Long Distance Girlfriend

 The tired homeroom teacher looked behind him at his nervously tittering class. His students were precocious as hell this year, and certainly interested in their scruffy teacher. Aizawa had saved their lives more than once, and taught them so much.

The least they could do was pry their way into his personal life, right?

He stared blankly at them. "Not that it's any of your business, but who says I <i>don't</i> have a girlfriend?"

"Wait - you do?" Izuku blinked at the man, shocked. He flipped a few pages and stared down at his notepad, frowning, as if his extensive notes would reveal the secret.

"Who <i>cares</i>," Bakugo snarled, rubbing at his hair. "I don't need to be thinking about that kind of shit."

"Who is she?!" Several others chimed in all at once. Mineta had perked up at the possibility of seeing a photo, but Aizawa shook his head.

"You don't need to know."

"Awwww," the purple-haired teenager pouted, sinking into his chair. "I bet you don't really have one."

"Where does she work? Where'd you meet? What -"

The dark-haired man sighed and shuffled around to stand in front of his desk. "If I answer one question, will you be quiet about it?"

"Two," Mina blurted out, haggling shrewdly. "And we won't say anything to anyone for the rest of the day."

He squinted at her, realizing this was probably his best option. "All right," he gave in with a low groan.

"Where does she work? We've never seen you with anyone other than the teachers here at U.A."

He folded his arms. "She works at National Hero Academy."

They all groaned.

"I could've come up with a better one than <i>that</i>," Kaminari said, rolling his eyes as he fiddled with the soft puff on the end of Mashirao's tail.

"Yeah, that sounds fake."

"Too far!"

"It's the classic long distance girlfriend joke."

"What's her job?" Mina asked shrewdly.

Aizawa stared hard at her for a solid minute, but the pink girl didn't flinch. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "You'll look her up if I tell you," he sighed roughly. "That's enough. I don't care if you believe me. Now back to work."

He immediately shut down any discussion after that, but, as Mina later hinted, he hadn't fulfilled his side of the bargain so the topic was fair game. They set to work on the teacher of their next class, who, as it so happened, was Aizawa's best friend.

"Mr. Mic! Mr. Mic! We heard Mr. Aizawa has a girlfriend!"

"Please tell us about her, Mr. Yamada!"

"I still don't give a shit."

The tall blond man choked loudly. "Aizawa?! Ya want <i>me</i> to rat on him? What're ya, nuts?" He tapped the English book on his desk. "He'd freaking kill me if I let slip anything about the counselor from America."

Mina covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Mic strut back and forth in front of the wide-eyed teens, gesturing wildly as he used the mention of America to segue into his lesson.

That was okay. They knew two crucial parts of the puzzle now, so they were sure they'd figure it out. After school hours the class gathered around in the common area of their dormitory to discuss this amazing news.

Izuku had been the first to think of looking up teachers at the Western school.

"So, he said National, right? We can narrow it down now since Mr. Mic told us she was the counselor."

"Looks like ..." He frowned, searching on his phone. "Emilie Sato is the counselor."

"Got any pictures?"

"Yeah, but - wait. There's something else. It says that Ms. Sato was only hired recently because there was some sort of scandal with the old counselor."

"Oooh!" Mina leaned in over his shoulder, wiggling with excitement. "Look it up! Go down the rabbit hole, Izuku!"

"What an odd phrase," a dry voice spoke suddenly from behind them. The kids all jumped, some guiltily and others in sheer terror when they recognized their teacher's sardonic tone. "An <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> term, isn't it?"

Izuku gulped. "Uh, sir, yes sir. It means -"

Aizawa held up a hand. His face looked even more tired than usual as he replied, "I'm aware of what it means."

"We're sorry," Mina blurted out all at once. "We just want to find out who on earth could capture <i>your</i> heart, Mr. Aizawa! You're not exactly ...um."

"All right." He chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. "You know, Mic shouldn't have teased you like that. Just be patient."

Several days later a small group were walking back from training to campus. They decided to cut through an unused area with a lot of trees, normally only seen by joggers in the early morning and evenings.

"Wait - over by the end of the trail... is that Mr. Aizawa?"

The Erasure Hero was standing close to a shorter woman with a purple-striped catsuit, complete with paw gloves and boots. She wore a small mask with a smiling cat's grin on it, and she pulled it down to reveal a huge smile as well. As the kids watched the couple embraced, Aizawa possesively clutching her waist so the fabric of her suit bunched lightly under his hands. As she ran her hands through his hair he bent and kissed her, a long, deep, desperate kind of kiss that suggested the two had been parted for some time. Her tail fluffed out and curled around his legs, causing Aizawa's hair to shoot straight up like he did when he was using his quirk.

Mina couldn't help it; she <i>squealed</i> with glee at the sight of the taciturn homeroom teacher in such a passionate embrace.

The woman's cat ears shot up and the two heroes suddenly flickered out of sight.

Izuku frowned, scratching his head as he ticked off a few things mentally.

Striped, grinning cat ...invisibility quirk.

"Ohhhh. <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>," Izuku blurted out loudly. "I get it."

