Chapter 6: Mating

You're Jake English, and you actually have the day off. Of course you still tried to work for Nepeta, but she said she needs the hours this week, and you asked John but then he just shoved you away and told you to actually relax like a normal person and here you are. They just don't understand that you have to make more money! But with your free time, you can at least accomplish a little bit of research.

Your mind is still reeling from all the recent activities with Dirk. He really does love you, doesn't he? It's a little hard to comprehend, but you know he does. It isn't even that he's said so, though he has said so many times. It's a feeling you get from him that you can't explain. Like you mean everything to him. And though that makes you overwhelmingly happy, it also scares the shit out of you.

And honestly, you don't know all that much about him! He won't talk about his childhood in more than a few mumbled words, he doesn't remember much about Derse, he won't mention Dave other than to call him names, and he still seems unwilling to discuss the whole vampire thing with you. Like he thinks you'll wise up and ditch him once you realize what it means. In all honesty, you really couldn't give less of a flying frick whether he drinks your blood. It feels great and he never takes enough to hurt you. You really like feeling that close to him, and you know he likes it too, even if it's a guilty pleasure on his part.

Still though, there is a way you can at least learn a little bit about him. You're at home today because even while you're off, you're incapable of sitting still and doing nothing. Dirk is still in his bed asleep, hiding from the sun, but you left early in the morning to soak it up! You love the sun! Of course your tan skin proves as much but you really feel like you could write sonnets about the sunlight if you were a poetic person!

Once you arrive home you find your grandmother at the stove, cooking some pancakes.

"Jakey! I didn't expect you this morning! You're off work?" she asks you after she kisses your forehead.

"Yes, for once! Though I'd rather be there," you tell her.

"Oh, hush! You work too much as it is. You want some pancakes?"

"Yes, please!" you chirp happily. She kisses you again and then sets to work.

"Your boyfriend didn't have plans to spend time with you today?" she asks before you can leave the kitchen. You blush and make it a point not to look at her.

"Erm—yes he does but later! He has to work today! Dirk is always working!"

That's such a lie, Dirk rarely works and when he does it's always to vanquish some sort of evil and it takes him less than an hour to do so. If anything he spends more time sleeping than anything else. He's actually pretty lazy.

"Oh? Well at least you can see him later. When am I going to meet this special fellow that has your head in the clouds?"

"Soon, I promise! I'll see if I can't arrange a meeting!" You hurriedly scurry out of the kitchen.

She doesn't exactly know you're dating a demon. Your grandmother knows all about Derse, and she knows that not all of the inhabitants are wicked. But she also would be worried about you if she knew you were in love with one of them, and you'd rather not make her worry for nothing. You plan on waiting a little longer, maybe after her health improves before you introduce them. Plus, the longer you're with him, the more impressed she'll be at how he treats you!

You have the best ideas ever.

As the pleasant smell of pancakes wafts from the kitchen, you move to the bookcase and pull out one of your grandmother's large books on the demons of Derse. You flip through the pages until you reach the section of vampires.

Nothing too upsetting. Dirk needs blood, can't be in the sun, hates garlic... It doesn't say anything you didn't already know. But then something catches your eye. Underneath one of the artistic renderings of a vampire guarding another one from an enemy, there is some small print that says "a vampire will go through drastic and even self destructive measures to protect their mates".

You stare at the inked drawing of the vampires, your stomach slowly falling to your feet. You can't ever be Dirk's mate, can you? You aren't like him. He didn't say you were his mate, he said you were his human. And you aren't even that yet, are you? You're his human boyfriend. And normally, you'd be fine with that, because that's how things are supposed to work. Boyfriends first, then later on something more. That's the human way. But Dirk...Dirk isn't human. And one day he'll find his mate, and once that happens...

You put the book back and you move to the kitchen table as your grandmother puts your pancakes down for you, as well as a glass of milk. She also ruffles your hair and pinches your cheek, and you swat at her.

"Gramma! I'm twenty-three years old!" you laugh, and she glares at you.

