Rina StarLai: Issue 008

Hello all! I know the last 2 chapters lacked a bit of steaminess but I didn't want to add any where I thought it wouldn't fit :(

I'll try to pick it up!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15. TWO MASKS, ONE FLAME:

The shimmering vortex of teleportation faded, leaving Rina and Solace standing in the glowing red-and-gold control room. Embers drifted softly through the air like fireflies. Velvet curtains swayed despite no wind.

Rina pulled her hair back into a quick, messy bun and adjusted her scorched bodysuit. "Whew. Okay. That was spicy even for me."

Solace stood completely still.

Expression unreadable. Arms crossed behind their back. Glowing eyes calmly assessing the room.

Then-

"You hide it well."

Rina blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Your duality." Solace turned their head slowly to face her. "You pretend to be only this: fire and glamour. Loud. Theatrics. But beneath it, you're fractured. You are one person wearing two masks."

Rina laughed a little too loudly. "Wow, I love a good cryptic monologue. You practicing for a TED Talk?"

Solace didn't blink.

"You are Rin So-Lee. Son of Youngjae and Minji. Twenty years old. Procrastinating medical student. Amateur crossdresser. Fire-based anomaly. Your transformation method is unorthodox and... frankly, indecent."

Rina's eyes widened. "What the hell-?"

"Don't worry." Solace's voice didn't change. "I won't tell the others."

Rina's mouth opened. Closed. Then opened again. "I- how do you- You read my mind?! That's illegal. Or, like... unethical."

Solace tilted their head slightly. "I didn't need to read your mind. I read the room."

"... I feel like that was both an insult and a compliment."

"You're a liability. But you're powerful." They stepped closer. "And real. The Unity is full of masks. You... at least know you're wearing one."

Rina folded her arms. "So what, this is your way of welcoming me to the big leagues? A telepathic strip tease of my personal baggage?"

Solace didn't flinch. "No. This is a warning. You are being watched. Closely."

Then softer, barely a whisper beneath their cool exterior:

"Don't lose yourself to the performance."

Rina's throat tightened.

But before she could speak again, Solace turned.

"This place... is impressive." Their tone didn't change, but somehow the faintest note of curiosity bled through. "Feels alive. Like it's bonded to you."

Rina blinked. "Uh. Yeah. She's called Sis. She's kind of a bitch."

*I HEARD THAT* Sis chimed from the walls.

Solace gave the faintest smirk. A ghost of a thing.

"Until next time," they said. And just like that... gone. Teleported in a swirl of pale silver light.

Rina stood in the silence for a moment.

Then muttered to herself: "Well that wasn't terrifying at all."

She took a breath. Slipped off one heel. Then the other. She limped over to the Glam Room, plucked out the amulet and let her body flicker back to normal. Back to Rin.

Still barefoot, he slumped against the nearest velvet chaise and sighed. "I don't get paid enough for this."

*YOU AREN'T PAID AT ALL, MISS RINA.*

"I KNOW, SIS."

A flick of light illuminated the Transport Room.

Rin straightened his hoodie, brushed ash off his pants, and stepped into the glowing portal.

The scene was calmer now, mostly. Workers were sweeping up broken glass, patrons getting comped meals. The mood was still shaken, but the energy had shifted back toward confusion over panic.

Laia stood near the front, chatting with Rin's mom in a tone of "everything is totally normal" while also clearly looking around.

Rin slipped out of the hallway like nothing had happened, adjusting his hoodie as he approached.

"Hey," he said, breathless. "Sorry. I missed all the drama."

Laia blinked. "You just- did you crawl back out of Narnia?!"

"I took the back exit," Rin lied.

His dad waved a pair of tongs. "You missed the hottest woman I've ever seen. She turned into a fireball."

"I... heard."

"I'm going to melt into the floor now." He whispered to Laia.

Laia handed him a lettuce wrap. "Not before you eat. You're gonna need the strength for what's coming."

He raised an eyebrow. "What is coming?"

She just smiled.

