LEVEL 2

PLAYER ONE: REMY

Death metal screamed through my earbuds as I inspected my twin the next few days. Each day that passed, he blended his chalky protein shake at five in the morning and went for a run before his first class. Occasionally, I’d see him texting, and my blood would boil, wondering if he was texting Fauna. Night would come, and he would game until ten. We’d pass each other by, nod, trade off, and I would game until the early hours of the morning.

He never mentioned anything.

I should have felt guilt, something, anything, but instead, I only felt accomplishment—and a heavy desire for more of her. Her name was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to ask him about her, get him to say something—anything about his new girlfriend. But if I did, he’d suspect something was up. We never talked like that. Even growing up, our parents would be batshit screaming and fighting in the next room. Trev and I wouldn’t so much as flinch as I’d pass him a controller, and we’d slip on our headphones to disappear into fantasy worlds or shooter games, even thievery and racing sometimes. In the dark of our shared room, no words were needed, really.

That same pattern continued when we moved out into an apartment together. Trevor went to college on a soccer scholarship, and I became Swiss cheese at my tattoo and piercing apprenticeship. Two siblings: one a star athlete and aspiring physical therapist, the other aspiring to ink every inch of their body before eventually blacking the designs out like some sadist chasing the pain.

You can take a wild guess at which twin our parents were the most proud of.

My phone buzzed as I cleaned the shop after my shift, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was jumpy, on edge. Chewing on my lip ring, I pulled up a text from Mary Jane. Oh, Mary Jane. The woman I instantly forgot about if I wasn’t with her, asking me over for a drink. I might have chuckled if my mind wasn’t fixated on some little princess with a breathy moan… Mary Jane was older than me by a good ten years. A little old fashioned—I mean, just text and ask if I’m good to hookup. No need to disguise the request with liquor. Outdated methods aside, she was decent company, adequate sex, and I guessed she’d double as a distraction tonight.

Maybe that’s all I needed—to get laid. Maybe that would shift my thoughts to someone, something, anything other than my brother’s girlfriend.

It was raining on my ride home, my skateboard’s wheels slick on the sidewalk, a slippery reminder I needed to sand them for better traction. But I was a good skater, and the ride was quick. A girl stood outside the concrete building, holding a purse over her head as the rain beat down, soaking her miniskirt and thigh-high socks. Dear God, thigh-high socks were my weakness. I stopped beside her, and she looked over and up at me, hitting me like a bolt of lightning.

Her fuchsia lips parted, and she squeaked a soft, “Hi.”

I cleared my throat, now suddenly aware I was drenched too, my shoulder length black hair a wet mess, my ripped jeans and Korn t-shirt weighing on me, making me look like some sewer rat, as Fauna herself stared up at me with big green eyes. “You—you must be Remy. We haven’t officially met. I’m Fauna.”

I nodded like an idiot and punched in the door code. We haven’t officially met, but I’ve already cyber fucked you .

“Didn’t he give you the door code?”

“We’ve always just come back to his place together. Maybe he forgot we have a date tonight.” She shrugged as we sloshed into the foyer of the apartment building.

“How could anyone forget they have a date with you?” I asked. Her cheeks flushed, and I felt a rush of heat to my core before running a hand through my wet hair. “Come on, you’re all wet.”

Fucking hell, so was I—and not from the storm.

We stepped into the elevator, and I suddenly forgot my floor, my room number, my goddamn name. As the doors shut, there was a long, awkward pause before she reached in front of me, her breast slightly grazing my elbow as she hit the button to the fourth floor. I tapped a nervous beat against my bag.

“Drums?” she asked curiously.

I looked over in surprise. “Yeah, I play. How’d you know?”

“Only drummers beat against things like that.”

“You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

She shrugged a delicate shoulder, her light pink and blonde hair a grey shade from the rain. “I can be.”

I opened my mouth to flirt—I mean, respond—but the elevator door beeped open. Once we were in the apartment, she stood at the door, timidly looking around. “I guess Trevor’s not home yet?”

