Death be not proud

 Hizashi was rattling cans around in the fridge, looking for a particular soda, when he heard his wife's phone ring out. It was a very specific text message notification assigned to her mother.

His heart dropped, and he closed the door without picking a drink and rushed over to the couch where Elly was sitting.

"Oh, Zashi," she began in an odd voice. He immediately paid attention and sat beside her, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Babe?" He placed a hand on hers.

"Zashi - that mean woman died. My stepfather's mother." Elly continued to stare blankly at the paused television, her ears back but not all the way. She had a confused frown on her face as well, and kind of looked like she had gas. Her stomach did feel strange but there was nothing physically wrong with her that she knew of besides a headache.

"I'm sorry." He stroked the back of her hand.

"Thank you. I ...don't know how to feel." She rubbed the back of her neck, grimacing at the tension there. Hizashi picked up on this and nudged closer, placing his hands on her shoulders and beginning to rub. "I'm sad because a human died, and I'm even sad because my stepdad will be sad. But I'm pretty neutral about the whole thing in general. All I can think of is the bad things she did to me, or my family. There were no good times for me."

She sighed and leaned into his warm, strong hands giving her a much-needed massage. "There were no good times for me," she repeated slowly, obviously thinking it very carefully through. Elly nodded at last, convinced. "Everyone else got the little shreds of love. I didn't."

"You're a good person, baby. You're working through the bitter memories, and they will hurt. But you still feel sad for a human's life."

"Yeah..? I don't know. I do. Feel sad, I mean. But I kind of hope she realizes. Like, if there is judgement that she's shown how much she hurt me. Because I don't think she knew or even cared."

"Death is tricky," he whispered sadly. He removed his hands and kissed the nape of her neck. "Unresolved issues are hard to get over. She should have lived you and been kind to you. It's okay to mourn that, and not the woman herself."

"Oh, god, that's it. That's what I'm crying over? It feels so selfish but... yes. Yes, that's right. I'm sorry about a lot of stuff, too. She was obviously hurt to be so hurtful to others. Man, this <i>sucks</i>."

"Yeah."

Mate Guarding

 "<i>Back off!</i>" Elly snapped, her eyes pale and vicious in intensity. Her claws were out of her paw gloves and she was in a defensive posture in front of her sparring partner in one of the gyms.

Aizawa and Kayama had gone to remind them of a meeting, and they immediately saw something was terribly wrong. Mic had been standing with his arms out, trying to hold the counselor back as she struggled to get to him. They started forward in concern, but a voice shouted from behind them.

"No, you don't <i>understand</i>," Recovery Girl called out. "Stop!"

Aizawa froze in his tracks. He had <i>never</i> heard the old woman sound so terrified. Kayama raised an eyebrow, concerned.

"What?"

"What's wrong?"

"Do not go <i>anywhere</i> near Present Mic," she said firmly, hobbling quickly over with the help of her syringe-shaped cane. "She warned you, and it must've been incredibly hard for her to do even that."

"What?"

"This is just nature's bad timing. Cheshire -" She pointed the tip of the cane at the striped figure standing beside him, growling ominously at them with her arms blocking him behind her. Mic looked confused and appeared to be trying to talk to her. "She's in heat."

"I don't care what her problem is if she's trying to hurt anyone," Aizawa grunted crossly. "Look, I can tie her up if she's belligerent."

"Kinky," Kayama murmured.

"She won't  hurt him, and there's a much easier way." She spoke with the disgruntled homeroom teacher, and he nodded.

Aizawa cupped his hands to the sides of his mouth. "Mic!"

"Yeah?" The Voice Hero made himself easily heard even from the distance.

"Pick Cheshire up and carry her here. If she tries anything, tell her it's okay. <i>Don't let her get down</i>."

"Uh... okay." Hizashi contemplated the hissing cat woman in front of him. Her striped tail was fluffed angrily out and waving frantically back and forth, making it hard for him to approach without getting slapped with all four feet of it. "Ches! Easy."

"<i>Get away from him, bitch</i>," she spat at the other woman. "He's <i>my</i> mate. I swear to fuck I'll rip your eyes out of your sockets and make you eat them."

Kayama sputtered, taken aback. "What?! Whoa! As if I'd want Yamada. Gross."

Hizashi glared menacingly at her but said nothing, only stroked Elly's ears in an attempt to soothe her. She growled, unconvinced, but let him scoop her up in his arms. There was a larger, angrier hissing fit that occurred when his neck gear got in the way, but he resolved that by unfastening it and setting it on the ground. After that she calmed down noticeably, nuzzling at the small opening at the neck of his jacket. Mic prudently relieved her of her gloves and neck gear as well.

Chiyo glanced over and nodded to herself. "Mm hmm. Unzip your jacket."

"Oh ...kay?" He pulled the tab down as well as he could with Elly clinging to him. She immediately burrowed partially inside. Loud purring could be heard quite clearly, as well as some unidentifiable sounds.

"Uhhh, uh! Ches. <i>Ches</i>!" Hizashi jumped every few seconds and gasped.

"Something the matter, Yamada?" His scruffy colleague raised an eyebrow. He'd picked up his speaker and was carrying it back to the nurse's office.

"Erk!" The breath whistled out of him, his face blushing a bright red that hovered on the cusp of purple. "She's <i>kissing</i> me and - and <i>stuff</i>!"

Elly's head peeked out for a brief moment. She turned to hiss at Kayama and slowly licked Mic's Adam's apple while maintaining eye contact. Then she buried her face back again.

"Hot damn. The hell with me, she's going to rip <i>you</i> apart, Yamada." The dark-haired woman whistled.

"That looked like a lick to me," Aizawa pointed out clinically. "Not a kiss."

"Please!" Mic gulped, his knees starting to give way. "M'serious! Her <i>hands</i> ..!" He howled so loud Aizawa had to erase his quirk.

"Stop that! Just tell her to calm down again, like Recovery Girl said."

"Ches, baby, you need to calm down," he pleaded desperately. "Cheshire? Please, we're not <i>alone</i> ...just wait, okay?" He had no idea why he chose those words exactly, but she whimpered a little and grew still.

"We're here."

"Great," Kayama drawled. "I'll go tell Yagi he's got to cover his classes for at least a day."

Chiyo had her sit on a cot while she checked her pulse and pressure, among other things. Hizashi walked quickly over and caught Elly's outstretched hand in his as soon as she raised it.

"Yeah, so," he grumbled, his voice rising as he grew more anxious. "Why'd she call <i>me</i> her <i>mate</i>?!"

"Take it easy, young man." Recovery Girl shook a finger at him. "You're going to need to hold it together for her."

"But - <b>mate</b>!"

"She can't hide her feelings when she's like this." She pointed to where Elly was clinging to his hand, upset she wasn't making full-on body contact anymore. "This woman is in love with you, Yamada, and you have a choice to make. You can acknowledge you feel the same way and we can give you a ride to a treatment center for couples. Or, if you don't love her, we send her to the hospital."

Hizashi cringed, rubbing at his neck where there were red marks from his heavy gear. "Hospital?"

"They'll drug her through it."

"She's <i>scared</i> of that!" He turned and curled an arm around her in a protective manner, his eyes huge behind his sunglasses. She huddled in his embrace, picking up on his fear for her and whimpering.

Chiyo smiled. "That easy, huh?"

He blushed. "Uh, I uh, well. You know, I'd've told her before but we're busy all the time and, uh."

"Of course."

"All right. This is the center. We can have someone drive you to the gates but there's always a crowd in front, unfortunately. You'll be seen."

Aizawa poked his head inside from where he'd been listening in the hallway. "Go easy, Mic," he warned. "I know how you feel about the media."

"I just want her to get better," he stressed firmly. "I don't care about those vultures right now."

Of course, those "vultures" were packed tight up to the gates on this day. Hizashi groaned but held tight to Elly's hand as he helped her put of the school vehicle, hoping to walk inside without any incidents. The crowd didn't part, however, choosing instead to rush at them shouting questions and taking pictures.

He drew a deep breath. "Back up quick, yo! She's hurt an' we need to get into the center!"

A few bolder fans and reporters didn't listen, unfortunately, and most were women, which aggravated her worse. As one grew close enough to touch his sleeve she snarled and sliced at her with a swipe of her hand. If she'd had her gloves on the civilian would have been badly injured, but all she got was a scratch. Elly growled incoherently in warning. Hizashi thought he caught one word: "<i>Mine</i>".

