Marco had been sleeping peacefully for what seemed like forever until something stirred him awake. His eyes had just opened when he saw Tom's sleeping face mere inches from his with her left arm draped over his chest. After taking a breath and trying not to freak from having a girl this close to him he tried to move. Sadly, Tom's claws were curled around his side preventing him from moving.
Okay Marco just calm down and think. Don't wake the sleeping demon!
After a few minutes of trying to move away he somehow got her to move. Only instead of moving away and freeing him she rolled over until she was laying right on top of him her face and horns gently nuzzling him.
Two very important things happened shortly after that. The first was that his body went stiff as a board as the awkwardness caused his body to heat up. The second was that as the heat radiated off his body Tom snuggled deeper.
This only made things worse for Marco for now not only was he trapped but in this position he was once again feeling something for his friend he thought he shouldn't.
Why is she so hot!? I mean temperature hot not attractive hot… well she's that to, but in a totally friendly way. Yeah that's it she's friend hot!
Just like Star or Hekapoo.
He did his best to try and distract from thinking about Tom and thinking about Star and Hekapoo and how he enjoyed hanging out with them and the adventures that they had.
However the more he began to think about them the more Tom began to pop into his memories. How they would hang out and talk about their favorite movies. How they would occasionally spar with Tom doing his best to not resort to demon powers.
Each and every time he had to remind himself that this incredibly weird situation was only temporary and soon they'd be best buds.
"Yeah best buds."
As he spoke he felt Tom stir from sleep and after arching her back and unintentionally showing off to Marco she sat up and looked down her hands pressing against his chest.
"Morning sleepyhead." There was a tone of amusement in her voice making Marco imagine her as a giant demonic cat.
"Morning, mind getting off my chest?"
She yawned letting out a small puff of fire before rolling off him and onto her feet stretching her back.
Marco had to look away as she stretched so he didn't have even more awkward thoughts in his head. Tom sensing something turned he head just enough to see not only his blush but his head turn back slightly. Seeing this she smirked and showed off a bit more feeling her instincts kick in.
"So, my new favorite body pillow you going to keep staring at me all day or are we going to check up on gramps?"
"What? staring…. I wasn't… Oh just come on." He said grabbing his laughing friend and pulling her outside. Once in the main room Tom pulled the book on her grandpa's shelf and moving them into his study immediately finding him in the middle of a glowing circle hands extended a massive blue fire above his head.
"So, gramps you find anything yet?"
He muttered something and looked at Tom and Marco before chucking. Marco was about to ask what was so funny when he looked down and saw that somehow, he was now holding her hand. Immediately he let go and did his best to ignore the look of disappointment that flashed across her face.
Seeing this Rusticore locked into the blue fire his eyes glowing white as he began to mumble in ancient demonic. The fire grew brighter before he flung it toward Marco and Tom.
Before Marco could act the fire swept around them forming a circle and changing from it's blue to a slightly pink. Curious Marco reached out and found that the fire wasn't burning hot but a mild and very enjoyable warm.
"So what's with the fire show?"
Rustticore flew up and flew around the circle looking from it and then to Tom and Marco before pulling over a nearby book and screeching his hand extended toward the fire.
The magical fire spang up and transformed into Tom before leaning close to Marco smiling and then disappearing into smoke. Tom and Marco looked to Rusitocrre curious about what had just happened.
His only response was an annoyed screech as he threw the book over his shoulder.
"So I take it he hasn't found anything yet."
The old demon was on Marco in seconds grabbing his hoodie with his clawed feet and going into what Marco guessed was a rant before pointing to Tom and jumping off fuming.
"uhhhh Tom?"
"The short version of what grandpa just said was that he's made some progress but he's still nowhere near finding out how to change me back. Also something about a growing flame? Or was it hidden fire?"
Rusticore smirked and brought his hands together in a very clear and very dirty series of hand gestures.
"Grandpa! You… you're a very dirty old man." Having heard and seen enough Tom began to pull Marco out but not before she heard her grandpas final screech about either finding a cure or the spell for Tom and Marco to get it on without Marco dying of flame. Whichever Tom wanted first.
Red faced and needing air the two went outside to the porch and gazed at the fiery sky were the screams of undead birds filled the air.
Marco took a seat and let out a hot breath.
"So looks like you'll be a girl for a while huh?"
"Yeah guess so. But honestly it's not so bad. I mean yeah I do have the occasional urge to… no it's nothing." She said a bit to quickly.
Marco's curiosity was now perked.
"Okay now I got to know. That is if you're okay with telling me."
Tom's tail swished about her legs for couple minutes as her mind weighed her options.
"Alright I'll tell you. But if you laugh I swear I will burn you."
"I promise not to laugh."
"Okay what I want right now… in a completely driven by magic way, is to wear your hoodie."
True to his word Marco didn't laugh. Mostly due the fact that Tom was looking completely adorable as she tried to sound both joking and tough at the same time. Her tail was swishing like crazy and she was doing her very best not to make eye contact.
When she heard the sound of a zipper, she thought she'd gone crazy. That is until she turned around just in time to see a smiling Marco arms extended hoodie in hand.
After a moment of biting her lip Tom graciously snatched the hoodie and slid it over her shoulders not stopping herself from taking a quick whiff.
This shouldn't smell so good. But it's just so Marco. I'm keeping this.
"Uh Tom you okay?" he was getting really worried as he'd hoped that after wearing his hoodie Tom would laugh and say something along the lines of "you ever wash this thing?" and it would make the situation less awkward for both of them.
Instead she let out a low growl when Marco reached out to take it back.
She stared at him eyes focused before she zipped up the hoodie and leaned close to Marco and very seriously saying. "Mine."
For a brief moment Marco wasn't sure if she meant the hoodie or him.
He was about to suggest they do something when she pulled him into a hug pressing him firmly against her and once again saying. "Mine and nobody else's."
She then shook her head her mind snapping back and she pushed him off and into a nearby chair. Looking up Marco saw Tom looking embarrassed as she tried to hide in his hoodie.
"Tom?"
She took a step back saying. "Be right back!" before bolting inside. Dave seeing her daughter now wearing Marco's hoodie heading straight for her mother's room. Looking in the other direction he saw a very confused looking Marco.
He chuckled a bit and walked outside. "I take it something happened between you two?"
"Maybe… she just said she wanted to wear my hoodie so of course I lent it to her. Then she kind of got a bit possessive screamed mine and then kind of ran off."
"Yeah that sounds about right. It's also a fair bet to say that you're not getting that hoodie back. Unless of course you do something to upset her then you'll get it back in pieces or ashes."
"The hoodie I can live without. I'm just worried I did something I shouldn't have."
Dave took a deep breath and patted Marco on the back. "Marco when dealing with demons sometimes it's best to be confused and unharmed then sure of yourself and instantly regretting it. Don't worry her mother can help sort out what's she's feeling right now.