I Get Off

Sonata often found herself annoyed by Aria's choice of apartment.

Sure, it was the only one available at the time. Sure, it was affordable and quite nice for the price. Sure, it was close to Aria's work and, as Sonata mostly worked from home, it was only fair to make things easier for the one who actually had to commute. Even still, it was on the 10th floor, and the elevator had a nasty habit of being out of service often, seemingly whenever Sonata had to go on a run to get groceries.

"Stupid elevator…" Sonata sighed as she conquered the last flight of stairs, arms laden with things they'd need for the rest of the week. She was glad that she had opted to save the heavy shopping for the weekend, or else this trip upstairs was quite likely to be her last. "Where the heck is Ari when you…"

She trailed off as she cleared the landing to her floor, her gaze falling on what stood at her doorstep. A rather tall woman, at least a head taller than Sonata herself, and stunningly beautiful. Despite her simple attire, just a deep orange blouse and snug skinny jeans (Sonata couldn't help but notice that the pants made the woman's ass look fantastic), she was more stylish and eye-catching than just about anyone Sonata had ever seen.

"Hey there," said Sonata as she approached. The woman turned, staring Sonata down with her piercing magenta eyes. "May I help you?"

"I'm waiting for someone," said the woman, uncrossing her arms as she turned to face Sonata. "Although… If you're who I think you are…"

"I'm Sonata, I live here. And you are…?"

"Adagio. I assume Aria told you about me?"

"Oh! You're the stripper!" One unfortunate quirk of Sonata's that Aria had learned to live with over the years was her unfortunate habit of speaking before thinking. She recoiled as her mind processed what she said, and she quickly corrected herself. "Sorry, I didn't mean…"

"You're fine, sugar. I am, indeed, the stripper." Adagio smirked. "And you must be the ATM."

"Huh?"

"A bit of an inside joke. Once Aria gets in, we'll tell you all about it."

"Well, I don't know where Ari is or when she'll get back, and I'd feel awful if I left you here all that time, so…" Sonata shimmied and dug for her keys, clumsily slipping it into her lock. "You wanna come in? It's kinda chilly out, and I was gonna make some hot cocoa…"

"I wouldn't want to intrude," said Adagio. "Don't know if Aria would mind me coming in without her."

"Pfft, don't be silly. The apartment is half mine, anyway! Come on, I insist.” Sonata swung her hips into the door, knocking it open and gesturing for Adagio to enter. “We have a tradition, where I meet Aria’s girlfriends and embarrass her before she can stop me. Lemme tell you, sister, I have got some stories.”

“Well, you drive a hard bargain.” Adagio smiled and strode forward, stepping into the apartment before Sonata. "Hot cocoa, you say?"

"Only the best for my best friend's girlfriend."

Adagio looked around the quaint, perhaps a bit cramped, little apartment with a watchful eye. The place was rather sparsely decorated, which Adagio presumed had to be Aria's doing; in the four months since the pair met, Adagio had learned that Aria tended to value practicality over flair, for the most part, although she did tend to make exceptions in regards to melodramatic strippers.

Sonata led Adagio to the kitchen, directing her to have a seat at their tiny table while she prepared their drinks. It was quiet as she did, save for Sonata's somewhat off-key humming, but Sonata could feel the weight of Adagio's glare. She immediately understood why Aria was so interested in the dancer, now that the two had met. Her presence was unmistakable, and it made her incredibly intriguing.

"Here you go." Sonata slid a steaming mug to Adagio. "Aria was supposed to be here by now, but she probably got hung up at work."

"It happens," hummed Adagio. She sipped her drink, letting out a surprised little chuckle. "Ooh, that's good. I don't get to have this sort of treat very often."

"Gotta keep in shape for dancing, right?" asked Sonata. Adagio nodded, and Sonata cracked a grin. "Say, got any tips? Guys love a girl who can do a good striptease."

"Hm…" Adagio tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, confidence, for one. Never second guess yourself. For as long as you're dancing, you have control of the situation. Take it slow, but not too slow. Think 7 Rings, not Purple Rain. Find your best assets, or whatever it is your guy likes best, and build your routine around that part of your body." Adagio gave Sonata a once-over with a watchful eye. "I'd go with your chest. Your tits are incredibly perky and really symmetrical. Very nice."

