When Bucky wakes up, he immediately knows something is wrong. It’s partially because he’s locked up in Bruce’s safety room, sure, but he also feels like he’s waking up from a long sleep in a way he hasn’t since Steve called his name in DC.

Speaking of Steve, Steve is staring at him with hard eyes and a broken nose, and that’s his last clue. He must have lost the fight against the Winter Soldier. Shame engulfs him. He looks away from Steve and asks, “What happened?”

“Do you remember anything?”

“Not really.”

Steve looks relieved for some reason, then starts explaining. “Last night, you remembered that y—the Winter Soldier killed Tony’s parents.”

Bucky reels back in shock, and memories start trickling in. Howard and Maria, Tony looking at him with dull eyes, Steve—Steve?

Steve is still talking, his voice emotionless and clinical—“I decided not to tell him, but the Winter Soldier did, so he punched me in the face—” and Bucky feels a flash of irritation amid the numbness, because for all they had been talking about not hiding from their problems, Steve had not only done that but had pushed it onto Tony. Oh well. He had never really expected Steve to change.

Except for he had, hadn’t he? Because the last memory he has is of Steve basically admitting to loving Tony (“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he had said, but Bucky has known Steve long enough to know that his eye twitches slightly when he’s lying), and the old Steve would never have loved someone other than Bucky.

So when the doors are opened, he bolts down to the gym, and he doesn’t look at Steve. Steve, who said he loved him, but who loves Tony. Steve, who looked relieved when he said he couldn’t remember anything. Steve, who gets angry when he talks about Tony’s soulmates, and looks at Tony like he hung the sun, and crap, Bucky’s been so oblivious. He supposes it’s not something he’d have even thought to look for.

But it also makes sense, in a strange kind of way, he thinks detachedly as he beats up a training dummy. Steve had thought he was gone, and Steve was here with Tony for at least a year before Bucky came back. He was here for six months before he knew Bucky was even alive. And Tony is bright and vivacious and smart and wounded, and Bucky is surprised at how fond he is of Tony even knowing that he’s taken his soulmate away.

Or, well. Not exactly. Even if he didn’t know when Steve was lying, Tony is utterly incapable of it altogether. He’d know if they were doing something. Tony would never say anything anyway, too convinced of his worthlessness, and really, Tony probably doesn’t know. If Bucky is oblivious, Tony is ten times more so.

And the other thing is, Steve hadn’t been lying when he said he loved Bucky. Maybe he meant like a friend, or…maybe Steve just loves both of them. Bucky knows it’s possible; after all, people in three-way bonds work it out just fine. Like Tony’s, and isn’t that just the kicker, because Steve just had to fall in love with someone already destined to be with two other people.

Something nags at the back of his mind, and he can almost hear the Winter Soldier chuckle. He pushes the thought away blindly, distracting himself by idly wondering what Tony’s soulmates’ words are. Must be from the voice program, because he highly doubts sign shows up. Probably something snappy and smart like the man himself. Like “Either I’m having a visual hallucination or I should run away screaming now”—what? Bucky shakes his head. That’s…that’s Tony’s first words to him, not—okay, the news must have messed him up more than he thought. Tony isn’t his soulmate.

Anyway, the point is he sort of gets why Steve fell for the guy. Why have a partially brainwashed wreck of a man when you can have—well, Tony is a wreck too, but he’s not brainwashed at least, that’s a plus. If he’s being honest with himself, he could see himself doing the same in the same situation. He thinks back to the time he called Tony ‘punk’, the banter so familiar, so comfortable that he slipped and called Tony the nickname he usually reserves for Steve. Yeah. He understands.

He understands, but that doesn’t make him any less sad. He and Steve had the perfect relationship. They had to hide most of the time, sure, but in front of people who knew and understood, they were the perfect couple—the kind of sweet that made people shake their head in public and envy them in private. Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, America’s sweethearts.

But things change. Bucky changed. Steve has changed, as much as Bucky pretends he can’t. And maybe that was always more for him than it was for Steve. Because if Steve was the same, the same unflappable, immoveable rock, then maybe even if Bucky was broken, things could be okay.

But they are both broken, and things aren’t okay.

----------------

When he goes back up to his room to change out of his sweaty clothes, his weapons are gone. All of them. He supposes he can’t blame them for feeling unsafe—he doesn’t feel safe from himself, either—but he can’t help but miss the comfort of having a knife or six at hand.

He finds an additional surprise when he opens up his and Steve’s shared underwear drawer, puts on his boxers, and feels a prickling, well…everywhere. Natasha, because it must have been Natasha, had been very thorough. He storms downstairs, and Natasha just smiles calmly and says she didn’t know which ones were Steve’s, sorry.

(Steve’s are on the left, with his name sewn into the label. It’s an obvious lie. He allows it, but obviously he still runs a load of laundry immediately.)

A week after the whole thing, Bucky finally decides he’s ready to go downstairs and talk to Tony about what happened. But when he tries, the elevator button flashes red and refuses to move. He pauses. He guesses he’s not shocked that Tony doesn’t want to see him, the man who wears the face of his parents’ killer, but he’s not happy, either. Tony’s not going to solve anything by avoiding him—or Steve, who he understands has been blocked all along and has been well reprimanded for it by both Pepper and Rhodes. Steve keeps trying, though, doggedly keeping at it day after day, rejection after rejection, so Bucky decides he might as well do the same. At different times, though. He hasn’t really seen Steve much since it happened.

He can tell Steve is hurt by it, by their empty bed. He just doesn’t know how to face him knowing that Steve is in love with someone else. But more importantly, and the real reason he’s been sleeping on a cot in the gym, is that he is terrified knowing that he could fall asleep one day and wake up the Winter Soldier, knowing that he could lose control. He can’t do that to Steve. So, even though he also knows he’s being incredibly hypocritical telling Tony to face his problems when he can’t even do the same, he sleeps in the gym next to a tranquilizer that he nicked from Natasha (sorry, Natasha, I didn’t know which one was yours!), and he stays away from Steve, and he thinks privately that maybe this is all for the best. Because maybe it doesn’t mean he gets to be happy, but at least Steve can be when he realizes that he doesn’t want Bucky anymore. And he’s not fine, but he hasn’t been fine for a while. He manages.

Then, two weeks and two days after the Winter Soldier showed up, Tony lets him and Steve back into his lab.


I walked into the kitchen to find my wife Sally standing by the counter talking on the phone. I felt my self lengthen as I ran my eyes over her 5 foot 9 inch frame as she stood there in a short white pleated tennis skirt and a white peasant blouse with white three inch heals making her all ready long legs look even longer! It was easy to see that she was braless as her 36b breasts pushed out the thin white material of her top showing me her dark nipples! She smiled at me as she talked and I smiled back as I watched her nip’s grow hard under my gaze!

Sally hung up the phone and went to the fridge. “Hi baby! Want a beer?”

“Umm, yes that would be nice!” I said as I watched her bend over just enough to let me see the cheeks of her ass. “Say are you being sexy for me to night or did your boy friend just leave?”

She smiled as she walked over to me giving me a kiss me as she sat down my beer. “Yep you walked in the front as he walked out the back! Fucked me good and hard to!” she laughed. “You ass hole you know it’s only for you!”

I took her hand putting it on my bulging pants. “Well it worked! Are you wearing any panties?”

“Good I very much wanted to turn you on and no I am not! Now what do you want for dinner?” She kissed me again then stepped back looking at me waiting for an answer.

“You know what? Why don’t we go out?” I said as she looked at me.

“Ok,” I could see her face cloud up and knew she was trying hard not to loose it after dressing just for me. “Umm ok then, I’ll go change.” She had turned away from me when I stopped her.

“Wait baby! You didn’t let me finish!” Sally had not ever turned down a dare or bet in the 15 years we had been married and I was hoping that would not change now as I felt my self-dripping in my pants. “I dare you to stay dressed just as you are!”

Sally turned back to me and standing with her legs spread to shoulder width she put her hands on her hips and said, “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I dare you to stay dressed just as you are and go out to dinner with me! I am saying you won’t do it!” I smile knowing I had her!

She rocked from side to side as she looked at me. “It has to be worth more than just dinner, and what, well how am I going to, what if some one sees me like this? Some one we know!”

“You just have to not bend over, that’s all!” I could see her thinking hard about it as she walked back over to the bar. “What else will it cost me?” I asked.

“You have to take me to the beach tomorrow!”

Fuck I hate the beach! “Done!” I stuck out my hand and she shook it. “And you can pick the restaurant and it can be dark if you want!” I smiled at her as I finished my beer and stood up. “I will give you that!”

I really thought Sally would be a little shyer than she turned out to be as she picked up her purse. “Do I need this?”

“Nope lets go!” and I was right when we got to the door!

“I don’t know Sam!” she lifted up the back of her dress showing me her bare ass cheeks as she stopped and stood in front of me. “I really don’t have anything on!”

“Well ok, wait right here!” I rushed back to our bedroom and to her panty drawer. I knew what I was looking for and found them right away stuffed into the back of the dresser. I almost ran back into the hallway! “Ok come with me!”

I was so excited I was trembling as we walked out to my truck. Stopping at the passenger’s door I held out the T-back thong panties I had picked out for her! They were made of white silk and very tine! In fact the last time I has seen her in them they just covered the front of her slit not going up over her pubic mound at all and the back was nothing more than a string!

“You can wear these if you want to but you have to either put them on here out in the parking lot of the restaurant or the bet is off!”

“Honey!” Sally looked around and all though the truck was in our drive way the house next door had a good view of us standing there talking. Her breathing had changed making her breasts move on her chest as she looked past me at the neighbors’ house!

“Nope that’s the bet!”

Sally got a defiant look in her eyes as she looked at my cock straining to get out of my pants. “You really are liking this aren’t you?” She looked around again then back at me and looking me in the eye she pulled her skirt up high around her waist fully exposing her closely trimmed blond bush and ass to any one looking as she stepped one leg at a time into the panties and pulled them up! She held her skirt up as she adjusted them and then smiled at me as she let it fall into place!

