Being a traveling dancer came with its fair share of difficulties. Although, Kali liked to think of them as daily little thrills to keep the monotony away. There was always the odd pack of drunken men that would show up in an attempt to woo the sisters of the tribe out for a night of stale drinks and even staler humor. A daily dose of prejudice never goes without saying.
Having an entire Dancing tribe of Faunus presented its own can of worms. The masses do tend to hate those with floppy ears and bushy tails for the oddest of reasons, but trying to argue ignorance to the ignorant wastes precious time that Kali could use to rob them blind. Being a Dancing and a Faunus though was a cocktail of hate that everyone was a little too eager to drink.
They would be called beggars, animals, the trash of society, but Kali liked to think she was doing society a service. She would offer one of her many dances, and the enchanted men and women in the crowd flung their Lien in droves. Basic give and take.
One would expect this to be a hard-fought life, but it was rare for a Menagerie tribe to go hungry. Too many talented dancers and acrobatics for the people to know what to do with. Once their caravans roll around from town to town, prejudice or otherwise, people came in droves to watch the angels and mischievous dance. Even if a town had been a little less than generous, they weren't above a nightly raid or two. Charming a desperate soul out of his wallet was easier than taking candy from a baby. It was a life of danger and mischief Kali loved and she wouldn't give it up for anything.
She was, after all, a living parade.
At least the people of Vale were relatively kind. Or at least, they appeared to be so. They did their show in one of the larger villages named Fletch. After successfully charming the public, the sisters all retreated back to their camps and celebrated in the only way they knew how. Baking, dancing, feasting, and basking in the sunset.
"Sister, the bread seems like it's just about done," Kali said, conveniently shutting it behind her, unable to hide a mirthful grin.
One of the chiefs, Gemini, raised a brow, arms crossed. "Bread doesn't roast the moment you put it in there, Sister. Unless you plan on telling me you mastered some kind of black magic."
Kali raised her hands in defense. "No black magic here. Just skill."
"Mm-hmm," Gemini skeptically crossed her arms. "So if I open up that oven, we'll have fresh bread for the feast?"
"I hope so…" Kali mumbled, eyeing the girls dancing on the impromptu stage, which was more a circle of dirt they carved into the grass. Subtlety truly wasn't in her skill base.
One of the few men in the camp grinned playfully, matching Kali's. "Believe her, ma'am. Some of the old Kali magic does wonders."
"See? Even Leif believes me!" She cooed, hugging on one of his rather lanky arms.
The poor boy cleared his throat, going quiet. It was way too much fun to tease him sometimes. A young man straight out of the city, with his strawberry red curly hair, golden eyes behind round glasses, and the naturally impish look on his face. He was in need of work, and frankly, the old sisters were tired of handling the heavy equipment, so a lot of the heavy lifting was left to him.
"Honestly, Kali, if you're going to lie, at least make it believable," The aging Faunus woman chided, rubbing one of her hands on her forehead. "You are a grown woman, not a child."
"Can you blame a woman for simply wanting to dance with her sisters?"
"Duty is duty, Kali. We have younger ones here, we are expected to show a good example."
Kali couldn't hide a mischievous grin. "Shouldn't I be counted as one of the younger ones? Especially compared to you." Leif's mouth formed into a little 'o' before he burst out laughing.
Seeing that old jaw tick was satisfying, but Kali knew trouble was on the horizon if she kept this up. Gemini tugged a bit at her greying hair, her wolf tail standing up on end. "Oh, I don't know why I put up with you sometimes…" She grumbled. "Just make sure the chores are finished before you move from this spot. That goes for you too, Leif."
"Yes, ma'am." They both groaned in sad unison.
And like the children in adult bodies they were, they stuck their tongues out at Gemini the moment she was out of view. "What is with that old biddy? We just had a successful show, and expects us not to celebrate?" He grumbled. "We all worked so hard after all."
"We worked hard?" Kali snorted, opening the oven back up again to resume her cooking duty. "I don't recall you getting on that stage and rocking your hips until they fell off. That would make for a great show though."
It was Leif's turn to snort. "You sure you want to see these chicken legs in a dance? Look at them," He raised his pant leg and showed his bare skin. "Skin and bones."