"Oh wow, you think?" Sonata very rarely gave her sex appeal much thought, believing (perhaps a bit naively) that her success on Tinder was due entirely to her winning personality, and so she was almost surprised when she looked down at her breasts. "Thanks!"

"If you like, I can show you some moves," offered Adagio. "Nothing too crazy, just a bit of choreography."

"That'd be great! But, uh… We're not actually gonna take off our clothes, right?"

"Oh, no, not at all." Adagio pulled out her phone and began playing a slow, sultry R&B track from her playlist. "That costs extra."

Adagio led the dance, directing Sonata on how to move her hips and shoulders, things she had picked up over the years. Sonata showed a natural propensity for dancing, an intrinsic sense of rhythm that Adagio wouldn't expect from a novice. She hummed thoughtfully, deciding that the reason for Sonata's apparent skill was likely because she wasn't dealing with a novice at all.

"You've done this before," noted Adagio.

"Kinda sorta. I was big into ballet when I was a kid, thought I was gonna be some big shot prima ballerina," said Sonata with a chuckle. "I had this big show in high school, and I took a nasty fall. Totally blew out my ACL, haven't danced seriously ever since."

"Damn. Sorry to hear that. I did ballet, too, and if it makes you feel better, it's not all it's cracked up to be." It got quiet for a while, the only sound coming from the sound of the music. "Is that how you met Aria? She mentioned being involved in music in high school."

"Nah, me and Ari go waaaaay back. Must've been like 5 or 6? Some of the older kids were pushing me around on the playground, sticking gum in my hair, you know how it is, and Aria just wam, bam!" Sonata punched the air for emphasis, bringing a small smirk to Adagio's face. "Fought off like four kids, all like twice our size, by herself. Said she didn't like bullies. We've been besties ever since!"

"That's really sweet. Aria talks about you a lot, about what a good friend you are. It's nice to hear about friends who just have each other's back like you two," said Adagio.

"You know, Adagio, you're a lot nicer than I thought you'd be."

"Oh? What were you expecting?" chuckled Adagio. "Horns? Pointy tail? Pitchfork?"

"Well, when Aria told me she was dating a stripper, I thought…" Sonata sheepishly scratched the back of her head, smiling a bit awkwardly. "Let's just say I was expecting the worst."

"Can't fault you for that. There's a certain stigma to my profession, and a lot of it is justified. Still, though, the pole doesn't discriminate," said Adagio. "All sorts of people like to show strangers their tits. In fact, looking at you now, you'd probably be really good at it. I'd offer you a tryout, but I don't know if I want you cutting into my tips."

"Heh. Maybe after a few more dance lessons," laughed Sonata. "But yeah. I like you, Adagio. You're cool!"

"You're not too bad yourself, ATM."

"Okay, seriously, what's—" Sonata surely had more to say, if not for being distracted by the sound of the door unlocking. Through the entrance came Aria, arms laden with grocery bags of her own. She cocked a brow at the scene before her, surprised by the events unfolding. "Hey, Aria, guess who I found?"

"Hey. Sorry I'm late," said Aria slowly. She kicked the door closed behind her, carrying her bags to the counter for unpacking. "Got held up at work, then I swung by the store to get stuff for dinner. It's, uh, Taco Tuesday."

"It's Wednesday," noted Adagio.

"Sonata wanted Mexican tonight and we couldn't find a word that started with W."

"Uh-huh. Well, nice to finally see you, sugar."

"Daaamn, you weren't kidding, Aria," said Sonata. "That is sexy. I don't even swing that way, but for that voice…"

"I swear to God, I will slip cyanide into your guac," snarled Aria. She blushed brightly, avoiding Adagio's gaze. "Sorry about… Her."

"Don't be. I happen to like her, actually." Adagio stood up and crossed the kitchen, planting a kiss on Aria's cheek. "Glad to know that there's someone taking care of my favorite toy." She flashed Sonata a grin and a wink. "Nice meeting you, Sonata. If you ever need more dance tips, just come find me at work."

"That sounds like you're leaving," said Sonata with a frown.

