Home was cold, and dark. The surface was so far away as to be mythical. In Home, light was danger. Light was a lure. Up there, it was life. Adagio floated safely in the dark. She could feel the bubbles rising from her gills. They were like a breadcrumb trail that would lead her to shores unknown. She had to ignore them, she knew. The surface was heat, and pain. And fools. Prey, easier and bafflingly more difficult than any small, wriggling thing in Home.

The rules were different up there, ever-changing like the tide, but the rules of Home were like continental shelves; stony, eternal, glacial in their movements. Imperceptible, they were, but if you spent any time in Home, and that is to stay, if you came to Home and stayed alive, you knew the rules.

The rules made sense. They were simple as pisswater and vicious as a riptide. Stay out of sight of those that are bigger than you. There were always bigger things down here. Draw your prey in, let them come to you, then strike.

Remember Fear is your ally, the only other one you had was Dark. Home was vast, but only for those that could swim fast. The slow and the weak would find its depths crushing, suffocating. But those that shined at the art of angling could rise to the top of the food chain, and stay. It was those specimens that referred to it as Home. To all else, it was simply the depths of the ocean.

Adagio remembered as she floated in the chilling embrace of Home. It was far from warm and firm beds and warm and firm bodies. It was dark and she was feared and so she was Safe. She felt a ripple, turned to look, but saw nothing.

Bubbles.

Bubbles? Something had come down. And so Down she looked. Down was the only direction here, really. The strange bubbles rose from down there. Then something grazed her, it fell so close and so fast. She saw the blood, but she barely noticed it.

She had to know.

So, she dove and kicked and fluttered along the trail of the bubbles, and then she saw it.

A harpoon. How could it have come down so far? She approached it, fins out. It was warm. No, it was hot, like a geothermal vent. Red hot, boiling. Bending.

A cold fear shuddered through Adagio's scales. This thing had intruded into Home. Where could it have come from? It didn't make any sense. She reached. It didn't feel hot. It was pleasant. Soothing, even, a reprieve from the crushing cold of Home. She ran her fins along its firm length.

It flared, burned. Her fins sizzled. She screamed, tried to pull away, swim to safety in the dark distance of Home, but her fins had melded to it. She howled and twisted and the bubbles flooded out of her and up and away. The harpoon bent and melted, and a pair of wickedly sharp steel hands unfolded from it, and like a lover's touch, they tenderly enfolded her blazing fins. She was burning. Home could not protect her. The pain was unbearable. The heat. The HEAT!

Adagio Dazzle awoke in a state of disarray.

She knew, almost instinctually that her hair was a disaster. She was on her couch.

She was breathing heavily, she touched her neck and found that her pulse was racing. She thought she'd felt pain and terror, but the memory of the dream was slipping like dry sand through her fingers. And then it was gone. Why had she gotten all worked up? She stirred and felt an old, familiar soreness between her thighs. "Ah. That's right." She didn't feel a set of arms around her or morning wood prodding her back. Instead, she felt a thin sheet draped over her nude form. Perhaps he was a gentleman after all.

Was. He was gone.

"Good." Adagio murmured, rubbing her eyes. Perhaps she had intimidated him or perhaps he was just one of those types to hit and quit, but he was no longer within her sight. That made this quite a bit easier. If he remembered having his energy drained then he would have foolishly tried to kill her in her sleep or would have escaped at his earliest convenience. Adagio recalled distantly that he seemed hesitant and even a bit skittish before she had lured him into her parlor.

It's likely he simply ran after waking up. But he had been gracious enough to fetch a sheet to throw over her. "How sweet." Adagio stretched and felt that tender, pleasant aching. Her jaw was a bit sore as well. The boy had been a bit of a mouthful. Almost a shame he had to leave. She enjoyed his warmth, and his arms and his...wait.

Adagio didn't feel tired. For the last five months, she had awoken feeling like she'd blacked out in a bar because of the tepid, sickly emotions of her prey, but not now.

Now...Adagio picked herself up off the couch, stretched her arms and legs, and quietly strolled to her bathroom. She stood before her standee mirror and pulled her hair into a low-hanging ponytail so she could see past the blood-red mane. "Oh...ohhh...!" Adagio turned, contrapposto. Did a little spin. Bent forward, then back. A look of shock was replaced with rapturous joy and then wonder.

The paunch that had been building for months was eradicated, replaced with a smooth belly with no sag. Speaking of sagging, her breasts had none. They were perky and a bit smaller than they had been last night. Her hips were just as voluptuous as ever, and her ass had taken on its classical, flawless curve and bounce.

She was shorter and leaner. Her piercing magenta eyes had a slight glow to them, and even her hair had a near ethereal shine. She ran her hands over her face, felt the pure smoothness of her skin, finding not even a single wrinkle or blemish. Every part of her had a slight pleasant plumpness. Besides her ruined makeup, she was gorgeous.

Adagio Dazzle; back in her prime.

"I'm...I'm flawless again...he...that night...hm." Adagio muttered. She had choked on the amount of emotional energy Buck had put out the previous night. Love and lust had melted together into a veritable firehose of magical power, and she had drunk her fill when she came on top of him. And then he had just kept going until he was satisfied. Adagio ran her hands tenderly along her mound of venus. The soreness did not stop in her thighs. The man had railed her like an animal, and she had loved every second of it. Adagio saw a blush creep into her cheeks in the mirror. When was the last time a man had treated her to such a fine meal? She genuinely couldn't remember.

"And you let him escape, Fool." She said, absentmindedly. Adagio's mind snapped from its wandering. That boy, Buck; he was prime prey. He had more magic than she could take all at once; he was bursting with it. She had caught a true prize on her line, and he had gotten away. Adagio could feel her smile falling, breaking into a pout.

"Doesn't matter at the moment, does it? He must live in this disgusting slum they call a city, so I'll be able to find him again if I'm patient and careful." The thought was cut short. She heard the sound of someone rifling around in the kitchen, then the stove clicking on, and finally a sumptuous musical sting that broke into a heavily processed and reverb-heavy instrumental track.

Some ballad or somesuch, one of those genres she was unfamiliar with. Likely had 'Wave' in the title. The hunt was still on. He had never left. Adagio could see her eyes flash red in the mirror as she plotted her next move. She would need to get just a bit dressed in a hurry.

Buck bobbed his head slowly. He'd turned on his phone to listen to some chillhop while he made breakfast. Before then, he'd been amazed at where he had woken up. He had a slight hangover at sunrise, but what else was new? This suite looked hideously expensive.

The walls were paneled with smokey fucking marble, for one, giving the whole place an almost Parthenon sort of feel. The eastern wall of the living room leading into the kitchen was made of a few impeccably large windows that ran up to the 20-foot ceiling. The curtains were dark blue, as were the seats flanking the dining table next to it, as were the cushions on the stools in front of the breakfast nook. The kitchen was larger than his room back at home, with a wide marble-topped island in the center, a big fuck-off fridge that had some Darth Vader shit on a panel on the main door. Buck could have sworn that the couch on its own was bigger than his bed, and he saw that there was a TV monitor of improbable size hanging from the wall across from it. And all of that on its own was impressive, but then there were the knickknacks everywhere.

The suite looked like a museum. A museum in a country with a history of colonization. Buck spied spiritual African masks, probably Namibian by their design, he saw a gleaming bronze shield and gladius, a weather-beaten cutlass, spears, axes, just a whole damn lot of medieval weapons. He saw an impressive shelf filled with records and an honest-to-goodness gramophone next to it. There were also a few impressionist paintings hanging. Buck was well-read, hell, he'd gone to school for an art degree, and so in his educated opinion, Miss Heart Song must have been stupid fucking loaded or very, very good at stealing from the Smithsonian.

Either way, he did his damndest not to touch a single thing. Strangely, he also noticed there weren't any photographs of Heart Song or anyone else sitting around.

The place was cold, too. He didn't find the thermostat, but he guessed it was close to 60 degrees considering how his bare feet touching the kitchen tiles sent a shock through him. Buck took a moment to gather himself, and after using a sheet he found in the living room to cover Heart Song, he had resolved himself to the task of making breakfast.