"Jacob English!" she says in her 'stern' voice. "Have you forgotten the date?!"

You blink up at her innocently. "Um...no? It's November—"

"It's December 1st!" she waggles her finger at you. "It's your birthday, young man! Did you forget why you're off today? You promised to at least relax on your birthday!"

You stare at your plate and frown. "I...I guess I've just been so wrapped up in other things..."

"Jake," she sighs, sitting across from you and starting to eat her own pancakes. "You're only twenty-four. Stop worrying so much about me, okay? I know why you're working so much, and I appreciate your help but at the same time I'm worried you're doing too much for me and not enough for yourself."

"But your surgery won't pay for itself!" you say adamantly. "And I don't mind! You've taken care of me my whole life, so...so I can do the same!"

She sighs and shakes her head at you. "I'm not going to argue with you on your birthday," she says. "But you're going to start worrying about yourself more than me. Promise me, Jake!" She points at you. "You promise me or I'll cast a spell on you to turn your fingers into worms!"

"I stopped believing that years ago!" you say, but you still promise her. You don't think you could do much with worm fingers. And you really don't put it past her.

After a few moments of silence, she looks at you again. "What else is bothering you?"

You start to say nothing, but she'll know better. She always does. So instead you look at her and swallow thickly before saying, "is it possible for a human to turn into a vampire?"

She blinks and furrows her eyebrows at you. "What? Why is that worrying you?"

You still don't want to tell her about Dirk just yet, so hurriedly you think of something else to say.

"It's just that we have this vampire customer who comes in sometimes and he—he's really annoying and keeps saying he'll change me into one of them if I mess his coffee up. I mean, I think he's kidding, but...one can never be too sure."

She still eyes you suspiciously, but she turns back to her breakfast at least.

"It's impossible for a human to turn into a demon, Jake. Even a vampire. I doubt you have anything to worry about."

"Yes, but what about all that old folklore about a vampire's bite?" you ask somewhat hopefully. "Even then it's impossible?"

"A vampire's bite doesn't do anything more to a human than a tick's bite would, though I've been told it feels much better. All that old folklore was just that, folklore. Even a werewolf's bite wouldn't turn you into one of them. Werewolves and vampires are born werewolves and vampires. That's just the way it's always been."

"So I guess they wouldn't even bother mating with a human then, would they?" you ask as nonchalantly as you can. She laughs.

"Not unless you want to be labeled a cradle robber for life! You'd age eventually, and they'd always look young." She pinches your cheek again, laughing at you more. "Twenty-four and still worried about such silly things. A demon isn't going to mate with you, honey. You're right, it wouldn't make a lick of sense!"

You force yourself to laugh, but it just hurts because she doesn't know you're worried about the opposite. You want Dirk to mate with you. You want to be his, just as much as another demon could be. What's the point of even staying in this silly thing with him if he's just going to leave you for another demon as soon as he meets the right one?

You finish your breakfast, and then you help out with a few chores as you think about what you need to do.

As the sun starts to go down, you make the trek back to Dirk's house. He's given you a key, and he doesn't know you're off work tonight since you were planning on trying to swap with someone. You'd hate for him to go all the way to the shop only to find you aren't there. So instead you slip inside and close the door behind you. Before you can even take a few steps, you feel a strong pair of arms around your waist, pulling you backwards.

"Mmmm, baby," he says lowly in your ear, hugging you to him. "Off tonight?"

"Oh, yeah. I sort of forgot it's my birthday, so everyone forced me," you say softly as you turn around and hug him properly. He stares at you.

"It's your birthday? And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't know! It's been—been busy and I've been thinking about other things and...and I meant to pick up a shift today but no one would swap with me!"

"Well, good. You shouldn't work so hard anyways, it's not good for you." He pulls you into a kiss. "Birthday, hmm? Can I give you my present now?"

"How did you get me a present if you didn't even know it was my birthday?" you laugh. But then he presses his hips into yours and grinds against you, slow and sweet, and your knees turn to jelly as you meld against him. "Ahh...guess...guess I can get it now..." you manage as you practically climb on top of him.

