On Break.

“That’s not what I meant short-stack,” said Erica.

Erica stood at one of the city's overhead lookouts. Nearly a hundred yards below was the market square. The people moved like a sea of colors moving and changing as the lamps slowly began to glow. The sound of the people was so loud it nearly drowned out the festive music. Her friend Reggie had arrived a few moments earlier. Sitting on the walls ledge barely wearing anything to cover their body. He just left work a few minutes ago. Likely cutting through the Red District to arrive so early. They kept looking away from each other. It was rare to have a conversation that felt, serious.

“I'm a damn Incubus,” replied Reggie.

Ok, thought Erica, jumping right in the manticore hole.

Reggie stood, his slender body leaning over at the market below. Long blonde and silver hair reaching down to their lower back. Tight stockings pressing against his cheeks to show how smooth and tight his ass was today. “Tight little Boi-pussy” as Erica always called it. The high laced shoes reached to his knees. Reggie turned around showing off their pierced pointed ears. Makeup of green and blue decorative for the festivities today. What surprised Erica was the outfit.

“Is that a one piece suit covering your tits and balls? You never dress up for me,” said Erica. Her eyes growing larger.

“Don't you dare lump me in with your goblin fantasies,” said Reggie .

“Then don't appear to me like one with a collar around your neck,” replied Erica. She brushed her hand across his shoulder.

Reggie immediately moved away. “Don't touch me?”

Seriously? Again? An Incubus who doesn't like physical attachment, thought Erica. “Sorry.” Erica took a step back.

There was a silence between the two. Erica heard the sound of the people below. The music grew louder while they stood. It was a few minutes before realizing Reggie was mentioning how many stars they had counted. Erica only smiled returning their focus to the crowd.

“I'm sorry,” said Erica

Reggie moved to Erica and hugged her. “Me too,” said Reggie .

“You're actually hugging me?”

“Shut up.”

After a few seconds Reggie let go and stepped away looking to the sky. He talked about the stars and constellations in the night sky. The very memories they may hold through time itself watching over us. The very planets and moons the circled their own stars. Erica smiled as Reggie went on about their solar system.

Solar Reggie , thought Erica. “That doesn't sound right,” she whispered.

Erica could hear Reggie's voice. The silky seductive voice that normally hooked clients quicker than a bee to sugar. They described certain clients that pleased them. Certain boundaries Reggie thought they never would cross, only to get a scolding by Erica every so often. The regulars and some of the new faces that began to come through. Erica began to be lost in her own mind. The wonder and possibilities of the future always occurred to her. More often than they liked. She began to wonder about her own life. Her future and what it could hold.

“Fuck,” said Erica.

“What?” Reggie asked looking down at Erica. “Is everything alright?” Silence. Reggie hated the silence. It only scared him. Why should there be silence between two people? “What the hell is wro-”

“I'm going to leave,” said Erica.

Silence once again. Reggie rolled their eyes. “Fine. Bye then.”

“I'm not going to be a part of your life anymore.”

Reggie turned. “What?”

“I'm leaving. Honestly I kept wondering why you even wanted me around. Coming here most nights just so you can have someone to talk to. Just wait during your breaks and tell me to wait for you.” Erica turned smiling. The tears showed something else entirely. “And yet I still show up. So what's wrong with me?”

Reggie opened his mouth. A word. Any word to be said that could help move this along. Just to end it.

Erica just nodded. “Right.” They turned heading towards a back alley.

“I'll never forgive you.”

Erica stopped. Their right foot in mid-air throwing their balance off and making them trip forward. Erica stopped, stood up and held their pose. Back straight as though nothing happened.

Reggie almost laughed. “Damn you. Damn you. Do you think I care? Go ahead. Just fucking leave.”

Erica walked into the alley.

Reggie smiled. The smile suddenly disappeared after a moment. Staring at that dark alley. He didn't cry. Why would it have mattered? Another person to come and go in their life. Why would one person matter? Not a lover. Not a high-elf? Just another person that was passing through their life. Why did they matter? He waited only for a moment.

“Why does this feel so different? Why does this,” Reggie pressed a finger to their cheek. The cool streak of a tear nearly smeared the makeup, “hurt? He took a deep breath. Friends come and go. Loyalty and trust is what holds the bond.

A large hand gripped his shoulder. Reggie shuddered, playing it off as though the air was cold. His shoulders became stiff giving off their fright. It only made the hand tighten.

“O’ fuck-boy,” growled the man, “you coming back in or am I dragging you back?”

Reggie straightened up. He touched his cheeks, wiping the tears and giving a nice slap to each cheek before turning around and smacking the half-orc.

“Damnit Glorbo,” Reggie smacked the half-orc again on his arm. “Keeping breaking the rules and I swear I'll have them chop that thing not even big enough to tee a quails egg.”

Glorbo stood back rubbing his cheek and looking scared. “Sorry Reg, I jus-”

“All play inside the club you idiot. It's a fucking three block rule you asshole! What you did, I should call the fuckin guards on you!”

“Fuck,” said Glorbo stepping back. “What the hell is wrong with you? I just wanted to finish the time. I'll go find Abigail or someone then.”

Glorbo walked away to the brothel's side door. A very loud mumble of whether he should demand a refund before entering.

“My friend's gone,” whispered Reggie. He waited a few minutes. Finishing his break before going back inside. A quick flash from the grass focused their attention to the ground. “What the hell-”

The side door slammed open. A dwarf peered outside looking around the alley. “Reg, break is over. Let's go.”

“Right,” said Reggie, “I think I saw something boss.”

The dwarf snapped their fingers. Reggie arms lifted. A glow of chains surrounded their wrists pulling them towards the dwarf.

“Now,” yelled the boss, “I ain't giving Glorbo a fuckin refund.” Reggie walked to the building, reminding to come back in the morning. The boss held their hand up. “He really touched you out here?”

Reggie just waved it off. “I know how he gets if there's a forced intermission. I can handle him.”

“Rules are rules. You know we don't accept that shit. Your call?”

Reggie looked back to the alley just hoping, almost wanting, Erica to be standing there. “Not tonight. I just wanna finish up work.”

The boss just laughed. “Alright,” he smacked Reggie's ass, “now hurry up and go fuck em’.”

NEXT DAY.

Reggie opened the alleyway door. Their makeup, not even on. Hair still in a bun. The coffee was the only warm thing they could feel as they held it close to their chest. Now where the hell-

“-did I fucking drop that thing. Last night…fuck, that went sideways.”

Reggie looked up to see Erica looking around the very spot he saw t

he sparkle. Starlight's falling from Erica's cheek. Reggie only stood there, coffee in hand. Staring.