They were all belonging to Yirina now for them but Yirina was still stroking their pussy so they rolled their eyes around. "Please, my little redhead bitch...." They added, sounding so rude....and so horny at the same time.

"Well, you asked." Yirina smirked as she finally stopped her move before she got down to get on her knees, she was still in control. She blow up some air into the already wet pussy of Sonya before she start to slowly lick their pussy, her hands slowly touching Sonya's chest and she was still looking inside Sonya's green eyes while eating them out. Seriously, Yirina was...relieved to do this and in fact, she even start to not hate Sonya anymore, they were just so lovely even with their rude attitude towards the others.....she was loving it. "So fucking good." She whispered in an very low voice to herself as she was going to use her tongue to penetrate Sonya's pussy and then, she does it.

"Fuck..." Sonya groaned as they were feeling Yirina's tongue inside them. Frankly, they would have like to put their hands on her head and to make her tongue going further but they were more focused on breathing away and the lust in them wasn't going to help at all. "I'm gonna....gonna fucking cum." Horny & rude at the same time again.....they could feel themself lose control of their body until they finally squirted all over Yirina's face and in an second, they were feeling so bad as they could see Yirina getting up, her red hair partially messy & wet.

"So good." Yirina repeated this time to Sonya themself with an smile before she pulled Sonya for an kiss, grabbing them by the collar as Sonya could feel on her lips the taste of their own pussy and even if they already know about it, it was still feeling so nice to feel it. Their kiss was all but messy before Yirina withdraw from Sonya. "Let's go inside, shall we ?" She proposed, opening the bay door of the hind.

"Oh yeah." Sonya said enthusiastic before Yirina literally took their hand with her, dragging them inside the bay of the helicopter. The Hind did have an space for transport troops around the battlefield but in here, let's just say that it did became an place to fuck for Yirina and Sonya now. Immediately as Sonya was installed inside that Yirina make them lay down on the floor of the bay area, putting herself on top of them.

"Remove your clothes." Yirina ordered as Sonya still had only their jacket on and they complied in the very second, getting themself naked shortly after that. "Oh, see that you're an extremely horny person." Yirina affirmed as she could see that Sonya wasn't wearing any bra at all to cover their breasts, amazed by its views before she put her hand on the zipper of her pilot suit, slowly unzipping it.

"So do you...." Sonya added, realizing that Yirina too wasn't wearing at all below her outfit and when she was done, she completely throw her outfit aside in the helicopter, both finding now themselves naked in an Hind, just wanting to release themselves out. Then, Yirina removed herself from Sonya, getting in front of them and streching her legs, showing her pussy to them.

"Come on, it's awaiting." Yirina gestured with her index finger to Sonya who was like hypnotized by Yirina's body....like never before, something has changed since the two were making hate sex and now, it was just....normal sex....yes....Sonya was in love....not in hate anymore.

"Yes, my love." Sonya whispered like that, directly giving their thoughts and honestly, Yirina wasn't even taken aback by that, she was loving them too....and when the two looked at each other in the eyes, they instantly know that the two weren't making hate sex anymore. Everytime, they were doing to release their anger in sex but now, it was all passionate but still very spicy. Then, Sonya on their four started to move slowly towards Yirina's pussy and finally, they could finally start to eat her out, going slowly.

"Oh shit." Yirina groaned, her voice filled with pleasure as she was looking at Sonya, licking her and then, they start to put one finger inside without even asking for it. "Sonya.." She breathed, looking with lovely eyes at Sonya until she put her both hands on her head, holding it by the hair in an gentle way. "Harder, baby." She moaned louder in the helicopter and like she ordered, Sonya complied and start to lick and finger more harder Yirina's pussy. She was the one on top here and it was better to obey. There's times where it's Sonya on top but for an large part, it was Yirina taking the lead.

"So nice..." Sonya said in an low voice as they were taking some air before going back quickly on eating Yirina out.

"My god, Sonya..." Yirina was feeling that it was her turn to cum as Sonya was going more harder & harder until she finally does....squirting all over Sonya's face as her breaths were more louder, trying to catch back her normal breath. Sonya moved slowly towards Yirina's head, getting their both foreheads against each other before pulling for an kiss....both tastes were mixing and to say, it was an lovely mix.

"Thanks you, Yirina." Sonya told her after the kiss, feeling suddenly so happy and good to have done something like this...They still had Yirina's taste in mouth and honestly, they would try to keep it for themselves for an undetermined time. Yirina did discover the real Sonya Kuzmin but on Yirina's face was saying that there were something...."What ?"