"You'll see."

-

Rin's bedroom was quiet, the distant chaos of dinner behind them. Outside, the cicadas hummed lazily beneath a soft violet sky. The curtains were drawn, casting everything in a faint, warm glow from Rin's bedside lamp.

Laia sat cross-legged on his bed, makeup wiped clean, hair tied up in a messy bun. She wore one of his oversized sleep shirts that said "I paused my game for this?" in faded lettering.

Rin stood by the mirror, tugging off his hoodie with a groan. "I swear, if one more person calls Rina 'mysterious' like she's not one accidental gust of wind away from public indecency..."

Laia smirked. "She's a mystery wrapped in a scandal, dipped in glitter."

Rin flopped onto the bed beside her. "I cannot believe I fell on top of Jun in front of my parents."

"Oh, I can. You're a disaster." She nudged his thigh with her foot. "A hot disaster, though."

He groaned, throwing an arm over his face. "I should've stayed in the temple."

"You mean the temple where we get ambushed by cryptic superhero messages?" She raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, sounds like a relaxing getaway."

Rin peeked at her through his arm. "... Fair."

There was a long beat of silence. The kind that came only after adrenaline had crashed, and all that was left was the weight of everything unspoken.

Then Laia rolled onto her side and looked at him.

"So, you like him."

Rin blinked. "... What?"

She grinned. "Jun. You like him."

"I don't- He doesn't even know who I- I'm not gay!"

"You like him." She sing-songed it, kicking him again.

Rin turned scarlet. "He thinks I'm two different people."

"Yeah, and he might be into both of you. Double win."

Rin covered his face. "Oh my god."

Laia stretched, then casually dropped the bomb like it was nothing.

"Oh, by the way- I told him Rina might show up at the Unity fundraiser gala tomorrow."

Rin froze. Slowly peeked through his fingers. "You what?!"

She shrugged. "What? He asked if he'd see her again. I said maybe. And that she likes fancy things. And open bars. And emotional chaos."

"Laia!"

"What? You need a win! The guy caught you with your thighs wrapped around him. Might as well turn that energy into something productive."

"I'm going to combust."

"You already did. Twice. In heels."

He groaned again, burying his face into the pillow this time.

Laia reached over and gently rubbed his back.

"Hey... I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't think it could go somewhere. You deserve someone who makes you feel excited and safe."

Rin turned his head slightly. "You think he'd like... me? As me?"

She met his eyes. "I think he already does."

Rin's breath caught for just a moment.

Then-

"... I'm not wearing anything to that gala unless you pick it."

"Oh, I will. And you're gonna look edible."

He smiled softly.

"Thanks, Laia."

She flopped back onto the bed beside him with a dramatic sigh. "Now let's watch something stupid and pretend we're not two hot messes who fought monsters and made sexy public appearances this week."

Rin rolled onto his side, grinning. "Deal."

As they queued up some trashy dating show and the glow of the screen lit up the room, everything felt, if only for a moment, normal.

But in the back of Rin's mind... he was already wondering what he'd say if Jun recognized him.

And what he'd do if he didn't.

16. GLAM AND GLORY:

The Unity's surveillance chamber was dark, high-tech, and humming with quiet tension. Multiple holographic screens floated in mid-air, flickering with clips of Rina StarLai in motion - spinning, fighting, posing, erupting in flame.

But not all the footage was from combat.

One screen, paused mid-frame, showed a close-up of Rina's thighs trembling in the velvet-tiled Med Room. Her back was arched. Her fingers curled into silk sheets. Her face? A picture of divine overstimulation.

"... Is she training?" asked Echo, the team's speedster, tilting her head. "Or is this... something else?"

"She's definitely training something," muttered Raze, arms crossed, his tone more amused than concerned. "That posture screams pelvic-focused regulation."

Another clip played: Rina, mid-moan, shoving her face into a pillow as her body lit with gold flickers. The glowing plug visible only for a moment before she collapsed into magical afterglow.

