Work Your Magic
Chapter Three
By Pixiedust291
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"What's your cat's name, Dr. Kirkland?"
Arthur looked from the board to the very satisfied feline sitting at the instructor's desk in the front of the classroom. The Scottish fold was at the moment showing his interest in the subject matter by grooming his face. The floppy eared ball of fluff had refused to wait in his office while he attended his class. At least the cat was silent.
"Iggy."
"Ig-what?"
"Iggy. That's the name he was given before he was given to me. It seemed appropriate to change it... but he doesn't seem to mind."
A girl in the front row cooed "Well, of course not. He's far too gentlemanly. He reminds me of my home town in England."
A voice called from the back "Aren't cats associated with witchcraft?"
"I am pretty sure that is only black cats."
Arthur suppressed a knowing smile as he turned. "Yes, though mostly through superstition. There is one example of how witch's cats killing hundreds of people, however."
The girl from earlier looked at him in awe "Really?"
"Yes. The witch hysteria caused a mass genocide of all felines, regardless of color. This caused the cat population to drastically decrease and with the absence of cats the rat population grew." He paused "I believe you all know what happened next?"
"The plague." One voice answered.
"Yes. Now who can tell me what the common misconception about the black plague is?"
"That it was caused by rats when in all actuality it was caused by the fleas on the rats."
Just to mess with them Arthur smiled "Was it now? Many people still believe the cats put a curse on the humans and that is how the plague started."
One student laughed "Oh come on!"
"Is it so hard to believe? Then answer me this. When the cat population began to rise once more, why is it that they didn't get the plague?" He watched his students begin to squirm.
"Dr. Kirkland."
"Yes Ms. Iprie?"
"Sir, do you think it's weird to be so interest in the paranormal and witchcraft?"
Arthur couldn't help his amused smile "Clearly, since I teach this course, I must not think so. Besides, weird and normal are such objective terms. Though I do realize that some of you are here because you wish to be and others are here to just complete their history elective." The students laughed "But regardless why you have come you are mine, and I will try to instill in you the value and search for truth. Not truth as we are told it is or should be, nor truth as we wish it to be, but the truth as it resonates within our own hearts." He believed in what he said with every fiber of his being, if only he could take his own advice. "That is all for today. Remember there is a quiz over your reading next week!"
The student's immediately burst into chatter as they all filed out. Arthur stayed a while longer to finish up shutting down the computer for the day. He tried not to think too much on the fact that he knew all of them were going to have a better weekend than him. The screen had just turned black when he heard Iggy meow. He turned to look at the cat with a confused expression. "Is something wrong?" The cat meowed again.
Arthur looked toward the door and froze. There he was, leaning in the doorframe of the lecture hall. Arthur mentally panicked. In the last two days he had tried desperately to avoid Alfred as best he could, which was proving extremely difficult because the man was apparently best buds with Kiku now. It wasn't that he disliked the man, it was just that he didn't like the way he felt around him. Every time he saw the younger man his heart would begin pounding and he would lose his concentration. Arthur didn't know what was wrong with him. This kind of immediate reaction had never happened before. And why of all things was it happening for a human!? The one and only thing he could not have!
The American pushed away from the wall and walked toward him. He smiled "That was some lecture."
"You were listening?" he felt a momentary thrill.
"Hell yeah! Though I do admit I'm more of a sci-fi geek then a fantasy nerd." Alfred grinned, that boyish cocky smile was melting Arthur's conviction. "I was totally captivated. You made it all sound so real. As if magic was something tangible." Surprisingly Arthur found himself smiling back. The man was infectious.
"There are more things twixt heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed in your animal biology."
Alfred laughed "Shakespeare."
Arthur nearly died. The man was hot, annoying and cocky... but to a cute degree, and apparently was by no means dumb. Was there anything else that could make the guy more Arthur's type!? Honestly, Arthur inwardly groaned, this was beginning to turn into some kind of Greek tragedy. Hell, if he had a fish tail this would be The Little Mermaid.
