Cinema Lovers

It was raining. A thick wet deluge from the heavens that coated everything it touched and made moving through it an oppressive slog. Water streamed down pavement sides in long ropes of liquid before meeting the metal teeth of roadside drains. In this wet mess was Raya, trotting uphill in her battle against the elements. She was running late. The perspiration from her brisk movements was one with the soaked air around her, making a miserable experience of her march up to a boxy looking building in the distance, her stylish knee-high boots angrily splashing with each step.

Pushing through the glass door, she awkwardly searched for her phone in a sodden handbag and went up to the counter.

"I'm here for the movie marathon." She said, wiping globules of water from her face.

Behind the counter stood a thoroughly unimpressed teenager, bored both of his job, and of the clientele he served.

"You're ten minutes late. As per the seven minute rule I cannot let you in."

"Really? For god's sake it's a six hour marathon. What's ten minutes?"

The teenager, unused to a defiant cinema nerd, or more likely simply not willing to argue with one, quickly conceded and let her in. The young woman, now armed with popcorn and a drink, entered the dark and quiet screening room. The film had already started, well past the endless montage of trailers and opening logos. Raya searched for her seat, squinting for it in that odd darkness that only a cinema screen emitted. She found it well enough, only to be taken, like the seat next to it, by some sickly cute couple with arms wrapped around one another. Seething, she opted for a vacant seat in a back corner. After all, she only needed one. The girl sat, and attempted to find some way to be comfortable in her soaked clothes. Her cute outfit, a short blue skirt with white blouse, was all soppy underneath her jacket. She took the now rather heavy jacket off, attempting to wrap it over the back of her seat while somehow not moving or making any noise. She had already spied some annoyed looking faces, all half-illuminated scowls, with her belated entrance, and so wanted nothing more to just get comfortable and disappear into the fantasy in front of her.

This was supposed to be her treat. The highlight of her weekend. Of her month. A marathon screening of her favourite films from her favourite series. She had even dressed up. She hadn't expected to be late. To be soaked to the bone, or to be alone. She settled into her seat, hoping to make the best of a bad situation.

Finally starting to dry off, she did find herself getting into the film. She had seen them many times before, but that was half the appeal. To see something familiar, but blown up and celebrated on the big screen. Smiling, Raya recalled the first time she stumbled on these little foreign animated films, late at night on sketchy websites, and of a miserable pixelated quality that locked it into a particular time and place now long gone. She fell in love with them then, and here they now were, all cleaned up and ready to be fallen in love with again. Original film reels whirred overhead, imperfections of the film grain adding a wonderful texture to the image that she could now appreciate in an all-new way. The smile grew, and Raya sunk deeper into the plush velvet seating.

Her enjoyment was soon interrupted, however, by the sound of someone to her right. Another late arrival, she now had the chance to be a half lit scowling face. It was a young man, who from his nervous scanning of the dark cinema, had also had his seat poached. It was then that he and Raya both mutually realised the only free seat left in the house was the one next to her. He sheepishly approached, mouthing and pointing to the vacant space. She nodded, and he silently sat. She didn't catch much sight of him in the dark, and for that first screening tried her best to pretend he wasn't there, her cozy nook having been ruined by his presence.

After near two hours or thereabouts the film ended. The plucky heroine had won the day through her magical powers and the support of her equally magical girlfriends. She had even managed to kiss the handsome masked boy. Very cute. Then the lights went up, and the ushers informed the moviegoers of a short break before the next screening. Taking this time to stretch her legs, and relieve herself of the debt she owed her large drink, Raya sought to get up.

Looking over, she made awkward eye contact with the young man next to her. The man, his face now lit by the house lights, made a small smile and stood up. Raya had to slide by him, carrying what remained of her popcorn, now all stale pieces and inedible kernels. As she did, something caught her foot. Her boots were a new purchase, not unrelated to the event she was at currently. She was unused to them, and a pointed end of the red leather shoes caught the metal housing of the chair, and she took a tumble. Or she would have, if not caught by the stranger next to her. Warm, safe hands held her waist, breaking her fall enough for her to regain her footing. His hands lingered on her for a moment as she straightened up, presumptuous, yet undeniably pleasant. Raya blushed.

"Oh excuse me, I'm so sorry! They're new boots. I didn't catch your foot did I?" she said, turning to face the man, her face rosy as a plum.

"No don't worry, I'm fine. You all right? Haven't twisted your ankle have you?"

He sounded sweet. A reserved voice that was very comfortable on the ears. Deeper than she expected, but warm and considered.

"I'm ok. Thank you. I'll just-" Raya went on, pointing to the exit out to the lobby.