Now here, he'd been before. He'd hooked up with a cute girl, and after he'd try to hang around or get a number and they'd blown him off, saying he was 'Real Nice' but they weren't looking for a relationship.

To be fair, Buck hadn't been looking for a relationship last night, but he had woken up next to the most beautiful woman in the world after having the best night of sex he'd had in...had to be a year and a half, probably longer. And she had been extremely interesting.

And she was wealthy, apparently. And she made him cum like a fucking fire hose. She was miles out of his league. He knew that, of course, but he was going to put his best effort into getting to know her.

And so he leaned into Plan A: A Good Ass Breakfast.

It was hard to reject a man when your face was stuffed with pancakes and eggs, he reasoned. Buck had rummaged through cabinets that were surprisingly sparse on cooking ingredients and shockingly overfilled with expensive looking wines. It was standing room only on the wine rack by the cupboard, so Buck guessed that made sense, but holy shit, was she planning to drink herself to death or what? This couldn't be a collection for show, it was in the fucking cupboard, so logically--stop.

Nope. Don't get distracted. You could ask her about that. It could be a conversation starter. There was blessedly enough pancake mix and eggs for two people, and Buck managed to find some other cooking tools and ingredients he'd need. This week was full of small miracles, he guessed. Buck had a recipe saved on his phone for just such an occasion. The eggs would be thoughtless. But the pancakes? He was going to blow her mind, he thought. After something like a half-hour, Buck had prepared a stack of thick, fluffy souffle pancakes. He melted a bit of butter and got some syrup into a bowl and set them on the table. They were maybe just the slightest bit burnt on the bottom, and one had a little angle to it from when he fucked up the flip, but they tasted better than sex when he sampled, so he figured he was golden.

With the hard part done, Buck started to work the first scramble in the pan when he suddenly felt his arm being lifted like a toll booth barrier. Heart Song was up, and she was in some kind of soft pajamas. A sleeveless lavender colored top and a matching set of adorable shorts hugged her round, glorious ass. Both of them had images of little goldfish on them. Heart Song had slipped between him and the stove and was grinding against him ever so gently.

After a few seconds of silence, she said "I prefer my eggs sunny side up." in a tone that was more command than suggestion.

"No problem. This one can be mine." Buck said. "Do you like, uhh..." Do you like drinking? Are you into vintage wine? Were you drunk this whole time? Buck's thoughts raced, but his mouth was blessedly taking a stop to admire some flowers on the side of the track."...pancakes?" Buck said, flipping his scramble onto a plate.

"Oh, absolutely. Those look great."

"You can go ahead and dig in, I'll have your eggs in just a little-ah...ah...okay..." In the space between quips, Heart Song had reached out and grabbed his wrists. She pulled his arms around her and sighed contentedly. The embrace pressed her ass more firmly against his crotch.

"You're warm."

"Y-Yeah. This place is kind of cold, and so are you. Did you need a blanket-or?"

"Now why would I need that when I have you to warm me up?" Heart Song purred. She reached up slowly and began to stroke Buck's chin. Was she shorter? She'd been about a head shorter than him, he'd thought but now it seemed like she had to reach a bit to get at his face.

Adagio stood on her toes to reach up and tease her prey. His jawline is pleasantly round, she thought.

"Did, uh, did you get shorter?" He said.

"I was wearing platform heels last night. I'm quite petite, as you can see. Go ahead." She said. She turned to paw and pet at his chest. With her permission, he started preparing her eggs. He was quite focused on the task, not looking at her at all.

"Huh. Well, you were definitely killing it in those heels."

"Mm. Thank you for noticing. Are you going to ask me?"

"Ask ya what?"

"Ask me if you've made a terrible mistake, if I'm younger than I look?"

"Uh...No? You seemed pretty...mature and in control last night. There's no doubt in my mind that you're a grown-ass woman who knows what she wants."

"Oh, you're no fun! You wouldn't believe how often I get carded at clubs. That's the reason why I tend to dress up a bit, it usually helps."

"Ah, well y'are pretty small."

"Is that going to be a problem for you, daddy~?" Adagio purred. She leaned up and licked the underside of his chin. He still tasted like sweat. And a dash of anxiety. And that bit of spice in the back. Lust. He was trying to hide it, but it flared as she pressed her chest against him.

"Woah-ho, that's uh, wow. New bit, huh? Last night you had the whole sexy librarian thing going, and now it's this? I, uh, that's a curveball, Ms. Heart Song." A warm, dark blush crept into his purple cheeks. Adagio felt powerful, immortal, and she loved to play with her food. He responded well to teasing, and she doubted there was anything in him that would resist her advances.

"Oh? And how do you feel about curveballs, Mr. Serenade? Am I bit too wild for you?" Adagio said. She kneaded at his chest, giving him a cattish grin. His pectoral muscles were firm. He looked down at her then and chuckled.

"I was just about to say that I've never seen curves like those, but I'm sure you get that a lot. You're a god damn knockout." Love, then. Sweet chocolate. And lust. Cinnamon and spice. A flame flickered in his eye for a ghost of a second. Adagio's grin became devilish. She was going to have some fun with this one.

"Oh, you're sweet and smooth when you're sober. That's interesting."

"Was I not when I was drunk?"

"No, no, just...hm, easier."

"Easier?"

"Adorable. Eager. I think that if you had gotten into my wine before I woke up, I would be bent over the breakfast nook right now." Adagio said. She smirked matter-of-factly. She tasted his nervousness. Perhaps a bit of tangy, acidic shame just below the surface.

"Ah, well, that's...well, if I did that, your breakfast would get cold, and you'd never forgive me for that, now would ya?" He said. He took a step back from Adagio and plated a flipped egg. "There you go; sunny side up. Now, how about you tell me if this breakfast is as good as it smells?" He said. He stepped around the nook and pulled a stool out for Adagio.

He's covering something, she thought as she graciously sat on the stool. Overdoing it with the gentleman routine. What is he hiding? Buck passed Adagio a plate and waited expectantly for her to take a bite. Adagio gave a polite grin, then tore off a bit of fluffy pancake and popped it into her mouth.

It was like she'd taken a bite out of an orgy. It took a great deal of self-control to not begin shoveling this treat into her gob, but she couldn't hold back her small, contented moans as she tucked in. "S'an old recipe my sister perfected back in the day. Good, right?" He said. Adagio tasted a thin, misty flavor of hope in him. She held a finger up to his lips and savored the cake in her mouth. She closed her eyes. And coughed. He slid a glass of milk to her and nodded. She drank almost half of it in an instant.

"Ahh...I must say, you're full of surprises, Mr. Soulful Serenade. Truly a treat!"

"Ya mean the Pancakes, the Sex or Me?" He said, blinking.

"...Yes." Adagio said, patiently.

"It's Purple Prose, by the way."

"What's that, dear?" Adagio said. She had taken another slice of heaven into her mouth and was savoring it.

"My name. It's Purple Prose, but my friends just call me Buck." He said, almost sheepishly. Adagio took a hasty sip of milk before she could spit take.

"They call you 'Buck'? After your performance last night, I certainly believe that. Tell me, how many of your friends have you slept with, 'Buck'~?"

"I, uh, I don't really tally that kinda thing." Another flash of shame. Interesting, if a bit concerning. He hadn't answered the question.

"It's not what you think, anyway. I got the nickname when I was just a little itty-bitty."

"Oh?" Indulge him.

"Yeah, get this, when I was about four years old, I was making a castle in the sand box at the neighborhood playground, right? And these kids, had to have been a coupla' years older, were rough-housin' nearby. Well, one of them rolls into the sandbox and decides to jump on my back. According to my Mom, I got on all fours and started bucking and prancing like a donkey, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and the kid got thrown off, clear outta the sandbox and onto the wood chips! She said to 'Ease off there, Buck!' and laughed and the name just kinda stuck on me. Pretty wild, huh?"

Adagio was suddenly struck with the image of this full-grown man with a bunch of toddlers on his back, undulating and neighing like a deranged pony until the children were sent flying into the air. Incidentally, Adagio threw her head back and got caught in a laughing fit. Buck joined in, yucking it up.

"Yeah, see? Nothin' perverted at all!"