“Is that what you wanted?”

“God Sally! Yes!”

She opened the truck door and made a big deal of getting as I watched her pull her skirt up high so I could see her little panties as she sat there. We talked about the day’s events as we drove to the restaurant never bringing up how she was dressed or that it was really turning me on and it wasn’t until I pulled into the driveway she realized it was vale parking!

Sally looked at me with a question on her face and when all I did was smile at her she smiled shaking her head and left her skirt bunched up so her panties and long legs on display as I pulled to a stop! I watched the young mans face as he rushed up to open the truck door for her and almost tripped as he got a look at my wife’s panties and exposed pussy showing through them as she opened her legs! “Thank you.” She breathed as she stuck her leg out to the ground not closing them until her toes lightly touch the concrete and she slipped out! His eyes went to her breasts as she let her skirt fall into place and smoothed it out as she waited for me to get around to her! Her cheeks were flushed as I kissed her softly and with trembling hands hooked her arm in mine as we walked into the place.

Sally was quiet as we waited for our table and as I looked around I only saw one person looking at her and it was a lady. When we had been seated she looked at me. “Umm, is there something I need to know about all of this? I mean we have been married for a lot of years and I have never seen you like this!”

“Well, you know I have always liked it when you would wear skimpy things for me.”

“I know but not like this!” She put her hand on top of mine on the table. “Sam do you want me to expose my self to other men?” She moved over a chair setting next to me. “Is this what this is all about?” She got a shocked look on her face. “Oh God! Do you want me to fuck other guys?”

“NO!” I looked around not wanting to be heard. “No way is any one to touch you but me,” I looked into her eyes. “But it just makes me crazy hot thinking of you showing off like this! It has always been something I have wanted you to do but I didn’t want you to think, well what your thinking! Sally I am so worked up I could cum in my pants!”

Our drinks came and as the waiter sat them on the table he couldn’t take his eyes from her breasts! Sally leaned back giving him a better look as she smiled up at him before he turned to walk away. She looked back at me. Is that what you wanted?”

“Yes!” I breathed

“She leaned into me kissing me softly. “If I told you I liked it what would you say?”

“I love you!”

“Well I am very, very wet and I don’t know if I can wait to get home!”

“Then lets don’t!” I stood up. “Come on we can get something later!”

I threw some money on the table and watched as Sally stood up not pushing her dress down in back leaving her naked ass exposed until she had taken a couple of steps and then she smiled at me as she adjusted it! We walked out and the kid had not even moved my truck yet it was happening so fast! Sally waited for him to open her door and as she sat down gave him the same show just in reverse letting him look at her crotch as she put her left leg in and with just enough hesitation she lifted up the other smiling at him like she didn’t know what she was doing!

I didn’t even have us out of the drive way as she pulled my stiff cock out of my pants and started to slowly pull on it. “Tell me about this new game, my love.” She said as I tried to think about driving and not her hand!

“I don’t know sweet hart! I just like the idea some one might get a look at you that’s all! I mean to night might have been a little over the top but god I loved it! I mean did you see what you did to that kid!”

I looked to the side to see Sally smiling. “He was a little excited!” she said.

“A little! Hell he will be pounding it for a month thinking about you!”

“Pull over!”

I did as she asked stopping under some trees as she slipped off the little panties letting them fall into the floorboard. “Slide over here!” She said and as I did she lifted up and slid over me still facing the front. “I want you in me!” Was all she said as she took my cock in her hand and guided it into her soaking wet hole!

Sally was trembling as she sat down on me taking me all the way to her womb in one long slow move! “Oh god!” came from her as I hit bottom and I could feel her fingers as she started pulling on her own clit! She leaned forward putting one hand on the dash pushing me even deeper into her hot love canal as she began to milk me with her pussy muscles! She wasn’t moving on me at all and didn’t need to as she pulled on and then strummed her clit with her finger!

“Oh god Sammy you have made me a slut! Oh baby I am so close! Wanting to show it o, o ohhh godddd! Yeessss baby! OHHHhhhhhhh shit! Fuck me!”

She lifted up off of me just enough to give me room to pump into her as she came her juices leaking out over my dick and down my balls!

“Yes that’s it baby fuck me! Oohhhhhh!” I pistoned into her as the cars and trucks sped past us on the road!

“I’m coming Sally! OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I pushed as deep into my wife as I could trying to push my cum into her belly! “Ooohhh god!” Rope after rope of my hot seed shot into her and mixed with her own juices as she leaned on the dash with one hand and tried to turn to kiss me!

“Oh holed me sweet hart!” She said as my dick spurted the last gob of my love into her!

I cupped her breasts as she leaned back into my chest and I kissed the back of her neck. We sat like that as my cock grew soft and slipped out of her and our mixed juices ran from her and over my balls!

Sally kissed me as she slipped off of my lap. “Well I guess we have some things to talk about when we get home then don’t we?” she said with a smile as I moved back behind the wheel!

“Yes I guess we do!”


© 2006 by Mike Yevchekov

All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying, recording or by any information and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author.

*

Opening:

My name is Steve and moved in with my girlfriend about four months ago. Heather is as close to perfect as anyone can become, and yes I do realize how lucky I am having a woman like her in my life. She's sexy and intelligent and man does she love sex. Heather is around five four with a small frame, and I think B Cups. She has curly hair just past her shoulders. Now there is one issue. She has a roommate: Ruth. It's not that she's a problem but it's kind of a challenge moving in with two people and I'm sure that Ruth has seen and heard more then she cares for, but I have a gut feeling Ruth is enjoying the show.

Ruth is also a very pretty woman and has a killer body. She also has B Cup breasts and her hair is longer and a little lighter then Heathers. Since we started hanging around Ruth has opened up more, moving away from the quiet type to becoming little bit of an exhibitionist. She even purchased one of those tan through bikini's and all winter she has been modeling it for us.

On Monday Heather had to fly out on a business trip. Every now and then she has to go visit clients. It's funny, the first couple times that you have to travel for work can be fun but then it becomes a major pain. While Heather is away Ruth and I alternate on cooking dinner. Some nights, I simply order pizza as I'm not a good cook. Both Ruth and Heather are fabulous cooks.

Wednesday was Ruth's turn to cook. This week had been especially long and every night I had to bring work home with me.

Ruth knocked on my door, "Hey, would you like something to eat?"

Wow, she looked freaking hot. Ruth was wearing a rose color cami with spaghetti straps. In her defense she was wearing a sheer jacket. "Sure, thanks."

"Well, since Heather's not here I guess it's my job to take care of you."

That really got my attention and started to check her out. Damn, did she look hot in her almost sheer nightie that did little to conceal her curves, tight where it needed to be tight and loose around her hips. Ruth's nipples were clearly visible, and I didn't see any visible panty lines. Why did she have wear that? The cami was about three inches below her sweat pussy and now she was on my mind. Wow, this is the first time that I've really noticed her legs. Man, did her legs look smooth and soft.

Ruth started cooking dinner. She makes it look so easy. Now, I don't know if she was teasing me or not, but Ruth was not very careful about her cami. Oh, she was showing me lots of leg and a few times most of her butt. Man did she have a nice butt!

We all enjoy the beach, well Heather and Ruth love the beach and I love seeing them in bikinis. So far, this is the most that I've seen of Ruth.

We sat down and enjoyed a great dinner. We made small talk and I did my best not to make an ass out of my self. Oh I was excited, and very aroused. All nighty, I've enjoyed taking Ruth in, seeing her in that sexy cami.

After I finished a dinner, Ruth smiled and asked, "Hey, want to watch a movie?"

Ruth has always been friendly with me, a little flirty at times. Heather never said anything nor did she seem concerned. I placed my hand on her arm, "Sure."

"I rented this movie, when I was at blockbuster. The plot seems interesting." Walking away, I let go of her arm. Ruth walked over and put the movie in. Then, she came over and sat next to me. "Hey, why don't we get comfortable?" Slowly she lifted up her foot, placed it on my chest and pushed me back.

Oh she was not wearing panties. Talk about becoming uncomfortable, I only hoped she didn't see my cock as it started becoming erect. Her legs were in front of mine as I rested against the couch. Our heads were resting on the head rests. Her thigh kept bushing against me and now I'm sure she could feel me.

Man, Ruth was looking hot, lying on her side, her nightie riding up showing me all of her legs and her part of her firm butt. The movie was R rated but this couple was hot and heavy. The plot was a little light but the actors were attractive.

"Look at that slut, she's not wearing a bra."

"Nice!"

"What, that? You think so? Why?"

"Please, you can almost see her breasts."

"And you like that?"

"Sure. Don't you?"

She looked confused by my question and pondered the thought. She looked at the screen, at me, and then back at the screen. "Well, kind of."

"And why not? She's attractive just like you are. Being a man, I love to see women and her mini skit and almost sheer blouse, well it's very naughty.

"And you don't mind that her breasts are fake?"

Nope, after all she's not my wife. Sure it's easy to tell her tits are fake but I still love to look."

"Don't you like the real thing?" She started to tease me by massaging her breasts."

"Oh I love checking you out."

"Do you think I have nice tits?" Cupping her breasts with her hands, almost offering them to me.

"Love seeing your hard nipples."

"Really as much as hers?"

"I don't know, why don't you show me yours?"

"What?" She playfully sat up and hit me. Her nightie pulled up as she moved and she was sitting bare ass on the sofa.

"Be honest, like you don't enjoy having me check you out, be honest!"

"You enjoy checking me out?"

"Get real girl," placed my hand on her thigh. "I think you know the answer."

"No, I don't." Ruth put her hands and the arm rest behind her, to support herself. Her nightie was very tight and her breasts were almost being squished.

I took a deep breath, about to reveal a dark secret something that could change our relationship. "You look so hot. The way your curly hair rests on your face, hiding your eyes, the way your nightie is a second skin, your nipples showing though."

Ruth leaned back resting against the arm rest and corner of the sofa. Her pussy hair started to show. She had to know she was showing me. "I'm blushing. Go on."