Giving the man an awkward, deeply embarrassed smile, she strolled off, each step filled with a purpose to avoid her earlier embarrassment. After attending to her needs in the bathroom, Raya found herself in the cramped and surprisingly dark cinema lobby. The carpet underfoot was sticky with untold spills of sugary drinks and sweetened popcorn, and the walls were lined with a faded selection of classic film posters, all of which premiered before Raya was even born. Still, it had a grungy aesthetic that was nonetheless charming, and was filled with characters who only added to said aesthetic. The lobby was a mix of overdressed cinema nerds, 'softboys', and their reluctant girlfriends, or boyfriends, who packed the small space like it was some underground club. Raya spied that she was not the only one who dressed for the occasion, spying sweet, socially oblivious girls clad in the outfits of various characters. Some in full gear, some just wearing a token bow or wig.

In this mess Raya made her way to the concession stand, looking to restart her binge of processed maize. In truth she'd had her fill, but she needed something to take her mind off the special kind of solitude that accompanies being alone in a crowd. Melting through pods of chatty patrons, thankful of the additional height her boots gave her so as not to drown in the sea of bodies, she joined the queue.

The queue passed slowly. Too slowly. Raya began to wonder if she would have time enough to get hers before the next screening started, or if she'd have to watch this one raw, without tactile or oral distraction. Thankfully the pace did start to pick up. Patrons walked back to their seats with decadently large buckets of popcorn, each one depleting the stores on show behind the counter. Finally, Raya made it to second in the queue, behind a broad back draped in a loose fit of thin fabric. The attendant scooped up this patron's popcorn, tucking the last of their product into the stripy paper container large enough to bathe an infant. There was none left, just in time for her to reach the front. Raya frowned, a defeated face falling on her as she looked on from behind the one in front of her. The attendant shrugged at some attempt at sympathy, catching the attention of the one in front of her. He turned around. The face was a familiar one: the man who she had been sat next to for the last two hours. The one who she tripped over, and had already familiarised himself with the outline of her waist to catch her.

"Unbelievable." She muttered.

The man heard, obviously, and immediately an awkwardness came across his face.

"Oh hello again." He stammered, unsure of what else he could say.

He looked genuinely concerned. The poor girl looked ready to cry. Even with a cursory glance he could tell she was here by herself, yet clearly she had no intention to, dressed in cosplay as she was.

"Hey. So, we're next to each other right? You want to share? I'll never finish it by myself anyway"

Then why did you buy so much, Raya thought to herself.

"I can get my own." She said curtly.

He looked back at the empty counter, the mopey teenage attendant now gone. "I don't think you can, I'm afraid."

"Well what makes you think I'd want yours?"

"You don't have to take it, but I'd like to offer. You just look like you need it. I'll reach across the counter, get you an empty bag."

Raya looked up at him. He was of a type of man outside what she had seen of the others here. He wasn't crusty like the aging goths, their ashy foundation the only thing keeping their faces together, nor was he a dorky nerd in a videogame tee, and neither was he some crunchy, creepy 'altboy', all purple painted nails at the end of inappropriately touchy fingers. Well, he had touched her, yet she didn't register that as inappropriate. More supportive, protective even. No, he just looked good. Stylish. Nice. Very nice.

"No. It's ok you don't have to do that; I don't have cooties. Thank you. You're more right than you think."

"I'm Marco."

"Raya."

They went back in, the last of the crowd to do so. Thankfully as they were sat at one end of the back row, they had no need to awkwardly shuffle through narrow rows of seats, apologising at every step. Instead they comfortably sat as the opening credits started to roll. True to his word, Marco put the obscenely sized bucket of popcorn between them, resting awkwardly on top his thigh where Raya's seat met his. It was an agreeable mix of salted and sweet popcorn, the combination of flavours giving a moreish quality that kept the two snacking through the entire feature. When watched back-to-back, the formulaic nature of the films became very apparent, dinging their quality somewhat. Still it was good fun. The crowd were as familiar as they could ever be with the plot, and would chuckle at flubs in animation or at lines lost in translation into English.

