3. An Almost Revenge – S3 AU, Olivia/alt!Lincoln - "Hurt" by Johnny Cash
She kisses him because he's there. Because she remembers he wanted to kiss her and she hopes he still does (in the back of her mind she knows, like Liv knows, and is satisfied nothing has changed there).
Olivia threads her fingers in the hair at the back of his neck, forceful, and doesn't let him pull away. The Liv she's meant to be isn't for him and she can't let him question why she, Olivia, chose this. Another anomaly of how things aren't meant to be, how she isn't Liv. Instead she answers his doubts with her body pressed against his, presenting her desire as undeniable and giving into it with lips and tongue clashing.
It isn't fair on any of them, really. The vision of Peter watches out of the corner of her eye, his expression grim. Lincoln's eyes drift close, living in the moment with touch and taste only. Maybe Lincoln doesn't think it's real either, knows it won't last. The idea is a small mercy for the pain she knows she's causing – he expects it to be a capricious whim of hers.
Olivia wants to prove herself, to choose something Liv wouldn't but this kiss Olivia wants, if she truly wants it, would be slower, sweeter, shyer. Somehow, she can't stop Liv bleeding through entirely- she's still at odds with herself and the movements feel re-enacted from an old fantasy or dream that Olivia has never had. Even being aware the memories she has are borrowed and aren't hers, they're still too much alike, which is why it hurts. She's here with Lincoln, seeing him anew and not discarded, and Liv's over there. She can only wonder if Liv's with Peter doing what she would've done?
Olivia closes her eyes and gives in to the false giddiness of adrenaline mixing with endorphins and taking what she can from a life that isn't hers. She tells herself she isn't enjoying any of it, that this is survival and nothing to do with spite, but she's angry with Peter for not coming to get her, for not knowing she's missing. He's only in her head, like the imprint of that other women and Lincoln is real in front of her, under her, warm and accepting.
It's almost too easy a victory; Liv would hate it but Olivia finds it satisfying and comfort in that satisfaction (it isn't hers, but she takes it anyway).