Chapter Text
The alleyway in Dreamflux Reef always smells of smoke and rot.
Black Swan’s heels click as she steps into the shade, fanning away the wisps of dark smoke with her gloved hand. A dingy streetlight illuminated the narrow alleyway, just barely showing her where to out her feet as to not trip.
And through that flickering amber glow, crackling and buzzing, there she was.
The rot herself. Arms crossed, leaning against the wall, head tilted back, staring up at the midnight sky. In between her fingers was a tiny cigarette, that she twirled around as one might do with a flower. A brilliant blue flame emitted from the end of it, glowing as she took another drag of the cigarette. Her lips blew out a puff of smoke, dissipating into the humid air.
The woman smiled, eyes flicking over to Black Swan.
“…My darling.” She exhaled.
Black Swan grimaced, considering turning on her heel, and leaving it at that.
But she didn’t. She walked further into the alleyway, coughing from the thick smoke.
“Old habits die hard, hm?”
The woman laughed. “Perhaps.”
She pressed the cigarette to her lips once more, letting out a sigh of contentment.
“Care for one?” She asked.
“You know I don’t smoke.”
“Of course. But minds change. Especially after…” She trailed off, a smirk springing to her lips. “Remind me again, how long has it been?”
“You already know.”
“Just entertain me this once, darling.”
Black Swan sighed.
“Years, Dahlia. So many years.”
“Dahlia?” She purred. “When did you start calling me that again? I feel hurt.”
Black Swan let out a bitter laugh. “When you left.”
Dahlia cocked her head to the side, getting a full view of Black Swan’s face. Her eyes stared down at the damp ground, as if she were afraid to look Dahlia in the eyes.
“Tell me, my darling.” She started. “Do you miss me?”
Black Swan scoffed. “How arrogant of you.”
Dahlia blew out a puff of smoke. “Arrogant? Please, you look like a kitten left out in the rain.”
Black Swan shuffled just a bit farther away, uncomfortable. She grasped on to the edge of her gloves, Dahlia’s presence next to her gnawing away at her mind like a maggot.
“You know I can’t let you go.” Black Swan cut to the chase.
“How romantic~” Dahlia cooed.
“You know exactly what I’m referring to.”
Dahlia watched her cigarette fizzle out, eyes flickering with disappointment. She dropped it to the ground, grinding it into the ground with her heel. Dahlia reached into her pristine coat pockets, pulling out a tiny box of cigarettes. She plucked one out, dropping the box back inside her pocket. Her left eye flickered, flame creeping out of them, the heat warming them both up just a bit.
“I never understood how you do that.” Black Swan remarked.
“Hah, beautiful isn’t it?”
“No comment.”
Dahlia breathed in the smoke, letting out a small fit of coughing that had Black Swan’s eyes darting over to her out of something that she refused to believe would ever be concern. Black Swan barely managed to stop herself before she asked if Dahlia was okay, or even reached out for her.
“I do know. And yet, I would’ve expected you to imprison me within those crystalline claws of yours by now.”
Black Swan didn’t grace her with an answer, only looking away.
“Maybe my theory isn’t too far off. Maybe…” Dahlia drew near, her breath grazing Black Swan’s neck. “You do miss me.”
“That’s enough.” Black Swan lightly shoved her away, pushing on her forehead. Dahlia let out a giggle, taking Black Swan’s hand in hers.
“Are you going soft on me, darling? My, maybe you really do crave my presence.” She teased in a low voice.
“Dahlia.” She tried to pull back, eyes downcast.
“Or…”
Dahlia gently cupped Black Swan’s cheek, tilting her head to face her.
“Oh…You still hold just a bit of love for little old me in that heart of yours, don’t you?”
Black Swan grabbed Dahlia by the wrist, pinning her roughly against the wall.
“I said that’s enough out of you.”
Dahlia hummed, admiring all the details of Black Swan’s face.
“You’re so pretty when you’re all angry too.”
Black Swan kept quiet.
“I’m serious, darling.” Dahlia insisted. “Such gorgeous sunset eyes, so much fierceness in them…” She sighed. “You are beautiful.”
“I should pick out memories from your head. Leave you here with no voice, no way to walk, nothing.” Black Swan threatened.
They both knew that was an empty threat, spoken on a whim to reestablish some amount of control.
“Mm, that’s a cruel way to shut me up, don’t you think?” Dahlia tilted her head, cigarette still in her hand pressed against the wall. “Here, I’ll help.”
Dahlia took in another breath of smoke, staring into Black Swan’s eyes as she breathed it in. Black Swan didn’t have time to react before Dahlia was pressing her lips to her mouth.
Black Swan’s entire mind went quiet for just a few seconds, the memories of Dahlia’s taste bubbling to the surface from the deepest crevices of her mind.
Of course, a memokeeper never forgets, and neither does a lover.
Their lips mingled for mere moments before Black Swan pulled away, face red, coughing and sputtering. Dahlia steadied her with a smile.
“Are you flustered yet, darling?”
Ah, it must be Dahlia’s doing.
Because she refused to believe she was falling prey to her own memories.
And refused to believe she was giving in to them.
Black Swan harshly grabbed Dahlia’s jaw, locking their lips together. Dahlia let out a surprised noise, one that had Black Swan feeling a sense of pride swell in her chest.
“A-Ah, darling-“ Dahlia started, before being cut off by another kiss.
“Stop talking.” Black Swan murmured between kisses.
The other woman laughed, accepting Black Swan’s feverish kisses. Black Swan pressed her further against the wall, taking her free hand in hers, intertwining their fingers together. She bit at Dahlia’s lower lip, the taste of blood on her tongue tainting their kiss.
“So harsh.. Be a bit more gentle with me, please?” She whined as Black Swan’s lips moved down. The kisses shifted to her jaw, then to her throat. She sank her teeth into Dahlia’s neck, biting and suckling on the skin. Dahlia’s barely suppressed groans were music to her ears.
“Shh. Quiet.” Black Swan whispered, gently licking over the bite marks. “I like you better when you’re not running your pretty little mouth.”
The two exchanged kisses that were all tongues and teeth, pain amidst pleasure. Dahlia threaded her fingers into Black Swan’s lavender hair, weaving through it as she sighed in pleasure.
When the two finally broke apart, Dahlia was looking at her with nothing short of adoration in her eyes.
“There you are, my beautiful swan.”
Black Swan saw for just a split second, the woman Dahlia was long before today. When she could see life, and warmth that didn’t stem from blue flames.
And when her vision readjusted properly, revealing the disheveled, blushing, manic mess she held against a dirty wall.
…Fuck it.
“Come back with me. Come to my hotel room.” Black Swan held her hand close to her chest, a silent pleading look in her eyes. Dahlia’s expression faltered, a look of surprise blooming on her face, before it shifted back into her usual grin.
“Why, dar-“
Black Swan cut her off with another kiss.
“Come back with me before I change my mind.” She whispered against her lips.
Dahlia finally shut up, flicking her cigarette somewhere far off in the alleyway.
“Lead the way then.”
Oh, Black Swan would absolutely regret this later.