"Yes, well, I happen to know for a fact that you live up to your name. In spades, Buck." Adagio said, reaching across the nook and drawing a little circle on the back of his hand with her nail.

"So, uh, did you sleep well?" He said, changing the subject. He's dodging. He's scared of you. Adagio took the opening to let out a cute, sheepish yawn with a hand before her mouth. A classic maneuver. She tasted the sweet marshmallow flavor of Buck's affection for her rise.

"I did, I slept wonderfully in your arms, Buck. I remember having an odd dream, but none of the details."

"Huh. That's funny. I dreamed about some spooky Dagon shit. I was falling into like, a boiling ocean, and then into this yeeeuuuuge vertical vagina mouth ringed with these dagger teeth and it sounded like-" Buck immediately fell into a dramatic reenactment, pantomiming the gnashing teeth with his hands. He stopped short. "-well anyway, it was some big spooks. Not sure why the hell I'd dream about something like that. Sorry, am I creeping you out?"

Buck tilted his head at Adagio, her expression like that of a cow looking at an oncoming train. She snapped out of it and raised an eyebrow at him. "You are...quite the storyteller, aren't you, Buck?" Huh. She'd said his name like three times, now. She was trying to remember it. That's a good sign, right? Had to be. Also, she seemed, like, horny as all fuck, and that alone was like a breath of fresh air. Dumbass, she asked you a question.

"Oh, well, I am a writer. Think I mentioned that last night. Well, I call myself a writer, and sometimes I get paid to do it. To write, that is, I don't do it full time exactly, but I'd like to!" Buck rambled. Focus, man, don't sperg out on her. She's taking an interest in you, and it's not too late to screw it all up. "Articles, 's what I do. But I've always preferred fiction.

"I had you figured for a bard. You must have an endless amount of anecdotes to tell." Heart Song said. She had an elbow on the counter, resting her cheek on a hand as she quietly ate her breakfast.

"Oh yeah, I've led a needlessly interesting life." Buck chuckled and finally began to eat as well. The eggs could have used more salt. Damn. "Say, uh, could ya tell me Your name, Heart Song?" He saw her freeze for a moment. Her eyes flickered away to do some mental calculations. Uh oh.

"...Heart Song will do just fine for now, Buck. I don't know if I exactly trust you enough with my name; you wouldn't believe the kinds of ne'er-do-wells that you attract when you're like me."

"Oof. I can imagine. Wouldn't want to get doxxed, or stalked....I get it." He did. Get it, that is. Writing articles for a living meant presenting strong opinions on the internet, and that meant hate; random, constant hate from seemingly nowhere. Coincidentally, Buck had started operating under a VPN after a few months' publication, and that had done his heart good.

"Heart Song it is, then. It's a beautiful name, anyway. A good choice. I saw you had an impressive music collection. D'ya sing?" Buck pointed with his chin toward the living room. A sour look crossed Heart Song's face as a pregnant pause settled in. Oops.

"...yes, I did, as a matter of fact, but I haven't in a long time."

"Don't wanna talk about it?" Buck said, genuine concern in his voice. Don't be a dick. Tiptoe, Buck.

"Do you typically make breakfast for the people that you lay with, Buck?" She said. Buck choked a bit at that. He could see a bit of tooth in Heart Song's grin.

"Ah, only the ones that I really wanna talk to, after. You're really interestin', Heart Song, and I'd be an idiot to hit it and quit it." He had been smiling, then he frowned. "I..."

"Yes, Buck?"

Buck took a deep breath. Cards on the table. "Look, I really like you, Heart Song, a whole lot. And I'd like to get to know you better.

"Well, aren't you sweet? Why don't you tell me what it is you like about me so much?" Buck took a moment and then a little grin crept onto his face.

"Hmm...I will. But tell me, Heart Song, d'ya like me?"

"I wouldn't mind if you hung around for a little while, Buck. You're very amusing."

"Am I?"

"Yes. You have a...unique perspective, and in the night I've know you you've failed at any point to be boring." Heart Song said. She'd polished off her breakfast. Buck hadn't even seen her do it. It was those eyes, must be. He felt a little bit like he was walking off a path in a forest when he looked at them.

"I see." Buck said. He collected the dishes, placed them in the sink.

Adagio stared at Buck's back as he set the dishes to soak. He was wearing an undershirt and the jeans he'd worn the previous night. She hadn't exactly been paying attention before, but the man was well built. His shoulders were wide and sharp, and she could see his back muscles working as he reached to turn off the water. He had a bubble butt, but she had felt it last night; it was toned, and she could make out the clear curve of his leg muscles in the tight jeans. He was on the paunchy side, but he was made of muscle; Strong in the classical sense.

A body built through years of labor, no doubt. He was a hard worker.

He'd been working hard this morning to impress her, she could tell. And he was anxious. Excited. She could taste it. If she was going to secure him as a proper food source, she'd have to meticulously break down his walls, make him comfortable with her and appeal to him.

He seemed to like a good conversation, he seemed to enjoy a bit of sass, he liked music and writing, and most importantly, he was enamored with the curves of her body. He was the straightforward type to be sure. Easy to play with.

She would have to reel him slowly and gently, and he'd come to her, she was certain. With this battle plan in mind, Adagio raised her arms over her head, pushed out her chest, and let loose another tactical kitten-esque yawn. Buck looked at her over his shoulder and almost dropped a plate. Adagio hadn't bothered to put on a bra, and, well, it was cold in here. She preferred it that way.

"Well, Buck, this has been a lovely breakfast. I hope I'm not cutting into your time?"

"No, no, I'm open all morning. I could hang for a bit, if you'd have me." She snatched the meaning between his words. 'It could all wait, for you.' That sweet cotton candy taste was coming off him. He was being genuine.

Adagio rolled her neck, slowly. She still felt sticky and disgusting after last night's escapades. A bath was definitely in order, but she couldn't risk letting him see the dye bleed out of her hair. She decided to play with him a little, then give him her contact information before sending him on his way. A pleasant morning, in other words. It had been a while since she'd had a pleasant morning. Buck was walking over to her, drying his hands with the dishtowel.

"You uh, didn't answer my question, Heart Song." He said.

"Oh?" Adagio rolled her stiff shoulders. She winced.

"I asked if you like me. And uh, would you like to get to know Me better?" Timid. Hope and anxiety mixed together. It wasn't an especially good flavor. Salty and sweet.

"That depends on a few things, Buck. Could I ask you for a favor?"

"Yeah?"

"I know from last night that your fingers are strong and tender. Would you mind giving me a little massage?" She reached back and moved her hair out of the way, showing off the back of her neck and shoulders to him. She looked back at him and smiled, sweetly. A classic maneuver.

"Oh. Oh! Sure." Buck said. There we are. Back to that sweet, chocolatey affection. Adagio sipped that energy coming off him like a fine wine. Or chocolate milk, as it were. Buck stepped behind her and reached out with his hands. Adagio snatched them out of the air beside her and gave him a sharp grin. She squeezed his forearms. My, he was a strong one, wasn't he?

"My shoulders, dear." She purred. A twist on a classic.

"Oh, I wasn't uh, I was going for your shoulders, I didn't mean to look like-" Adagio laughed. She looked up at Buck and winked at him.

"Would you relax? I'm just having a little fun." Buck was blushing, of course. That heat was emerging, slowly.

"Ah. Well." Buck said. He didn't laugh. His hands landed on her shoulders. She saw his own shoulders drop and relax.

"You can touch me wherever you want. Buck." She put a hard 'K' on the consonant, fixing him with a smoldering look. Another twist, this time of the knife. She went back to staring innocently across the breakfast nook. She heard him let out a slow breath, and whisper "holy shit" under his breath. She had him. She felt his fingers squeeze her shoulders. He rolled them slowly in his palms. Then he slid those big, strong paws up to her trapezius muscles. She hissed.

"Tender." She said.

"Stressed?" He asked.

"Tired." She said.

"Mm. I know about tired. Here." He pinched her trapezius gently and began kneading it like dough. Adagio gave a little sigh and let her shoulders slump. "There you go...I've got you." Buck said, a little over a whisper. He was working methodically, his hands felt experienced and careful. He was treating her tenderly. She was beginning to like him.