Raya was enjoying herself. This was her favourite of the series. It brought up in her a deep feeling of comfort. Warm, but also melancholy. Though the film stayed the same with every viewing since her first back in her childhood, she had changed every time. People had come and gone since then, relationships made, and ended, all punctuated by periodic viewings of this particular film. Now here was Raya again at this pit stop of her life. Where was she now? Alone, again. Another explosive end to a relationship not hours prior. He had said he wanted to wait until after the movie marathon, knowing how much she was looking forward to it, but apparently sitting and watching them all in a row was too much to stomach and so he called it off as she had put on the finishing touches to her outfit. He always said he loved these films. What else had he lied about? Loving her? Wanting to live together? She knew he wasn't lying when he said he had no idea where she could keep her collectables. It didn't matter now, it was all over, and Raya was at the start of the unpleasant process of reflection following all breakups. A time where one thinks a great deal, but never has much to say. A miserable, drawn out endeavour that she had experienced enough times before to ever want to do again. She reached in to the bucket for some popcorn. Hoping for the distraction of food, she instead found Marco's dextrous digits, their warmth and soft texture betraying their identity in the dark field of tacky, sticky corn. Instantly they both recoiled, as if they had inadvertently touched a wondering arachnid late at night. They looked at one another, their eyes shining with a milky light from the screen.

"Sorry. On you go." He whispered, retracting his hands.

Raya reached in. She liked looking at him. His face brought something out of her, a pleasantness that drove away the sapping cold of her damp clothes. The film drew on, and Raya found herself sinking deeper into a bittersweet comfort. The film, and Marco's unexpected company, softening the blow of the rawness of her preceding breakup. She reclined in her seat, and found herself leaning inwards, drawing herself closer to the warmth of the man beside her, wanting desperately to put her head on his generous shoulders and forget about the world. With a burst of courage, she did so, planting a soft cheek on the thin fabric of his top. At first Marco flinched, though as he had demonstrated earlier, he had the emotional intelligence enough to intuit what the girl needed and let her stay.

All too soon the film ended, much in the same way of the first. Raya didn't want it to, though. She wanted to stay here, wrapped in its embrace, away from the realities outside. The crushing weight of breakup. Of going home alone. Still, the choice was made for her as Marco sat up, getting ready to stand, withdrawing his shoulder from her.

"Hey, you wanna stretch your legs? You can buy the bucket this time." He said, the house lights coming up and illuminating his face.

They went out again to the lobby. There seemed to be fewer people, it being quiet enough to have a conversation without yelling.

"So what happened?" Marco asked, his boldness taking Raya off guard.

"What?"

"You're one half of a set. The hero needs her masked lover. So, where is he?"

Raya inhaled. Her ex had no intention of joining her in dressing up.

"I think you can probably guess."

"Thought so. That's awful, nothing worse than being left alone for occasions like this."

"Yeah. It's my birthday too, you know."

"Oh what an ass! On your birthday? Good lord." Marco said, his voice trying its best to sound genuinely outraged.

Raya could tell when men hammed up their responses, but she chose not to check if Marco was in this instance. She was just happy to feel seen, caring not for its level of artificiality. She looked up at him, sharing a wordless look, his eyes called out to her, beckoning her closer. She wanted to lean in, to melt into his chest and wrap herself in his embrace. Perhaps it was the one-two punch of loss and bittersweet nostalgia driving it, but she never wanted someone more in that moment.

Unfortunately that moment was cut short by the intrusion of the usher.

"You going in? Everyone's gone, so if you're not I can cancel the screening and start clearing up."

Raya and Marco looked around. The hall was deserted. Not from patrons heading back in for the final viewing, but as some strange protest of its quality. Marco laughed.

"No way, this one's my favourite!" He bellowed, any ambiguity at the outrage in his voice completely dispelled.

The usher rolled his eyes, all hope of finishing early quickly doused.

"Fine, suit yourself... Philistines." He muttered.

Raya had a grin on her face, and an excitement brewing in her. It'd just be them. No other popcorn munchers, tall heads, or desperate slurps at empty drinks. In truth she could have skipped this one too, but the novelty of an empty cinema, the opportunity of it, was too much to pass up. They went in, immediately searching for the best seats in the house, the ones that could recline and came with extra legroom. Overhead, the light painted pictures on the screen as they located the optimal viewing position. They got comfy. Stretching out and leaning back, they invaded as much space as they could get away with. Once the film started in proper, their familiarity with the source material led to japes and heckles, thinking if they could just yell loud enough, someone might actually take note and improve the film right before their eyes. After a while they settled down, content to making comments here and there. Raya felt giddy. Instinctively she reached for some popcorn but instead her hand met a robust thigh, gliding across it for far longer than was proper.

"Did we finish it already?" She asked through a giggle.

Marco looked back at her, catching glimpses of her outfit in the black light. Short skirt, blouse so white it was essentially see through, giving away Raya's tight physique that he had sampled earlier when he caught her fall. There was nothing else for it, he leaned in, taking his chance to plant a kiss on her full lips, adorned with a lustful red lipstick as part of her outfit. Raya saw him come in, and immediately felt herself activate. Her stomach filled with butterflies, and between her legs she felt a welcome spark shoot through her.