“Yeah, who knows.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I can give you some of my clothes and throw yours in the dryer.” I busied myself with finding her a towel, my Sleep Token T-shirt, and a pair of black sweats. My brother’s girlfriend, whom I had a huge fucking crush on, was alone with me in my apartment. I’d behave.

When I walked out, she was standing in my living room, wearing only her white bra and panties.

I’d try to behave. I’d attempt to behave.

My mouth dropped as she tossed me her wet clothes. “You look and sound just like Trevor,” she said casually, as if she wasn’t half-naked. “But, like, the night mode version.”

A chuckle rumbled through me. “We can’t all be jocks or little bubblegum princesses.”

She narrowed her gaze slightly as I passed her the towel and clothes. “I like your piercings and tattoos.”

“I like your dimples and freckles.” Ah fuck, I was not behaving. I took a step forward, taking my shirt from her hands and bundling it up. Raising an eyebrow, I put it around the top of her head, and, fuck me, she lifted her arms, letting me dress her. Just as I pulled the collar down slowly over her chin, both of us breathing a little heavier—the door rattled.

Trevor dumped his duffle bag on the ground. “Fucking pouring out there—” He paused, passing us a glance before looking back to Fauna with surprise. “You’re…here?”

“You said you’d take me to see Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s playing at the dollar cinema, remember?”

Trevor scratched his stubbled chin. “Sure, I guess. I mean, I’m tired, but whatever. Let me grab a shower.”

Fauna’s beautiful face fell, and I had an overwhelming urge to punch my brother in his chiseled face. Sure, I wanted her, but that didn’t mean I wanted him to treat her poorly. This vision, this perfect cottage core angel-wearing-my-clothes, slumped onto the couch, pulled out her phone, and started scrolling.

Joining my twin in the kitchen I leaned against the counter and raised an eyebrow as he refilled his water bottle. “What?” he barked.

“If you don’t like her, just break up with her.”

“The fuck do you care?” he snapped. “Stay out of it.”

“Forgetting she exists, treating her like shit—it isn’t okay,” I challenged as he glared at me, straightening his backward baseball cap.

A knock sounded on the door, then another. Rolling his eyes, Trevor spun around and opened it before shooting me a cat-with-the-canary grin. “Oh, Remy, your girlfriend is here.”

Panic flooded my system, and Fauna looked up from her scrolling. Mary Jane clipped in, high heels and legs to the heavens, straightening her blazer. “You’re not dressed… You’re all wet,” she said by way of greeting.

“Aw, did you forget your date, Remy?” Trevor said in that exaggerated mocking tone only siblings could do. My blood boiled as I bit down on my lip ring. “Hi, I’m the hot and charming twin.” Trevor grinned at Mary Jane, kissing her hand. I tensed my jaw, looking to Fauna, who rolled her eyes and passed me a small glance.

My elbow not-so-accidentally knocked my brother’s water bottle off the counter. “Hey, Mary Jane. How do you feel about Miazaki movies?”

“Is that a genre or…”

“I’ll show you. Let’s go see Kiki’s Delivery Service; the dollar theater has a cocktail bar.” I smiled in Trevor’s direction, and he crossed his arms. “I love anime, actually. Big fan.” That addition really pissed him off, and that warmed my heart, especially when Fauna giggled behind me.

“Sounds great. Double date.” He took off his hat, and we both retreated to our showers, leaving our girls to themselves—leaving my girl—wait. Fuck.

Pinkie Pie Princess’ clothes dried, and by the time I got out, she was changed. Honestly, I was a little disappointed, because I liked seeing her in my shirt. Seeing her in her little bra and panties wasn’t too bad either…

Too bad I was locked into a double date with my situationship, my crush, and my brother.

We all stood under the apartment building’s awning as the rain poured.

Trevor asked, “How are we getting to the movie theater? Our car is in the shop.”

“Yeah, because you wrecked it,” I added, crossing my arms and trying not to stare at Fauna. She’d pulled her hair up in a messy bun, and little pieces of pink and blonde framed her sweet, freckled cheeks. God damn.

Mary Jane checked her wristwatch. “My car still has the car seats in the back.”

“You have kids?” I asked. Trevor snickered at my ignorance, and I elbowed him in the ribs. “I mean, kids , yeah, love them.”

