Zarri came to a few minutes later. The first thing she saw was Dante and Kashi hovering over her. She blinked. "Someone bring water. Smelling salts. A priest. Anything."
Kashi straightened. All Alex had said was— Good morning, neighbours.
And apparently Zarri's entire nervous system had initiated shutdown.
Dante stood and nudged her lightly with his foot. "Get up. You're pathetic."
Zarri dragged herself upright and looked around. "Eh? We're back inside?"
"You practically passed out," Dante said, dropping onto the sofa. "We had to drag you back in."
Kashi walked past Zarri and sat beside him.
The moment Zarri's body gave up, Kashi and Dante had turned on their heels without waiting for explanations and fled straight back into the house with her.
"Wait…" Zarri slowly lifted her head towards the front door. "You're telling me that was real?"
Neither answered.
Her voice dropped. "I actually saw Alex?"
Dante nodded. Zarri swayed.
"If you fall again, I'll throw you outside," Kashi warned.
Zarri immediately steadied herself. Then she looked between them.
"Do you know what this means, my loves?"
Dante and Kashi exchanged a glance.
"Incoming threats," Dante said.
"Our era of peace is over," Kashi said at the same time.
Zarri glared at them, squeezed herself onto the sofa between them. "Dummies. It means we have new neighbours!" She threw both hands into the air. "This estate can finally have some life in it. Yoo-hoo!"
Kashi and Dante looked at her.
"I'm going back to bed." Kashi stood.
"I need to call my boyfriend." Dante stood too.
Zarri grabbed both of them by the hands before either could escape. "Not so fast." Kashi looked down at their joined hands. Zarri ignored her. "Is this any way to behave? You have new neighbours, Kashi, and I will not have them welcomed into this estate like enemies."
"They are enemies," Kashi said.
"Details, details." Zarri looked from one to the other. "Get dressed. We're going over."
Kashi opened her mouth. Closed it. Tried again. One look at Zarri's expression told her the case had already been lost.
Dante groaned. "Do we have to?"
"Yes, Dante. Now, vamos." Zarri stood. "I'm going to see if there's a cake in the fridge."
[Move]
Kashi's face changed immediately. "Oh, no, you don't. Nobody touches my cake." She went after her.
Dante remained beside the sofa. His phone chimed with a message. He glanced down.
Babeeeeeee, I just got off work. Talk to me.
A smile pulled at his mouth. He picked up the phone and followed the girls towards the kitchen, already typing a reply.
💜~~~~~
Kashi stood in front of the mirror, fastening an earring with far more aggression than the task required. "This is ridiculous."
Behind her, Zarri rushed past the bedroom door carrying a tray. "Kashi, You said that already!"
"And I meant it every time!" Kashi adjusted the sleeve of her top and inspected herself. She had changed quickly. Nothing dramatic. Nothing that suggested she had spent more than five minutes considering what she might wear to visit the two men who had apparently decided to invade the peaceful residential estate directly opposite her house.
A fitted cream blouse tucked neatly into bum shorts. Silver jewellery. Her hair brushed back, falling loosely around her face and down her back.
Very much, I did not dress for anyone across the street.
Kashi stared at her reflection for another second. Should she change the earrings?
"Kashi!" Zarri called from downstairs.
"What?"
"Where are the small plates?"
"Cabinet beside the refrigerator!"
"Which cabinet?"
Kashi closed her eyes. "There are four cabinets beside the refrigerator, Zarri. Use your eyes!"
"You have too many cabinets!"
"It's a damn kitchen!"
"That is not an excuse!"
Kashi muttered something deeply unkind and left the bedroom. When she reached the kitchen, she stopped.
Zarri had transformed the island into some sort of emergency bakery operation.
A plate of cookies sat neatly arranged beside a covered cake, ribbons and napkins scattered around them as though she were preparing tribute for royalty rather than visiting two men whose hobbies included violating personal boundaries.