"Please, look at you, you're a hottie."

She looked down at her body her voice pitched, "Really? You think so? Then why don't I have a man?" She crossed her legs, drawing my attention and thinking about holding her, to put my hand on her hopefully wet pussy.

"I don't know, but I would love to be your man and take you to bed. Make you feel like a woman, over and over again."

Her foot felt soft and she rubbed it up and down my leg. Next, she looked up at me, "really? Please tell me more." Ruth started to squeeze her legs together, I'm sure this put a little pressure against her clit. "What would you want to do to me?"

"For starters, I would love to lick and kiss you by starting at your toes, and work my way to your nipples. Only my warm breath against your nipples, making sure that my tongue and lips did not touch you."

"Now who is the tease?" She started to rub my thigh with her foot. Her eyes quickly focused on my cock. Slowly her toes danced around my cock, gently touching it. "Is that from me?"

"Yes."

"Good, cuz I'm wet and didn't want to be the only one uncomfortable."

There was a loud splash that caught our attention. In the movie the main couple heads up to the mountains and finds a hot spring. They jump in, nude. This movie was not helping at all as the actress was smoking. Ruth was starting to squirm and moved on her back. I swear her hips were rocking as we watched this couple kissing passionately. Ruth was taking deep breaths, as she inhaled her nightie was a second skin. Then, Ruth started to massage her breasts.

I split my attention from the screen to her. Watching her was far more erotic! Shockley, she moved her hand between her legs.

"I've always wanted to watch someone. Did you know that I can hear you two?"

"Really?"

Her eyes focused on me as she openly masturbated feet away from me. "Oh don't be, its hot. I think about how Heather looks as you fuck her."

"Wow."

"Can't tell you how many times I wanted to walk into your bedroom and watch you two.

"I don't know what to say."

"Yea, that would be so hot. To watch you make love to her, see how you give her pleasure and to watch Heather cum."

"Wow, I didn't know."

"Is that bad?"

"No, you really want to watch?"

She took a deep breath, "Yes. Oh I have to stop before I cum."

Time for me to turn the heat up as I started to massage Ruth's feet, "Why? Don't stop."

"Oh, I loved being kissed like that. Do you?"

Time to step things up a little, placed my hand on her knee. "Yes, very much so."

"That is what sucks about being single, no one to kiss. That is what I miss the most."

"Oh and your other needs?"

"That part is easy," she looked down almost embarrassed. "It's easy for a girl to have toys this day an age."

"Really?"

"Yea, you don't believe me?"

"Nope!"

Her excitement peeked, "Wanna bet?"

"Sure."

She jumped up. "Are you game for this game is for a man, no boys allowed."

Now she had my goat. "If you don't have any toys then you have to spend the rest of the night nude."

"Easy, but only if I do," She took a deep breath. "I get to watch you jack off."

"What?"

"Oh come on you're a guy and surely you've jacked off a million times all ready. So, this should be no big deal for you. and besides, I've never watched a guy before."

"Really?"

"Yea, so are you game or chicken?"

"You have a bet." We shook hands.

She stood up and grabbed my hand. "You better come with me." With that said, Ruth led me up to her room.

I started to feel taken. Ruth didn't seem to be the type to walk into a toy store and purchase something.

"Since I have had to endure many nights of listening to Heather cum over and over again, I ordered some things to help me through those nights."

Damn, the internet as I didn't think about that. She could purchase things and not have to visit any store. Ruth started to light some candles and her bedroom had this warm glow as she turned off the lights. "I want you to be comfortable." She pulled out some of her toys.

Her first toy was a silver bullet. Ok, that was expected. Next, she pulled out a rabbit, "I really like this one. Love how it feels in me and the beads start to spin."

"Really?"

She turned it on to show me. "Why don't you get more comfortable as I want to see all of you."

A bet is a bet and I had to pay up. Embarrassed as my cock was all ready growing, and now it was very noticeable. Standing up, my eyes were glued on her waiting for a reaction which came in a big smile as her eyes were glued on my stiff cock.

"Don't worry, I have some more toys and will show you all of them when were ready."

This girl knew how to push my buttons. Now I really wanted to see what she had. I removed my shirt and then my shorts and boxers. My cock fully hard pointing to the ceiling.

"Very nice!" She moved over to me and gave me a quick lick. Holding my cock she turned her face to look up at me, "I like big cocks, wonder if Heather will ever share that with me."

"Oh, you're such a tease."

"Yep! So anyways, I have yet to take this one." She pulled out this nine inch life like dildo. "I just had to have it; it looks so freaking hot on the web site."

"Oh my god, that is freaky."

"You think? Feel it, it's so soft. It's from cyberskin.

"No way.

"Oh don't be gay, it's not a real cock." She started to stroke it, like she was masturbating some man.

"Still, I can't."

"I'll let you use it on me, if you touch it?" Ruth made a circle with her thing and index finger, pretending to slide it in her.

Damn, that was freaking how! Now the envelope was being pushed. Was this too much? Oh, I had to see her take that thing, how erotic to watch that thing in her.

Ruth looked at me, smiled, and then pulled the cami over her head. She was not sitting nude, right before my eyes. The room began to spin, making it hard for me to breath. Ruth teased me a little, "I want this thing big and fat." She leaned back against the bed propping herself with pillows. Holding the cyberskin, she moved it up her chest to her chin, toying with it. Holding the cock inches from her lips, kissed it, and started to slide the toy down to her pussy. Her lips were wet, parted, and she started to take the fake cock in her wet pussy.

"Do you like watching me?"

My cock was rock hard and aching for some attention. Reaching over, I grabbed her massage oil, put some on my hand and moved next to her. Our shoulders were touching and we could watch each other. I wanted to watch the toy sliding in and out of her pussy. So after a minute I moved next to her, sitting Indian style. This way, I can watch her fucking herself and she could still see me. Her eyes were glued on my hand, sliding my hand up and down my stiff cock.

"That is so hot! I've never watched a man before."

Since Ruth has an eight inch dildo in her, I didn't think she was conservative. Her eyes were glued on my hand, so with my other hand I reached out and felt her breast. She looked up at me and smiled. Rolling her nipples through my fingers, Ruth smiled at me. Her breasts were soft, her nipples hard, and it all felt good.

"I really want to watch you cum. How far do you shoot?" She looked at my body then back to my cock, "Will you cum on me? That's it baby cum on me, I want to feel you're hot cum."

I'm sure Ruth was only saying that for my pleasure, and was it working. It's always so erotic to hear a woman talk dirty. Since I was towering over Ruth, I knew my cum would be all over her. Talk about a mental rush, cumming all over my friend. She seemed ok with that and was even asking me to do that. after all this was her dirty idea and I'm going to take full advantage of it. Tonight, I've seen Ruth nude and use a toy.

Women, look so sexy when they are nude, and even erotic when they are about to cum. I wanted to enjoy this moment so I moved along side her. My head was close to her pussy. Women love to stay prim and proper but when they are aroused the legs part and I was enjoying the view. Ruth had her legs apart as I slide the cyberskin dildo into her. This thing was big and thick. Talk about a mental rush, watching the head enter her waiting wet pussy.

The silver bullet was lying against her, with my other hand I grabbed it and struggled to turned it on. Ruth's eyes grew big as she watched me. With my other hand, I guided and pushed the cyberskin deep into her. Then placed the silver bullet on her clit. Ruth closed her eyes and started to really enjoy the experience.

I think she was close, too close. She didn't open her eyes. She let go of the dildo and I controlled her pleasure. I kept the dildo in her as the silver bullet worked her clit. Ruth was on fire, fully enjoying the attention. Oh, and I was focused on her.

"Oh god, I'm going to cum!"

The cybercock stayed deep in her, allowing her pussy to grip it. Her pussy was so wet making sexy sounds as the silver bullet vibrated on her clit.

"That feels so good."

My focus was only on her clit. I can't believe that my roommate, this sexy woman, lying on her back, nude, and being fucked by the dildo in my hand. With my other hand, I massaged her clit with a silver bullet vibrator. Looking up at Ruth, I noticed that her eyes where still closed. Her breaths were shallow and fast. She was so close, oh yea she's about to cum!

In a deep voice, almost demanding, "That's it baby, fuck me with that thing!" Ruth reached out, grabbed my hand holding the silver bullet. She held tight, now allowing my hand to move. "That's it baby, I'm cumming!"

I watched as the orgasm took control over her body. Her body convulsed with pleasure. Ruth shook, and let out some sexy sounds. She looked so hot, cumming with me holding the toys on her most intimidate of parts.

After two minutes or so, Ruth came back to earth. Her eyes slowly opened, "that was soo good."

"I'm glad that you enjoyed it."

"Oh yea. I loved it. Can I feel you?

"Sure."

Slowly, tentatively she reached out. Her small soft hands wrapped around my very hard cock. I moved up, closer to her, straddled her stomach. Now, she had easy access. Ruth placed some oil on her hands and started to massage me.

"I'm going to make you cum."

She grabbed the oil and put some on her hands. Next, she grabbed my cock and started to massage my painfully hard cock.

"I bet you want to fuck me don't you?"

"Yes, just as much as you want me to."

"Touché. To be honest, I do miss the feeling of a hard cock in me. Oh, and after I cum I love getting fucked hard."

No time like the present to see how far our friendship had evolved, reached down and started playing with her breasts. Something sexy about them, her chest was still flushed and nipples rock hard.

"Do you like how I feel?"

"Very much so."

"I was serious; I want you to cum all over my tits."

"That will not be a problem."

Ruth started to work her hands faster, with a steady beat she started to stroke my cock. Wondered what song she was listening to in her head. Faster and a little stronger she would stroke me. "So, are you going to allow me to watch you fuck Heather?"

"Oh yes, that will be hot."

"I can't want to see, this fat cock of yours in her tight, wet, pussy."

"One rule, you have to be nude to watch."

Ruth eyes grew big, "Really?"