"You can be a bit rougher, Buck. I'm not made of glass."

"Gotcha." He let go and then began to knead into her with his knuckles, dragging them back and forth over the tender muscles.

"Oooohhhh...that's it...you've done this before." Adagio purred.

"Ah, I'm an old hand at this. You startin' to feel a little better?"

"Mm. Yeeeessss....Do you think you could attack my neck, next?" She felt, rather than saw him blush.

"Sure." He said. He removed a hand, placing it on the counter by her side, and began to massage the back of her neck, then the sides, with his thumb and forefinger.

"Nnnmmm...that's good~," Adagio said. It was half a moan and half a song. His fingers were firm as he dug into her neck. She reached over to slide a hand over his on the counter. She laced her fingers in his. He lifted her hand and kissed it gently, then pulled his own hand back.

"Alright...relax." He said. Then he grabbed Adagio's head on either side and jerked it left, then right. She heard it crack and tension flooded out of her. Then Buck gently rolled her head and Adagio let out a deep sigh. She could feel him brushing against her ass, but she was too relaxed to care much. Adagio closed her eyes and let herself float on the sweet adoration that was rolling off him. His fingers were in her hair, scratching and massaging at her scalp. She let out another dreamy sigh. There was nothing for it. She would have to keep this one.

"You good?" Buck said, taking his hands away from her head. "Any better?"

"Heavenly. Don't stop."

"Huh?" Adagio had grabbed his wrists. She wasn't looking at him, but she sat up straight and leaned against him.

"Don't stop touching me, Buck." A whispered command. She tasted the rising heat as he began to run his hands along her shoulders and her biceps. "Good boy~," Adagio said. Buck sucked on his teeth.

"I'm not lookin' to be housebroken, Heart Song."

"Yes, you've clearly been trained quite well, already." Buck stopped massaging. He was still.

"Look, I...I don't like bein' talked to like that. I'm a grown man, Heart Song, not a puppy." Alarm bells rang in Adagio's head. She tasted acrid shame in her throat, strong now. He'd been hurt before, certainly, and it was something to do with pampering. She would have to be more careful.

"I'm sorry. You're right. You aren't a pet for me to play with. You're a big, strong man, and I should treat you as such. I suppose I'm just being a little distant." Adagio said, softly. Just as softly, her fingers trailed up one of his arms.

"...I get it."

"Do you, now?" Adagio said, looking up at him. A look of disgusting, touching concern had taken over the man's face. "You're being evasive, Heart Song, and not because you're scared of me."

"Certainly not, Buck."

"You're being careful because you don't wanna get hurt. Emotionally. You don't want me to be another person that comes and does as he pleases and makes a mess, and leaves. I get it, trust me, I do. But I'm not like that, I promise." Wet warmth. A taste like salty tears. Was he crying? "I'm not like that." He said. One of his big meaty hands was on her shoulder again. His touch was feather-light. He really did think she was made of glass.

"Come here." Adagio gave him a tender smile, then reached up and pulled on the back of his head. She kissed the corner of his mouth. "I like you, Buck. Because you're cute, and sweet, and sincere." She squeezed his arm and pulled him into a kiss. She would remember this kiss. She had never kissed a man with such care and tenderness. He gasped a bit as their lips touched, then he gently reached up to cup her throat with his hand. She tasted his love bubbling over. She also felt that something from before pressing against the small of her back. There was a warmth of her own creeping over her skin.

He pulled away from the kiss and looked down at her. She could feel his heart racing in his chest. He was hesitating; waiting for permission. His eyes were gold and shiny. Beautiful, even with the bags under them. He hadn't been ready for that. Good. Adagio pulled on his arm and guided his hand to gently cup her breast. She smiled sweetly at him, raised an eyebrow. He chuckled. Chocolate again, and spice.

She had him. He kissed her forehead. "You know, I think ya like me for another reason." Buck growled. Adagio went back to looking across the counter, a knowing smile creeping onto her face.

"I swear I have no clue what it is you're inferring, Buck~," She said. She shifted slightly in her seat, pressing just a bit more of her ass against him. Buck's other hand squeezed her shoulder, then began to drift gently to her back.

"Remember what I said last night? 'bout imperfections?" Buck said. He scratched slowly at her back, his hand falling slowly, tracing along her spine.

"Nnnmmm...why yes. I think you said you were fond of imperfections, isn't that right?" Adagio said. She bit her lip. "You said that there was beauty in them." She was expecting him to make a joke about her personality, again.

"Well...if fine china had a crack like this, it'd be filled with gold." Buck chuckled and grabbed her ass with one hand. Adagio squeaked as he groped her. His hand wandered, slowly. "Fuck...fuck, you're beautiful..." He whispered.

"Oh? Just noticing now?" She giggled.

"Can't help but notice...mm!" Buck said. He sounded a bit distant. Lost in thought. His hand squeezed and kneaded and rolled around her tender bottom. Meanwhile, the hand she was holding had found her nipple, and it was pinching it gently. Pulling on it beneath her pajama top. Fuck, but he did know what to do with those hands. "I think you like me because I've shown that I can take care of a woman, Heart Song. I think you like me because I admire you the way you deserve to be admired." Buck said.

*SLAP*

His hand fell onto her ass with force. Adagio jumped and let out a moan. An involuntary moan. She sucked in her lips for a moment. She quivered.

"Ooh, she likes that, don't she?" Buck murmured.

*SLAP*

"Ahhn~!" Another smack to the rear, in the exact same spot. Adagio felt her face flush. She hadn't meant to-

*SLAP*

Another slap, another squeal from Adagio. She felt his fingers trace along the spot that he'd smacked. It was sensitive now. Adagio shuddered at the sensation of his feathery touches brushing along the sore spot. Now it was her heart that was racing. Buck's hand fondled her nipple, rubbing it tenderly, his other hand caressing her ass through the pajama bottoms.

He paused.

Adagio blinked. Why had he stopped?

"Heart Song I...before anything else, I need to explain. Just listen."

"Mm." Adagio hummed.

"I got this thing called hypersexuality. Sex is...important to me. Critical, even."

"...I see."

"But I want you to know that you aren't obligated to cater to that, just-"

"If I happen to want to keep you, I need to be considerate of your needs." Adagio looked up at him again. She ground her ass on him with a lecherous grin.

"Uh, y-yeah...do you...do you wanna...keep me?" Hope. She tasted it. A mist of sweet candy. Adagio swirled a lock of her hair around a finger.

"I haven't decided yet. But finishing what you started down there would be fine encouragement, I think." She purred. She pushed him away, then got up from the stool, leaning over the kitchen nook. Her pajamas, already wet at this point, she slid down her hips.

She was glistening down there. Her ass was perfectly shaped. Round, wide, thick, and smooth; fucking glorious. Like it was made for him to admire. Her puffy lips were squeezed by her thick thighs. She wiggled her ass at him slowly, giving him a look over her shoulder. He could see the red mark where he'd slapped her cheek. He could feel himself salivating.

But, he thought, he had to take it slow. Warm her up properly. He ran his hands along her cheeks, groping and squeezing them, and began planting tender kisses on the red mark. She was unbelievably soft. She cooed and shivered at that, so he began to lightly drag his tongue along it, then suckle on the spot as his hands wandered.

"Ahhh...mmm..." Heart Song moaned under his ministrations. His hand traced along her inner thigh as his lips wandered toward the crack of her ass. He planted a kiss and a little nibble right where her cheeks split. His fingers started to tenderly fondle her lips. His fingertips found her wet entrance, then traced down along the valley until it found its destination. His tongue tickled her puckering asshole as his fingers caressed her clitoris. She moaned, and he felt the vibration in his mouth.

His other hand slapped her opposite cheek. Gently, this time.

"Sssss...harder."

"Mm?" Buck was tracing his tongue along her tender ring.

"Hit me harder...!" Heart Song hissed. Buck obliged.

