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Alice liked to think she could think on her feet. She was usually able to assess the situation and think of a plan on the fly, it was part of what made her so valuable to her little group of internet friends. Well, that and the fact they genuinely enjoyed having her around. But at this moment, she found herself frozen in place. She was seeing something she felt like she shouldn't be.
It all started earlier today. The Proxies had agreed to help her and Yuzuha with the resort, and one of the ways in doing so was by calling a mutual acquaintance. Luciana, Lucy, showed up and was surprised to see her old school-mate. It was a nice reunion, and Lucy proved to be a valuable asset in getting everything together. Of course it made sense to invite her to stay a few days, and when she mentioned her new “gang” Alice jumped to inviting them to. She just didn't expect them to be an actual…Gang.
Bikers in leather and spikes that lacked any symmetry, save for the blonde in the skirt but Alice's problems with her laid with her choice of drinks, arrived on their loud machines and immediately stood out among the other guests. They were loud, crashing through without a care until they reached the beach and reunited with their friend. Seeing Lucy with them was an odd sight in itself, but she blended in almost seamlessly. They were a good match. But it was already getting late and everyone was either winding down for the afternoon or enjoying the last rays of the sunlight as it coated the sky gold.
Yuzuha and Manato were talking with the siblings when Alice decided to check in with her friend to see how she was settling in. She had been busy all day, after all. She wanted to make sure she was comfortable and taken care of after all her help. She also wanted to catch up and learn more about her new companions. A lot had changed since she left school for the Outer Ring. A lot. But she wasn't expecting to come across a scene like this.
She had turned the corner and found a figure looming over her friend. Lucy's back was against the wall as the leather clad man rested an arm just above her head. He had a grin, one of a predator ready to consume his prey. Alice almost acted on instinct, reaching for her weapon, but quickly remembered she was wearing the swimsuit Yuzuha had picked for her. Of course she wouldn't have her weapon, why would she? No, she'll need to use her hands. Thankfully her thoughts were pulled from the worst case scenario to something else entirely when Lucy spoke up.
“In public? Do you have no shame?”
Her voice was calm, her posture was still as up-tight as usual. The male didn't even flinch at her cold nature, rather his grin began to grow.
“I haven't seen you in almost two weeks, then I get back and you're not there. Then you invite us here? Sorry if I seem a bit eager, but I missed you.” His voice was deep, yet smooth like honey.
He lifted his hand and Alice was about to jump in again, but she stopped when she saw Lucy's reaction to his hand resting on her cheek. The shorter girl's entire demeanor changed in an instant. Her eyes closer, her shoulders dropped, and she leaned into his touch. Alice could even hear her breath grow shallow.
“Lighter…” She whispered.
It was then that Alice realized that what she had stumbled on was something she definitely shouldn't be seeing. The problem now was the fact her body remained frozen in place. She was in utter shock at seeing Lucy, the Luciana Auxesis Theodoro de Montefio, reduced to some lovestruck school girl!
Lucy almost seemed to lean up as her hands found themselves gripping that red scarf around his neck. The man's, Lighter, hand stayed on her cheek, but his other now trailed down to her lower back, pulling her closer.
“I need to have a chat with Big Daddy. I want you on jobs with me for a while.” Lucy continued.
“Oh Darlin’, you know we would never get anything done.” Lighter retorted. “Not that I'm against it. Any time I get with you is worth the pay cut.”
Lucy let out a noise that Alice could only interpret as frustration before her eyes opened and landed back on her companion.
“You really can't wait til later?” She asked.
“Later?”
He was already leaning down. But Lucy nodded.
“Later. But since you've been a good boy while you've been away, I guess I could…give you….a reward….”
Then it happened. Alice nearly squealed when their lips met. It was clear it wasn't their first time. They found each other almost naturally, like they were magnetic. The way he touched her was with such care that Alice was starting to wonder if Lucy would break if he was even a little rough. That question soon vanished when Lucy's hands move from fabric to skin, pulling him closer to her.
Alice actually did let out a squeal when she saw Lighter slip his tounge past Lucy's lips. The noise was enough for the two to quickly separate and look in her general direction, but Alice's training was finally kicking in and she was able to duck back behind cover. Her body reacted before her mind did as she soon found her legs carrying her away from the alley and back towards the beach, face red and heat now coating her entire body.
Seeing Lucy in such a state, seeing her act in such a way, it was all to much! She knew that Lucy had left her life of wealth and social standing behind, but to have changed this much was just bewildering! No, Alice was the one who came across them. She was looking in on an intimate moment she had no right encountering. But, to see her friend with a boy, a handsome one, it was surprising.
“If I ever marry a man he'll need to be someone worth my time.”
That was what Lucy told her when she had asked about getting a boyfriend once. To think she would have found someone like that in the Outer Ring. And he was so tall, almost as tall as Manato.
Manato…..
Nope! No, didn't need to go there right now. Alice patted her cheeks to try and snap out of her thoughts. Thankfully she had some unexpected help when Yuzuha snuck up on her, scaring her out of her current state of shock and bring her back to reality. She was dragged back to the others soon after, but her mind still veered to what she had just seen.
—--
Lucy could only let out a sigh as she rested a hand on her head. Lighter was rubbing the back of neck, clearly worried that he might've upset her. He made sure to pick a place out of the way to avoid something like this. Lucy, on the other hand.
“I can't catch a break, can I?” She mumbled under her breath.
“Sorry, Luce.” Lighter quickly fired off. He began to reach for her hand, but considering what just happened he opted to just slip his hand in his pocket instead. “Didn't think anyone would see.”
