Chapter 4: Bottoms down
With Zilla gone, the band didn't perform at all for several weeks. Moray's was eerily quiet, and the few patrons who dared to step into the grimy dive bar were met with a somber atmosphere. The absence of Zilla's electric guitar riffs and Rouge's piercing vocals left a void that seemed impossible to fill.
Ron, now officially the band's manager, was at a loss. He tried to reach Zilla, but her phone was either switched off or she had changed her number. He even attempted to track her down at her old haunts, but it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
As he laid his head down on the counter, Rouge walked in, her usual fiery demeanor replaced with a somber expression. "Any luck?" Ron shook his head, "Not yet. But I won't give up. Zilla is important to both of us, and we need to find her." Rogue nodded, her eyes filled with worry. "I know. I just...I miss her, Ron. We might have our issues, but she's my best friend. And I can't do this without her." She gestured to the empty stage, her voice heavy with sadness.
"Look at this place, Ron. It's a ghost town without her. The energy, the magic, it's all gone." Ron looked around, taking in the empty bar and the silent stage. "Wait, wasn't it always empty though?" He ask. Rouge blinked a few times "Yeah, but at least we performedfor ourselves, you know? We'd play until the wee hours, just the three of us. It was... magical." A small smile played on her lips, her eyes far away, lost in the memory.
Ron nodded, understanding. "We'll get that magic back, Rouge. I promise." He said, his voice determined. Just then, the door to Moray's creaked open, revealing a familiar face. Zappy stood there, her neon blue zig-zag pony tail bouncing as she waved at them. "Hey guys, what's going on? Zilla back yet?"
Ron shook his head, "No, not yet. But we're not giving up, right, Rouge?"
Rouge nodded, her gaze shifting to Zappy. "Hey, Zappy. You heard from Zilla at all?"
Zappy's expression soured, her ponytail drooping slightly. "Nope. She's been MIA since... well, you know." She glanced at Ron, then back to Rouge. "I tried calling, texting, even showed up at her place, but it's like she fell off the face of the earth."
Ron sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We need to find her, Zappy. Any ideas where she might go?" Zappy bit her lip, thinking. "Nope, not a clue. But she'll turn up sooner or later, she always does." Zappy tried to change the subject "What about you two, huh? I notice Rouge is finally her normal self around you, Ron. What's the deal?"
Ron looked at Rouge, who was now cleaning the counter with a rag, avoiding eye contact. "Well, Zappy, I guess we've come to an understanding. We're...friends now." He hesitated on the word 'friends', knowing it was a stretch.
Zappy raised an eyebrow, "Friends, huh? After all the drama, that's all you two are?" She smirked, leaning in. "I call bullshit. You two are either fucking or fighting. There's no in-between with you two."
Rouge stopped cleaning, her eyes narrowing at Zappy. "What do you want us to be, Zappy? Fuck, I don't know what we are. But I do know that finding Zilla is more important than whatever this..." she gestured between herself and Ron, "...is." Ron nodded, grateful for the shift in focus. "Agreed. We need to find Zilla, and figure out what's going on with her."
Zappy sighed, her earlier smirk fading. "I know where she is, but Rouge, you got to do something for me first." Ron and Rouge exchanged a glance, "Wait, I tho-" Zappy put her finger up, silencing Ron. "Rouge, tell him the real reason why you broke up with Zilla. Do that, and I'll tell you where she is," Zappy stated, her neon blue ponytail swinging as she crossed her arms.
Rouge's eyes widened, and she looked at Ron, then back to Zappy. "What? Why?"
Zappy shrugged. "Because he deserves to know. And because it might help him understand why Zilla took off, or why we're in the rut we are. Besides, it's not like it's a secret."
Ron frowned, confused. "Wait, what are you talking about? What's the real reason they broke up?"
Rouge sighed, running a hand through her blood-red mohawk. "Fine, Zappy. But if I do this, you better not be bullshitting us about knowing where Zilla is." Zappy nodded, her neon blue ponytail bouncing. "Scout's honor," she said, holding up three fingers in a mock salute.