"I didn't realize you and Aria had plans tonight, or else I would've come around another time. I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Again with the intruding! Come on, ya gotta stay! Aria makes the best salsa."

"I've told you a thousand times, it's store-bought," said Aria, rolling her eyes. Sonata shot her friend a look, leering at Aria suspiciously.

"There's something you're doing to it that makes it extra delicious and I will learn your secrets!"

"You are something else…" Aria paused her unpacking, looking back at Adagio. "She's right, though. We'd love for you to stay for tacos."

"Well…" Adagio's eyes flicked from Aria to Sonata and back, before, finally, she sighed. "I guess I'll just have to text Mr. Tie and tell him something's come up." That brief bit of concern, or perhaps even anxiety, vanished from Adagio's face. "Dinner it is, then. Thanks for having me."

"Woo! That's awesome!" Sonata shot out of her seat, clearly excited as she ran for the hall. "I'll get the good plates!"

"Since when did we have 'good plates'?" snorted Aria.

"I bought some but then I hid them cause I didn't want you to see that we weren't using them and then get bummed out cause we have no friends!"

"The hell are you… And she's gone." Aria palmed her forehead, groaning in annoyance. "Sorry. She can be a bit much to take in all at once. She's like a golden retriever on a triple shot of espresso. You get used to her, though." Aria glanced back at Adagio, frowning slightly at her expression. "Everything okay? You look… Off."

"Sonata called me your girlfriend earlier," said Adagio slowly. Aria nodded. "Hm."

"Hm? What does, uh, what does that mean?" Aria stopped in her dinner preparations, now completely absorbed by what Adagio had to say. "Is that a good hm or a bad hm?"

"Just… hm. I don't like labels very much, and I didn't realize you felt like we were at that level already."

"We've been seeing each other for four months now. Is there a six-month wait on us being exclusive, too?"

"Who said I wanted to be exclusive?" asked Adagio. Aria visibly stiffened, and so Adagio amended her tone. "I don't like being tied down, is all. I've always been this way. I never was the kind of girl that's good at playing house."

"So what, I'm just keeping you busy until someone more your taste shows up?" Despite her best efforts, Aria could feel her cheeks tinge red. "Is that why you didn't wanna stay? You're expecting something better to come around?"

"Please don't put words in my mouth, sugar. Relax. There's not someone else, and if there was, I'd tell you."

"So you'd cheat on me, but you'll at least give me a heads up."

"I didn't say that. But I'm nothing if not honest, and going behind anyone's back just isn't my style." Adagio put her hand on Aria's shoulder, who jerked away slightly. "Don't be like that, sugar. I didn't mean anything by it. I just don't feel comfortable with the idea of being tied down. I didn't know it would bother you this much."

"You ever been cheated on?" asked Aria. After a short pause, Adagio shook her head. "Well, it's the fucking worst. Imagine giving someone your all, dedicating all of your love and energy to them. You show them sides of yourself you don't show anyone else, they know you better than you know yourself, and you have this unspoken agreement that nothing will come between you two…" Aria clenched her fist, almost wincing at the memory. "Just to find out that you're not good enough. For whatever reason, no matter how hard you tried, no matter what you gave, you weren't good-looking enough, or you were too boring. Too much of a basket case. It fucks with you, and it never really goes away.

"I'm guessing that's what happened with you and your ex?" Adagio questioned. "She cheated on you?"

"She says she didn't, but I know she did. She got bored with me and my problems. She wouldn't touch me, because I wasn't good enough. I was hoping to be good enough for you, and you're telling me right now that I'm not."

"Sugar… it's not like that," said Adagio gently.

"Then why don't you want to be my girlfriend?"

"I don't want to be anyone's girlfriend, Aria. Calling ahead, remembering anniversaries, quiet weeknight dinners in, it's not me. I can't do that sort of thing. A girlfriend doesn't wait until two minutes before the date to let you know that the date is even happening. A girlfriend doesn't show up, get you flustered, and leave you alone with something to think about. A girlfriend definitely doesn't swing around a pole and grind on strangers' crotches for money."

"I wouldn't ever ask you to change any of that. That's who you are, and that's what I like about you," said Aria. "I just don't understand why you don't want our relationship to have our name. Doesn't it matter to you?"