Temptation 9

 Work allowed Elly multiple days off as long as she gave them a doctor's note, which she complained made her feel like a little kid needing a signed paper from her parents, but she went and got anyway. She stayed home with her two very fussy roommates, who were intent on making her as comfortable as possible. The first day they had to figure out how much food she needed to eat so she didn't get ill from the strong painkillers and antibiotics, but other than that the two otherworldly beings worked surprisingly well together.

The second day she was complaining of a headache, a common symptom of concussions. She slumped on the couch with a cool rag Shota had gotten her on her forehead, suffering until Hizashi got out of the shower. When he was dressed he saw her wincing at every little sound and bright light. He hurried over.

"Headache, little one?"

"Yeah." She sighed. "Painkillers haven't helped 'cause they're stretched too thin and it's in-between doses."

"I think I can help make it go away."

"Goody."

Hizashi's hands started to tremble. He held her chin lightly with his fingertips, urging her to look up. She did, the cloth falling into her lap as she tilted her head. The angel's face was framed with a soft curtain of golden hair that fell down his shoulders. He moved, and strands of it touched her as well, creating a silken canopy as he held his breath and lightly brushed his lips on her cheek.

Her surprise was palpable. Her brow cleared, and she began to breathe easier. "I feel better," she said softly. "And you're not hurting, either."

Hizashi bit his lower lip, chewing shyly. "Um, yeah. I guess I can do that when I show you, uh. If I - when I'm affectionate."

"You kissed me," she said, eyes wide.

"I can briefly take your pain, like before, or my love can heal parts of you. It's like a - a blessing."

"Your..?" Her eyes widened. <i>Love?</i>

In the kitchen, Shota grasped the counter where he stood, his eyes half-closed and the tip of his tongue peeking out as he panted. He waited, but there was nothing after that initial rush of energy. He turned around, his blazing red gaze penetrating as he took in the scene on the couch.

"Zashi," he called, his voice cracking, rising on the last syllable. "Zashi, that works."

"Works?" Elly raised her voice. "Shota, what works? What are you talking about?"

"I think you need to tell her."

Shota didn't look too pleased at the prospect, but he strode over and sat between her and the angel. "I haven't been getting exactly what I need to keep my powers strong. It's why I've been so tired lately."

Elly frowned, rubbing at one of the cuts on her neck. Shota gently moved her hand away. "What do you mean?"

"I haven't eaten in far too long."

She gasped. "Oh, no... have I been starving you?" When he started to shake his head she looked him sternly in the eye. "Shota... don't you <i>dare</i> lie to me."

He choked on whatever he had been about to say. Opened his mouth again, then shut it. The demon rubbed the back of his neck, finally nodding. "Yes. But it's n - not... <i>shit</i>!"

Hizashi was watching the scene unfold before him with fascination. "You really can't lie to her, can you?"

"I told you, I have to do what she says. She's my mistress."

"Well? What did you mean when you said 'that works'?" Elly thrust her lip out in a pout.

He sighed. "Your interaction with sunshine boy over here just fed me a little. I mentioned the first time we met that I need your sexual energy... you - well, fuck. Elly, you don't trust me." He looked away, his eyes shining red for a moment.

"You won't ever want me to please you. I'm literally designed for pleasure, can take you places no one ever can, but it doesn't matter. This time I'm not good enough because of what I am." He swallowed hard, then pointed. "This ass, though..."

"What!" Hizashi turned purple at the suggestion.

"Wait, is this why you've been so upset about the accident?"

"I should have been able to protect you."

"You did!" She threw her hands around his neck and his eyes shot wide open in shock. He fell down on top of Hizashi, who jumped up and let them collapse backwards onto the couch instead of on him. "I would've been dead if it hadn't been for you!"

"She's right, you know. From what you've told me, the stuff falling was heavy enough to kill her." He looked thoughtful as he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Shota. I'm not ready to - to you know," she said under her breath. "But will a little help you?"

"A - a little?" He was breathing hard, his hair a tumbled mess and his hands spasming on her back.

"I need to go research something," Hizashi murmured. Then he called out in a louder voice, "I'm going out."

Shota's head jerked to the side. He was rendered speechless by the angel's selfless gesture as he slipped out the front door. His attention quickly turned back to the nervous woman seated on his lap, however. "A little ...<i>what</i>?"

"Making out?" Elly bit her lip after she spoke. She could feel her cheeks burning and incredibly, the demon's were, too. He looked up at her, his charcoal eyes filled with such a ravenous lust that she felt her throat go dry.

"Rules," he hummed lowly. "We need rules."

"No going below the waist and, um, clothing stays on."

"Yes," he agreed. "I'll do whatever you say, mistress."

11/11/2020

 That stupid cat was nowhere to be found.

Zoro had looked everywhere - well, almost -- and it was as if she had vanished from off the ship. He knew this wasn't possible, as they were out on the open water. But he'd honestly been searching for hours.

"Hey, kitten," he called out hesitantly, earning him a few amused glances from his crew mates. When Elly didn't respond, he sighed and walked into the galley. "You in here?"

Sanji was seated at the table, blowing a thin trail of smoke from his cigarette off to one side. Their gazes locked, but instead of picking a fight the cook shook his head and pointed back out. "She went below deck."