You decide you can just talk to him about your concerns later, when he isn't trying to be sweet for your birthday.

Except it doesn't work out that way at all.

It's December 20th and you still haven't spoke to him about it. It's so close to Christmas and your grandmother is insisting you bring him to dinner and you're no step closer to discussing the issue of mating with him. And something else bothering you, as simplistic as it may be, is that every time you've had sex with him, you've been on top.

It's not that you don't enjoy it! That's not the issue at all! It's just... Does he not want to be inside of you that way? Is he still thinking of who had you before? Does that...disgust him?

You don't know much about demon culture but one bit of it you're extremely familiar with is that you still technically belong to Caliborn until Dirk claims you in the same way. You don't care much for those sorts of thoughts, and you especially don't care for the thought of belonging to Caliborn. But the fact remains that in their primal demon terms, you're Caliborn's. And you know Dirk has to know that.

So why won't he claim you?

It's because of all these unsettling thoughts that you're a little grumpy and very grateful it's almost time to go home. Or to Dirk's, at least. You've started thinking of it as home, since you're so comfortable there and he insists on you always staying with him.

You look up as the door jingles and a man in a hood walks in the shop. You start to greet him, but it dies in your throat as you recognize the mischievous smile revealed as the hood is lowered.

"David?" you ask as Dirk's brother steps up to the counter.

"Just 'Dave', dude," he says. He scans the menu and then he looks behind him, realizing no one else is in the shop. Then he leans on the counter and gives you a look, obviously sizing you up.

"I mean, you're cute. Like, really cute," he says, cocking his head to the side. "But other than that I ain't seein' it."

"I beg your pardon?" you ask.

"What Dirk sees in you."

You start to feel a little hot under the collar because you've been wondering the same thing.

"Are you going to order something? You can't just bum around the store, you know," you tell him coolly, an edge to your voice. He grins smugly at you.

"Seems I struck a nerve," he shrugs. "Yeah get me a...uh. Caramel thing."

"Caramel thing? A macchiato?"

"Yeah, a caramel Ralph Macchio."

You roll your eyes at him, but turn to make his drink. You hand it to him and he sips it curiously before guzzling it down.

"Aw, sweet. Who knew fancy coffee was tasty? Get me another of those, kay? And like, put extra caramel stuff in it, that was bomb."

You huff at him but still turn to do as he said since it's your job. After you accept his card for payment, you expect him to be on his merry way.

He doesn't leave.

Instead he leans back on the counter and eyes you as he sips his coffee daintily. Finally, you snap.

"What in blazes do you want?!"

"Just to chill with you, bro, can't you sense us chillin'?" he says easily.

"I do not feel very chill!" you hiss at him. "You think I don't already know your brother is too good for me? I do, alright? I've been racking my brains every night trying to figure out why he bothers with me when he's probably just going to find his actual mate somewhere down the road, but I can't think of a reason any more than you can! So if you're just here to rub that in my face you can take that coffee cup and shove it right up—!"

He laughs so loudly that it covers up your little rant, and you flush as you realize he's laughing at your expense.

"Okay, yeah, I see it now," he croaks as he straightens back up. "Calm down, dude, I'm not here to tell you all the reasons y'all shouldn't be together."

"You're not?" You blink confusedly. "Then why did you come here?"

He grins again. "For coffee. And to give you a little playin' field damage in the whole game. See, I know he's got you all wrapped around the idea that he's mysterious and stuff, 'cause he's a loser like that. And I'm sure you're one of those people who think all the movie shit is true about us—"

"I don't think it's all true. I know a lot of it is. Though I doubt either of you two sparkle in the sunlight," you snicker.

"Fuck no, we'd burn and fry. Got burned once. That was enough to learn my lesson. I'd sooner set myself on fire than do all that bullshit again."

"I also know there's no way for me to be like you. A bite won't change anything," you add a little wistfully. He rubs the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable.

"I mean, you could get all bent outta shape about that or you could listen to these totally dope things I have to tell you that'll even the playin' field a little bit, it's up to you."

