Silent love song 7

 The head of the family didn't seem as happy as the rest, however. Alma Madrigal sat with an unreadable expression on her face while the others congratulated them.

"Is <i>that</i> why you were sneaking around at night?" Julieta asked curiously.

"Well... uh, yeah." He chuckled. "I was trying to find her. I had a vision so I kind of knew where she would be."

Camilo pointed at Elly. "<i>You're</i> the puma," he blurted out all at once. "I can see your nose underneath!"

"The what?" Pepa blinked in confusion at her son.

"I met uncle on the road leading into the jungle a few days ago," he explained, excited and talking fast. "He said he saw a purple puma."

"She's a person, not a - ohhhh!" Antonio backtracked as Elly's ears poked up out of her short purple hair.

"Wait, I thought only we had magic."

"What's going on?!"

"I don't know why I'm like this," Elly told them truthfully. "I was young when it happened, and upset since I couldn't be with Bruno -" She tried very hard not to word things in an accusing manner. "My last memory was plunging through the jungle as I changed."

Alma's posture stiffened as if she realized something important. She addressed her son instead of the woman beside him, ignoring the question of magic and cutting to the heart of a different matter. "Brunito, did you smuggle this woman into the house last night?" Her unspoken displeasure suggested what most of the adults were thinking: <i>did you sleep together</i>?

He answered with another question. "Did you turn her away all those years ago, mamá?" His expressionate eyes filled with a deep, abiding sadness. He knew the answer and at that moment, they all did.

"Oh, ouch." Félix whistled lowly.

"I thought I was doing the right thing."

"You told me she never came." Bruno shook his head, bewildered. "I thought she'd found another."

"They tried to force me to marry someone else!"

"Please understand." The older woman switched tactics, appealing to Elly. "Your parents didn't want you involved with him and, quite frankly, neither did I."

"I wasn't a child!" Her lips thinned and she started to tremble. "You <i>knew</i> we were in love. Why did you let your daughters have that happiness but deny him?!"

"It would only have confused him if you suddenly showed up like that after so long."

"My parents <i>locked me up</i>! I couldn't get out and then when I did, you told me to go away." Elly paused. "I didn't, of course. I tried to see him but he wasn't there - he wasn't anywhere." Her voice trailed down until she was whispering the last words.

"Your parents wanted what was best for you, like I did with Brunito." She gestured towards him.

"Whoa." Mirabel's hands stole up to her face, trembling as she covered her mouth.

"He didn't need a woman getting involved when he was struggling with that power of his!"

"He <i>needed</i> love and acceptance." Elly's fangs flashed in the morning light as she bared them in anger. "You treated him like a villian and he's the sweetest man I've ever known!" She shook her head and curled her arm around his, hiding under his poncho. "I don't want to fight. Please, can we not?"

"It's okay, <i>gatita</i>," Bruno pulled his chair out so he could hold her on his lap. She softly begged him to stay and he held her closer, tighter. "No one's fighting, and I'm, um. I'm here. I'm still here."

Dolores winced. She could hear the puma lady sobbing and the look on Bruno's face nearly broke her heart. She held up her hand and addressed the table quietly but firmly, with a smile on her face. "We're all very happy to welcome someone new into our home. It can be a little challenging sometimes, but that's how family is, right?"

Bruno nodded gratefully and stroked his lover's furry ears. "We'll be together now, okay? As soon as possible." A cheer went up from the others and the house celebrated by rattling the furniture merrily about. "I'm not into big celebrations, but I guess our wedding has to be an exception, huh?"

"Of course!" Mirabel was so thrilled she got up and began spinning around the room with her sister Isabel, who produced a beautiful crown of orchids for Elly.

Camilo snickered at the white flowers when they were placed on her head. "They're both old," he pointed out. "There's no way the white's - ohhh! Sorry." He started to sweat as he found himself eye to eye all at once with the purple puma. Bruno was holding the rear half of the big cat with a wide-eyed, startled look on his features.

He changed into his uncle right away and held his hands up. "Whoaaa, you wouldn't hurt <i>this</i> handsome face now, would you?" He winked outrageously.

Luisa, who had been quiet the entire time, slapped a hand to her face, shaking her head at the young man's antics. "Camilo."

"Easy," Bruno spluttered, grabbing in the air and missing as her tail smacked him in the face. Several rats were now clinging to it, squeaking in terror as they failed to control its angry whipping around. "He's joking. Hey, nephew, you better apo-o-o-logize!" He comically drew out the last word, raising his bushy eyebrows at him.

A fogbank swirled around Pepa's head as she watched her brother rein in his wife-to-be. "My son deserves that," was all she said, however, when Bruno grinned sheepishly at her in apology.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," the teen nodded, changing back to himself. "That was kinda tasteless of me."

"White is doable. Perfectly okay," Bruno assured everyone in a loud voice as he rocked in his chair holding Elly, who had reverted back. "For both of us," he added. "Oh. I think. I don't want to assume anything."

She sighed and nodded, though her cheeks were stained pink. "I spent the years hidden away in the jungle by myself, remember? Not that it would have mattered. You're the only man I want."

The smile he directed shyly at her was like the sun coming up.

"Awwww!" Mirabel, Luisa and Isabel clutched their hands to their hearts as one.

"Okay, then! Who wants to plan a wedding?"

There was scattered applause along with lively chatter as the family turned to that happier topic.

Last night a DJ saved my life

 Present Mic didn't usually bring his girlfriend to his gigs, but when he did he liked to keep an eye out for her in the club. It was almost a wrap for the night and he'd started looking forward to packing up when he caught sight of a disturbance at the edge of the dance floor.

Hizashi squinted hard, trying to make out what was going on over there. That was approximately where Elly had been sitting at a table while she waited for him. She'd danced herself out and liked to relax and hydrate for the last hour.

His eyes narrowed dangerously when he saw a large man hovering over his girl. Elly pointed away, then shook her head. She was very clearly telling the man <i>no</i> and he wasn't listening. She finally looked up and caught his eye, and a fierce pride flooded through him when he saw her visibly relax as she waved to him. Though she could take care of things herself, she was more than happy to let Hizashi vent his frustrations now and then.

"C'mon lady, let me at least buy you a drink. You look like you need it."

"I'm not interested." The cat woman very pointedly placed the special headphones her boyfriend bought her over her ears.

Hizashi cleared his throat and scratched a record, first keeping to the beat but slowly turning the music down so the crowd looked up at the booth in confusion.

He leveled one leather-gloved hand in their direction. "I see one of my listeners is <i>being a <b>very BAD BOY</b></i>!"

The man harassing Elly cringed as the Voice Hero's message struck home.

"<b>No means no an' that's MY GIRL, YO</b>!"

He fell out of the chair, hands clutching his ears in pain.

"I told you I had a boyfriend," she said blandly.

Hizashi stepped down out of the booth and stormed over, his thick-soled boots clomping loudly over the beat of the last track he'd put on. The guy saw the DJ grimly coming straight for him and scrambled off, yelping curses.

"My hero," she teased.

He snorted loudly, slipping an arm low around her waist. "He didn't hurt ya, did he?"

"No, sweetie." She kissed him lightly on the cheek.

He looked around and sighed. The majority of the club goers were still dancing, but quite a few had their phones out and were texting or even bluntly recording them. He'd caused a scene and would pay for it later, but his blood was still boiling and he knew he had to moderate his temper before picking his gear up.

"A'ight, let's go in the back first, yeah? I need to calm down."

They passed the guard the club employed in the back after an ID check and headed to a small hallway filled with rooms where performers could rest. He opened the one reserved for him tonight and they slipped inside.

Hizashi immediately flopped down on the large couch in the middle of the room and screamed into a pillow.

"You said you wanted to try and calm down, sweetie," she reminded him, sitting down.

He grabbed her and pulled her underneath him. "So maybe I can't. <i>Maybe</i> I wanna kiss you all over 'n mark you up so everyone knows yer mine. <i>My</i> baby."

"Aww, Mic, you know I love you."

"Yeah." He sucked a light mark on her throat and grasped her tighter around the waist.

"I know what'll make you feel better," she purred. One hand stole down to his belt buckle and unfastened it deftly through so much practice. Knowing he was in a grumpy mood, she switched tactics from how she'd normally speak and pushed her boundaries a little. "Fuck me, Present Mic. Fuck me hard and fast and <i>dirty</i>." She pulled his member out of his underwear and stroked him to full hardness.

