Chapter 24 - Played For A Fool
The next day, Holo stood outside Felicia's room, gathering his resolve. His conversation with Trixie and Scarlet had given him a new perspective, and though he was still nervous, he was determined to approach this differently. With a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Felicia was lounging in her usual spot, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, and her mischievous red eyes lighting up the moment she saw him. A familiar smirk spread across her lips as she straightened in her chair. "Well, if it isn't my favorite visitor," she purred. "Back for more, Holo?"
Holo ignored the flutter of nerves in his chest and closed the door behind him. "Good morning, Felicia," he said calmly, taking a seat across from her.
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. "You're so polite," she teased. "But let's skip the formalities. Why don't you come over here and touch me? I know you want to."
Holo's face flushed slightly, but he kept his composure. "I don't think that's going to happen," he said firmly.
Felicia's smirk widened. "Oh, come on. Don't be shy. You're always so uptight. Just let go for once. I promise you'll enjoy it."
Instead of responding, Holo stood up and walked over to her. Felicia raised an eyebrow, watching him curiously as he reached for the chains that bound her to the chair. With deliberate movements, he began undoing the locks.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
"Taking these off," Holo said simply.
Felicia blinked, clearly taken aback. "Why?"
"Because I don't think you need them," he said, his tone calm but resolute. "Not with me."
For the first time, Felicia looked genuinely uncertain. She stared at him as he removed the chains, her usual smug expression faltering. "You're not scared of me?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
"No," Holo said, meeting her gaze. "I'm not."
As soon as the last chain fell away, Felicia's confusion was replaced by a familiar glint of mischief. She stood up, stretching her arms as a perverted smile spread across her lips. "Well, well," she said, stepping closer to him. "You're braver than I thought. But don't think for a second that I'm not going to take advantage of this."
Before Holo could react, she reached for him, her hands aiming for his shoulders. But Holo was ready. He sidestepped her attempt and stuck out his foot, causing her to trip. Felicia let out a surprised yelp as she fell forward, landing on the ground with a thud.
Before she could recover, Holo quickly moved to pin her down, his hands holding her wrists against the floor. Felicia's red eyes widened as she stared up at him, her usual confidence nowhere to be seen.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.
"Stopping you from trying to grab me again," Holo said, his tone steady.
Felicia didn't struggle. She didn't smirk or tease him. She just lay there, staring at him with an unreadable expression. For the first time since he had met her, she seemed genuinely unsure of what to do.
"You're awfully quiet," Holo said, tilting his head slightly. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she quickly turned her head to the side, avoiding his gaze. "You're so annoying," she muttered. "If you're going to do something, just do it already."
Holo frowned, his grip on her wrists loosening slightly. "I'm not going to do anything to you, Felicia."
She blinked, glancing back at him with a confused expression. "What?"
"I'm not here to hurt you or take advantage of you," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I just want to talk. But every time I try, you push me away with all... this." He gestured vaguely at her with his head.
Felicia stared at him for a long moment, her usual smirk nowhere to be seen. "You're weird," she said finally, her voice quieter than before.
"Maybe," Holo said with a small smile. "But I'm not giving up on you."
She looked away again, her expression unreadable. "Do whatever you want," she muttered.
Holo released her wrists and stood up, stepping back to give her space. "That's enough for today," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Felicia sat up slowly, watching as he walked toward the door. For once, she didn't have a teasing remark or a snide comment. She just watched him leave, her thoughts swirling with unfamiliar emotions.
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As the door closed behind him, Felicia sat there in silence, her fingers brushing against her wrists where he had held her. For the first time in a long time, she felt something she couldn't quite place—something that made her chest tighten and her cheeks warm.
"Stupid Holo," she muttered under her breath, though there was no malice in her tone. "What are you trying to do to me?"
The next day, Holo walked back into Felicia's room, his mind racing with questions. He had spent the night replaying their interactions over and over, trying to make sense of her behavior. Felicia's constant teasing, provocations, and attempts to fluster him were more than just a game. They felt deliberate, but her responses when he pushed back left him baffled.
She's only a year and a half older than me, he thought as he entered the room, so what's her angle? There's no power imbalance or anything like that. She's not some predator, so why does she act like this?
Felicia was already waiting for him, lounging on her chair with her usual smug grin. "Back so soon, Holo?" she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "You just can't get enough of me, can you?"
Holo ignored her comment, closing the door behind him and walking straight toward her. "I have a question for you, Felicia."
"Oh?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "What's on your mind, sweetheart?"
"Why do you act like this?" he asked bluntly, his tone calm but firm. "Why all the teasing, the provocations? What are you trying to accomplish?"
Felicia's smirk widened, and she tilted her head. "What's the matter? Don't like being my plaything?"
"I'm serious," Holo said, his gaze steady. "I want to understand you."
Her smile faltered for a moment, and she looked away, feigning disinterest. "You're overthinking it," she said dismissively. "I just like having fun."
Holo frowned, stepping closer. "Is that really it?"
Before she could respond, he reached out and grabbed her wrists, pulling her up and pinning her to the ground in one swift motion. Felicia let out a surprised gasp, her red eyes widening as she found herself beneath him once again.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual.
"Testing something," Holo said, his tone even. He held her wrists firmly but gently, his gaze locked on hers. "What would you do if I tried to violate you right now?"
Felicia blinked, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. For the first time, she seemed genuinely unsure of how to respond. Her usual confidence was gone, replaced by something more vulnerable.
"Well?" Holo pressed, his voice softer but still steady. "What would you do?"
"I..." she started, then trailed off, her gaze darting away from his. "I don't know."
Holo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Exactly."
Felicia let out a shaky breath, her body tensing beneath him. "You're playing with fire, Holo," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you want to have sex with me? Because I'd let you."
"No," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Her eyes snapped back to his, a mix of confusion and frustration flashing across her face. "Why not? I want to. Don't you?"
"Because that's not why I'm here," Holo said, his grip on her wrists loosening slightly. "And I don't think it's what you really want either."
Felicia stared at him, her chest rising and falling as her breathing quickened. For a moment, she looked completely lost, as if she didn't know how to process what he was saying.
Holo stood up, releasing her wrists and stepping back. "You're not going to get what you want by acting like this, Felicia," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You're just pushing people away."
She sat up slowly, her red eyes narrowing as she watched him. "You're such a hypocrite," she muttered. "You act all high and mighty, but you're no better than the rest of them."
"Maybe," Holo said with a small shrug. "But at least I'm trying."
With that, he turned and walked toward the door. Before he left, he glanced back at her one last time. "I'll see you tomorrow, Felicia."
She didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the floor as she clenched her fists. For once, her playful facade had completely crumbled. She sat there in silence, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the emotions swirling inside her.