Note: I am not sure whether this chapter deserves an M-rating or not so I will just give it a warning. There is implied sexual content, but it's not graphic so I'm keeping the entire fanfiction T-rated. Enjoy!
Chapter VII - Drunken Hospitality
Neon lights emancipated from the drifting smoke that drowned the bar. The walls inside of Madison's Pub were plastered with advertising signs of local artists and autographed pictures of music legends with fans. There was an acceptably large crowd of hipsters starting their night with friends and suits who were ending their day with a drink. The band playing progressive rock songs were loud and full of life as they melted minds and animaled souls with their harmonies.
A man, with messy, dark brown hair and a professional camera that swung across his chest, strutted in as the band finished their first song with a complex guitar solo. He smiled towards the musicians with approval and they waved when they noticed him before punching the air as a new tune vibrated throughout the air. The man obviously knew who the people were that played such magnetic music.
The dark haired liberal took a seat, carelessly drumming his camera against the bar, beside a woman with a beautiful composure and gave his attention to the waiter.
"Hey Marley! Can I get a shot of Turkey an-" he began.
"Excuse me, a glass of your simplest vodka on the roc-" the beautiful woman asked at in unison as the man beside her, but cut off her request as the bartender stared at both of them in wonder of who to serve first.
The woman's light brown eyes glanced to her right at the hipster, signaling patiently for him to order first.
"Uh, can I get a shot of Turkey 101 and…" The man spoke to the bartender but kept his eyes on the woman. "A glass of vodka on the rocks," he smiled.
"No problem," the bartender turned the back of his Mohawk to them and began creating their drinks.
The woman smiled back at the dark haired stranger and he reached out his open hand in invitation.
"Adam," he introduced himself confidently.
"Thank you, Adam," she spoke with just as much confidence and shook his hand. "I'm Nadia."
Adam grinned wider, "Nadia. That's a very groovy name. I haven't run into that name around here before. Is this your first time at Madison's?" Adam referred to the Pub.
Nadia nodded, "Thought I'd have a night out to myself; I'm off work tomorrow."
"Hmmm," Adam mused as their drinks were handed to them and he thanked the bartender. "Cheers, man. This woman is conforming from society tonight; she's not working a twentieth first century invention! Cheers to flipping off careers!"
The bartender shook his head with a smile as Adam downed his shot with one gulp.
"Let's have another, Marley," he beamed.
Marley, the bartender, snickered and spoke to Nadia, "Better be careful around this one, you should." He grinned and disappeared for a moment to return with another small glass, filled to the brim with a copper-toned liquid, "His band mates usually have to drag his drunk ass out around midnight most visits."
"Not tonight, Marley!" Adam laughed. "That is there not my band mates tonight. But they'll probably have to drag my ass out anyway. I'm taking a day off from work tomorrow, if you catch my drift," he winked towards Nadia.
She chuckled and took a small sip from the clear refreshment Adam ordered for her. Nadia and Adam's conversation migrated deeper and Marley walked away when a customer signaled him.
"So are you a photographer?" Nadia touched Adam's camera.
"Yep, I take photos of brilliant, young, naked women with long, red hair who talk to strangers at strange bars," his sarcasm was heavy in the air and Nadia giggled along with Adam's remark.
The clock's hands soared for two hours above them as they drank their poisons. It was almost midnight when Nadia's speech began to slur just as much as Adam.
"So I telled him! Hahaha, next time ya insult Bob Dylan yer out! No one! No one insults Dylan. I love him, I really do. Do… Do you love him?" Adam's boasting transformed into a hopeful expression as his head swayed.
"Yea, I do. I really do, Adam," Nadia's laughing altered into affection as Adam asked her the silly question.
Adam and Nadia were very drunk by the clock. Adam lit his nth cigarette and stared at Nadia for awhile, just smiling. She noticed it and grew awkward, feeling self-conscious.
"What?" She laughed nervously.
He took a drag off of his smoke and held it in his mouth.
"Here! Try one," Adam spoke through his cigarette, opening his pack of Marlboros and handing one to Nadia.
