C5: Who is toying with who?

Claudia knew that if she bailed on his class he would notice. And after the events of last night, she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction that he had spooked her with his flirtations.

So, after getting back to her apartment and arguing it out with Goliath, they'd come up with a plan. If he wanted to fight dirty, she was about to up her game.

She knew if she arrived as she had done previously, pretending nothing happened, he'd either ignore her completely and drive her insane or worse…call her out repeatedly and make a fool of her.

So, she decided to fight fire with fire.

She was currently the first one in class, wanting to make sure she had a good seat right at the front so he could see her.

She wore one of her favourite outfits that she hadn't put on since a concert a few years ago. Twelve guys had hit on her that night and one guy tried to attack her. She ended up putting him in the hospital and 'retiring' the outfit, but desperate measures were called for. She knew he'd love it but hate her for it. He couldn't do anything to her in front of everyone else, so that was fine.

She decided on her favourite black boots, fishnet tights with messy (purposeful) holes, a leather miniskirt, and a fishnet shirt with a cute bralette underneath. She topped off the entire outfit with various chains and a choker with spikes. A 'look but don't touch' vibe.

She'd also made sure to shave her legs, had fantastic make-up, and kept her hair down and just a little wavy.

"Oh my god," Meg walked up to her and sat down, her mouth and eyes wide, "I thought that was you, but like…damn. You look fantastic."

"Thank you," Claudia casually doodled on her notebook, trying to appear cool and calm.

"Hot date?"

'Something like that.'

"Nope. Nothing special."

"It's definitely gotta' be a date. You don't dress up for anyone else unless you're going out to have sex. And THAT is your 'I'm going to have sex later' outfit," Meg turned to her with her arms folded.

"And what's yours?" She grinned wickedly, "A T-shirt that says, 'I'm a virgin'?"

Meg looked shocked and gripped her chest with one hand.

"Oh, oh it hurts! Oh, the burn, it's so painful!" She collapsed against her friend, flailing and generally being dramatic.

Otto picked that moment to walk in but didn't really look their way.

"Please, no dying in my class. And if you absolutely MUST, do so quietly."

Meg righted herself, fiddling about with her bag and trying to hide her embarrassment at being caught, but Claudia kept her eyes fixed on Otto.

She waited for that moment he'd turn around and when he did, his eyes scanned from left to right and finally landed on her.

She kept her back straight and cocked her head with a smug smile of her own.

The effect she had on him was evident.

His eyes went wide, and his eyebrows shot up. He opened his mouth as though to say something to her, but quickly remembered where he was AND what he was supposed to be doing. Still, she could see she had irked him.

'Good.'

Perhaps to the others, Otto appeared his usual self, but she could see the tell-tale signs of his discomfort and arousal.

He would steal glances at her, and those hungry eyes would bore into hers for just a few seconds before he looked away. His hands seemed even more animated and even the claws seemed to be looming nearer her.

But she made sure she was extra attentive and continued to write what he was saying in her notepad, giving her most earnest 'invested student' performance.

'I should get an award for this performance.'

For added effect, she made sure her hand would stray to her thigh, her fingers teasing circles over the skin poking out beneath her tights. And when she brushed her hand back, the edge of her skirt moving higher, she could see Otto struggling to keep pace with what he was saying.

'Good.'

Xx Otto xX

Otto had a feeling today would be interesting, but he truly had no idea the depths that Claudia would sink to until he had walked into the classroom.

Her outfit left very little to the imagination and whilst he thought he was doing a good job in ignoring her, every time he looked her way, he couldn't help but notice new things about her. The way her hair fell about her face. The way her nails would draw circles on her thigh. The glow of her eyes against her make-up.

Though his mind kept coming back to her thighs. He had an inexplicable urge to rip her fishnet tights even more.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of torture, the bell rang, and Otto dismissed everyone as normal.

"Miss Coleson, a moment after class," he turned away but made sure his voice was loud and clear, "I'd like a word."

He thought he sounded professional, but he heard Claudia's little laugh as her friend whispered something to her before she left.

"Yes, Doctor?"

He turned around, his hands in his pockets as he looked her down and up, raising a quizzical eyebrow.

"I thought they had a dress code here?"

She arched one brow and walked the short distance towards him.

"Why Doctor, I have no idea what you could possibly mean," she tilted her head to look up at him, realising that she could reach out and touch him (if she wanted), "Is there something about my attire that upsets you?"

Upsets? No, no, it was having the opposite effect of upsetting him.

"Tell me, Miss Coleson," a fire seemed to light in his eyes, "are you planning on wearing that out tonight?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I worry for your safety," he leaned closer, lowering his voice to whisper in her ear, "you never know the trouble you could run into on dark nights. Especially when you're alone, in a strange building."

"Doctor," she whispered back with glee, "don't threaten me with a good time."

She took a step back, winked, and turned about on her heel.

She made a show of grabbing her bag and books, bending over with her skirt dangerously close to showing off everything to him, before slowly sauntering out.

"See ya' later, Doc," she threw him one last glance over her shoulder, "I'm glad you like the outfit."

She can practically feel his eyes burning into her back. She's never been so glad it's a Friday because she knows she couldn't take another day of this flirting.

That fire in his eyes stirred something deep in her belly.

Oh, Spidergirl was going to be in so much trouble later.

She couldn't wait.