I knew she wanted to watch and her reaction confirmed that she wanted to. Now, how do I get Heather in this little game? Heather has always been very open when it comes to sex, and she loves to masturbate for me. She even made a few comments about some hot actresses, so maybe she's open to this after all.

Man, it was so hard to think from what Ruth was doing with my cock. All I wanted to do was guide my cock into her sexy mouth. Wonder how those lips would feel, wrapped around my cock. To have her suck me, her wet tongue flicking and sliding up and down my shaft.

"Oh god," I was so close. Thinking about her and what I want to do to her. Thinking about having Heather join us in and pushing the envelope. "I'm going to cum."

"That's it baby, cum all over me." Ruth gave me a couple fast strokes as the first stream shot out and landed on her hair. The second stream landed on her face. Ruth worked everything out of me, allowing me to enjoy the moment and come back to reality. I looked down, she looked so sexy. This was the first time that I've ever cum on a woman like this. Heather would normally suck me off, but Ruth seemed to enjoy having cum on her. I'm sure it was for my benefit as she started to play with it. She grabbed a Kleenex and started to clean herself up.

"Well, that was fun!"

"Yea that was. You were great."

Ruth sat up, still being nude she looked confident, and didn't try to cover up. "Well, I guess this is going to change things."

"Kind of, were both adults and have a wild side."

She smiled and looked excited with her face glowing, "Exactly."

"We did push the boundaries but didn't go over the line. I think Heather would love to have you watch us."

"Oh that would be hot."

I hugged her, "Yea, so we just have to be careful and work on expanding our relationship."

"I couldn't agree more." We both stood up and walked to the bathroom to clean up.

"So tell me Ruth. Do you want to bed my girl?"

"Not sure, I've never been with a woman before. Heather is so smart and sexy that who knows."

"I hear you; we can't plan this just have to let things happen." One of the most important things that I've learned about women, adult situations have to happen and can't be forced. So I knew this would have to play out on its own; however, I could help things along.

"So true. Hey, should we watch that movie now?"

"Sure." We both dressed and went back to the family room to watch the movie.

That was about it for the night.

*

please tell me what you think, and vote!


***

Entering the gates to Ghost City, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng strolled down the gaudy and brightly lit main street.

They had not yet let go of one another, though Hua Cheng had made some changes on their walk. He donned a different skin tonight, the youthful one Xie Lian had met him in. The one who told him to call him San Lang on a creaky cart filled with hay.

Xie Lian was fond of this one. Xie Lian knew that Hua Cheng preferred not to show his true self in front of too many people. Though, ever since he met that true self in the Gambler’s Den, Hua Cheng seemed to have no problem with showing it in front of others as long as Xie Lian was by his side. It made his heart flutter to think of it.

Coming back to the Ghost Realm was wonderful.

He hadn’t visited since Hua Cheng left, preferring to keep to his cottage and wait. But some of the residents had popped in on him for tea now and then, bringing general chaos and noise and excessive exclaiming about how exotic it was to eat rice.

Xie Lian wasn’t fooled- he knew Hua Cheng had probably told them to visit- but he still appreciated it nonetheless. It was always a pleasant reminder of the richness of the world, and how he, a humble 800 year old Scrap God, still had so many new and exciting things to learn and experience.

In many ways, the Mortal Realm could be a tad…unimaginative.

There was a reason Xie Lian struggled with his memory. So many of his days were consumed with what everyone’s days were consumed with as a living human: survival. The drive to keep living, despite the guarantee no one would forever, even Gods. It could become monotonous. To some degree, it felt like a waste of potential.

The Ghost Realm, however, was a prime example of what one could do when staying alive was no longer the goal of existence.

It was wild, and creative, and funny, and indulgent; completely unrestrained by moderation. There was no such thing as too much or too little of anything: danger, food, beauty, dark magic, ugliness, violence, greed, lust, anger all existed purely for their own sake.

Those things were not  needed, so instead, they were revelled in. After all, one could only become a ghost if one decided there was something more important than surviving.

Xie Lian didn’t think it was hell. It was magical. How could it not be, with Hua Cheng at the helm?

He was a little embarrassed at how he’d reacted when Hua Cheng got back. He knew he shouldn’t worry and be so clingy. It’s just that he missed him. And he hadn’t realised he’d missed Ghost City too.

It didn’t take long for citizens to spot them.

“IT’S TRUE! MY LORD! YER LORDSHIP! IT’S THE LORD, LOOK, IT’S THE LORD-”

“PIG GODS AND PIG GUTS!!! IT’S CHENGZHU, CHENGZHU REALLY IS BACK-”

“HE’S BACK, HE’S BACK, GO GET THE GAMBLING MONEY!”

“GRAND UNCLE IS HERE! IT’S CHENGZHU’S FRIEND! THE ONE WITH THE BROKEN PENI-”

“WHAT DO YOU  MEAN  YOU SPENT THE GAMBLING MONEY-”

A crowd formed, all elbows and shoves and a few hooves and feathers. Xie Lian spotted a three eyed pelican-woman and the boar-headed Butcher Zhu, both of whom had visited him. He bowed in greeting. They practically prostrated on the cobblestones in reverence.

“GRAND-UNCLE, YOU’RE HERE WITH CHENGZHU, YOU’VE REUNITED-”

“GRAND UNCLE KNOWS US, SEE, HE SAW US, WE’VE BEEN TO HIS PALACE, WE’RE CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS-”

“Yes, yes,” laughed Xie Lian. “Your Lord Chengzhu and I are back, and it’s good to see you all!” He looked around happily.

Hua Cheng surveyed them indifferently, arms folded. “I believe I called for a festival, did I not?” he said, voice arch.

A chorus of “OF COURSE!” and “NOTHING LESS THAN A WEEK OF CELEBRATION, YER LORDSHIP!” filled the air as yet more heads and eyes and beaks poked out of various market stalls.

Hua Cheng looked around, as the crowd stilled.

“My instructions were clear. This festival is not just for me, it is for the Crown Prince of Xianle as well. He will be given anything he wishes. He is my guest, and will be treated as such. Is that understood?”

Xie Lian gulped. The crowd nodded and exclaimed eagerly, shouting and trilling and clucking.

“Good.” Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow, and the crowd fell silent. “Then celebrate.”

The crowd erupted.

Hua Cheng took him by the hand again, and they moved with the wave of enthusiastic ghosts wanting to ply him with food and drink and well wishes and all manner of things that even his iron stomach could not possibly handle.

He lost himself in a giddy whirlwind of greetings and “SIR, ARE YOU SURE YOU DON’T WANT THIS POTION TO FIX THAT PROBLEM FOR YOU, SO YOU AND CHENGZHU CAN REALLY CONSUMMATE-” and “HE DOESN’T WANT THAT STICKY MESS, YOU BONEHEAD-” and “BULL SEMEN IS  MEANT  TO BE STICKY, YOU POINTLESS IDIOT, MORTALS EAT IT, I’VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYESTALKS-”

After his eighth “Hahaha, well thank you, that does look lovely but I couldn’t possibly-” Hua Cheng finally intervened.

“Scram,” he ordered, and they obeyed.

Suddenly free of the surrounding melee, Xie Lian looked up at Hua Cheng as he confidently steered them towards their usual ‘Delicacies of the Mortal Realm’ shop.

They took a seat at their table by the window.

Xie Lian did a double take as he realised the crowd had not in fact scrammed, but simply moved to congregate just far enough across the street that it could theoretically seem to be a casual gathering, if it weren’t for the fact there were a hundred of them crammed into an area half the size of his cottage.

It was odd to see a hundred beings all determinedly pretending that they weren’t looking at them. A few of them had poured themselves drinks and taken out binoculars.

Hua Cheng followed his eyes and opened his mouth to clearly tell them to get lost again, but Xie Lian shook his head. “Let them,” he said quietly. “It’s nice, and they don’t mean any harm.” Hua Cheng’s eyes flickered back to his, and his lips quirked. “Very well. Though they’ll be there all night if you let them.”

“Aren’t there other things happening?”

“We are the things happening, as far as they are concerned.”

“I meant… there’ll be the Gambler’s Den, and street food and revelry, right?”

Hua Cheng parked his chin in his hands, gazing at him. “Mmm. If that is what you want, gege.”

Xie Lian found, oddly, that he missed Hua Cheng’s eyepatch. It felt strange to look into two eyes again. Hua Cheng had all the expressions and mischief he could ever need in one eye. Xie Lian shook his head fondly, though he watched Hua Cheng under his lashes as he ordered them some food.

Hua Cheng was being a little strange. He seemed completely himself, the first night. But he kept… Xie Lian wasn’t sure what it was. His gaze went far away sometimes. And his face went careful sometimes. Xie Lian thought maybe something was wrong in Ghost City, but he had been doing it in the morning too, before he left. So it probably wasn’t that.

But as they sat together companionably, he realised with a slow creep that if something  was  wrong…

Hua Cheng wouldn’t tell him.

If anything…he would lie.

He didn’t really mind the little lies, like back when when he pretended to be Lang Ying, or when he didn’t really let on that they’d met, or when he pretended he didn’t know where they were to try to steer him away from the Cave of 10,000 Gods…Hua Cheng had reasons for that.

Hua Cheng wanted to protect him, and help him, and Xie Lian probably would have reacted badly if he received all of that information at once. He wouldn’t change any part of their story, including the parts that weren’t always honest. But now…

Now was different. He realised that it bothered him, the idea of Hua Cheng lying to him.

He wanted to know what was wrong. He wanted to know what Hua Cheng actually wanted, and thought. He didn’t want to be placated, pleased, catered to. He wanted Hua Cheng to just be his proud, arrogant, rude, jealous, sulky, whiny, slightly unstable, beautiful and  perfect  self, not…

Not this careful, smoothly guarded person. That was for  other  people.

Xie Lian stifled a sigh. This was so very strange. How was it possible for him to love someone so thoroughly, completely, and yet feel as if there were parts of him he didn’t even know how to ask about?