Kali fanned her face and looked away. "My, now scandalous, showing bare skin like that to a lady." The redhead's eyes nearly rolled into the back of his head.
"Seriously? You're the one saying that to me? With how you dance?" Leif's cheeks went a little pink at the mention.
Kali smirked. If this wasn't the best time to strike, she didn't know what was. "You should be more focused on moving our props and stages than watching me dance." The poor boy's face went from pink to red. Nailed right on the spot. Kali stuck her chest out with pride that she could do this to him.
"Stop it…" He feebly mumbled. Oh, dear gods, that was so cute!
"Oh I don't think so," She hugged him from behind, making extra sure to smoosh her generous assets against his back. Instantly, his spine stiffened. "I still have some time before you go back out on Grimm patrol to play with you."
"Seriously, do you have any shame woman?" He squawked, trying in vain to pull away.
"I like to think of it as bold."
Leif rolled his eyes. "Walking across a camp right out of a bath, without a towel, isn't bold." His ears went redder.
"Oh yes, it is," Kali giggled. "You gawking at me makes it even better."
Leif could only groan. Good boy. Kali was in charge here, everyone knows that.
A part of that hug was genuine though. She truly did enjoy his company, as well as his insight. The jokes and mischief they made daily just made each day an adventure. Her face fell though. They had been on the road for nearly seven months, stopping by in towns every now and again. They were so close to reaching the nearest large city. How much longer did she have with him before he put roots down in another place?
"Leif…"
"Hmm?" He grunted, voice cracking a little. She suppressed a giggle before continuing.
"Do you ever miss home?" She asked truthfully.
At that moment, his head hung a little bit, back going limp. "There's not much of home to miss."
"Ah…" That was all that she could say. That must've been a real sensitive nerve, and she struck it with a hammer. "Sorry."
"Don't be." His voice still had its zeal, but it was quieter. A bit more hollow. It started to worry her.
"If you have anything you want to talk about, just let me know, alright?" She asked, concerned.
She felt the warmth of his hands over hers while they were wrung around his belly. Those hands were rather large for how lanky he was but were comforting and very inviting. She had to admit, her cheeks were starting to burn too.
"Thanks, seriously, you have no idea how much I appreciate that-"
A ladle was brought down on the table, making both the young adults leap apart. "If you two have the time to cuddle, you have time to cook!" Gemini scolded. "And you, Leif! Weren't you supposed to begin your patrol?"
"Yeah, sorry ma'am." He sputtered, fast-walking out of the cooking tent, tripping over a crate or two in his haste. Kali whined a little bit, missing that warm hugging-post that just up and walked away.
/
The cooking was done within the hour. It was nothing too complicated, but it was enough to fill a large table. Gemini inspected the bread rolls and meat around her, as well as the collection of traditional vegetable dishes before nodding her head in satisfaction.
"The Dinner call can be made in about ten minutes. I suggest you use that time wisely if you still want time to play." She said.
Kali wasted no time, nearly hopping across the table and giving Gemini a big hug before making a beeline for the dance floor. The crowd welcomed her in eagerly, and to the fast-paced tempo of the guitars and tambourines, she began to dance.
Dancing made Kali feel alive. Just abandoning all thought and losing herself in the beat of the music. She was in a world of her own, hips swaying madly, body twirling, hands gracefully waving and spiraling, like a woman possessed. She spun, swung, and gyrated to her heart's content, not caring about the eyes on her, only encouraged by the claps and gleeful calls of her fellow sisters.
For a moment, he could imagine Leif's eyes on her, watching her hips furious movements, stare at her generously large breasts heave through the air and bounce. Her face grew hot, but she also grew excited.
She almost didn't notice the first crack of gunfire.
Instantly, screams of joy and excitement turned to cries of terror. Half of the girls ran in random directions, trying to find a place to hide. Others, particularly the older ones, dropped to the ground on the spot, hands over their heads. Kali's stomach dropped, as she dove to the ground, the euphoria already washed away.
She couldn't see them, but she could hear them. The laughing and jeering.
Bandits. Why now? Why here of all places? Why couldn't they just be left alone? Bandits feeding on the helpless made her sick to her stomach.