Blink, the tech analyst, zoomed in on the footage with a whistle. "Okay, but why is everything - everything - centered on her ass? Every power surge. Every glow. Even her transformation? It's all from the base of the spine and - what is that? Is that a toy?"

There was a beat of silence.

Then Echo, eyes wide: "... Are we looking at a sex-powered superhero?"

Solace, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward.

"She regulates her energy through pressure," they said calmly. "It's an unconventional channeling method. Likely a side effect of the artifact's integration."

Raze leaned forward, smirking. "Right. So you're saying she needs to... bottom out before she blows up the city?"

"She's literally built different," Echo muttered, scrolling through frame-by-frame. "Look at this one. Is she grinding on a fire hydrant?"

Solace closed their eyes. Breathe. Control the narrative.

"She's young. Improvising. We should focus on her tactical abilities."

Blink raised an eyebrow. "You knew her real identity before any of us, didn't you?"

Solace didn't blink. "I analyzed her energy signature earlier. It was... familiar."

Raze smirked. "And what else is familiar to you, Solace? You getting a little hot under that high collar?"

Solace's expression remained unreadable. "Her powers are volatile. She must regulate often. The method is irrelevant."

"Her method is relevant if it involves magical butt plugs!" Blink said, throwing up his hands. "What if she short-circuits during a mission? Or worse, what if she activates during a mission?"

Another clip appeared: Rina bent over, moaning softly, hand pressed to the wall as flame sparked between her thighs.

Echo whispered, "She's so dramatic. I love her."

"Enough," Solace said sharply. Their voice was still calm, but something underneath it had shifted. A protective note. Almost... possessive.

"The truth would only distract us. Her identity is secure. Her method is functional. And if we let our biases cloud our judgment-"

Blink interrupted, "You just don't want us to find out why she only activates from the ass."

Solace didn't move.

Then slowly, they leaned forward, gaze cold and silver and gleaming.

"She's more than the method. And if you focus too much on how she burns," they said, voice soft as steel, "you'll miss what she's setting on fire."

Silence.

The clips paused.

The room stayed still.

Finally, Raze let out a low whistle. "Okay, fine. But if she melts a building while humping a streetlight, I'm blaming you."

Echo giggled. "Honestly? I'll blame the patriarchy."

The footage continued playing on loop. Rina, fierce and flawless, spun through frame after frame of chaotic beauty and flaming heels.

And Solace stood still.

Quiet.

Knowing just how close the others had come to the truth.

-

The house was quiet again.

The tea kettle had long stopped hissing. The dishes were drying in their rack. And Minji stood alone at the kitchen window, fingers absently rubbing the handle of her mug, her eyes unfocused.

Outside, the wind stirred the hedges, just enough to rustle the leaves. But she wasn't looking at them.

She was thinking.

Jun had said so many things last night. And not just once... multiple times. How "her voice was deeper than expected," how "she moved like she owned the floor," how she "kissed like she meant it."

And then...

"She called me daddy."

Minji had nearly dropped her chopsticks.

She glanced over at the sink, where Rin had tried to hide his burning red ears behind a cup of water. Where Laia had barely contained her smirk. Where Rin's voice had jumped an octave every time Jun asked about his mysterious "sister."

And that fall. That very dramatic, very physical accident that left Rin straddling the poor boy like a scene out of a racy drama. The way Jun had looked at Rin - curious, charmed, confused.

Minji took a slow sip of tea.

She didn't have all the answers. She didn't know exactly what Rin was doing, or who this glamorous girl with fire powers really was. But a mother doesn't need to see the whole picture to recognize their child.

And what she saw...

Was Rin finally looking alive.

Finally moving through the world with something like confidence. Maybe not all the time. Maybe not in the ways expected. But it was there. In the laugh that had returned to his voice. In the glint behind the embarrassment. In the fear- yes -but also the thrill.

Minji whispered, just to herself, "Maybe... he doesn't know yet."

She set the mug down. Ran her fingers along the rim. "Or maybe he does. And he's still figuring out what it means."