He spun around and shielded her from the people crowding in the front. "Shhh, it's okay," he cooed lightly, stroking her hair. "I've no interest in them. No one else. Mikey's all yours. My eyes are on you, my hands... see? All you."

Her fangs disappeared as the edges of her mouth uncurled, and her breathing slowed and grew more even. "M - Mic. <i>Mic</i>."

"Good kitty," he murmured.

"Hey, what's the big deal?!" Someone shouted from the crowd that had gathered around them. "Someone could've been hurt!"

Hizashi stood up to his full height and looked around, his eyes cold and narrowed to angry slits. "You're right. Someone <i>coulda</i> been hurt. You need to listen when a hero tells you to move away."

There was nothing they thought to say to that, although there were mutters of discontent from the fangirls.

He turned back to Elly. "We're almost there, babe. Hang on, we're gonna make a run for it." He picked her up, remembering how much easier she was to handle before and wanting to escape the situation as fast as he could. Some in the crowd had their phones out and he knew they'd recorded their interactions anyway. Besides, he was proud she was in love with him and thought she wouldn't mind going public afterward, either.

"We're gonna be all over social media soon," he sighed as he opened the door with his hip.

"Present Mic, we've been expecting you." There was a small group of staff huddled near the front desk that walked a wheelchair out towards them. The person gestured and he surrendered his bundle over. She fussed a little, but he had a better understanding of her condition now and took off his jacket to cover her with it.

"Very good," the attendant murmured.

"Yeah, I learned that the hard way." Hizashi strode over to the desk and checked in. "So... I didn't learn too much about this place before we had to come. What's so special? Private rooms?"

"Yes, and more, customized to your specific needs. For you, a soundproof room - or, as much as we can make one soundproof, considering the strength of your quirk -- with no glass or anything breakable. Meal plans for her included, as she will need more caloric intake during mating. And..." The woman checked the computer screen, reading the information Chiyo had sent. "Oh, we've also got your allergies covered, so don't worry."

"Allergies?"

"To latex."

He coughed and looked uncomfortable. "Oh. Ohhhh. Good."

The attendant wheeled her to the room and left her with him in a chair facing the bed, closing the door firmly behind them when they left.

Hizashi drew in a deep, stuttering breath. "Okay, all right." He cleared his throat and walked over to the bed, yanking his boots off and his jacket along the way. "Alone at last, huh?"

Elly seemed wary now that it was just them.

"Aww. You doin' all right? What's the matter?"

She shook her head. The more of his hero costume that came off, the more confused and agitated she became. He worked a hand through his slicked up tresses, pulling them down with an ease born out of practice.

"Hizashi," she groaned.

"That's me, kiddo." He sat on the bed, bouncing a few times to test it out. "Hey, memory foam. No squeaking!" He laughed and she twitched a few inches forward.

Hizashi figured he'd better pull all the stops. If she was going to get better she needed to - well, she needed to get over this sudden, strange shyness.

"C'mon baby, don't be bashful <i>now</i>," he crooned, spreading his legs and hiking the shirt up further,  exposing his firmly defined abdomen. "You were practically taking bites out of me through my t-shirt before. What's wrong, lost yer appetite?"

Her eyes were huge, her pupils blown wide and her striped tail stiffly trembling. She swallowed, then licked along the front row of her teeth where her fangs were. The blond haired man suddenly realized that she was literally drooling with lust.

"Uh oh," he choked.

<i>She was getting worse and</i> that <i>was confusing her - !</i>

"<i>Hizashi</i>," she breathed roughly, her chest heaving.

"Oh god baby, look ou - yikes!" He was slammed back into the mattress as she leaped on top of him. Her hands thrust up inside his shirt, hungrily groping him far, far more intimately than she had on campus. He whined, writhing underneath the onslaught and praying he could satisfy her. One of his hands brushed her tail as it waved about and he instinctively closed his fingers around it.

Elly's head and ears shot up. She arched her back and started to shake all over.

"Oh?" He stroked up the underside from the base, admiring the silky fur. "You like this?" Her glorious purple eyes started to tear up and he grinned. "Listen to me, Ches, I don't know what to do here. I've never had a mate before."

She stared at him with a little frown, her eyes still trickling tears from the corners.

"Oh, no! No, I've had sex, sweetness. I just haven't done <i>this</i> before. You need to tell me what you need."

Emotional outbursts were a part of her heat, and he just told her he'd been with others before. Normally this wouldn't have struck so hard, maybe a little jealousy that would easily brush off. But in her hormone-induced, possesive state she clung to him and wept.

His face fell, and he did the only thing he could think of - he panicked. "It's okay! I'm sorry, what did I say? Was it that you weren't my first?" He held her and rocked her gently in his arms. "You're like a big ol' teapot, aren't you? Just waitin' to pop off at any second. Look - the others don't matter. I've never felt the way I feel about you, ever. I think I'm in forever love with you, baby, an' that's what matters."

She buried her face in his shirt, sniffling.

"Tell me, love. What do I need to do?" He sighed when she didn't answer. She probably couldn't; she hadn't spoken more than a few words all day. But with her cradled comfortably in his arms and settled down - she was currently nibbling on his neck -- he picked up a pamphlet from the bedside table to skim through.

<i>Marking... praising, control. Oh, and 'don't mention old lovers' -</i>

"Oops," he said softly. "Sorry, babe." He returned to his reading, letting her graze on him.

<i>'She wants to be connected to you. Marking each other will calm her down enough to talk -'</i>

"Aha! That's why yer nipping at me." He deliberately moved his neck to one side, exposing more of his pale skin.

Elly purred, pleased, and bit down a little harder, sucking and licking. Hizashi closed his eyes and hummed quietly, the bulge in his pants getting harder to ignore. When he didn't move she grew bolder and he gasped, discovering a brand new kink he now had.

"Yeah, m'yours," he slurred, lust drunk and dreamy eyed. "Do more. I <i>like</i> it, baby. Mark me up."

His shirt was pushed out of the way and he was soon covered in love bites. She loved his arms and chest, and he lay there in a pleasure-induced fog right up until she came across a flat male nipple.

"<i>Oh fuck yes</i>!" Hizashi jolted up, his toes curling. "I - I gotta... you!" He growled, rolling her under him the opposite way on the bed. Elly mewed loudly and rolled her head back for him to bite. He sank his teeth in without thought, sucking with the intent to give her a bruise she would feel for days. He didn't stop until he heard her crying out with delirious pleasure, nails scrabbling on his back.

"Yes! Yes, Zashi! Yes! Take me! <i>Take me now!</i>"

"Oh my poor heart," he wheezed. "I'm'a make you pant an' scream and beg, baby. Hang on, hold on, all this nasty clothing has to go bye-bye."

She tried to help but in the end he was the one that had to undress them both. Eventually Hizashi knelt on the bed, naked, his hair free and glasses removed. He wanted to spend more time kissing her body, but frankly tonight she didn't need any more foreplay and was begging him to get on with it. He worried about condoms for a minute but then remembered their hero monthly blood testing and sterilization procedures.

They'd be fine.

The excitement of no protection spurred him to push onward, and he kissed her as he guided her to lay with her legs wrapped around him.

"Not so romantic for our first, but, eh. We can get a do-over once yer back to regular, huh?" He used a hand to steady himself, then bucked forward all the way until their bellies slapped tightly together.

"<i>Yes</i>!"

Hizashi was inclined to agree.

Never had he felt such heat and friction. He tried to pace himself but she was wild, gasping and moaning little "ah, ah, ah's" over and over again.

It was <i>really</i> inflating his ego.

"Oh yeah," he grunted, his rhythmic thrusting turning into mindless rutting, faster and harder while she cried out for more. "Oh yeah, oh <i>fuck</i> yeah, who's my baby!"

She screamed incoherently and he shook his hair back, sweat flying as the long tresses slapped his bare back.

"I said, <i>who's Zashi's baby</i>?"

"Me! I'm Zashi's! I'm all Zashi's!"

"<i>Ohhhhh</i> ho ho ho ho, shit, good girl. Good kitty, that's right." He groaned and jerked his hips up at an angle, causing her to scream with delirious pleasure. "Zashi's gonna - eurgh! -- gonna give it all to you. I..." He faltered, then howled so loudly all the furniture rattled. Elly's ears twitched but she didn't pass out as he'd directed it away from her at the last minute.