"Let's just say that....we're not done, love." Yirina smirked before she look at the bag she brought with her in the Hind....her black bag that was just next to them and now that she was looking at it, Sonya start to wonder what was inside that bag until Yirina moved by herself to get to the bag, opening it. "Ready ?" She took an look as she got from the bag....an strap-on.....literally. Sonya's eyes did really went wide at seeing that in her hands.

"What the...." They started before cutting themselves, having understand what was Yirina thinking all the times, starting to smile on their face. "Oh, Yiri...." She stated, using her nickname for the first time in their life....only Yirina's lovers could called her 'Yiri'....and Sonya just became one of them. "You want to fuck me with that ?" They asked and Yirina slowly nodded, an grin on her face before they decided to lay down on the ground, back against it and looking at Yirina. "It's all yours." She exclaimed as Yirina was getting the strap-on ready.

"Thanks you." Yirina proclaimed in an low voice as she was finally done to get the strap-on on her until she slowly move towards Sonya who was an bit trembling to make this new experiment to be honest, they never tried something like this. "I'm going to go easy, okay ?" She told them who nodded at her as she didn't want to hurt her Sonya now before she entered the fake dildo inside Sonya's pussy.

"Oh...mmhm..." Sonya was surprised by the cold feeling of the dildo before Yirina start to move, fucking them in an missionary style, her hands posed on the ground of the bay as Sonya put their hands around Yirina's back. Like she said, she was going slowly. "Yi-Yirina....more...more harder, faster." They were starting to like that feeling and they wanted more with Yirina deciding to make things spicy by complying to Sonya, moving more faster.

"Tell me...you love me." Yirina ordered as she was getting into it, loving it....fucking enjoying it that she wanted to know the truth....there were no more hate between the two....only love, she couldn't hate Sonya anymore even if the two has very differents opinions on their jobs. "Tell it !" She added.

"I love you !" Sonya breathed as Yirina was going more faster than before, slamming her body against Sonya's ass and like feeling the dildo penetrating Sonya in the inside.....the two wanted to continue this moment....to be endless, limitless. If only Perseus didn't exist.....

"Again." Yirina asked again....she wanted them to scream her name.

"I fucking love you !" They repeated again on the verge of the orgasm and feeling so relieved that it was Yirina fucking them...so hard, so lovely. "YIRINA !" They screamed loudly as they finally orgasmed in the helicopter, making Yirina stop her moves, quickly remove her strap-on from her until she leaned to kiss Sonya deeply in their mouth, putting her hands around them to get them back sitting with her, still kissing. When the two broke the kiss, they looked at each other in the eyes, hypnotized....the deep green eyes of Sonya Kuzmin.....meeting the vibrant blue ones of Yirina Grigoriev.

"I love you too, Sonya." Yirina affirmed with an smile and so much proud in her, that declaration of love....was way more better than the one she did with Freya. She moved her hands to pass them in Sonya's messy hair to make it look back to normal. "You're looking so lovely." She added, making Sonya roll their eyes.

"You squirted on my face....well, I did make you squirt on my face." They said, taking an breath as they were doing the same with Yirina to redress her hair. "And I did squirt on your face." They passed their left hand on Yirina's face. "Oh....my little redhead lover." They changed, they couldn't said 'bitch' to her as their hate were gone, reduced to atoms and that compliment make Yirina smile even further.

"So now, we're officialy together in a way." Yirina supposed, curious.

"Of course, dumbass." Sonya scoffed, pulling Yirina to kiss her on the right cheek before they moved their arms around her for an big, unbreakable hug between the two.....

This day....it was very different for them because they realized that hate was not longer there between them. In fact, did hate was there after all ? They were hating each other to the bones but love came in and it was more stronger than before. Each time they had sex, slowly, their hatred flied away to be replace by an unexpected love between the two worst enemies inside the Perseus Collective and this love....they would keep it for themselves. Right now, the two were so much happy to be together, having enjoyed an free moment away from work but even if the two has some...kinky ideas about the future....

They just wanted to relax now and to enjoy their time together.....

[rosesisupposes]

also 114 + roceit?

Lover Prompts

114:  “I once believed love would be burning red, but it’s golden”

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pairing: Roceit

tags: post-breakup, bartender/patron, bad ex, nobinary Deceit, Deceit is named Dante, this is a lot of projection and i won’t apologize

word count: 1,815

read on ao3

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The day Roman met Dante was the worst day of his life.

