Friday August 29th 2008
Who: Elle and Malakai What: Consolance and Arousal Where: A random classroom When: Late afternoon Rating: NC 17
This week was just not being kind to Elle. It was only her first real week of classes and it was taking a huge toll on her nerves. Not to mention, Fisher was back in town, and apparently he was staying this time. And Elle didn't know if she could handle Rez doing this again. She couldn't have this kind of instability in her life, plus there were twins in her tummy demanding food all the time and she was exhausted always. Every second of the day she was too tired to even move, but she had to keep going regardless. And on top of that, she had given someone a failing grade on their first math test.
So she had done the only thing she felt might help. She'd bought some Oreos in the vending machine and found an empty classroom, sat in the floor and sobbed her heart out.
Malakai had been wandering the halls, a book on the proper ways to teach dead languages in one hand open for him to read. Of course, it was in Latin. The smoothness of the language made perfect sense to him and was better than the grating tones and haltedness that English had. English. What a ridiculous language. There was no flow to it, no music.
Speaking of no music, his ears twitched as he heard a particularly wrenching sob. Closing the book, he glanced around, pinpointing the sound. A couple doors down in one of the classrooms. The door was cracked slightly. Moving down the hall, mildly concerned for whoever was obviously upset, he tried to figure out the scent, recognizing it as one of the other professors. The pregnant one, Elle. He could smell the twins. Knocking lightly on the door, he walked inside, wondering why she cried.
---
The last thing Elle had expected, or wanted, was for someone to literally sniff her out. The knock on the door made her jump, but she couldn't get to her feet before Malakai came in. She knew him as Mr. Hardy, because she didn't put herself on the same level as the rest of the teachers. She hadn't gone to school, she felt she hadn't earned this job at all. She was still a janitor compared to them.
"I'm s-sorry, I'm... I was just..." She wiped at her eyes with the backs of her sleeves, staying on the floor where she was because she couldn't get up on her own. "I didn't mean to... be in the way, or..." But she couldn't finish. Now she was embarassed, and she must look so ridiculous to him, like such an emotional wreck.
So she started crying harder, covering her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking hard.
---
Malakai set his book on one of the desks, folding himself on the floor next to her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he tugged her close, giving her support and, if she wanted, someone to cry on. Mal fancied himself a good listener. And hounds were loyal beasts. Good to lean against and share your sorrows.
---
Normally, Elle didn't let people just hug her like Mal was. She had been raised to not burden other people with her problems. As her mother had told her hundreds of times, nobody cared about her petty girl problems. But Mal was warm, and he was comforting and so she leaned willingly against him and cried, gripping his shirt tightly, sniffling and hiccupping. He felt strong, and supportive, and she needed someone like that right now.
"I'm s-sorry," she whispered tearily. "I'm sorry, this is... I don't mean to... b-be such a b-bother but it... everything's so... hard and I'm just so tired all the time and everything's just coming down all at once and..." Burying her face into Mal's shoulder, Elle fell quiet again, a new round of tears spilling forth.
---
Mal brought his other hand up, feeling awkward but oddly wanting to help. "Shh," he whispered. "It's ok. Let it all out and you can tell me in a few minutes." He wasn't trying to pressure her, but it was obvious she was still feeling the weight of whatever it was that bogged her down. If shedding a few tears, soaking or ripping a shirt helped her get through it, Mal would sacrifice the navy blue cotton.
---
It took a long time before she felt calm, and when she did, she realized how horribly stupid she must look. Pulling away, Elle turned her face away and wiped the tears from her eyes, her face flushing deeply. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "That was... I don't know what came over me. You shouldn't have had to deal with that." She tried pushing herself up to her feet, but it was no use. "Oh, God," she moaned, "I can't even get up! How sad is that?"
---
Mal let her go and stayed silent while she composed herself. He still found it interesting that humans were embarrassed by extreme displays of emotion. For someone who had very few, it was curious. "Why so ashamed? You needed to release it and I happened to be here to support you. There's nothing to deal with other than a damp shirt." He did cringe slightly at her use of the Christian god's name, but that was instinctive. "You've no reason to stand at this point, but if you wish to I can help."
---
Mal was probably right. There was no need to feel embarassed by having emotions, everyone had them. But it had been ingrained in the human mind not to let people know you had them, to try and display this image of perfection. Especially in southern California, especially in the suburbs, and especially as a woman. Elle had always let society dictate how she should behave, and right now she was breaking every rule.
"Still... you're a stranger, and you don't need this." Sniffling, she shook her head at his offer for help. She wasn't really ready to get up anyway, her feet had been killing her all day and being off them was nice. And if she couldn't get up and walk away on her own to avoid further embarassment, she might as well stay on the floor. Once her cheeks were dry, Elle turned to look at her consoler, really look at him. "Oh... you're Mr. Hardy," she said, trying now to be polite and civil. "I'm Elle. Franco."