She didn't say it with judgment.

Just... wonder. And maybe a touch of sadness. That she didn't know sooner. That he hadn't told her. That he felt he had to hide.

But more than anything, Minji felt a quiet, growing protectiveness.

Whoever Rin became, whoever this fiery, stiletto-clad woman was, she was still hers.

Still her child.

"Minj." Her husband's voice broke the silence.

She turned to see Youngjae coming down the stairs, adjusting his shirt. "You talking to the plants again?"

She gave him a faint smile. "Just thinking."

He opened the fridge, poked around. "About the superhero girl from last night?"

She didn't answer right away.

Instead, she asked, "What do you think of her?"

Youngjae shrugged, pulling out a bottle of water. "Flashy. Over the top. Looks like a music video exploded on her. But she saved people. That's what matters, right?"

Minji nodded slowly. "Right."

He sat down at the table, cracking the lid. "Rin was acting weird again. Same timing as that fight."

"Mm."

"You think it's girl problems?"

Minji smiled, small and secret. "Something like that."

Youngjae took a swig. "Whatever it is, I just hope he's safe."

Minji looked back toward the window, her voice soft. "I think he's finally starting to feel that way."

Youngjae raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

She turned, kissed the top of his head, and said, "Nothing."

And she meant it. Because for now, it was enough to simply know.

-

The floating wardrobe slid to a stop, revealing the dress Laia had been dying to show him.

It was still dramatic. Still fierce. Still unapologetically slutty.

But this time, it was for Rin.

Not Rina.

Deep crimson satin with sheer flame-cut panels across the hips. A high slit to the thigh. Chunky platforms. A harness made of delicate gold chains that wrapped around his waist and over one shoulder like a sash of sin.

Laia turned to him with reverence. "We're going full femme prince tonight."

Rin stared at the outfit, a storm of emotions behind his eyes.

"You think I can pull that off?" he asked quietly.

Laia gave him a once-over. "Babe. That's not a question. You're going to own that room. And you're going to make Jun sweat."

Rin hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. No transformation. Just me."

Laia smirked. "Exactly. Rin, the glitterbomb."

And the makeover began with as much chaos as ever:

-Laia painting his lips with deep plum gloss.

-Rin lacing up the corset and wobbling slightly in the mirror.

-Sis projecting a full-length mirror and saying, *WARNING: SLUT RATING EXCEEDS 85%.*

-Rin blushing but smiling.

-Laia tightening the harness and slapping his butt. "For courage."

-Rin laughing, more at ease.

Rin looked at himself in the mirror one last time.

Not Rina Starlai.

Not the boy from the kitchen table.

Just... plain Rina.

In a dress.

In heels.

Gorgeous. Unapologetic. Whole.

Laia stood beside him, shimmering in a tailored sequin suit and stilettos. "Ready, firecracker?"

He took a breath. Then smiled.

"Let's make an entrance."

The teleportation pad whirred to life beneath Rin and Laia's feet, casting a soft shimmer of rose-gold light over them.

Rin adjusted the drape of his crimson satin dress, checked that the gold chain harness was still snug across his hip, and tried not to hyperventilate.

Laia cracked her knuckles beside him, cool as a cucumber in stilettos.

"You okay?" she asked, glancing sideways.

Rin nodded. "No."

She smirked. "Perfect."

With a final jolt of energy, the teleportation beam surged upward, and they vanished in a flash of flame and sequins.

-

The Unity Gala was held in what could only be described as a floating palace of glass and starlight.

Dozens of heroes, dignitaries, and elite invitees mingled beneath a crystal dome suspended above a glittering city skyline. Capes fluttered. Gowns flowed. Masks shimmered. It was high society meets high stakes.

And to pause the night, two figures descended down the staircase.

One in crimson satin and chains, heels clicking like war drums. The other, sequin-suited, lip-glossed, and smirking like a femme fatale on vacation.

The music softened. Heads turned. Conversations halted.

