Keone
He waited patiently, even though it would have taken little effort to break into Renata's apartment. He tried to erase the permanent scowl from his face, but he also had a feeling that his attempt at an easy-going expression would be terrifying more than anything.
There was arguing on the inside. So, Renata decided to tell Diamond who he was? His chest constricted with shame as he picked up on Diamond's heated words. He pictured the hatred boiling between the two of them, bubbling and searing straight through the walls and melting into his skin like acid. Just as he deserved. And worse.
"Diamond, stop!"
Keone remained still as the door was ripped open. Diamond was flushed with fury, the redness of her tan skin only halted by the bright blue of her hair. She flew at him, but he didn't budgeâmaybe he should have, so as to offer her any kind of reprieve from her rage.
He respected her heavy hand. Because as much as she was in an overwhelmed and volatile state, she wouldn't let that get in the way of hurting him as much as possible. Pain burst across his jaw as Diamond landed a right hook. "Get me the fucking gun, Ren!"
Renata finally stepped in, and successfully soâshe outweighed Diamond in muscle alone. Keone walked forward as Renata dragged the struggling woman inside. "Diamond, stop!" Renata continued her deescalation, though it was obvious all she wanted to do was let her loose. "This isn't helping anyone!"
Keone shut the door behind him and said nothing. He could do nothing but accept all the words and violence targeted his way. He wasn't in any kind of position to defend himself.
"Fuck you, you absolute piece of dog shit," Diamond spat. Veins were beginning to pop out of her forehead. "I will fucking kill you. I don't give a fuck what you are. God, where is your gun, Ren? I'll get it myselfâ"
"I'm notâ"
But Diamond wasn't looking at her. She was staring straight into Keone, most likely willing him to instantaneously combust. He wanted to. It just wasn't his time yet. Then, Diamond stilled with a steady gaze. Both Renata and Keone were suspicious of her sudden quietness. "How does it feel?"
Keone tilted his head in curiosity.
"Being a coward? Knowing that you caused so much pain and suffering for a completely innocent womanâ"
"Diamond," Renata was pleading at this point. "Just stop."
She finally looked at Renata. "You can't trust him. He's a fucking monster. You don't know if he's going to try to hurt you again." Diamond took her hands. "What about your sister? It sounds like she wanted to help."
Keone had his eyes trained on Renata, who's expression was conflicted at best. Still, he didn't know how to make himself appear as a more appealing resource than the person Renata grew up with. If he lost her to Nirvi, and if Nirvi could somehow weaponize herâthings were only going to get uglier.
Renata finally refocused on him. "Did you know about her?"
"No."
Diamond's eyes were narrowed in complete disbelief, and Renata's tense body didn't relax at all in response to his answer. What could he do? "I don't believe you," Renata's tone was surprisingly calm. "This was all a mistake. We both know I will never trust you."
Keone felt pathetic as he said, "we had a deal."
Renata's eyes brightened with vehemence. "I don't owe you a fucking thing." How could he argue otherwise? "The deal is off."
Keone shook his head. "You don't want Nirvi's help."
"Well, as far as I know, Nirvi hasn't attacked me and murdered me in the middle of my kitchen!" Diamond made a sound of outrage at Renata's words. "So, you can unkindly fuck off."
Keone didn't move at first. "Are you sure? You have no idea what you're getting into. I know you will never trust me, but I can help. Just give me a chance."
Renata scrutinized him. Suddenly she smirked and this sent a chill through him. "You're afraid." She scoffed. "You're actually afraid." Her voice went lower. "You've been afraid this entire time."
"Coward!" Diamond hissed.
Renata stepped away from Diamond and toward Keone. His eyes slightly widened as he saw the surroundings lights dim around them.ââââ That is new. "Now. Get. The. Fuck. Out."
"If you ever need me or my help, I will be there," he promised, even as he saw the fantasies of his death dancing across her leering eyes.
She simply looked at him.
Keone nodded again and left with his tail tucked between his legs, expecting a knife to be buried in his back, and surprised when nothing happened. He kind of wished they would so he wouldn't have to face Angel, who somehow probably already knew of Keone's failure.
Right on time, as he exited the apartment building, he felt the call.
The grim reaper was certainly displeased to say the least.
Diamond
They both waited patiently on the front room couch. Sitting side by side and holding each other's hands like they were what held their bodies down instead of gravity. She leaned in and enjoyed Renata's simple, clean scent.
