A Neighbor's Knock The New World of SwapTech chapter 12 by deleted_user

The evening had settled into uneasy domesticity—TV murmuring, Rufus snoring on the rug—when the doorbell rang at 8:15 p.m. Mark froze mid-sip of wine, shadows flaring defensively around his ankles like startled snakes. Lisa sat up straight, stellar veins brightening instinctively.

"Who the hell—?" Mark whispered.

Lisa peered through the blinds. "It's Karen from next door. The HOA busybody. Probably about the 'strange lights' she saw last night."

Mark's heart hammered. Umbra's midnight skin and curvaceous silhouette weren't exactly subtle, even under the robe. "What do we do?"

"Improvise," Lisa said, already moving. She threw on Mark's hoodie (stretched tight across Nova's chest) and yanked the hood up, golden eyes hidden in shadow. "You stay back. I'll handle it."

Mark retreated to the hallway, peeking around the corner. Lisa opened the door a crack.

Karen—mid-50s, perm, perpetual clipboard—smiled too brightly. "Hi, Lisa! Or... is it Lisa? You look... different. Taller?"

Lisa forced a laugh. "Yeah, new workout routine. What's up?"

Karen craned her neck. "Saw some weird glowing from your windows last night. Like fireworks indoors? And your husband—Mark?—he looked... off when he got the groceries. Darker skin? Everything okay?"

Mark's shadows coiled tighter around his legs, agitated. One tendril slipped under the robe, brushing his inner thigh teasingly. He bit his lip to stifle a gasp.

Lisa leaned into the doorframe, blocking the view. "Just... mood lighting experiment. And Mark's got a new spray tan thing. We're fine. Really."

Karen frowned. "Well, if you need help—"

A golden spark jumped from Lisa's fingers to the doorknob. It glowed briefly. Karen yelped, pulling back. "Static! Must be the dry air."

Lisa laughed nervously. "Yeah. Dry winter. Night!"

She shut the door. Mark emerged, robe askew, one breast nearly exposed. Shadows still teased his clit, making his knees weak.

"Close," Lisa said. "She bought it... mostly."

But as they returned to the couch, the remote vibrated on the table—subtly at first, then insistently. The TV flickered back on by itself, Starbreaker's glitched battlefield reappearing in static bursts.