"No, I don't want to get into the habit," she smiled, shaking her head and taking a gulp of her vanishing vodka.
"Go on," Adam urged her, holding out the cigarette when Nadia simpered.
"Oh, alright. What's it gonna hurt?" she slurred.
Nadia took the cigarette and slid it in her mouth. Adam grinned, with his teeth holding his smoke, and he lit her cigarette slowly. Nadia took a drag and when the smoke filled her throat she coughed slightly. She used to smoke regularly, but quit for her health. It had been awhile since she inhaled a cigarette, but the familiar feeling was nice. She took another drag, blowing a white, smoky O through her mouth.
"Impressive," Adam was awed.
"Hmmm, thank you."
Adam's eyes stared at Nadia once more for awhile. He studied her lips as they engulfed the butt of the tobacco, and imagined them sucking on something else. Adam gulped and finally looked away, flushed and red in his face and arms.
"Hey," Nadia spoke with a final tone.
He swayed and gazed into her eyes, expecting her to say the night was late and she should leave. He imagined her to say goodbye and that be the end of whatever it was they had shared meanwhile in the bar. Usually, it was the already drunk whores with neon make-up and revealing clothing that Adam would accompany back to their apartment for an hour of meaningless fucking. He never was able to score a woman that he would connect with on those occasional, random nights of heavy conversations and light flirting. His heart sunk every time they abandoned him to return to their lives and think nothing more of him; they were always too exceptional for him anyway. When Nadia spoke, he imagined her that marvelous and his thoughts grew dark and despondent as his wondering was under the influence.
"I know. It's late, you should probably head home," his brows furrowed in drunken frustration and dark assumption.
"I was going to say I know what you really want. And usually a woman has more respect for herself, but as it is… I want the same. So, you can either invite me over to your place or… you can follow me home," Nadia smiled, standing up from her seat.
Adam couldn't believe his luck and he regained his confidence.
"Well! This is a nice switch up! I guess my band mates don't have to drag my lonely ass out tonight."
With his final public boast, Adam paid Marley his tab as he and Nadia left the bar. Adam suggested they journey to his apartment since it was around the corner. They marched off the alcohol and were left exhausted walking into Adam's apartment building.
"There's not an elevator?" Nadia was in shock at the flight of stairs Adam climbed everyday.
"It's not that high," Adam chortled. "It's the vodka lying to you."
"Oh," Nadia sighed.
Adam grabbed her waist and guided her up the stairs. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they trudged up the steps, then she kissed his neck lightly when they reached the top landing.
"Ah, let's find the door," Adam loved the feeling of her lips and hot breath on his skin; he anticipated more.
Once Adam unlocked his apartment, Nadia nibbled the back of his neck softly as he strolled in. He grabbed her roughly by the waist and threw her inside before he closed the door. Laughing, she ran from the entrance hall and observed a small kitchen and den taking up one room. There was a door leading to another room with a bed, and pictures suspended from laundry pins on thin lines of string hanging from the ceiling. Most of the photographs were of a business man in black and white.
"Young, naked women, huh?" Nadia teased Adam.
"Just business," Adam smirked at her.
Nadia shook her head and headed towards Adam's bedroom where she wasted no time in undressing. She took off her lace cardigan and golden flats before shouting, "Do you have any music?"
Adam looked at her and blushed. It went unnoticed as she was whisking away crumbs from his bed linens. He felt slightly embarrassed, but she eased his nerves as she was smiling.
"Uh, sorry. I, uh, yea! I got music, hold on."
Adam cursed himself and couldn't comprehend why he felt so anxious. He concluded that it was possibly because Nadia was much different than the other women. He really enjoyed her company, and resolved he wasn't going to close his eyes and fantasize about another woman tonight. Nadia was more gorgeous than any fantasy his fantastic imagination could come up with. So he turned to the stereo beside the old couch and pressed play. The album 'Nothing's Shocking' by Jane's Addiction began to vibrate the apartment.
"Hey, I love this band!" Nadia slurred loudly from the other room.