And Rin - full glam, long lashes, chest harness glinting under the lights - walked down the stairs like he had every right to be there.

Because he did.

Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Who is that?"

"Is that-?"

"That's not Rina StarLai... is it?"

Near the open bar, Jun nearly dropped his drink.

He turned to one of the other guests, blinking rapidly. "That's her. That's- her. The girl from the bar."

His drink was taken gently from his hand by a passing caterer.

Laia leaned in as they reached the marble floor. "So far, no explosions. We're ahead of schedule."

Rin smiled tightly. "Let's keep it that way."

They stepped into the crowd and were immediately swallowed by it. Reporters hovered, Unity members watched from balconies, and somewhere across the room...

Solace stood like a still shadow, gaze locked on them.

And next to the bar...

Jun.

Frozen.

Staring.

Laia nudged Rin. "Target acquired."

Rin gave her one final look of terror.

"Breathe, firecracker," she whispered. "Time to burn."

He exhaled.

Then turned... and walked straight toward Jun.

Jun stood stiffly at the bar, one hand clutching the edge of the counter like it might anchor him in reality. His eyes followed every sway of Rin's hips, every flick of chain and satin and smirk.

Rin's heels clicked softly across the marble floor, nerves tucked neatly beneath a layer of lipstick and crimson satin. He kept his posture straight, chin up, every step polished into performance.

Jun stood near the bar, scanning the crowd- until his eyes landed on Rin.

He froze.

Rin swallowed.

Then walked straight toward him.

"Hey," Rin said, voice soft and steady, trained to ride the edge between sultry and composed.

Jun blinked, then blinked again. "You..."

He stepped closer, his smile blooming with recognition. "It's you. From the bar."

Rin offered a small smirk. "You sure?"

Jun laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Unless you've got a twin who also dances like sin and kisses like a matchbook, I'm pretty sure."

Rin chuckled.

Jun tilted his head. "Though I did meet your brother. Rin, right? At the restaurant?"

Rin tensed - just enough for Laia, watching nearby, to sip her champagne in a poor attempt to stifle a laugh.

"Oh?" Rin asked, carefully. "You met him?"

"Yeah, kinda awkward," Jun said. "He looked like he was about to combust the whole time. Said you were busy that night." He paused, eyeing Rin curiously. "Are you guys close?"

Rin smiled, just slightly crooked. "You could say that."

"He seemed... sweet. Nervous." Jun gave a lopsided grin. "Totally different energy from you."

"I'm a little more... hands-on," Rin said, stepping closer.

Jun's breath caught.

Rin leaned in, his voice low. "Sorry I missed dinner."

Jun raised an eyebrow. "You're forgiven."

Then, hand extended, gentle, inviting: "Dance with me outside?"

Rin hesitated only for a heartbeat.

Then took his hand.

The music inside throbbed like a heartbeat, but out there, it was quieter. Just the glittering skyline, the hum of starlight overhead, and the soft hush of wind weaving through draped curtains.

Rin stood with his back to the railing, the city lights casting a glow along his collarbones. He could feel Jun watching him- eyes sliding down his silhouette, lingering on the glint of chain at his waist, the way the satin clung like a whisper.

Jun stepped closer. "You disappeared that night."

Rin smirked, tilting his head. "Maybe I like being chased."

Jun chuckled low, sliding an arm around Rin's waist, pulling him close. "You're gonna get me in trouble."

"Only if you misbehave."

Rin had no clue where this natural and seductive flirting came from.

They began to sway, slow and lazy - no real music guiding them, just heat and tension and everything that hadn't been said since the bar. Jun's hands rested carefully on Rin's waist at first... but wandered. Bold. Curious.

Rin stiffened slightly as Jun's palm began to drift downward... toward dangerous territory.

He caught Jun's wrist gently.

Jun raised an eyebrow. "Shy all of a sudden?"

Rin forced a flirty pout. "Not shy... just, y'know... it's that time of the month."

Jun blinked. "Oh." Then blinked again. "Wait, really?"

