Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Part Of Your World
Chapter 21
"Are you going to come out any time today?" Aomine groaned as he stood outside the locked bathroom door, rather impatiently.
O'Mara was still getting used to life on land, slowly but surely. Granted it has only been a couple of months, but there was still so much she didn't know about the world above the sea, things Aomine didn't want her to know, and almost everything those days was a new experience. Giving the fact that she was the pet of the best friend of the CMPA VP, she was given special leeway other pets (with the exception of her friends) weren't so fortunate to have. So the evening of the mayor's town shindig, while Aomine dawned a traditional black suit with pale blue accents (which made him look like quite the handsome suitor for the evening), the teen bore a bale blue and ivory ballgown.
"No." The girl replied back shortly.
"Well I'm sure you look fine." Said Aomine with a sigh. He wasn't good at that 'being a friend in need' crap, but this was technically his girlfriend so upsetting her with his overly honest opinions wasn't his intentions. "Just come out and let me see. If you look like a guy in bad drag, I'll tell you. Then we'll both stay home and enjoy each other's company (i.e. fuck like rabbits)." He still wasn't stoked to be going to the mayor's event in the first place, O'Mara not looking good in her gown just might be his ticket out.
But as the door slowly opened and the mermaid stepped out, time itself seemed to stop. The way the bejeweled sweetheart neckline complimented her bust and slim frame, then puffed out to give her the full, princess effect. All her dark curls had been pinned up neatly in a topknot bun atop her head, secured tightly with a floral pin the same shade as her dress. Aomine couldn't help but stare, and now attend for the evening much to his dismay. He wanted to cherish the sight, and keep the girl all to himself.
"Does it look bad?" Questioned O'Mara, her eyes pleading for the truth in him.
"Never," Breathed Aomine. She simply took his breath away. "You look… words don't even do you justice."
O'Mara smiled warmly in thanks, he too looked good. Then again the man always wore a suit, always looked professional. But this suit fitted him differently, the way one could almost see his nicely toned and muscled form beneath the fine fabric.
"If we don't leave now we'll be late." The man announced clearing his throat. If they didn't leave, he meant to say, he was tempted to undress the young beauty and have his way with her.
Aomine couldn't have been more uninterested in the night's events, like always he'd rather be someplace else. But the joy in O'Mara's face took all traces of uncomfortableness away from the man, forcing him to grin and bear it for the sake of her having a good time. With his hand placed firmly at the base of her back, the man guided her onto the Chochoga main grounds. Which in terms was just a fancy, half assed way (Aomine's explanation for it all) of saying the town square. All of the mayor's so called gatherings (which was the fat mans way of getting all the owners and pets in one place so he could pry into their lives) were held in the town square. O'Mara instantly recognized the place, only it looked different since she wasn't on stage being auctioned off to a bunch of horny old perverts. Aomine sensed her unease, pulling her closer to him.
"If you want to leave," He whispered into her ear. "We can always get out of here." His purr was low and warm, and laced with the musk she'd grown addicted to.
A blush rose in her cheeks, "No… I'm , fine. Oh look, there's Kise and Kirimi!"
Aomine scoffed at her diversion, such a clever little pet indeed. He had half a mind to throw her, dress and all, over his shoulder and run but Kise could spot him anywhere, any time of the day. Kise squealed at the sight of the couple in what had to be the epitome of a fangirl squee, bomb rushing the two bodies.
"Ohmygosh!" The blonde beamed. "O'Mara you have never been so beautiful!" Kirimi nodded to agree.
"Thank you." Said O'Mara humbly. "Are the others here?"
"Well," Started Kise.
'Oh hell… here we go.' Kirimi and Aomine thought simultaneously for the blonde knew everyone's business.
"Midorima couldn't make it, always on call ya know. Said something about delivering twins, had him really excited. Akashi is out of town at some chess conference so he won't be back for another week or so. I'm here and Kuroko and Momoi are here too." Explained Kise, his smile didn't falter an inch.
"You're a mess." Sighed Aomine.
"And that's your opinon." Contorted the blonde with an upturn of his nose.
The first half of the evening went on as such, the man and girl both being surrounded by their friends and ones they cared for. It wasn't until the mayor and his pet arrived that O'Mara felt the tension in the small group rise. The man hadn't changed much at all, and here he was, two full months later, looking the exact same. He was one of those short, wide guys with graying hair and dark, scrutinizing eyes behind thick rimmed glasses. Aomine, pulling his et closer, didn't even bother to hide his scowl as the overly dressed man approached them.
"Good evening," The mayor thundered. "Glad to see some of my finest citizens came out this joyous chilly night." He gave them a humble smile, tough all of them seen past it. "Aomine." The mayor turned to him. "It's so good to see you again. How have you been?"
Aomine was seconds away from unleashing all the pent hatred he harbored for the older man, had Kise not piped up first. "Aomicchi is doing swell!" Chirped the blonde. "He's enjoying being an owner again."
The mayor's smile seemed to expand across his chubby face. "Well that is swell news!" He chuckled, turning to face the chocolate mermaid at his side. The mayor, never one to forget faces, boasted at the young teen. "My, my! Is this the Nile treasure?"
Kise nodded, figuring if he gave Aomine any window to talk he could very well land himself in the Chochoga Republic Prison. "She fits in so well not only with Aomicchi, but with all of us. She's so pleasant to have around."