"What sorts of things?" you ask curiously.

"I'm sure Dirk didn't tell you his hair is actually bright purple?"

"It is not!" You laugh at the thought! Dave leans closer.

"Man, I'm tellin' you. All vampires have purple hair. We dye it 'cause purple stands out too much, you dig? And Dirk had this idea when we were kids that we could pull off the whole blond look, so here we are. His hair's totally purple."

You think about it a little more, and decide it's probably true. Why would Dave lie to you? You can't think of one reason!

"What else?" you ask eagerly.

"Okay so when we were younger he had this imaginary friend named Colonel Octopus and the fuckin' octopus demanded to have a tea party every day at noon. We weren't even conscious at noon, I dunno what the fuck Dirk was thinkin'."

You giggle into your hand and imagine a tiny Dirk having an imaginary friend.

"And he's terrified of puddles," Dave tells you seriously, definitely seeming to enjoy all the attention he's receiving. "He just screams and cries every time it rains. It's a tragic thing."

"David, you're jesting with me!" you laugh loudly, almost falling over yourself. You can hear the sound of Dave's laughter ringing in with yours, and then the actual ring of the bell signaling a new customer.

"Dave, what the fuck?"

Both you and Dave fall silent when Dirk walks in the store. In an instant, he's beside the counter, glaring at his little brother.

"Why are you here? You came when the sun was up so I wouldn't be here? Dude, what the fuck?!"

Dave shrugs and says, "hey man, just wanted to speak to your mate or whatever. Y'know, since I'm never introduced. And I kinda like this one, he's funny."

Dave likes you! It's probably not the best time to get excited, but you were so worried he hated you. This is outstanding news!

And did he call you Dirk's mate?

"See ya, English," Dave says, waggling his eyebrows at you. Next thing you know, he's out the door and Dirk is growling under his breath.

"That shit. That stupid selfish fuck." He turns to you. "Whatever he told you is all lies. All of it. If there's even a bit you think might be true, it's not. I swear on my life it's not."

"So you aren't afraid of puddles?" You ask somewhat mournfully. You thought the idea was cute! He snorts.

"Only if my hair gets wet, I guess," he says.

"And is your hair really purple?"

"Nah, but that'd be kinda cool."

You pout. "I thought we were sharing valuable information! But did you hear him? He said he liked me! Isn't that good news?"

"Long as you think so, baby," he says easily. "You almost ready to go?"

"Oh, yes! Let me just clock out..." You hurry to do so as soon as John walks in to replace you.

As you walk alongside Dirk, your stomach is churning. There are so many thoughts in your head and almost none of them are good. You almost jump out of your skin when Dirk's fingers wrap around yours.

"What is it, Jake? I've been feelin' you think thoughts like that for weeks now. You wanna tell me what's wrong?" Dirk asks softly. You look down.

"I...I have a lot of things I'm concerned about..." you respond.

"You don't wanna talk to me about them?" he asks, looking at you.

"I do but...I'm scared of what the answers will be."

He doesn't respond, but you can see his eyebrows furrowing over his shades and you wonder what he's thinking. If only he was a mind reader like one of those silly fictitious vampires, your life would be so much easier. You aren't the best at saying how you feel, and you know well enough that Dirk isn't either. You also know you'll never move past it if you don't talk about it. Even if this is the end of the road for your relationship, it's better than never knowing.

You decide to start out small.

"Gramma wants you to come have Christmas dinner with us," you tell him. His head snaps toward you like he was hoping you'd break the uneasy silence that had descended over the pair of you.

"That's cool. As long as she doesn't expect me to eat, I'd love to meet her," he says, squeezing your fingers encouragingly. You nod and swallow thickly before continuing.

"But...but I don't want you to meet her if...if this isn't a permanent thing."

He stops walking.

"Jake...what are you trying to say? Are you...are you breaking up with me?" He sounds so distraught that it hurts you, and you quickly shake your head frantically.