A hand seized Kali by the hands roughly, and yanked her to her feet, forcing a yelp out of her. She was dragged to one of the wagons and forced to her knees, breathing heavily and sweating. Around her were the girls, young and old, that she was dancing with not too long ago. She looked up at familiar faces she wanted to spit on.
A tall burly man with a green dragon tattoo across one side of his face and a stone-cold stare. Their eyes met, and his crooked mouth stretched into a sick grin. "You missed me?"
"You said you would leave us be after we paid you." Kali seethed.
"That was before we learned about your little nest eggs," The man said.
Kali's blood ran cold, shrinking back in despair. All the money they gathered from shows across the kingdom, all the successful pilfers from the charmed noblemen, was that all about to be taken away? How were they going to survive the upcoming winter?
"Think about what you're doing. There are children here. Are you about to let them starve?" She pleaded, trying to get through what little humanity this pig had.
He dismissively took a swig from a flask, letting some of the contents drip into his ginger beard. "Lady, I'm already about to rob around fifty women blind. What're a few children going to matter?"
Pig. Sick bastard. There were many other words Kali could think of, but that would only get her angrier. What person would call himself a man and do this? It didn't make sense.
The sisters were gathered up in one big bunch, a few corralled in the middle. The elders took extra care to make sure none of the younger girls were smothered. After a subsequent headcount, the bandit's leader, the man with a dragon tattoo, stepped out with his head held high and a smug look to boot.
"Okay, I don't know how many of you are new here, but just in case I'm dealing with an entirely different set of beasts here, you may call me Rei," The man proudly said. "And around six months ago, me and my friends visited you for a bit of pocket change."
Kali bit her tongue to stop herself from cursing at them. That 'pocket change' nearly made them starve. It was lucky that there were some good trackers and hunters among them, and it was in the middle of spring. This, however, was going to be a disaster far worse than the last.
"It was a great catch, honestly. Especially with how many horny men would pay their life-savings just to see you dance," He shrugged off robbery nonchalantly. "And so we figured, why not tail you for a while, and take the goods again the hard way?"
"Damn you!" Gemini shouted. "Are you really so cruel as to-"
A hard slap echoed into the air. Gemini hit the ground hard, clutching a bruise already forming on her cheek. A few of the other sisters cried out indignantly, but they all quieted down from further violent threats. "Now since we are relatively generous, we will offer you a choice. Give me your entire coffer, or sell me five of your girls. They'll score us a pretty penny too."
All the color drained from Kali's face. Damn their entire tribe, or doom the lives of their own. What kind of choice was that supposed to be? Her head hung helplessly, fists curling up on the muddy ground.
Even so, she felt a burning fury in her heart. Fine. She may as well offer herself to their ranks anyway. Better than having her fellow sisters starve. Better her than one of the many children under their care. She would gladly make that choice ten times over. She slowly began to stand and raise her head defiantly.
"I'll-"
"Stay right there."
Her eyes widened. That voice was also familiar, but not in a poor way. No, that voice made a warm relief wash over her. Out of the sunset gloom came a young man with curly red hair, sharp golden eyes behind round glasses, and an attire straight out of the city, hoodie, jeans, and all.
"Who in the hell are you?" Rei demanded. "Are these animals hiring escorts now?"
Leif's eyes sharped at the mention of 'animals', glinting dangerously. Kali couldn't help but beam a little bit. The young man sucked air in through his teeth, tugging at his collar. "See, about that. I don't care wh you are, Barrel-Boy, and I'm sure you don't give a damn who I am. So how about this. If you take your dollar-store goons and your potbelly out of here in ten seconds, we won't have any more problems."
Rei just gawked at him. Kali only grinned. She did love this side of him. The dangerous, wicked mischief maker that was as funny as he was a threat. And all for protection, no less. The bandit only shrugged after a while and snapped his fingers. Instantly, seven rifles were aimed directly at Leif.
Leif began to grin excitedly. In one hand was a straight-sword, crimson bladed and looked to be glistening. In the other was a black and gold revolver, with an accented cherry emblem on it's barrel. The bandits fired in droves, like an uneven firing squad. Leif slid for cover, parrying a few stray bullets out of the air, although it was almost a waste of effort.
