Chapter Text
Billie walked slowly across the club floor, her eyes drifting over the familiar crowd.
Her own set ended nearly half an hour ago. Normally, she would’ve changed into her regular clothes, collected her things, and left right after. She had no interested in lingering with around drunkards.
Tonight, however, she had a reason to stay.
She had heard whispers that Adriana would be performing as a DJ. Billie had initially dismissed it, of course. Adriana was a supermodel first, or at least, that's how most people knew her. The occasional DJ set hardly seemed worth sticking around for, especially this late at night.
Her curiosity unfortunately disagreed.
She just had to know. To see her.
The music had changed since Billie left the stage. The crowd was thicker, packed around the DJ boots as colored lights swept across the room. And behind the equipment stood Adriana, looking entirely too comfortable there.
Of course she did. Adriana seemed comfortable anywhere, as long as people were watching her.
Billie leaned against the edge of the bar, watching from a distance. She had seen Adriana around the club before, everyone had, it was difficult not to notice her. But this was different.
There was something almost irritating about how naturally she occupied the space, as if she had been working at the club for years, instead of merely stopping by between modeling gigs.
Billie took a slow sip of her drink. She told herself she was only observing, just in case someone was hurt. Just that. After all, Adriana was mafia. Billie knew better than to trust her.
Still, when Adriana glanced up from the booth and their eyes met, Billie found herself smiling a little before she could stop herself.
Adriana’s lips curved into a knowing smile.
Billie's face fell immediately and she looked away, but it was too late. Adriana had noticed.
Billie ordered a drink, her mind racing. How had Adriana even known she was being watched? Her eyes found Billie almost immediately, despite the crowded room.
Had Adriana known she was there? Billie brushed the thought aside and focused on the drink the bartender had slid over to her.
She reluctantly sat down on a bar stool, nursing the glass between her hands and staring at the ice.
It reminded her of Adriana’s eyes, so cold yet so inviting.
Billie stopped, her face warming slightly. Why was she thinking about Adriana while staring at mere ice cubes?
She looked back at the booth where Adriana was still playing, completely absorbed in the music. Billie sighed quietly.
As time passed, Billie leaned her head against one hand, and her excuse about merely observing became harder to justify.
Surely, she would have left by now. She's been watching for nearly an hour. Adriana wouldn’t dare to do anything rash in a club full of people.
Still, Billie stayed.
After the set ended, Billie watched Adriana disappear backstage.
She waited only a moment before standing up and slipping through the staff only door.
She was allowed to be there. Adriana couldn’t say anything.
At least, that’s what Billie told herself.
The hallway was nearly empty. Billie frowned, glancing around.
Where had Adriana gone so quickly?
Finally, her eyes land on the open door of a dressing room. It was barely open, just a crack, but something about it pulled at her curiosity.
Slowly, Billie crept closer and stopped in front of the door. She leaned forward, peeking into the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever was inside.
And, naturally, that was the exact moment Adriana opened the door.
Billie straightened up immediately, face flushing with embarrassment. “... Adriana,” she started, but Adriana cut her off.
“It's not nice to peek into people’s rooms, Billie.” Adriana said, an infuriating smirk already on her face. “You should be less predictable. You just couldn’t resist snooping around, you never can.”
Billie frowned , crossing her arms as she glanced down the hall. “I was not snooping, Adriana. I simply... wanted to know if you were in your dressing room. I thought the set was good.”
Adriana outright laughed, tilting her head to the side. “Thought the set was good? Yeah, yeah. The moment I saw you staring at me across the room, I knew you’d show up.”
She leaned against the doorframe. “I left the door open for you.”
Billie stared at her, momentarily speechless. Then, she frowned. “You did not.”
“I did.” Adriana nodded, entirely too pleased with herself.
“You’re lying.” Billie accused, stepping a bit closer to point a finger at her.
Adriana's smile only widened. “Maybe I am.”
Billie's eyes narrowed, and she groaned. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet you’re here.”
That shut Billie up.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adriana stepped aside, holding the door open. “Are you coming in, or are you planning to keep standing there all night?”
Billie hesitated, glancing into the room. She should leave. She had already embarrassed herself enough for one evening. She had watched Adriana’s entire set, followed her backstage, and then gotten caught peeking through a door like a snooping child.
She had absolutely no reason to go inside. So, naturally, she did.
Billie stepped into the room, and Adriana closed the door behind her. The noise from the club became quieter, reduced to a quiet thumping through the walls. It was strangely peaceful.
Adriana walked over to the mirror, reaching up to remove one of her earrings. “So,” she said casually. “You stayed for the whole set.”
Billie hesitated, lingering near the door as she watched Adriana’s reflection from the mirror. “I was... curious.” She finally admitted.
Adriana didn’t look away as she continued. “About my music?” Then, she glanced at Billie through the mirror. “Only my music?”
Billie frowned, folding her arms. “What else would I be curious about?”
Adriana shrugged, placing the earring on the table. “You tell me.”