"It's just that I can't ever be like you, Dirk! There's no way at all to make me like you, it's impossible! And I...I knew that all along but I didn't know there was...this destined person for you out there and that person can't be me because I'm not going to live that long! I could die tomorrow of some easy and obscure thing because I'm just a human and I—I can't ever be your mate!" You try to gather your breath but it's hard when you've been playing these same words in your head for weeks. "Is that...is that why you won't claim me? Because you know you'll find your mate one day?"

He hugs you so tightly it hurts a little, but you cling to him just as hard in return because you need it. For a long time, he doesn't say anything, just holds you and pets your hair, and you're calmed by his scent like always. Dirk just smells so good. You can't explain it.

"Don't ever think those kinds of thoughts, baby..." He says quietly in your ear. "None of that is true."

"It is!" You pull away from him and look up fretfully. "I know I can't be like you, Dirk!"

"I know you can't, too." He cups your cheek. "Jake, that doesn't mean—" He trails off and seems to be having trouble on how to word this. With a frustrated growl, he continues. "You are my mate."

"But...but that's impossible..." You say stubbornly, not ready to believe that.

"It is." He nods. "I don't get it either, to be honest with you. And it took me a long time to come to terms with it, because it doesn't make sense. But my kind—we just know when we've found our mates. And I know it's you. I kinda just thought we could figure it out as we went."

You sniffle and wipe under your eyes, relieved to see your tears never actually fell.

"Then why won't you make me yours?" you ask him almost inaudibly. He stiffens against you. "Is it because of Caliborn?"

"Jake, no—"

"Then why! You've said it enough times now and I—I love you! You know that! And I understand you've wanted to take things slow for my benefit but I want that bond with you! I want to be your—your human! Your mate! I want to know this won't end when you come to your senses!" You look tearfully up at him, grumbling a bit as you feel one fall down your cheek. "If you don't want that, I understand. I don't want to manipulate you into anything, I just...I want to know that you want me the same as I want you!That you don't think I'm ruined because of what Caliborn did to me!"

"I do want you to be my human! I—fuck!" He throws his hands up and seems to be in the throes of a tantrum of some sort before he turns back to you and pulls you against his chest again. "I want it so bad it hurts, Jake, but..."

"Please..." You say softly, hugging him back. "I want that, too..."

He snarls in his frustration and pulls you up into his arms. The next thing you know, you're zooming through the city, faster than ever before. He holds you carefully as he jumps over benches and moves fast enough where he probably looks like a blur to anyone who happens to see him. In no time at all you're at his house again as he unlocks the door hurriedly, fumbling the keys in his rush to get inside. You squeal as he zooms down the stairs and into his basement bedroom, your stomach feeling like it was left on the sidewalk somewhere from all these sudden motions.

You gasp as your back is pressed against his cool sheets and he hovers over you, his expression torn.

"I want you..." he says so vehemently that it sounds like an insult. "Are you sure you...you want to be mine like this? We can stay the way we are, Jake, I don't need anything..."

"But I think I need it..." you tell him gently, pulling him into a simple kiss. "As long as it's what you want as well, I...I don't see why we couldn't try to do this the right way?"

"Jake..." he sighs against your lips and you don't hesitate to let him deepen the kiss. But then he pulls away and nuzzles into your neck instead, licking and sucking on your skin in the most tantalizing way. You gasp and it turns into a choked moan as he bites down, drinking your blood.

He's done this plenty of times, gotten really worked up and then bitten you to drink your blood. But something about this feels...so different... It feels as though he's taking something from you, some part of yourself that you can't explain and making it his. It doesn't feel bad it just...doesn't seem right...

"Jake..." he murmurs, "you need to trust me, okay?"

"I do," you say without hesitation. He snorts and then he slices into his neck with his fingernail as easily as if he were using a knife. Your stomach churns as the blood flows from the slit, and you instinctively try and move away from him.

"Drink," he says, pulling your head to his neck. You whine and try to jerk away. You aren't a vampire! You don't want blood! "Jake, you said you'd trust me."