In reality, they’d really only known each other for a cumulative total of a few weeks. He didn’t feel any doubt about his feelings, but it did knock his confidence somewhat. He had a lot to learn about Hua Cheng, and no idea how to start. Who had he been, all these years?

Xie Lian scolded himself. Hua Cheng would tell him whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, in his own time. It was not for him to demand anything after everything Hua Cheng had done for him. Hua Cheng deserved to be loved unconditionally. Which Xie Lian did.

He just hadn’t figured out a way to…tell him that. Or make him believe him when he did. Hua Cheng was always far too hard on himself.

“Is Gege alright?” said Hua Cheng, chin still in his hands.

Xie Lian straightened up. “Of course!” he lied. “It’s just…this mortal food is a little…plain.”

Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows, looking down at the spicy porridge. It was bright red and the steam alone made Xie Lian’s eyes water.

“Plain?”

“GRAND UNCLE, DID YOU SAY THE FOOD IS NOT TO YOUR LIKING?” yelled one of the residents across the street, who had been using an ear-trumpet.

“Ah…well, I enjoy quite a strong taste!” called Xie Lian.

“GRAND-UNCLE’S PALATE MUST BE SUBLIME! THIS UNWORTHY HOST COULD NOT POSSIBLY HOPE TO MATCH IT!” said the chef, who had served them their congee and then sprinted outside in terror to join the crowd.

“His Highness is an exceptional cook,” called Hua Cheng. “You could never hope to be so lucky as to taste his concoctions. Each is unique. One of a kind.”

The crowd burst into excited murmurs as Xie Lian scratched his head in embarrassment.

‘WON’T GRAND-UNCLE SHOW US HOW TO MAKE DIVINE FOOD WORTHY OF HIS EXCEPTIONAL MOUTH-HOLE? YOU CAN USE MY STALL!”

“NO, HE CAN USE MINE- I HAVE THE BEST EEL GUTS ANYWAY-”

“NO, MINE! NO ONE ELSE IN THE GHOST REALM CARRIES FINER TESTICLES-”

Xie Lian paused. Now that was an interesting idea. Well. Not the testicles part.

“Gege?”

“Mmm,” he said, eyes on the crowd.

“What are you thinking?”

“Well, it would actually be quite fun, don’t you think? I’ve always thought it would be enjoyable to work in a restaurant! But no one ever let me, with my luck.”

Hua Cheng appeared to bite the inside of his cheek. “A restaurant.”

“En. And you said it was my festival too.”

Hua Cheng’s brows twitched. “I did,” he said slowly.

“Why not have a little bit of fun then?” said Xie Lian brightly. “Just for the night. A one off. To say thanks to your citizens for their patience.”

Hua Cheng’s mouth twisted slightly. “I do not thank my citizens. They are lucky I allow their wretched souls in this city at all.”

“You don’t fool me, San Lang. You like them. And I like them! So…let’s do something for them.”

“Both of us?”

“How could I cook without my assistant?”

Hua Cheng sighed longsufferingly. For effect. With breath he didn’t need.

“Alright then.”

Xie Lian’s eyes scrunched into crescents. “Wonderful. Shall we commandeer this shop? It probably has all the ingredients I’m…most used to.”

“Mmm. Though gege should feel free to let me know if he needs me to source any species of testicles.”

Xie Lian cleared his throat. “That won’t be necessary.”

Hua Cheng nodded, and turned to the window. “Scram, and come back in an hour. The Crown Prince will be using this shop to provide a feast!”

The crowd positively exploded. He felt a hum of excitement.

This could actually be fun!

***

It was not.

After an incense time, Xie Lian had bitten off more than he could chew. True, he’d borrowed the giant pot the chicken-ghost typically stewed himself in, so quantity was not an issue. However, the stew was looking…well. It had oscillated between the consistency of concrete and brick dust.

“More water!” he called frantically, as Hua Cheng ambled infuriatingly casually back with a newly filled tub.

“It will be alright gege. Think of this as the paste from which we’ll make the stew.”

“It wasn’t meant to be a paste,” panted Xie Lian as he tried to stir the pot with a wooden spoon the size of an oar. Hua Cheng emptied the tub into the pot and moved delicately out of the way to avoid the resulting sparks, circling back behind a sweating Xie Lian.

Hands came around his waist. He stilled.

“It smells good,” said Hua Cheng from behind him, only choking a little.

“Really?” said Xie Lian hopefully, leaning his head to tuck in under Hua Cheng’s chin as his heart sped up.

“En. It will be delicious. And they will love whatever you serve, because you are the one serving it.”

Xie Lian made a noise in his throat and avoided the urge to hide his face in Hua Cheng’s shoulder. “But I want them to like the food, not just lie to my face!”

Hua Cheng widened his eyes. “What do you mean. Gege? His Highness could not serve a bad meal if he tried,” he said innocently.

He huffed. “San Lang, you are lying to me. You don’t think there’s anything I’m bad at? Even cooking?”

Hua Cheng’s eyes widened even more. “Your highness, you are the best cook. In the worlmmpph-”

Xie Lian had covered his mouth with his hand. Hua Cheng’s eyes flicked down in surprised amusement at his hand on his mouth. Xie Lian gulped and tried not to think about how soft Hua Cheng’s lips felt. “No lying. I know what my food is like.”

He had his reasons. The shackle on his neck had always made food quite difficult to taste. And even if that weren’t true, he liked to remember his mother this way. She was always horrific at cooking, but wanted nothing more than people to enjoy it. He liked his food. He just wanted others to like it too, like her.

He took his hand off his mouth. Hua Cheng gave him a dangerously sweet smile and raised his hands in mock-surrender. His gaze was warm, and fixed. Xie Lian swallowed, remembering kissing him in the water and how icy cold and hot he’d been all at once.

“Let’s just get through this,” he sighed, dropping his gaze and dodging the thermonuclear geysers erupting in the pot.

***

There was a moderately violent line starting to form, snaking around the corner (literally; there was an actual snake hissing at everyone on the corner). Xie Lian could hear the general clamour and mayhem from outside the steamy kitchen, and swallowed. Time to get this over with.

He stood wiping his brow, eyeing the vat. “I think this is as good as it’s going to get,” he said mournfully. It was several colours at once, somehow, with darker green spots amongst the bright sludgy brown and yellow.

Hua Cheng’s fingers brushed his waist, looming behind him again.

“It will be good,” he said firmly. “Shall I take it out?”

“I suppose. It’ll be memorable, if nothing else.”

“They’re privileged just to touch something you worked on.”

Xie Lian shook his head. “Let’s not say that until we know they survived the night,” he said grimly.

Hua Cheng raised his hand and beckoned toward the vat, which rose and followed him outside. Xie Lian stacked a wobbling, waving tower of bowls so high he stopped and thought ‘Xie Lian, you can’t do this,’ until he remembered there was  at least  an even chance he wouldn’t drop them.

He proceeded outside, smiling quietly to himself at his change in fortune. He only dropped five.

The horde was hungry, figuratively and literally. A cheer built as they set up, and Xie Lian straightened, wiping his hands on his apron.

“GRAND UNCLE, MAY I BE THE FIRST TO HAVE THE HONO-”

“NO WAY YOU GREASER, DON’T GIVE IT TO HIM, HE STEALS THINGS-”

“CHENGZHU’S WIFE SHOULD DEFINITELY CHOOSE US-”

“WIFE? USE YOUR EYES, HE’S A MALE HUMAN-”

“CHENGZHU’S EUNUCH SHOULD DEFINITELY CHOOSE US-”

“Hahaha, there there!” laughed Xie Lian awkwardly. “There’s plenty for everyone, please stay orderly!”

“Perhaps I can offer myself for the first try,” came a strange, lilting voice.

Xie Lian felt, more than saw, Hua Cheng twitch slightly to his left. He kept his face impassive, noticing that the crowd had quieted and parted slightly around the figure.

They approached quietly, light footed and lithe. They were a tall figure, looking almost like a human, long haired and long limbed, except for the fact their limbs were scaled; silvery and winking in the light of the lanterns.

Their face was angular and cold, eyes dark. What set them fully apart was their hair. Ink black and cascading down their back, it would look like the beautiful hair of any human, were it not for the fact that it…floated. Moved slowly, in a ripple. Out of sync with the rest of them, like it was underwater. Xie Lian knew the world well enough.

This was a demon. A powerful one.

“Welcome back to Ghost City, your respective Highnesses,” they said, bowing.

Hua Cheng’s arms were folded in their usual casual pose, but Xie Lian noted his fingers tightened around his forearms. “Yes.  Ghost  City. Not the Demon Capital. Here for the fun and games, are you, Grey Guard?”

Xie Lian looked over the demon with interest. Demons typically didn’t like…well, anyone, including their own kind. They kept to themselves, except when there was war to be raged. Fun and games weren’t really their style.

“Of course,” they said neutrally.

“Well then. By all means, enjoy yourself," said Hua Cheng sweetly.

The demon turned to Xie Lian.

"May I introduce myself, Your Highness? I am called Zhong Jianren.”

Xie Lian nodded politely, noting the strange name, and bowed. “Xie Lian.”

“What is this dish called?”

“Overdue Queue Stew,” replied Xie Lian. “And I’m sorry, but as the festival is in his honour, the first taste can only belong to Lord Chengzhu,” he said, apologetic but firm.

Hua Cheng smiled, smug and not breaking eye contact with the demon. Zhong Jianren inclined their head, raising an interested eyebrow as Xie Lian served Hua Cheng a bowl. He breathed in the steam and downed it. “Delicious, gege,” said Hua Cheng quietly, only for him. Xie Lian stifled a smile, and a shiver.

Xie Lian scooped another serving into a bowl, and handed it to the demon.

Zhong Jianren tipped the bowl and gulped it in one. The crowd was silent, watching.

The demon stared at the empty bowl for a moment.

“You are sure this is a concoction of the Mortal Realm?”

Xie Lian gulped. “Uh…well, as much as it can be,” he said guiltily. The demon hadn’t fainted yet. That was something.