"Of course it matters to me, and that's precisely why I don't want to name it." Adagio watched Aria prepare dinner, chopping onions in silence for a few moments, before the dancer continued. "My parents met in college. Friends for years. Then, more than friends. They got together, one thing led to another, and, nine months later, out comes me. We were happy. They were happy. They spent some time apart, my mother going on tour, my father working across the country, and they don't get married until I was five years old, because I wanted them to. Then, after something close to two decades together, after they got married… They imploded. They fought like cats and dogs, tossing insults and slurs and things a little girl had no business hearing anyone say to another being, let alone her parents."

"I don't…"

"My point is, Aria, that my parents loved each other, had a perfect relationship. Everything was perfect. Then, they gave their relationship a name and forced themselves into this... Construct," explained Adagio. "Within two years of their wedding, they're divorced, on opposite ends of the country because they hate each other that much, and I'm being tossed back and forth between the two while they fight like fucking children to get me to pick their side. Their careers were doing well, they were making more money than ever. The only change was when they got married. They took their relationship and strangled it. They squeezed it to fit a mold that didn't need fitting, all because I was some stupid little girl who thought Mommy and Daddy needed to walk down the aisle in order to be happy."

Adagio grabbed Aria by the shoulder again, this time with better results. Aria turned to face her, looking up at those piercing magenta eyes and feeling her cold exterior melt. Adagio pulled her in, perhaps a bit roughly, and, when it was clear that Aria wasn't going to fight it, she brought their lips together for a brief, tender kiss.

"Whatever we are and whatever we have is something special, and I don't want to fuck that up just so we can change our relationship status on Facebook," said Adagio. "If you want to label us that way, then I understand. But my parents had 20 years of preparation and still fucked everything up. I don't want to take that risk."

"What if I don't want to risk being with someone who might go behind my back and hook up with someone else?"

"Then that says a lot about how you see me."

"No. It's not you, it's…" Aria sighed, setting down her knife for a moment to think. "I'm not the best at trusting people. Bad experiences."

"I understand that, sugar. But if you want us to be… Whatever it is we are, then trust is a necessity. I have no intentions of hurting you, okay?" Adagio grabbed Aria's hands gently, giving them a tiny squeeze. "Maybe we have different ideas on what a relationship is. That's fine. But of all the strip joints in all the towns in all the world, you shake your boney sss into mine." She smirked and, after just a second, Aria matched it. "That has to count for something. That's something worth trusting in, right?"

"Yeah. You're worth it, for sure." Aria maintained much of her stony facade until Adagio leaned in and gave her another soft, gentle peck on the lips. "I should probably get back to cooking or else it'll—"

Adagio grabbed Aria by the collar and pulled her in close, until the two were chest-to-chest, and kissed her deeply. She didn't use words, because they were ultimately unnecessary; Adagio said everything she needed to with that kiss, the way she moved her tongue against Aria's and damn near brought her to her knees. Not with force, but with finesse, tenderness. That kiss told Aria that, no matter what they opted to call themselves, what she had with Adagio was special. Much like Adagio herself, it was unique, intoxicating, a bit scary. Aria was naturally afraid of another heartbreak, but if there was anyone worth putting herself in the line of fire for, it was Adagio.

"Good news, I found the good plates!" Sonata hurried back into the kitchen, arms full of dishes. "Bad news, I dropped one so now there's broken glass on the…" She only just then seemed to notice the two fused at the lip, and she quickly averted her eyes. "Whoops, didn't mean to interrupt! I'll just… Come back later…"

"No need." As usual, it was Adagio who pulled away first, and, as usual, it was clear that they were both left wanting more. She gave Aria a little wink and a smirk. "Just wrapping up a little girlfriend talk. Right, sugar?"

"Yeah. Right." Another common occurrence, Aria found herself blushing and grinning like a fool at Adagio's words. "I should get back to cooking. Shouldn't be long."

"Mh-hm. In the meantime…" Adagio grinned sinisterly. "I was promised embarrassing stories of Aria?"

"Oh, son of a bitch…" groaned Aria. Sonata matched Adagio's grin, taking a seat at the table and leaning in to look Adagio in the eye.

"Where do I start with this one?"