He gulped air and jerked his head up to stare at her in bewilderment. She winked at him, and he grinned back before shivering and dropping to her neck again. "I'm'a make it nasty, babygirl," he hummed darkly, biting harder and causing her to groan. "You ready?"

"Drop the beat," she murmured, and he snickered wickedly.

"Tell me if it's too much," he whispered in her ear before pushing her down on the couch.

"Mmn, okay. But the idea of you holding me down and fucking me senseless has me hotter than ever for you. I might not be able to speak."

He took her left hand in his and kissed the palm. "Squeeze my hand then, 'cause I might not hear ya, either."

"Gotcha."

He grabbed her other wrist in his hand and the texture of his fingerless leather glove gripping her so tightly caused her to whimper. "Shit," he groaned, tugging her clothing out of the way enough for him to squirm into position. "You're really into this, ain't ya, babygirl. Tell me again what you want, hmm? Ya want me to wreck you?"

"Ahhh, Mic, <i>use me</i>," she moaned, squirming at the sight of him, still dressed in all his gear except the neck speaker and looming above her with a mischevious smirk. "Pin me down and fuck me hard."

"My <i>pleasure</i>," he growled in a rough voice. He kissed her hard enough for her lips to start tingling, and before she recovered he thrust, burying himself as deep as he could go all at once.

He didn't stop, either, but did as she requested, plunging forward and back with mindless abandon as he let channeled his emotions into lovemaking. His near-boundless energy coupled with the aggression he was venting enabled him to keep up a wild pace for a long time. Sweat flew from his face and neck as he tossed his head, grimacing with pleasure, and the wetness started to bring down his waxed up hairstyle. Several minutes in Hizashi bared his teeth, set himself, and <i>doubled</i> his already impressive efforts with a rough growl deep in his throat.

"Oh god," Elly stammered, her eyes fluttering closed. "I've never been fucked like this before! Mic, <i>Present Mic</i>! I want all of you! Please, please, oh <i>pleeeease</i>!"

"Good girl," he gasped raggedly. "Sh - shit! Good girl, my precious girl. Lay back and take every last drop m'gonna give you!" His thrusts grew frantic, the jingle of his zippers and gear accompanying his rapid pace.

"Fill me up," she panted, staring him right in the eyes.

His tongue peeked out from between his lips. "Gonna be dripping down yer thighs, baby," he promised. "Fuck, fuck, <i>ffffuck</i>, I'm gonna nut so <i>hard</i>." He groaned and dropped a series of kisses on her mouth so steamy she quivered all over.

"Don't stop, but please, grab my other wrist and really hold me down. I'm close, and I want it - <i>oh god, yes</i>!"

Hizashi pressed her more firmly into the cushions and said nothing this time, just gave her a stern, squinted-eye look. She came with a gasp, shaking and staring into those <i>eyes</i> of his, the gorgeous, thin-spiraling hazel pupils that were currently glowing gold in the light of the room.

When Elly wound down she was oversensitive, and he pulled himself up so that he wasn't rubbing on her tired clitorus.

"Still okay, princess?"

"Ye - hess," she panted weakly with a smile. "Your turn, now."

"Good," he panted. "Good, 'cause I can't hold back anymore." He flopped down, his strokes less violent but still muttering with irritation under his breath. "Mine. My baby. No one can ever take you a - away..."

"I'm yours, Mic," she told him quietly. "Always yours. It's okay."

He buried his face beside her in the cushions and let out a muffled cry, jerking forward and holding one last thrust until he was finally spent.

"Better?" She brushed the blond chunks of hair that had fallen back, flipping them over his shoulders.

Hizashi blinked owlishly at her and nodded. "All kinds of better," he murmured. "Thank you, baby."

Silent love song 6

 Elly woke to the whimpering cries of her beloved as he shivered, naked except for his underwear yet sweating heavily. He was curled up in front of her, a starved little spoon that craved affection and physical contact. She'd wrapped herself around him and purred him into a deep, restful sleep last night but he'd woken disoriented and in a panic.

Chest heaving, heart pounding, Bruno's green eyes glowed brightly the moment upon opening and he woke up to an involuntarily vision. It shook him even though after it faded he couldn't remember what he had Seen. He rolled over to face Elly and buried his head between her breasts, weeping with both mental and physical pain.

"This hurts... it <i>hurts</i>," he moaned. "Huh - hold me, hold me <i>por favor</i>, please, my brain is on fire."

They lay there quietly while she held him, stroked his hair and traced lazy, circling patterns over his closed eyelids. He relaxed gradually, his brow smoothing out and the tension flowing out of him as she cuddled him. After a quarter of an hour or so he grasped the front of his shirt she was wearing and tugged her close for a tender kiss.

"Good morning, my heart," she greeted him quietly. "How's your head now?"

"It's much better," he mumbled, still groggy. "Thanks."

"Does that happen often?" She stretched her arms over her head and yawned.

He groaned very softly as he picked himself up, scratching at his chest. "Sometimes it does in the middle of the night, too. I can't control it as much as I used to be able to."

"Maybe I can help, somehow."

"You already did." Bruno sniffed and rubbed his tired eyes with the heels of his hands, then yawned hugely. "I've always wanted someone to hold me like that when it gets bad."

Elly smiled at him and walked over to a window, uncovering the heavy drapes so the light shined in. "Your tower has so many stairs," she murmured, peering out.

"Yeah, well... it helps to keep people out. The platform works for the ones I want to let in. I like it."

"So do I, love. You can see all around from up here."

He kissed her affectionately on the neck. "I'll make coffee. We can get dressed and wake up before we tackle the family." He paused, then added, "Oh, and don't let the rats help. They lick the sugar cubes."

Her nose wrinkled in disgust. "Ew."

"It's only if you ask them to get you sugar."

"You sure?"

He scratched his mass of unruly hair, his expression clearly showing he'd never thought too hard about this before. "Oh, um... actually, let's get coffee downstairs."

They showered and changed into fresh clothing. And while Elly didn't have a wardrobe besides the one purple outfit, he knew he had something suitable. Eventually, he found a dress he'd purchased as a gift a long while ago he hadn't had a chance to give to his sister before his self-imposed exile. It fit well enough, so they rode the lift back down and entered the main house.

The family were already seated at the dining room table, so they had privacy all the way there. Bruno took a deep, cleansing breath and stuck his head out from behind the corner of the wall. "Uhhhh, I need to talk to you guys."

"Bruno!"

"C'mon, uncle! Your coffee is getting cold."

An extra chair rolled up on a wave of flooring and settled beside Bruno's. As they watched, confused, a cup of coffee joined his as well.

"Casita? What are you doing?" Mirabel cocked her head to the side. "Why did you set another place?"

Bruno walked out with his head low, anxiety showing in his every movement. "I know why."

They looked over at him expectedly. His arm was outstretched toward the hall but it started to move as Elly, holding his hand tight, joined him.

She stayed close to his side with her ears folded into her hair and her tail curled around her legs. "Hello."

Julieta paused after setting a platter of food on the table. "Oh, company!"

"This is Elly. We knew each other when we were younger but we lost each other during the - you know, all the stuff that went on."

The family broke out in smiles and friendly hellos.

"She's my fiancée," Bruno added.

A shocked silence fell over the table like a thick blanket. His sisters' eyes lit up, their husbands faces grew pensive as they tried to figure out how the gangly, scruffy man had won over such a beauty. The rest of the family just sat there with their mouths open.

Elly squirmed uncomfortably, tucking a strand of hair back and creeping even closer to him. He drew her chair out and she sat, relinquishing his hand only for the amount of time it took him to sit as well. Blushing, he took it in his again in full view of the table.

"Oooooh!" Félix broke the silence with a loud whistle. "My man, Bruno! Way to go!"

Silent love song 5

 It was frighteningly easy to slip back into the house, but they both knew it was only because it wanted to help them.

Elly waited to greet it until she placed her hand on the engraving on the door, watching as the solemn illustration of Bruno lit up in welcome for her. "Hello, Casita," she said quietly.

The door swung open of its own accord and Bruno smiled a crooked little smile at her. "Looks like somebody still likes you here besides me, huh?"

"That's good to know." She stepped inside his world of spiraling, stone steps and desert sands. A playful wind gusted about her ankles and she smiled when he offered her his hand. The trip up the top of the tower didn't take long as there was now a rising platform they rode to the top. She commented on this as they walked hand in hand through the candle lit passageways to the center.

