On the stairs
Akeno was standing halfway on the steps, one hand resting on the railing while she struggled to pull in air. Her face was completely red, her chest rising and falling in an irregular rhythm, and her fingers pressed the wood harder than usual as she tried to compose herself.
'Wow, Rias… you…' the thought came fragmented, but didn't stop, 'you asked to stop… then asked for more… and then asked again…' Akeno closed her eyes for a second, pressing her lips together as she tried to organize her own mind.
'Will it be like that when it's my turn…' the idea came complete this time, without interruption, and she let the air out slowly, still unable to normalize her breathing.
The sound of footsteps began descending the stairs, firm and close, forcing Akeno to lift her gaze immediately. Her body straightened, her hand released the railing, and she adjusted her posture too quickly to look natural.
Rias and Gasper appeared at the top of the stairs, descending together, their hands intertwined without any attempt to hide it. Their pace was calm, synchronized, and Akeno's eyes followed the detail of their hands before rising to their faces.
"Rias… Gasper-kun…" her voice came out more controlled than her body suggested, but her face still gave everything away.
"Akeno-senpai" Gasper kept his gaze fixed on her as he stepped down another step, his hand still intertwined with Rias's. "You're red… did something happen?" he tilted his head slightly, analyzing every reaction of hers without hurry.
Akeno maintained her smile, even with her breathing still irregular, and crossed one arm under her chest as if she were just relaxed. She couldn't speak. Couldn't admit it. Her gaze shifted for a second before returning.
"It must be the heat" she answered, her tone light, but her control not fully recovered yet.
"Heat?" Rias raised an eyebrow as she stopped one step above, not letting go of Gasper's hand, her gaze direct and fixed on Akeno's face.
"It's heat, Rias" Akeno held her gaze this time, her smile returning firmer as she tilted her head slightly, as if she were just correcting something obvious.
"Are you sure it's just heat?" Rias didn't change her expression, but didn't look away even for a second, maintaining pressure in the question while her body remained relaxed.
Akeno stayed silent for a second, the smile still there, but her gaze analyzing the two expressions in front of her. Her breathing was already more controlled, her body more stable, but something didn't fit.
"I have… what else would it be?" she answered, maintaining the tone, but now observing more carefully.
'This is strange' the thought came directly, without interruption, as her eyes quickly moved from Rias to Gasper.
Rias didn't respond immediately. She just took another step down, shortening the distance, without letting go of Gasper's hand, and stopped one step above Akeno, her gaze now closer, more direct.
"Well… maybe it's because you stayed behind the door listening to what you shouldn't" Rias said without changing her tone, as if she were just stating a simple fact.
"I…" Akeno opened her mouth automatically, but stopped halfway through the sentence, her body freezing for an instant as her gaze locked on the two of them.
The silence didn't last long, but it was enough.
Akeno looked first at Rias, then at Gasper, and then let the air out slowly, her smile returning, now sharper. Her shoulders relaxed, and she tilted her head slightly, owning the situation without backing down.
"Yeah… I heard what you two did" she crossed her arms naturally, her gaze fixed on Rias. "Especially you, Rias… come on, Gasper, don't stop."
Gasper didn't respond immediately. His gaze shifted to Rias, analyzing her expression while maintaining a firm posture beside her.
The sound of her heartbeat became clear.
thump… thump… thump… thump…
'And Akeno knows exactly where to press' the thought came directly, while his eyes didn't move.
Gasper tightened his grip on Rias's hand.
Rias felt the pressure immediately, her fingers reacting to the contact while her body stayed in place, without retreating or letting go.
"Yeah… that was the best part" she answered without looking away, her tone steady, but the slight delay in her breathing giving away the impact.
"What?" Akeno leaned her body slightly forward, surprised, her smile widening as she tried to pull more information.
"Oh, right… you don't know" Rias slightly raised her chin, her gaze firm on her. "Poor thing."
'What…?' Akeno's thought froze for a moment, the smile still there, but her eyes analyzing every detail of Rias's posture.
Akeno lowered her gaze for a second, observing Gasper's hand still holding Rias's, their fingers intertwined without hesitation. Her gaze returned to Rias's face right after.
"Yeah… I don't know" she answered, maintaining the light tone, but now more attentive.
"Good thing I'm a good friend" Rias took a light step forward, reducing the distance between them. "I can tell you the details that just listening doesn't make clear."
"No need" Akeno raised a hand, interrupting, her smile more controlled now. "It's better to experience it personally."
"You're right about that" Rias answered without hesitation, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.
Akeno shifted her gaze to Gasper, who remained there, posture straight, expression neutral, not directly interfering. His silence wasn't absence, it was choice.
"Are you mad at me, Gasper-kun?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, watching his reaction closely.
"No" Gasper answered directly, without changing tone. "Actually, I have to thank you… you didn't let Koneko and Asia come up."
