Ivy sat herself down on Lila's bed, straightening her posture and crossing her legs as she eyed her surroundings. The girl was seemingly gone for the day, leaving her plushies to waddle about the room looking for attention. For the time being, it was just Ivy and Ginjou girl.
"My stupid brother, and my cousin," the feminine plushy pouted, pointing towards two little plushies at the far end of the room. "They annoy me, Auntie Ivy."
One of them was running in circles with a wooden toothpick, and the other was lying down in defeat. Ivy tried not to giggle, releasing a sad little whine as a result. She could already feel the mixture of misery and glee brewing inside her.
"Don't be rude, Ginjou girl, it's not ladylike." Ivy wagged her finger at the plushie as she held it by the bottom.
"B-but, I'm girl!"
"Then act like one."
The irony of her lesson was not lost on Ivy. Over the course of her time in the Aerie, she had grown to be petulant. It was, in her mind, unbecoming given the circumstances.
Ivy tilted her head with a frown. "Where is your mommy?"
Ginjou girl nodded her head furiously. "Mommy at school."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm!"
"When will she be home?"
"Soon!"
As if on cue, Lila's wooden door swung open, revealing a tired, skinny girl with pigtails and an oversized backpack. Her eyes, widened with amazement, couldn't quite process the sight in front of her. There Ivy was, a beautiful foreign heiress with pale hair, sitting in the bed holding a Ginjou and covered in fine jewelry and silky clothing.
It was like a dream within a dream.
"Hello, Lila," Ivy smirked bashfully. "How was your day?"
The girl's consciousness was still clearly separate from the real Lila, yet some part of her visibly recalled her last encounter with Ivy, as if the dream held its own record.
"Y-you again," Lila muttered.
Her own memories, linked subconsciously with the dream's vague recollection of the heiress in the real world, forced Lila into a stupor. She wasn't quite sure whether to feel alarmed or enthralled.
Ivy leaned back, pressing a hand against her cheek. She was an angel in a stranger's bed.
Lila chose the latter of her emotions.
"Erm."
Ivy sighed. "Yes?"
"Do I uh, know you? I-I mean, I swear I remember you from somewhere."
Ivy clenched her fist, pulling Lila towards her with a Psionic grasp.
"Wah!" Lila waved her arms in the air as she gently plopped onto the bed.
"You do know me. And I know you. Our relationship is...complicated." Ivy muttered, setting Ginjou girl down on the side of the bed.
"T-that doesn't explain why you're in my bed, girl," Lila spoke in a muffled voice, her face buried in the blankets. "I mean I-I don't really know what to-."
Ivy hissed, grabbing Lila by the legs before flipping her over, forcing her into the same position the heiress had been in a few hours ago.
"Shut up."
"Hah-." Lila gagged, her face turning a bright red.
The Ginjous huddled togethor in the corner, covering their eyes as they shook in fear. They knew Ivy was a friend, yet their innocent little minds couldn't quite process her relationship with their mother. Though in their defense, neither could Ivy.
"See how you like it." Ivy cursed. "Stupid, stupid girl."
"W-what do you mean?" Lila blathered in a nervous fright, her legs trembling with reckless anticipation. "Cause like I usually don't get this far hehe."
"Though I guess your skinny little legs weren't as comfortable as mine, huh, you pervert."
"Are you bullying me or flirting with me?"
"Don't think I could see where your eyes went. Where your thoughts wandered."
"Okay, but like-."
Ivy shoved three of her fingers into the girl's mouth before leaning in.
"Mmha!" Lila gagged.
Ivy growled like a feral animal. "I said...shut up."
Something primitive awoke within the heiress, causing her to swell with pride as she continued to humiliate Lila in her own dream. However perverse and selfish her feelings might have been, they were genuine. She was falling for Lila. Slowly but surely. Through hate, spite, and adoration.
"Just...give me this moment," Ivy whispered in a much calmer voice.
The heiress closed her eyes before bestowing Lila another kiss on the forehead, her fingers sliding deeper into the girl's mouth as her lips pressed against her flesh.
Lila's entire body quaked with an embarrassing pleasure as she gripped the bedside with vicious intent. She still didn't quite understand Ivy. But what she did know was the way her heart skipped when the heiress got closer.
She still didn't prefer the company of women.
Something about Ivy was different.
So different that she didn't care anymore.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Lila woke with a gasp, a sharp pang piercing through her heart. Something was clearly amiss. Looking to her left, she saw the heiress, sleeping soundly on her shoulder.
"Oh," Lila muttered to herself.
It would have been so morbidly amusing to scream or shake the heiress. She could prank her or slap her across the face. Any manner of deeds would suffice for vengeance.
But Lila didn't move an inch. She barely even breathed. In her mind, Ivy deserved a good night's rest, even after all she had done.
"This girl." Lila thought to herself. "This freaking girl."
It wasn't all that surprising that Ivy had returned. It was still a bit of a shock to be sure, but Lila could feel the tension between them since they met. Somewhere along the line, Ivy would break.
That's when it hit her.
Wait, what tension?
Surely there wasn't tension between them. Lila just wanted a friend. But the way she looked at Ivy now, seeing the heiress vulnerable and asleep, her warm breath spilling onto her shoulder, it changed things.
Oh no.
Ivy's exposed, delicate arms, her round, pale face, all of it seemed so much more appealing. Even the littlest of details, like her perfect posture and the way she crossed her legs when she sat, had become a crucial aspect to Lila.
She's...gorgeous.
Some less obvious details, such as the heiress's bosom, had become an object of avoidance to Lila as she tried not to stare.
She still stared regardless.
Even Ivy's breath, which hitched with fright every now and again, caused Lila to smile. Her 'friend' was scared, alone, and fragile. She was also strong, stubborn, and increasingly determined to survive.
How the heck did Sonera punch someone like that?
Oh, that's right, Ivy totally deserved it.
Idiot.
Pretty Idiot.
Still an Idiot.
"F around and find out." Lila chuckled to herself.
But in truth, Lila was the one who found out. She discovered she was slowly falling in love. And she liked it.
Lila remained in place, happy and content with herself for the first time in days. She was still surrounded by enemies seething with the boundless desire to take her life. But with Ivy at her side, she was just a bit less scared of it all.