Zoro nodded and headed that way. He opened the small door and climbed down, letting his eye adjust to the very dim light. There was a single bulb here, and someone was definitely around because it was turned on.

"Cat?" A shuffling sound alerted him, and he moved to grasp what stumbled out of the shadows towards him. It was Elly, shivering and dejected, her ears down and her tail dragging on the floor. Zoro grunted and wrapped his arms tighter around her. "I'm here," he said simply.

She didn't speak for awhile, but when she did her voice was near tears. "You're always here."

The big man shrugged; she could feel the motion although she couldn't see it. He'd already said all he needed to and was silent as she leaned back into his chest, pulling his arms up closer around her. Elly closed her eyes to blot out the world but she could still smell and hear. All around her was the sharp scent of steel, unpleasant by itself but mingled with the harsh soap he used and his own personal musk. Her body began to relax on its own, helped along by the steady beat of his heart, the rise and fall of his breathing as she rested her head on the sliver of bare chest showing through his robe.

When she spoke again her voice was tiny. "I missed your birthday."

This time he snorted out loud. "You're sick," he reminded her bluntly. "Being this sad all the time is fucking you up. If all that comes from it is missing one stupid day, I'm okay with it."

"I - I feel bad about it. It's more than one day. You're always here. I'm not."

"Look," he told her firmly, lifting her on his lap and turning her to face him. "If I was pissed off about it, you'd know. I don't care. I'm gonna do what I do - and that's protect your dumb ass, whether it's from others or <i>yourself</i>. Besides," he added absently, "you didn't miss anything. We waited until you felt better to have a party."

Elly's ears slowly unfolded from where they had been hidden in her hair. "You did? Of course you guys did," she answered herself.

"Stupid cat," he muttered.

"Yeah, yeah. I agree with you this time."

He gave her a sour look. "You're not supposed to."

"I can if I want." She crossed her arms, pouting. "I'm stupid."

Zoro rolled her forward onto her back before she knew what was happening.

"Hey!"

"Shut up," he mumbled, holding her gently but firmly down. "You're not stupid, and not going anywhere until you feel better."

"You can't just <i>make</i> me better!"

He gave her such a roguish look her breath was taken away. And although his intent was perfectly clear from that devilish smirk, she still gasped loudly when his lips crushed passionately onto hers.

"That's where you're wrong, cat. Gotta show you, huh? All right." His hands lifted the hem of her shirt and pulled it up, exposing her bra. One quick snap and it was open, exposing her breasts, and again in a heartbeat he was upon them with teeth, tongue and surprisingly dexterous fingers.

Her hands ruffled the short green hair on his head as she pressed him close. "Ohhhh... you're so <i>good</i> at that. Mmnn." She ran one hand down the front of his robe, wriggling under the frog catches and rubbing his clothed erection. Zoro's response was to swear rather violently and tear himself free.

"One chance, kitten. <i>Yes</i> or <i>no</i>?"

Elly didn't think; she could feel him, slick and heavy on her thigh. His body was warm on hers, his breath hot and he made her stomach clench with desire from something so simple as a few spoken words.

Her choice, therefore, was easy. "Yes."

He rumbled with approval. "Good answer."

He pulled her free of her clothing so she could kick the bottom half off. His fingers immediately sought out her heat, dipping in and swiping while she bucked into his touch. He found the uppermost part and teased the folds apart so he could rub directly on the shy little nub that swelled under his touch.

"Yes!"

"You're so wet for me," he chuckled lowly. "You want me that bad, huh?"

"Sh - shut up and stick it in," she hissed.

Zoro laughed louder. "Yes, ma'am." And with that he thrust without any further warning, powerfully, moving his hips until he bottomed out. Elly choked loudly and he sighed, watching his member sliding back out covered in their combined slick. "I'm going to make you forget everything for awhile," he promised hoarsely. "Everything except how my cock feels inside you."

She drew in breath to cry out, shuddering at his dirty talk, but he kissed her as he plunged back inside again. She curled her legs as far around his waist as they would go and hung on, nipping and licking as the big man continued to kiss her while ravishing her body. The contrast of his loving lips versus his powerful thrusts was exhilarating, and she felt tingling in her nether regions as her body responded faster than she could imagine. His thick member bucked, rubbing the top of her sex and stimulating the little bundle of nerves that made her want to scream.

And still he kept on, sweat dripping from his heavy body, muscles rippling. She could feel his thighs quivering when he paused once and impishly scratched his back, digging her nails into his tanned skin. Zoro snapped at the air like an animal, growling, and somehow managed to move faster.

"Again," he rasped. "Claw me up, kitten. Dig into me."

She was losing herself just like he'd said would happen, gone in the give and take, thrust and pull and buck and grab. Elly didn't just want more, oh no. She <i>needed</i> more.

"Oh, sh - shit, deeper ... <i>deeper</i>!"

He chuckled, catching her upper body in one arm and holding her tight. "I know it feels good, but we can't let everyone hear."

"<i>Zoro!</i>"

"Ch' ...look, hold me. Okay. Now, quiet." He kissed her as he began thrusting at a different angle, driving himself as deep as possible into her heat.