"It, uh, made up a nicer room for me to sleep in this time, too." He gestured towards the far side of the temple and she walked around a statue, exclaiming in delight at the surprise she found.

The room was warm and cozy. Green tapestries hung on the walls woven with hourglasses tilted on their side that also resembled crude butterflies - a common theme for Casita, she recalled. There was a decent sized bed and a plush chair, and an entranceway on the right that was possibly a bathroom.

"Are you hungry?" Bruno's hand dipped inside his poncho and came out with an <i>arepa</i>. He offered it to her but she shook her head.

"I'm more anxious than hungry. After all this time, to be back here again is blowing my mind!" Her tail swished rapidly back and forth, lashing at her legs.

Several rats scampered out of nooks and crannies in the wall and he tossed a piece of the cornbread to them. "You can have the bed."

She squinted at the comfortable looking mattress. "It looks big enough for two," she said calmly. "Why not share it?"

He coughed, pounding on his chest and gulping for air. "Wh - huh - whaaat? But that's - I can't..."

"Oh, Brunito." She reached out to cup his face in her two hands. "I'm as old as you. That's around thirty-five years without any comfort; for me, even longer waiting for your loving touch."

"Loving touch?" His eyes grew wide.

"Loving doesn't have to mean that," she assured him. "Anything we do we have to both be comfortable with, anyway. Right?"

He let out a gust of air from the lungful he previously inhaled, uncrossing his fingers and then anxiously re-crossing them again. "R - riiiight. It's just that - and I'll be honest with you here -- " He gasped and stood silent, his eyes flashing that telltale light. When the vision passed he shook his head, frowning, and groaned.

Elly took his forearm to guide him. "Bed, Bruno - now. I know how those flash visions affect you."

His ears were blushing dark red and he tried to stutter out an apology. "Did I..? I can't tell if it's my Sight or a - a daydream, sometimes."

She raised one eyebrow and looked pointedly at the mattress, then him. "See anything pertinent?"

"Nope!" The blush spread across his nose and cheeks. He jumped up but she laid a hand on his leg, causing him to falter and plop heavily back down. "You know I don't like discussing them."

"I know."

He regretted the words, however, as soon as he heard her sad tone. "I've had that vision before," he husked roughly, turning toward her. His sandals fell to the floor but only the rats paid attention to them, one crawling inside the left to use it as a bed. "<i>Mi amor</i> -"

"My love," she echoed, falling easily into his arms.

Their first kiss was fleeting; a brief brush of their lips that turned into much more when they felt the spark that connected them flare into life. Any shyness either may have felt fell away and they crashed together in a series of steamy, open-mouthed kisses and tangling of limbs. Neither were sure how long this went on but Bruno had a dark love bite on his neck and his beloved several smaller, rounder marks when they paused for air.

"I don't want to stop," he panted. "Your hands, your lips, all over me, I - I <i>need</i> it. <i>I need you</i>."

Her eyes were dreamy as she lay safe and happy in the circle of his arms, surrounded by his scent and heat. "Kiss me again," she begged breathlessly.

Bruno groaned and quickly obliged, pressing his lips to hers and canting his hips to grind into her body below. "I dreamed of this, but what I Saw was me kissing you all over. Everywhere, my beauty, my precious - going lower and lower until I was making you <i>sing</i> with my tongue and fingers dancing inside you." He kissed her throat and slid his tongue down, his hands gathering the hem of her dress to lift it.

"Oh my god!" She tossed her head to the side, moaning thickly. "Yes! Bruno, yes!"

He moved without thought after her enthusiastic consent, stripping her of her garment and only pausing when he reached her bra. Elly unhooked it for him and slipped her arms around his neck, stroking his upper back through the poncho he still wore. He said nothing but smiled brightly at her before darting down to pepper her breasts with soft, suckling kisses. Elly was a mess before he even ran a finger across the hem of her panties.

He'd watched himself doing this several times, a particularily sharp vision that he always dismissed as a fantasy though it had so many details. He knew just what to do and what he wanted to, and brought his desires together to please her the best he could. His scruffy goatee rubbed on her belly as he dipped his tongue in her navel. Loving the way her skin heaved at his touch he slowly dragged her underwear down, placing kisses in its wake. When it reached her knees he whisked them off and she parted her legs at such a brief caress of his fingertips that he exhaled sharply.

"<i>Eres muy mona,</i>," he groaned. "You are so <i>cute</i>, the way you open up like a pretty flower for me." He licked his lips, staring for a brief moment at the puff of purple hair in front of him. "Is this really okay?"

"Yes, <i>please</i>." Elly whimpered as she felt him lightly brushing her hair to part it. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her sex before opening his mouth and slipping his tongue between her folds. She had no idea how he could be so <i>good</i> without experience, but pleasure overcame curiousity and she let herself go, her tail beating the bed beside them as he kissed her more intimately than ever.

He continued swirling his fingers around the drenched button of flesh, licking rapidly. Her cries grew louder and more desperate, short and rapidfire shrieks of his name that spurred him on until, at last, her entire body spasmed.

"<i>Bruno</i>!"

"Ahhhh, she comes for me," he sighed lustily. "My ultimate reward."

"My god, oh my god." She struggled to gather her wits about her after that mind numbing orgasm.

"Did I please you, my <i>gatita</i>?" A little smirk darted about his lips. "You sounded like you enjoyed that very much."

"You were amazing." Elly cuddled close, nuzzling into his neck and kissing his ear. "Do you want me to touch you now?"

His smile turned sheepish and he kissed her sweetly on her nose. "I, uh, already finished. You sounded so sinful, love, I couldn't help it."

"Oh!"

"Yeah. Heh heh!" He cleared his throat. "How about we clean up and go to bed? To, ah, to sleep this time."

"Sounds perfect."

Silent love song 4

 "What <i>happened</i>? I was told you left me!"

"Everything came to a head not long after your door ceremony," Elly murmured.

"My magic." He groaned, took another handful of sand and threw it over his shoulder. He paused, then did the other one for good measure, looking around nervously. "I'd knock on wood, but - but there's no wood around but the trees, right?"

"I'm not sure they count if they're live..?"

Bruno's eyes darted around nervously and he knocked on his head, instead. "Knock knock <i>knock</i> on wood," he intoned, flinching in the knoweledge that most people assumed he was unstable at best when he started performing his actions.

"Relax," she purred in a soothing manner. "I remember you doing things like this when we were kids. It's okay, I don't mind."

"I - it may have gotten worse over the years."

"The years," Elly sighed. "I tried to reach you, but I was blocked every time. My parents, struggling to keep me away from your 'bad magic', finally ended up locking me in my room. I escaped and ran to your house. Your mother..." She shook her head.

"What did she do?!"

"She turned me away," she told him in a very quiet voice. "She said I shouldn't chase after you and I don't remember what else."

"My age. You asked my age."

"I'd know you anywhere, but I wanted to know how much time had passed. Plus I - after all this time, I thought it might be a trick."

"Fifty years -"

"It's been so long."

"<i>Gatita</i>." He tugged on her hands imploringly. "Come back to the house. You'll be welcomed now. It's different."

"Why didn't you try to find me, Bruno?" Her ears lay back in distress. "For a time, all I thought about was you coming to rescue me."

He groaned loudly and threw his head back. "That's my <i>fault</i>," he admitted. "I thought you left me and my family got worse. And if my own family didn't accept me for who I was, how could you?"

"Where..?"

"I hid from everyone inside the house."

"All those years?"

The same rat from before slipped out from beneath the green woven cloth, walked along his arm and squeaked at her, nodding. "Yeah. I only recently came out. But now you can come back with me!" The furry critter jumped off and skittered into the night.

"I don't know," she sighed. "I want to be with you, but I'm scared. What if they make me leave again?"

"Don't be afraid, my heart," he whispered softly, caressing the side of her face. "I won't let them come between us again."

"I don't want you to lose what you've only just gained," she said in a shaky voice.

"That means you! I found you again." He stood up, holding out a hand for her to join him. "You're going to be family, too. They'll - they'll see. They're trying to be understanding now."

She let him help her up, dusting off the simple purple dress she wore and not looking at him directly. "Do you really think it will be okay?" When she lifted her head, he'd taken the poncho hood and covered the top half of his face with it.

"Everything will be a-okay!" He said in a forced masculine voice, giving her a thumbs-up.

She grinned and lifted the hood. "Hernando?"

"Si."

"God, I missed you."

Bruno flipped the hood back. "That's good to hear."

