The sun had already set hours ago, the rest of the world silent and sleeping, as a busy doctor sat in her office face to face with paperwork. The usual stuff, patient records, billing information, etc piled her cluttered desk. Dr Retro always had a strange way of organizing, to anyone else it would be chaos, but to her it was in perfect order. Just how she liked it. She hadn’t planned on staying at the office this late but one downside to her organized mess was how thorough she was in making sure every last bit of writing was substantial. The room was dark, illuminated by a single lamp sitting next to her work. Another part of her strange habits, she hated bright hospital lights and preferred to work in dimly lit spaces. It was easier on her eyes and softened the start of any headache resulting from her late nights. Retro was tired, her head so busy with work that she didn’t notice a tall figure creeping in from the shadows. The figure’s movements were slow as she approached the distracted doctor, as not to disturb her thoughts. The element of surprise, one of Folly’s favorite tricks to play. Something so simple, yet effective. She would never admit it, but seeing Dr Retro’s shocked face stirred an emotion in Folly that she couldn’t quite find a name for. She stood her ground a few feet behind the doctor and made her move.
"Hello, “Sugar"" The harsh voice of the parasite snapped Dr Retro out of her concentration and sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine. Folly liked that her presence had such an effect on her.
"Folly." A single word in response, not a greeting but a bitter warning. Dr Retro didn’t bother to turn her head. Her eyes remained glued to a paper held between her paws, though she could barely process the words in front of her. Her head hurt with annoyance but her heart sped up with anticipation.
“Why the cold shoulder? Aren’t you happy to see me?” Dr Retro hated that mocking tone Folly used. She hated how she would show up unannounced. She hated her vile intentions. She hated the way Folly teased her, the way she would toy with her heart.
“I’m busy.” Dr Retro replied flatly. “I don’t have time for you or your games.”
“Time means nothing. You can always make time for me.” Folly stepped closer, closing the remaining distance between them. She was practically leaning over the doctor at this point, a sneer prominent in her expression. Dr Retro kept her composure, not breaking eye contact with the paper she was holding. She couldn’t let Folly win. She can’t give her that satisfaction. “You can’t resist my presence.” Folly was right, through the stubborn façade Dr Retro put on, she enjoyed her visits. She’d even secretly wished she’d appear to her some nights as a lonely form of company.
“I don’t need you.” Dr Retro sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I never have.” A cold hand reached out to touch her face, caressing her cheek and turning her head up to face Folly directly. It was nice, the parasite’s touch, that she hesitated before reacting. She considered leaning in, erasing the world around her and the people they were just for the comfort of another. But she knew she shouldn’t give in that easy, after all this was just another trick of Folly’s.
“You do.” Folly’s words snapped her back to reality and in an act of defiance Dr Retro slapped her hand away. A quick pang of worry shot through her as she feared that was too strong of a reaction, and might've hurt Folly, but it quickly dissolved behind a wave of annoyance. As much as she craved the parasite’s company, she hated it too. It filled her with the rotten feelings of guilt and shame. She was better than this, better than the obedient pawn Folly wanted her to be.
"You mean nothing to me." Dr Retro spat coldly. A harsh lie in hopes Folly would take the hint. Though slightly taken aback by the aggression, Folly didn’t waver. She desired a certain reaction from Dr Retro, a reciprocation to her advances.
“Feisty today, aren’t we?” Folly teased, examining the doctor with amusement. She could tell Dr Retro’s hard shell was cracked, it was only a matter of time before she could seep in like a nasty infection. Even with her attempt to hide her true feelings, Dr Retro couldn’t control her body language. Her pupils dilated and her flat expression started to break, she hadn’t even noticed she was slowly leaning towards Folly with only about a foot between the two. An intense heat rose from inside her, flushing her face pink. Her paws were balled into a fist, digging her claws deep into her palms as she tried to push the feeling down. “Don’t think I don’t see the way you look at me, doctor.”
"That doesn't change anything." Dr Retro replied fast, attempting to keep her composure. "You are nothing but bad news. Frankly, I'd like it if I never had to see you again." Her words were cold and laced with annoyance, yet she knew she was lying through her teeth. She just wanted Folly to leave.