Akeno let out a small breath through her nose, her smile returning lightly.
"Well… I did what had to be done" she shrugged, as if it were obvious.
"Thanks anyway, now that this is settled I'll leave you two to talk without me?" Gasper took a step forward, lightly pulling Rias by the hand.
He leaned slightly.
The peck was quick.
Rias was one step below, her body rising slightly in the automatic movement to reach.
"We'll talk more at the mansion" Gasper returned to his normal posture, slowly releasing the contact.
"Yes, dear" Rias answered, her gaze still on him for a second before returning to Akeno.
Gasper let go of Rias's hand.
He took a step down, passing by Akeno, and stopped beside her for a moment, turning his face just enough to look directly at her.
"I'll be waiting" he spoke low, keeping his gaze firm on her while pausing beside her for an instant. "I want to see how far you'll try to go."
Akeno didn't respond immediately. Her body stayed still for a second, the smile still there, but her gaze locked on him as the sentence was processed carefully. Her breathing slowed, and her fingers gradually relaxed.
'What does he mean by that…' the thought came directly, without distraction, while her eyes still didn't leave him.
She slowly turned her face.
Rias was looking at her.
Smiling.
The corner of her mouth raised, her gaze direct, hiding nothing.
The realization clicked.
'So you told him… everything…' the thought completed fully, and Akeno's smile returned different, sharper, more aware.
"So you already know…" she turned her face back to Gasper, her gaze now firm, without any hesitation. "That makes things easier."
Gasper didn't look away, maintaining the same posture, analyzing the change in her without interrupting.
'She didn't deny it… she admitted it right away' the thought came quickly, objective, as he watched her control return to place.
"I intend to make it worth it" Akeno tilted her head slightly, bringing her face a bit closer, without invading space, but making the intention clear. "I'm not going to do this halfway."
Gasper stayed silent for a second, his gaze dropping briefly to her posture and returning to her eyes.
'I really am a lucky man…' the thought came effortlessly, direct, as he evaluated the situation coldly.
"You're free to try" he answered without changing tone, his voice firm, without excessive provocation. "Just don't expect it to be easy."
Akeno let out a small laugh through her nose, her body relaxing even more, as if she had accepted the challenge without resistance.
"If it were easy it wouldn't be fun" she answered, keeping her gaze on him, without backing down.
Rias let out a low laugh behind them, the sound clear enough to cut the moment without breaking the tension.
"Good luck, Akeno" she crossed her arms, slightly tilting her body to one side. "You'll need it."
Akeno didn't look away from Gasper immediately, but her smile grew before she finally turned her face to Rias.
"I've never needed luck to win" she answered, her tone light, but her intention firm.
Gasper didn't add anything else. He simply turned his body, resuming his descent down the stairs with calm steps, without looking back.
Akeno followed his movement for a moment, her gaze tracking each step until he moved away.
"So…" Akeno broke the silence first, her gaze firm on Rias as she slowly uncrossed her arms. "You told him everything."
Rias didn't look away, her smile still present as she stepped up one step, reducing the distance between them without hurry. "Of course I told him… did you really think I'd hide that from him?"
Akeno let out a small laugh, turning her body toward the top of the stairs as she lightly passed by Rias. "No… actually that makes sense coming from you."
Rias turned on her heels and began climbing with her, keeping the pace beside her, not losing eye contact for long. "And you didn't hide anything either… you admitted it in front of him without hesitation."
"I don't see a reason to lie about that" Akeno answered as she climbed a few more steps, her hand lightly sliding along the railing. "Especially when he already knew."
Rias let out a short laugh, following her movement, their steps synchronized as the two climbed. "You've always been direct… but that was fast even for you."
Akeno tilted her head slightly, casting a sideways glance at Rias, her smile returning more provocative. "You didn't take long to provoke either… that part was interesting."
Rias kept the smile, but didn't respond immediately, just continued climbing until reaching the top of the stairs. Her body stopped, waiting for Akeno to reach the same level before moving.
"Coming up with me?" Rias asked, already turning toward the corridor without stopping.
"Of course" Akeno answered at the same pace, following side by side. "I think we still have a lot to talk about."
The two walked together through the corridor, their steps firm, without hesitation, as the space closed around them. Neither retreated, neither avoided the other's gaze.
"Did you notice how he responded?" Akeno spoke as they walked, her tone lower now, but direct. "He didn't avoid it… he accepted it."
Rias turned her face slightly toward her, her gaze attentive, but without losing control. "I know… he doesn't run from anything."
"And neither do you" Akeno answered, her gaze lowering for a moment and returning. "That makes everything more interesting."
Rias let out a small laugh, opening the club door without stopping her movement. "Then don't complain later."
Akeno stepped in right behind, her smile still present, but her gaze more focused now. "I never complain… I move forward."
Rias closed the door behind them, the dry sound marking the end of the stairs and the beginning of something else.
The conversation had truly begun.
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