You cringe and close your eyes as your lips make contact with the open wound. And then it hits your tongue and...oh.

Oh.

You moan softly and open your mouth wide, pulling his blood into your mouth greedily as he returns to your neck. He tastes so good! Nothing like your own blood when you accidentally bite your tongue with your oversized teeth. He purrs in your ear as you share each other's blood, and that pulling sensation from inside returns, but it's not leaving you with a hollow feeling this time. You can feel Dirk's soul filling the gaps as you drink his blood. You feel his tongue lapping at your neck and closing his own bite but you can't stop drinking.

"Jake..." he moans in your ear, his hips acquainting with yours. You can't handle him pressing against you with his blood in your mouth—it feels so intimate. More so than you can comprehend. "Jake, can't give you anymore, baby. Gotta let go, okay?"

"Noooo...no please...need more, Dirk..." But you can already feel his wound closing on its own, his hyper healing a nuisance as it stops you from drinking anymore. You try to bite back in but your measly human teeth won't do diddly squat! You growl in frustration and pout up at him. "That's not fair!"

"Heh, I'm flattered you think I taste so good," he grins, kissing you lovingly as he moves his hips against yours again, turning you into a blissed out mess on the bed. "Want you, baby..."

"Is it done... The bonding?" you ask dazedly, thrusting up against him as you seek more friction.

"Mm-hmm. It's already done," he says fondly.

"But I don't feel any different..."

"You won't just yet. It'll come in time."

"Oh..." You wrap around him and keep your bodies moving together. "Dirk...want you inside..."

As always, he freezes.

"I don't think—"

"I don't ruddy care what you think!" you hiss. "You said you wanted to—I want you to! Give me one good reason you can't! If it's not the Caliborn thing—"

"It is the Caliborn thing, but not because I think anything less of you!" he grumbles. "I don't ever wanna hurt you like that, Jake! I'm not human! I don't—I don't want to even get the opportunity to hurt you!"

"Dirk," you huff exasperatedly, "I'm not going to break. He was trying to hurt me, he got off on that. And I don't want to talk about him! I want you! I want you to claim me!"

And then the strangest thing happens. His orange eyes flash at you, and he growls a bit as he thrusts against you again.

"Mmm...baby," he purrs, his fingers moving to your jeans. "Want—rrrgh!" He growls again. "I can't. Can't hurt you..."

"Dirk Strider, I demand that you fuck me this instant!" you say, completely outraged that it's come to this point. He's ridiculous! Your...mate is ridiculous! He's so stupid you hate him!

His eyes flash again and it seems harder for him to snap out of the odd trance your demand puts him in this time. He opens his mouth to argue again.

"Fuck me! Consarnit, Strider, if you want to do it then do it! You have my consent, you stupid buffoon!"

He rips your jeans open, the button flying in an unknown direction. You start to yell at him for that because your jeans!—but then his tongue is down your throat and his hands are pulling the remains of your pants off, shredding the parts that offer resistance. You whine as he does the same to your boxers. You really liked those boxers! They were silky! You're stealing a pair of his to make up for it, it's only fair.

You whimper as he spreads your legs and settles between them. He doesn't rip his clothes to get them off! He just slides them off like a normal person! He's such a jerk! You start to tell him so but then...oh...he's stroking both of you in his hand and it feels so good you can't say anything aside from his name.

"Dirk..." You pull him into another desperate kiss and try to distract yourself as he reaches for the bedside table. You know exactly what he's doing, since you're the one that tossed the lube there last time. As soon as his cold, slicked fingers brush between your legs, you flinch so drastically he immediately pulls away.

"Jake, I can't. I can't do this to you, your heart is already going haywire." He kisses your nose. "I don't know what you're trying to prove, but I really don't mind putting this off until you aren't so...so scared."

You shake your head. "I'm always going to be scared of it until we get it over with! Just—just go slowly. And for god's sake, stop treating me like an infant!"

He narrows his eyes at you and starts to pull away from you entirely, obviously not listening to what you're saying. You cling to him.