"Zashi!" Her body shook, radiating pleasure from deep within. Thighs trembling, she gave up and lay limp and moaning as he finished as well.

"Baby, oh baby ... <i>oh, yeah, baby</i>!" His eyes widened and he quickly stuffed his face in the pillow. She felt the cry vibrate the entire bed, though it being made of one solid material it stayed in one piece.

Hizashi lifted his head up, his expression dazed and more than a little apologetic. His mustache points were awry, and she smoothed them back to normal as he gathered his wits.

"Hmm. Hmm. Aren't you supposed to be the one losin' it?" He chuckled. "Sorry, Ches. Oh. And c'mere." He pulled her into a sweaty hug, kissing her noisily. "I love you."

She sighed happily. "Before my mind blanks again, Hizashi... I love you, so, so much."

He winked slyly at her. "Wellllll, yeah, I kinda figured that."

"Zashi!"

Flirt Wars (sleepy)

 

The top of Hizashi's head poked up from behind one of the sofa sections. Considering he was six foot and a half, this was a considerable feat. He was, indeed, laying almost flat on the floor behind it to pull off such a stunt.

And why?

Elly was sitting in the middle of the left hand couch, her ears droopy and her face bored. She looked <i>tired</i> - really, honestly exhausted -- but since it was two in the morning he figured she couldn't sleep. She wore fleece sleeping pants with little mushroom designs on them, and a top that read, "<i>go ask Alice when she's ten feet tall</i>".

He was coming to her rescue.

"Pssst, babe," he called out softly, inching closer. "Ches."

Her ears flicked but she didn't move her head. "Zashi? That you?"

"Yup."

She stifled a yawn. "Oh, did I wake you? I didn't mean to." Though sleepy, her voice still held a note of concern.

Hizashi unfolded himself off the floor and sat down, throwing his arm across the top of the couch behind her. "Nah. I couldn't sleep, either."

"Oh."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. It was a comfortable silence, though, and neither felt the need to break it. Then, perhaps because it was so late and she was so tired, Elly sighed and her head fell sideways onto his arm.

"S'okay, babe. Here, let's do this right." He gently pulled her into his arms onto his stomach while laying back on the edge of the couch. "There," he murmured softly. He blinked down at her weary face and smiled, passing a hand over her eyes.

"Zashi..."

"Hush, little one," Hizashi whispered, and then, incredibly, he began to sing. It was obviously a lullaby, and not one she knew, but his voice blocked out the world and everything was <i>perfect</i>. Comforted in a way she had never known, her heavy eyelids stayed closed and she was soon purring, happily asleep.

His soft smile remained on his lips as he drifted off, too.

Mark 7

 Hizashi swung her through the threshold of his home, stepping inside and kicking his boots off in one fluid motion. Elly removed her simple sneakers, looking around as she did. The decor was simple, modern but with a good splash of seventies kitsch thrown in.

There was a living room space to the left that had a double glass door that led onto a fenced-in patio. To the right was a huge kitchen with a bar and island, and stools set up to one side. Farther over appeared to be the dining room but it wasn't too visible from where she stood, nor could she see any rooms that were in the hallway by the kitchen so she assumed it was long. She set her shoes near his and walked further in.

Hizashi popped up from behind the bar in the kitchen. "You want something to drink? I got soda of all kinds, juice, beer, some spritzers  ...oh and there's a full bar but I, uh. I'm not good at mixing stuff an' I dunno if you even want to drink alcohol?"

"What kind of spritzers?" She wandered over and he clicked cans against bottles as he rummaged in the fridge.

"Cherry, mango, peach - bleah, I hate peach -- um. Oh, and kiwi."

"Hmm. I'll take mango."

"Sure thing!"  He grabbed a can and held it up. "Outta the can or glass with ice?"

"How did you know?" Elly grinned. "I always make everything super cold when I drink."

"Ha! So do I. I even put ice cubes in my beer - a friend threatened me about that, once." He snickered as he remembered and took another can for himself, then opened an upper cabinet to bring two glasses out. "There we go." He soon handed her the drink with a flourish.

"This is good. And your place is really nice, but I agree with your friends. It's huge!"

"Yeah, it is." He flopped down on a black suede sofa and stared somewhat morosely around. "My friends are right. But," he smiled again when she sat next to him. "But it's less lonely when someone else is here." He picked up his phone and fiddled with it for a minute, and soon strains of lovely, soothing music filled the room. Another touch and most of the lighting dimmed, leaving the room drenched in secretive darkness except for a soft glow from the moon shining outside and a row of lights under the kitchen counter.

"I knew you'd have a good sound system." Elly relaxed and sipped her drink, closing her eyes and letting the music waft over her. "You know... you're putting more effort into entertaining than any of my old boyfriends did. Isn't that funny? I always thought soulmates just, I don't know. Didn't have to go through the motions. I never thought too hard about it."

"Well yeah, I mean... some people think that having found their soulmate means that's it. Like, they don't hafta work at the relationship. But <i>why</i>?" He set his glass down on the table in front of them and crossed his arms. "They're given this awesome chance, you know, with the person they're meant to be with. And they take it for granted."

She placed her glass down firmly. "That's what bugged me. I really thought it was bullshit... until Kayama found hers and their marks flowed." When she glanced over at him he was close, his hazel eyes filled with understanding. Elly felt a shiver run up her spine, the anticipation causing her tail to fluff out. He saw this and grinned.

"Pretty kitty," he murmured before he reached out to cup her head in one hand, bringing her closer for a drink-sweetened kiss. It was quite more serious than the ones they had shared on the beach, and both were breathing hard when they parted.

They were silent for awhile, and then he reached over and paused the music. "Can we check something? I wondered if ours would still move if there wasn't music. Aside from the initial reaction, that is."

"Hmm." She stared at hers, so pretty when it activated, so plain without.

"And what if we put 'em together? Like, our actual arms touching." He slid his hand over and clasped it in his, lowering his body so their arms rested together. He moved slowly so she could protest if she wanted, but Elly was quiet. She was impressed by his strength to hold himself above her for so long without any trembling in his muscles. They finally lay together, her tail twining about his legs and their faces inches apart.

Their Marks were pulsing, the rainbow colors brighter than ever and glowing again in the night.

"Oh... oh, wow."

"There's no music but they're still going."

Hizashi swallowed hard and rested his forehead on hers, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Babe, it's our heartbeats. If there's no music, they match our - our... we've got <i>one heartbeat</i>." He trailed off, groaning softly with passion. "Kiss me," he pleaded. "<i>Kiss me, please</i>, I can't stand it anymore. I don't know how it's possible, but I'm so in love with you!"

Since Elly felt exactly the same, she didn't hesitate, wrapping her free arm around his neck to caress the back of his head. He held her hand throughout the kiss, and for the next several until he needed to take his glasses off. After setting them aside, his lips and hands grew much busier, trailing down her neck and body. She played with the bun at the back of his head until his hair came free, tumbling down over his back and shoulders.

Hizashi's mouth was hot on her neck, sucking and kissing. "Mnn, there it goes," he whispered. "My hair's my makeout meter. Little strands fall out during play, but when it all comes falling <i>down</i>..."

She gasped, her eyes closing in bliss. "Oh god, <i>Hizashi</i>."

"I want to take you into the bedroom, baby," he whispered. "Give you the first night of the rest of our lives."

How on earth could she say no to <i>that</i>?

Temptation 22

 Hizashi lingered in bed as she stretched and looked around for her clothing. "I wish we could cuddle," he sighed wistfully, eyeing her warm body with longing. "I feel so close to you now."

Elly sat on his lap, pulling his arms around her and kissing him. "I do, too. And I want to cuddle just as much, but if we stay too long dinner will get cold."

At the mention of the demon in the kitchen, however subtle, he stiffened, his eyes going wide. "Oh. Oh, I was a little loud, wasn't I. Is he going to..?"

"If he was going to attack you, sweetheart, he'd have done it already." She handed him his clothes with a gentle smile. He positively beamed at the nickname and slipped his shirt back on.

Once they were dressed they headed into the kitchen, where the lack of any kind of smell threw them off guard. The absence of dinner was explained when the angel found Shota laying on the floor, however.

"What the?!" He bent and patted his cheeks. "He passed out."

Elly rushed over on his other side and stroked his forehead. "Shota? What happened?!"

