Chapter 65: Hoarding Hearts and Other Essentials
The mall stretched ahead like a husk of a forgotten time, glass storefronts gleaming faintly under the faded skylights. Dust shimmered in lazy golden shafts, undisturbed and timeless — until Aria's boot scuffed across the tiled floor, and Selene's quiet chuckle broke the stillness.
"Signal?" Aria asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Selene gave a subtle flick of her fingers, two taps against her thigh. Aria nodded, grinning, and the air shimmered faintly as she opened her pocket dimension. They moved in tandem — silent, swift, efficient — as if they'd been doing this for years.
They stopped first at the toy store. Aria didn't hesitate. She swept the shelves clean with barely a blink, pocketing everything from plushies to boxed puzzles to oddly shaped figurines. Even the cardboard display cutouts and the backroom stock got sucked into her storage. Selene leaned on the counter, watching her with an amused tilt of her head.
"Are you planning on starting a daycare?" Selene teased.
Aria stuck her tongue out. "What if someone needs them?"
Selene raised an eyebrow. "Someone like… you?"
Aria didn't miss a beat. "What if I give birth to your baby someday?"
Selene blinked.
Then Aria kissed her. Bold and shameless.
Selene laughed against her lips, low and rich. "Oh, you little menace."
"You love it."
"Terrifyingly so."
Next was the baby supply store tucked beside an old pharmacy. Aria grabbed it all — diapers, bottles, baby wipes, high chairs, pacifiers, formula, swaddles, blankets, even a tiny musical crib mobile shaped like moons and stars. She didn't discriminate by gender or brand. Selene caught sight of her holding a pastel pink onesie that read Little Firecracker.
"Subtle," Selene said.
Aria wiggled her eyebrows. "Could be for our daughter."
Selene gave her a look, arms crossed and mouth twitching. "You do know how babies are made, right?"
"Yup," Aria chirped, throwing in a set of plush baby shoes. "That's why I keep kissing you. Gotta start somewhere."
Selene laughed, a soft breathless sound that sounded like it had been caught off guard. "You're going to be the death of me."
"No," Aria said smugly. "I'm going to be the mother of your child."
At the back of the mall, the mattress section waited like a throne room of sleep. Dozens of beds were propped up showroom - style with pillows and duvets. Aria strolled through the rows, humming as she pocketed anything not bolted to the ground. Selene ran her fingers over a velvet bedframe and watched her.
"Stocking up for our nightly endeavors?" she asked, voice laced with wickedness.
Aria spun around, cheeks flaming. "I — it's for comfort!"
"Mm. Of course," Selene purred. "Comfort for all the moaning and thrashing, I imagine?"
Aria choked. "W - We don't —!"
Selene only smirked and walked past her, deliberately brushing against her shoulder. "Yet."
The food aisles were next. Some of the shelves had been picked clean months ago, but the sealed pallets in the back offered a jackpot. Aria opened box after box — canned goods, packaged noodles, spices, instant coffee, powdered milk, rice. Even snack foods and novelty candies. Selene tossed in unopened cases of alcohol, cigarettes, and luxury junk for future bartering.
"We won't eat half of this," Selene noted.
"Trade it," Aria said simply. "Or hoard it. I like hoarding."
"You like playing god," Selene murmured.
Aria looked at her. "You think I'm greedy?"
"I think you're preparing to take care of the world."
The compliment landed unexpectedly. Aria blinked. "Don't say things like that."
Selene tilted her head. "Why not?"
"Because it makes me feel… stuff." Aria made a face, but her voice softened. "And I already feel too much when I look at you."
Selene's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Good."
They found the women's hygiene store tucked beside the lingerie boutique. Aria cleared shelves like a banshee — razors, shampoo, pads, tampons, wipes, nail clippers, even scented bath bombs. She grabbed it all, regardless of brand or purpose. Then she found a shelf with latex gloves, finger cots, and condoms.
Selene slid up beside her, breath brushing Aria's neck. "You want me to use the finger cot tonight?"
Aria nearly dropped the box. "I — I —"
Selene leaned close, eyes gleaming. "Would you like that?"
Aria's breath hitched, and she couldn't speak. Her heart raced. Her cheeks burned.
Selene grinned like she'd won a game. Aria lunged forward and kissed her hard. Selene responded instantly, lifting her off the floor with a surprised grunt. Aria wrapped her legs around Selene's waist, lips locked in dizzying heat. Selene backed her into the wall, one hand cradling Aria's thigh, the other pressing into her back as they kissed like they were starved.
Five minutes passed. Maybe more. Neither could tell. Time ceased to matter.
Selene's tongue tangled with hers, teeth grazing her lower lip. Aria moaned into her mouth, hands tangled in Selene's shirt. When Selene finally pulled away, Aria chased her lips with a desperate whine.
"More," Aria whispered, dazed and flushed.
Selene obliged, pulling her into another searing kiss before finally breaking it with a soft, teasing bite.
"How's my lips, little flame?" Selene murmured.
"Addictive," Aria gasped. "I like you. Not just your body. You, Selene. I don't know why it's so fast, but I do."
Selene smiled, cradling her cheek. "Good. Because I like you, too."
Their lips met again, slower this time, full of warmth.
"We have to stop," Selene whispered, resting her forehead to Aria's. "Or I'll lose control."
Aria grinned up at her, eyes gleaming. "And who's the succubus now?"
Selene barked a laugh. "Oh, you're not getting out of this. I'll give it to you later, my little flaming succubus."
Aria's blush reached the tips of her ears.
They kept moving, weaving through the deserted mall like explorers in a sunken ship. The clothing section was massive. Aria hoarded it all — women's, men's, youth, toddlers, winterwear, activewear, even uniforms. She sorted favorites by size, holding up a leather jacket with a grin.
"Want to see me in this later?" she asked.
"I want to see you out of it later," Selene replied dryly.
Shoes were next. Aria hoarded them all, but paused to delicately tuck away matching pairs in her and Selene's sizes. Sneakers, boots, sandals, slippers — everything a girl could dream of.
When she started to slow, shoulders sagging, Aria turned to Selene with big eyes. "Kiss me. For energy."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "You running on lip - fueled mana now?"
"Exactly. So come on, magic me up."
Selene pulled her close and kissed her deeply. Aria melted against her, lips tingling with heat. When they parted, Selene whispered against her mouth, "Better?"
Aria's smile was giddy. "So much better."
They finally wandered toward the far end of the mall, searching for a safe spot to rest. That's when Aria spotted it — the bridal boutique.
"Oh no," Selene said instantly. "Aria —"
Too late. Aria had darted toward the door, already opening her pocket dimension. White lace, tulle, beaded veils, satin heels, pearl - trimmed gloves, corsets, tiaras — nothing was spared.
Selene leaned in the doorway, arms crossed, watching her like a woman indulging a storm.
"You gonna make me wear one of those someday?" Selene called.
Aria winked. "Maybe I already picked yours out."
Selene groaned. "I've created a monster."
"Correction," Aria said sweetly, sweeping the last gown into her space. "You fell in love with one."
And Selene could only laugh. Because deep down, she knew it was true.