Natasha covered her nose with her jacket to hide the stink of gasoline. Alcina watched the younger woman while Natasha stood there trying not to make it obvious that she was breathing in the lingering scent of her perfume. Alcina waved her hand in front of her face.
"Sweet thing?"
Natasha looked up at her internally freaking out. "Alcina, they'll catch you for this."
"They'll catch nothing but the faint smears of my lipsticks on a burned bit of tissue," She said and held out her hand, "The matches, please?"
"Didn't Daniela and Cassandra almost get caught last week for the exact same thing?" Natasha Asked as she took out the matches hesitantly, she was not sure if she should give them back to her and then she noticed that the countess was staring at her
Alcina sighed and patted Natasha's head instead, "Sweet thing, nothing bad is going to happen."
"Yeah, okay." Natasha answered with a slightly pissed-off tone and the younger woman let her pat her head for a moment longer and then she handed over the matches.
"That's it?" Alcina asked her clearly surprised at the young woman's actions
"What's it?" Natasha asked with a slight hiss to her voice and the matches still in her upturned palm. Internally she was fighting the urge just to pocket the matches and walk off. At this moment in time, She did not know what she wanted.
"You aren't going to fight me more?" Once Alcina had asked that question Natasha's resolve finally broke.
Letting out a sigh Natasha just placed the matches in her hand. The younger woman's guard once dropped, something she would not normally allow. "I trust you."
Alcina stuck a cigarette in her mouth without answering, only nodding vaguely. She used a match to light it and The pair both stood in the dark, watching the moonlight turn each wave into moving silver before they disappeared forever into a thick inky blackness. Alcina ran her fingers through Natasha's Turquoise hair for a moment then flicked her lit cigarette into the gas. She didn't stay to watch, turning away and waltzing down the pier as though she hadn't just lit a building on fire.
Natasha Just wants to follow her, but she feels weirdly rooted to the spot. She watches the flames race up the doorway, the white paint peeling away and drifting into the air. She stands there so long she can hear the glass creak and shatter inside, the supporting beams splinter and crack, the sizzle of the fire as it climbs higher to devour more of the building.
Natasha does not even realise Alcina has come back to stand next to her. Natasha turns to look at her and bumps her nose into her side. "Sweet thing," She said without moving, "Why aren't you moving?" without any warning Alcina picked her up and took a couple of steps back to move the pair of them away from any glass shards that might spray, and Natasha just continued staring at her.
"Burning a building down is different in person." Natasha spoke calmly and She just watched the flames for a few moments longer
"It always is," She said and straightened up once she placed Natasha down onto the ground, "We still have one more stop."
She held out her hand and Natasha took her hand and together the pair began to walk down the pier.
Natasha was not sure what, exactly, she had been expecting when she started dating a crime boss. Or whatever Alcina was. She was more possessive than a dragon, more backstabbing than a venomous scorpion needing to cross a river, grander than a centuries-old filigreed grand piano. Natasha should have felt something negative surely, for wanting her, for dating her but there was nothing of the sort.
Alcina held Natasha's hand loosely in hers, the sea breeze tossed her curls delicately. Anyone with a brain would want her; Natasha guessed that she was just lucky enough that Alcina wanted her too.
"Here we are," She pointed out into the darkness, "And there it is."
"Incredible. A vague red shape." Natasha quipped sarcastically
"Indeed," She replied, patting Natasha's cheek with one hand while her other hand reached down into her pockets. She pulled out a gun, then a pack of thumbtacks, then a box of tissues before pulling out a small grey device. She handed it to Natasha, "Alright, push the button and we are done for the night."
Natasha held the detonator, "Oh. This is terrorism. Plain and simple." she thought she had said that to herself but it was clear Alcina had heard her.
Alcina gestured grandly, "I have no political goal though. So, is it really terrorism? I am ensuring that the market remains free and to the tastes of the people who would most benefit."
"You mean your people." Natasha retorted with a slight smile gracing her face
"Our people," She corrected gently, "It isn't wrong to rebel against a corporation gouging prices against mostly innocent people."
Natasha just looked around and snuggled into her jacket, "Mostly innocent?" She queried and she could not help but softly chuckle at what she said.
Alcina's slender fingers stroked the column of her throat delicately, "You were the one who asked me out." she spoke as she was now at eye level with her small companion.
"You said yes to me asking you out though.." Natasha replied as she looked up at her, Natasha could feel her heart beating frantically in her chest given how close they were
"I did," She conceded clearly allowing Natasha to win that battle, "Blowing up things is how I live, sweet thing."
Natasha pursed her pale lips, "Yeah. I now see that in its entirety. "
Alcina's fingers tilted her head up and she bent down to kiss her firmly. Her other hand had pressed the button, her thumb overlapping Natasha's. The boom still rocked Natasha's sensitive yet delicate ears even so enveloped in her and Natasha instinctively jerked away from it and she ended up falling forward into her arms. She was warm despite the chill of the night and when Natasha just looked up at her, her heterochromatic eyes met her face she noticed that her expression had softened considerably.
"Let's get you back to bed." Alcina spoke clearly seeing her sweet thing was now tired and clearly overwhelmed
"Okay," Natasha replied clearly not wanting to put up a fight and she just wanted to go home.