"Just relax. It'll be fun."
Billy looked from the crowd in front of the movie theater to Teddy. He was seriously starting to doubt his boyfriend's sanity. "They're calling for virgins," he pointed out.
"That means people who haven't seen it in the theater before. Like you." Teddy shifted his grocery bag to one side and took Billy's arm. "C'mon. Time for you to be branded."
The blond shapeshifter pulled Billy along, stopping in front of a tubby girl wearing too much make-up and weilding a tube of bright red lipstick like a sword. "Ted! I was starting to think you'd fallen off the face of the earth!" she said, getting on her tip toes and planting a kiss on Teddy's cheek, leaving behind a smudge of dark purple lipstick.
"I brought you a virgin to brand." Teddy said, gently pushing Billy forward. "Kat, this is Billy. Billy, Kat."
"Aww, he's cute! Can I keep him?"
"Sorry, he's mine." Teddy said with a chuckle.
Kat sighed dramatically and raised the lipstick, slashing a scarlet V across Billy's forehead, though the boy tried to jerk away. "Try to relax, darlin'. I don't bite unless you ask me too." She gave him a small, sweet smile and planted a kiss on his cheek. "There, all done. Are you sure I can't talk you into trading him?"
Teddy slipped an arm around Billy's shoulders and shook his head. "No chance in hell. I'll see you later, 'kay?"
The girl nodded and gave a little wave before turning to pounce on a gaggle of teenage girls.
"That was strange." Billy said.
"It's all part of the ritual. C'mon, lets get our seats before the back row fills up."