Dante sat on one of the stools, staring at his phone. He had changed into dark trousers and a loose navy shirt, his hair freshly brushed.
Zarri turned. "Perfect. Come."
Kashi's attention immediately landed on the cake. Her cake. The cake she had purchased.
For herself.
How dare this woman touch her cake? Worse— she intended to present it as tribute to those fools across the street.
Kashi approached slowly. "Why is that here?"
Zarri didn't even look at her. "It's called hospitality."
"No. It's called theft." Kashi huffed.
"Kashi."
"That is my cake."
Zarri lifted the box.
Kashi slapped one hand over the lid. "No. I refuse to sacrifice my beloved."
Zarri looked at her. Dante slowly lowered his phone.
Silence stretched across the kitchen.
Zarri narrowed her eyes. "Mi encanto.We are not showing up to meet new neighbours with only cookies."
[My darling]
"Why not?" Kashi asked, dangerously close to mourning.
"Because we have class." Said Zarri.
Kashi considered that. "We have wine."
"Wine and cake," Zarri corrected.
"Wine and cookies." Kashi fluttered her lashes innocently, her grip tightening around the box.
Dante looked between them. "This feels unnecessarily serious."
Both women turned. "Stay out of it."
Dante raised both hands. "Gladly."
Zarri returned her attention to Kashi. "My love."
Kashi raised a hand. "Perish the thought. No means no."
Zarri's patience visibly fractured. "You don't even eat that much cake."
Kashi's expression changed. "Touch my cake and lose a finger." She pulled the box closer. "No comparto mis pasteles. No es no. Entendido?"
[I do not share my cakes. No means no. Understood?]
Zarri slowly released the box. "Ooh. Your Spanish has improved."
Kashi relaxed. Then Zarri reached behind the cake and produced another, smaller box.
Kashi blinked. "Que? You bought another one?"
[What?]
"Ah, si." Zarri looked offended. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
[Yes.]
Dante snorted. Zarri turned towards him. Dante immediately returned to his phone.
Zarri rearranged the cookies one last time, covered them, then picked up the smaller cake.
Kashi grabbed the bottle of wine from the counter. "My cake stays."
"Yes, dictator." Zarri waved her off.
Ten minutes later—
Ding-dong.
Zarri rang the bell. A few seconds passed. Footsteps approached and the door swung open.
Alex stood there. His eyes landed on Zarri. His whole face brightened.
"Hi, baby."
Zarri immediately raised the tray of cookies into his line of sight. "Cookies."
Alex leaned back slightly, his gaze travelling over her outfit. "...And a show. How could I refuse?"
Colour crept into Zarri's cheeks. "Welcome to the neighbourhood."
His grin returned. "Thank you, Princess." He opened the door wider. Zarri walked in first. Dante followed, but not before he and Alex exchanged a quiet, measuring look. Neither spoke as Dante walked past.
Alex's attention shifted to Kashi. He whistled. Kashi did not even look at him. She walked straight inside.
Alex watched her pass. "Tough crowd."
"Keep breathing while you still can," Kashi said over her shoulder.
Alex grinned.
Inside, the house was already mostly arranged.
Modern furniture filled the living room, though several boxes remained stacked against the walls. Everything was clean, sleek and expensive in the aggressive way only absurd amounts of money could achieve.
Zarri stepped into the centre of the room. Then threw both hands wide. "WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD!" Her voice echoed through the house.
From the kitchen doorway, Xavier appeared.
He looked at Zarri. Kashi. Dante. Alex. Then at the cookies.
Xavier slowly stepped backwards saying, "Nope. Not paid enough for this." And disappeared into the kitchen again.
Dante stared after him. "I like him."
Kashi's mouth twitched. Alex shut the door. Zarri placed the tray on the coffee table.
Alex immediately reached for a cookie and Zarri slapped his hand away.
"Ow!" He withdrew it and looked at her pitifully. "Why?"
"You haven't said thank you properly."
"I said thank you."
"You said thank you while staring at my chest."