"Wh... ah, fuck." He opened his gray eyes with an irritated grimace. "I'm fine," he grunted as Hizashi helped him up.

"Are you?" She watched him closely.

"Yeah, what gives? How long were you out like that?"

"Not long." He stared at the mess he'd made and sighed.

"Well, what happened?"

"I, ah, ate too much. Though it was kind of a force feeding situation at the end." He blinked mildly at the blond haired being. "I wasn't aware your kind could incite that <i>much</i> pleasure in a partner."

The angel looked a little startled, and then he started to blush furiously.

"I'll just get some takeout," Elly shrugged. She made as if to pick up the keys next to her bag on the counter near the door, but Shota stopped her.

"You've got literal afterglow," he pointed out, rubbing the back of his neck and wincing. "<i>Both</i> of you."

"After..?"

"He's right." Hizashi gestured at his body, which she saw was now softly lit, a light radiance shining all around him.

"I thought that was the lighting."

"No," he chuckled wryly. "It seems it's a side effect of sorts."

"I hope it goes away. This would be really hard to explain to people. Even the truth wouldn't cut it."

"I'm afraid you're going to hafta stay inside for longer anyway, love." Hizashi laid a hand on her side. "We didn't notice in the, ah, moment. But your injuries are way better."

Elly's eyes widened. She twisted her torso this way and that, lifting up the bottom of her shirt to check the big one. "Ohhhh my goodness."

"Ha," Shota laughed out loud. "An unexpected bonus."

Hizashi glanced at him, uncertain of the demon's mood. "Are you really okay with this? I mean, we, ah. I slept with the woman you're in love with."

Elly took a deep breath, trying to not show how nervous she was despite his assurances earlier.

For a minute the incubus didn't say anything. Then he turned his back to them and started cleaning up the spill of food on the floor. "I can't lie to either her or you," he said when he stood back up. He set his palms on the counter and spoke calmly. "I'm not jealous."

"Oh." Hizashi looked relieved. "Good."

"What are we going to eat?" Elly asked quietly. She looked unconvinced and her question just might have been to jump them past the awkward topic. Then again, she was definitely hungry - her stomach growled loudly. "Erk."

"I'll get the takeout if you don't mind cleaning up the rest of this." Shota waved a hand at the vegetables and some of the chicken that hadn't fallen to the ground. "Sorry, by the way."

"I can get that."

"All right," he said quietly. "I'll go to the place on the corner and get our usual stuff." He walked to the door and was out before either of them could say anything.

Shota stepped out in the cool air, determined to get some of her favorite foods from the restaurant nearby. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, however, he rubbed at his upper left side, frowning hard. His breathing became erratic and he paused to calm himself.

As he stood in the apartment corridor a sleek, black cat strolled out from around a corner and gave him a very direct stare.

Shota snorted. "Don't start," he warned.

<i>Start something? Me?</i> The cat yawned hugely, showing all her sharp teeth. <i>Why ever would I do that?</i>

"I don't need any of your shit now, Midnight." Shota's lips pressed into a thin line, though his hand still clutched at his heart and he was breathing heavily.

<i>I come to check up on you and this is the thanks I get?</i>

He bared his fangs at her. "<i>Leave me</i>!"

<i>Fine</i>. The demoness flicked her tail at him as she turned around. <i>Go ahead and have your cry. The angel beat you to her heart, and if you're foolish enough to care you</i> deserve <i>the pain.</i> She strutted off into the distance.

Shota waited until he was certain she was gone. Then he let out the harsh breath he'd been holding in and shook his head. "Stupid bitch," he grated.

The sound of laughter echoed in the corridor from somewhere behind him. He recognized it as Elly's and smiled, then winced.

<i>Fuck</i>.

Now with vitamin R

 The villains had been rounded up, the cops lust for paperwork fulfilled. Though it was extremely late, the two heroes stopped at the kitchen in the teacher's dormitory to get a drink before cleaning up for bed.

Elly rummaged around in the fridge, hissing with irritation. "Somebody drank all my milk again!"

Aizawa grunted. "Get a mini fridge if it bothers you that much." He frowned; he felt woozy all of a sudden.

"I'd just fill it with snacks. Too tempting." She whipped around when he stumbled against the counter. "Eraser?"

Aizawa groaned and turned away. "Don't fucking look at me."

"Don't be stupid," she hissed. "You got hit with a quirk?" Elly grabbed him and turned him over. "Why didn't it do anything earlier?"

He curled in on himself, shaking his head. His long, black hair hung down and obscured his face but she could see two odd, fuzzy flaps sticking out of the sides of his head. She reached out and touched one, then jumped back as he kicked out.

"Don't!"

"Damn it." Elly turned invisible and crept in front of him. From her better vantage point she could see bumps on his forehead, and -

Aizawa's eyes flashed red. She sighed as her quirk was canceled and she stared blandly back at him as he glared at her. "I said, don't look at me."

Her nose twitched. "I smell ...oh. Is that <i>you</i>, Eraser?"

"Yes." Knowing his scent had given him away, he stood, exposing himself to her view at last.

The furry flaps on his head were white, floppy ears and the bumps on his forehead rounded horns. His nose was slightly wider with a little indent down the middle, and his one good leg had sprouted a hoof at the end instead of a human foot. As he got up a long, thin tail with a tuft of dark hair at the tip whipped at his legs.

"You're... now this is different."

"I ate a burger at lunch."

Her eyes widened. "Whatever you last ate..?"

"It appears that's how it works, yes." He looked furtively around to make sure no one was near. "I'm getting into bed until this wears off." When he moved to walk, however, the prosthesis on his one leg didn't quite add up to the flatter, different hoof. She had to catch him before he fell.

"Watch it!"

He swore sulfurously, his face a thundercloud. "How the hell - hey!"

Elly hushed him. "The others will hear." She threw his one arm around her to support him, and together they hobbled off to his room. Aizawa collapsed on his bed while she followed.

"Thanks," he said grudgingly. "I know how to sleep, though. I can take it from here."

"No... wait." She paused, sniffing again. "I smell something else."

He rolled over and she saw two wet spots on his hero outfit. He must have felt the damp, because he looked, too. "What fresh hell is this?" He asked no one in particular, his tired gray eyes rolled up to the ceiling.

Elly sat on the edge of the bed as he unzipped the top half of his suit and pulled off the shirt underneath. His chest was stained pink, blushing across his pectoral muscles. The firm chest looked plumper, and his usually flat male nipples were stiff and dripping.

The cat woman blinked. He was frozen with confusion but she reached out and touched a curious fingertip to one of the swollen nubs.

"St - stop," he gasped. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Elly pressed experimentally and a trickle of milk dribbled out from the rigid flesh. Encouraged, she squeezed harder and he let out a harsh whine, his face burning brightly across the bridge of his nose.

"Shota," she purred. "You're <i>lactating</i>. I really don't know how it's possible but this is amazing."

He choked, weakly trying to push her away but she clung to him. "Fine, it's strange. Quit trying to - aaah!"

She leaned forward and licked gently at his left nipple. "Oh my god," she purred, her voice dreamy. "It's <i>delicious</i>." This time she bent and wrapped her lips around it, suckling to continue the flow.

Aizawa lost what little was left of his mind. Though he hated to admit it, the feeling of her body pressing intimately on him and her lazy, satisfied purring would have been enough to break him on a regular day. Add to that his oddly tender, swollen nubs of flesh that only grew more sensitive as she sucked and toyed with them and he sank into a mental space he didn't know existed.

Panting and writhing, he arched his back into her touch. "Okay," he gasped. "If you're gonna do it, then <i>do it</i>." He grasped her hand and placed it on his free nipple.

She looked up at him, pulling off with a trickle of milk running down her chin. "What do you need, sexy?"

"It aches if you don't... you know. If you're gonna do it, just fucking <i>milk</i> me already."

Elly pinched hard and he moaned thickly as a stream squirted out, his mouth hanging open and his tongue peeking out as he panted. "I swear this is the dirtiest dream I've ever had," she sighed before going back to sucking him dry. "Because it <i>has</i> to be a dream."

"Hah ... ahh, don't stop." He bucked his hips up, chasing the sensation of her soft weight pressing on top of him. She switched sides and he reached for the back of her head, pulling her close. "F - ffffuck, that feels so good! More! More!"

His tracksuit was a sodden mess by now. He growled, impatient, and ripped it open right down to the crotch. His underwear were bulging with one of the most tremendous erections he'd achieved, and he unabashedly shoved the boxer briefs off.