Diamond studied her, really studied her and her beautiful, unique face. Renata didn't adhere to any kind of beauty standard. It should have mattered, but it didn't. Not to Diamond. Not to anyone who saw her. Renata, like so many others, ascended past such silly things. Her brown skin, a brown so warm, warm in the kind of way that made one's eyes linger on such an inviting color, that was still smooth despite the acne scars and random spot of differing pigmentation. Those lips were especially enticing. Rounded off and plump like rose petals or something else as pretty as thatâ
Renata was quiet as she directed her nervous words at Diamond. "You're staring at my lips."
Diamond's eyes flicked upward briefly. Both of their cheeks burned red. "Oh." She cleared her throat. "I must have spaced out." While it was only a white lie, it felt like the wrong thing to say. But what was the right thing to say? Everything was changingâthe last thing Renata needed was Diamond admitting her confusion toward their relationship.
Ren's mouth tightened, and the accusation 'you're lying' reverberated between them. "It has been a long, strange night." Then, Renata's eyes dipped downward.
Diamond was licking her own lips just in case they appeared dry. It was a brief, instinctual action, but it worsened the tension between them anyway. Renata took a deep, shaky breath. "Diamond...what are you doing?"
Diamond hadn't even realized she was leaning in closer and closer, centimeter by centimeter. The thing was, Renata was also leaning in, so slowly it was almost indetectable. "I'm not doing anything," Diamond replied, eyes glued to those soft lips. Lips she'd kissed countless times before. Lips she'd felt in intimate places, places that were coming to life just at the thought.
Still, Renata did not shy away. Her once exhausted eyes were now alive, with a fire Diamond hadn't seen in a very long time, since even before the attack. It made Diamond feel like when they'd first kissed, when there were so many possibilities laid out between the women, into an unknown. Yet they'd put an end to their relationship after eight months. They'd met the unknown head-on and lost.
Yet...
Diamond felt Renata's erratic breath on her lips. But she didn't want her breath. She wanted her tongue, the warmth of her pushing and prodding.
"We shouldn't," Renata whispered. Their mouths were just barely grazing against each other, but it was sending sparks all over Diamond's body.
Diamond gave one last, lingering look as their eyes were so close. But her eyelids fell and so did her will to stop what felt inevitable in that moment. A moment she was prepared to relish in for as long as humanly possible.
When they kissed, it was slow, tender. They relearned each other, movement by movement. Each caress was a new memory, washing away the old ones stained by failure. Diamond tasted Renata and pulled back just enough to remove her top. Because Diamond detested bras, she had fully exposed her chest.
Renata groaned and her palms reached upward, sliding against Diamond's warm skin. Her fingertips paused only for a breath before skimming across her nipples. Diamond moaned and pressed at Renata until she was laying back against the couch cushions.
Diamond flattened her hand against Renata's belly and snuck underneath her pants and the waistband of her panties, enjoying her lips all the while.
Renata gasped in shock. This little sound which didn't quite sound sexual broke apart the band that was yanking them skin to skin. Renata scrambled back as Diamond struggled to put her shirt back on. They looked anywhere but each other. But even as Diamond stared at the window, her fingers played with her lips, already fondly remembering how delicious Renata made her feel.
Renata was breathing hard. As she spoke, she sounded so unsure. "I'mâI'm sorry. That wasn't the best idea."
Diamond squeezed her eyes shut. She knew Renata was right. It was just a kiss. It happens. But it was also a sign of hope. Diamond wasn't alone in her confusion. "It wasn't?"
Renata sighed. "We promised we wouldn't be stupid. We tried, and it almost broke us. We can't afford to do it again."
Diamond felt hopeless. She also understood what Renata was saying. No one cheated. No one became abusive. Yet they fell out of love. They lost their spark. Their relationship slowly lost its sex life and that magic that made romantic love worth fighting for. They were both devastated. They tried their damnedest to make it work. It should have worked.
So, then, what the fuck was this?
"I've wanted to do that for a while." Diamond felt like she was making things worse with honesty. She should have lied and said it was done out of impulse. She looked over at a wide-eyed Renata. "Am I crazy?"
Renata shook her head, clearing her throat as she did so. "No, not at all. It's just...We can't. And...I can't lose you."
"Butâ" A knock on the apartment door made them both jump.
Renata had a grim look on her face. "Rocio's here."