Disclaimer: I enjoyed the Ready Player One movie, but I nowhere near own it.
Story: Life outside the Oasis was horrible and no one knows that better than Wade. So if she found solace in a jerk like Nolan Sorrento, that's her luck. Nolan just finds himself caught up on her, even if it may come time to choose between her and IOI.
Set as an AU genderbending fic.
Spoilers: Yes, definitely for the movie, but I have started to slip in stuff from the book.
Warnings: Age disparity, cursing and violence for now…hm, just in case since I'm usually writing it, bit of crazy humor, perverted humor, morbid or sarcastic humor, and maybe some sexual situations…
Pairings: Nolan Sorrento/Wade Watts

The Cigarette Duet
Chapter Two: Sorry, Honey

In what could be considered the 'morning after', Wade felt Sorrento's fingers idly brushing back and forth on her stomach. Turning her head saw her glimpsing at the lazy smile on his avatar's face. Unwittingly, it drew a smile from her as well.

"Not to be presumptuous," he drawled, his lazy smile becoming just a bit bigger. "But what are you doing tonight?"

"Technically, it's still last night," she pointed out with a grin.

He raised an eyebrow. "In a few minutes, it'll be midnight."

"I said 'technically', didn't I?"

He laughed and his fingers went from brushing against her stomach to trailing up, between the valley of her breasts and then up her throat to cup against the side of her face.

"Meet me tonight," he said. "Same time, same place. "

"Going to buy me a drink or two first?" she purred and inwardly she gawped at herself. What on earth was going on with her?

He pulled himself over her and kissed her lightly. "Whatever you'd like."

She swallowed deeply, taking a deep breath as she watched him, again feeling her eyes go wide.

"Y-yeah. That'd be nice then," she said breathlessly.

He kissed her again and got up, taking the easy way on using his commands to digitize his clothes and armor back on. He nodded towards her, smiling slightly while she sat up.

"I have work early in the morning," he explained. "I'll have to log out and get to bed to rest up for a board meeting. I'll see you tonight."

"Yes, tonight," she confirmed dazedly.

He flashed her another smile before he logged out, his avatar disappearing from the room. Wade continued to sit up, taking in what had just happened.

Holy crap. She'd just slept with the CEO of IOI…and it seems like she was going to do it again tonight.

Wade logged out herself, looking at the walls of her van in disbelief. She got ready for bed and lay down on the small cot she'd made for herself there, and debated with herself about what she was doing with Nolan Sorrento of all people. She thought on what she'd already just did, finding herself crazy. And the fact that she was going to see him again that night, most probably sleep with him again, and Wade wondered if any of her sanity had stuck with her when the encounter had first happened. What if this became a reoccurring thing?

She placed the heels of her palms against her eyes. "Sleep, Wade, sleep. You still have school in the morning."

But she had trouble sleeping that night, and when she woke up she didn't feel rested at all. What she did know was that she was feeling…giddy. If she was honest, last night had been wonderful. After that shitty confrontation with her aunt and Rick, she'd felt so low and miserable that she had actually —for a moment —contemplated doing what her aunt had snapped at her to do. To get a job as an escort, echoing her mother, if only to get enough money to get a place of her own…a place to be away from where she was…

And then she met Nolan Sorrento, who had the reputation and who everyone knew as the biggest douchebag ever. And to her amazement, he wasn't like that at all with her. Granted, he'd wanted to sleep with her, but she saw a different side to the man than what his reputation preceded him as.

That night had been amazing and she had felt amazing. If he was supposed to be a no-good man, she could at least say he was very good at pleasuring others. Her cheeks heated up just thinking about that and remembering their time together.

Even before that, despite the later confrontation and that morning's dream, the day had also been unusually good to Wade by the way she'd managed to meet someone else and have a wonderful conversation with him. She liked Lacero a lot. Talking with him had been a blast and helped her go through school easily. She'd been so lost in conversation with him that she hadn't really noticed anything else around her, and the dream had been forgotten. The horrible mood that the dream had put her through was also forgotten and disappeared as she talked with Lacero. If she thought hard on it, she really would say that yesterday had been really good to her for once.

Strangely, she could say she felt like a brand new person.

Once she was on Ludus and at school, she immediately logged on to see if Lacero was on. School wouldn't actually start until a half hour later, but she wanted to see if he was there and talk to him. A part of her felt very warm at the thought of the man, having not really been able to talk to others (much less other guys) like she had managed to with Lacero, exempting Aech. And there was the fact that conversation had flowed so easily and smoothly between them, which was a rarity for her.