"Oooh, frisky." She noticed his freed member and slicked her palm with milk before gripping it firmly. "Let's get it <i>all</i> out, like you suggested," she whispered into his mouth as she kissed him.

Aizawa kissed back desperately, his brows drawing into a tight frown as she pumped him quickly to release. Without knowing why, he grabbed his swollen breasts as he neared climax, squeezing hard. Milk sprayed everywhere and he cried her name so loudly he was hoarse afterward. He shot several bursts of much warmer semen across his belly to mix with the sweat and dairy before passing out.

When he woke hours later, he was warm and dry, dressed in a simple sweatshirt and shorts. Confused, he held his head in his hands, groaning at the sullen headache in his temples.

<i>My forehead</i>!

His fingers splayed out, searching for the rounded bumps of horn, but his forehead was smooth aside from the wrinkles of a deep frown. He ran a hand through his hair and felt very human ears on the sides of his head.

Although he could have passed it off as a very strange sexual fantasy, he knew the events he remembered had occurred. One reminder was a wet towel and washcloth hanging in his bathroom from a shower he didn't recall. Another was the torn, milk-stained tracksuit folded on the counter. Several purple and lavender hairs were scattered about on the dark cloth.

Aizawa stared at them for a long time until a slow smile spread across his scruffy face.

He sought the counselor out the next day afyer classes.

"Oh, hey, Eraser," she smiled sheepishly at him, her tail stilling in a slight panic. "Feeling better today, I see."

Aizawa simply looked her right in the eyes.

"Uh." Elly flailed around, aware of how awkward the situation was. Last night she had acted purely upon her whims without a thought of the future. "What's up?" She asked lamely.

He stared at her for a moment longer and then grinned in that distressing way he sometimes had. One hand stole into a pocket of his new tracksuit and brought out a suspicious bag of dried herbs.

Elly took one sniff and her purple eyes glazed over.

"Payback, <i>kitten</i>," he chuckled wickedly. "It's your turn."

Casual Friday Antics

 <b>Cheshire</b>: <i>There's no way he's even noticed me today</i>

<b>Midnight</b>: <i>Oh yes he has! I saw him looking when your back was turned</i>

<b>Cheshire</b>: <i>You did? Maybe casual Friday wasn't such a bad idea, then</i>

<b>Cheshire</b>: <i>I mean, fantasy wise, I dreamed that he'd jump me in the janitorial closet or something</i>

<b>Midnight</b>: <i>It's not like him to try something so risky, but I bet he'd tear into you discreetly if he could</i>

<b>Cheshire</b>: <i>Oof, discreetly = no orgasm for me</i>

<b>Cheshire</b>: <i>ROFLMAO</i>

Elly sighed from where she sat at the edge of Aizawa's desk. He'd agreed to get drinks later, but he had papers to grade and she had decided to stay until he was done. Halfway through she'd gotten bored and texted Kayama.

She set her phone down and looked over at him, so busy in his work.

"Oh, I don't know." Aizawa didn't look up from the paper he was checking when he spoke. "I bet I could make you come without even taking off your underwear."

Elly wasn't sure she'd heard correctly. Her long, furry ears twitched. "I'm sorry, what?"

"What you and Kayama were talking about." He calmly replaced a paper from the stack and began checking it with his red pen.

"You - you <i>saw</i> that?!"

"She texted me a screenshot."

Elly crossed her legs, the shock of hearing him say such things sending a jolt through her lower body. She normally didn't wear skirts and had chosen this because she wanted to flirt, but -

<i>I didn't think it would actually work</i>!

"What's wrong, kitten?" Aizawa had finished grading. He looked up, his expression enigmatic as ever but his voice filled with dry amusement. "Now you've caught me, you don't know what to do?

"I - I can't believe this is happening." She swallowed hard, watching him warily as he stretched. He opened a drawer in the desk and neatly stacked the papers and pen away.

"It is. Now why don't you sit closer?" He gestured to the front of the desk. "Swing your legs around in front of me."

"<i>Aizawa</i>!"

"Shota," he sighed.

"What?"

"I'm offering to bring you to orgasm. I insist you call me by my given name."

Elly's face flushed.

"Oh, that's cute," he murmured. "C'mon, then. Slide over and spread your legs. I want to see what color panties you're wearing."

She gave up. His low baritone was almost hypnotic in the way he droned on, seemingly unmoved. Swinging her legs around, she boldly threw one over him and sat slightly spread out directly in front of his gaze.

"Well?"

He gently caressed her inner thighs with one rough palm each, lifting the skirt as he went. "White? Very nice. I bet if you got wet enough, I could see all of your pretty pussy."

She stared down at him, stunned at how easy dirty talk came to the scruffy homeroom teacher. Aizawa's charcoal gray eyes were half-lidded, almost bored, yet there was an amused tilt to his eyebrows. He blinked at her and then moved, nuzzling into the thin satin and slowly opening his mouth. He waited until she shivered with reaction to close it, softly munching the wet mound until it grew pliable.

"A - Aiz - Shota, what ..."

He stuck his tongue out and licked the fabric, one long, wet stripe from bottom to top. She squealed softly when he rested the tip of his tongue at the top, and he grinned that damned cheeky grin at her.  Before she could part her suddenly dry lips to speak, however, he buried his face in the damp cloth, nuzzling and licking. He molded the thin strip to her body and suckled relentlessly at the lump that had emerged on the top of her sex.

She learned never to doubt him that day.

Patented Technique

 Hizashi was at his wits end.

It was just Kayama, Aizawa, Elly and himself at the bar tonight, sitting in a secluded room in the back. They had ordered one too many drinks and all were pretty much inebriated except Aizawa, who was the designated caller of the cabs.

The combination of them getting wasted, him being madly in love with the counselor and her showing up in a frilly, short skirt had culminated somehow in this risqué chatter. Kayama wouldn't let it drop and they had somehow gotten to the topic of...

"Pfft. Please. Guys orgasm so easily." Kayama snorted. She pointed at Aizawa, who sat snoring beside her, and then shakily at Hizashi across the table.

"I have to agree with that," Elly sighed, downing the last of her frozen novelty cocktail.

"Nuh! ...not fair! Girls can come quick, too." Hizashi frowned through his blush. He couldn't believe they were talking about this. Although since Kayama was here, he kind of could.

Elly regarded him warily, her ears folded into her hair. "Guys can even do it without taking their clothes off," she stated matter-of-factly.

He <i>really</i> didn't want to oppose her, especially because it meant the topic would continue to be discussed. Still, he fought back. "Some chicks can come through their clothes."

"Oh, right. Like that's possible." It was Kayama's turn to scoff.

Hizashi squinted drunkenly at Elly, who squirmed in her seat beside him at the look. "Ohhh, I dunno," he grinned slyly, wiggling his mustache. "<i>I</i> could do it."

"You?" Kayama laughed until she spilled most of her drink on Aizawa, who grumbled but didn't lift his head off his arms. "I bet you can't! Prove it! Right here! We gotta private - <i>hic</i>! -- room 'n all!"

The loud hiss that came next startled everyone, including Aizawa. He poked his head up and muttered, "Watch out for her claws," imparting true feline wisdom before flopping down to snore again.

"No!" Elly clutched the Voice Hero's arm possesively, her eyes murderous as she glared at the other woman. "Come any closer and I'll cut a bitch."

"Oooh, babe, are you jealous? 'Cause if you <i>like</i> me," he leaned close to her, bending over to whisper in her furry ear. "I'm pickin' up what yer puttin' <i>down</i>."

"Zashi!"

He chuckled. "I could make you lose it right here. I mean it. 'Specially since you wore a skirt."

Her blotchy face grew redder, and she choked, stammering faintly. "Oh! I, I uh... oh. Oh my."

"Wanna see?" He rested his hand on her leg.

Kayama watched, fascinated. She never thought the derpy blond man would have this effect on anyone, but here she was, witnessing it firsthand. Elly swayed, her eyelids drooping as she regarded him with a look so steamy he knew she wanted him.

Even in his drunken state he paused for direct consent, however. "Ain't gonna do anythin' until you tell me <i>yes</i>, pretty city kitty."

Her ears laid on either side of her head while she gasped. He was, quite literally, taking her breath away as her heart pounded heavily against her ribcage. "Yes."