---
Mal frowned, wondering what made her think there was something he did or did not need, or could deal with. He meant what he said. Nothing happened to him, other than his shirt getting wet, which he immediately dried, placing a hand over the fabric and heating until steam rose. A quick swipe and it was as if the shirt had just been ironed.
Giving a nod, he smiled gently. "I know who you are. The school isn't that big. And you're a professor here. Feel free to call me Mal." It wasn't like it was his realy name, though it was the closest version he'd chosen.
---
Blushing slightly, Elle nodded, looking down at her lap. She never really knew how to feel about professors seeing her on their level. She didn't feel like it, even though technically, she was. She had cleaned their offices for over a year, had been a face behind the scenes. It was hard to just join their ranks.
"Alright," she said shyly. "Well... thank you for listening. And for letting me get your shirt wet." She peeked up at his shirt, her brow furrowing in confusion at the sudden disappearance of the wet spot. It took her a moment to remember that he could heat himself up, and that would be what that faint hissing noise had been. She envied his ability. It was a lot more handy than her own. Taking in a deep breath, she sighed, resting her head back against the wall. "Thank you. I know I keep saying that, but I mean it. I do feel better."
---
Since Mal had joined the staff at the end of the previous school year, he fell less like a professor than she did. At least she'd been around the school and knew people. And was human. Surprisingly, for people with supposedly open minds, quite a few were actually open to a hellhound being on staff. He'd heard the whispers in the teacher's lounge.
"You're welcome. Shedding tears normally releases pressure and makes one feel better. I am still willing to listen if you wish to talk." He doubted he could do much, but at least he'd listen.
---
Shaking her head again, Elle smiled a little. "No, I'm... I'm okay. I think my tear ducts have sufficiently cleansed themselves. Plus, it's mostly hormones. I know that. I know that I get very upset over something that I shouldn't, things that aren't a big deal. But... well, I suppose that's what being pregnant is all about." Chuckling softly, she leaned her head forward to unsnap the clip holding her dark hair up in a loose little twist. It cascaded down over her shoulders, long and shiny. "One time, I saw a commercial for diapers, and they were just so tiny, and I just.... I started crying. It just occurred to me that my babies were going to be that small, and..." Trailing off, she shook her head a little, as though chiding herself.
"I think I'd let to get up now," she said, tucking her hair clip into her blazer pocket. She was dressed smartly, a charcoal blazer over a bright pink blouse, and a smooth pencil skirt that matched the blazer. It was smart for teaching, but not too smart for sitting on the floor.
---
Nodding, he smiled, barely managing to keep from chuckling. Females of any breed were an emotional lot, but even more so when they were carrying. Mal had seen quite a few women over his years and had gotten used to the mood swings. "Well then I'm glad I was around to help you while you were upset." Coming around behind her, Mal gently hefted her to her feet, as if she weighed nothing. He may have been an average looking male, but he was much stronger than most.
---
Flying to her feet was unexpected, and a little suprised squeak escaped from her. She was a tall girl, and certainly full figured, and most men couldn't pick her up. But Mal lifted her up with such ease, she almost felt like a dainty little flower.
"Oh, um, th-thank you," she stammered, blushing. Smoothing down her skirt, she tried not to look as flustered as she felt. He was very handsome, and he was a good listener, and her hormones weren't just making her cry a lot. They were playing up her sex drive tot he extreme.
---
Malakai could smell the hormones and her emotions just as easily as he could pick her up. She was attracted, still mildly embarassed and more than a little flustered. Oh, what females could do to a man's ego. Being of a devious nature, Mal kept one hand on her back as he came around to her front. "There now. I assume that's better?"
---
The hand on her back made her shiver, and she leaned away from his touch subtly. Of course, leaning away from the hand on her back meant that she was leaning toward his front. Her belly touched his before she got very far, which made her step back again, which put the small of her back right back into his embrace. "Oh," she gasped, looking backward at his hand, then up at his face. "Oh, um... sorry. Yes. Better. Thank you."
---
He couldn't help the smirk that graced his mouth and the way his brows shot up as she went out of her way to avoid his touch. Still, Mal took the hint and dropped his hands. "Do I make you uncomfortable, Elle?" He already knew the answer to the question, but it would be interesting to see hwo she answered.
---
It wasn't an expected question. People on the east coast were a lot more candid than people out west. She stared at him, her mouth hanging open slightly in suprise. "You... I... n-no." She was lying, they both knew it. "Well not... not totally." Her voice was breathy, unsure. God, his eyes were just so... blue. Like the Pacific ocean on a perfect sunny day.