Bandits were bandits. Bonafide crazy random untrained men that were just handed weapons out of the blue and told to use them. Some of those sorry fools probably fired that rifle for the first time that day, as some were blown back from the shock.
It was barely a threat to him, an far more experienced fighter, but for the civilians around him? Even a punk with a gun could turn someone into strawberry-filled swiss cheese. Why waste time laughing at the monkeys with firecrackers when there were people still in need?
Leif raised his revolver and fired two fast rounds into the dirt, each exploding in a burst of red flames. Dust shot from the ground and hung in the air. Several of the bandits raised their hands up to shield their eyes, and Leif shot into action.
He moved low to the ground, sprinting, and weaving like a snake in the grass, seizing one of the bandit's rifles by the barrel and spun hard, taking the bandit off his feet. From Leif's brute strength, the fool sailed into the air and crashed down head first on a stray rock, a lucky shot Leif couldn't have repeated if he tried. With that same spinning momentum, he flung the rifle as hard as he could in the face of another, sending him flailing through the air and out cold the moment he hit the ground.
The dust was starting to settle, but Leif was far from over. There were still five left to go. He slid across the ground, slashing the leg of one who was still blinded, and knocked him out with the butt of his sword to his head before he could let out a scream.
He worked his way between two, who were trying in vain on some form of impromptu teamwork. Swords and daggers lashed out in tandem, slashing randomly, even knicking each other's arms and legs. Leif bobbed through each of their strikes, and caught one of the men's blades with the crosspiece, guiding it through the leg of the other. The leftward bandit shrieked in pain, falling to the ground and clutching his leg. The other looked at his companion, confused.
"Eyes on me," Leif growled, kicked him in the kneecap, seized his arm and flipped him over his shoulder, and gave him a good stomp on the head for good measure. Leif couldn't help but grin ear to ear. "Are you not entertained?" The few remaining backed up, hands shaken, dropping their guns.
"What're you doing?" Rei barked. "Pick up your weapons and fight! He's just one scraggly kid!"
Kali grinned. That scraggly kid turned men into weeping children in the blink of an eye.
Confidently, Leif raised his weapon and pointed at Rei. "Any more cannon fodder? I can do this all night. Or better yet, why not fight me yourself?"
Rei grit his teeth, struggling hard not to break the glass full of ale he stole. "Bah, fine. Keep the harlots," He turned back to his crew. "We're leaving. Anyone not fit for travel will be left behind."
With one last scorching glare, he turned tail and ran away into the underbrush.
/
With how much celebration roared in the air, it was hard to believe that they were being robbed not even two hours ago. But they danced and sang as they pleased. They all had a reason to celebrate after all.
Leif was of course at the center of it all. The boy was showered with praise and affection, but the poor boy looked green in the face. He probably hadn't received so much attention before in his life. Even Gemini couldn't hold back a compliment or two. Kali had somehow managed to convince him to dance a few numbers and he actually had some talent in those sneakers. The pair had the biggest smiles on their faces and they flourished and swung with each other, Kali putting in more than one-hundred percent.
Gemini scoffed. Oh to be young again. It had been so long since she had felt that sort of rush. Possibly when her husband had passed away, nearly a decade ago now. Her eyes moistened thinking of him now, but at least she knew he would behave that same ear-to-ear grin Kali wore every day if he knew how things were now.
"Would you look at that," One of the teenage sisters mused. "Our tribe has our own little hero."
"What do you think, ladies? Should we offer him something special?" One of the others mused.
The gaggle of girls giggled up a storm. "Perhaps a special dance or two? We could keep him up for a long time."
Gemini rolled her eyes. "Enough of you gossiping. If he should receive a reward, it should be something worthwhile." Then ding went the lightbulb in her head. "Girls, fetch some silk scarves. I might just have an idea."
/
It was hard to party when you're not exactly a social butterfly. There were ways around it, planting lip service and jokes galore for instance, but there was only so long that Leif's social sphere could expand before it popped. The ladies around him showering him with attention seemed like a dream come true for a boy his age, but honestly, he could barely let out a squeak. Any semblance of wit he once had was stampeded. At least they meant well.