"I meant Hernando," she joked, pulling it down over his face again.

"Oh, nice." He leaned on her, then suddenly grabbed her in a huge hug. "Hernando missed you, too!" He bellowed.

Elly laughed out loud, her fears pushed away by his warm presence. "Okay, okay. We'll hide out, sleep, and you can re-introduce me in the morning."

Silent love song 3

 "I..." Bruno frowned, thinking hard. "I used to know someone a very long time ago with that name."

"It's common enough."

"I guess?" He reached over and retreived his footwear from where it had been thrown. "You could've just told me to sit, you know." He grabbed a handful of sand from the road and tossed it over his shoulder, muttering.

Elly bit her lower lip shyly, staring at the ground. "Yeah, I didn't mean to scare you. I've been watching you, too, and I wanted to talk."

"Talk?" He laughed wildly, flopping on the dust-covered trail beside her. "You <i>pounced</i> on me!"

"Yeah, well." She gestured to her tail, grinning so wide that he could see her canines were sharp. "Part cat. Y'know."

"Ah, that's okay. I'm just glad you weren't looking for a late night snack."

"Sorry," Elly laughed, just as awkward. "I really am. Most people scream and run when they see me, or worse, attack, so when you didn't move I took the opportunity as I saw fit." She picked up the roses and held them close, inhaling deeply. "I've never gotten flowers before."

Bruno watched her, entranced. His Sight had shown him the woman of his dreams, and though he lived alongside magic he almost couldn't believe what was happening. "Why are you both?" He finally asked. "I mean... puma, human." He spread his hands apart. "I thought we were the only ones with magic here in the <i>encanto</i>."

She shook her head, and he saw what he thought was part of her hair rise from her head, two furry cat ears unfurling to perk at him attentively. "I ran away from the village a - a very long time ago. My parents told me I couldn't see my friend anymore, and I took the news badly. I'm not sure what made me turn into this strange hybrid, but I do remember running through the jungle crying." She set the flowers aside to wipe the tears running down her cheeks.

<i>A very long time ago.</i>

"Did you..." Bruno reached out and touched her hair with trembling fingertips. He had this wild idea in his head, but it couldn't be. "Your hair, your eyes. Were they always purple?"

"No." She sighed brokenly. "No, and my hair was shorter than all the other girls when I was younger."

"My heart, it's <i>you</i>." He choked, his dark eyes wide. "I thought you left me." He caught her hands in his and held them to his lips. "I thought you'd - they all told me you had gone."

"Bruno." Elly cried harder, leaning in closer to rub her cheek on his hands holding hers. "Bruno, you came looking for me. At last. <i>At last</i>, my love."

Silent love song 2

 Bruno took a deep breath where he sat in the middle of his newest prophecy circle. His room had been fixed and he could See Things in peace for the first time since his gift had been revealed.

He wanted to know about that <i>cat</i>. The eyes had stared straight into his soul, and he could have sworn he recognized a deep, abiding sadness within them. They had appeared almost... human.

She had haunted his every waking moment since, yet he hadn't seen her since. He knew it was dangerous but he'd tried walking at twilight, sometimes long into the night since that was their active hours. He found he would do anything to catch a glimpse - a whisk of tail, a shimmer of those mesmerizing eyes, <i>anything</i>, but so far he had come up empty handed.

So, although he was still loathe to use his magic his curiousity got the better of him and here he was.

He took an even deeper breath, held it, and released slowly. The incense was lit and he let the handful of sand he held dribble out from between his fingers.

His eyes opened wide, a cool green fire lighting from within that burned away the dark pupils, and a dome of sand erupted all around him.

A few hours later some of the family were gathered around in the living room.

"Look," Mirabel pointed out the door where her uncle had only just departed. "He keeps sneaking out to the jungle at night and he's gone until dawn. He could be in trouble."

"Maybe it's a lady," Félix crowed suddenly, flinging his arm around his wife and winking ludicrously at them all. "Whoooo, I bet he's making up for all that lost time quick!"

"She's not a lady if she's doing <i>that</i>."

"It's strange," Mirabel insisted.

"Strange isn't strange for Bruno," Pepa insisted, shooing off a small cloud above her head as she frowned. "It's just... <i>Bruno</i>. He could be out there counting the stars at night for all we know."

"We all said we wouldn't tease him anymore."

Camilo watched his family discussing this and kept his mouth shut. He periodically felt bad for mocking his uncle so much, transforming into a villianous persona that wasn't who he really was. The least he could do was be quiet about the "purple puma" he said he had seen. The dark-haired man seemed so taken by it, after all, and no harm had come from those midnight walks.

Tonight Bruno was bound and determined to find that puma. His vision had been startlingly clear and left him breathless and stunned.

He knew where to go - the same spot he'd walked to a hundred times before. This time, however, he carried a bouquet of fresh red roses he'd hidden away in his poncho. He arrived at the place where they first met and placed the flowers on the ground.

"Hello..? If you are here, <i>gatita</i>, please come out."

His heart pounded when he heard a quiet rustling, and he caught sight of those glowing eyes in the dark. The puma slipped out from the thicket to stand before him silently. As before, they stared at each other for a long moment.

"Do I look like a <i>kitten</i> to you?" She huffed and sat down on her haunches, watching him closely.

"Well, I - uh, no, not really. It was meant as a term of endearment." He gulped, his eyes growing wide as he realized she had <i>spoken</i>. "You talked!"

"You called for me. Did you not suspect I could answer?"

He ran a hand through his unruly locks, shaking his head. "N - no, I don't know what I expected."

She bared her fangs at him almost absently, then bent to sniff the silky, fragrant roses at her feet. "Is this a joke? Are these for me?"

"Ahhh... do you not like them?"

"Red roses are for lovers, and you don't even know my name. Facts aside that you're human and I'm not, of course." Her tail slowly twitched back and forth.

Bruno had the idea that he'd better come up with some very good reasons for being here right away. He gulped, his breathing picking up, and started to sweat. "Uh, then, what's your name?"

She suddenly leaped, catching him off guard and pinning him underneath her furry belly. One of his sandals came off as he hit the ground, and he yelped loudly.

"<i>Please don't eat me</i>!"

"Do I look like I'd do that?"

"No," he stammered nervously, backing up slowly. "You don't look hungry at all. Heh, of course not! Besides, I'm way too stringy - look! All bones, no meat. I haven't really gotten too many meals into me yet since - well, you don't care about that." A rat popped up out of his unruly hair, saw the large feline and shot back down, squeaking in terror.

"How old are you?"

He pointed at himself incredulously. "Me? What, you're worried I'm too old and dry? Because that's it, you know, I wouldn't taste good -"

She rolled her eyes and flexed her claws in his chest for emphasis while she spoke. "No. I'm curious. I'm not that young anymore, and for what I have in mind I'd prefer a certain age."

"Fifty!" He yelped, squirming under her weight. "I'm fifty."

She cocked her head at him, her glowing purple eyes uncertain. "And you have no mate? No children?"

"How..?"

"I smell no one on you but familial relatives."

"That would be, ah, correct."

She narrowed her eyes. "Why have you been coming back to this spot so often? I see you every night."

His eyes brightened. "You did - you do? I was trying to find you again!"

Her eyes narrowed even further, and a low growl emanated from her throat. "<i>Why</i>?" Her body tensed, ready to flee at any moment.

"I'm part of the family Madrigal," he said, pointing off into the distance at the huge mansion on the hill. "My magic told me you're somehow connected to a beautiful woman." He coughed, embarrassed. "I couldn't help it. There was something about you, and your <i>eyes</i>, just like hers..."

The puma trembled, and she stepped back off his body. "You're different," she said with a catch in her voice. As he watched, amazed, she transformed into the pale woman with short, purple hair and eyes from his vision.

"My god," he breathed reverently.

"My name is Elly."

Silent Love Song 1

 Bruno Madrigal wasn't used to being Outside - every time he thought of it, he capitalised the word to signify its significance -- he'd been living in the deep recesses of his home, hidden away so long that he'd forgotten many things.

So he went for long walks through the village and to the outskirts, often wandering alone with his thoughts as he had grown accustomed to.

<i>The smell of the beautiful plants and flowers.</i> He jumped back from a gorgeous orchid he held, dropping it quickly as a bee flew out. The bug buzzed merrily at him and flew away, possibly to sting Agustín, as most seemed to do without rhyme or reason.