Their eyes glinted. “I believe this is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.”

“...” said Xie Lian.

The line cheered, honked, and hissed.

Hua Cheng smiled humourlessly. Xie Lian knew his smiles well enough by this point to know this demon had actually managed to get under his skin.

“Of course it is,” he said lightly, eyes scanning the advancing line as if bored, as Xie Lian began to spoon out more portions into bowls.

“What was the meat in the stew, Your Highness?” continued the demon, hair swaying slightly in a breeze that wasn’t there.

Xie Lian blinked. “Uh, there is no meat in this stew.”

“No meat?” muttered a few malcontents.

“Well, I didn’t want to eat anyone’s relatives,” said Xie Lian, purposely avoiding eye contact with Butcher Zhu.

Silence.

Coughs.

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Your Highness,” said the demon, eyes flashing in amusement.

“Ahaha, well, thank you- say, which part did you think  was meat-”

“No fighting in front of His Highness!” said Hua Cheng irritably, as the snake paused guiltily in its attempt to squeeze a sorry looking soldier ghost to death.

“Apologies,” they both muttered, uncurling and nodding in agreement at each other that they would resume later.

Hua Cheng turned smoothly back to the demon.

“Can I trust that you’ll return to your home Realm tonight?” he said sardonically.

“Naturally.” Zhong Jianren bowed in a manner which seemed a tad mocking, though the execution and form was technically flawless. They turned, hair floating behind them, and were swallowed by the street revelry.

Hua Cheng watched them go, smile fading just for a moment.

***

After doling out stew to who knows how many ghosts and receiving a litany of compliments, generally along the lines of “I never tasted mortal food like THIS” and “Grand-Uncle, I wish I could be alive again just so I could die once more from one bite of this!” (apparently that one was not an insult), Xie Lian and Hua Cheng made their way to the Gambler’s Den.

Xie Lian was feeling very pleased. He knew the difference between false and genuine praise. And for some reason, ghosts seemed to genuinely enjoy his food.

He tried not to read into that too much after they strolled past a ghost enjoying what looked like a tanghulu stick made from human toes.

Xie Lian watched Hua Cheng curiously as they went, holding hands in a manner so casual and easy it made his ears turn pink. He’d barely even noticed taking his hand until after he’d done it. It just felt right.

“San Lang…” he began.

“Hn?” said Hua Cheng, eyes looking around the streets as they went, taking in the wild partying.

Most of the City’s Ghosts had spilled into the street and were playing dice, throwing knives, bartering, drinking, juggling heads, and fighting cheerfully as they passed, pausing in their activities always to offer a “WELCOME BACK, LORD CHENGZHU!” and “WE TOLD YOU HE’D COME BACK FOR YOU, GRAND UNCLE!!” and “OF COURSE HE DID! HAVE YOU SMELLED HIM? HE DOESN’T SMELL IMPOTENT AT ALL… WELL HARDLY!”

“San Lang, that demon…” he continued, waiting for Hua Cheng to fill in the blanks.

Hua Cheng stiffened, and sighed. “Mmm. Interesting they introduced themself to you as Zhong Jianren. They’re usually known as Grey Guard. Realm Walking Grey Guard, in full. Sometimes called Zhong Bianyan. They’re a…border guard, of sorts. Between the Realms.”

“Between the Ghost and Demon Realms?”

“Between  all of the Realms. Mortal, Ghost, Spirit, Demon, Dreamscape, Heaven…other stranger places that could be called Realms; nowhere is off limits.”

Xie Lian hummed thoughtfully. Often, mortals and gods referred solely to ‘the Three Realms.’ Heaven, Mortal, and Ghost. He’d usually done so, out of habit. The Three Realms really just referred to the Realms that humans ruled; the paths that humans could take. Demons had their own Realm.

Hua Cheng and He Xuan were even frequently referred to as Demon Kings, though technically Demons were separate beings.

They were easy to mix up for three reasons: demons hung around the Ghost Realm a lot; humans liked to call anything particularly evil a demon (in the Ghost Realm, this was a point of pride), and no human, god or  ghost had ever seen the Demon Realm. It was therefore quite easy to pretend it did not exist.

“So…Grey Guard could walk into Heaven’s Upper Court right now?”

“Yes. Heavenly Officials know of them. But Heavenly Officials never much fancied taking on the issue of borders themselves; it's always chaos even as it is and this way, demons are to blame. And the gods like the problems. Means more desperate prayers.”

“But…we  walk between the Realms. I am right now! And there are nonhuman spirits here in Ghost City, and ghosts and demons and spirits and gods in the Mortal Realm…”

“And I’m betting Grey Guard knows of each and every one of those border crossings, every time. Including ours. Guardianship of the Realm barriers is an ancient practice. Grey Guard comes from a long line,” said Hua Cheng.

“Interesting. I didn’t know demons had such a role. I figured you managed the barriers here,” continued Xie Lian.

Hua Cheng kept his smile light. “I didn’t create them. They are many, many thousands of years old. And demons…have all kinds of roles. Don’t think of Grey Guard the way we would think of a border guard. They aren’t here to protect or serve anyone. They move between worlds and like to stir up trouble in each.”

“What kind of trouble?”

Hua Cheng’s hand tightened in Xie Lian’s for a moment. “Do not worry, gege. It’s nothing, really.”

Xie Lian was frustrated as ever with his own ignorance of these matters. He strained his memory for what he  did  know.

“But wasn’t separating the Realms a demonic idea, forever ago?”

Hua Cheng was quiet. “That is what is written,” he said finally.

Xie Lian frowned. “But…San Lang, I want to understand. They seemed…well, you seemed like you…” he trailed off as Hua Cheng turned to look at him. They’d reached the back, more private entrance of the Gambler’s Den, and stood awash in the noise and shouts and enjoyment and red silk hangings under lantern light.

“You seemed like they bothered you,” he finished.

Hua Cheng’s face flickered. “They could never bother me with you here, gege.”

Xie Lian sighed. “San Lang…you’re…I want you to tell me if something is wrong.”

Hua Cheng blinked. “Gege?”

Xie Lian squared his shoulders, and stood up to his full, intimidating height of Hua Cheng’s chin.

“I can tell something is bothering you. I don’t want you to lie and say everything is fine.”

Hua Cheng’s brows twitched. “Gege, I’ve only been back for a week. There are a few things I need to settle, but it will settle with time. Trust me.”

Xie Lian mouthed up at him. “I do! Of course I do, I just meant… I don’t like the thought of you not telling me something because you think it would bother me.”

Hua Cheng paused, and smiled. “We can discuss it later.”

Xie Lian nodded in triumph. “Good.”

Hua Cheng’s smile deepened. “That was a particularly nice scolding.”

Xie Lian gaped. “I didn’t! It wasn’t!”

Hua Cheng chuckled. “I told you gege. I don’t mind when you scold me. I quite enjoy it, in fact.”

Xie Lian grumbled in his throat, resisting the urge to put his hands on his hips like an affronted old man.

A cool hand on his overheated face. Another at his waist. Xie Lian barely had time to understand what was happening before Hua Cheng leaned closer, and then…it happened.

Xie Lian leapt back, stumbling into a barrel.

Hua Cheng’s eyes widened, hands grasping at empty air.

“Gege…I-”

“No, San Lang, it wasn’t-” Xie Lian sputtered.

He straightened, now formal. “I apologise. I should have-”

“No, San Lang, it wasn’t- I was just-”

Hua Cheng’s jaw tightened. “I should not have done that. I was greedy again.”

“San Lang, it’s  not that -”

“What can this unworthy believer do-”

“STOP IT!” blurted Xie Lian.

Hua Cheng mouthed soundlessly, looking down.

“I hate it…” Xie Lian began, stopping suddenly.

Hua Cheng had flinched.  Flinched.

Oh Gods. Xie Lian felt his heart twist and stomach drop. He had well and truly botched this. A noise came from the back of his throat.

“San Lang, please, I just…for a moment,” he struggled to explain.

A muscle was leaping in Hua Cheng's jaw, and he wasn't looking at him.

He gulped, and tried again. “When you, um, look like you do right now… it didn’t feel like you. You’re not in your true form and it just felt like it wasn’t right for me to...you know…”

Hua Cheng frowned slightly. He said nothing. He was very still.

Xie Lian sighed, feeling terrible. Why did he  do  that? The one time Hua Cheng had tried to kiss him since he’d been back, and he sprang back like he was made of hot iron,  so  humiliating, and he’d hurt him…

He took a deep breath, beet red and shaky voiced. “I’m sorry I shouted. It’s just, it hurts me when you call yourself unworthy. I don’t need you to be my worshipper all the time. I just want San Lang.”

Hua Cheng’s lips parted, expression unreadable, eyes still on the ground.

“Let me see if I understand gege. You…only want to kiss my true form?”

Xie Lian swallowed. He had not known that himself, but…yes, that was true. He’d had to kiss this form once, when he thought San Lang nearly drowned, but now that he had a choice…

He nodded earnestly.

Xie Lian gestured at him. “I…I love this form, I do, it’s just…well, you’re a little young for me like this, especially since we already have a bit of an age gap,” he said, feeling awkward.

Hua Cheng’s eyebrows raised.

“Gege, we are both over 800 years old.”

Xie Lian huffed. “No, I’m older! Seven years! That’s a lot! I was…well, I was a young man, when I ascended, but…but when you’re like this…you’re, you’re a teenager. It’s a little bit…indecent.”

Hua Cheng’s lips pursed. His eyes were now slowly starting to dance with mirth. Hua Cheng didn’t make any noise, but he may as well have been snorting.

Xie Lian gave up. The hands went on the hips.

“San Lang, are you laughing at me?”

Hua Cheng gave up. “Yes, gege, because you are extremely funny.”

Xie Lian exhaled irritably.

“I didn’t know I felt that way either!” he said, aggrieved.

Hua Cheng’s lips twitched. “Well, now that we know, I…will adjust accordingly. Happily.”

Xie Lian rolled his eyes. “You’re going to ignore the second thing I said then?”