Rin nodded quickly, brushing hair from his face. "Yeah. It's... heavy."

Jun, clearly not experienced enough to question it, just gave an awkward sympathetic grimace. "Damn. Sorry."

"It's okay," Rin said sweetly, pulling Jun's hand back to rest on his hip. "You can still touch me. Just... from behind."

Jun's smile turned devilish. "You're full of surprises."

Rin leaned in, voice warm in his ear. "You have no idea."

Jun's hands slid down, gripping tighter - pressing their bodies together. Rin gasped as Jun rolled his hips gently against him, the size difference making his legs tremble. The ache stirred in his lower belly like embers catching wind.

He tried to steady his breathing. Tried not to melt.

Jun's lips grazed his neck. "You always this sensitive?"

Rin whispered, "Only for you..."

Then Jun's hand dipped lower, fingers brushing over the swell of his ass through the thin dress. Rin whimpered softly, barely holding back a shudder.

"You're shaking," Jun said, voice low.

"I'm fine," Rin breathed. "Just... touch me slower."

And Jun did - grinding carefully, almost teasingly, his mouth hot against Rin's collarbone. Every inch of contact made Rin feel closer to unraveling, the ache spreading, coiling, begging.

"I've been wanting to do this since that night," Rin said, his voice low and sultry. He dropped to his knees, his hands moving to Jun's belt.

Jun's eyes widened in surprise, but he made no move to stop him.

Rin's heart raced as he pulled down Jun's pants, revealing his impressive erection. He had never done anything like this before, but the sight of Jun's dick made him eager to try. He wrapped his lips around the shaft, his tongue swirling around the head. Jun groaned, his hands tangling in Rin's hair as he thrust into Rin's mouth.

Rin's own dick grew hard as he sucked Jun off, the sensation of having another man's dick in his mouth both strange and exhilarating. He bobbed his head up and down, taking Jun deeper with each thrust. Jun's groans grew louder, his grip on Rin's hair tightening as he neared his climax.

Suddenly, Rin pulled away, his own dick aching with need.

"I want you." Jun breathed in his ear.

In an instant - a million thoughts raced through Rin's mind

- This is a real guy

- He's about to take a real dick

- Was he really ready for this?

- Did he really just give a blowjob?

- Does this make him legitimately gay now?

- Does he even want to be a boy?

- Will it hurt?

- What if his dick is small

- He's only ever had toys

- His arms are so hot

After an eternity in Rin's thoughts... he switched on.

Turning around and bending over to to meet his ass with Jun's hips - hands on the railing - he looked back and eyed Jun up and down.

"Then take me." Rin cooed.

He spread his legs, his gown hiked up around his waist. Jun moved behind him, his hands running over Rin's ass before he positioned his dick at Rin's entrance.

Rin gasped as Jun entered him, his dick stretching him open. It hurt at first, surprisingly way bigger than the 9 inch dildo he's used to, the pain quickly morphed into pleasure as Jun began to thrust. Rin pushed back against him, his own dick rubbing against the cold air.

Jun's hands caressed Rin's waist, thumbs tracing circles just above the soft curve of his ass, and Rin was melting - melting under the weight of his own desire, under the thrill of being touched like this, wanted like this.

"Damn," Jun murmured, pressing in closer, voice rough against his ear. "You feel amazing."

Rin's eyes fluttered shut as his body rocked forward slightly from the pressure, the chain at his waist jingling gently.

"I want to hear you," Jun said, voice lower now. "Don't hold back, baby."

Rin shivered. Baby. That word.

He bit his lip. "You make me feel so small..."

"You are," Jun said, pressing his chest flush against Rin's back. "So soft. So delicate."

Rin whimpered - caught between pleasure and something deeper, something blooming inside his chest and tightening his throat.

"I want to be yours," Rin whispered, trembling. "Like... your girl."

Jun's hips ground forward just slightly, dragging a gasp from Rin's lips.