“Don’t be so dramatic.” Folly wasn’t buying the act. “A part of you wants me here, otherwise you wouldn’t be getting so worked up.”
"What part of GO AWAY do you not understand? Do you not get the hint? Or are you too pretentious to understand the concept?" Retro's patience was wearing thin. Her desire shifting into white hot anger. "I don't want you here." She exhaled, looking Folly directly in the eye. Her gaze was cold and unmoving, yet a tinge of sadness coated her expression. She wished she could bury the guilt of wanting Folly to stay.
“Your body betrays your mind-”
"Shut up." Dr Retro's words cut through the tension like a knife. The room fell silent as Folly tried to find the words to respond. "I'm sick of this, sick of you." Dr Retro stood up, turning back away from Folly. She gathered up her paperwork and turned to leave before a familiar pair of arms hugged her waist, stopping her dead in her tracks. Folly had wrapped her arms around Dr Retro, still attempting to get her to react. Though in truth, she felt scared. Scared Dr Retro would walk out that door, and scared that what the doctor was saying is true. Folly never let it show but somewhere deep down she truly did care for Dr Retro, and her words stung. Her standoffish attitude created a sense of panic in Folly, but she couldn't figure out why she felt this way for someone she isn’t supposed to care about. As she held onto Dr Retro, she could feel the tension in her body, the stiffness in her shoulders, the way her paws gripped the paperwork a little tighter. Something shifted in Folly’s demeanor, a hint of sincerity or desperation.
“Wait…” Her voice was quiet, almost pleading. “Don’t go. Not yet…” A moment of vulnerability overtook Folly. In an act of desperation, she had shown her softer side, something Dr Retro had never seen before. It caught her off guard and she stood there silently processing Folly’s gesture. Her anger melted away as she felt Folly’s body press up against her back. That intense heat took over, softening her posture as she pushed back against her, leaning into the embrace. She didn’t fully trust the parasite’s intentions but being held so closely was a hard temptation to resist. She couldn’t deny how she felt towards the other, how welcoming her touch felt despite her rotten attitude. Dr Retro was drawn to Folly like two opposites attracting.
"This better not be a trick." Retro hissed through gritted teeth. "I'm not stupid, y'know."
“You wound me, doctor.” Folly’s playful tone returned, her voice barely a whisper as she brushed her mask up against Dr Retro’s ear. Just for a small fleeting moment her persona had cracked then quickly repaired itself. Folly wasn’t one to show weakness and she certainly would never actually care for another, would she? She could’ve let Retro walk out that door but something in her needed her to stay. Was it a seed of affection or the fear of being left alone to her dark thoughts? Something about Retro’s presence healed her, made her feel a little less pained.
Dr Retro wanted to give in, to let herself be overtaken by Folly's comfort, consumed by the other in a way, but the doubt in her mind screamed louder than any other thoughts. She was tired of her tricks and being played the fool. “I don’t… I don’t trust you.” She spoke up, stiffening her posture once more. She didn’t have the strength to pull away yet, she needed confirmation this was real. “How do I know this isn’t another one of your games?”
Folly didn't respond, no words or movement came from her. A warm silence filled the room as Retro considered her options. There was no trusting that parasite, but perhaps just for tonight she could give in to her desire. Not for the good of Folly, but her own benefit; trick or not she was getting something out of this. A look of surprise shot across Folly’s face as Dr Retro whirled around to shoot her a mean glare, their faces inches apart from each other. She didn’t say a word but the message was clear: ‘No funny business.’ Folly’s expression softened into amusement, pulling the doctor in close. Retro melted into her arms, letting herself give in to temptation. She cupped Folly’s face in her paws to lower her down for a kiss. Her lips met the shadow halfway and suddenly nothing mattered anymore. Not who they were or where they stood, nothing but fur pressed against a shadowed form. The dream parasite felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time, something she only experienced when Retro was near, something warm and comforting, it was almost nostalgic. She had gotten what she came here for, however it had to happen.