#the act of zipping up another woman's dress: peak intimacy

[eclatdefille]

𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮   ﹕           @aff1uent  . located   at   the   chanel’s   flagship   boutique   on   rodeo   drive   .

                fingers   drift   along   the   zipper’s   line   ,     hovering   halfway   up   her   spine   ,     pausing   —   just   for   a   second   ,     just   enough   to   feel   how   the   dress   clings   ,     every   curve   held   just   right   .     and   then   —   a   low   hum   interrupts   .     soft   ,     polite   almost   ,     but   persistent   ,     like   a   quiet   tap   on   the   shoulder   that   won’t   quit   .     and   just   like   that   ,     noah’s   mind   snaps   into   alert   :     it’s   him   .     the   vigilante   .     with   a   flick   of   her   wrist   ,     she’s   out   of   her   suite   in   a   hurry   ,     fingers   tugging   at   the   zipper   but   giving   up   as   it   catches   halfway   ,     leaving   her   feeling   a   touch   more   exposed   than   planned   .     (   and   if   she   dies   like   this   ,     half - done   and   caught   mid - zip   ,     she’s   gonna   curse   this   guy   through   every   generation   to   come   ,     she   swears   )   .     the   main   room   looks   exactly   the   same   as   she   left   it   ;     racks   of   designer   clothes   perfectly   in   place   ,     mirrors   stretching   floor   to   ceiling   ,     champagne   still   chilling   on   ice   .     it   feels   calm   enough   ,     save   for   the   persistent   hum   still   sounding   .     and   right   in   the   center   ,     of   all   people   —   charunee   ,     every   bit   as   inconvenienced   by   this   as   noah   is   .     (   half   of   her’s   relieved   it’s   not   the   vigilante   ,     but   the   other   half   ?     yeah   ,     maybe   she   kind   of   wishes   it   was   )   .

                hand   drops   ,     freezing   for   half   a   second   ,     just   long   enough   to   feel   that   familiar   flicker   of   irritation   ,     hot   and   sharp   beneath   her   ribs   .     then   ,     glances   toward   the   exit   —   locked   ,     of   course   .     must   be   some   security   lockdown   protocol   ,     a   ‘   protection   ’   against   threats   .     since   the   vigilante   started   terrorizing   the   city   ,     they’ve   probably   had   this   trigger   on   standby   .          “       don’t   tell   me   you’re   the   security   threat   they’re   locking   us   down   over   .       ”          noah   sighs   ,     shifting   her   stance   ,     gaze   flickering   anywhere   but   her   ex - best   friend   .     but   …     options   are   slim   .     the   zipper   on   her   dress   is   still   half - undone   ,     and   as   much   as   she’d   rather   avoid   it   …     there’s   still   a   chance   the   vigilante’s   somewhere   nearby   .     a   beat   ,     a   quiet   throat   clear   ,     her   pride   battling   practicality   .     don’t   ask   ,     don’t   ask   —   but   it   slips   out   anyway   ,     low   ,     frustrated   ,     as   she   turns   fully   ,     eyes   landing   anywhere   but   on   charunee’s   reflection   in   the   mirror   .          “       you   mind   ?       ”