She felt his hand slide up her thigh and though it caused her a pleasurable shiver, wondered if this simple touch was his game, why was he so damned <i>sure of himself</i>?

Hizashi kissed her.

Surprised, Elly tensed a bit but melted when she saw his warm, golden-green eyes so close to hers. He deepened the kiss when she didn't pull away, his deft fingers lightly stroking her thigh close to the hem of her panties. They barely heard Kayama cheering in a slurred voice but instead focused on the kisses, which were turning damn near pornagraphic. Hizashi whined and whimpered whenever she managed to kiss him just right, while Elly miaowed and moaned. His hidden fingers were busy below, rubbing the silky material near the top of her open body in sweet, tight little circles. The fabric was drenched but he waited until her hips started to jerk along with his touch.

His finger didn't stop but his kisses did for a moment. Elly mewed softly, pouting, but he smiled wickedly and shook his head. What <i>really</i> confused her was when he raised his arm to his mouth.

Hizashi took a deep breath and hummed, directing a low vibration of his quirk through his arm and, consequently, down to his fingertips. Each steady exhale brought a thrill akin to a vibrator but honestly better as he could switch speed at will depending on her expressions.

Needless to say Midnight lost the bet.

She did, however, relentlessly call him "Hitachi" the next day in the staff offices until he threatened to tell them all the story of what happened when she first met Mount Lady.

Mark 6

 He drove her to a gated community on the beach, quite a ways from the inner city. Although she might have been nervous going so far away from the mainland on a first date, Elly found that she was still comfortable with Hizashi. They chatted about various topics and when they got close to the housing he stuck a card in the slot by the gate and was buzzed in.

"Fancy," Elly murmured.

"Ostentatious," he corrected with the lopsided smile he made around her that melted her heart. "Though a gated community has come in handy a few times when I wanted privacy."

"Like now." She craned her neck, staring in the not too far distance at the waves hitting the shore. "There's nobody on the beach."

"Oh, that's a private beach, too. That's where we're headed. Shouldn't be any busybodies around here but my neighbors." He parked neatly in a designated garage and helped her out. There was a neatly pebbled trail that led into the dune grass and beyond, and he held her hand as they walked out onto the wet sands.

Elly watched as he grimaced when the wind picked up. His hair was so long that even wrapped as tight as he could get it into the bun, there was still enough to slip free and tickle his cheek and neck. "Aw, dang it."

"Cute," she said softly.

"Yeek! Your tail is whipping around!" Hizashi yelped as it smacked him on the back.

"Hizashi, it was your idea to walk on the beach," she reminded him with a laugh. "Didn't you realize it would be windy?"

"Yeah, I guess." He pointed to their left. "We're headed for that little bench next to the gazebo though. It's less windy."

"Oh, it is." They sat and watched the waves and stars for awhile, pressed close together.

"This is where I come to sit an' think." He sighed pleasantly and looked over at Elly, who was shivering. "Are you cold?" He slid one arm out of his outer shirt and offered it to her. She blushed but cuddled close to his side, draping it over her. Hizashi wrapped his arm low around her waist as well.

"This is nice." She set her hand gently over his heart and felt it racing like her own.

"Yeah."

"You live in one of these townhouses, then?"

He nodded. "Mm hm. I wanted a free standing house of my own, but I don't have time for taking care of a lawn and stuff like that. It's all done for you here, and there's not as much of a lawn as there is a patio overlooking the beach."

"I think it's beautiful. I love the ocean."

"<i>You're</i> beautiful," he sighed, then chuckled as she glanced up at him, rolling her eyes. "I know, I'm a cheesy bastard, but I can't let one of those slide. I'm gonna remind you every time."

"Zashi." She sighed a trembling little sigh and he bent to place his forehead on hers, staring deeply into her eyes. His hand came up to caress her cheek, his fingers cold but the skin soft.

"May I?"

"Please," she whispered.

Hizashi only had to move the slightest bit for their lips to touch. She wrapped her arms around him while their mouths brushed together, then slowly opened, their tongues meeting sweetly together. It was a slow kiss that caused their hearts to pound and hairs to stand on end, goosebumps prickling up and down backs and arms alike. Elly moved toward him on instinct when they broke apart, chasing the intimate contact without a second thought. She brought both hands up, catching his cheeks in her palms, and kissed him harder, nuzzling and reveling in the soft tickle of his mustache.

Eventually this had to end as well, and when it did he was stunned.

"Wow," he breathed, the words torn away from him in the stiff breeze. He looked her in the eyes and said it again. "Wow. That was... wow."

She nodded. "Wow."

"It - but it's late." He raised his head to look up at the twinkling stars above. "Where do you live? Is it far?"

Elly thought for a moment. "I live above the store," she finally confessed with an impish smile.

He did a comical double take, causing her to giggle. "There's a flat above there? I thought the other level was inventory space!"

"Part of it is," she admitted, "but the other area is cheap. I only need a bathroom and a kitchen with one small room to sleep in."

"Oh." He spun a red beaded bracelet on his arm in thought. "Sorry if that was condescending or - or anything. I didn't mean it like that."

"Nah. Most people react that way. Hell, Kayama has been trying to get me to move out of there for months. She says there's not enough room to really live."

Hizashi stared out at the waves crashing on the sand for awhile. When he spoke again his voice was low and a little shaky. "Do you wanna see my place? Your friends say you've got too little, mine are always telling me I have too much space for just me. Maybe if we were together it would be perfect."

Elly thought about it. She was comfortable with him, as if she'd known him for far longer. Of course, he <i>was</i> her soulmate, so that was a given. Yet she was sure that he was simply a good man. None of her instincts told her this was wrong, Kayama knew who she was with, and, and...

She <i>wanted</i> to.

It was as simple as that.

And yet, this was their <i>first date</i>.

"I want to," she told him honestly. "Would you think badly of me if I went home with you on the first date?"

"We're soulmates," he said as if that explained everything. "This isn't some tawdry fling or anything. I already know I wanna be with you forever."

Elly smiled.

"Besides," he added, "we don't hafta do anything besides actually <i>sleep</i> if you want. I've got an extra bedroom. The hell kind of person would I be if I expected sex if I invite you over?"

"Like most men."

"Ahh, right. Well, I'm not like most men. I might have urges, but I can control myself." He paused, then added, "or, uh, I could still drive you back or call a cab or an uber or anything."

"Hmm."

"What d'ya say?"

She closed her eyes, imagining being held in his arms, kisses raining down on her while music played in the background. When she opened them she rubbed her thumb on his lower lip, purring. "I want more kisses. Preferably in the comfort of your home."

"Oh, god," he gasped. "Sweet baby, yer gonna destroy me."

Mark 5

 Of course the man drove a mustang.

She had never seen one close up before, and asked a lot of questions as he drove. He seemed pleased she was interested, and the time passed quickly. Before she knew it, he was pulling into a parking space alongside a busy street.

Hizashi led her to an upscale coffee shop in the better part of the city. It wasn't too far from where she worked but had never been due to the higher prices. They were seated and orders taken swiftly by a polite waiter that nonetheless looked as if he wanted to bring up a variety of topics, including their Marks, which were putting on a colorful display.

"How did you find out you wanted to be a DJ?" Elly thought that might be a good start on getting to know him better.

Hizashi beamed at the waiter, who handed him a steaming cup of the most sugar-laden monstrosity the place offered. He thought for a moment as she got her order.

"I really love music," he shrugged. "I mean, obviously, yanno..." He toyed with the rim of his cup, staring into the whipped cream and foam. "But I always did. It was a place I could go - still can -- when I felt like shit. Music always cheers me up."

"Yeah," she agreed. "I had a crappy childhood. But music - there's no way anyone can take it from you. It's everywhere and it can make your spirit soar."

Hizashi reached out and took her hand in his. He couldn't stop touching her, couldn't bear to be detached physically for more than a few seconds. Their Marks flared up again, causing a few of the patrons nearby to talk in low voices and even point, but he ignored everything but her.

"I feel the same way."

"Yeah." She allowed herself to become lost in his eyes for a long minute, gazing with such warmth that he began to blush, his ears burning.

"Did you, ah, look into Marks or anything?" He eventually looked away, directing his attention to their odd designs. They were thrumming gently to the light, jazzy tunes piped in throughout the shop, their glow noticeable due to the sun having set.

"I did," Elly confessed. One of her ears turned towards him as she tilted her head. "Did you?"