"Mnnn!"

"Fffuck, I know. I know." He shuddered and paused, swallowed hard, then resumed rocking forward. "Come hard for me, kit. I want you to squeeze me tight -"

"Ohmigod!" His talking threw her over the edge and she quaked with the force of her orgasm, tensing all around him inside and out.

"<i>Just like that,</i>" he groaned thickly. His movements became jerky, less coordinated, as he lost himself in her pulsating heat. He dropped his head to her neck, rumbling incoherently as he emptied himself inside her. "Fuck kitten, shhhhit, I fucking love you."

"Oh, <i>Zoro</i>."

"Urgh."

"Okay," she panted hoarsely, struggling to regain her breath. "All right. Lesson learned. I guess you <i>can</i> make me better."

He burst out laughing.

Temptation 8

 When they got back, loaded down with crutches, prescriptions and health information packets, Hizashi saw their roommate had passed fitfully out on his couch. Shota's hair was a mess and his shirt had ridden up his chest. At some point he'd thrown the quilt he slept with onto the floor and he simply looked worried, even as he slept.

Hizashi walked past the dozing demon on the couch and placed her on the bed in the back. "Sit tight, and I'll get you a snack and your pills."

Elly sat waiting in the dark not really thinking about anything until he came back. He pressed a couple of cookies in her hands and waited while she ate them. When she was finished he handed her a glass of water and a pill. "Here's number one."

"Christ," she choked as it slipped down, assaulting her taste buds with its bitter, acrid taste. "That's fucking <i>awful</i>."

He chuckled ruefully. "Naughty girl."

"Oops." She blushed. Him calling her out on the curses made her blush, suddenly shy.

Hizashi ignored her confusion, smiling knowingly. "Okay, take these next."

She obeyed, swallowing the pills with a little grimace but no swearing this time. "I have a headache," she whispered, rubbing at her temples.

"Oh, no. Here, give me the cup, then, and let Zashi make you better." He made grabby motions with his hands, his eyes bright and warm as he regarded her.

Elly giggled faintly, winced, and made room for him on the bed. "Thanks," she murmured as he began working his fingers through her scalp. "Mmmn... Zashi." Her mind grew fuzzy as the pills began to work. She sighed, relieved, and burrowed her face into the angel's chest. Hizashi's mustache points wriggled as he tried to control the urge to hold her too tightly.

"She alright then?" Shota's voice was harsh, guttural. He cleared his throat as he stumbled into the room.

"Yes. Here's the, ah - itemized list of her injuries."

The demon took it and flinched as he read it through. "Shit."

"I heard the pharmacy ladies talking about the accident when we were waiting. Why didn't you pull her out right away?! She wouldn't have been as badly injured." Hizashi clutched her in his arms, turning away instinctively from the demon.

Shota's throat worked, but at first no sound came out. Elly looked up but just stared blankly at him, not registering much at the moment. He met her dazed expression with one of utter failure, his dark eyes losing their color and paling drastically as Hizashi watched. The angel frowned.

"Shota," he asked, choosing his words carefully, "are you well? I - I don't know enough about demons, but you don't look so good right now."

"It's my fault she got hurt," he replied sadly. "I wasn't strong enough. Haven't been for awhile."

"Why?" He blinked several times, his ears burning as the other being rubbed at his neck and didn't answer. "Oh, no. You're not feeding, are you?"

Shota shoved a thick lock of hair aside to rub at his stubbled cheek. "You see me eat all the time," he mumbled.

"No. You're an incubus. You need..." Hizashi's face flushed further. "<i>That</i>, to keep healthy. Right?" The demon refused to answer, and he got angry at his apparent indifference. "Who cares now if you go whore around for food? She needs you strong! Why haven't you been taking care of yourself?!"

He took a menacing step towards the blond being, his fists clenched. "We're bound, you idiot! I need <i>her</i> sexual energy. And, you know, fuck that. Even if I could feed off others, I wouldn't, because she wouldn't like it!"

Elly whimpered, upset at all the shouting. Shota snapped his teeth together on the rest of his rant, and Hizashi soothed her with a steady stream of babbled "good girls" and "I'm here" until she grew silent.

"I can't even change anymore." This statement was delivered with such finality that the angel actually pitied him.

"I'm sorry if I yelled," he apologized. "I ...didn't realize. I thought incubi didn't have morals. It looks like I was wrong."

He shrugged and crawled onto the bed, flopping down on Elly's other side. "Do you mind if I lay here, too?"

The angel shook his head and scooted over. "I understand. She'll feel better if we're both awake later, anyway. So rest up."

Temptation 7

 Shota wasted no time in driving her home. He barged into their tiny apartment, making so much noise that the angel spluttered and stuck his head out to see what was wrong.

"She's hurt, Zashi." He carried her in and strode immediately into the bedroom.

Hizashi burst out of the bottom of his cloud bed, wisps slipping around him to reform as he followed. "<i>What?</i> I thought you were watching her!"

"Yeah, well, that's not the most pressing issue right now. She's in pain, and unless we take her to the ER, she's not going to get anything for it tonight." Shota laid her in bed and hovered protectively near. She was quiet, her face drawn and lips thin from holding in any sound she might have made.