The dancing and cheering went on well past midnight before it remotely started to calm down. Old Faunus ladies were still trying to teach the half-asleep youngsters a thing or two on that battlefield called the dance stage, and many of the cooks retired for the night, with extra strength ear muffs to keep the rest of the party out. The crowd of giggling girls finally let up, having nearly teased the boy to death, and went back to their tents, a few giving him alluring gazes for him to follow. He politely waved it off. None of them was the lady he was looking for.
He collapsed onto the bench, groaning from exhaustion. Did those girls do that kind of dancing every night? His poor hips. They were worked like a blender on max. His eyelids started to get very heavy. It was a long night, wasn't it?
There was some company he did miss though. Kali had been called by Gemini into one of the tents and hadn't come out since. Probably for some last bout of housework with the pair of Faunus at each other's throats. Leif couldn't stop his mouth from worming into a goofy grin. He wasn't going to lie, he was all over her. Her style and grace, how genuinely kind and daring she is, she blew his mind. Not to mention, drop-dead gorgeous.
A hand tapped his shoulder, jumpstarting him like an unruly car. "I'm up!" Leif squealed, nearly falling off the bench. He looked over his shoulder at the bewildered face of Gemini.
"Clearly you are." She said, arms crossed.
"Sorry…" Leif mumbled, rubbing his face. "I've still got one last patrol, right? I'll get on that."
"Actually, I have other duties for you." Gemini cut in, offering her hand.
Leif sighed, taking it. It was rather tough, being one of the very few heavy lifters in the tribe. Should he even be considered a part of the tribe? He just sort of barged in seven months ago, trying to escape bounty hunters in the last city he stayed in. They've all been so kind. Too kind for this lowlife. Oh well. If he's gonna keep leeching off these women, the least he can be is as useful as possible.
"What've you got?" He asked.
And for a moment, he was taken aback. Gemini had a very mirthful smirk on her face, something he'd seldom seen. "Follow me."
The pair crossed the camp, the tribe finally settling down and the leftover food is stored away. A few gave Gemini some knowing smirks, and Leif had to admit, his heart started to thump. He didn't much like surprises, but he had a feeling deep down that he wouldn't think the same of this.
The older Faunus led him to one of the largest tents, usually reserved for the chiefs, and opened the tent flap. The moment he entered, his jaw dropped.
At least he found Kali.
The young woman lady was draped on one of the master beds, naked as the day she was born. No filter, no blanket, nothing to hide it. Just bare, caramel, smooth skin from head to toe. To add an extra jolt to his heart, her wrists were bound together with silk scarves and tied above her head to the middle headrest. One more silk scarf was wrapped around her lips, a snuggly fit. It was weird to call a gag sensual and comfortable, but that's exactly the words that came to his mind.
Their eyes met, but their gazes were far different. Leif was floored, shaking, eyes wide and flustered like a newborn dear. Kali however had her eyes half-lidded. He could make a small smile from her eyes and the few bits of her lip he could see. From how her legs were folded, she definitely seemed a lot more comfortable than felt.
"Okay… what is this?" Leif managed.
"Your gift." Gemini simply stated.
Leif blinked. "... Gift?"
"You've done me and my sisters great service time and time again. It would be fitting that we offer you the one you love in return."
The instant the 'L'-word sprang up, Leif's face went redder than his hair. It was even worse that he didn't even try to deny it.
"Oookay," Leif drew out the 'o' in one long sigh. Once again, no wit. No jokes. Just a scrawny nervous boy who had no idea what to do. Gemini chucked and encouragingly patted his shoulder.
"Go on. A part of this was her idea after all," She tapped her chin. "Well, a part of it anyway. Some of it was just me trying to keep her quiet for the night." With one last welcome nod, she left the tent and drew the drawstring shut behind her. No way out now.
Leif's breath grew heavy and hot, eyes marveling at this beauty up and down, from her feet, all the way up her silky, long legs. Her toes bunched up, pulling at the sheets, and for some reason, for some freaking reason, that got him more excited. All the way up her beautiful legs were plump thighs, pillowy and soft. The kind of thighs reserved for gods to rest their head-on. To absolutely worship.