---
Humans on the east coast may have been a bit more open than the west, but neither had anything on a hellhound. Mal would ask whatever questions suited him, whenever he wanted. It made people awkward and it made him chuckle.
"You're a terrible liar, Elle." The bitter scent flooded his nose, covered up her light floral fragrance.
---
Elle wasn't used to being noticed. She wasn't used to men looking at her as intensely as Mal was right now, with such a piercing gaze. Still, as nervous and, um, interested as she was in him right now, she still knew how to hold her own. Putting a hand on Mal's chest (his strong, muscled, hard chest), Elle pushed him backward a step. "You're too close," she told him firmly, though her breath was shaky as she exhaled. "And I don't appreciate being called a liar."
---
Malakai took a step back and shrugged. "I call a spade a spade. When a person tells a lie, that makes him or her a liar, even for that one instant. When you shove me back, make all the signs of discomfort and needing space, but tell me otherwise, I smell that as a lie." He canted his head to one side, very dog-like in manner. "Is that assessment inaccurate?"
---
Oh, he was breaking it down like a math problem. That she could get comfortable with. Crossing her arms, Elle tipped her head slightly, studying Mal. "Alright," she admitted. "Fair enough. Yes, you make me uncomfortable. You are a strange man and you are putting your hands on me. I think that entitles me to feel a little on edge. Plus..." With a small, contemplative sigh, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You are a very... handsome individual. So factoring in a certain level of attraction, along with you being a stranger... it is only natural that I feel a bit of unease."
---
Mal leaned back, resting his hips against the desk behind him, casually crossing his arms and legs to both keep his hands to himself and give Elle her needed space. "So then, for that moment you lied. As for the unease, that is different from discomfort." Curious, he kept his head canted and asked, "So why be uncomfortable and attracted?"
---
He sure was a nosy fellow. Well, perhaps not nosey, but a little too curious. She wasn't sure how she felt about him looking at her like he was studying her, trying to figure her out. But at least his curious, almost smug, bordering in sultry gaze was an improvement from him looking at her like she was a sad little flower needing assistance. She had gotten used to being an independent woman.
"I just am," she told him plainly, looking down at her pink nails. The polish was starting to chip on her left middle finger. "I'm not the kind of girl that just... flirts with strange men. I'm not used to being noticed much, either, and your... directness is a little bit... unusual." And intriguing. But she wasn't going to say that.
---
Mal shrugged, finally looking away from her to glance around the room. "I'm not your usual human." He could tell she wasn't comfortable with him staring at her, trying to figure her out and while it wasn't his main concern, he didn't wish to make her start crying again. That would defeat the whole purpose. "I see no reason why an attractive female should not be looked at or flirted with, but if it bothers you, I'll stop." He didn't add that it would only be for the time being.
---
Elle watched him as he looked away, now taking her time to study him. "You're not a human at all," she pointed out. "You're a hellhound. Maybe that explains it." It would explain that way he had looked at her earlier, an almost predatory kind of gaze. And why he had been so warm and comfortable to lean against.
She didn't exactly mind being flirted with. Who would? Especially since Malakai was so blatantly sexy. Twirling a strand of hair, Elle shrugged a little. "I'm not totally bothered by it," she said quietly. "I'm just not used to it, is all."
---
Malakai glanced back, after letting her look her fill. "Yup. Not human. Not even close. I'd shift if it make you more comfortable, but it probably won't." He gave a casual little shrug, not really caring one way or the other.
"You're not?" He glanced back, raking his eyes over her, pregnant belly and all. "I can't imagine why."
---
Him turning into a hound would definitely not give Elle any sense of ease. She respected that people changed, either at will or during the full, and that the animal was a very big part of who they were. But she had not been exposed to this supernatural world long enough to want to see that. And she was very grateful that Mal had not decided to shift right then, although she didn't say so. She didn't want to be rude.
She saw his gaze, as it slowly raked over her, and it brought goosebumps to her skin. Shivering a little, Elle shided away him his gaze a bit, biting her bottom lip. It was very unfair what he was doing to her, the way he was stirring things in her so effortlessly. Damn baby hormones. "W-where I come from, girls with curves aren't what's ideal," she explained, trying to keep her voice even but failing. "But thank you."
---
Mal could smell the panic that came up as he mentioned shifting, and the rush of relief that followed when he didn't move. Interesting. She really should be exposed to more things if the simple idea of a shift unnerved her. He brought his gaze back up to her eyes, smirking a bit. "Yes, well. I'm a bit older than most people you know. I appreciate a woman with curves. Even more a woman who's not ashamed of them."