Billie sighed, walking closer reluctantly, glancing at the items strewn across the table. “You’re enjoying this.”
Adriana smiled slightly, shrugging. “I’m enjoying watching you try to convince yourself you weren’t watching me.”
“I wasn’t - “ Billie started, but Adriana cut her off when she turned around. “You spent an hour sitting at the bar, looking directly at me.”
Billie blinked. “I was looking at the stage.”
“i was on the stage,” Adriana reminded her, raising an eyebrow.
Billie opened her mouth, then ultimately closed it. Adriana's laughter made her roll her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“And you,” Adriana said, poking a finger at Billie’s chest. “Are terrible at lying. She saw Billie’s expression soften for a moment, and for once chose to not comment on it.
For a moment, no words were exchanged. The silence settled between them.
The teasing expression gradually faded from Adriana’s face, replaced by something quieter. “You really don’t trust me, do you?”
The question caught Billie off guard. Reluctantly, she looked away. “No.”
Adriana nodded, having expected that answer. “I suppose I can’t blame you.”
“You’re mafia.” Billie reminded her, frowning slightly.
“I am.” was all Adriana replied, nodding slowly. Her expression was completely unreadable now.
That's what bothered Billie the most. She could never tell when Adriana was joking, or when she was flirting, or when she was dead serious. “Then why do you keep doing this?” Billie finally asked.
“Doing what?” Adriana asked, tilting her head like she really didn’t know.
“Inviting me into your room. Teasing me. Looking at me like that, touching me, and...” Billie counted, eventually trailing off.
Adriana was quiet for a moment. Then, she smiled again, but there was something almost nervous beneath it. “Maybe I like having you around.”
Billie's heart gave an embarrassing little jump. She hated that Adriana could so easily have such an effect on her. “That’s a terrible reason.”
“I know.” Adriana agreed, but made no move to change anything.
“And... you should probably stop.” Billie continued.
“I probably should.” Adriana agreed again.
Neither of them moved away.
Adriana's gaze lingered on her for another second, before she reluctantly added, “But I don’t really want to.”
The silence after her confession was deafening in a way Billie had never experienced.
It wasn’t the silence of exhaustion, or the silence of the empty streets. It was the silence of an admission that could destroy them both.
Adriana had always been difficult to read. Onstage, she could make thousands of people believe whatever she wanted them to believe. A smile, a glance, the slightest movement, and the entire room would follow.
But here, there was no audience. No music. No crowd to stand behind.
Just Adriana, sitting a few feet away from her, looking uncertain.
Billie swallowed “You should,” She eventually said.
“I know.” Adriana nodded slowly, folding her hands in her lap.
“I’m town. I’m the doctor, I’m your most dangerous enemy.”
“I know that too.” Adriana’s voice was quiet. Of course she did. Billie didn’t hide it well, and Adriana was the only reason she hadn’t been taken out yet.
Billie let out a quiet, frustrated breath. “Then... Why?”
Adriana's eyes dropped. “Because every time I tell myself to stay away, I can’t escape you.” She paused. “Not at work, not in my own head, not here.”
Billie's chest tightened. Not my own head, the words echoed unpleasantly in her mind.
Adriana gave a small, humorless laugh. “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”
Billie looked down at the floor. “...Very.”
“At least we agree on something.” Adriana hummed as she reached up and removed her necklace. She caught the faint smile on Billie’s face, and it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Billie’s smile faded once more as she glanced at the door. “This can’t work.”
Adriana said nothing.
“We could get caught.” Billie continued. “And you could... be killed.”
Adriana nodded slowly. “So could you.”
Billie frowned, still refusing to look at her. “This isn’t funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.” Adriana stated.
Billie looked back at her. For once, Adriana wasn’t smiling. There was no teasing in her expression, no carefully practiced charm. Just honestly.
Billie had spent so long reminding herself that Adriana was dangerous, that she had forgotten something much simpler.
Adriana was a person. A person who had chosen the mafia. A person Billie couldn’t trust. A person Billie couldn’t stop caring about.
She took a slow breath. “You make this difficult.”
Adriana looked up at her. “I know.”
Silence took over once more.
Neither of them seemed to know what came next.
Finally, Billie stepped closer. Adriana didn’t react.
Neither of them seemed certain who had made the first decision.
Billie stopped only a short distance away. “If I regret this,” she whispered, “I’m blaming you.”
Adriana's smile returned, small and relieved. “I’d expect nothing less.”
Billie rolled her eyes. Then, Finally, she leaned forward and kissed her.
It was brief, almost hesitant, as though either of them might change their mind at the last second. Neither did.
When they pulled apart, Billie kept her eyes closed for a moment. “This was a terrible idea.”
Adriana smiled, noticing the faint stain of her red lipstick left on Billie’s lips. “Definitely.”
Billie opened her eyes, relaxing slightly. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re still here.” Adriana commented.
Billie sighed. Unfortunately, she was.