"Hey Iggy!" Alfred moved around Arthur and greeted the cat. The second Alfred's fingers connected with Iggy's chin, the damned cat began to vibrate and press into the caress. An almost disgusting display of mutual adoration. Alfred continued to fawn over the feline and Iggy purred while rubbing himself against Alfred's hand luxuriously. Then the impossible happened. The damned biology professor picked up Iggy, turned him over in his arms, and then began to tickle his stomach. Arthur's eyes went wide. Was this human an animal whisperer or something? The previous day a colleague of Arthur's, Mr. Bonnefoy, had tried to pick up the cat and Iggy had turned him into a frog. Arthur had found the whole thing hilarious and had fallen to the floor laughing, leaving Kiku to use magic to turn him back. Luckily Francis Bonnefoy was a wizard just like Arthur, otherwise the whole thing would have been a horrible mess.
Arthur watched the cat practically turn himself into a cuddle fur rug, trying to get closer to Alfred. Arthur had begun to suspect it before but now he was nearly sure. The cat was gay. It was entirely not fair. Why did Iggy get to rub all over the human and Arthur couldn't? Arthur's eyes widened and he mentally slapped himself. Damn it, stop thinking those thoughts! He had to turn away. Just seeing the man acting so cute with an equally cute feline was making his skin tingle. The cat meowed. Thinking maybe Alfred had accidentally hurt Iggy he turned, just in time to see the Scottish fold lean up and lick Alfred's neck.
An image, hot and raw, flashed before Arthur's mind. He saw himself pressed up against Alfred, his mouth latched onto Alfred's exposed neck. He seemed to be pressing him backward into an oak desk. Alfred groaned, his voice a low and sexy murmur as he whispered something erotic into Arthur's ear. Arthur saw the American's hand curve along his spine and then shove into his pants to grab his ass. The image left and Arthur could do nothing but stand there motionless, and blushing. Had that been his thoughts? His fantasies? He glanced at the cat, who had a knowing glint in his eyes. Arthur glared. That was it! He lifted Iggy out of Alfred's arms, which earned him a wide eyed stare from the American. "My apologies but I really have to get going." Iggy immediately began squirming in his grasp, trying to get away and probably back to Alfred.
"Oh, really?" Alfred scratched the back of his head "Another time maybe then."
Still trying to control the cat Arthur asked absently "Another time for what?"
"Oh, I was...well I was going to ask you out to coffee." Arthur and his cat stomped in mid struggle "Though from your accent I gather your British so I guess tea would be more your taste?" Arthur could only stare at him. No one had ever asked him out before, sincerely anyway. Sure he had been asked out by other witches and wizards who were seeking to gain social standing because of his power, but this was different. Alfred didn't know who he was or what he was. He had no reason to ask him out unless it was because he was really interested... in just Arthur. Alfred must have taken Arthur's silence to mean something else because he said "Please tell me I didn't make a mistake and you are gay."
Arthur brought Iggy inward to rest in his cradled arms "What makes you think I'm gay?"
"Well, the fact that you blush every time you see me and you have been avoiding me." Alfred winked "I don't know if that means something different in Britain but here it means someone likes you." At the end of his sentence Alfred reached out a hand. Arthur wanted to turn his head, to shrug the man off, but he couldn't. The moment their gazes locked it was as if they were in some kind of cosmic trance. Alfred just kept leaning in until his impossibly warm hand touched Arthur's cheek. His touch felt like a sweet, hot, brand that was marking him for life. His fingers traced down his cheek and followed his jaw line with a feather light touch. When he reached his lips the man's thumb ran over his bottom lip. It was teasing, soothing, and... seducing. Bloody hell he was being seduced!
Iggy sneaked out of Arthur's arms and up his body until he was draped across his shoulders, his tail wrapped around Arthur's neck. Arthur withheld his breath. Since when had his bottom lip become a direct line of communication with his groin? He only wanted this, whatever this was, to continue. He wanted that touch; gentile and hot as hell. Alfred's eyes flicked down to Arthur's lips before coming back up to catch his gaze once more. Arthur's own eyes couldn't help but do the same action.