Their tongues met, Marco leading the gentle dance between their mouths. Raya felt goosebumps race across her body, her skin coming alive, all too aware of every pleasing sensation as Marco put his hands on her. Her neck. Her exposed leg. Her cheek, all lit up by his touch as he leaned over from his chair into hers.

She wanted to reciprocate, to explore him herself. Reaching out in the dark she found him, taking her delicate fingers to his chest, feeling how it spread out in all directions until meeting a reassuringly firm feeling shoulder. Unsatisfied with just this, she stretched her arms further, looking for anything she could. She didn't make it far, only to his upper torso before her awkward positioning in the chair made it impossible to reach anywhere else. Marco didn't seem bothered, content to direct his attention to her as he was. He took a hand on a journey up and across her inner thigh, slipping neatly under her dress as if he was sinking his hand under water. He found her, all warm and wet and aching with excitement. Her little pleasure bell, all puffed up and ready to ring out.

He moved his fingers across her engorged clit, drawing sweet circles around her, the feeling rippling out and across Raya's body. Almost on instinct she widened her legs and abandoned her attempt to reach over and touch Marco, instead reclining further back into her chair and inviting him deeper into her. The soft pads of his fingertips pressed against her in a pleasingly firm way, the sensation climbing with every one of his deliberate little movements. She stretched, her back arching and falling with the rhythm of her heavy breath as the sensation began building in her. She desperately wanted to do something with her hands, and with Marco slightly too far out of reach, she settled for herself. With both hands she cupped her breasts, first above her clothes, though quickly she worked to get under them, white blouse adorned with a red bow being too much of an obstacle for her.

She tugged at her nipples, all perked up and hard and contributing to the chorus of feeling running across her body. She could hear her own heavy breathing. A lustful moan began to fill the air, meeting with the sound of the film, now filtered by the couple into background noise. She could hear Marco too, close enough to hear his own changed breathing. Not one of receiving pleasure, but of the excitement of giving it. He cradled her head with one hand as he continued to work on her with the other. He moved from her clit, now that she was sufficiently turned on, and effortlessly slid into her. He beckoned her from the inside, rhythmically curling his fingers and massaging the textured walls of her vagina. Raya scrunched her face, and dug her nails into the arms of the seat. It felt good, and her heart thumped with intense excitement as she felt her body heat up all over. Marco felt her writhe in pleasure, the sound of her squirming in her seat filling his ears, confirmation that his efforts were well received.

Raya felt the heat in her build. Working her nipples wasn't enough. She wanted to chase the sensations in her, build them as high as they could go. Reaching up to where Marco rested his hand on her head, she directed him to her now exposed breasts, blouse open and her bralette down to reveal her perky round pair. Marco cupped them briefly, his hands happily taking each into a warm embrace, but it was awkward. The armrest got in the way, and besides, he had other ideas.

Marco moved from his seat and came to occupy the space between Raya's legs. Thankfully the row they were in had legroom enough for him to come to a kneel in front of her. He gave some token kisses up her thigh before promptly coming to her warm, wet, and undeniably inviting pussy. He met her with his mouth, playfully exploring her lower lips on the short journey to her clit. He enveloped it with his mouth, his tongue dancing over it in delicious streaks and circles. Raya arched her head back, yelping in delight. Her toes curled, and her breathing laboured with pleasure. The intensity of it radiated across her body from its origin between her legs. A white-hot ball ready to burst. She moved her legs, going from being limply outstretched beside Marco's shoulders to up onto the back of the chair in front. She reached her arms down, taking hold of Marco's head, pulling him closer to her, while pushing her boots hard into the chair in front.

Her moans became louder, louder than the film still playing. Rhythmically they built in volume. She couldn't hold it any longer. She felt ready to explode. With a final filthy cry she did, giving in to the overwhelming sensation that erupted from between her legs and spilled out across her. Her whole body reflexively contracted, squeezing Marco between her and lifting her lower half high into the air while her shoulders pressed deep into the chair, as did her feet into the one in front. Her orgasm radiated out in waves, intense and deeply fulfilling, before ebbing into a generally enjoyable feeling of wellbeing that washed across her.

Raya relaxed, exhaling a deep cathartic sigh. Her eyes were half closed, taking in images of the film that still played, all blurry from her inability to focus. Then the light was eclipsed by Marco, his body cutting a pleasing silhouette framed by the light behind. He wasn't finished, and nor apparently, was she.