"Then take her!" Hizashi brushed her hair back from her pale, sweaty face, grimacing at the sticky feel of blood. She was very cold, likely in shock from the stress of the injury.

"She said she didn't have the money to go." The demon snarled. "I can't do anything she doesn't want me to do."

"Clinic later," she pleaded with them, her eyes misted over with pain. "No ER."

"Okay, okay. Don't be frightened, little one. We'll do it your way. And I can help you sleep until then."

"Can you..?"

"I can take her pain for a bit," he said grimly. "You'll have to stay with her. I'll do it, you get warm water and as many ice packs that we have. She needs to be cleaned up and get cold on those bruises."

"Right." He spun on his heel and left to gather everything.

Hizashi inhaled slowly. "Okay, Elly. I'm going to make the pain go away for awhile. Close your eyes and relax."

She squeezed her eyes shut and he sighed sadly, reaching out to stroke them with his fingertips. His body immediately spasmed all over and he let out a strangled sound.

"Hey, you all right in here?" Shota was back with the ice and warm cloth.

"Fine," he grated between clenched teeth. "Clean her up but <i>don't let her sleep</i>. Her head hurts a great deal and she might have a concussion."

"She needs a doctor," he fretted, gently wiping dust and blood from her wounds.

"Ow." Elly wasn't coherent enough to have a conversation but interjected little bits here and there. "So much crap fell on me," she moaned to no one in particular.

"Sorry, mistress."

"I know. She needs professional help, maybe some antibiotics, a few x-rays to make sure she's really okay." Hizashi agreed, sighing. "In two hours there's a clinic that opens early ten minutes from here. I'll take her there." He hissed, touching his leg and then his arm. "She's got more than a few sprains, maybe a broken ankle, too."

"Broken?!" Shota dropped the washrag he was holding. "Wait - how the fuck do you know? You're not touching her."

The angel groaned, sliding down onto the floor. "I took her pain, remember?"

"I didn't think you meant it like <i>that</i>!"

"Yeah, well it's done. Now we wait."

Time crawled very slowly for Hizashi as he suffered in her stead, yet it was more fear for her health and safety that made it seep like molasses than the hurt. He tossed and turned his head as he rested it on the edge of the bed, not leaving the floor since he collapsed there hours ago. Eventually the agony subsided, and though he might ordinarily have considered this a good thing it meant it was transferred back to the rightful owner.

"Hey. Hey, it's been almost two hours."

"Two fucking hours," Elly parroted, her tone weak and irritable. Her color still wasn't great but her thinner, shallow cuts had all been cleaned properly. He'd flushed out the larger one but kept his interaction with it to a minimum since he wasn't a doctor. It appeared that Shota had even washed her hair, since it was damp and blood-free.

Hizashi grunted, opening his eyes and yawning. "I must've slept," he mumbled. "'Kay, you have the car keys?"

"On the kitchen counter."

He stood up and stretched, running a hand through his hair. "All right. I'll take her out." He bent and wrapped her in the blanket, picking her up.

Shota ran ahead and tossed the angel the keys and her bag off the counter. "Take this, too. She might have stuff in it you'll need."

"Good idea."

The visit to the clinic went fairly smooth. There were several moments when there were misunderstandings, the largest being Hizashi labeled an abuser by the nurses in the back.

One of the nurses saw the injuries and she began asking Elly a rather pointed series of questions. She was a very austere looking, thin woman with bleached hair cut into a short bob tied back for her job with a kerchief. Perhaps it didn't help that in her tired, shocked state Elly kept asking for him and looking around.

"Zashi?"

"Is that the man that brought you in?"

"Uh huh."

"Is he your boyfriend?"

She looked baffled for a moment before realizing "<i>He's my guardian angel</i>" would not be taken in a good light here. She nodded instead.

"Does he live with you?" A nod. "How are things going at home?"

"Fine... why are you asking? I got hurt at work."

The nurse put her tablet aside. "It's early morning. Where do you work?"

"Overnights at the Savemart." She continued to look confused. "A couple of pallets fell."

The woman didn't look convinced, but she nodded and moved aside as the doctor was observing the large gash in her side. When he found a large chunk of wood and removed it, Elly passed out again. She had been given some local anesthetic but the idea that a foreign object had been sliding around in her cut did her in.

"Feels like she's telling the truth, you know," the other woman remarked as she began to nearly stitch her up. "Besides, have you seen the guy? No? Go out and tell him what we're doing for her. It'll do you both good."

Hizashi was waiting anxiously outside in the waiting room watching the door she'd been taken into. The nurse looked out the window.

"Hizashi? You brought Ms. Sketchit in..?"

He leaped to his feet, almost falling in a comical attempt to reach her as fast as he could. "Yes?" He asked breathlessly. "Is she okay? Please tell me she's okay."