Rouge turned to Ron, her eyes filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "Zilla and I, we were together for a long time. And it was...intense. We were each other's first, you know? And we explored everything together. Our relationship was...complicated. I loved her, I still do, but I was young and stupid. I wanted more, Ron. I wanted a normal life, a normal relationship. I wanted to wake up next to someone who wasn't...like Zilla. I wanted to wake up next to someone who didn't have a cock, someone who didn't need to be fucked as much as she wanted to fuck. I wanted to be the center of someone's universe, not just a convenient hole to fill. I wanted romance, Ron. I wanted candlelit dinners and sweet nothings whispered in my ear. I wanted to be courted, wooed, not just fucked hard and put away wet."
Rouge paused, tears forming in her eyes " So I broke up with her, I couldn't be alone with her in a room by myself. She acted the way you saw her now, Always cursing and trying to dominate everyone. I was surprised when she brought you here, saying how 'Ron has balls' and other things. I thought I finally lost her to you, and........ it made me jealous."
Ron listened intently, his expression neutral. When Rouge finished, he simply nodded, absorbing the information.
"Thank you for telling me, Rouge. I appreciate your honesty." He turned to Zappy, "Now, where is Zilla?"
"Her apartment rooftop, where else?" Zappy replied, rolling her eyes. "She loves that view, always goes there when she needs to think."
Ron nodded, "Thanks, Zappy. We'll go talk to her."
Rouge was already heading for the door, "Let's go, Ron."
As they stepped out onto the bustling street, Ron looked at Rouge, "You okay?"
She shrugged, "I will be. It's just...hard, you know? Seeing her again, after everything." Ron put his hand on her shoulder. "Before we go,"he said, "there's something I want to say." Rouge raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah? What's that?" Ron took a deep breath, "I understand what you went through with Zilla, more than you know. My sister, she's...well, she's like Zilla. And I've seen firsthand what it's like to love someone who's got a bit of both worlds." Rouge's eyes widened in surprise, "Your sister's a futa too?"
Ron nodded, "Yeah, and she's taught me a lot about them. About their needs, their struggles. I know how much you love Zilla, how much you want to make things right as much as I do. So this is going to be hard to say." Ron paused, gathering his thoughts. "But I think I have an idea that might help bring you two back together, and help the band too." Rouge tilted her head, curious. "Oh yeah? Ron took a deep breath before continuing. "Well, I've learned from my sister that futas need both a dominant and a submissive partner to have stability in their relationships. They thrive on balance, on give and take. And I think...I think that's what you and Zilla need too." Rouge's eyes widened in surprise.
"You mean, like a threesome?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ron nodded, "Sort of, yes. But with a twist. I think you could be the dominant one, Rouge. You've got the fire, the passion, the anger. Zilla needs that, needs someone to keep her in check, to balance her out. And I could be the submissive one, the one who takes care of both of you, who makes sure you're both happy and satisfied." Rouge's mouth dropped open, shock written all over her face.
"You want me to...to dominate Zilla? And you want to...submit to both of us?" Rouge asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Ron nodded, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Yes, that's what I'm suggesting. I know it sounds unconventional, but hear me out. I've seen firsthand how my sister's relationships work, and I think this could be the key to bringing you and Zilla back together. Plus, it would give the band the stability it needs to start performing again, better than ever in fact." Rouge looked at Ron, her eyes searching his for any sign of insincerity. Finding none, she sighed and leaned against the wall.
"Nah, you should be the one to dominate us, Ron. Zilla liked it when you talk back, when you stood up to her. And I...I could get used to it too." Rouge's voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if she was just realizing this herself. Ron raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You sure about that, Rouge? I mean, I'm not exactly...experienced in that department." Rouge smirked, pushing off from the wall and stepping closer to Ron. "Please, you are far more assertive then you let on, Mr. Manager."
Ron blushed slightly from Rouge's comment. "Fine, lets get Zilla and tell her the news." Rouge nodded, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's go then." They walked in silence, the city noise a distant hum compared to the thoughts racing through their minds. As they approached Zilla's apartment building, Ron looked at Rouge. "You ready for this?" he asked. She took a deep breath, her blood-red mohawk bobbing slightly. "As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, her voice steady. They climbed the stairs to the rooftop, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the concrete stairwell.
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