*SLAP*

Her ass jiggled in his face as the blow landed. She moaned, louder that time. Rough. She liked it rough. Got it. Buck dug his tongue into her, pulling her cheeks apart to get better access. He slipped his thumb into her hot, wet entrance, and continued to lavish attention on her clitoris with his index finger. He pinched and fondled down there, gently searching for her G spot. It didn't take him long. He felt her tensing around his tongue as he prodded her from two angles.

"Mmm...yes, adore me..." She moaned. He did. He dug his tongue in deeper and spun it in wide circles, trying to open her up more. Meanwhile, he squeezed her clitoris at the root and the tip, rolling his digits against it. He had begun to slide his hand back and forth, along the beat of the music that was playing in the kitchen. It was slow and sweet and tender.

He hummed softly as he tasted her, and the vibrations on his tongue made her shudder and moan even more. To Buck, she was a fucking buffet. He licked her faster, more insistently as he pistoned his fingers into her lower lips. He gained speed slowly, then as she started to quiver and build-up, he pulled back.

"Oooh, you tease!" Heart Song said. Then Buck had stopped licking her and stood up. His middle finger joined with his index, and together they rolled and pressed against Heart Song's clitoris while his thumb continued its work at the root.

"Hm? What was that?" Buck said. He placed a hand on the counter and leaned over her. His fingers picked up more speed.

"You're...mm...you're...ahn~you're teasing me!" Heart Song was trying to look away. Buck smirked and took her chin in his free hand, making her face forward. She was bright red, biting her lip.

"Am I, now?" His thumb plunged into her harder. She squeaked in a shaky voice.

"Y-yes! Yessss...you are...!" She moaned. He pinched inside her again.

"And? Issat a problem? ...you want me to stop?" Buck said. He planted a delicate kiss on her cheek, then pulled his thumb free of her. His fingers were soaked. He held them up to her. "Somehow, I don't think you do." Buck growled. Heart Song glared at him, hatefully. "Oooh...fuck, that's a good look for you." Buck said.

Heart Song grabbed his undershirt at the chest. She glared into his eyes. "Finish what you started, Buck." It was low and husky, the way she said it. Another command.

"Yes ma'am." Buck said with a smirk. He moved behind her, gently slid his thumb back in, and went back to eating ass. First, he nibbled at her cheek, then stuck his tongue just inside her tight little hole and licked furiously.

"Mmmn! Good boy...good boy-AH!" Heart Song hummed.

*SLAP*

After a few seconds of this, Buck pulled out an old favorite. He tensed his wrist and forearm muscles hard so that his whole hand vibrated. This technique had won him a few mario party minigames back in the day and was also pretty damn good at mimicking a vibe. He pressed and rolled his fingers against Heart Song's clitoris as his hand vibrated, and began to rub his thumb back and forth inside her while he voraciously ate her ass.

"Ahhh...? Aaaannn....AHH! Buck, BUCK!!!" Adagio's moans became screams. Buck kept at it, humming and growling as his tongue explored her asshole, his hand moving like a blur. Adagio climaxed with a haunting melodic shriek that hurt Buck's ears. Her whole body shook, and Buck kept rubbing her clit as she rode it out. Her hips bucked back against his fingers as she screamed and quivered.

Adagio had stopped thinking for a bit there. He had surprised her with his technique. The man had experience, no doubt and he had taken control as if it were a simple matter of course. In the span of a bit of foreplay, he had gone from worshipping her ass to owning it, and now as Adagio was coming down, panting and shivering, she realized she may be in a little bit of trouble with this one. He was planting little kisses along her cheeks, running his hands all over them, bathing her in affection. "Mmmnnn...Buck, who's the little devil that taught you how to do that...? I have to thank her." Adagio mewled.

"That's...that's experience. I said sex was important to me, didn't I? Wouldn't make much sense if I was bad at it." Buck said, plainly. He ran from that question with his arms flailing. Interesting. Adagio's frazzled nerves were coming back to her. Her legs were quivering. "You okay, Heart Song?" Buck said. His hand was petting sweet circles on her abused ass.

"Ooh, Buck. I'm far more than that." Adagio said. She felt invincible. The energy he was bathing her in was invigorating. She was so hot, she felt like she was melting into a pool of chocolate.

"I'll say. What was that shriek, like, like a Mezzo C5? Good god, woman." Oh, wonderful. He was getting cocky, now. Spicy. She was beginning to hate that she craved him. But no, he was a simple man, wasn't he? She simply had to remind him who was in charge.

"Buck...take a step back." Adagio said. Buck let go of her and gave her some space. Adagio took her time slowly pulling her pajama top over her head, tossing it to the floor. She kicked off her bottoms as well, then placed her hands on the stool, leaning over it and presenting her ass to Buck. "You've been very sweet to me, Buck. But I know you won't be satisfied with simply hearing me sing. Come here and use me." He liked it simple and direct, she knew that by now.

Buck wordlessly removed his jeans, then he stepped behind her, his hands rubbing her delicately arched back. "Are you sure, I mean, aren't you still sensitive?" Buck said.

"Don't you underestimate me, Mr. Purple Prose. I'm a big girl. I can take you."

Buck didn't say anything in response. He lightly slapped her ass cheek with his cock, began to lightly prod at her back entrance with his fingers. Adagio shuddered and looked back. "That's...! Anal is off limits for now, sweetheart." She said.

"Ah, fair enough." Buck smiled. Adagio could feel a distant sullenness in him. He truly was an ass man after all. She had a carrot to dangle.

"That isn't to say that I won't ever let you...just...you'll have to impress me, first."

"Impress you? I haven't already?" Buck said. There was adorable indignation in his voice. Adagio giggled and looked back at him, defiant.

"Do you really think you have?" Her voice was the edge of a razor as she surgically sliced at his pride.

"Is that a challenge, Miss Heart Song?" He accented the word challenge. Adagio couldn't tell if that was intentionally silly or if it was his actual accent. She grinned at him.

"No. I'M the challenge. Now shut up and fuck me, Buck." Adagio closed her eyes as he penetrated her. She was making a map of his cock in her mind. It was thicker in the middle than at the base. It was long enough to press against her cervix when fully hilted. It curved upward a little and twisted the slightest bit to the left. It felt so fucking good.

Buck didn't waste any time getting up to speed, but this time Adagio would not be caught off guard. She had to stand on her tiptoes to get the right elevation, but once they were properly lined up, she moaned and threw her ass back at him. She caught up to his rhythm, and the wet slapping sounds of their lovemaking filled the suite once again.

This was so much more manageable than the huffing bull that had ravaged her last night. What was different? He couldn't have been that drunk, last night. Was he holding back now? How sweet. Adagio wanted to roll her eyes, but then they rolled up into her head instead.

Buck had gently grasped her neck and was pressing down on her carotid arteries with his thumb and forefinger. Oh yes, he definitely had some useful experience. Adagio's head felt light and tingly as Buck picked up the pace. He wouldn't last, she thought.

She squeezed him with her lower lips and mewled at him over her shoulder. Buck's other arm had wrapped around her stomach. He held her delicately, seemingly afraid to squeeze her. His muscles were tensing, both inside her and out, and after a much shorter duration than Adagio expected, Buck shuddered and gasped and came inside her.

Instead of throwing her head back to moan as she felt thick strands of cum shooting into her, Adagio lowered her head and hummed softly. She wiggled her hips against him, just as she did last night, wringing him out. His emotion surrounded her. Lust. Love. Fear. Lust. Lust. Shame. Love. It was a strange combination of flavors. Adagio wasn't sure how to assess it. But it didn't matter. She would have plenty of time to figure him out. She was certain that he would keep coming back if it meant getting to be inside her.

"Ahh...oooh, Buck, but you do come a lot, don't you?" Adagio said in a breathy tone.

"I usually don't...not that much and not that hard. Maybe you're just special. A cut above."

"Just one?" Adagio said. A double entendre. She wiggled her ass around playfully, shuffling him inside her filled snatch. Buck gasped and whined for a moment.

"Ah ah ahh...still, still sensitive...ahh...!" He simpered, pulling out. He had a sheen of sweat on him.

"Oh, you've gone and gotten dirty again. Would you like to wash up before you leave?" Adagio said, standing up straight and letting him fall out of her.

"Before I leave?"