"It was the first thing I did when I could think straight!" He laughed, recalling it had been in his bathroom at home. "I fell down the freaking rabbit hole, Ches baby, let me tell you."

She wiggled in her seat, unable to completely contain her glee at the nickname. "Y - yeah, me too. We're not the first to have color marks like this, but it's rare."

"Uh huh. But the moving stuff..." He shook his head. "That's more vague. I never heard of anybody having Marks that move constantly."

"Maybe we're an evolution."

He snorted as he drank, and she was more than amused to see his upper lip, including the pointy mustache, had been covered in whipped foam. "Ha! If I'm a higher link in an evolutionary chain, I feel bad for humanity. Like, whoa."

"Zashi," she giggled, reaching out, "you've got whipped cream on your -" She wiped his mustache points off with a finger and he snapped playfully at her, catching the pad in his mouth and sucking it off.

She shrieked laughter and snatched her hand back, her heart beating far too fast.

"Uh oh. Looks like my antics didn't go unnoticed. " He coughed a little in apology. "Told ya."

Elly's ears flicked. "Paparazzi?"

"Uh huh. We just got snapped a few times. Marks on fire, too. Probably big news 'cause of how different ours are."

"Is big news okay?" Her eyes were so wide and vulnerable when she spoke that he wanted to kick himself for making a fuss about the magazine earlier.

Hizashi picked up her hand and kissed her palm softly. Her Mark flared up and actually <i>blushed</i>, a deep red color infusing it completely for a moment. "It's fine, babe. I get to show off, anyway. Let the whole damn world see my beautiful babygirl."

Elly sighed in relief and then added in a wry tone, "Good, because <i>that</i> was filmed on someone's cell phone, I think."

"Ah, <i>shit</i>," he groaned, pushing his cup to the side. "All right, we need to go somewhere more private. I know just the place." He dug in his pants pocket and took out his wallet, but she'd already put a tip on the table. Hizashi nodded, accepting her contribution though he made quite more than she did.

Elly liked that.

She liked him, too - more than liked, in fact. She was starting to come to grips with the fact that she might already be in love with this man she just met the other day.

Mark 4

 Kayama was <i>ecstatic</i> when she told her the next day at work. Elly was having her morning coffee at the Cafe before the record shop opened.

"Present Mic?! Really? I mean, I'd be happy if he was some regular Joe, but wow!"

"I was shocked myself." She sipped from her mug and shook her head. "No... I was beyond that. Am. I still think it might be a dream."

"No shit. So? What'd you do?" The other woman wiped the counter down and started refilling the sweetener station. "Deets, girl, I need the <i>deets</i>. How is he in the sack?"

Elly snorted a mouthful of coffee and swore, grabbing a handful of napkins to hold under her nose. "Ow! What the hell!" Her eyes watered and she grabbed another to dab at those as well.

"You didn't sleep with him?"

"Why would I!" Her ears were twitching and her tail fluffed out in all directions. "I'd just met him, for god's sake!"

"Hmpf."

Her friend bugged her all day, teasing her in as many ways as she possibly could from verbally calling out things like "<i>I know someone's got the hots for Present Mi-i-i-c!</i>" to changing the specials board at the Cafe to read various embarrassing things.

Elly was at her wit's end but knew she would have the final laugh.

Close to closing hours, a man walked up to the record store counter and asked about a special printing they were taking orders on. He was tall and wore his hair back in a bun, but blond hair still spilled out of the back, feathering down his neck. He pushed a pair of red glasses back up on his nose and grinned at her.

Elly would have recognized his eyes anywhere, but the true giveaway were their Marks. As he bent down over the counter they burst out from under the sleeves of the t-shirts they both wore, glowing brightly and beating perfectly in sync with the J-Pop that was playing at the time.

"You want two of these?"

He nodded. "I collect vinyl, thought I'd start shopping here from now on, hey?"

She smiled warmly at him. "Thanks, Hizashi."

"No problem," he said easily. "I wanna support the music <i>and</i> my girl."

Elly fought to retain control of her breathing. It was difficult but she managed to arch an eyebrow at him. "Oh, am I that already?"

"Is there any question about it?"

She couldn't really answer that.

"We can go wherever you like tonight," he suggested shyly. "I thought we could go for coffee, but I didn't know you worked right next to a coffee shop..."

"Oh, that's okay." She closed the register and made a note of the end count for the owner. "I don't drink it all day just because it's there or anything even though I love coffee. On purpose so I don't get sick of it, you know."

"Sweet." He bounced on the heels of his shiny black boots, grinning from ear to ear.

"I just have to go in the back for a second, then close off our side."

He nodded and she walked briskly into the back room.

"Oh my god, girl, your Marks! They're a-mazing!" Kayama was already there, dancing erratically in place and squealing in excitement. "<i>Tell</i> me you're gonna hit. That. Shit!"

"Ohmigod, shhh!" Elly hissed as she put some customer orders that hadn't gotten picked up yet aside. "He might hear you!"

"So what?" She asked bluntly. "I can tell you've got the hots for him already, and he's the <i>one</i>."

"Okay, I'm gonna go out there and, uh. Get to my date."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Kayama called after her with a wicked laugh.

Hizashi was waiting for her near the magazine rack where he'd been browsing the titles. "Hey," he grinned when he saw her, hastily putting the copy he was looking at back. "You ready?"

"Bad article?" Elly pointed at the publication.

He made a face, his short eyebrows drawing up to a point on his forehead. "Bad publicity." Hizashi sighed and picked the magazine back up, skimming until he found what he was reading previously. "Ngh. Here. '<i>Present Mic parties all night long at Lakeview gig</i>'".

She looked at where he was pointing and saw a lot of what the media liked to think were "pretty girls and boys" - definitely not common fans. "You're not in the picture."

"'Course I'm not," he grumbled. "I don't take pics with crowds. And I leave at the hour agreed upon every single time so there's no bullshit like <i>this</i> in the media."

Elly laid a hand on his arm. He jumped a little, then relaxed. "I'm sorry," she said sympathetically.

"Thanks." He put it back on the rack again, then shook himself. "Ugh. Didn't want to start bitchin' at you like that. I'm sorry, too."

"It's fine. It must suck to get your life combed over like that for shits and giggles."

Hizashi snickered at the term but nodded, then shrugged. "Oh, well. You know what to expect, though. If it doesn't bother ya, it won't bother me. So. Shall we?"

"Yep!" She walked out with him, locking up along the way. As she was double checking the front door, she spotted her friend plastered up against the window on her side. Kayama was mouthing words at her, exaggerating them and waving frantically. She shook her head and shrugged. <i>What</i>?

Kayama held up a hastily scribbled note on the glass. It read:

<b>TAP THAT ASS ♡</b>

"What's she doin' back there?"

Elly chuckled nervously and slipped her arm in his when he would have turned around. "Nothing."

Hizashi grinned and squeezed her arm in a cute little sort of hug. "'Kay."

Temptation 21

 The dark-haired incubus paused in the act of cutting some chicken to dig his free fingers into the counter as he felt his mistress' tension mounting. The angel had finally succumbed; Shota sensed this and knew what was next.

Feeding time.

Energy from an actual orgasm was more than what he'd been existing off of for the better part of a year. He set the knife carefully aside and took a long, deep breath.

<i>Don't fuck this up, choir boy</i>.

Hizashi knocked on the door before walking in.

"It's okay," she called out.

"That might've been a little silly," he admitted with a lopsided grin. "But I thought maybe you were undressing."

"I was," she said quietly. "I took my underwear off but left my pants on for now."

He sat, then rolled to lay next to her again, kissing her on the mouth softly. "So I can do the same thing like you did with me?"

"You'll have to reach into my pants, actually."

"Oh. I can't just..?"

"No, but you don't <i>have</i> to do anything."

He pulled her into his arms. "No! No, I want to make you feel good, too. I've wanted that from before."

"Thank you," she said. "You were even more gorgeous than usual. You made me want you even more."

He coughed a little. "Well, then, how do I help you?"

"A woman is a bit trickier than a man. It might take longer, and, um. You're going to have to start at the beginning." She paused, blushing. "Kiss me, hold me. Work me up to it until you start touching me down there."

Hizashi shyly stroked the side of her left breast. "Can I touch you here?"