<i>The majestic wildlife.</i>

A donkey galloped across his path and he jerked back to avoid a collision, skipping to the side of the road as out of the bushes exploded a large-framed woman shaking her fist in the air.

"Hello, Luisa!"

"Uncle," she called out by way of greeting. Then she sped off after the braying ass with a few choice words for the beast floating back in the breeze after their passing.

Bruno sighed.

"Not the majesty I was hoping for, ay? If I could spot a bright toucan or some pretty hummingbirds, that might be ..." He trailed off slowly, his eyes widening. Farther off, far back in the darker recess of the jungle, he saw two eyes shining at him. "Oh my god," he whispered.

It was a puma, the queen of the jungle. Bruno could scarcely believe his eyes, however, because she was not only sleek and lithe and dangerous looking as she landed directly in front of him in a single, smooth leap...

...she was <i>purple</i>. Her fur was a rich, royal color and her markings slightly darker. Her tail was long and proud and oddly split at the tip with white frosted marks.

They stared at each other, big cat and human, locked in place for several minutes. Bruno's heart pounded in a mix of terror and awe, and he frantically wracked his brain for an idea to escape safely.

"Uncle Bruno!"

Her head snapped up, breaking the spell they were both under, and she darted back into the safety of the dark canopy.

Bruno let out a huge sigh of relief. "Camilo, sh - err, thank goodness. You scared a puma off."

"A puma?! Wow! I should go get Antonio."

"Well... it looked like a puma, but it was <i>purple</i>." He paused, rubbing at the back of his neck and peering jerkily into the dense green of the deeper jungle. "I swear I really saw it -"

"A <i>purple</i> puma?" Camilo laughed and morphed into a similar shape, baring his fangs at him and growling playfully.

"No," Bruno muttered. "No, it had a strange tail - the tip was split, and white on both ends."

The puma turned back into the sprightly young boy, who pursed his lips at the man, giving him a look that was all too familiar.

<i>Crazy Bruno</i>.

Old habits died hard, and he'd only been welcomed back recently. He shook off the negative feelings and tried to make light of his discovery. "Ahhhh, it could've been a trick of the light. Maybe it was dyed!"

"Yeah. Sure. C'mon, it's time for dinner!" He sprinted off, waving. "Race you!" He turned into a cheetah - a purple one to tease him, of course -- and rounded the bend before Bruno could begin to move.

"'Maybe it was dyed.' what a great save, idiot." He shook his head in disgust at himself. The word "dinner", however, had its usual effect on him and he turned to follow the youngster up the road to his home.

Sticks & Stones

 It was almost like a date.

Hizashi Yamada was with her, dressed in casual clothing and just as handsome in her eyes, if not more. He constantly kept up a bright patter of conversation and happy laughter, drinking beer after beer at the izakaya they were seated at.

Elly could fantasize that the man sitting on the stool next to her had taken her out exclusively, but she knew the others had simply bowed out tonight. It was strange, but their coworkers had been all busy ...except for one. Her crush was free and more than willing to go out drinking with her - <i>as colleagues and friends</i>, she reminded herself sternly.

She wished it could be more.

An hour and multiple drinks later everything was going better than it usually did because without the others, Hizashi, of course, was focused solely on her. They were already pretty close, had grown so over the course of working together and talking about music and radio, television and each others' culture. Being alone together like this was new, however, since Hizashi was a gregarious, friendly man and he attracted people around him in droves.

She desperately wanted to broach personal topics and learn more about him, but he was all about the drink tonight. He grew so loud, in fact, that they attracted attention from the other patrons.

"Ohhh, is that Cheshire?"

Elly's ears perked, but she said nothing and patiently waited to see if the person came to her, making it their choice. She silently chided herself for styling her hair like she did for her Hero persona. It was just that Hizashi told her once he thought it looked pretty that way, and she couldn't resist.

The people stayed seated, however, whispering in an attempt to keep their voice low without realizing her much her cat's ears picked up.

"Who's that with her?"

"I don't know, her boyfriend?"

"She could be drinking with a friend."

"Not that much drinking!"

Elly sighed and downed half her beer in a single gulp. <i>Yeah, he's just a friend. A</i> good <i>friend, but that's all he'll ever be</i>.

Meanwhile Hizashi was clueless about the conversation involving them. He stared at his mug and decided he needed another drink, so he began waving his hand around with a huge grin. "Hey, yeah! Another extra large beer here!" He blinked, then pounded a fist on the bar, laughing outrageously loud at the unintended rhyme.

<i>God, he's adorable. An adorable dork.</i> Her mind wandered as she watched him, and she giggled suddenly. <i>Adork-able.</i>

He grinned at her and winked, sending her heart into a thumping frenzy she tried her best to hide. Meanwhile, his loudness must have tipped the civilians off in their discussion, because after they argued about whether or not he was her boyfriend the topic changed to who it could be.

"Could be Present Mic. He's kinda loud."

"He doesn't look like him!"

"I mean, that's a <i>lot</i> of blond hair though, right?"

"Naaah. It can't be. Like, you can't tie that guy down, I bet. They wouldn't be a couple."

"What about all those Micshire fans?"

"Oh, please, the shippers force everything to make things fit."

Elly dug her nails into the underside of the bar, her ears flat with sudden, white-hot rage. Thinking it herself was one thing but hearing others voice her insecurity was too much, especially in her inebriated state. She lost control of her quirk, her furry ears and tail blinking into sight.

Hizashi thumped his new mug on the table with a lusty sigh. "Whooooo, that's good beer!" He turned to her and paused, his lips pursed as he stared hard enough to cause her to blush.

"What?!"

"Yer ears're showing," he grinned.

"I know," she hissed. "We need to go."

"What's got yer tail in a knot?"

"Nothing," came her terse reply.

The blond-haired man squinted, wobbling on his stool and kicking out with one boot to try and stabilize himself. "Nuh uhhh," he denied, voice even louder than before. "It's not nothin'!"

"Fine," she groaned, digging in her purse for enough money to cover their tab. "I'm drunk enough? That a good reason?"

"But baby, yer lookin' so <i>sexy</i>, not silly. All angry like yer gonna tear into somebody so hard with y'claws." He broke out into a very short rap. "Yer a really gritty pretty city kitty."

Elly started to laugh despite herself. "<i>Gritty?</i> Aw, Zashi! You're <i>drunker</i> than me!"

"Say it say it <i>say itttt</i>," he sing-songed cheerfully. "Let it all out!"

"Okay, okay! I'm pissed 'cause I heard those two saying, um, something." Even with her head buzzing with the alcohol she'd drunk she knew enough to keep her mouth shut about the exact topic.

"Fussy. Bet ya wanted to tell 'em off."

"Damn straight," she grumbled. "I wish it were legal to slap people that said dumb shit."

"Ya can't beat up the civvies, baby." He propped his chin on his elbows and batted his eyelashes at her. "But I think I might have a solution for us both."

"Yeah? What?" She raised her eyebrow, nodding for him to go on and he leaned closer, far over so he could whisper in her ear.

"You wanna piece of me instead? Work out some of that aggression?" He slipped an arm around her and bent to mouth hotly at her neck.

In her defense she <i>was</i> pretty drunk. Elly's willpower was at a record low already and she had zero defense against his sexy, throbbing voice and touch. She shivered and clung to him as they stood, nodding.

"Can't go back to campus," she muttered. "Where..?"

Hizashi paused in the act of nuzzling his nose in her hair and pointed left down the street. "My agency's a little ways that way." He waved a hand carelessly about. "I gotta place upstairs."

It took longer to walk there since they were hanging all over each other but eventually they reached the office building. It looked very secure and Hizashi needed to pass a print check to open the door. That was easy enough since all he had to do was slam his hand onto the panel, but once they were inside and up the elevator to the residences he groaned.

"A'wright, there's the door but, uh. Keys." He slumped against it, digging in his shirt pocket.

"Am I really gonna see your place?!"

"I gotta find 'em first," he grumbled, his lower lip pouting as he frowned.

"Zashi," Elly giggled, slurring slightly. "They're <i>right here</i>."

He bit his lower lip, squirming as she reached around and pulled them from his pants pocket. "Ffffuck. I mean, thanks."

The door opened and they fell inside as one, mouths fusing together and bodies desperately wrapping around each other the moment they were alone.

Hizashi woke as he usually did on the weekends, dry-mouthed with a pounding headache in his temples. This time there seemed to be some added bonuses -  sore muscles and lanky, sweat-soaked hair falling around him.