"Yes, Buck. As much as I would love to spend all day with you inside me, I have my own affairs to take care of, least of which is the matter of this unruly hair." Adagio said. She traced a finger on Buck's chest. She licked the sweat from her fingertip, slowly, never breaking eye contact.

"I...see." Adagio felt a cold rain patter onto her. Sad was comforting, sour, and persistent. Adagio was instantly upset at how familiar sad was to her. She frowned.

"That isn't to say you aren't welcome back, Buck."

"Yeah?"

"I meant what I said." Adagio said. She felt him get intensely, graciously happy. His face didn't show it much, but he couldn't hide from her. He tasted like sweet lemonade in that moment.

"When will I see you again, Buck?" Adagio said.

"Oh, well, my schedule is pretty weird. I'm off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, also Saturdays."

"So you're working today?"

"Yeah. The night shift."

"Ah, so you're a night person? Excellent. I am as well." Adagio smirked.

"What, uh, what's your schedule like?" Adagio frowned. Her schedule just lately, or perhaps for a while, was draining the horny out of morons in back alleys, feeling sorry for herself until she fell asleep and then sneering through her hangover the following morning. Alcohol was frequently involved.

"...you didn't answer my question, Buck. When will I see you again?"

"Uh. Hm. Tuesday? I play games with my friends on Tuesday nights, but until then, I'll be all yours."

"Oh? Is that a promise?"

"...If you'll have me." Anxiety. It was sticky and savory and not especially pleasant. This wouldn't do. Adagio grabbed Buck by the front of his tank top, pulled him to her, and kissed him. Open mouth, tongue. She rubbed his chest tenderly as she pulled away.

"Do you want to have me?" Adagio growled. Buck blinked, his face flushed.

"Uh...didn't I just have you a minute ago?"

"Cheeky." Adagio said. Buck smiled.

"I'll go get washed up." He said. Adagio watched him turn the corner, heard him close the bathroom door. Heard a muffled "Wow" as he stepped inside and turned on the shower. Adagio's shoulders slumped and she sank down onto the stool behind her. She blew a strand of hair out of her face.

"He's going to be a challenge." She muttered. She felt exhaustion crawling up her back. She was still sore down below. That feeling was warm and pleasant, as was the feeling of his essence dribbling slowly down her inner thigh.

After Buck got over how opulent the bathroom was, he took off his clothes and glasses and took a brief shower. He turned it up to a near scalding heat. He still wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not. It sure felt like he'd gotten super laid the previous night and this morning, and that the woman was impossibly fucking gorgeous and somehow into him. But that wasn't right. This was Buck's life. And in Buck's life, this kind of shit didn't happen. I mean, getting honestly laid happened sometimes...not for a while, but sometimes!

But not with women like this. She was so out of his league she was playing a completely different game. God, she was so FUCKING HOT. Buck thought this as he stepped into the steaming shower. The water was fucking hot too, but it hadn't given him this rager of a boner. No, that was her. He had been thinking about her eyes.

He had to collect himself. Be a big boy and be cool about this. This was a good thing. No reason to overthink it...but holy shit, she seemed like she was fucking loaded. When he asked about her schedule, she didn't say anything. Trust fund? Stocks? ...Landlord? Fuck, he hoped she wasn't a landlord. Gross. Either way, holy shit. He had woken up with his kidney still inside him, so this wasn't a scam.

Was it?

What if this was actually a prank? Or some fucked up game that wealthy people like to play? He would probably leave this place and never see her again. He guessed that wouldn't be so bad. He'd gotten his dick wet, after all, and she'd been AMAZING, and no one could take the memories away from him.

Could they? Did he pass out a bit before the second round last night? Shit. He had been about to cum, and then she came on top of him and he'd shut his eyes. Had he? He couldn't remember. Didn't matter. He had cum his brains out after that. And then just now. The woman was insatiable. At least as horny as he was most of the time. That was a miracle on its own.

Buck was monologuing in his own head as he washed the smell of sex off. He checked his phone after a bit and realized he had been showering for an amount of time that would almost be funny if it wasn't rude. He was using all of her hot water. So, he got out, shut it off, dressed quickly. She wasn't in the living room when he stepped out.

"I'm going!" He said.

"Tell me when you're coming, darling~" Her voice carried from inside her closet, he guessed. Buck's face scrunched in disgust. She'd called him darling.

Buck left then. Once he hit the ground floor, he was blown away by the discovery that this was that big fuck-off skyscraper about a district over from his place.

"Holy shit, wait, this is where Sunburst lives!" Buck said to himself. Sunburst had a trust fund, but he still had to work part-time for spending money, because the rent was nuts. Sunburst was also Buck's best friend. Buck meditated on this on the way back home. "She's got to be loaded. That suite was even nicer than Sunbursts'..."

Buck's hand was on the handle of his apartment when he realized that he had left his glasses on the bathroom sink.

"Ah, piss."

"Piss, piss, piss this stuff is stubborn." Adagio tutted in her bathtub. She was trying to wash the fresh dye out of her hair. She had an appointment later in the day, and she knew that fire engine red hair would be taken as a similarly red flag in the interview. Snooty office workers; she knew the type. But the dye was surprisingly persistent, and she had to work patiently to wash the sheer volume of it out of her flowing, curly locks. It was taking forever.

Time was a funny thing to an immortal siren. She liked to laugh at Time as she danced circles around it. Sometimes Time would get her back, though. Like now. Had she been washing her hair for 15 minutes or 25?

After what seemed an endless ocean of time, she popped out of the shower to look in the steamy mirror and saw that she had finally worked the red out of her glorious orange hair. The strands shone in the skylight's gaze like the scales of a koi fish. She was beautiful. She had always been beautiful, but now she was in her prime again.

She felt power tingling on the tip of her tongue, the tips of her fingers, and other sensitive tips of things. This was because of Him. He was a living tidal wave of magical energy. If she kept him chained up and properly maintained, she could use him to take over the world.

Well, perhaps not. Empires never lasted, after all. Perhaps just a portion of this city. Or she could take him on the road and find a lovely little village. One near a beach. Yes, definitely. She could start all over, she didn't need Aria or Sonata; all she needed to do was get that boy in a net and never let him go. Perhaps she'd cancel her appointment. She wanted to spend the whole day just rubbing her skin and feeling how smooth it was.

She filled the tub, transitioning from warm shower to nice cool bath. Adagio soaked, dragging a comb through her hair. This was her meditation. But no, she couldn't count on Buck's power source. Even if she kept him hypnotized constantly, he would struggle against being used as a battery. And hypnotized humans would always give diminishing returns when it came to magical energy.

Hard to be filled with emotional power when you were stricken with temporary catatonia. He'd just become dead weight over time, and then she'd have to find someplace to dump him. An asylum if she was feeling charitable. Oh, but she liked him! He was warm! She would have to get her hooks into him slowly, over a short period of time, perhaps a couple of years.

If she could get him properly addicted to her, he'd do anything for her. She could tell that just by looking at him. And he was so sweet and hesitant. She'd have to break him of that if she meant to tolerate him during her conquest. Adagio frowned. She stood and reached for a towel.

"He's going to be so much work." She grumbled. She wasn't ready to want him so badly.

"But worth it."

Just as the words left her lips, the handle of the bathroom door turned.

Buck hadn't said anything. He'd been thinking too hard. The door to Heart Song's suite was unexpectedly unlocked so he hadn't had to knock. He assumed Heart Song was in her room, so he leaned on a habit he'd thought he'd lost and moved silently across the suite so as not to disturb her. His glasses were on the bathroom sink, he was sure, and his vision was blurry. He could see light coming from under the bathroom door. Ah, she was bathing. Well, he'd just pop his head in, grab his glasses and apologize for bothering her. Maybe say something about her ass. He hoped he would get to see her ass again.

He opened the door, blindly grabbed his glasses. "Hey, sorry to bust in on you, but I forgot my glasses, and I kind of need them to exist, so-" Buck wiped the steam from his glasses as he spoke.

"Hm?" He heard Heart Song murmur in surprise.

Buck had gone stock still.

He saw her.