The mayor nodded, Aomine huffed, apparently annoyed. The mayor studied the tamed pet at the tall man's side, not bothering to hide the trailing of his eyes. Aomine's grip on O'Mara, Kise and Kirimi noted, visibly tightened. "I would love to have a dance with you, my dear, if that's alright with your owner."
Aomine opened his mouth to give the man a hearty hell no and fuck off, but-
"She'd love to!" Said Momoi, appearing out of nowhere much like her husband tended to. "Just return her quickly." The pinkette said knowingly.
Aomine watched begrudgingly as his pet was led over to the small dancing area sat up by the town fountain and statue. He watched as the mayor kept a fingers worth of distance between their bodies, his hand traveling far too low down her back. Momoi noticed the man's fists clenching, his jaw tightening.
"Aomine." She attempted soothingly. "He's the mayor, he won't try anything with you right here."
Aomine tried to stifle a laugh and failed. "Oh really, Momoi? Tell me you're not that damn mental to believe that shit for a second. That prick holds events like these so he cam charm some helpless pet into his bed. I swear, if he lays a hand on O'Mara I'll-"
"You'll what, Aomine?" Challenged the pinkette. Fearing what she already knew was true. Her friend had fallen for his pet yet again. "Risk going to jail or losing O'Mara? No. I don't think so. Stop being so rash all the damn time before you give yourself away. O'Mara isn't helpless and she sure as hell isn't stupid."
Aomine sighed helplessly, watching as the mayor did something that had to have been his own twist on the waltz, keeping a close eye on the older man's hands.
"How are you enjoying Chochoga?" The mayor asked, twirling O'Mara in small circles.
"It's a lovely city." Replied the girl, so to speak. Considering the tight rules and limitations pets had, her view towards the so called wondrous republic was quite dim.
"Very good," Nodded the man. "And how is Aomine? He's had such a troubled past, you know." Portraying faux concern.
"He's a great owner," Said the teen, the faintest of blushes in her cheeks.
The mayor leaned closer into her, "Is he now?"
To keep from causing a scene, Momoi demanded Aomine stepped away from all the festivities to clear his mind and calm down a bit. But as the man puffed heavily on his cigarette, he was almost oblivious to the mermaid that had stepped up beside him.
"We've got to stop meeting like this." Her voice chimed warmly.
Aomine sighed, he knew Eiri anywhere. Just by how her gentle voice rasped in the breeze. "We need to stop meeting period." He said.
Eiri chuckled lightly, "Don't be like that Aomine. Why aren't you with the others?" She questioned. "Still jealous as ever I see."
"Eiri…" Aomine turned to face her, a gentle breeze ruffling her short tresses, her emerald eyes glistened like the stars.
"Aomine… I know you love her." Said the woman. "I know that tongue tied look of yours anywhere."
"How do you-"
"Because I know you," She said, resting her hands against his strong chest affectionately. "You're my Aomine… and seeing you with her hurts me so."
"You have Kagami now," Aomine lightly protested, enticed by her sweet scent. The space between his body and hers slowly disappearing.
"And you have her… and is it stopping you now?"
O'Mara listened quietly as they mayor went on and on about himself. How he discovered the first mermaid years prior, how he built Chochoga from the ground up to the powerhouse it now was, how pleased he that that 'her kind' was adapting as well as he hoped they would. The whole time the man chattered away, his hands copped feels in places deemed inappropriate, leaving the girl wondering just where the hell Aomine had disappeared off to and why he wasn't rescuing her from the clammy touch of the man's hands. The mayor led O'Mara over to his private table, offering her a seat, which the girl reluctantly took.
"You are extremely beautiful," The mayor complimented as he offered the girl a glass of champagne.
"Thank you." Replied O'Mara kindly, refusing the glass.
The mayor sat quietly at her side for a moment, sipping loudly from his glass and watching the small crowd of dancing bodies while others mingled. It wasn't until his sweaty palm rested against her knee that he gained her attention once more.
"O'Mara.." He said hotly, his hand attempting to travel higher. Now O'Mara was thankful for the many layers of her gown. "Touch me."
"Excuse me?" Coughed O'Mara, removing his hand.
"No one has to know." He breathed.
O'Mara gave the man a look of disgust, rising to her feet. She turned away from the man without a word, ignoring his calls for her as she searched for Aomine.
"Aomine, I-"
O'Mara stopped when she noticed her owner, her supposed lover, in the arms of another. Aomine took a step away from Eiri, looking onto his pet with an expression the young girl couldn't read. O'Mara turned swiftly, the skirt of her gown moving dramatically about her as she took her leave.
"O'Mara!" Shouted Aomine, having no trouble keeping up with her girl. She ignored him. "O'Mara!" He snapped, grabbing a hold to her arm.
"Let go of me!" Yelled O'Mara, struggling to get free.
"Not until you let me explain." Said Aomine, refusing to loosen his hold on her.
"You don't have to explain anything. You don't care about me and I was a fool for thinking you did! I'm just a warm body you're trying to replace her with! I am no one's replacement, I am no tool for you to use whenever you see fit!" O'Mara harshly snatched her arm free, ignoring the pain the man had caused as she stormed away.
"Where are you going?" The man dared to ask.
"With Kise, or Momoi! Hell anywhere is better than being with you!" She yelled.
Aomine wasn't having any of that. In one quick move, his agility was incomprehensible, he had O'Mara hauled over his shoulder. The night, and that conversation, was far from over.