---
Elle did not know too much about Mal, except that he was a hellhound and that he was a teacher. She assumed that, because he said he was a bit older, what he really meant was that he was a lot older. His race was probably one that went on for centuries, yet he never aged a day.
"Well," she chuckled softly, "I'm guessing that where and when you come from, bigger women were highly sought after. But that's not really the case anymore." Still, it was a little bit of an ego boost to think that her body was the ideal for some people, even if those people weren't around. Well... one of them was around. And he was standing right there, looking very, very fine...
Blushing, Elle swallowed, forcing her dirty thoughts out of her head. She was pregnant, she should not be thinking about men this way! Especially not a coworker. Just because the rest of her colleagues (according to rumor) jumped into bed with one another, that didn't mean that she needed to start. Despite how tempting the thought was, and how much her body was telling her to.
---
Oh yes, she was definitely aroused. He could see it in the flust of her cheeks, smell it on the air. Mal's smile deepened a bit, becoming a little darker in line with his thoughts. Pregnant or not, Elle Franco was a stunning woman and obviously knew how to dress to impress. She may have had an issue keeping her thoughts in the gutten, but Malakai did not. And it was so much fun in the gutter. "And men these days are typically fools, for not knowing a woman when they meet one."
---
While Mal could sense a change in Elle by her scent, she could sense a change in him as well by his brainwaves. Even though she wasn't reading his thoughts, she could just feel that his thinking had changed, had gone to a deeper, darker level. She shivered. There was no way that Mal was thinking what she was thinking. He wouldn't. But then again... why not? Clearly he found her attractive, he'd said as much as plain as day.
"And... I suppose you do?" she asked softly. She was testing the waters, that was all. Just flirting a little. She was definitely not interested in seducing this man, no, not even a little.
---
Mal left his smile in place, his gaze locked on her as she tried to figure out what she wanted to ask. When her question finally came out, he answered simply. With a single nod.
---
Breath catching in her chest, Elle gasped slightly. God, he was just so smooth. He didn't even have to say a word to make her heart skip a beat, to make her body start tingling. Normally Elle didn't trust men like this, men who seemed too confident and suave. Men like that had hurt her very badly in the past. But right now she couldn't think of anything but that smile, almost dark in its pleasure, his lips smooth and pink and seductive.
"Oh," she breathed, so soft it was almost inaudible.
---
Mal knew exactly what he was doing, the effect he was having on her. He didn't even have to use his nose to know the reaction. It just came with years of practice, plus an innate ability to seduce. Of course, he wasn't trying to seduce her at the moment. That wouldn't be fair considering their situation. Still, it didn't change the line of his thoughts, or the beginnings of an erection behind his fly.
---
Elle had never been in this kind of circumstance before. When a man was interested in her, there was conversation, they went nice places. Some kind of relationship was formed, something based on more than just words and meaningful glances. She had never had to deal with someone looking at her like this, with one obvious thought on the forefront of the man's mind. It was a little scary, but a great deal more than that, it was exciting. It made her feel sexy, something she had not truly felt in a long, long time. "I should... go," she whispered, her hands in danger of shaking as she bant to grab her purse from off the floor, slipping the silver chained strap over her shoulder. Her heart was pounding so fast, dangerously so, she thought it might burst. Even when she wasn't looking at him she could feel his eyes on her, deep and blue and unwavering.
---
Mal smirked, loving the way he was bothering her. "As you wish, Elle. I hope I'll get to see you around more often. It truly is a shame that I hadn't run into you yet."
---
Looking back over her shoulder as she went for the door, Elle paused, slowly releasing the breath she'd been holding. Oh, what she wouldn't give to be the kind of woman who would turn around, walk back over to him, grab him by the belt loops and just kiss him, shove him down onto the desk. More than anything right now, she wanted those hands on her body, his lips on her skin, his tongue... Her knees went just slightly weak.
"Perhaps you'll run into me again," she said softly.
---
Mal took the time to admire the view she presented to him. Yum. Definitely a form and figure he would enjoy getting his hands on. Bringing his eyes up, more grey swirling into the blue, he chuckled. "Oh I will. I guarentee it."
---
Feeling her lungs deflate like two heavy, weak balloons, Elle could only stand a minute, hypnotized beneath that man's gaze. He had to be doing some kind of magic on her, putting her under a spell. It was the only explaination. "Oh, yes," she breathed, a moment too late before she realized it had come out. Flushing, she grabbed the doorknob hurriedly. "I mean, I hope so. It was good meeting you. Thank you."
She could not get out the door fast enough, small heels clacking on the floor as she walked, a hot flush creeping over her face and neck, her mind a whirlwind of dirty, longing thoughts.