She was like venus rising from the ocean. She was truly the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen; that hadn't changed. Her hair reached down to her ankles. Her hair. It was kinky and curly and wavy at the same time. It shined like the wings of a fucking monarch butterfly. Orange.

Orange? Wait.

Buck remembered. He remembered tasting blood in his mouth after getting into a fistfight in the middle of Canterlot High's music room. He remembered being booted out of a talent competition. He remembered being part of a loud crowd and seeing an unbelievable spectacle.

Three gorgeous girls in an epic battle with the seven Rainbooms.

Sirens.

That's what they all said, after. Sirens; powerful enough to charm the entire school and drain them of their life energy. He had almost fucking died in a mosh pit because of these things, and their leader, the one he'd hyperfixated on for a whole week after, the one that called the shots? She was standing right in front of him. She looked exactly the same as she had looked then. Petite and curvy and powerful.

Adagio Dazzle. Leader of the Dazzlings. A Siren. Her magenta eyes were wide with shock.

She opened her mouth to speak.

Buck bolted.

Adagio waddled into her pajamas on the bathroom floor as quickly as possible. This was not the first time she'd had to scramble into a cute outfit and then get sprinting. Her thoughts were slow and calm. They were always this way during a crisis.

How long had it been since the last time she'd been caught? Not since the Battle of the Bands surely, and not since 1826 before then. The Dazzlings had been pirates, then. Good times. These thoughts floated through Adagio's head as she ran for the door. She heard the sound of the elevator dinging. She ran into the hallway and saw that the elevator was coming up. Adagio gritted her teeth.

His escape was cut off, but he was going to run the corridor to get away from her. Likely look for a fire escape. He'd be able to run a circuit of the hallways and catch the elevator. That had to be his plan. Clever boy. Or perhaps he was just panicking. She heard Buck stumble and slap the wall as he rounded a corner. Her senses were sharper than they'd had been for months. She smelled his sweat, and she tasted his fear.

Fear. It was salty and supple like a raw steak. It made her drool. Adagio smirked and wiped her mouth. She ran in the opposite direction that Buck went.

"Shit, shit, Shit SHIT!" Buck muttered. The damn elevator hadn't been there. He'd pounded on the button, but this place was so fucking huge it would take a while for it to get up here. What fucking floor was this, even? He cursed himself for not paying attention last night.

Wait, no, his head was full of fuck at the time, he couldn't be mad about that, it was her. She had-"FUCK!" Buck slipped on a puddle on the floor. He skidded and smacked into the water fountain, which was currently pissing a deluge of water onto the carpet around it. Buck almost hit the carpet face first but scrambled on all fours for a second before he continued hauling ass down the hall.

Wait, wait, this is the same place where Sunburst lived! Buck thought Sunburst lived a bit lower down in the building, which really meant that he had to get into that fucking elevator. Or the stairs, whichever came first. Just as Buck considered this, he heard a sound like a reciprocator turning on and was immediately pelted in the face by something cold and wet. The ice machine was going fucking nuts, spewing a scattershot of ice cubes at him.

"What the fuck is wrong with the water features in this place!?" Buck grumbled. The ice machine spat at him. Buck stopped to kick it, seemed to remember himself, and started running around the corner. And there she was. She was strolling down the corridor in his direction, having just passed the staircase in her adorable pajamas. She was still wet from the bath, and her hair dripped water onto the floor. Adagio smiled a shark's smile at him as she caught his eye. Her arms were outstretched. Her eyes were red.

"Buuuuck~Where are you going, Buck~?" Adagio sang. Her voice was fucking gorgeous, Buck thought. Without thinking, he had begun to walk towards her, but then turned on his heels and ran the other way.

"Nopenopenopenopenope!" Buck simpered. Where the fuck were the stairs? Shit, shit! She was in front of them. Fuck, if he ran this way, she'd just turn around and block off the stairs. If he, shit, shit shit, if he ran for the elevator, she'd get there before him. Why the fuck had he run to the LEFT when he got out of her suite? Was he fucking stupid!? No, he wasn't, exactly, but what he was about to do certainly Was.

Buck spun again before he hit the water fountain. Fuck, his socks were wet, he hated that! He dashed straight at Adagio, catching her off guard. Her pupils dilated and she tensed her body as if to pounce. He could see her nipples through her pajamas. Adagio grinned as if sensing his distraction. Buck let out a deep breath. He stopped and held his arms out. "Nowhere...I'm not going nowhere."

Adagio surged forward like a torpedo. Time slowed. She looked like she meant to tear out Buck's throat, but midway through the pounce, Adagio's face changed for just a moment. A flicker of a frown. And then Buck ducked and caught her and used her momentum to flip her over his head and behind him. There was a loud thud as Adagio connected with what Buck assumed was wall. He was too busy running to check. He slammed through the door to the stairs and then started tearing down them, two steps at a time.

It was a spiral staircase, of course it fucking was, just slow me down while Jaws back there catches up, he thought. Buck could hear her feet slapping on the stairs, up and behind him. Then the sound stopped, and what seemed like a whole bucketful of water rained down on him. Buck instantly slipped and nearly tumbled down a few flights, saved only by catching the railing in one hand.

Buck spluttered and looked up to see Adagio, hand outstretched in his direction, standing on the guard rail. She seemed somehow wetter than before, drops running down her chest and soaking through her pajamas. I'd be hard as fuck if this wasn't so terrifying, Buck thought. He scrambled to pick himself up and keep bounding down the stairs, but his feet kept slipping. Buck swore under his breath as Adagio leapt down, landing perfectly in front of him with a wet slap.

Despite the incline, she was motionless as a gargoyle on the railing. Her blood-red eyes blinked. She was incredibly close. She looked Buck over for a moment.

"Buck?" She said. It was almost innocent. Buck blushed, then started running again. Adagio tried to slash him with her nails but Buck was too quick. He had run down a couple of stories while Adagio had bounded on the railing with the sureness and grace of a gymnast.

Floor 7. Sunburst's floor.

He had a chance. Buck hustled through the door and shut it behind him, managing to catch Adagio with it before she could nab him. He heard her snarl in a disturbingly melodic tone. He scrambled down the hallway. His lungs were burning. He ran around the corner and stopped, panting.

"Wait, shit, if I get Sunburst, she'll just kill him, too! Fuck, fuck, fuck! But, but at least we'll have a shot if there's two of us, right?" He covered his mouth as he heard Adagio enter the hallway.

"Buuuck~...Buuuck~ Don't run away, Buck...come here...let me talk to you, reeeeaaaal close..." Adagio's voice started up in alto and then took a deranged leap into a near baritone growl. Her voice was getting closer. "There's no use in hiiiiding...I can smell your FEAR, BUCK~!" Adagio shrieked. Her feet pattered wetly as she dashed. Buck was already around the other corner by the time Adagio came around the one he'd been hiding at. He was pounding on a door.

"SUNBURST! SUNBURST FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK OPEN UP!!!" Buck screamed.

Inside Sunbursts' suit, a sneaker bounced with a foot at the end of a long, feminine leg crossed over another. The laptop that was bouncing on the knee was showing a Stevie Nicks music video. A pair of headphones sat on a nodding head. No help. Buck looked right and saw certain death in wet pajamas strolling toward him. He looked left and saw a dead end.

He looked around and saw doors and plate glass windows. Could he fight, maybe? No, she had daggers for teeth, she'd rip his throat out, probably. Could he reason with her? She'd hypnotize him or some shit. Couldn't split, either. Nowhere to run. He backed up slowly as Adagio crept toward him. She wasn't smiling anymore. Her red eyes were wide.

"Buuuuuck~ Come here, Buck...don't run, Buck...let me taste you, Buck." She said. It was high and unearthly and it sounded far away. Her hair was floating around her head, rippling as if she were underwater. The water she was dripping to the floor rose and floated around her gorgeous body. She held her arms out again. She was soft. Her eyes. Fuck, her eyes.

"Well...if I'm going to die today, at least I'll be killed by the most gorgeous woman in the world." Buck said. He chuckled. Mom was right. He closed his eyes. Adagio tilted her head. She blushed. She blinked. Her eyes were magenta, again. She reached out. Her hands brushed Buck's face. He shuddered.

Adagio's gaze drifted down Buck's body.