<i>I didn't tie it back</i>?

He sighed, wrapping his arm around the warm softness at his side. "Mnnn."

Elly purred softly, not awake yet but cuddling into his chest as he held her. Hizashi's eyes suddenly popped wide open. He blinked, struggling to focus through the haze of sleepiness and headache.

<i>CHES</i>!!!

He whimpered, his body tensing in fear as he remembered parts of last night. Oh, <i>hell</i>, and once he started to remember it all flowed back to him and his eyes grew impossibly wider.

<i>Oh shit, holy shit, we fucked</i> so much <i>an' in so many different places an' even more impossible positions!</i> Everywhere he looked memories came back that caused his tired body to valiantly try to respond to. He grimaced and stared his penis down, muttering darkly at it. "No more outta you, fucker. I doubt I <i>got</i> any more, anyway." The multiple stains in various states of drying on the floor, bed, and walls more than proved that along with the dull ache in his balls. <i>What... no way, is that one on the</i> ceiling? <i>Fuck</i>!

"Oww oww owwww."

<i>Wait, if I'm hurting, then...</i>

"Oh no, Ches, yer gonna be in so much pain, m'so sorry," he choked as quietly as he could. "It's all my fault!"

"Doubtful, but thanks for your concern," a muzzy voice drifted out from under the covers. "The pain is from my head, not my other parts. S'probably from the sort of, ahhh, bacchanalia we indulged in after we got back here."

"Erk..!"

"We did everything but anyone else," she grunted, still holding her head. "My god."

"I'm not a - I'm a one girl only type of guy!"

"Zashi, <i>please</i>," she groaned, pulling the sheets back and placing a shaky hand over her eyes. "Inside voice. My head feels like someone's stabbing me in the eyes with a knitting needle. Besides, me too. I don't do orgies." Elly swallowed and made a face at the taste in her mouth. "You hafta admit though, we drank, and we fuh - uh, fooled around all the while listening to really loud music. Also, it looks like we broke some of your furniture?"

"That was probably my quirk." He winced, glancing around to access the damage. "Fuck, Aizawa's gonna kill me if I shattered more windows in the place." He found a bottle of clear liquid and opened it, suspiciously sniffing the contents. Elly watched him with an enigmatic expression, though her heart fluttered wildly at how cute he looked with his nose scrunched up and his mustache awry, like his messy bedhead.

He held it out to her after a quick taste. "It's water. Here."

"Thanks."

"So..." He dragged the word out while she drank. "Uh. Now what."

"Your turn." She grinned weakly and handed him the bottle, still half full. "Look, I - I'll admit it. I'm shameless; if you just want to hook up now and then it's cool."

"Is..." He seemed taken aback by this, but she was too upset to notice. Hizashi set the bottle to his lips and took one long swallow, after which he capped it and put it beside them on the bed. He frowned a little, then took her hand in his. "Is that what <i>you</i> want?"

"Well, no." She shook her head, refusing to meet his eyes. When she answered, it was in a tremulous voice that she was obviously trying very hard to control. "I'll take as much or as little as you want to give."

"Hey," he whispered, rubbing his thumb gently back and forth on the back of her hand. "Yer <i>shakin'</i>, baby. We were friends before this, yeah? Why be afraid of me now?"

"I want to be more than friends," she admitted in a whisper so low he had to bend close to hear.

"Okay."

"Wh - what?"

"Okay." He tugged her hand up to his lips and kissed it. "Now it's my turn to ask a question."

"Uh."

"How much?" His voice dropped down to a serious baritone, causing her to shiver.

"How much..?"

"How much more? I'm just as afraid I might scare <i>you</i> away, yanno." A somewhat feral grin broke out on his features while his hazel eyes sparkled with mischief. "I want us to be a couple, yeah? My one an' only babygirl."

"<i>Yes</i>," she blurted out in a huge rush. "I want that. Yes!"

"Now that that's settled, what say we order takeout an' have a shower while we wait, huh?"

Her stomach gurgled, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Urp."

"That sounds like another yes to me!" He flopped over and started digging through the pile of clothing on the floor for his phone. "Greasy food helps a hangover. Whaddaya want, babe?"

"I dunno... wait, no. Breakfast sandwiches!"

"Oooh, yeah." He found it, but had to stretch to retrieve it and started slowly sliding off the bed. She watched, amused, as he kicked wildly in the air. "Shit! Little help?"

Elly grabbed his ankle and, as it would be impossible for her to haul him up, helped him roll safely off onto the floor. "You're so cute."

"I'm so <i>hungry</i>." He lay with his rear up in an incredibly comical and no doubt uncomfortable position as he tapped on his phone. "Aha, gotcha babe. Pick somethin' and send it, I'm gonna get the shower going."

He wandered groggily off, bracing himself with one hand on the walls as he went. She picked up his phone and ordered, all the while listening to him muttering to himself as he got the water running.

When she poked her head in the bathroom, he turned around and gestured grandly. "Come on in! I got the temp nice 'n warm and there's room for two."

"You're not kidding." The bathroom was spacious, and she almost forgot about her headache as she took it all in. She hadn't noticed the luxury of the suite when they first entered, but he had a very upscale home. There was the largest sink and bath tub she'd ever seen, the latter of which he was watching her fondly beside as the shower ran warm water and filled the room with steam.

"C'mon, babygirl," he urged softly, holding his hand out. "Let's clean up."

Elly took his hand and joined him under the steady stream of water. He closed the doors alongside them and reached over to a shelf built into the wall for the soap. He gave that to her to wash first while he carefully lathered his long, blond hair.

"I feel so much better already," she sighed as she rinsed off. "Do you want me to wash your back for you?"

Hizashi ran a hand over his foamy hair and nodded, smiling. "Lemme get this mess clean and some conditioner in. Then we can do each other."

"That sounds great," she purred, watching him bend backward into the spray.

His soft chuckle made the hairs raise all over her body. "Naughty kitty. Still, can't blame ya." He finished cleaning up and adding the conditioner, working it in and humming to himself all the while.

"I thought I'd have exhausted myself last night, but you look so good." Elly crept closer and embraced him, wrapping her arms around his chest and kissing him on the neck. "Too good," she mumbled crossly.

"I kinda thought I was spent, too," he murmured. "But you're such a hottie, sweet baby, ya got me goin' again."

"Did you know? The shower is my favorite place for oral sex," she whispered as she mouthed a hot trail down his abdomen. "It's easier for me to make you feel good."

"Ah, <i>that</i>," he moaned lowly. "I'm excited, but I don't know if I'm gonna be able to - ohmigod! <i>Mnnn</i>!"

"M'not <i>that</i> good at this," she giggled as she swirled her tongue around his twitching member.

"I beg to - I b - beg to... fuck," he gasped, laughing even as he panted with pleasure. "Fuck that, I'm'a just beg. Please, oh yeah, please. Don't stop that little suckle, sh - <i>shit</i>!" His thighs started to tremble and he laid a gentle hand on the back of her head, encouraging her by stroking her hair and ears. She paid attention, repeating motions that made him cry out and shake harder and harder, until his fingers spasmed, clutching her tighter. "Babe, careful, I'm close!"

"It's okay to come in my mouth."

He choked at the idea, toes curling on the bath mat and swallowing hard with an incredulous look. "Wh - huh? Really?!" Hizashi looked down and saw her, the water dripping down her cheeks and her hair slicked back. She opened her mouth and backed up to show him her tongue sliding over him, nodding.

"Come in my mouth, Voice Hero," she said softly before sucking on the tip like she knew he loved.

This did him in and he gasped loudly, shaking and biting his lower lip to hold back his quirk. She guided him through his orgasm with lighter touches until he fell back, spent.

Elly cleaned her mouth out under the showerhead and shook herself all over. "That was sexy."

Hizashi ran a shaky hand over his eyes. "Gotta... rinse my hair 'n catch my breath," he panted. "N'then, then it's your turn."

"What about the food -"

He placed a finger under her chin, his hazel eyes half-lidded with sated desire. "The delivery guy puts it in a box from the outside. It'll be fine. I <i>really</i> wanna show you what I can do when I'm not hella drunk."

"Yeah," she whispered.

"I wanna do everything with you an' to you," he grinned. "Make you crank up the volume, here."

Although he told her he wanted to, she was nervous while he rinsed the conditioner out of his hair.

"You sure you want to do this? I mean, a lot of guys don't like it - I don't want you doing something you don't like."