Her gasp was loud. "Y - yes. Please." He petted and kissed her, gaining courage for one hand to trail down her stomach to her pants. And though her nipples ached, there was a much stronger need growing down below. He took a breath and ducked inside, fingers threading through bristled hair until he found warmth and wet.

"Hizashi," she breathed softly, arching up off the bed into his touch as he experimented. "Oh, <i>yes</i>."

He smiled, bolstered by her obvious pleasure. Her lips were parted and her eyes blown wide and dark. He kissed her neck and was rewarded with a soft moan.

"You're beautiful," he whispered reverently. "So open for me... incredible."

"On top," she gasped. "Slow, slow little circles." He moved his finger carefully, swirling gently on the spot she had pointed out. Her cries grew louder, and she squeezed her eyes shut, her brow drawing tight. She still sounded like she was enjoying herself but her frown concerned him. He kissed her lips briefly to get her attention.

"Hey, little one, are you doing all right?"

"M'okay!" She bit her lip, toes curling, and tossed her head to one side to escape his gaze.

"Oh, no you're not. Something's off. I can tell when you lie, you know." Hizashi turned her head back to face him.

"You - you're... I want more," she admitted, looking guilty. "I want you, Zashi. I want you in me so bad it's hard to hold back, and I don't want to scare you and it feels so, <i>so</i> good but I want all of you!"

He removed his hand, and for a moment she was certain she'd pushed him too far.

"H - Hizashi?"

When she looked he was kneeling backwards, his t-shirt messily tossed on the bed next to him. His chest was as fit as her hands had felt earlier, with a small puff of golden hair in the middle and a dusting that ran down past his navel. He turned the full force of his gaze upon her and reached down, pushing his sweatpants off. Elly stared, unable to help herself, as his once more fully erect member came into view and she saw him for the first time. Another swatch of blond hair preceeded the stiffened body part, which was pulling slightly to the right while poking up at his flat stomach.

"<i>Hizashi</i>."

"I can't hold back any more than you can," he breathed softly. "So... are you ready?"

"Yes!" She scrambled out of her pants as fast as she could, then placed her hands on the hem of her shirt and removed it as well. The angel watched her undress and, as she popped the catch on her bra and it joined the last of their clothing piled up on the floor, he sighed.

"Such beauty." Hizashi's wings rose majestically out of his shoulder blades, bright and shining. A few loose papers on the nightstand fluttered to the floor and the ceiling fan turned once, struck by a wingtip before he curled them around her. "I'll hold onto you the entire time," he promised. "Don't be afraid."

"Afraid?" Elly shook her head. "Why would I be afraid of you?"

"You'll be making love with an angel," he reminded her gently. "I'm not sure what will happen... maybe nothing. The fact that I'm so calm about this now, however, makes me more than a little suspicious."

"I won't ever be scared of you." She caressed his cheek and he leaned ecstatically into the touch. "And maybe you simply made a decision. It's easier when you accept things."

"I'm glad, and I hope so." He shifted on the bed, getting into a better position. "I think my body knows what to do, but guide me, love, if I falter."

"You won't," she whispered.

His body tensed, rippling with effort before he thrust forward. He missed, blinked, then gasped as her small hand guided him to the proper area. Hizashi moved before he lost the right spot, and moved so swiftly inside her that his startled gasp was more like a shout.

"Z - Zashi?"

"I - I thought there would be more resistance," he stammered. "I th - th... I, <i>oh, god</i>!"

"Breathe, it's okay, you feel so good," she husked. "Please, please move. Make love to me."

Shivering, his wings making a thin, rustling sound, he backed up and thrust again. A little whimper escaped him. And once more, and more, until he was moving faster, the bed creaking gently as he held her and rocked them together.

Hizashi was beyond words as they continued. But his voice sang out, the special one he had used when warding off the demon weeks before. Mystically melodious, it filled the small apartment and vibrated within Elly's very soul. She realized this was definitely not a regular act and instead appeared to be fusing them together in some cosmic way. The pleasure was like a light flowing within her, electricity burning in her loins and her heart soaring. It <i>was</i> frightening, but only for a second before she felt the soft warmth of his quivering wings enfolding her.

Her vision blurred and she realized she was weeping, not in a sad way but from the pleasure that was overwhelming her.

And Hizashi, so entwined in her very being, was close on her tracks.

"I invoke the Three for thee," he breathed, shaking all over. "I - I..."

And she heard it when he came, not with her ears but incredibly, she would say later, with her heart.

<i>I love you, I love you, I love you</i>!

"Holy shit!" Back in the kitchen, Shota choked out a dark cloud of smoke that sparkled with glittering flecks of light. He passed out on the floor, a dazed expression on his face.

One mark 3

 The music was muffled in the room they were ushered into, but the bass could still be heard. Mic told the man to have his assistant take out the "piss track" and run the "emergency" one instead, and the door closed behind them.

They were alone.

Elly immediately flopped into a chair, her knees weak. "My Mark matched with <i>Present Mic</i>. Seriously? And - and why are they so big and bright? They looked like they were glowing in the club! No one's does that!"

"All right," he held up one finger as he struggled to slide his heavy leather jacket off. "Lemme just... christ!" He all but tore it off, tossing it onto a chair along with the headphones he had slung around his neck. The headphones clattered to the floor, however, sliding off the supple leather and he swore again. "Fucking new 'phones."

He sighed and ran a gloved hand across his cheek. "So, ah, first off. My name is Hizashi." He reached out and squeezed her hand in his when she offered. "Hizashi Yamada."

"Elly Sketchit."

"Mmn. You look... d'ya have a nickname too?"

Elly shyly looked down at her striped leggings and twitched her tail that matched. "Cheshire."

"Sweet. Your coloring totes matches the Cheshire cat and all. First I thought it was a costume, but then, yanno, yer ears moved and stuff."

Speaking of getting a good look, now that they were alone, she could really take him in. He was tall - she was guessing at least six foot -- and lean, too, but in a muscled sort of way. His chest without the jacket looked ripped under the plain white t-shirt he wore. His hair was blond and had been slicked into a massive cockatiel plume, which in most forms of employment would look ridiculous but somehow fit his party hard, free expression workstyle. He was wearing leather, the padded, studded jacket set aside for now but the pants and boots were to match, with buckles and a red belt straight from the eighties with metalwork inlay. A pair of white, orange tinted sunglasses were apparently prescription, because he hadn't taken them off even now. In passing, she noticed he had a very vintage style of mustache on his pouty upper lip - two separate parts that grew out, not in, and were pointed like his hair.

He glanced down at his arm again and then at her. "Holy shit," he whispered. "This is really happening."

Elly was quick to respond. "Yeah, and it's awkward."

"I always thought it wouldn't be." He made a face, wrinkling that strange (<i>adorable</i>!) mustache as he did. "I mean, I know I want to see you again, but it still feels like I'm asking a complete stranger out."

"Aren't you?"

He leaned forward on his knees to speak in an impassioned, throbbing voice. She could see he was skilled at controlling his tone and he dropped to a baritone instead of the light tenor he was talking in before. "It's not the same! We're <i>soulmates</i>, yo. We were like, literally made for each other." He paused. "You still look unconvinced."

"I - I don't know. It's a lot to think about. And you're a celebrity, for crying out loud!"

"Okay, yeah. I get it. I really do." He took off his sunglasses and reached out with his free hand to cup her chin in his. The leather of his fingerless gloves was very soft. "Sure we just met, but look into my eyes and tell me you could walk away."

Elly grew faint again. There was something so special, so <i>glorious</i>, about those mesmerizing eyes of his. She was enthralled, excited yet comfortable, aroused but not just in lust.

Mic - <i>Hizashi</i>, she reminded herself -- tore his gaze away with what appeared to be some difficulty. His chest was heaving and there was a very noticeable blush spreading across the bridge of his nose. "I - I can't <i>do</i> that for too long," he gasped. "It's embarrassing, but it wrecks me. Your eyes are so ..." He trailed off, shaking his head in awe.

"Perfect," she murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Your eyes are so perfect." She laughed shakily and held out her phone. "We need to exchange numbers before we forget. Not like I could ever not find you, though. You're all over the place."

Hizashi sat back and fumbled in his jacket pockets for a few minutes. "Where... where the hell - aha!"

"And we need to make a date. You still have to work tonight and it'll be too late when you finish."

He grumbled a bit but nodded. "Yeah." Then he brightened at another idea. "Is tomorrow too early? I can meet with you after you get off work."