To her delight, he was on and had been for fifteen minutes apparently. Before she could type in a message to him, he messaged her first.

Lacero: Good morning.

Feeling herself smile, she greeted him back.

Wade3: Good morning! How have you been since yesterday? Did you manage to survive those boring old snots?

Lacero: I survived yesterday. Today's a new day though, so it's round 2.

She tried not to laugh aloud, especially since everyone was starting to trickle into the classroom.

Lacero: I do have a question for you.

Her smile faltered and she felt uneasy.

Wade3: Yes?

There was a long pause and she was getting a bit anxious. And then —a minute to the time class would begin —she saw the question and froze up.

Are you a high school student?

Wade didn't want to tell him the truth. If she did, she knew he wouldn't want to continue to talk to her. She'd be too young and immature in his head, and then they'd no longer keep talking. That would be horrible —she barely had any friends or anyone she talked to. To lose Lacero when she'd just gotten him…

For the first time in a long while, she had made a connection with someone and didn't want to lose that.

Wade3: What if I were?

She waited anxiously for his answer, barely noticing class starting. She'd more or less admitted to it, though she hadn't wanted to. On the other hand, she hadn't wanted to be a liar.

Lacero: Okay.

She blinked, reading that over again. Was he really leaving it at that? She thought he'd freak out more or something. By then, she'd already gotten the feeling he was older than her, so she thought the age thing would bother him. She started typing quickly.

Wade3: Does it bother you?

Lacero's reply to her was quick and she was almost in disbelief of it.

Lacero: Yes. I admit it did when I figured it out and it still does.

Wade3: Does that mean you're going to stop talking to me?

She could already feel her eyes tearing up and she hated that she was going to cry in the middle of class. But she'd found a friend. She had found someone to be friends with after a long time, since the first time she'd met Aech. Wade didn't make a lot of friends, in the real world or in the OASIS. She had trouble connecting to people. Having finally made a connection with someone who seemed to really get her and who she was able to talk to, the thought of losing him already really bothered her.

"Jesus, Wade. You're friendless for a reason. Maybe think about that, huh?"

Aunt Alice was right. Wade was friendless for a reason.

Lacero was typing, but she could already feel herself spiral down.

Lacero: Of course not. Your age might bother me, but it has nothing to do with our talks. Just because I'm bothered you're still in high school and I'm, well, not, doesn't mean I'm going to suddenly stop talking to you. I'm far too selfish and I enjoy our talks together too much.

Feeling herself become filled with joy, she tried to tamp down on her smile, lest she let on to everyone in the classroom that she wasn't paying attention to class at all and was instead chatting away with someone.

Wade3: I'm really happy about that.

Wade reread that and wished that she hadn't typed that. It felt too fast…too…too needy. Aunt Alice said she was and this was probably her showing that stupid part of herself.

More importantly, it felt too honest and she wasn't sure how she felt about how true it was.

Lacero: Really? Normally people don't like talking to me. My, my —I'm quite flattered, my dear. For all you know, Little Red, I might just have sharp teeth.

Wade bit back a smile. If he was a wolf, then maybe it wouldn't be too bad being Little Red Riding Hood.

Wade3: Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be around the Wolf.

Wade's minuscule smile died down when she didn't get a reply. A few minutes passed by and she wondered if that had been too strange or-or-or —

Lacero: I guess I'll have to keep my sheep suit on for just a little while longer for you.

For a moment, her heart skipped a beat for some reason. Reading that line again and again, it just made her feel warm all over.

Wade3: Hey, I was wondering if it was okay to ask what do you look like…?

She clicked sent and the reply was immediate, and she could already hear the dry, amused voice behind it.

Only if you tell me.

If red bloomed all over her face, she was lucky that no one in class paid any attention to her and noticed.

Lost and forlorn. That was how Nolan could describe the fae-like girl standing in the middle of the path with the look of solemn resignation. Silver strands of hair hung about her face, the edges of which were tinged with blue, and her thin face was pale and doll-like. Pretty in misery rather than pretty in pink, though indeed her pouty lips were the palest of pinks. Her eyes, reflected in a sadness that gripped him, were a lighter shade of blue than that of her hair, and a part of him wanted to see them directed at him and darkened with desire instead of sorrow. In that space of time, he only understood one thing.

This strange, desolate girl in the middle of his path was utterly and devastatingly beautiful.