"Until you claim me, I'm still technically Caliborn's in your silly demon terms!" You tighten around him. "Please—please, Dirk! I want you to, I just...I just need a minute!"

"Silly demon terms," he snorts, but he stays right where he is. "You know I don't go by that bullshit. I'm not even living in Derse with the other demons."

"You do go by it, it's instinctual! Even I know that, and I'm a human!" You pull his forehead to yours and try to calm down. "Just—just put one finger in, alright?"

You can feel him shifting around, and you tense again when you feel his finger pressing against you. You nod and whine softly when he presses it inside of you, slowly until it's all the way in.

"Good...that's good just...just stay like this for a moment, please?" Your voice is shaky and he makes a small noise before he peppers your face in kisses.

"Never wanna hurt you..." he says softly.

"I know you won't. We wouldn't be here if I thought you would." You take a deep breath and give him the go ahead.

It's slow, unbearably slow. He pulls his finger out gently and presses it back inside at a snail's pace until he gradually picks up speed. You moan encouragingly and rock against his hand.

"Another one," you say, and he's quick to do exactly as you tell him this time, no arguments. He must sense that you're serious about this now, in control of your own body.

And that's just it, isn't it? You're in control. While Dirk is doing this to you, you can tell him to stop at any time and you know he will. He doesn't want to hurt you. He doesn't want to violate you. He wants you to enjoy this. He wants to make love to you. And you've never been made love to before. You've never been treated like you mattered so much to anyone. Well, save for John when he would cuddle up to you after a nightmare, but that's a different story.

Dirk loves you, and he's not going anywhere, whether you give yourself to him like this or not. You're his. And he's yours.

You wrap your legs around his waist and pull his mouth to yours again as he pumps his fingers in and out of your body. When he finds that spot inside of you that makes you come undone, you cling to him and beg for him, but he merely adds another finger, moving them harder and faster into you.

"Please...Dirk, please..."

"You sure?" He looks completely wrecked, his eyes black with want and his lips red from kissing you.

"Please...I need you..."

He nods and pulls away from you long enough to slick himself up. You can hear him whining in the back of his throat as he prepares himself—it's the only attention he's really gotten since the two of you started this whole thing.

Slowly, he pushes inside, and both of you share the same shaky groan as your bodies come together. Something inside of you feels complete with him like this. Something is telling you you'll never be as complete as you are when both of you are together. Is it your new bond?

You don't get a chance to think about it too much.

You cry out in pleasure as he moves, his hips snapping forward into yours. He looks at you with his hazy eyes and grins before he sets a rhythm, holding your hips as he pulls you down onto himself. You're having trouble remembering how to breathe—it's never felt this intense before. Even all the times you had him, it was never like this. You know this has to be because of your bond but you can't comprehend all the feelings building up. And in the back of your mind there's that nagging fear saying you're letting him inside of you, and he's going to know you're ruined but the rest of you doesn't care because you know you're being irrational and—fuck this feels so good.

And finally, it builds up until you're screaming for him as you come, your body clenching around his until he joins you. And that same feeling deep inside is saying you're complete now, that the two of you just solidified your new bond with your bodies.

"Mine," Dirk growls in your ear.

And then you...pause. Caliborn used to say that. It's a possessive ownership, and you always hated it before. Demons and their crazy rules. But with Caliborn, you knew you didn't have a choice but to let him think he owned you. If you fought against it, he would hurt you, and you were too much of a coward to fight for long.

This is different. Dirk is, as always, giving you a choice. And that's why...

"Yours," you say in return, pulling him in for a kiss. He smiles against your lips and licks inside your mouth, holding your face to his. But then he freezes and pulls away again.

"Jake..." he says softly, wiping your face. It's only when you register the moisture on his fingers that you know you're crying. "Did—did I hurt you? Baby, I'm so sorry—"

"Y-you didn't..." you warble pitifully, immediately pulling him back to you. "I'm j-just...just overwhelmed and...so happy... I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize for being happy, you moron," he says fondly, kissing your forehead.