Hua Cheng paused, quiet.

Xie Lian shifted from foot to foot. “I really do just want San Lang. You don’t need to…” he fumbled for the words. “Earn it.”

Hua Cheng said nothing, not meeting his gaze. “That’s…very nice of you to say, gege.”

“I didn’t mean it to be nice, it’s what I want,” said Xie Lian brusquely, deciding that if he was going to act like an 800-year-old, he may as well lean into it.

Hua Cheng opened his mouth, and closed it again. “Well, Your Highness, whatever I can do for you, I will do-”

A bang came as the back doors flew open and the noise from the Den pierced the air.

“And STAY OUT!” came the yell, along with the thump of a body hitting the ground and the resulting groan.

Xie Lian grimaced. “Well, perhaps we could go around the main entrance,” he said, looking around.

“Black Water?” asked Hua Cheng, voice strange.

Xie Lian’s head whipped around.

Sprawled on the ground was a pathetic looking figure.

The figure ‘oofed’ as it climbed slowly to its feet, dusting off its filthy rags as it went.

Xie Lian’s mouth fell open. He was certainly not easily recognisable. He was one of the Four Great Calamities, and he’d just been tossed out by a bouncer like a sack of rice.

He Xuan did not look good. He was normally pale and stern of brow and demeanour, but he seemed…drunk. Xie Lian didn’t realise how stiff and formal his posture normally was until he saw him like this. Swaying and vague-eyed, scratching aimlessly at his head and robes.

“Ah, Your Highness!” he slurred, attempting a bow in Xie Lian’s direction and falling over immediately. Xie Lian instinctively moved to help him up, but Hua Cheng gently stopped him. As he did, Xie Lian wondered why exactly he  was  about to help him up. He’d last seen him popping Shi Wudu’s head off like a pea out of a pod.

True, he’d lain low and let them battle in his waters during the chaos after Mount Tong’lu, and Xie Lian would be surprised if his Bone Dragons had fought without his express permission, but he hadn’t shown his face.

He Xuan righted himself on his feet again.

“Hua Cheng,” he belched, with a chin nod. “Good party,” he said, jerking his thumb behind him.

Hua Cheng’s eyes glittered. Xie Lian noticed he wasn’t smiling. Apparently he had no need for pretence around He Xuan.

“Figured you’d be here, but you must have made quite a scene to get kicked out this early.”

“Not my fault no one here can drink properly,” he hiccuped.

Xie Lian looked him over with interest. He had given He Xuan plenty of thought, over the past year. Shi Qingxuan visited a few times, still their delightfully unhinged self, but Xie Lian had never brought Black Water up. Strangely, he felt a kinship with He Xuan, though they’d never really had any one on one interaction.

He knew exactly what it was like to lose himself completely to rage and revenge. To realise too late that the self he’d have to live with afterward was not one he wanted to live with at all.

But it wasn’t like death was really an option for either of them. Their only difference was that Black Water didn’t have someone looking out for him, willing to shield him from the worst so he could find his best again. He didn’t have a San Lang.

Xie Lian spent a good hundred or so years thinking of Wu Ming’s sacrifice every day. Trying to live in a way that would make his death not just a waste of his faith in him. Until it became habit, and he became the Xie Lian he was now. Someone who no longer had much use for rage or vengeance.

But those first years? They were hard. Almost impossible. It looked like He Xuan was right in them, judging from his current glassy eyed stare.

“You don’t look like yourself,” said Xie Lian hesitantly.

Hua Cheng sniffed. “Someone who eats and drinks my establishments out of everything they’ve got? Sounds like Black Water to me.”

“I got kicked out because they wouldn’t let me bet one of my Bone Dragons. Seemed to think I wasn’t telling the truth,” he burped.

“You have half the money of Heaven itself, you owe  me  most of it, and you’re betting a Bone Dragon?” said Hua Cheng impatiently.

“Well, a Dragon is a more liquid asset-”

“Cough up, or leave.”

Xie Lian glanced at Hua Cheng. His gaze was steely and unforgiving.

“Ah, San Lang, perhaps we should be a little more gentle with him,” he murmured.

Hua Cheng looked at him in surprise. “Gege, this man spent quite a long time actively plotting how best to rip apart the life of one of your friends.”

Didn’t manage to do that, thought Xie Lian privately. Shi Qingxuan had an odd sort of resilience.

Still. It was sweet to watch Hua Cheng be all tough and gruff just because he thought Xie Lian might have tender feelings about it. Which he did, but he could also see the shades of grey. And this wasn’t really about him.

He smiled sadly. “I know he did. But I once spent some time actively plotting how to kill every person in an entire Kingdom.”

Hua Cheng’s brows contracted.

“You are not him,” he said shortly.

“How?”

“You are better.”

“Only to you. And only thanks to you,” said Xie Lian, desperately fond. Hua Cheng’s gaze bore into his for a moment, and Xie Lian felt hot around the collar.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” said He Xuan, who had given up on standing and sat slumped on the ground with his legs wide apart. “I loved someone once. Nice, isn’t it,” he said bitterly.

Xie Lian’s heart clenched. Just the idea of something happening to Hua Cheng like what happened to He Xuan’s fiancee… he’d have done what He Xuan did. Even now, even with all the change in him, he’d still probably do it. No one was immune to the reckoning of that kind of pain.

“He Xuan,” he said, edging towards him slightly. “Is there anything we can do? To help you.”

He Xuan lay down flat on the ground. “Just leave me alone,” he muttered to the stone.

Xie Lian sighed. He could recognise a man who was not ready to be helped.

“Alright. If that’s what you want.”

He looked back at Hua Cheng. He wasn’t quite sure he wanted to step over He Xuan’s miserable prone form just to get inside anymore.

“San Lang, maybe we can go somewhere quiet, instead?”

Hua Cheng’s face softened. “Of course, gege.”

They turned to leave.

“You felt it too, right Hua Cheng?” called He Xuan.

Xie Lian looked back as Hua Cheng’s shoulders tightened. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said coldly, not turning.

He Xuan snorted. “The shutting. I feel it. I welcome it. I hope this is all over soon,” he said, curling into a ball away from them.

Hua Cheng’s eyes widened, just for a moment. Then his face was a mask. And he smiled. Xie Lian stared. Hua Cheng didn’t smile, with He Xuan. “Sounds like a you problem,” he said, nonchalantly, before offering Xie Lian his elbow.

Xie Lian watched his face carefully as he took it.

It seemed there were more than a few things that Hua Cheng was keeping to himself.

***


The next day Elizabeth was back to the hero grind. Her agency had been extremely busy the past few weeks with emergency calls, media outings, and numerous investigative cases. Her day started with filling out a Sidekick ad.

There were already seven sidekicks working alongside her, but they were stretched thin as it was.

Science was the focus at her agency, making it different from the rest of the top heroes and also in high demand. Each of her sidekicks had a quirk that specialized in one main area of science such as biology, geology, physics, etc.

After calling in one of her interns for the proper paperwork, she placed it to the side and glanced down at her to-do list. Written in pink ink was her agenda for the week. One of which took the utmost priority was The Heroic Children's Charity or The HCC.

Every year Elizabeth had been in charge of organizing and hosting the prestigious charitable event. The nonprofit raised thousands of dollars to help support at-risk children reach their dreams of becoming Pro Heroes.

Spectators and fans pay a hero fee to enter the venue, they are provided a meal and an opportunity to meet and greet any of the heroes who attended. The heroes and vendors all volunteer their time and efforts for the event, so all of the money collected from tickets goes to the scholarship fund.

The scholarships provide opportunities for the prospective heroes to train with real Pro Heroes and a chance to refine their quirks. When they came of age, they would enroll in a heroics school of their choice. Most students choose to attend U.A., with it being the top Hero Academy in Japan, but others would graciously pursue Shiketsu High School.

The future heroes had to fill out applications and be selected to attend the event. Not all applicants met the requirements, and there was a limited number of those chosen.

Pro Heroes from all across Japan attended the event, but this year was going to be different. After pulling a few strings, Elizabeth managed to secure the greatest hero of all time: All Might. That alone had the potential to bring in the big bucks, and therefore, more applicants.

She had just over a week left before the eventful night. Most of the planning was already done, she just needed to tie up a few loose strings. It was a lot of work, but she didn’t mind. Elizabeth loved to plan events.

Feeling satisfied with the number of tasks that were already completed for The HCC, she moved on to the ad.

After working for about ten minutes, she glanced up at the wall in her office.

 I have one hour before the staff meeting. I need to get this finished so I can present and send it down the chain to my hiring team. She sat at her computer and began typing away.

Her office was at the end of the hallway in the corner of the building. A large wooden desk sat perpendicular to three floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city.

Hugging the side wall was a bookcase filled with books, case records, and small deep green succulent plants. A few decorations were scattered around the room giving the space a chic and modern vibe.

While in the middle of editing the Sidekick Wanted Ad she felt her cell phone vibrate.

 It’s probably Nemuri wanting an explanation about me leaving early last night. I won’t answer and let her catch the voicemail.

The phone continued to vibrate, and unfortunately, her inner moral compass was working overtime today and wouldn’t allow her to sit through the persistent buzzing.

 Maybe I should answer, what if it is an emergency?  She stopped typing and brought the phone up to her ear.

“Ella speaking?”

“Tsukauchi here. Do you have a minute to come down to the station?” he asked. His voice was calm but obviously burdened.

Elizabeth sat up from her chair. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

She clicked off and immediately left her office, giving instructions for her interns to finish the ad as she walked out the door. The staff meeting would have to wait.

Elizabeth arrived at the Police Station within four minutes. She figured that this probably wasn’t a dire emergency, but it was important enough for her to use her quirk for travel.

When she walked inside the building, she and the police officers on duty exchanged polite waves. Her presence at the station was a common occurrence so they didn’t even stop her with questions. In fact, this was her twenty-fourth visit to the station this month. Not that she was counting.

