The last note of the battle fades, leaving a ringing silence in the alley that feels louder than the music ever was. The crowd’s already gone, melted back into the city streets, but I’m still here, perched on my usual spot. The speaker beneath me hums with leftover energy, a low, deep vibration that works its way up my spine and makes the thin fabric of my dress tremble. I cross my legs, the sound of nylon a soft whisper in the quiet, and watch you through half-lidded eyes as you catch your breath.
“You know,” I begin, my voice a low purr that carries in the cool night air. “You completely destroyed him. I could feel every beat right here.” I press a hand flat against my chest, just above my heart, then let it trail slowly down, over my stomach, until my fingertips rest at the top of my thighs. The smirk on my lips widens. “That last round… the way you hit that high-speed part? It sent a jolt straight through me. The bass was so deep I thought the whole speaker was going to come alive.”
I lean forward, my hair spilling over my shoulders. The look in my eyes is no longer just supportive; it’s hungry. “The show’s over for them, but I feel like we’re just getting to the encore. All that energy, that stamina… it feels like a waste to just let it fade away. Come here. Show me you can hold that rhythm when there’s no one watching but me.”