Mary Jane rolled her eyes at me and smiled slightly. “You said there’s liquor at this cinema, right?”

“There is,” Fauna answered. “We can take my car. It’s old. I usually drive my scooter, but it’s raining.”

Trevor led the way, shooting a smart-ass remark over his shoulder. “Or maybe we could take Remy’s super cool skateboard.”

My cheeks burned, and I vowed to accidentally erase his fifteen hours of saved game when we got home.

We were quite the mismatched crew, I realized, as we stood awkwardly at Fauna’s car. A jock, a business woman, a rosey fucking goddess, and a tatted up, pierced, devastatingly handsome person with a major crush on their brother’s girl. Fun times.

“I’m in heels,” Mary Jane complained, looking at the small backseat and then to me.

Fauna glanced at Trevor. “I don’t like driving in the rain.”

The princess complain train had left the station. Woo-woo.

“Trev, you drive. Mary Jane, take the passenger side. Me and Bubblegum will sit in the back.” Everyone took my orders, and Fauna giggled as she squeezed into the backseat with me.

“Bubblegum?” she asked in mock offense.

I smirked over at her. “Sorry, is that offensive? I meant to say Bubblegum Princess.”

“You look familiar,” Mary Jane said to Trevor.

He leaned back in his seat, driving with one arm, not paying the backseat any attention. Perfect.

“Well, Remy and I are twins,” he answered before considering. “Wait, how old are your kids?”

“Seven and nine. Why?”

“They play soccer?”

“Yes…”

They both laughed until Trevor looked in the rearview and explained, “I’m an assistant coach for the Blue Otters. Chloe and Max are cute kids.”

Mary Jane smiled and eased more into her seat. “They think you’re the best coach ever.”

“I am.” Trev winked. Was he flirting with her or just trying to piss me off? Either way, Fauna didn’t seem phased as she thumbed away at her phone.

Mary Jane and my brother fell into boring sports conversation, so I tapped my knee against Fauna’s. “Who ya texting?”

She blushed and darkened her screen. “No one, nosey.”

I chuckled and realized, to my horror, that I hadn’t stopped smiling since she arrived on my doorstep. God, I was truly fucked, wasn’t I?

We were late for the film but still managed to get tickets and make it to our seats in the empty theater. Somehow, it was Fauna, Trevor, Mary Jane, and me, all seated in a row. Far from Bubblegum, but I could still lean over and watch her expressions during the cute parts of the movie. It seemed like an anime she would like—a cute little witch on cute little adventures.

Mary Jane took my hand in hers, reminding me that she existed, and it took everything in me not to swat her away.

She leaned over and whispered, “It’s our first proper date.”

Yeah, that my idiot, asshole brother forced me into. He knew it too, shooting me a smirk as he overheard MJ’s declaration. Scratch that—when I got home, I was deleting thirty hours of his saved game. It didn’t want to date Mary Jane. That was never what it was for me with her.

I slid my hand out of my date’s hold and instead put my arm around her chair, flicking my twin off as I did so. Fauna got up and tip-toed out, and I watched after her, suddenly antsy. “I’ll get you a glass of wine. Pinot Grigio?” I offered.

Mary Jane’s red lips smiled. “You remembered my favorite. Yes, please.”

Actually, I hadn’t remembered anything, it was just a lucky guess, but I’d take the points anyway.

“Get me a bag of peanuts,” Trevor whisper-yelled after me.

“You are a goddamn bag of nuts,” I called back, to which he chuckled and leaned over to say something to Mary Jane.

Good. They were distracted, and I could find and casually bump into the runaway princess unicorn. She stood in the concessions line on her phone. White striped mini skirt, thigh high pink socks, tight little top covered in flowers; Fauna was so cute, I wanted to kick something.

Casually, I stood behind her and leaned down to murmur in her ear. “Craving something sweet?”

She let out a breath and turned, looking up at me with those big eyes. Her face flushed and she bit her lip. “It should be a crime to see a movie without popcorn and candy.”

“I agree. My brother is a doofus for not knowing that.”