Alex looked offended. "I can multitask." He reached again.
Smack.
"Ow!"
Kashi walked towards the sofa and set the wine on the table.
Footsteps came from the kitchen. Chaos appeared holding a half-empty bottle of wine he had been drinking. He stopped when he saw them.
His gaze moved first to Zarri. Dante, when he found Kashi it stayed there.
Kashi raised the bottle she had brought. "We came bearing tribute."
Chaos looked at it.
Kashi stepped forward and pushed it lightly against his chest.
"Welcome to the neighbourhood."
Chaos caught it easily. For a second, he simply looked at her. Then his mouth curved. "Thank you."
"Don't make it weird." Kashi looked away.
Chaos appeared personally offended by the accusation.
Before he could respond, Xavier reappeared from the kitchen carrying several glasses. Apparently, he had accepted that peace was no longer available to him.
He placed them on the table.
Chaos handed Xavier his half-empty bottle, then uncorked the one Kashi had brought. He poured a glass, handed it directly to her.
Kashi accepted it.
Dante, standing nearby, held out his own empty glass. Chaos shoved the entire bottle into his hand without even looking at him.
Dante blinked.
What did I do?
Dante frowned and walked towards the sofa. "Tsk." He sat down and poured himself a glass. A very full glass, he examined the label.
Ouu. Expensive.
He poured a little more.
If someone wanted to be hostile while supplying him with expensive wine, that was their financial mistake.
Across the room, Alex finally managed to steal a cookie while Zarri was distracted. He took one bite. Zarri turned. Alex froze with the cookie halfway to his mouth.
He chewed slowly. "Mm?"
Zarri started towards him.
Alex backed away. "Come now, my fair lady. Play it cool."
"You stole my cookie."
"Our cookie." Alex retreated another step. "You brought them into my house."
"That does not make them yours." Zarri advanced.
Alex grinned, manoeuvred around her and snatched another cookie. Zarri lunged. He stepped backwards, laughing as she tried to grab the remaining half from his hand.
"Give it!"
"No."
"Sergeyev!"
"Ask nicely."
"Give me the fucking cookie!" Zarri caught his wrist.
Alex lifted his arm higher. She glared up at him and smacked his chest.
Alex burst out laughing.
From the kitchen doorway, Xavier slowly covered his eyes with one hand. He lowered it just enough to peek.
Zarri had finally managed to retrieve the cookie. Alex had somehow turned the entire struggle into an excuse to wrap one arm around her waist.
She was threatening to bite him and he looked delighted.
Xavier covered his eyes again. The shame was unbearable for him.
Zarri finally escaped Alex and smoothed down her clothes. "You are impossible."
Alex wandered over to Chaos, still laughing. "Eta malen'kaya zhenshchina zabavnaya."
[This little woman is amusing.]
Chaos grinned. "Tebe povezlo. Moya tol'ko smotrit na menya s nenavist'yu."
[Lucky you. Mine only looks at me with hatred.]
"Interesno, pochemu?"
[I Wonder why.]
Both men turned.
Kashi stood across the room, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
Alex stared at her.
Chaos recovered first. "You speak Russian?"
"Among many others." Kashi smiled.
Zarri walked over. "Este hombres cree que su idioma lo es todo."
[This men thinks thier language is everything.]
Alex slowly turned towards her.
Chaos stepped closer to Kashi, switching languages without warning. "Anata wa nankokugo hanasemasu ka?"
[How many languages can you speak?]
Kashi leaned closer. "Anata wa ikutsu hanasemasu ka?"
[How many can you speak?]
Zarri leaned towards Alex and bit the cookie he held out to her. "What are they saying?"
Alex paused. "Oh, I…" He looked between Chaos and Kashi. "I was dumb in school. I don't know."
Smack.
Zarri's palm landed on his head.
"Ow! Woman, your hand hurts!" Alex held his head
"Hmph." Zarri marched towards the sofa and dropped beside Dante.
Dante shifted over without comments.
💜~~~
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