Hizashi blew a fine spray of water out his mouth and squeezed his long, blond hair back, pulling it to lay off his shoulders. "Whew! What was that, babe? I had water in my ears."

She repeated herself shyly. "You don't have to, um. Go down on me. Not if you don't want to."

He gave her a lopsided, squinty grin and kissed her, his hands stroking down her sides. After a few long, slow swipes of his tongue he broke apart, still smiling, and got down on his knees while not breaking eye contact.

"Sit on the seat there in the wall for me, please?"

Elly looked around and saw with surprise that there was a little seat indented on the far side of the shower. She sat, breathing in long, deep breaths and trying to calm herself down. Hizashi edged closer and touched her leg with his fingertips, caressing her calf.

"Z - Zashi -"

"You've been told this is yucky before, right?" His glorious golden eyes were kind.

"Well... yes. Yeah." She cleared her throat. "And people can have preferences, it's okay. I'm not fond of giving oral unless I'm in the shower, for one."

"I get it, babe. I do." He placed his chin on her knees, sraring up at her with that soft look on his blushing features. The steam from the shower and their activities had caused an adorable flush across the bridge of his nose, as well as his ears and some of his neck. "But I <i>really</i> want to do this."

"Uh -"

"Nah, baby," Hizashi breathed, kissing her knee and nosing at them so she would let him in. His mustache brushed the skin of her thigh as she spread her legs, and he continued kissing her until she relaxed.

"Hizashi..."

"I love this. I want you to come so sweet you fall even harder for me." He smiled at her whimper and used a finger to stroke her hair and folds apart.

"I can't fall <i>harder</i>," she protested weakly, gasping as he nuzzled with the tip of his tongue. "I don't think it's possible."

"Maybe, maybe not. We'll see."

She got his point almost immediately.

Hizashi was excellent at oral sex; he really did enjoy pleasing her and wanted nothing more than to hear her enjoying herself. He took his time, mindful of the fact that she'd tensed up slightly at the start, but after a few minutes she was lost in the waves of pleasure he teased effortlessly from her. Just the idea of him doing this was enough to cause her to shudder with lust, and watching him made her twitch and moan.

He brought her to the brink a couple times before pulling back to kiss her thigh once more. Their eyes locked in a hot gaze and he deliberately licked his lips, panting as he stared deeply into her eyes.

"Mmmn, good kitty. Come on my tongue, you can do it. I love you, Ches. Let go for me." He bent and licked faster, head bobbing and using the gentle vibrations of his quirk to surround her sex with a low hum.

"<i>Hizashi</i>!"

"There we go," he husked softly. He trailed her slowly down and back again, but when she came to he realized she was crying. Hizashi hurriedly wiped his mouth and stood, pulling her into a hug. "Hey," he hummed, using his quirk again to create a soothing tone. "Hey, what's wrong with my number-one listener?"

She sniffled and clung to him, burying her face in his chest. "I love you too much!"

His smile was like the sun coming up. "Good thing I told all the others to cancel last night, huh?"

Game Night

 "The civilian said they ran off this way."

"I know, Eraserhead, but I just don't see anyone -" Elly's ears slowly raised to attention, listening to something her partner couldn't hear. She frowned. "Mic? Is that you?"

Aizawa glanced at her sharply. "Where, Cheshire?"

She pointed off to the near distance, around a corner by a crumbling building. Sure enough, they could see a figure standing there. Aizawa held back while she walked cautiously into the side street.

"Mic?"

He beamed when he saw her. "Hey, Cheshire! I couldn't bear the thought that you were in danger, so I stepped out to team up."

"Mic," she chided gently. "We're all professionals."

He kicked the gravel around at his feet. "Yeahhhhh, but I like you more. Can't have my fave girl gettin' hurt, now can I?"

"What did you -? Wait, okay, did you see anyone on your way over here?" She thought she heard wrong and tried to steer the conversation back to their patrol work.

Present Mic, however, was having none of that. He shrugged and pointed over his shoulder. "No one over that way. But hey, that means we're alone, right? Come on over here, beautiful lady. I've got a secret to share with you."

She lost her ability to speak when he called her <i>beautiful</i> and stared at him, her cheeks burning red.

Aizawa stepped out during the silence with a nod. "Hey."

A look of brief annoyance flickered across the blond-haired man's face. "Hey."

This confirmed Aizawa's suspicion.

<i>Yamada shouldn't be here.</i>

He hadn't said he was coming and he'd never pulled such a stunt before. Although Aizawa surmised the Voice Hero <i>did</i> have a crush on Cheshire, he never addressed her as anything special or hit on her so bluntly. Something was very wrong, but if he used his quirk now, and this man was an imposter, they would lose the element of surprise. He had to try a different tactic before the cat woman took another step.

He smoothed his brow and called out to him instead. "Hizashi!"

"What?"

Elly paused, startled, and even more shocked Mic answered casually. It was very strange Aizawa used his given name, something he never did. She backed up a step and the Erasure Hero reacted quickly, his eye flashing red as the weapon around him snapped out. He caught the other before he could run and dragged him across the rubble in the street towards him.

"Ow, damn it, that hurts!"

"Zashi?!" Elly rushed over, her heart sinking at the sound of him in pain.

"He's gone nuts! Tell him to untie me!"

"You know it's not him," Aizawa grunted as he locked the zip ties around his wrists. Elly cringed when the fake whimpered and he had to shake her by the shoulder before she could look away. "<i>Snap out of it, Cheshire</i>!"

"But you tried to erase the quirk. And I - I can smell him." She blushed but went on. "It's definitely his scent."

"It's me! You know it!"

"Shut up," he snapped, tying off a section of his cloth around the man's mouth as a gag. Then, calmly, "I don't know why my erasure didn't work. It could be any number of reasons, but there is a way I can put an end to your doubts." He stood up, knee popping on one side. "Here. I'm calling Mic."

He put it on speaker and held it out as it rang.

"Whazzup? You all right?"

Elly paled, her ears drooping at the sound of his voice. "Mic?"

"Ches?"

"We just caught... you," Aizawa said with dry amusement.

"Whaaat?"

The man on the ground let out a puff of air and slumped over in defeat.

"A villian that looks like you. Tried to lure us in, specifically Cheshire." He winced, pulling the phone farther away as the sound of Hizashi's worried screeching almost deafened them. "<i>Calm down</i>! She's fine."

A glance over in her direction, however, showed that she was anything but. She was standing with her head down, tail lashing about her ankles and her fists clenched.

"Yeah. We'll be back after we process this one. You're coming?" He affected mild surprise, his eyebrows raised. "All right. Cheshire, ah, will be glad to see you." He shoved the phone away in his pocket.

"He's not Mic."

"No."

"I should have realized." Her deadly quiet tone dripped with humiliation. "So stupid. I would have rushed right into danger, just because - well. Because," she finished weakly.

Aizawa prudently said nothing.

It took twenty minutes for the Voice Hero to show up since this was on the outskirts of town, and when he did he ran straight to Elly. The police jumped up, startled, as another man flew into their midst and he was forced to show his identification. Once they were sure it was him, they let him past.

"You really all right? Why'd he look like me? Did he look that much like me?!" He blurted out a myriad of questions, hovering anxiously near her but not reaching out. His hands twitched at his sides but he balled them into fists instead. "How'd ya know it wasn't me?"

Elly looked helplessly over at Aizawa, her tail swishing in agitation.

Wrong choice.

"He used Cheshire's desire for your companionship against her." The scruffy man shrugged. "I believe he called her 'beautiful lady'."

She choked, betrayed.

"What's that now?" Mic blinked. "I wouldn't have said <i>that</i>."

"Wha..?" Elly's tail stilled, then drooped, falling into the dust of the road. Her eyes, a deep purple, paled until they were lavender in her grief. "Oh, Mic," she whispered in a voice near to tears.

He rushed on. "I'd've said <i>pretty city kitty</i>, or maybe <i>beautiful babygirl</i>. 'Lady' ain't my style, yo. It's too vintage."

"What!" This time the striped fur along her tail fluffed out in all directions.

"Well, what d'ya think I'd say? Huh?" He placed a tentative arm about her shoulders, tilting his neck to look directly into her eyes.

"Nothing like that," she muttered, dazed but with the color returning to her pale cheeks and eyes.

"Yeah, I've, uh, been a total wuss. Kept meanin' to talk to ya, babe, but it's hard to throw yourself out there, yeah? I thought <i>you</i> didn't like <i>me</i>."