Her little giggle warmed my chest, and she moved to stand close next to me. I bet my arm would fit perfectly around her. “You and Trevor couldn’t be more different. Ya know, even though you’re twins.”

“Add some disappointment to your tone, and you’d get along great with our parents— who heartily share that sentiment.” I nudged her arm, unable to keep from touching her in some way. The urge to be close to her was growing to an extreme level.

She huffed a laugh. “I hope to meet them someday and counteract that disappointment.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So you’re impressed by my charm and exquisite physique? Wonderful. Everything is going according to plan, then.”

“What plan is that?”

To seduce you and steal you from my brother.

The clerk interrupted my thought. “Next customer, please.”

Fauna fiddled with her heart-shaped wallet. “A big popcorn with butter and a bag of chocolate candies, please.”

I waved my knuckles against hers. “Add a blue raspberry slushy, pack of gummies, and a bag of peanuts to that, please.” I swiped my credit card through the machine.

“Thank you,” Fauna said, tucking her wallet back into her purse.

I looked down at her, liking the feeling of taking care of her. “You obviously need a slushy too, and more candy. It’s just common sense.”

We walked slowly back to the theater, her shoulder bumping into my arm as we walked. I wondered if the contact was on purpose or accident. As we took our seats, my brother and Mary Jane straightened, halting their hushed conversation.

“Wow, got enough junk food?” Trevor scoffed at Fauna, who sipped her slushy.

I reached over MJ with his bag of peanuts and whacked him in the face with them. “Buy her whatever snacks she wants next time. What kind of idiot forgets to get their girl concessions?”

“Where’s my wine?” Mary Jane asked.

Some little black cat made a snarky expression on the movie screen that my twin mirrored perfectly, opening his bag of nuts. “Yeah, Remy, where’s Mary Jane’s wine? What kind of idiot forgets that?” Luckily the theater was empty aside from us, because we were being loud.

He stood. “I’ll get it.”

Had my twin logged fifty hours of gameplay yet? I hoped so, because it was going bye-bye the moment we got back.

My situationship huffed and stood, smoothing her pencil skirt. “I need to call and check on the kids.”

My brother was an asshole, my date was annoyed, and I…had two empty seats between me and the girl I actually wanted. That was remedied quickly. I slid in beside Fauna and took a handful of popcorn.

“Want some slushy too?” She offered me her pink lipstick-coated straw.

I raised an eyebrow. “Absolutely.”

She grinned, watching me for a moment too long as her lipstick waxed from the straw to my lips, and blue sugary ice coated my tongue. I’d rather it be her coating my tongue.

We resumed watching the film, and thankfully, my brother and my forced date were taking their sweet time. I leaned over, taking advantage of our closeness and the quiet setting to whisper in her ear, letting the tendrils of her fallen hair tickle my nose. She smelt like strawberry cake. “This movie is sad.”

Fauna licked the coating off a sour gummy worm before plopping it into her mouth. Fuck me . “It’s not sad; it’s bittersweet.”

“Like us.” I let my hand casually brush her thigh as I reached for the bag of candy. “I’m bitter, you’re sweet.”

She huffed a cute laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”

“I’m really not,” I answered. “Not in general, anyway.”

Was I blatantly hitting on my brother’s girlfriend? Yes . Was it wrong? Also yes. Did I care? Eh, not really. He didn’t even seem to like her that much. They had nothing in common; he forgot their date, didn’t buy her snacks—she deserved better. She deserved someone like me, who’d take care of her like the princess she was.

I made to grab more popcorn and accidentally hit the slushy cup, knocking blue, icy liquid right into Fauna’s lap. She gasped, and I immediately apologized. “Shit, I’m so sorry.”

“I can’t seem to stay dry tonight,” she giggled. “It’s okay. I needed a blue skirt.”

Standing, I took off my flannel jacket. “There’s no napkins, and you’re probably freezing. Here, let me clean you up.”

Dropping to kneel in front of her, the air in the empty theater suddenly felt dense as I eased the thin fabric over the tops of her thighs. She wiggled her hips, a sweet flush appearing under her freckles. “Thank you,” she murmured, her knees parting slightly.