Though her avatar was undoubtedly pretty, what he meant was that there was an air about her that had drawn him so irresistibly. It was like gravity had pulled him in and wouldn't let go; seeing her so unhappy brought about a strong urge in him to do whatever he could to make her smile.

The fact that he'd managed to bring her in close, see that bit of playful fire she actually possessed in her, and be able to make her undone and watch her fall apart…Nolan had found he d been unable to think of just leaving straight after or not being able to see her again. Proposing another meeting the next night was all he could think of to hold onto her a little longer.

And speaking of being unable to let go…

That girl. The one he'd been chatting with and had just met, but felt like he'd known forever with the way they were able to talk to each other.

Wade3. Or simply just Wade.

The more he thought on it and on her, the more he had reluctantly come to realize she was most probably a high school student. The way the times uncannily matched up, the fact that she was bored enough to use an old-style chat room and had to be discreet about it (And why not? School could be dreadfully boring, if he remembered right.), the way her username was structured…it all just fit. But he still didn't know for sure and a part of him was debating asking her straight.

Should he though? There was no guarantee he'd get a straight answer. It also meant acknowledging that there was an age gap there that would put a space between them, and change the dynamics of their chats. He knew he was much older than her at this point (How much was debatable and not something he wanted to think about.) and it wasn't something he wanted to constantly think about. Knowing would change things.

But would it really?

Their chats…their chats truthfully had nothing to do with their ages. Before even thinking about it (or when he figured it out), age hadn't been a factor when they were easily talking to each other and were enjoying their talk. They'd lost track of time and sense, not paying much attention to anything aside from what they were saying to each other. He didn't think of anything else, but just her and saying whatever came up in his mind.

He hoped that it had been the same for her. Did she really enjoy their chat as well?

Decidedly, he thought it didn't really matter after all. Yes, he was still bothered by the apparent age gap between them, but at the same time he knew that he was too damn selfish to let that stop him from continuing to talk to her. If he was being honest, he fucking loved that talk. He hadn't chatted like that with anyone since…since his sister. And even then it was different.

Idly, he logged on and waited in their chat, continuing to think about their situation. Then, fifteen minutes later, he saw her username pop up and then she'd gone into their chat. He started to type out a greeting and sent it before she even managed anything.

Before he could think about it any further, he asked her if she was a high school student and waited tensely.

What if I were?

He exhaled sharply, but his body relaxed at the same time. That was as good a yes as any. He was relieved to finally have some sort of confirmation, while also being wary of the truth. Still, he was resolute in what he had decided.

He told her it was okay and she was obviously caught off guard at his seeming dismissal, even more so when he admitted that it bothered him. But when she asked if he was going to stop talking to her, he pursed his lips and vehemently typed out his answer to that to her. Like hell he was!

I'm really happy about that.

He froze up, reread that, and didn't know what to say. It had been a long time since anyone had enjoyed talking to him, much less his presence. A strange warmth seemed to encapsulate him and his fingers trembled as he began to type out what he wanted to say.

Really? Normally people don't like talking to me. My, my —I'm quite flattered, my dear. For all you know, Little Red, I might just have sharp teeth.

He laughed shakily to himself, wondering why he had typed all of that out. It was too fucking honest, goddammit. And even though he wanted to keep talking to her, he couldn't help the small warning at the end. She didn't know who he was —the real him. Would she really still be talking to him if she knew that he was Nolan Sorrento, the big bad CEO of IOI? The most hated man in the OASIS (and probably outside it too)?

And the analogy made him bitterly chuckle. He really was the wolf she had to be, should be afraid of. What the hell was he doing?

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be around the Wolf.

Nolan blinked and read that line to himself under his breath. Did she really…?

"What are you getting yourself into?" He had meant to say that about her, but he was questioning himself.

A mysterious, sad girl with soulful eyes and someone he didn't want to make sad flashed through his mind. He really truly didn't want to make her sad, especially when he unexpectedly had the urge to make her smile…so what was he doing now? Chatting up a high school girl? Was he chatting up a high school girl? Jesus Christ, they were just…they were just talking. Just talking. That's all.

This was just playful banter and could easily be read as that. Only the speed of their exchange was too slow to be real repartee, and felt too flirty and too intimate in the way they were phrasing things and what they were saying.

His fingers were quick as they moved across his interface keyboard and he sent it before he could change his mind.

I guess I'll have to keep my sheep suit on for just a little while longer for you.