His accuser felt her anger melt away in the presence of an angel. He was genuinely concerned, tears budding in the corners of his eyes as his voice shook. She smiled reassuringly at him. "She gave verbal and written consent for you, so I can tell you exactly what's happening." She glanced down at her tablet, swiping a few times. "Her ankle is fractured, so she's getting a cast. There were multiple bruises, cuts and abrasions but nothing as serious as the one that punctured her left side -"

Hizashi let out a little whine at the word <i>punctured</i>, and the nurse smiled at him again. "She's going to be fine. That one - and the minor concussion she received from the blunt force to her skull -- are what we're most concerned about. Will you be caring for her while she heals?"

He nodded. "Me and a, uh, friend."

"I've got some literature for you. It's very important that she rest for several days to recover from the trauma. She'll have headaches, and may have other symptoms as well. Everything is in here, as well as how often to change the dressing on her bandage. We'll need to see her in four weeks to check and see how her ankle is doing, too."

"Can we schedule that now?"

"Uh huh."

They set that up while Elly was finishing up in the back. They gave her the the prescriptions and wheeled her out, apologizing that they didn't have crutches for sale. They were informed the local pharmacy should, however, and with that they sent them on their way. Hizashi carried her out once more, this time under the eyes of all the staff.

Elly had gotten stitches for her side, some medical glue on a few other cuts. Besides the obvious cast, she had terrible bruising on her forehead and arms that weren't hidden by the t-shirt she was wearing. The nurses had applied a thick dressing to the wound in her side to protect the stitches for now, and it was bulky underneath. To casual passerby she probably looked like she'd been mauled by a large animal.

"Whoa," he hummed to himself as he glanced at the stack of scripts in his hand. "Where d'ya get your pills filled, Elly? Where you work?"

"Nghhh. Yeah," she replied grudgingly. "Don't wanna go there, but..."

"It's fine," he smiled at her as he set her in the passenger seat. "I'm here, right?"

The ladies at the pharmacy had been told about the other night and they eyed her as she limped over with the tall, blond man helping her walk. They appraised her condition and ogled Hizashi while she gave them the prescription.

"It'll be like maybe five minutes," the technician told her.

"Thanks."

"You wanna sit, babe?" Hizashi picked her up despite her protests. "No, uh uh, you're not walking anymore unless you get crutches. I don't like how you were hobbling around."

The women raised their eyebrows at each other.

"Didn't Karen say her boyfriend last night had <i>dark</i> hair?"

"Chris did. He let him in."

They blinked owlishly at Hizashi, at his glowing golden hair and bright gold-green eyes.

"Maybe this one's a relative?"

"Get real. They look nothing alike. Plus, uh... oh. Oh, my."

Hizashi noticed she was fidgeting, adjusting her position in his lap and frowning. "Is it hurting bad again?" She nodded, too tired to protest. He gently nuzzled into her hair, taking some of her pain through the contact. "That should last until we get those pills and some food in you."

Back at the pharmacy window, the first technician pursed her lips. "Yeah, I'm gonna go with <i>not</i> a family member."

Temptation 6

 Hizashi was extremely careful around Elly after his conversation with the Shota. He tried to take the time to analyze his feelings while he lay in bed at night, but could never quite bring himself to admit why he <i>stayed</i> if she seemed <i>safe</i>. His mission had been to protect her from the demon, but the demon wasn't harming her.

Yet she still needed protection in general, right?

His mind spun theories round and round, both complex and irritatingly simple. Suffice it to say he was even more confused now that he was questioning his motives. Angels weren't supposed to desire things, and he technically had everything he needed. But his human body betrayed him, and more than once he caught himself wondering what it would be like. A few times he switched back, wings and all, and found the craving still there somehow.

He was stuck. Now he was forced to figure out what his best course of action should be. His training said suffer rather than sin, but his mind and heart craved what he wasn't supposed to have.

Days later his head was still spinning when Elly appeared before him with two plates of warm pie with ice cream on top. They were sitting at the kitchen table since Shota was still snoring loudly on the couch, wrapped up in the quilt with his face pressed into the cushions. Elly made an offhand comment that it looked uncomfortable as hell, and Hizashi chuckled.

"He would know."

"Ha!" She offered him a plate.

"What's this, your newest creation?" He took it and inhaled deeply. "That smells really good."

"Just took it out of the oven." She smiled at him. "It's cherry pie. I added a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, too."

"Wow," he hummed, enthusiastic after his first taste. "This is really delicious!" He wolfed down a few bites before Elly stopped him with a gentle hand on his.

"You managed to get it on your mustache," she giggled. "Here, I'll get it for you."

Hizashi's eyes opened wide and he stayed very still. His heart beat crazily in his chest and his first thought was, <i>I didn't know it could still do that</i>! Her fingers brushed the dollop of cream off his mustache and then they were gone, but she was still close enough that he could see the wrinkling around her eyes as she smiled. His breath caught in his throat and he reached out, cupping her chin in one hand. Surprised, she looked up at him and when he realized how close they were he blushed deeply and jerked back to his side of the table.

"Thanks," he said shyly, dropping his head.

"Uggghhh," came a low groan to their left. Shota had woken up and was shuffling into the kitchen.

"What's up with you today?" Elly asked.

"Just a quick nap before work." He yawned, pouring a cup of coffee.

"That wasn't quick," Hizashi pointed out. "You were asleep when Elly got up. We couldn't sit on the couch!"