Not because of them. The two events were unrelated. (Time’s just funny that way).

But the fact remains that Dante’s first words to him were “Well don’t you look like shit. What happened, did the Beast steal your Belle?”

To D’s credit, they had no idea what an effect their words would have. But that didn’t stop Roman from flipping them off as he started to cry all over their bar again.

And that left them with a choice. Ignore the crying man, as they’ve ignored so many bar patrons, passing him drinks in silence until he drinks himself into becoming a part of it. It would be a little different - most patrons aren’t in an outfit that looks straight out of a Disney coloring book. But they could do it. Or, instead, they could do this.

“Forgive me, Princey, that was uncalled for. Let me get you a drink, you tell me all about it, hmm?”

And the man dressed like a prince looked up, tears still leaking out of his eyes, and nodded. 

Dante was a professional. They prided themselves on the ability to match a drink to a mood - not always what their patrons wanted, but always what they needed. And what this face needed was maudlin, but not self-pitying. Something with some sweetness, but complexity.

“Un Vieux Carre pour le monsiuer,” they said with a smile, sliding the elegant cocktail to land in the man’s immediately open hand. 

“Merci beaucoup,” he responded, almost automatically. He took a sip, and paused, looked down into the glass, and carefully took a second, swirling it in his mouth.

“Like it? It’s a New Orleans classic,” Dante said, leaning on the bar. It was a quiet Tuesday night, they had time to chat. “Let me know what you think, or if you want, you can tell me why royalty is getting weepy in my bar tonight.”

Tears started leaking once more.

“Or we can start with your name?”

“Roman.”

“Good evening, Roman. I’m Dante. If you forgot about seeing the sign already, this is The Snake’s Den bar, and I’m the snake. Now that we’re all caught up, how’s that drink-”

“It’s my fucking boyfr- my fucking ex!” Roman cried out suddenly, interrupting the bartender’s calm voice. “That absolute- he just- and then he-!” and there were tears leaking down his face again, but hotter now, dripping with anger and not just despair. He swigged more of his drink, and kept talking, words tumbling out like a burst dam.

“We’d been together for years, and I thought it was perfect, ya know, we were both actors! We understood the struggle together! And he’d encourage me to try out for the big parts that I would have only dreamed of, but I actually got some of them! And then this- this fucking play, it’s only my childhood dream, and he says, “Oh, wouldn’t it be fun to be castmates?” and we both audition, me for the Beast and him for Gaston, but then it turns out, oh, actually, he went the FUCK behind my back and auditioned for the Beast too!”

Dante listened, nodding and humming in understanding, a perfect sounding board. “That must have been tense when he told you,” they offered sympathetically.

Roman slumped at that. “I wish. My friend texted me that the cast list had been posted and I wasn’t on it. I told him I was on the way to his place cause I needed to talk, and before I could get there, he… broke up with me. Via text message.”

In spite of themself, Dante gasped aloud. “He did not!”

“He did! Like, am I in some fuckin’ teenage melodrama?! Did I somehow date a cartoonishly terrible villain in a DCOM?!”

Dante nodded sagely. “Perhaps that’s why he didn’t go for Gaston - he wouldn’t have had to act at all.”

Roman leaned forward, eyes flashing. “And you know what’s even worse?! He’d been helping me prepare for my audition and listening to all the ideas I’ve had for how I would play the Beast, if I got the chance! But I didn’t want to make too bold a choice in the audition room, so I was holding out. And that piece of shit used my idea to get the part!”

“A scoundrel and a thief!”

“And you know the absolute worst part?”

“What?”

Roman seemed to freeze as his thought connected from brain to mouth and he processed it fully. His shoulders slumped. “I wish he’d take me back.”

Dante stood up straight. “My dear Roman emperor, let me be the first to tell you: bullshit. To quote a wise scholar: “He doesn’t deserve you! If he doesn’t treat you right by now, you’re gone.””

Roman smiled weakly. “But he- he pushed me, in my acting. He was my fire, the one who encouraged me to be ambitious and dream big and- without him… I don’t know that I’ll be able to.”

Dante nodded. They spoke softly, calmly. “Roman, I’m going to say something that might be hard to hear. His actions in these auditions? They showed that not only did he not respect this dream, but he never respected any of them. He only wanted you to succeed as far as it made him look good.”

Roman scowled. “He was an ass, but he wasn’t that, he wasn’t just a manipulative bastard, he believed in me-”

“He didn’t,” Dante interrupted. They were still calm, almost gentle. “He believed in his ability to keep pushing you to be an asset to him. Until it wasn’t beneficial anymore.”

