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Sparks was on cloud nine. They’d just finished a season with a damn good ERA, the Ritual just made a “10 cafes in Seattle you can’t miss” list, and best of all, Goodwin was back in town. Though the two remained in decent contact after her impromptu trade to the Tokyo Lift, they missed her hugs, and lining up times to talk with the time zones was difficult.
Tonight they had Goodwin all to themself. Lights from nearby buildings reflected in the wet streets as the two made their trek through the International District, the rain sizzling as it made contact with Sparks’ electric hair. They took a deep breath, taking in the cold, damp air. They loved the city at night like this.
Goodwin took a sip of her almond milk latte. "You're that confident you can beat me this time?"
Sparks scoffed, looking up at her. "I've had a year to master this machine while you've been in Tokyo. I could do this with my eyes closed."
"One hand tied behind your back?"
They nodded, confident. "Any obstacle you can throw at me, I've got this."
Goodwin raised an eyebrow as the two entered the old brick building that housed the Pinball Museum, Goodwin ducking to clear the door frame. “Glad to see this place hasn’t changed too much while I was away.”
The small arcade was bustling with people waiting to play the museum’s vast variety of old and new pinball machines. The two wove their way through the crowd to the small staircase in the back leading up to the more vintage cabinets. The loft was smaller and quieter, perfect for the two to catch up. Goodwin took off her rain jacket and wandered to the windows, looking out over the crowd as Sparks made a beeline for the machine they’d been practicing with.
“C’mon Goods, let’s see what you’ve got.” They beckoned her over. She smirked and sauntered to the machine.
“What, don’t want to go first, show off a bit for me?”
Sparks shook their head. “You and I both know how good you were at this one. I want to know what score I have to beat.”
“Hmm, alright. But what if we made this a little more interesting?” Goodwin flashed that smile everyone loved, but they knew better. There was something devious hiding behind this one.
“Oh?” Sparks inquired.
“Some of my teammates in Tokyo are big on betting. How about… whoever loses owes the other one a favor.”
“Oooh, like a fun favor?” Sparks wiggled their eyebrows. “Now you’re speaking my language. I’m in.”
“Excellent! It’s a deal.”
Goodwin pulled up a stool, not wanting to hunch her full 7’3 frame over the machine. She pressed start and shot them a smirk, brushing the hair out of her face. “Just know I’m not going easy on you.”
“I’d be insulted if you did.”
Goodwin pulled the plunger and she was off to the races. Sparks tried to watch the game play out and figure out her tactics, but they couldn’t bring themself to take their eyes off of her. They had forgotten how focused she got on these games, her unibrow furrowed in concentration, eyes laser set on the board. They watched as her biceps flexed around her tight black band tee, her back muscles straining at the fabric. It was little wonder she had gotten recruited for the Tokyo Lift. She had Heart and Swole to spare.
Before they realized it, she was done. She got up and stretched her arms above her head, her shirt riding up a little to show her soft tummy. “Mmm, I’ve missed this. Tokyo has some amazing arcades, don’t get me wrong, but none of them feel as intimate as this place does.” She took a step back, scooching the stool back. “Anyway, all yours, beanie baby. See if you can top that.”
They flushed a little, it had been a while since they’d heard her call them that in public.
They pressed the go button and focused in. They fell into an easy rhythm, flipping the leavers just right, the pings of the bumpers singing as they racked up the points. They looked to the high score, so far, so good.
They barely noticed when Goodwin slid her arms around them, holding them close. They sighed, leaning into her as she towered over them. "You're doing pretty good, you might actually get it this time."
Sparks smiled, watching the ball rocket up a slide. "That's the plan."
They let out a little yelp as they felt a cool slick appendage brush against their dick, probing it lightly. Their concentration wavered and the ball slipped through the flippers.
Goodwin tutted. "Oooh, tough break."
Sparks looked down, but there was no sign of her shadow appendages anywhere. She must have slipped one up the leg of their pants, into their boxers while they were focused on the game. This was going to be harder than they thought.
"T-that's cheating."
SHOOT AGAIN, the cabinet flashed.
Goodwin leaned in, an imperceivable shadow of hers still slowly working their dick from inside their pants. "Is it? You didn't lose a ball, I'd say it's fair game. Besides, what was that about being able to handle 'any obstacle'? I'm just rising to your challenge." She withdrew the appendage, and Sparks whined at its disappearance. "Unless this is too much for you."
Sparks' head was swimming. When had Goodwin gotten so bold? The two had a sort of friends who fuck, and cuddle, and give each other relationship advice, situation going on, but this? This was new. Maybe that Ego did go to Goodwin’s head.
If this was what Ego made people do, maybe it wasn’t so bad, after all.
They shook their head. "I can handle this, n-no problem."
They looked around, nervous someone had noticed their sudden change in demeanor, but the gal at the Orbiter cabinet was too enraptured in her game to pay them any mind, and the group near the edge of the balcony were wrapped up in their ciders and conversation. A tingle ran up their spine at the thought that this was happening. They'd never considered themselves an exhibitionist before this, but they had to admit this was exhilarating.
"You good, Beanie baby?"
Sparks nodded, face hot. "Never been better."
Goodwin engulfed their dick in slick shadows at that, and Sparks had to stifle a squeak at the sensation. "Oh, glad to hear it."
Sparks pulled the plunger, launching the ball back into play. They steeled their resolve.
With every flick of the flippers, Sparks felt Goodwin's shadows follow suit. It was maddening, but they pushed through, determined not to break before they had reached their target.
"Oh my god, is that the Goodwin Morin?? Hey Goodwin!"
Voices from below called up at them. Fans, no doubt. Goodwin waved. "Hello!"
"Can we get an autograph?"