"Are you okay?" Elly asked worriedly. "Demons don't get sick, do they?"

Shota laughed, the sound suspiciously without humor. "Nah. I'm fine. Is that pie?" He took hold of her hand that still had ice cream on the finger and sucked it off, lapping at the fingerpad without dropping his gaze. Elly gasped, staring at her finger long after he'd pulled back.

He took a calm sip of his coffee and seemed to be more invigorated. "Good stuff," he muttered.

Hizashi frowned as they left for work, sizing the demon up. He did seem like he was sleeping more, and he hadn't seen him transform or use any powers for weeks.

Odd.

Back at the supermarket, things were the same as always. Her coworkers continued to try to pick the best totes and boxes, determined to show their boss Elly was a lazy worker. She knew she already had a disadvantage and tried to work harder and harder every night. The strain from this would have been great on anyone, let alone someone that was already facing mental problems.

Tonight was no exception. The women had taken bits and pieces out of pallets that were stacked very high due to the upcoming holidays. The result was the integrity of the shrink-wrapped towers was highly compromised. As Elly wearily tugged at them to get her share of work, the stack shuddered and some heavy boxes fell. She swore as one clipped her arm, tearing a fair amount of skin off in the process. Blood splattered and she winced.

Shota was keeping an eye on her coworkers, who were snickering about some plan they were going to enact later. His attention was heavily divided and he felt more than heard her pain when she cried out. He spun about and paused briefly to access the situation. Unfortunately, those few seconds were all that was needed for a bigger accident to occur. More boxes and the heavier plastic totes tumbled and fell, landing on Elly, who yelped in shock and pain. The demon immediately launched himself at her, crawling over the items already fallen and shielding her from the rest which followed. Once they were empty, the wooden frames themselves were the last thing to fall and clatter noisily onto the mess.

The two women screamed in horror and everyone in the stockroom or near it rushed in to help. Underneath the piles, Shota was heaving with all his might to create a barrier of protection for his mistress so she wouldn't be crushed to death. He struggled to find the strength, cursing sulfurously, repeatedly, all the while panicking that he hadn't gotten there in enough time to shield her from the full brunt of the danger.

"Hang in there, mistress," he pleaded. "You're gonna be okay!"

She heard him and coughed lightly. "Shota..?"

"Elly! Elly, are you okay?"

Voices were yelling at her, hands reaching out to pull her from the rubble. She must have passed out, because when she opened her eyes she was seated on a bench in the store with the night manager holding his phone. She had gauze wrapped around several limbs and a wet towel pressed to her side. It took her several long seconds before she realized the wetness was blood.

"No ambulance," she said firmly. There was no way she could afford a ride in one of those.

"You have to be taken care of," the manager insisted.

<i>Tell him you'll text your boyfriend to come get you</i>. The voice was Shota's, though he remained invisible. She swallowed and asked for her phone.

"I'll text my boyfriend," she husked. "He'll come."

It was devastating to have to wait a long enough time until he could see her again, but he had to make it seem as though he drove to get her. He simply left, waited, then materialized near her car. Shota ran up to the doors, his face twisted in fear. He didn't have to fake panic, since he'd seen how injured she was first hand. "Elly? <i>Where is she</i>?!"

The manager let him in though it was a breach of protocol, and he rushed to where a group of people were handing her ice packs and holding useless bandaids in their hands. He choked when he saw her and dropped to his knees so they could be at eye level.

"Shota," she whimpered in relief.

"Where does it hurt? Can I pick you up?"

During this exchange her coworkers were staring dumbfounded at the man that she had said was her boyfriend. He was dressed in a black tank top that showed off his upper body, the muscles rippling as he lifted her with ease. Blood dripped onto his jeans and on his top from the wound in her side, but he didn't care. He hadn't bothered to tie his hair back, and his long, shiny black locks seemed to shimmer under the bright artificial lighting as he tossed them back to see her better.

The ladies were stunned.

They were amazed.

They were writhing on the inside in a seething, roiling mass of jealousy.

"He <i>can't</i> be her boyfriend," one whispered to the other.

Shota couldn't help brushing some of her bloodied, sticky hair back and kissing her softly in front of everyone. "It's okay, baby," he told her. "I'll make it okay."

Temptation 5

 

The three of them settled into a routine after a few weeks. It wasn't too difficult, especially when Elly worked nights and Shota went with her for support and protection. Hizashi normally stayed awake during the day, and though he claimed he didn't need sleep at all enjoyed bustling about the apartment by himself when the others were gone.

It was during one of her days off that he called her over to talk. Elly had just showered and left the bathroom open for Shota, who gleefully set the water to near boiling to relax while he woke up.

"Mmm, what's up." She sat on the couch, blinking sleepily at the golden-haired angel.

"I wanted to talk to you." He smiled and took her hand. "I'm amazed at how you adapted so quickly to us being here. Is it really okay? Are you happy?"

"You guys are different. I don't trust <i>humans</i> because they've hurt me too much. You're not, so it was easier to accept you."