Kali seemed to follow his eyes, and with glee, she flipped herself over for a moment, revealing her fine butt. Two fleshy globes that jiggled like Jell-O. It was a fine rear end he'd seen many times on her nude escapades, but having it so close was a dream come true. She flipped back around, and he got a good look at her bald lower lips, the sight of which reminded him that this was all real. Up his eyes traveled to her smooth stomach to her succulently large, full breasts. Mounds of chocolate-colored dough in need of kneading, and then her strikingly loving and warm face. Those large cat ears were just the cream of the crop.
Leif was absolutely gobsmacked.
He stood there, unable to move like his legs had weights on them. It was Kali that encouraged the first move, pointing down at her body.
"Sorry, you want me to what?"
"Mmf." She let a muffled grunt before suddenly heaving her chest up, nearly giving him a heart attack. Her boobs jiggled on the spot. At that point, he finally got it.
With a deep breath and a well of confidence he didn't know he hand, he laid on her, head resting on her chest. His breathing was shaky, but he calmed down a little when one of her legs wrapped around his back. She looked down on him, confident as ever, but still with that gentleness she reserved for him.
Leif couldn't just waste her time doing nothing.
He leaned down and surprised her with a kiss to her nipple. Her eyes went wide, and she threw her head back with a loud 'mmf' of joy. She looked back down again, cheeks red, but still with that same gentle gaze. He suckled and kissed, earning more delighted mewls. He felt her bald pussy rubbing against his thighs desperately. He spent ages kissing up and down her perfect body, feeling her up on occasion, before looking back up, reenergized by her loving gaze.
"I love you." He rasped, forcing the words out to spite his nervousness.
"Mm…" Kali let out a muffled 'aww', wrapping both her bare legs around him this time. He slid her gag down, much to her disappointment, but as soon as their lips touched, and his jacket was flung away, she closed off the rest of the world and enjoyed her lover.
/
Kali considered herself a very confident and bold woman. Even though something like this was a bit above and beyond the norm, as a young twenty-seven-year-old woman, she had few chances to take left. She knew she was reckless, but she couldn't imagine doing this any other way. She hated taking things safe, for better or worse.
It was well into dawn before the two lovebirds called it quits, and Leif slept soundly, head atop her breasts. Finally, those globs of fat have uses outside of charming dangerous men.
"Mmf…" She heaved her chest up a little bit, knowing he was a relatively light sleeper, and his head jerked up. Instantly, his face went red. She winked. This was far too easy.
"Sorry…" He slipped her gag off, again rather to her disappointment, but they needed a breather anyway. "I might've gone a little overboard."
"You went overboard?" She giggled. "Oh well, don't mind it. You did fantastically." Not that she really had many to compare to, if any, but it was a night of thrill she would never forget. "Okay, now that you're my lover, you have to stick around."
Leif blinked. "Was there any doubt?"
"Oh there was plenty of doubt," Kali grinned. "You're a very kind man, with a good sense of humor. There are so few of you. I don't want some city girl snatching you up."
Leif smiled. "If I've got you to wake up to every day, screw the city."
Kali felt her heart pound. That little charmer made her smile every time. "You may have to get used to a few things though," She grinned, nearly bouncing with anticipation to tease him again. "I hope you're comfortable with nudity. Because inside my tent, you should expect that a lot."
"W-what?" Leif stammered, face beet red.
Her grin widened. "Oh, and massages, if you please. That would be lovely if you could learn how." Oh dear, she could feel his heart thudding on her chest, he was going bonkers. Not to mention his obvious arousal prodding her thigh.
"Kali… we should just go back to sleep." He managed.
"Oh, and we should do this again. I have plenty of scarves to spare- mmf!" The cheeky devil slid her gag back on and tightened it. She rolled her eyes but complied. She'll behave… for now.
"Let's just… give it a couple of hours longer." He said, easing his head back down on her mounds and falling asleep almost instantly. It was no matter. If she needed him up, he'd be up on the spot with one good bounce. Plus, it was absolutely precious, watching him sleep on her breast like this.
Kali smiled under her gag. Oh, this was going to be fun.