He was just being playful. Really, he meant nothing by that.

(Honestly, he knew he was a despicable person, but for her and that mysterious girl, he'll play the good guy —the best man in the world really —just so he could stay by their side a little while longer.)

"I'm getting pretty close…Yes, I know the stocks are fluctuating…Tell them that everything's fine…"

Nolan strained to not get irritable on the phone, even though he was plenty irritable already. But not sounding it was a chore and a half! That's why he tried his best to wrap up the conversation and hang up as fast as he could without being rude and before he snapped back in anger.

Glancing at the time made him worry too. He would be late if he didn't get himself ready to be in the OASIS. He had a date to catch after all.

The same date that he didn't even know the name of. The fact that last night went on without her ever mentioning her name, nor him remembering to ask because he was too entranced, was a mishap he wished he could do over. He was lucky enough that he acted smoothly and confidently despite it all, but it was still a faux pas (and an embarrassing slight) that he forgot to get her name. He'd have to find a way to subtly prod it out of her later, when they met up again. He wouldn't want to just call her whatever and insult her.

Thinking of her again made him remember his thoughts about her earlier (though he steadfastly forced himself to remain thought-free about Wade…who he did know the name of). Though not sure why he was so drawn to her and was so determined to have her smile, he was definitely intrigued by her. A part of him had the burning desire to know what made her so sorrowful. Her slender body stood on that pathway like a lost fae or a desolate angel, and he'd stopped in his tracks at the sight of her. Approaching her had been instinct, unconscious will.

Nolan didn't regret it a single bit, especially when he got to see her splayed out beneath him like a beautiful goddess.

At least he had the presence of mind to set up their next meeting. Hence, he was quick to put on his OASIS gear and log on, wasting no time in traveling to the exact place he remembered running across her at. Frowning when he didn't see her on the pathway, he glanced at the bar and wondered if she was waiting inside instead. Entering it, he easily found her sitting at the bar, sipping at a Cotton Candy Cosmos like it was her usual. He inwardly smiled, smug in thought on picking the right drink for her.

He strolled over casually, catching her attention without doing much else. She gave him a slight smile, looking for all the world like his very own Mona Lisa.

"Well, if it isn't my fae princess," he purred, slipping into a seat next to her.

She looked up at him from underneath her lashes and he hid his shiver.

"I might've been remised last night. I didn't quite introduce myself, did I?" She said in a self-deprecating tone. He kept note of that, even as he felt relief that he wouldn't have to try very hard at getting her name (or username as it was) from her. "I'm Parzival, though most call me Z."

"Parzival," he tested it out. He gave her a smirk. "It's unique. Suits you."

Another of those smiles at him made heat pool down in his stomach and he wished he was in his real body right now, and that he would've been able to pick her up right then and slam her against the wall, ravishing her without any care. Something about this girl just drove him mad with desire and the desperate will to do what he could to have her feel and look anything but sad.

When he leaned closer to her, he smelled something sweet and the smell of lavender mixed together.

(He wondered what Wade smelled like.)

He bit his lip and knew if this wasn't the OASIS, he would've made himself bleed. Guilt and desire swirled in him and threatened to drive him mad.

'I'm sorry I'm such a Wolf.'

He wanted and wanted and wanted, and he thought he might've wanted too much this time.

Started 5/20/18 - Completed 6/3/18

A/n: So I knew this was a small fandom (shrugs), and in that way I'm not surprised and majorly upset at the low response. It was pretty good in these circumstances actually~ I'm pretty satisfied, despite just two reviews so far (though a fair amount of alerts and favorites!). Hopefully this chapter gets some more :) So please remember to review!

Quick Points:

1. Little Red Riding Hood: I love this motif. I will never not use it XD Especially since it fits my favorite kinds of pairings after all.

2. Nolan: Ah geez, we're only on the second chapter and I'm already torturing him. (SorrynotSorry)

3. I would've finished this sooner, but since there was a lack of Nolan fics (much less Nolan/Wade), I turned to Director Krennic and Krennic/Jyn fanfics to sate myself. Then I got drawn into that rabbit hole XD

Anon Reviews:

1. Guest 1: Thank you! I'm glad you're glad I'm doing this story, lol. I hope I'll be able to keep writing for it and that there's continued interest!

2. Guest 2: Haha, thanks! I think, though they're not my type of stories, that there are few movie-verse stories up on the archive. In any case, I'm happy to know you enjoy mine