She noticed that the lobby didn’t look normal for a Monday. Usually, the weekends kept the station busy with criminals but today it had a sluggish atmosphere.

Passing the lobby desk she headed down the long narrow hall toward Tsukauchi’s office.

 This has to be about the black hole from the other night. I wonder if Nemuri was summoned as well?

Straight ahead a cloud of black closed the door that led to Tsukauchi’s office. It vanished so fast that if she would have blinked she would have missed it.

Her forehead creased.   Was…that…?

Arriving at the same door, she gave a polite knock. Tsukauchi called out from inside, granting her permission to enter. Elizabeth opened the door to reveal the detective leaning on his desk, arms crossed with a quizzical look.

“Ella! Thank you for joining us,” said Tsukauchi with a smile. “I wasn’t expecting you so quickly! I’m sure that you’ve already met Eraserhead.” He held out an introductory arm toward the man standing beside him.

 Shit. It was.   A muscle in her jaw twitched.    Wait, Eraserhead? What kind of hero name is that?

Before her stood the man that she was sure she wouldn’t see again. In this close proximity, Elizabeth could see his face, something that she wasn’t able to do the night before. To her surprise, he didn’t look much different in the light than he did that night by the tree. The white scarf around his neck was surrounded by his long untamed hair. His face was weathered and worn like he was going to collapse from exhaustion any second.

Meeting him now threw her analytical mind for a loop. If she knew about this second encounter ahead of time, she would have put more thought into their interaction.

 This is my chance to clear the air. Come on Liz, be as polite and professional as possible. She secretly took a deep breath and then handed out her hand.

“Nice to meet you Eraserhead, I’m Elizabeth Isamu,” she said politely with a white smile.

Her hand lingered awkwardly in the air while Eraserhead only gave her an unimpressed expression.

 ….um… Elizabeth held her gaze, unsure if she should withdraw.

His sullen eyes fell down with a blink before he jerked his head away. “So why did you call us here, Tsukauchi?"

 What!? What's his deal?

Elizabeth sheepishly retreated her hand and let it fall to her side. She gave the detective her full attention with a blank expression on her face. She wasn’t sure if she should feel embarrassed about what just happened or angry that the bridge troll ignored her presence for the second time.

 Whatever. Focus.

“Right. Let’s get started,” Tsukuachi said, studious voice breaking up the awkward atmosphere. “I’ve called you both here because of your involvement in the case of the black holes.” He reached for his notepad that was sitting on his desk, flipping through the pages before coming to a stop.

“All except one of the victims had been reported missing before falling out of the black hole. The details of each missing person's case are the same. They just vanished. No witnesses, no rhyme or reason for their disappearance, and worst of all, no suspect.”

Elizabeth wrinkled her eyebrows. “Is no one talking about what they experienced?” she asked. This was all starting to seem off to her.

“Some are, but there isn't much to go off of,” the detective replied. “One person said the last thing they remembered was walking down one street, and then the next thing they knew, they were sitting on the ground on a different street. Another one said they remembered briefly seeing a dark purple light. It could be a side effect from the black holes. But we shouldn’t dismiss the idea of another quirk at play. Maybe memory alteration.”

Elizabeth had been listening so intently to the detective that she didn’t realize that she was biting one of her fingernails. Eraserhead still held the same expression on his face.

Tsukauchi continued. “We've interviewed all the victims and have reached a pretty alarming discovery. It seems that each of them possesses a quirk, but are no longer able to activate it.”

The unnerving news echoed in Elizabeth’s brain. It wasn’t unheard of that injured people couldn’t activate their quirks right away. Following recovery, it could take weeks. But if this were the case, Tsukauchi wouldn’t have called in for the two heroes.

Eraserhead spoke up, "to what extent?”

Elizabeth unintentionally glanced over at him, seeing that he had shifted on his feet. The change in his posture justified her rattled thoughts.

“That’s why I've called for you, Eraser. Can you describe in detail how your erasure works?” he asked, preparing his pen.

“I can temporarily pause the gene that's responsible for the quirk,” Eraserhead explained. “The wielder is unable to activate it for a short period of time. Once I blink, the expression on the quirk factor returns. There's no damage to its owner or the quirk itself.”

 Ah, so that's why he's called Eraserhead. Still a weird name though...

Tsukauchi continued to scribble down notes before looking up at him. “I see, thank you Eraserhead, this is very helpful information. I'll relay this over to the medical team who are working on this case to see if there are any similarities.”

Elizabeth thought back to the man on the ground who seemed totally disconnected from everything around him. “How are the victims?” she asked the detective.

“There's been little progress on that front,” he said with a frown. “Most of the victims appear to have been through some sort of emotional trauma but have not verbalized anything with us. Physically, some have minor bumps and bruises, while others are not physically harmed at all.”

Elizabeth stood with a hand on her chin.   This doesn’t make any sense. If some of the victims were uninjured then there shouldn’t be a reason why their quirks are deactivated.

She continued her questioning. “What about the metal bands?”

“Well, I could actually use your help with that, Ella,” he admitted. “Did you have any immediate thoughts when you first saw them?”

Elizabeth had a lot of thoughts, actually. But she decided to stick with the basics to avoid confusion.

“It was hard to tell if it was natural or synthetic, but either way it was exceptionally well made. The metal was extremely smooth, flawless almost. If it  is  natural, I'm guessing it to be transition metal. But I would need to investigate it further to reach a more concise conclusion.”

“That wouldn’t be a problem,” Tsukauchi said as he wrote down the reminder on his notepad. “I can make a few phone calls to schedule an interview with one of the victims.”

“And the black holes?” Elizabeth asked, happy to release the questions that had plagued her mind the past few days.

Tsukauchi sighed before answering. “One of our main problems is that we can’t get ahead of these occurrences. We only have eyewitnesses to rely on to describe what happened before, during, and after the black holes appear. We always arrive after the fact.”

 So the black holes appear at random places and at random times.

Elizabeth was so deep in thought that she had almost forgotten Eraserhead was still standing there. At least until he spoke up. “The holes are clearly some sort of warp gate that seems to appear randomly. Do we know anything else?” he asked, face still blank of expression.

Huh. That was weird. It was like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

“We only know that there have been reports of people coming out of them. Never anything or anyone going in,” said Tsukauchi. He handled the Pro Heroes questions with grace. He must have been expecting the interrogation.

 If they're acting as some sort of teleportation device, then maybe as the victims travel through them they interfere with their quirks. The question is…

“When was the first known instance of a black hole appearing?”

Tsukauchi referred back to his notes before giving her an answer. “The first black hole was reported three weeks ago. The second one was shortly after. There have been eight instances that we know of.”

 Three weeks ago!? Why hasn’t my agency been informed? Elizabeth felt a little offended. Her agency was one of the fastest and most thorough agencies at solving cases.

“That’s why I called you here Ella,” Tsukauchi said with a smile. “Can your agency provide any additional support to the investigation? For obvious reasons, your agency is best suited in cases like this.”

 Elizabeth stood with her mouth slightly opened, feeling embarrassed by her judgmental thoughts. “Of course. Whatever you need, detective,” she offered.

“Great! I'll send over the paperwork to your office within the next couple of days. For now, that’s all I have. I'll continue to keep both of you informed if anything comes up.”

 The both of you? Great. I guess we are teaming up for the remainder of this case. She tried to hide the disapproval on her face.

Elizabeth looked over at her newly assigned case partner to see that he was already walking toward the door.

 What!? He’s not even going to say goodbye? What’s with him?

“Thanks, Tsukauchi,” she said, retreating out the door to catch up with Eraserhead.

Though he snubbed her and ignored her introduction, Elizabeth felt the need to try and smooth things over with him. If they were going to be working on this case together, then they needed to be able to communicate. Besides, she wasn’t used to people not liking her, at least not publicly to her face. It bothered her. Maybe she said something or did something to offend him?

Eraserhead was also practically a stranger whom she knew nothing about. Questions flooded her mind about him as a hero, his agency, and his investigative style. This was her opportunity. She quickly prepared a list of questions in her head.

Elizabeth picked up her pace until she was walking beside him. He walked with his hands in his pockets and back slouched over. His head was buried in that scarf thing, eyes pointed straight ahead.

As soon as she got close to him though, her mind went blank.

 ….damn it. What was I going to ask him??

He didn't bother to offer anything to their quiet stroll down the hall either. Elizabeth wasn’t sure, but it almost seemed like had picked up the pace a little. She ignored the idea of him trying to get away from her and kept walking. Hopefully any minute now her thoughts would return and she could engage in a conversation.

This was the closest that she had been to the man since their introduction. By being so, she caught a subtle smell of sandalwood that hovered around him. She accidentally breathed in its airy undertones.

 Huh....he kinda smells good.

 Wait, what!? What the heck is wrong with you, you dummy. Now she felt even more awkward.

Trying to break the thick silence that hung over them, Elizabeth opened her mouth in an attempt to start a conversation.

 ……..

 ……..

She failed. The only noise between the two of them was the sound of their tapping footsteps on the marbled tile.

It seemed like an eternity before they reached the entrance. The awkwardness of them walking in silence was gently broken up by the sound of chatting police officers in the lobby. Exiting through the revolving door, Elizabeth had finally remembered a question that she was going to ask.

“So,” she started. “What kind of-”   Huh!?  Her face dropped when she saw that Eraserhead had turned on his heels to walk in the opposite direction. Not even acknowledging that she was talking.

“Hey!” she snapped, previously expressionless face tangling in a scowl. “If we’re gonna work together on this case we should at least be cordial!”

The words were ruder than she originally intended, but at this point, she was definitely offended and she wanted him to know it.

Eraserhead stopped walking.

“Who said we’re working together?” he argued, not even bothering to turn around to face her. He picked up his pace and continued walking away.

 He’s such a jerk! Elizabeth couldn’t help the anger that was building on her face. She blew out a puff of air from her nose and abruptly rocketed off into the air with her quirk.

 He has some nerve. How am I supposed to work with this guy if I can’t even have a conversation with him?

She returned to the office and started the staff meeting.