As the last of the distortion faded and the ceiling was whole again, Arias exhaled quietly and leaned back into the chair. His eyes drifted toward the side, catching the glow spilling in through the frosted glass.
Sunlight.
It cut across the room in slanted lines, casting a soft amber against the black surfaces. Beyond the tower, the docks could just be seen in the distance—ships stationed, cranes unmoving, the sea colored in shades of gold and ash as Gotham stirred beneath it.
He glanced down at his watch.
Some time had passed.
More than expected.
But he didn't linger on it.
Arias stood, straightened his suit jacket with a quick tug, and moved toward the exit. His steps were even. Soundless. The doors slid open with a smooth hiss.
Waiting outside—just as he left them—were Cheshire and Tala. One on either side of the door. Neither keeping busy. Neither speaking.
They looked up in near perfect sync as he stepped into view.
Arias gave them both a look. It wasn't warm. But it didn't need to be.
"Now that that's covered," he said, his voice composed, "I also have some work I'd like you two to carry out for me."
Cheshire reacted first.
Her posture shifted immediately—fluid, feline. She stepped off the wall with a sly smile and placed a hand on her hip, her tailored suit jacket pulling slightly as she shifted her weight.
"I like the sound of that," she said, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "What did you have in mind, boss?"
Tala frowned. Barely. But it was there.
She moved a step closer, her own posture adjusting—arms dropping to her sides, her stance more deliberately poised. She tilted her head and added with a teasing drawl,
"Yez, mazter… anyzthing you wizh."
Arias smiled at them both.
It was genuine—charming, even—but held the same undercurrent everything from him did. Calculated. As if there was more to it than what met the eye.
"I don't doubt either of your abilities…" he said, his tone lighter now, "…but I'm curious to see how well you work in a team."
As he said it, he stepped closer—letting his hand slide around Tala's waist with ease, while the other rested against Cheshire's hip. He pulled them in slowly, firmly, until both were pressed against him.
They didn't resist. Why would they?
Instead, Cheshire's smirk deepened and her hand rose, sliding up the front of his chest. She then dragged her fingers just beneath the unbuttoned collar of his shirt.
"You know I'd do anything you ask, boss…" she said, voice soft but telling. "…anything."
Tala's eyes narrowed slightly—not out of disapproval, but because she refused to be outdone. She pressed in more firmly, her chest brushing his arm, her voice low and reverent.
"Tala's only purpoze now iz to zerve ze mazter… in any zhe can."
Arias could feel the competition between them.
He didn't discourage it. He welcomed it.
Whatever they were each trying to earn from him—favor, attention, position—he could see it clearly. They weren't subtle.
And he didn't mind.
Not at all.
Cheshire and Tala weren't expecting much of a reaction from Arias, perhaps some approving words at most but not anything more.
But to both their surprise, Arias didn't just retract his arms and reveal what his work for them was.
No.
He had other plans.
Without warning, Arias said to them both, "is that so?" His tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
As he said this, he let his hands begin to wander. His fingers snaked across the soft fabric of their skirts.
"Mmm~ Boss, feel something you like?" Cheshire asked with a sly smirk, clearly in support of Arias's actions.
Tala, finally seeing Arias showing some interest again in her body, didn't let the opportunity go to waste.
She let her skirt ride up to her waist as she raised her leg in front of him, rubbing it against his thigh.
Arias could see that they were both eager to please, literally. But, he made sure to remind them, "don't forget, you're supposed to be working together."
Disappointed crossed the faces of Cheshire and Tala for a moment. Both clearly saw this as an opportunity to out do the other, and perhaps gain some ground with Arias.
One was an assassin well trained in the art of seduction and pleasure. The other was a long living sorcerer who knew and studied the many ways to make a man crave the body.
You could almost argue it was in their nature in a way to try and make Arias fond of their bodies.
But, despite the disappointment, they still welcomed the situation.
Cheshire expressed her willingness with a smile as she replied, "I don't mind a little team work boss. I'm sure we could both show off a few moves here and there."
Arias let his hands wander more as she showed a smile. He directly moved his hands up Tala's thighs, separated from her bare skin only by the thin fabric of her pantyhose.
His hand came to a stop on her ass cheek, which he proceeded to give a firm squeeze, causing her to moan softly.
"Mn~!" Tala bit her lip and looked more seductive than before.
As for Cheshire, Arias directly raised her skirt up to her waist. She had no pantyhose underneath, only black lace underwear knitted into a butterfly pattern.
Arias gave her ass cheek a squeeze as well before simultaneously smacking both their asses.
**Pa!**
The sound of his hands smacking against their soft asses resonated in the hallway. It caused both of them to yelp out in surprise.
"Ouf~" "Uhn~"
Their surprise was quickly replaced by lustful smirks, as they both pressed their bodies more firmly against Arias.
Tala went the extra step and raised her hand slightly into the air, a purple energy forming around her hand.
"Let me get zhese pezky clothes out of the way." She said with a smirk.
Then, as a result, both their suit jackets and then undershirts began to be undone, all on their own.
Cheshire wasn't the least bit fazed by this and only commented, "well this must come in handy."