"You are my girl," Jun murmured, hands sliding along his sides possessively. "I knew it from the moment I saw you dance. You move like you were made to be touched."

A soft moan escaped Rin - raw, honest, aching.

He didn't know why that hit so hard.

He didn't know why his eyes were suddenly pricking with tears while his thighs clenched together, every nerve ending singing. It was like a switch flipped. He wasn't just Rin pretending to be something else - he was this. This moment. This feeling. This girl Jun wanted.

"I want to be yours," he repeated, more desperate now. "Your girl, Jun."

Jun groaned into his neck, fingers digging into Rin's hips.

"You like that, don't you?" he whispered. "When I say you're mine. When I call you my girl."

Rin nodded rapidly, eyes wet, body pressed tight to the railing.

"Say it again," he whispered. "Please."

Jun obeyed without hesitation.

"You're my girl," he said, voice firmer. "Look at you. All dressed up, begging for me. You want me to wreck you like this?"

"Yes," Rin gasped, voice ragged. "Please, Jun. Ruin me. I want to be your perfect girl."

Jun's hand came down on his ass in a light, firm smack that made Rin yelp.

"God, you're so sensitive," Jun muttered. "Like you're made to take this."

"I am," Rin moaned. "I'm your girl. I want to feel you everywhere."

Jun's hands slid under the hem of the dress, grabbing a handful of lace thong and tugging slightly. Rin gasped again, legs shaking.

"Damn," Jun muttered with a laugh. "You even wear lingerie like a spoiled princess."

Rin's blush deepened- but it was true. The little pink bow on the back was not subtle.

"Such a good girl," Jun murmured, kissing behind his ear. "My good girl."

Rin's legs buckled. His whole body shuddered with the intensity of it.

That word - girl. Every time Jun said it, it felt like something inside him melted and settled into place. Like it was a puzzle piece that had always been missing and now suddenly fit.

He didn't know how to explain it.

He didn't want to explain it.

He just wanted Jun to keep going. Keep saying it.

"Jun- please," he whispered.

Jun pulled him tighter, voice gruff and hungry. "I've got you, sweetheart. Just let go."

One hand stayed on Rin's waist, steadying him. The other traveled down, between his thighs, teasing over the curve of his ass. Rin's breath hitched again.

With every touch. Every grind. Every kiss. He worshipped him - her - like he meant it. Like he didn't care about anything but how she whimpered, how her hips bucked, how she begged.

Rin sobbed once - softly - into his arm, overwhelmed by it all. The heat. The words. The rightness.

Their movements grew more frantic, their moans and gasps filling the night. Rin could feel Jun's dick swelling inside him, and he knew he was close to coming. He reached down, his hand wrapping around his own dick as he stroked himself in time with Jun's thrusts.

Just as they were about to reach their climax,

BOOM.

The sky split open in a burst of red.

The entire building rocked. Screams erupted from inside. Lights shattered. Glass exploded in a raining cascade.

Jun immediately pulled out and took Rin behind him. "What the hell-?!"

Another explosion thundered down the hall. Figures panicked inside the gala, some running for exits, others ducking behind tables.

"Stay here!" Jun shouted, eyes scanning for danger.

Rin nodded, breath catching. "Be careful-!"

But as soon as Jun darted into the chaos, Rin took off in the opposite direction, heels clicking across marble as he ducked behind the heavy drapes and down a narrow service corridor.

His heart thundered. The ache still hummed between his legs. His lips were swollen from Jun's kisses.

He tore the plug from the hidden slit under his dress, fingers trembling as he dropped to his knees and shoved it in.

"Please, don't let anyone follow me-"

POP.

FWOOOSH.

Flames engulfed him, magic bursting around his body like a firestorm unleashed. Satin burned away and reformed into obsidian lace and armor. Glitter exploded from her core.

And Rina StarLai rose from the ashes.

Eyes burning. Lips still bruised. Heart pounding not from fear... but from the terrifying thrill that this time- it wasn't a game.

She wasn't ready... but she had to be,

This was real.