Adam grinned joyously to himself, closed his eyes and exhaled. Most of the women that rarely ended up at his apartment scolded his music tastes and admired untalented, mainstream artists. Nadia was certainly a nice correction in one night stands. He gave his faultless concern to his gorgeous company and walked into his bedroom with the music chasing him inside.
"Are you thirsty?" he asked her politely.
The woman shook her head and stood silently, waiting for Adam to make his move. He took in a deep breath and slowly walked up beside her. She was wearing a simple black bra and plain black panties, her cardigan and peach take lay abandoned along with her white pants on the floor. Adam's nervousness excited her and she smiled, taking his hands in hers. That's when Adam noticed a wrist of hers was bandaged with gauze; it was hidden by her clothing initially.
"What's this?" he asked with drunken concern, lifting the wounded arm.
Nadia considered him for a moment then smiled, "Nothing worth talking over. Let's just enjoy each other tonight, okay?"
Adam's expression betrayed his longing and tensed somewhat when her hands guided his to her sides. He ran his palms against her back and brought her body closer to his.
"I… I think your beautiful," he admitted in a whispered rush.
Nadia smiled and leaned into the crook of his neck. Suddenly, Adam felt her hot breath against his skin and his breathing was caught in his throat. He held his breath as her lips placed moist kisses onto his neck and shoulders. He felt her hands roam his back as she grabbed the fabric that clung to his perspiring body.
"I want you already," his voice was thick with desire.
Nadia gazed into Adam's eyes without a reply before she lifted his shirt over his head and threw it into the pile of her clothes as well. He was muscular, only noticeable when bare, and thin, like he wasn't giving himself the nutrition he needed. She rubbed her hands against his chest before kissing him softly on his cheek. Adam let out his breath and made a move to kiss her lips.
"No," Nadia sternly replied to his action. "I don't want you to kiss me there… At all."
Adam expressed confusion for a moment, then cleared his throat with a nod, "Alright. Why, though? I want to."
"Because. I've never had my first kiss," Nadia laughed. "I want it to be special!"
"This isn't special?" Adam grinned expectantly.
"You know what I mean. I want my first kiss to be with the person I'm going to spend my life with. I hardly think you're going to propose to a stranger, sir. Now… Are you going to fuck me or not?" Nadia pulled Adam's mess of hair and kissed his neck, arousing and enrapturing a pleasured cry from Adam.
The night was haunted by moans and animalistic behavior as Adam and Nadia shared their bodies until hangovers collapsed the pair into exhaustion. Adam closed his eyes, letting sleep take over his consciousness when Nadia did the same.
Within time, Adam woke abruptly to find himself indeed alone on his bed. It appeared Nadia and her clothes had disappeared from his apartment. Adam sat up, pulled on a t-shirt, and looked out a window to find the night still alive. His hangover wormed around in his head worse than ever when he stood up and threw his boxers and jeans on. The cold air hit his arms while Adam walked over to the heater in the corner to turn it on, but found it not working. He groaned and made his way to the light switch, dragging on a warmer blue striped shirt as he went. He knew before he flipped the switch that the lights weren't working as well. His entire electricity was out.
"Great," Adam religiously sighed again.
Agitation and depression began to build up in him again as he looked for a flashlight. A fantasy woman slipped from his grip without a warning or goodbye and, to add to his problems, the electricity in his apartment was turned off. Adam found the flashlight, but it flickered wildly, adding to his anger. When he was on the verge of throwing the lantern to let out his irritation, something moved within the next room suddenly.
"Nadia?" Adam was startled and he picked up his camera. "Hey, I thought you left."
Adam walked into the room the sound came from, holding his camera up in alert.
"Is someone there?"
Adam took a picture and the flash lit up his apartment, revealing a creepy puppet sitting on his chair.
"Christ! What the…?"
Adam heard the sound again and flashed another photo before picking up a blunt object from the floor. He turned towards the door that led to his closet and shuffled cautiously in the direction.
"Who is that? Who's in there? Nadia, you better not be fucking with me!" Adam attempted to sound brave, but was obviously afraid.
He opened the door and flashed his camera for the last time. Before he could comprehend what was in front of him, a figure with a pig mask attacked Adam and he knew of only nothing else.
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