She giggled, then chuckled, then began laughing. It was not maniacal; it was hysterical. Buck winced, then opened an eye and looked at her. Adagio had thrown her head back in a horse laugh, her teeth and gums showing as her body shook with laughter.

"Hahahhah! I, I cannot BELIEVE that you have an erection right now!" Adagio said between laughing fits. There were tears rolling down her face. Buck began to chuckle, awkwardly.

"Ah..heh heh hehhehh..." Then he heard a creak, then saw the door to Sunburst's suite turn in.

"Hey, can you guys keep it down?" It wasn't Sunburst's voice unless he'd become a girl recently. A girl with legs for days and dark purple hair and a slightly tacky beanie. Her skin was an exceedingly pale lavender color, and her scowl spoke volumes. "You're REALLY loud. What the hell is so funny?" Buck and Adagio looked back at the woman, then at each other.

"That's...Sunburst's suite. Who're you?" Buck said. Adagio had moved to hide behind him. Probably because she was soaking wet and her nipples were bleeding through her top. Also, she'd been trying to kill him.

"Uh, I'm Starlight Glimmer. Sunburst's girlfriend?"

"Oh. OOOOHH! Oh, shit, is that right?" Buck grinned. He walked forward and offered his hand to shake. "Hey, I'm Buck! It's nice to finally meet you! Sunburst probably mentioned me; he's my best friend." Starlight kept her arms crossed. Buck noticed she was a bit taller than him.

"Uh-huh. Well, Buck, why is your girl there howling with laughter outside my door?"

"Oh uh-" Buck looked back at Adagio. She was twiddling her thumbs, looking like she was about to melt into a puddle on the floor. "Well, uh, we were looking for the water fountain, and then it malfunctioned. She was just having a laugh at uh...at uh how wet we got. Pretty silly stuff." Buck bullshitted. Starlight raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, you look more stupid than funny right now, but whatever gets your goat. Could you keep it down?"

"...yeah. Say, how's Sunburst doing this week? I'm not going to see him until Tuesday." Buck said. He started trying to make small talk while Starlight sandbagged him. After a few seconds, Starlight happened to catch sight of Adagio while rolling her eyes. Those eyes narrowed as she pushed Buck aside.

"Oh. I get it, now. It's You. Adagio Dazzle." Starlight said. Adagio stopped trying to hide and stood up straight, raising her chin with defiance.

"Yes. It's Me. Lovely to see you again. Bitch."

Adagio remembered Starlight Glimmer the way you remember a bee that stung you a few years ago. She'd stalked the Dazzlings during their comeback tour for a while, then started asking interview questions to Aria, who in turn that night had broken the uppity cunt's leg. It was hilarious in the moment, but the woman had proven capable of following them and sussing out their hiding spots even across state lines. She was stupid and likely quite dangerous. And now, Adagio was alone.

"Do...do y'all know each other?" Buck said. Starlight looked at him, half worried and half annoyed. Adagio groaned.

"Yes, Buck, we're acquainted. She's a bitchy friend of my sister's." She said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah, I know this one well enough to tell you that she's dangerous, and you should get away from her." Starlight said. Adagio saw Buck raise a finger; she could taste him prepping a sarcastic retort. He tasted of salt. Then it melted away, and Adagio felt herself blush. Love. She tasted a little drop of chocolatey love.

"Yeah, I've figured that much out, uh, Starlight, right?"

"That is my name. The one I just told you, yes."

"Uh-huh. Well, look, Adagio? She's fine. I'm fine. A little wet from the water fountain, but fine." Buck said.

"Did you sabotage the fountain with your freaky fish magic?" Starlight glared daggers at Adagio.

"She didn't do nothin', lady. No need to worry. It's fine. She's fine." Adagio said nothing. It took everything she had to not look shocked. What was he doing? What was Starlight planning to do?

"Is that so? And you're not being mind-controlled right now?"

"Do I look like I'm being mind-controlled?" Buck said, spinning a finger next to his head.

"No, you mostly just look like an idiot."

"Hah, well I get that a lot."

"I bet. Listen, Adagio? If I find out you're out here causing trouble-"

"You'll What? Hobble after me? How's the knee, by the way, Starlight? Tender?" Starlight looked like she was about to throw a punch, then thought better of it. Buck took a measured step between the two women.

"What I will do is call the Rainbooms and tell them that a dangerous magical entity is still prowling around Canterlot, likely suckering in dumbasses and swallowing their souls."

"That's not even what I do. I don't 'swallow souls', I drain emotional energy and-" Adagio began.

"Wait, wait, wait! Starlight, you know Sunnybun and them?"

"...Yes, I do. Do you?" Starlight squinted at Buck. It was about the same look you'd give to your dog if it one day decided to beg for food in braille.

"Yeah! Have they never mentioned me?" Buck looked genuinely hurt for the briefest of seconds.

"No. You never came up."

"'kay, well, we go way back. I'm pals with 'em. Most of 'em. Dashies' kind of a douche." Buck said, flatly.

"Ah, so you do know them." Adagio muttered. She was doing her very best to not evaporate into an embarrassed mist. This situation was growing more complicated by the second.

"Okay, well, if I tell them that you're in danger of getting eaten by a succubus-"

"I am a SIREN."

"-by a BITCH who eats other peoples' feelings, and her own, judging by her waistline, they will come down here and handle the situation."

"Listen here, you slimy little panty stain, I am about two seconds away from ripping your smarmy little nipples off and--"

"WOAH HEY, Hey, well, let's not get all nasty, ladies! It's about time we head out. I'm all wet and it's cold in here, and look at Adagio, she's shivering! C'mon, lets go get toweled off, huh? You can go first." Buck said. He took Adagio by the hand and guided her quickly away from Starlight.

They were already a little ways down the hall when Starlight said; "Hey, wait, I'm not-"

"But we are. Take care~!" Adagio said. She took Buck by the arm, then winked at Starlight and stuck her tongue out. Starlight sneered, and Buck and Adagio turned the corner as she flipped them off.

Buck and Adagio had crested the stairs, gotten back to Adagio's floor. They were both cold, damp and confused; Adagio perhaps just a bit more on all fronts. Her hair was clinging to her skin, and she was dripping on the carpet. She hated being wet above water; it made her feel like a cat who fell in a pool.

"What in the name of Tartarus was that?" Adagio muttered under her breath.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing." Buck said. His hands were shaking.

"You defended me, back there."

"Oh shit, did I? My head was filled with thoughts on how my best friend is dating what in my estimation appears to be a total cunt. Also, a lotta adrenaline."

"...You still have a boner. Unbelievable."

"Did you see her legs?"

"Are you being funny, right now? What I'm trying to ask is why? Why did you defend me?"

Adagio fumbled for her keys, then stuck them into the lock to her suite.

"Well, I know what the Rainbooms can do to people."

"Do you know what I can do to people, Buck?" Adagio said. It was frank, conversational, like asking after the weather.

"...You were trying to kill me back there."

"I was trying to silence you. I wasn't going to kill you."

"Oh, well that's a relief."

"At most I would have drained you of your emotions, leaving you mindless and empty of all magical power or thoughts. Then, you wouldn't be able to tell anyone that you discovered a siren in their midst." Adagio stepped into her apartment. "But it doesn't matter now. That bitch is aware of my existence, so measures have to be taken--" She looked behind her.

In the place of Buck was the sound of his feet running down the hall, followed by the elevator dinging. Adagio blinked once, twice, then ran a hand through her hair. "Well, I'm going to get dry, anyway." She murmured.

Author's Note

Song Review: In my head, the score to the original Nightmare On Elm Street is playing during the chase. Maneater was chosen as a title after the fact, for it's on the nose representation of the events of this chapter. It's a fun little toe-tapper about an independent woman being spoken of like a femme fatale. A beast of the streets, striding through the dark of the city like a panther on the prowl. Perfect for describing Adagio on the hunt. The song embellishes the idea of a heartbreaker and casts her in both an intimidating and sexual context.
Drafting this chapter made me ache for an 80's slasher movie about a killer siren going after playboys in neon-soaked New York. Adagio is the perfect archetype for that kind of character.