He undid his fly, freeing his hard and impressive looking cock, all eager and bouncing in the air to his accelerated heartrate. Wordlessly he again slid his hands across Raya's thighs, this time going right to her plump behind and taking a firm hold of it. He lifted her, supporting her lower half to rise while her upper body extended back into the outrageously reclined cinema chair. He tilted her slightly, her petite form being easy for him to handle, and brought himself into her. Raya gasped. She thought she was spent considering the intensity of her previous orgasm, yet as Marco's cock pressed on the sides of her inner walls, she knew she still had more in her.

Marco began moving. At first with slow, deliberate thrusts that brought their pubic bones to meet, drawing deep, primal vocals from Raya. He had angled her, and himself, to caress the top of her vagina with each stroke. It activated that small and special part of her that drove Raya absolutely crazy. He had found it easily enough with his fingers, but now their more intimate anatomy had harmonised in a thrilling way that she had as yet never experienced.

Marco was moving faster now. No less deep and deliberate than earlier, but now at speed. Marco felt her all around him. She was tight, her muscles giving him a squeeze and milking him on his journey in and out of her. Each stroke made him want her more, and before long he was going at her with a ferocious pace, slamming into her and losing himself in the passion of it all.

Raya felt him. Felt the shape of him, every inch of him. How he filled her up, how he pressed against her in all the right ways. His grasp on her behind was firm, and now he leveraged that strength to move her back and forth as he fucked her. She called out shameless moans with each thrust, and Marco kept gliding over the top wall of her pussy. It elevated her, a delightful pressure building in her. Similar, yet different to her earlier orgasm. A pressure that she knew would have a more explosive release than the last. Marco was loud too. Deep, pleasant grunts came from him as he skirted his own point of no return.

He looked down at his partner, illuminated by the light of the screen. Her round tits bounced themselves around in circles with the momentum he gave her, while her body curved in and out from her cute navel and smooth abdomen to her plump behind, his fingers sinking deep into her flesh as he held her up. The sight of her, the sounds, the feeling of her all around him, was all at once overwhelming yet made him yearn for more. It made him go faster, harder. The deliberateness of his earlier movements faded as lust took over his mind and body.

The two of them careened towards a mutual climax. Marco's boisterous, uninhibited movements again proved too overwhelming for Raya. The balloon popped, and she came. A sharp orgasm that ruptured her body and shot out of her a great volume of herself that splashed against the man's thighs in rhythm to her jolting contractions. Marco called out in ecstasy at the sight of his partner in such rapture, and erupted inside her, pent up lust flooding her insides until it felt like no more could fit.

They began to slow, and eventually Marco set Raya back on the seat. He let her down gently, taking the time to ensure her skirt wasn't bunched up underneath her. His legs felt weak. He felt pleasantly worked, and lent back on the chair behind him, shifting the weight off his feet somewhat. Raya was staring at the ceiling. Absentmindedly she watched the light above them catch the dust in the air. Her ears were ringing, and she felt extremely lightheaded. Still, she had felt better than she had been in months. She felt more cared for by this stranger than she had by her partner of years. She felt so happy she could cry, though if any more fluid left her at this point she would worry she'd dehydrate herself.

It was here, gazing up at the ceiling, that she realised the background noise of the film had ceased, and all at once the light of the projector cut out, replaced by the houselights. The two of them were revealed as a mess of dishevelled clothes and a set of stains in the seating. Then came a noise. The door. The usher was coming in to sweep up. Raya and Marco locked eyes, and on their faces was a grin they couldn't help but make, the fear of being caught mixing with their incredible feelings of wellbeing. They excitedly rushed to fix themselves and scuttle out the opposite door to where the usher came in.

After marching up aged concrete stairs, avoiding any and all eye contact with staff, they made it out of the cinema and onto the street. Their dignity appeared intact, only bruised in their minds at the thought of the usher finding what a mess they made.

"So what did you think?" Marco asked.

"What?"

"The 'movie marathon', what else?"

"I don't know what it is, but this time around I really enjoyed that third one. I used to think that it was the weakest, but this time I guess it really connected with me."

Marco had a wicked look on him.

"I'm sure it did. You know, I'm seeing something here next week, but right now I'm the only one who booked a ticket. Not sure if I enjoy coming on my own. You interested?"

Raya thought a token moment, sure of her answer the moment the question was asked.

"Does it have a happy ending?" She asked.

"It might. And if it doesn't, I'm sure we can make it one."

Raya smiled, her body fit to burst with joy. She planted a happy little kiss on his cheek, and the two walked off. The rain had cleared, replaced with a bright sunshine, amplified by freshly watered pavement into a medley of yellow, blue, and orange, of the late afternoon.