Yesterdayβs run in with Dunkin Dude had served to only make Luna feel angry with herself. How could she have let some guy just sneak up on her like that? She'd mouthed off to gods and immortals and gotten herself free of it, and yet some normal mortal man had gotten the better of her.
Her upper arms where he'd grabbed her were a little bruised and there was a painful lump on the back of her head, it joined a slight tightness when she swallowed that almost made her panic, but the thing most injured was Luna's ego after being so smug right to his face. That would teach her. (It wouldn't teach her.)
So tonight she'd come to Illunis, looking for some easy release. She was keeping an eye out, but she didn't think he would have any idea where this place was. Luna wished she knew how much heβd been following her.
On the dancefloor, Luna was entangled with some man she didnβt know and would hopefully never see again, and when the dancing turned to kissing her throat Luna laughed and drew herself away. βIβm getting a drink,β she told him, voice raised above the music.
She slipped free of the dancing and made her way over towards the bar, running a hand through her sweaty hair and leaning over to tell Ezio what she wanted.
With a rum and coke in hand she turned her attention back to the people, eyes sliding across those sitting at the bar.
It was the red leather that caught her eye first. It stood out (even in the dim light) in the sea of black clothes - her own included - and she didnβt know whether she had recognised the jacket before her eyes took in the face.
Her mouth opened in surprise, dark plum lips parting.
Will.
Will?
Here?
For a very long moment - too long of a moment - she just stared at him, unsure of what to do next.
Some of the last things heβd said to her echoed around her thoughts you're so used to being a slut for the gods that you couldn't help finding an almost-god to sub in for them. Maybe if you suck Hermes' cock hard enough he'll let you stick around.
Those words still stung her, still clung on her, whispered themselves to her at night when she was feeling low and awful.
But Will was here in Illunis, and she could only think: heβs come here for me. Because why on earth would Will ever set foot in a place like this if he wasnβt looking for Luna?
(Or, she thought bitterly, maybe this was the best place to find a Luna substitute.)
How arrogant, Luna told herself with disgust, to think you mean so much that someone would want an alternate you.
But despite that, here he was. Unsure of what she felt - a little tipsy, yes, but also bitter and quietly angry and still unable to ignore a hard-gripped longing - Luna raised her hand in a little wave.