He pressed her hand with a low, sad sound. "Poor baby," he hummed unironically, oblivious to how the phrase sounded. He truly meant it and she understood. It caused her to squirm a bit, suddenly shy as he tugged her hand close to his heart. "You haven't healed, and you're going to need a lot of love to get better."

The demon of the house, of course, had impeccable timing.

Shota came around the corner at that very moment, stretching his arms over his head. He was wearing jeans that were just tight enough and a cropped t-shirt so when he stretched, his abdomen flexed on display. "Well, then. I'm an expert at making love. If you need it, mistress, we should probably get right to it." He smirked at the angel, who was blushing uncomfortably at the mention of carnal knowledge. "Hell, <i>Zashi</i>, you could spice things up quite a bit. She's into you, too, you know. And now I'm curious." He sat on the edge of the couch, his tail manifesting to slide around the shocked being's wrist. "Do angels screw? I mean, you look and act like you're innocent, but I can smell desire, you know... and you positively reek of it when you're in contact with her."

Hizashi fled.

"You're evil." Elly desperately tried to hold back a severe case of giggles in his wake. Shota noticed this and grinned impudently at her, sliding off the arm of the couch and laying his head in her lap with his legs curled over the side.

"I'm just living up to my nature." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Mmmn. You smell good. Mind if I take a quick nap here?"

She opened her mouth to retort that he'd just woke up, but his eyes were already closed and his breathing slow and even. Elly mentally shrugged and picked up her phone to pass the time, but in minutes the weight and heat from his body made her sleepy, too. She set the phone clumsily back on the table and ran her hands through his hair, yawning a little. Eventually she drifted off as well.

A buzzing text from her phone about an impending storm woke her half an hour later. It had turned dark outside and the wind was rattling the panes in the windows. Elly grunted, wincing at her stiff limbs, and carefully picked Shota's head up so she could set him down without disturbing him. Her knees popped loudly when she stood and she swore.

"Zashi?"

No answer.

He wasn't in his bed in the corner. She stretched her legs and arms and looked casually around, but he wasn't anywhere she could see. She needed to ask what he wanted to eat, so she went looking.

"Zashi? Are you in here?" She knocked on the bathroom door but there was no answer. When she pushed gently it opened right away, so he obviously wasn't inside. The angel had strict rules about anyone seeing him in there. She tapped her foot on the floor, thinking.

<i>He usually doesn't go in my bedroom.</i>

Yet that was where she found him, hunched over and quiet.

"What're you doing?" She knelt beside him. He was looking out at the parking lot outside the window, though the view wasn't particularly glamorous. His hair was frazzled, pieces hanging down on both sides of his cheeks from his previous neat bun.

Hizashi wrapped his arms tighter around his knees. "I'm not helping you at all, am I."

"Look," she sighed, "Maybe I'm hopeless. I don't want you to go through so much trouble for me. It doesn't seem right."

"Trouble? I'd go through Hell to save you, little one. I want to. You don't know it yet, but you're worth it."

She smiled weakly and ran her fingers through his hair as she stood. "Thank you, Zashi. I'm going to make some coffee and order us brunch. Do you want anything?"

"Waffles," he sniffled.

Elly's heart skipped a beat. He was so childlike and innocent, especially in this state. She wished she knew how to help but barely knew how to hang on herself. She met Shota on the way to the living room, and he gave her a mischievous pat on her lower back in passing. Her eyes narrowed, but he hadn't touched low enough for her sense of outrage to truly kick in.

"Did I wake you when I got up?"

"Nah. Oh, I'll have bacon, beautiful," he told her. "And lots of it."

Elly rolled her eyes and went to unplug her phone from the charger. Meanwhile, the demon wandered through the rest of the house until he found Hizashi where he sat brooding.

"What's wrong, <i>sunshine</i>?"

"Shut up."

"Pouting in the back because you didn't get a cuddle? Or are you still maintaining you want me gone for other reasons."

"I only wish for <i>her</i> safety. And I'm not pouting."

"Hnf. Well, I'm not hurting her."

"Not yet."

"Your impure thoughts betray you." He grinned and bent his leg, placing his foot on the wall. "Your desire for this mortal has your ideals jumbled into a mess. I won't harm her and you know it. Why are you really still here?"

"I'm here to protect her," he insisted stubbornly, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up on his nose. His mustache twitched.

"That's bullshit. You might've started out that way, but it changed real quick. You have another motive now." Shota rubbed at the back of his neck in thought. "She might not realize it, but I do. The concept of incorruptible otherworldly beings is a bunch of bullshit, if you ask me. We have the ability to have emotions, and love is one of them."

Hizashi tensed. "Love? Why would you use that as an example?"

Shota stared at him, impassive. After a minute the blond man averted his eyes, blushing. "That's better. Don't try and fool a sex demon. I know all about love, desire, infatuation - seen 'em all. Never really experienced much of the more wholesome ones, though."

"No kidding," Hizashi said sourly, resting his head on his knees.

The incubus snorted derisively at him. "Stop seeing me as the enemy, you idiot. It may take an angel to mend her broken heart, but only a demon knows where the shattered pieces lie."

Hizashi uncurled slowly, a deep frown drawing his forehead almost into a point. "Wh - how did someone like you come up with ..?"

But Shota had left.