Keone
He waited patiently, even though it would have taken little effort to break into Renata's apartment. He tried to erase the permanent scowl from his face, but he also had a feeling that his attempt at an easy-going expression would be terrifying more than anything.
There was arguing on the inside. So, Renata decided to tell Diamond who he was? His chest constricted with shame as he picked up on Diamond's heated words. He pictured the hatred boiling between the two of them, bubbling and searing straight through the walls and melting into his skin like acid. Just as he deserved. And worse.
"Diamond, stop!"
Keone remained still as the door was ripped open. Diamond was flushed with fury, the redness of her tan skin only halted by the bright blue of her hair. She flew at him, but he didn't budge—maybe he should have, so as to offer her any kind of reprieve from her rage.
He respected her heavy hand. Because as much as she was in an overwhelmed and volatile state, she wouldn't let that get in the way of hurting him as much as possible. Pain burst across his jaw as Diamond landed a right hook. "Get me the fucking gun, Ren!"
Renata finally stepped in, and successfully so—she outweighed Diamond in muscle alone. Keone walked forward as Renata dragged the struggling woman inside. "Diamond, stop!" Renata continued her deescalation, though it was obvious all she wanted to do was let her loose. "This isn't helping anyone!"
Keone shut the door behind him and said nothing. He could do nothing but accept all the words and violence targeted his way. He wasn't in any kind of position to defend himself.
"Fuck you, you absolute piece of dog shit," Diamond spat. Veins were beginning to pop out of her forehead. "I will fucking kill you. I don't give a fuck what you are. God, where is your gun, Ren? I'll get it myself—"
"I'm not—"
But Diamond wasn't looking at her. She was staring straight into Keone, most likely willing him to instantaneously combust. He wanted to. It just wasn't his time yet. Then, Diamond stilled with a steady gaze. Both Renata and Keone were suspicious of her sudden quietness. "How does it feel?"
Keone tilted his head in curiosity.
"Being a coward? Knowing that you caused so much pain and suffering for a completely innocent woman—"
"Diamond," Renata was pleading at this point. "Just stop."
She finally looked at Renata. "You can't trust him. He's a fucking monster. You don't know if he's going to try to hurt you again." Diamond took her hands. "What about your sister? It sounds like she wanted to help."
Keone had his eyes trained on Renata, who's expression was conflicted at best. Still, he didn't know how to make himself appear as a more appealing resource than the person Renata grew up with. If he lost her to Nirvi, and if Nirvi could somehow weaponize her—things were only going to get uglier.
Renata finally refocused on him. "Did you know about her?"
"No."
Diamond's eyes were narrowed in complete disbelief, and Renata's tense body didn't relax at all in response to his answer. What could he do? "I don't believe you," Renata's tone was surprisingly calm. "This was all a mistake. We both know I will never trust you."
Keone felt pathetic as he said, "we had a deal."
Renata's eyes brightened with vehemence. "I don't owe you a fucking thing." How could he argue otherwise? "The deal is off."
Keone shook his head. "You don't want Nirvi's help."
"Well, as far as I know, Nirvi hasn't attacked me and murdered me in the middle of my kitchen!" Diamond made a sound of outrage at Renata's words. "So, you can unkindly fuck off."
Keone didn't move at first. "Are you sure? You have no idea what you're getting into. I know you will never trust me, but I can help. Just give me a chance."
Renata scrutinized him. Suddenly she smirked and this sent a chill through him. "You're afraid." She scoffed. "You're actually afraid." Her voice went lower. "You've been afraid this entire time."
"Coward!" Diamond hissed.
Renata stepped away from Diamond and toward Keone. His eyes slightly widened as he saw the surroundings lights dim around them. That is new. "Now. Get. The. Fuck. Out."
"If you ever need me or my help, I will be there," he promised, even as he saw the fantasies of his death dancing across her leering eyes.
She simply looked at him.
Keone nodded again and left with his tail tucked between his legs, expecting a knife to be buried in his back, and surprised when nothing happened. He kind of wished they would so he wouldn't have to face Angel, who somehow probably already knew of Keone's failure.
Right on time, as he exited the apartment building, he felt the call.
The grim reaper was certainly displeased to say the least.
Diamond
They both waited patiently on the front room couch. Sitting side by side and holding each other's hands like they were what held their bodies down instead of gravity. She leaned in and enjoyed Renata's simple, clean scent.
Diamond studied her, really studied her and her beautiful, unique face. Renata didn't adhere to any kind of beauty standard. It should have mattered, but it didn't. Not to Diamond. Not to anyone who saw her. Renata, like so many others, ascended past such silly things. Her brown skin, a brown so warm, warm in the kind of way that made one's eyes linger on such an inviting color, that was still smooth despite the acne scars and random spot of differing pigmentation. Those lips were especially enticing. Rounded off and plump like rose petals or something else as pretty as that—
Renata was quiet as she directed her nervous words at Diamond. "You're staring at my lips."
Diamond's eyes flicked upward briefly. Both of their cheeks burned red. "Oh." She cleared her throat. "I must have spaced out." While it was only a white lie, it felt like the wrong thing to say. But what was the right thing to say? Everything was changing—the last thing Renata needed was Diamond admitting her confusion toward their relationship.