It was as if both of them were a little surprised this was even happening, but yet both of them wanted it so they just waited for the other to stop it. Arthur knew he should be the one to stop it. He had to stop him. And yet he didn't want him to stop. The beautiful face came closer. Arthur felt an exhaled breath ghost over his lips. He smelled coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla. When the American's lips were nearly upon him Arthur braced himself.
He had expected Alfred to just press their lips together. He had not expected the man to gently run his tongue over his lower lip. Arthur gasped and didn't even resist when the other man's mouth closed over his fully. His lips opened. Bloody hell, his tongue met his and the taste of him almost exploded into Arthur's brain. Alfred wrapped his arms around Arthur's torso and brought him hard against his body. Arthur couldn't help the moan that escaped. Their stomachs were pressed against one another, allowing both of them to feel the evidence of their combustible mutual attraction. Heat coursed up Arthur's spine like a molten river. His blood pulsed in his veins. He could hear Iggy's loud purring, though he doubted they needed any encouragement.
"Arthur!"
The two of them pushed apparent faster then two magnets of the same charge. Arthur turned to see Francis literally balking at him in the doorway. The Brit was torn between screaming at the Frenchman for interrupting them or using him as a means to escape from both Alfred and this embarrassing situation. He was practically gasping for air as his face turned a bright red. Had he lost his fucking mind?! He had hardly let even the men he had dated kiss him in a reserved manner and now here he was willingly letting practically a complete stranger have his way with his mouth?! He could still taste the flavor of coffee and vanilla on his tongue. It made him want to suck Alfred's tongue back into his mouth and consume that flavor until there was nothing left.
Francis composed himself and walked forward, grabbing Arthur around the shoulder and then practically dragging him out of the room. He waved a hand over his shoulder and ignored Arthur's sputtering. Francis continued to drag him down the hall, out of the building, and across the street to another building where he then went up the stairs and pushed Arthur into his office, locking the door behind them.
The French wizard rounded on him "Avez-vous perdu la raison?"
Arthur glared at the man "English."
"Have you lost your mind?" Francis ran a hand through his long wavy blonde hair. "I admit the American is easy on the eyes but he is still human mon ami." He grasped Arthur's shoulders, ignoring Iggy's irritated warning growl "Do you want to lose your powers?!"
"Don't be ridiculous of course not!" Arthur swatted his hands away. "What you saw was nothing."
Francis raised a brow and smiled "It didn't look like nothing." He chuckled "I was there from the beginning."
Arthur's eyes widened "You were watching? What kind of pervert are you!?"
Francis rolled his eyes "I was watching and waiting for you to push him away and tell him off, which is usually your brash style. Truthfully I do not quite understand why people push affection away when they truthfully desire it. But pardon, for I digress. I wanted to see the American's shocked reaction." He laughed again "Imagine my surprise when the great Arthur Kirkland melted into the human's embrace as if they were long lost lovers."
Arthur fumed "You over emotionalize everything!" he turned away, looking out the widow that was just behind Francis' desk "I told you it was nothing."
"Whatever you say mon ami."
Arthur rounded on him "Don't you have something better to do than pester me?"
"Oui, I do." Francis turned and opened the door, gesturing for Arthur to lead first. "It seems your cat has sparked quite an interest with the teachers. Many of them are now trying to get it approved."
"What approved?" Arthur asked as Francis shut the door behind him.
"Bringing small pets to work." He smiled.
Arthur paused. Did the other teachers think he was trying to make a statement? It wasn't like that at all. The obstinate feline just refused to be left behind. He sighed. "It won't pass."
"We shall see." Francis said as he walked with Arthur down the stairs "After all, you just proved to me that not all things are certain. That man you were kissing, he was the new biology teacher was he not?"
"I am not talking about this Francis."
"I shall have to make a point of meeting him."
"Why? He's not part of our department."
"You have met him and I have seen him around campus from time to time with Kiku."
Arthur didn't know why but he really didn't like the idea of Alfred getting to know all the other teachers. Honestly what was it about the man that was making him so popular? Arthur blushed. Alright, maybe that was a less than intelligent question. He looked away "Do what you will. It does not matter to me. Now if you excuse me I have work to do and a party I have to attend."