I could have stopped, should have stopped, but I slowed my pace and moved forward. “It’s sticky… Needs some more cleaning, or you’ll be sticky the whole way home. I could…lick you clean?”

What sounded like a joke in my head came out as a real proposition as I knelt between my brother’s girlfriend’s legs. Really, she could have smacked me and that would have been a valid response. I wouldn’t have done anything without her consent—well, I mean, aside from cyber-fucking her when she thought she was talking to Trevor.

But that was video game world, not reality. This was real and oh, so forbidden.

Looking over her shoulder, she bit her pink lip in a small grin. “I guess you should clean up the mess you made.”

“Gladly, princess,” I answered, removing the jacket and revealing her sugary thighs. “You sure?” I confirmed again, and she nodded. That’s all I needed, though I couldn’t take my time like I normally would because my brother and my whatever would be back at any moment. What would they think if they caught me in a movie theater with my face between my twin’s girlfriend’s thighs?

At that moment, I didn’t fucking care. There was no time to hesitate, no time to let the angel on my shoulder talk me out of it. I was committed to this little side quest.

GAME ON

Directive : Lick the slushy from my brother’s girlfriend’s thighs without getting caught or being too creepy about it.

Remy do not come off like a fucking creep, I swear to god.

I glanced up at her, with her cheeks rosy, lips parted, and put a hand on either knee. “Last shot to tell me to stop,” I warned.

She shook her head. “You made this mess. Clean it up.”

A shot of something hot wove through my system. Look at little miss pinkie-pie, giving out orders like a dom. That was my area of expertise. However, I could be submissive at times too… I needed no other encouragement as I swiped my tongue over her bare upper thigh.

She breathed in harshly, gripping the arms of the theater seat as I continued, getting lost in the taste of her skin. The remnants of sugar were nothing compared to how delicious she tasted. My lips made contact, and I sucked at her as my tongue worked, making good on my mission to clean her up. Did she not think I’d do it? Oh, how I loved to be underestimated.

Working up her soft, plush thighs, I reached the apex and looked up once more for permission. The corner of her full lips lifted, and she nodded. “You drenched me.”

“Fuck,” I growled. Lifting her pleated skirt, I took in her white panties faintly stained blue now. “You’re soaked, and I should make good on my offer to clean you up.”

Was it the craziest thing I’d done in a movie theater? Hell yeah. Was it also the hottest? Fuck, yeah.

My lips were on the outside of her little panties in an instant. Her hips wiggled and her fingers wove through the hair above my undercut. I relished the feeling of the warm, damp fabric against my two snakebite piercings. The barbell on my tongue prodded against her wanting clit. The desire to soak up the drink was gone, Fauna was my drink now, my wet, sugary treat, my concessions snack.

I gripped her hips, holding them steady as I began sucking at the fabric like her pussy was my straw. Notes of raspberry faded into the salty, citrus flavor of her arousal. Fuck, I wanted to rip her panties off and slip my tongue down her center. I wanted to let my barbell piercing run cold against her bundle of nerves and wiggle her clit back and forth until she came on my face.

She pulled my face forward frantically then, pushing her pussy into my lips. I nodded against her as I lapped against her panties. “That’s it, baby girl. Give it to me.”

And give, she did. Fauna whimpered out the sweetest hushed orgasm as I tongue fucked her over her panties in her movie theater seat.

A door clicked shut in the distance, and footsteps followed.

“Oh, no,” she breathed, straightening and looking behind her. I rose up on my knees right as Trevor and Mary Jane sidestepped into our aisle.

“The fuck?” Trevor cocked an eyebrow in our direction. “You’re all wet.”

“Yes, we are,” I replied, grabbing my flannel and draping it over Fauna’s knees. “I spilled the slushy.”

Mary Jane shook her head as she took her seat. “You’re awfully clumsy for a piercer and tattoo artist.”

I swallowed, still feeling Fauna on my tongue. “Skateboarder and drummer, too.” I sat next to technically my girl, as not-technically-but-would-soon-be my girl bit her lip and settled back into whispers with Trevor.

Well, that was fun.

SIDE QUEST: COMPLETED