"You're a moron!" you bristle, swatting him. He grins and tries to flatten you to the bed, and you wrestle him away, both of you laughing like two equally idiotic buffoons.

You know something very significant changed between the two of you tonight, and you also know you've never been happier for it.

All of a sudden, for no foreseeable reason, you're Dave Strider. Leaving the two lovebirds to their bullshit, you're moving back to the coffee shop. Just because English isn't there to harass doesn't mean you can't go get another caramel thing. After all, you've been picking up a lot of the slack on demon fighting since Dirk is playing house husband with a human. You could use the extra caffeine, even if it won't be as strong for you as it would be to a human.

You step in the shop and move to the counter, looking around. It's like a ghost town in here. Are they almost closed or something? Speaking of, there's no one to take your order. What the fuck, what about customer service? You lean on the counter and clear your throat.

"Uh, yeah, I've got money to spend on coffee but if no one's here for that, I'll just go buy a coffee machine or somethin'. It's probably a better investment anyway."

"No, wait!" A voice calls from the back. It sounds like Jake, so you're confused. Didn't Jake leave hours ago? Someone who looks remarkably like Jake scurries from the back to the front counter, but you can see he's not Jake. He smells different. And looks different, upon further inspection. You frown and cock your head to the side.

"Sorry," the dude says. "I was sort of watching a YouTube video of this comedian on my phone and didn't hear you come in. What'd you want?"

"A caramel thingy."

"Thingy?"

"You are like, the worst barista. Jake knew what I meant on the first try."

"Well, I'm not Jake! And I don't think anyone normal would know what that means."

"Whoa, wait, you're badmouthing Jake? I like to badmouth, lemme get in on this. Dude's like a two year old with a nice ass."

"Yeah! Wait...what?"

You snicker at the guy. He's really cute, actually. He has this kind of windswept hair that looks like a rat's nest, but a tidy rat's nest. And his eyes are this electric blue color that kind of makes your heart feel like beating. Which is weird. You've never felt like this before. Must be all the coffee.

"So..." The guy looks between you and the menu. "A caramel thing?"

"Look, forget the caramel thing, I think I've had enough coffee." You scrutinize him from behind your shades. Why does he smell so good, goddammit, you can't think.

"I mean, I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life, but you're in a coffeehouse. The whole point of being here is usually to get coffee. Or to soak up the Wi-Fi."

"Yeah, cool—hey, so who are you and why do you look like the guy my bro is dating?"

"Oh, you're Dirk's brother? Yeah, I guess I can see that now. You guys look alike."

"Lies and slander, but I'll forgive you if you answer my original question."

"Oh, yeah. I'm John, I'm Jake's cousin."

You frown some more at him, enough to where he seems confused by what you want. To be honest, you're not even sure what you want. More of this guy, that's for sure.

John. What even kind of name is that. He's so stupid.

"And...you are?" he trails off.

"I'm Dave."

"Cool. And I think you're just here to take up space?"

"I am pretty damn good at that."

He nods. "So is it okay for me to finish watching my video? You won't report me, right?" he grins at you and shit. Fuck, shit, shit, you are sunk. You shake your head, swallowing thickly.

"Nah, go right ahead. Who is it, anyway?"

"Aziz Ansari. Guy's hilarious. I started watching one of his older acts on Netflix last night and I never got to finish it, so here we are." He moves around the counter and plops in one of the seats, looking at you expectantly. "Wanna see?"

And to be honest, you've seen this exact act a zillion times. You pretty much think Aziz Ansari is a god among humans. But you still nod and sit next to the guy. To John. And being closer to him is the worst thing ever because now you can smell him more and he smells good but not just because you want to bite him. You do kind of want to bite him, but you don't just want to bite him.

You don't know what you want.

He laughs loudly at some joke you totally missed and you see the way his teeth protrude just slightly over his lip and you sink further and further into the seat because you're pretty damn sure you know what all of this means and you're not liking one damn bit of it.

You don't get to make fun of Dirk for liking Jake anymore. And the world is just really fucking unfair.