"Surely! Be right there." Goodwin pat Sparks on the back and gave them a quick peck on the top of their head, dodging the electricity. "I'll just be a moment."
Sparks sighed, both relieved and frustrated that Goodwin's retreat meant a break from her touch.
Except as she pulled away and squeezed down the tiny staircase, Sparks felt the shadows swirling around their dick intensify as they sent the ball flying across the board. They snuck a glance over the loft window, watching her chat with the group as they laughed. Goodwin shot a glance up at the window and gave them a quick wave, grinning from ear to ear, before turning her attention back to the group. The idea that Goodwin was schmoozing it up with fans while she was shadowfucking them just above, nobody the wiser, hit them hard, causing them to let another ball slip past as they ground against her fingers. They weren't going to last much longer at this rate.
Just as they felt themself getting close, the fingers withdrew. Sparks whined.
"You didn't think I'd let you finish without me, did you?" Goodwin purred, having returned from below. She wrapped her arms around them again. "And certainly not before you held up your end of the bargain."
"Bargain?" Sparks inquired, lust drunk.
Goodwin chuckled and leaned in close. Her hot breath against their ear made their already sensitive body shudder.
"You can't come until you've beat my score, which according to your boasting should be a breeze."
"Yuh... you're not exactly making it easy."
"Good. Though I can always up the difficulty, if you think you can take it."
Sparks nodded. They wanted more, they needed to see what else Goodwin had up her sleeve. They were putty in her strong, capable hands. No going back now. “Hit me with your best shot.”
She tipped their head up, bringing her lips to theirs. The kiss was everything Sparks had missed, Goodwin’s arms surrounding them as she held them close, the heat of her tongue lapping against theirs. They could stay like this all night. Goodwin finally broke the kiss, eliciting another small whimper from Sparks.
However, Sparks found that no sound escaped their wanting lips. As Goodwin pulled away, they felt their mouth still occupied, only instead of her tongue, a writhing shadow took its place, still eager to play with their mouth. They looked up at her wide eyed.
“You and I both know how loud you can be, and I’m not about to get us kicked out of the best arcade in town. Let’s just hope nobody needs to talk to you. Just tap me on the arm if you need to speak.”
Sparks face burned. They nodded and gave an affirmative sound, one that was once again swallowed by the shadows.
Sparks pulled the plunger, sending the next ball rocketing into play. Sparks honed in on the game, trying to find a rhythm that wasn’t too overwhelming. They knew how to keep the ball on the upper half of the board, to give themselves a breather and raise their score. But before they knew it, their mind was slipping back to the compromising position they were in, the feeling of the shadow filling their mouth and the other caressing their bits. The way Goodwin towered over them, doing all of this without needing to move a finger. They’d never felt so owned before, it was exhilarating. They wanted more, wanted to feel her bring them to the brink, to-
Another ball slipped past their flippers and the shadows swallowed their choked sob as the shadows receded once more.
“Doing alright down there? You’ve just about beat me, you better make that last ball count.”
Sparks nodded. They could do this. They had this in the-
“Ohmigoooosh!! I knew that was your hair! Hiiii Goodwin!! Hi Sparks!!”
Sparks' eyes shot to the stairwell where a plump woman with a cat ear headband stood.
Fuck.
Goodwin turned them both to face Lori Boston. “Lori! It’s been too long, how have the DJ gigs been treating you?”
“They’ve been super great! I just did this like, killer session on the other side last weekend, the rebels fucking love me over there.”
Sparks couldn’t believe this was happening. They wanted to disappear, to melt into Goodwin’s shadows completely. They really, really hoped Lori couldn’t see how badly they were blushing right now.
“I’m sure they appreciate the fresh talent over there! Let’s catch up while I’m in town, maybe you and Sparks can show me that song you’ve been working on.”
“That’s a great idea! Did you finish up the drums for that, Sparks?”
They nodded, unable to do much else. They considered tapping out, but there was a dark part of them that was getting off on this. If it were anyone else, they would have, but this was Lori, queen of Arturo’s sexy house parties.
Lori raised an eyebrow. “What's the matter, catgirl got your tongue?” She chided playfully.
Goodwin gave her a wink. “Something like that.”
This was it, Sparks thought. This was how they died. Incinerated in the middle of the pinball museum by embarrassment and arousal.
Lori wiggled her eyebrows at the two. “Ooooh, fun! I’ll leave you two to it, I’m helping Emilia at the front. Laterrr~” And with that, she was off.
Sparks slumped against Goodwin, who gave them a reassuring pat on the head. “You’re doing so good. Need anything?”
They shook their head and turned to face the machine. One more ball. They took a deep breath and sent the last ball into play. They just needed another half million points before they secured a score higher than Goodwin's. On cue, the cool shadow hand returned, working their throbbing dick with the juices from their wet bonus hole as the one in their mouth teased their tongue. As the points ticked up, Goodwin’s motions increased. They were so close, just a few more flicks, a few more points, so close, nearly there, and-
The second the score ticked over the mark, Sparks released, body thrumming with electrical jolts, Goodwin's fingers pumping them along, drawing it out. Sparks saw stars of purple and yellow as they gripped the machine. As they came down, they opened their eyes to a darkened cabinet.
"Uh."
"I think you shorted the machine."
Sparks face flushed. "Shit." They hoped the museum could fix it.
“You played commendably! Truly, A effort.”
Sparks spun around. “Wait, effort? But I beat your score!”.
“Hmm, there’s no real way of knowing now, though, is there? I think that means I win by default.”
Before Sparks could get another word in edgewise, Goodwin pulled them in for a kiss, pinning them against the machine. Sparks sighed and lost themself in her embrace. Even if they lost, this was absolutely a win.