Indirect Kiss

Anika was never one for dank, dark rooms and music so loud that you couldn’t hear yourself think. A surprising thing, considering her career, though to her there was a difference between a stage and a penthouse. She slipped out the glass balcony doors, taking a breath of relief before fishing the pack of cigarettes she had out of her pocket. Leaning against the railing, the sound of the afterparty muffled behind her, she sparked her lighter and lit her cigarette. The small orange glow almost seemed to blend in with the city lights. Anika inhaled, the smoke filling her lungs in that familiar gentle sting that she craved. Her mind drifted away as she gazed down at the road, cars lined down the sidewalk. 

Anika’s focus was brought back as the balcony door swung open; she heard the jingle of bells before the voice. A bubbly nyaanpon threw herself against the railing with a huff before looking over at Anika. “Blegh, cigarettes,” she groaned with an eye roll. Anika glanced over, only for a moment, before taking another drag. The nyaanpon pulled an exaggerated expression, the bells on her tail making that soft tinkle as it swayed, “I don’t understand why you’d come out here just to smoke; the air inside is already heavy, why subject that to yourself out here?” The way she asked it made it obvious that it really wasn’t a question, just something rhetorical that was supposed to make Anika think. Too bad it didn’t, as her cigarette stayed lit, the smoke dancing with the wind. “I like the way it feels” was all she could bother to respond with. There was a small pause before Anika turned to look at the nyaanpon next to her. “You ever tried one?” “What!?” The nyaanpon exclaimed as she jumped back a little, “Of course not! It’s so bad for you!” 

Anika chuckled as she pulled another cigarette out of her pack, outstretching her arm to the nyaanpon, the unlit cigarette gently held between two fingers, “Don't knock it until you try it.” The nyaanpon squinted suspiciously and plucked it from Anika’s finger. “Fine.. Only because I like being open-minded..” the nyaan mumbled, her silver bangs tumbling over half of her face, hiding her pouty expression. “How do you even light this thing?” She overturned the cigarette in her hand like it was some incomprehensible machine. Anika smirked a little. “First, put it up to your mouth.” With another suspicious expression, the nyaan did as Anika said, awkwardly holding the cigarette to her mouth. “Now, I'm going to lean forward and use my cigarette to light yours; when they touch, you need to inhale, okay?” The nyaanpon nodded her head, and for a second Anika swore she seemed a little flustered. 

For the first time in the whole interaction, Anika fully turned towards the nyaan, getting a good look at her. She had a stunning orange, almost golden signature nyaanpon capsule, and bright starry eyes that almost drew Anika in. Her hair was a beautiful silvery lavender with a purple streak that was the same color as the markings that covered her body. Anika would maybe even think she was pretty; she quickly blinked that thought away though, and leaned forward towards the nyaan. Up close, the nyaan noticed how the orange light from the cigarette highlighted Anika’s warm features; a warmth bloomed across her face as those blue-green eyes met hers. Anika gently pressed her cigarette ever so lightly onto the nyaanpon's unlit one, and taking a slow inhale, there were now two orange glows on that balcony. 

Anika pulled back and exhaled a cloud of smoke. “So, how is it?” She asked the other, looking over expectantly. The nyaan took a small inhale, paused for a moment, and then started to hack up a lung. “Fuck!” She choked out, “This shit sucks!” She proceeded to cough more before throwing the lit cigarette on the floor and stamping it out. Sheepishly she looked up at Anika. “Sorry.. For, uh.. Wasting one of your cigarettes,” she muttered, “but it was just, not good.” She groaned as a shudder ran through her body. Anika just laughed and snubbed her own cigarette out on the balcony railing. “That's alright; it’s not for everyone.” There was a pause for a moment, where neither one knew what to say. 

The nyaanpon cleared her throat. “I’m Allegra, by the way.”

“I know, the bells were a dead giveaway." She stated, with just a hint of amusement in her tone. "I’m Anika.”

Allegra blushed a little, embarrassed that their bells were so recognizable. “I know, I mean this is literally an afterparty for YOUR show.” 

The two shared a look as they laughed, they weren’t sure what it meant yet, all they knew was that they wanted to see each other again.