From where Aizawa stood he saw the counselor throw her arms around his friend and nodded. He watched them wander off together, shaking his head. She might take the rest of the night off, but he was going to finish their shift.

It was uneventful after that, and Aizawa was tired from lack of any kind of stimulation. While it was great that no one was hurt or needed rescuing, times like these made for very boring patrols. When it was finally over he made his way back to the agency where he lived with Hizashi, his only thoughts focused on getting some coffee in him since he had paperwork to finish. Problem was, he'd run out that morning.

Passing up the second floor where his suite was to go up to the third, he wandered sleepily over to the door and knocked. It swung open and he stepped inside.

He immediately froze, stunned, with his hand still on the doorknob.

The blond-haired man was sitting on that monstrous leather couch of his in the suite's living room area. This was nothing new, but sitting naked on his lap with only his Present Mic jacket wrapped around her shoulders was none other than the school counselor, Cheshire.

All three stared numbly at one another for a solid minute before she flickered and vanished.

"Yamada!"

"Uh!" He wrapped his arms around the invisible woman in a protective manner. "What the frick, yo! The door was locked!"

"It wasn't," the dark-haired man said acidly. "It very obviously wasn't. What are you two <i>doing</i>, anyway?!"

Hizashi squinted at his friend as if trying to figure out if he was serious or not. "We're playin' strip monopoly without a board or pieces." He paused, then yelped, "The hell d'ya <i>think</i> we were doin'?!"

Aizawa had the grace to finally look embarrassed. "Congratulations," he mumbled.

Elly's voice floated out of the air from her general position. "Was there something you needed, Aizawa?"

"Nothing important. I'll, uh, just ..." He stumbled back out of the doorway into the hall. Elly slid off Hizashi's lap and locked the door after him, turning visible as she walked back to cuddle with the Voice Hero again.

"Monopoly?"

"Twister was too obvious." He shrugged.





-

Bonus:


Aizawa Shota was a tired, tired man.

It should be noted that this tiredness was of epic proportions, compounded by Hero work and the care and constant worrying over training a bunch of damn near suicidal teenagers. His eyes twitched and burned, and no amount of eye drops even gave him a tiny fraction of relief. He stumbled around his kitchen, digging through cabinets for some caffeine, <i>any</i> caffeine, but, as it happened, he'd run out. Again.

He sighed and headed up to his friend's suite.

It was quiet tonight so he hoped for the best, and the door easily opened.

<i>He wouldn't be</i> that <i>stupid again, would he</i>?

"Fuck, Yamada," he sighed, one hand rubbing over his exhausted features.

<i>Yes. Yes, he would</i>.

Hizashi blinked over at him, his eyes wide with a huge, lopsided grin on his face. "Uh... oops. Door? Again?" He was sitting on the couch beside Elly, who was dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans. The blond-haired man, however, was wearing only a pair of socks - and one <i>wasn't</i> on his foot.

"Why can't you remember such an important thing?"

"Well, it's not like this is open to the public. An' I swore I locked it this time! I even checked!" He rubbed at the back of his neck, blushing wildly. "Sorry, sorry." He made as if to get up and Aizawa winced, imagining the sock slipping. Then he saw he was also wearing a red-beaded bracelet... again, not where it belonged on his wrist but in a very unusual place.

"Don't get up!" Aizawa barked harshly. "For fuck's sake, please, I'll close it on my way out." He glanced over at the mess of brightly colored pieces on the coffee table. "What the hell were you doing <i>this</i> time?"

Elly spoke calmly, though she was clearly holding in a fit of laughter. "Strip monopoly, what else?"

Mark 13

 As Present Mic, Yamada Hizashi was a celebrity.

He had no problems when he was single in finding interested partners if he wished, and he never had to worry about being alone. For awhile, when stardom had been new to him and he was young and stupid, he'd come home with a new person every night. He was always careful, however, and had remained safe and clean during that time, thank goodness.

But he'd always craved <i>more</i> - someone who wanted <i>Hizashi</i>, not Mic, another person to spend the rest of his life with.

His soulmate.

She lay beside him in their spacious bed right now, and finding her made him happier than he'd ever been. But the reveal that his oldest friend shared her Mark had caused something to snap inside him. Hizashi descended into a very dark place he thought he'd crawled free of long ago, and Elly was at a loss how to comfort him. After Aizawa left he had done nothing but cry, and it took several hours before he was exhausted enough to open up.

"I'm scared," he sobbed while she hovered anxiously near. His glasses were on the bedside table and his naked eyes red and puffy from weeping for so long.

"There's nothing to be scared of. I'm here."

"You won't leave me?" He sniffed once, angrily wiping at his eyes with the back of one hand. "I hate crying! An' I really huh - hate, hate this. If - if you've got another soulmate, you have another choice, right? You might leave me."

Elly goggled at him in shock, her purple eyes wide and dark. "Oh my god, Hizashi, I would <i>never</i>!" She threw herself into his arms and he caught her gladly, holding her tight. "Don't you ever, <i>ever</i> think that. I'm staying with <i>you</i>, sweetie, you're my forever love."

"Forever," he whispered, repeating her and adding, "Forever home."

"Hmm?"

"We haven't talked about my childhood, have we." It was not a question and she felt him tense up as he spoke.

"Not much. You just said you were raised by your grandparents."

"Yeah, uh... that's 'cause my parents kinda gave me up," he mumbled.

"What?!"

"They didn't like me very much, I don't think. At least, that's what little five-year-old me thought." Hizashi buried his face in her neck, the smell of her perfume calming him some. "I don't really wanna get into it, but my grandparents kicked me out as soon as it was legal, too. I might have some, uh, issues."

"My god." Elly pulled herself up so she could hold him better. "Poor Zashi," she choked, softly and slowly stroking his long blond hair. "That's terrible. I'm sorry." A few well-placed kisses in his hair and he tilted his face up toward her for more. Elly peppered him with the lightest brushes of her lips until he was dreamy-eyed and panting.

"I know you love me," he whimpered. "I <i>know</i>. It's like, a definite thing. But when that - when he --"

"I sympathize. If someone else had come saying that they matched with you <i>I'd</i> have gotten upset!" She hissed a little at the thought.

"Yeah." He laughed under his breath.

"Don't worry too much about it. I like when you tell me how you feel. I want to know as much as I can about you, not just the 'fun' stuff. And I want to help, Hizashi. You can always come to me."

"Thank you," he said in a much calmer voice, sighing shakily in relief as his body relaxed the rest of the way.

"Thank <i>you</i>." She smiled and let him roll her underneath him on the bed. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah. I dunno what came over me." Hizashi cleared his throat. "I know you're mine an' I'm yours, then that irrational, paralyzing terror hit me all of a sudden, really bad." He shook his head, golden hair falling over his shoulders onto her. "I love you, babe."

"I find your reaction super understandable, especially given your childhood." She brushed some of the hair back to uncover his cheek for a tender kiss. "I love you very, very much."

He smiled, and she was happy to see that the spirals in his eyes weren't thin with anxiety anymore.

Just past the other side of their shared wall, however, Aizawa was having a much harder time. He had no one left in his personal life to share problems with and this was a complicated one.

"Shit," he muttered as he flopped face first onto his bed. Like the rest of his surroundings the mattress was economical, covered with a simple white cotton sheet set and black comforter on top. He groaned into the pillow and rolled over to stare at the ceiling while his mind wandered.

<i>Maybe I can move</i>.

No.

That wouldn't work because he honestly didn't want to. This was where they had moved in together. Aizawa could touch the walls, the fixtures, everything <i>he'd</i> once touched. He could look at the patio doors and almost still see him there, silhouetted against the coming dusk of the night.

He closed his eyes and rubbed a hand across his tired features. This place had <i>memories</i> and he wasn't going to let that be torn away from him, too.

"<i>Shit</i>," he said more forcefully, grinding his teeth together.

Aizawa wasn't a social man by any means - nor did he want to be -- but he wasn't truly a hermit. Not being able to talk to Yamada would mean he would lose his only friend. He would eventually be forced to interact; he saw no logical way out of this mess. All he could do was vow he wouldn't let his friend's soulmate charm him away from his past.

At least he had one thing going for him - he didn't make friends easily, if at all. He reached out to turn the light off and huffed a bitter puff of air at the traitorous Mark on his arm as it came into view.

The dark-haired man snapped the light switch down and stuffed the offending arm under the pillow in one swift, angry movement.