“No-”

“And you knew this, deep down. And that part of you wasn’t taken by surprise.”

Roman stared, his face a mask of many emotions at once - confusion, heartbreak, denial, acceptance, but what won out was rage.

“You know what? Fuck you, I don’t need your psychoanalysis bullshit! Hasn’t my day been hard enough? See you fucking never!”

Dante watched him storm out, leaving the rest of his drink. A man in a prince costume, disappearing into the night. If it had been a decent narrative, it would have been raining.

But narratives aren’t often perfect.

Neither are promises made in anger.

Dante looked up to see Roman arriving back at The Snake’s Den only days later, looking a bit chagrined and only slightly less regal out of costume.

“Barkeep, I regretfully did not pay for my drink at our last encounter, and have come to rectify it.”

Dante nodded graciously. “While I appreciate your integrity, it was on the house.”

“Nevertheless, I insist that you accept payment.”

“Why don’t you have another, keep me company on slow evening?” they suggested.

Roman hesitated for all of a second before sitting down once more, the same stool as the last time.

Two months later, it was Roman’s Stool and no one dared occupy it even in his absence, unless it was truly and utterly packed.

In two months more, Roman had dragged friends to the Den too, but none became a fixture the way the actor was.

And one week after that, it was another quiet evening. A Tuesday, just as it had been before. (Time is rather funny that way).

And in one of the comfortable silences that patron and bartender often found themselves sliding into and out of with ease, Roman cleared his throat.

Dante looked up. “Yes, darling?” Their nicknames and pet names had escalated the day Roman realized he needed an honorific besides ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ and had chosen ‘dearest,’ but neither of them seemed to mind.

“My dear, I- remember what you said, that first night?”

Dante pursed their lips. “Of course I do. And I stand by it.”

Roman nodded. “I…  I know you do. I know you wouldn’t lie to me.”

“I might lie to other people though,” they pointed out blandly. “Like the people who come in with a sob story when it’s all just their own choices. Because the boss said I can’t call people ‘sad sacks of pathos’ any more.”

“Your way with words will never fail to delight me, my Divine Comedian. I know you didn’t think it was a lie, but I didn’t fully believe you until recently.”

Dante put down their cleaning cloth and leaned in near their friend. “May I be so bold as to ask what changed?”

“So this will sound a little melodramatic-”

“You? Dramatic? Perish the thought.”

“Fuck you too, my sweet serpent.”

Dante blew a kiss and fluttered their eyelashes at him. “Pardon me, I interrupted you, you were saying?”

Roman shifted in his seat, adjusting without meeting Dante’s eyes. “I didn’t want to believe you, that that bastard was never cheering me on for my sake alone. Because- I said he was my fire, and I meant it. He was determined, and ambitious, and I thought that him urging me on meant that I was sharing in it. He was burning red, and that was what I wanted to be, and I thought I could be an equal flame where we burned stronger together.”

Dante nodded, humming quietly in understanding without interrupting. 

“But instead, I was just the candle that helped him burn brighter while slowly melting away. I was always so exhilarated with him, excited but then so exhausted. I always wanted to be more, or wanted to be what he wanted, at least. And he always wanted more. I tried and tried and I could never be enough because he just… he drained me.” A single tear leaked out and courses down Roman’s tan cheek. 

Dante reached over and wrapped their hand around his, and squeezed. “Love could look like that, could look like encouragement and ambition. But I don’t think that’s what you had, Ro.”

Roman blinked up at them. Both realized it was the first nickname based on their actual name that either had used. “So I wasn’t just a fool to think he really meant it?”

“Of course not, sweetheart. He was the fool, to not fully appreciate you.”

The lights of the bar shone through tawny bottles of liquor and glinted off the brass trappings, bathing them in a warm glow. Roman looked up at Dante, and he could have sworn they were absorbing the light and releasing it anew, their golden skin practically incandescent. And their smile, softening as they looked at Roman, focused on brushing away the dampness from his face, a careful and doting look that they never directed at their other friends.

Roman swallowed hard. “Dante, darling?”

They met his eyes, face lighting with a smile that rivaled the sun. “Yes, Roman?”

“I think I know what love looks like, now.”

“And what’s that?”

Roman rose up to Dante’s eye level, cupping their cheek in his hand. “It’s golden,” he breathed out, before their lips met.

[bibul-e]

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