Lucy waved off his concerns. He was surprised with how lax she seemed to be. At least, until she shrugged.
“It was probably Alice. The only other person I could think of is Caesar and I'm pretty sure she's at the beach with Wise.” She explained.
“And you don't mind your friend knowing about….us?”
It was a bit of a layered question. They weren't together. Not in the traditional sense. It was only physical at first, but it has since evolved into something more. They didn't have a word for it, didn't need one, but it did leave enough room for speculation among those around the Outer Ring. Explaining it to Alice…
“It's not like she's a bother. I think she's just more surprised to see me with someone.”
Light smirked at that. An implication that made Lucy roll her eyes.
“I've had suitors before. Just never a partner.” She explained.
“Means I'm your first.”
“Quiet.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Still, they had other things to deal with.
“I'll go talk to her.” Lucy decided.
Lighter was about to offer to go along with her, but Lucy had already turned on her heels.
“You go get washed up. The showers here are amazing.” She threw a wink his way.
Light grinned. She had no idea what she did to him. Truth was she had him wrapped around her finger from day one. Another story for another time, but the truth remained simple. That girl drove him crazy.
—---
Alice found herself back at the beach. She thought she'd be alone there to gather her thoughts, but instead she watched with wide eyes as two forces of nature clashed right before her eyes. The blonde girl with a drinking problem had met Yuzuha, and they were now setting fire to a large pile of wood they'd gathered near the water. She didn't even see where the girl, Burnice, got her flamethrower. Why did she even have that?
It was pretty clear by now that Lucy's new friends weren't the same as the girls back at school. They were loud, proud, and they knew how to get the people around them going. Alice was sure that them being here has raised attendance to the resort by at least 15% in the last hour alone. And why wouldn't they? They were so cool, stylish, bold.
Bold. What she had just seen was pretty bold. She was still racking her head around it when she found someone taking a spot beside her in one of the open chairs.
“Sorry for her, she gets excited when she drinks Nitro-Fuel.” Lucy simply stated as she stretched before settling in a comfortable position. “Which is often. Love her, but she drives me crazy. They all do.”
Alice found it hard to face her, but this was an opening.
“Are they all..weird?” She cautiously asked.
Lucy wasted no time in groaning.
“Yes, every single one of them. Caesar has a good heart, bless her, but there is nothing going on in that head of hers but fighting and those terrible romance novels she's always reading, Burnice is a borderline alcoholic who's also an arsonist, Piper is…actually fine, and Pulchra I still don't fully trust.”
Alice's ear twitched, waiting for one more name. When it didn't come, she finally turned to her friend. Lucy had taken to lounging with one arm behind her head. Her side ponytail, don't get started, dropped over her shoulder slightly. She seemed so carefree in a way that wasn't there when she attended school. Must be that Outer Ring freedom she's heard so much about.
“And Lighter?” She asked.
Lucy opened one eye. She didn't seem surprised that she knew his name but she also didn't seem too upset. Alice began to relax a bit, leaning back in her chair as well.
“You saw us.” Lucy said matter-of-factly.
Alice quickly jumped to explain.
“I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to…I went looking for you and I just came across you both.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
Silence filled the air. Well, distant drunken shouting filled the air and the two watched as Manato singlehandedly carried both Yuzuha and Burnice away from the fire. They seemed to have been trying to make it bigger.
“Your friends seem like a handful too.” Lucy pointed out.
Alice shrugged.
“Only a bit. Honestly I appreciate them a lot. They helped me so much and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have ever learned what really happened to my father. They really supported me through it all.”
She still remembered Manato and Yuzuha hugging her, telling her that they'll always be there for her. She felt so happy.
“And the tall one?” Lucy teased.
Alice knew it was already pointless to try and hide her face, her ears would just give her away. They always did when they talked about boys, or when Lucy would notice Alice looking particularly too long at someone's skirt. Alice still turned away, pouting and speaking through her lips.
“Manato is just a friend.”
“Your friend is handsome. Looks like he knows how to handle a body too…”
Lucy couldn't help but smirk as Alice turned to smack her shoulder, the two soon breaking into laughter. It felt good to be able to pick up where they left off like this. In truth, Alice didn't know if she would ever see Lucy again after she left, but she was. Happy and well.
“What about you? You're the one with an actual boyfriend.” Alice pushed back.
Lucy returned to her rested state and began looking through the crowd. She soon spotted her beau talking to the older Proxy sibling who had been getting hound by Caesar. He had an easy smirk with one hand in his pocket. Effortlessly cool, as usual.
“He drives me crazy like the others. He takes a lot on his own, refuses to ask for help. He lets his past drag him down. I think that's part of the reason why we connected like we did. He's also pretty forgetful when it comes to people's names and that's terrible for business, but he looks good when he fights so I keep him around.” Lucy joked.
Her face turned a bit more serious as she continued to watch the tall biker. Caesar was talking about the plot of some movie she wanted to look into when Lighter looked over. They locked eyes, even past those dark shades of his.
“He always accepted me as I am, not who I was. He never cared about my last name, just me.”
He smiled softly, the kind of smile only he showed her. She liked to think it was the same one he showed the family he had before.
“Want me to introduce you?” She offered. “And in exchange you can introduce your friend to me. I could use someone like him for a moving job coming up actually. He could make some good Dennis.”
Alice nodded at the offer. Manato would appreciate it, she was sure. The two got up and started to make their way to the others. The summer night was warm, especially with the bonfire, with friendships both old and new.