# GLUTTONY AND TEMPERANCE

Author: LiveIron
Tags: Anger, Angst, Anthrostate, Blood and Injury, Car Chases, Dark past, Gun, Horror, Hug, Human, Interspecies, Interspecies Awkwardness, Large Breasts, Magic, Old Friends, Pain, Paranormal, Possession, Resurrection, Size Difference, Smothering, Smothring, Spies & Secret Agents, Tiger, Tigress, Transformation, butt slapping, driving, fights, firearm, healing, monsters

'You need'

\>Rebecca hugs you.

 

\>You stiffen, but don't resist.

 

\>She's warm. Soft.

 

\>Overwhelmingly all-encompassing.

 

\>"Anon --" she starts, but stops partway through.

 

\>She pulls you closer instead.

 

\>Her size means your head doesn't clear her chest, and her arms swallow you almost completely.

 

\>God.

 

\>How long has it been since you've held someone?

 

\>How long has it been since someone held you?

 

\>How long has it been since you felt so warm, so safe? Trusted someone like this, cared for them like this?

 

\>Guilt burns bright in your stomach.

 

\>But strangely, your hands still seek her plush form.

 

\>Rebecca jumps, then pulls you into her lap.

 

\>The same questions are going through her head, you realize.

 

\>"Anon," she manages, shifting her grip, "I'm so, so sorry."

 

\>You can feel the holes in her sports bra against your face. Soft fur pokes through.

 

\>"You went through all that, and now I -- I brought you back here."

 

\>Her legs tighten around yours; her arms pull you closer.

 

\>There's a shiver to her voice.

 

\>"It's not your fault," you say into her chest.

 

\>She doesn't hear.

 

\>"I appreciate your words," she says, oblivious to your slight struggles, "but I don't think it's the same."

 

\>The fire in your gut burns brighter as you feel her hold tighten.

 

\>You push harder, trying to free yourself.

 

\>It's so nice. It's so tempting to let go.

 

\>More than you'd thought it'd be.

 

\>But you can't.

 

\>It's not what you deserve.

 

\>"But I know that I -- I need to repay you," she sighs. "For everything."

 

\>You feel her lay back, pulling you with.

 

\>She's starting to tip to the side.

 

\>"I'll hold you. Like this. For however long it takes --"

 

\>"No!"

 

\>The tigress stiffens, brought out of her trance.

 

\>You pop from her chest with a gasp. Her hands don't leave you, keeping you firmly in her grip.

 

\>But she’s no longer smothering you in her chest.

 

\>"I -- I'm sorry," she manages, looking down at you.

 

\>There's confusion in her face. But disappointment as well.

 

\>"Why not?" she asks.

 

\>"I -- we can't," you say.

 

\>"Why not?" she repeats, voice slightly deeper.

 

\>"Because _I_ can't."

 

\>You have to keep your face from falling.

 

\>"I should have died, Rebecca. This is my second chance. It's more than I deserve, and I --"

 

\>A howl pierces the air.

 

\>Her claws scrape against your armor as the two of you look up.

 

\>"He's here," Rebecca says, all the warmth from before gone.

 

\>"...That's another reason."

 

\>She doesn't smile. The tigress pushes you off to the side, already standing when you hit the cushion.

 

\>Her blade hums and her tail flicks.

 

\>You grab your discarded PsyScope and curse.

 

\>You should've been fixing it.

 

\>You summon Talia and turn it on anyway, scanning the windows.

 

\>Nothing.

 

\>No pounding of feet, no wheezing or gasping.

 

\>It's like when you first arrived all over again.

 

\>Your heart beats softly.

 

\>Rebecca growls.

 

\>And then it happens.

 

\>Windows shatter with a howl, dark shapes flowing through them.

 

\>You fire and Rebecca roars; each of you take one half of the house.

 

\>The thralls are new. They're unscathed by the fire or by scars from previous battles.

 

\>But they fight just the same as before, feral and uncoordinated.

 

\>The unsorted mess scatters about the room as you dodge swipes and bites.

 

\>Claws scrape wood, shred paper, shatter valuables.

 

\>Though their blows never land, you still feel each one.

 

\>A growl forces its way to your throat. You start double tapping.

 

\>Putting extra shots into the monsters you've already put to the floor.

 

\>Your magazine may be limitless, but you stop yourself.

 

\>It's what he wants, you realize.

 

\>That's why they're scattering her things about and smashing wood and glass.

 

\>That's why there are thralls lurking outside in the yard.

 

\>"Rebecca!" you yell. "Where is he?"

 

\>She snarls, cleaving through a row of monsters before she answers.

 

\>"Towards the truck!"

 

\>You flick the pin on a disruptor.

 

\>"Then let's move!"

 

\>You toss the charge at the back door, popping the closest thralls before it goes off.

 

\>The device itself hardly makes a sound, but the screeching from the creatures in range is near-deafening.

 

\>You shove them out of the way as you go outside.

 

\>The disruption field feels strange like always. You feel cold, empty -- Talia seems to glow less brightly.

 

\>But she still works.

 

\>You cover Rebecca as she barrels your way, picking off the thralls not yet in range.

 

\>She grunts when she hits the barely-visible shimmering field. Her body tenses, and footsteps almost falter.

 

\>But her momentum carries her through.

 

\>You ward off the creatures waiting outside; the tigress clutches her head, slowing to a stop just on the edge of the charge's range.

 

\>"You good?" you yell.

 

\>"Yeah," she grunts. "Just -- a headache."

 

\>"Good," you say. "I think I know where to go..."

 

\>The field behind Talia's home is filled with figures. The dead weave through the dead stalks of corn as smoke rises behind them.

 

\>Whatever's burning sends a glow into the night sky.

 

\>You take a breath; the monsters howl.

 

\>Rebecca rumbles.

 

\>And you both go to work.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/bebl9Wwn
Part of the series Negligent Discharge: Repent
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