FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The roar of the crowd was like a living creature. Wild and untamed, its excitement rose and fell with every moment that passed on the field before them, no matter how small. Crammed into a too small seat, Brandi did her best to let herself be swept away with it. In the past it had seemed so easy to find herself being pulled into the enthrallment of so many people gathered for one purpose, but this time was different.

The men to her right wore no shirts and were painted with the red and white of the Galarian Guardians. The group on her left had clearly had too much to drink and their spilled beers felt sticky underfoot. In the past it could have been something she'd ignore, at least, something she was convinced was nothing more than typical fan behavior.

“Lance Gatti taking it down center field and…it's good!" There was a chorus of boos that came with the announcer's voice over the loudspeakers, and Brandi was quick to join in with them, albeit half-heartedly. “Someone call a priest because he is playing like a 'mon possessed!"

It was hard for her to see the facial features of the cinderace who trotted casually down the defending team's side. He ran with a smooth jog, soaking in the adoration of the yellow and black adorned fans that had come to see his team play. She was too far up in the seating to get a good glimpse of him, but on the jumbotron she could see he was still wearing the same cocky smirk he had worn all match.

Why wouldn't he feel cocky, she thought to herself in annoyance, the Unova Underdogs were winning 5-1.

She crossed her arms over a shirt bearing the sword and shield of the Guardians. For a game like this, she knew she would have been happier staying in her apartment. It was nothing like the times she had been brought to the games on dates, when every little annoyance was swept away in the majesty of it all.

Brandi shifted her legs, mindful of the seat back in front of her that was too close for comfort. She was sore and cramped, her tall stature forcing her to contort into an uncomfortable position. One hand reached up to flick away a bead of sweat that had formed on her forehead. It was ungodly hot in the stadium this late into the summer which only emphasized the scent of stale beer and body odor.

It had been months since she last attended a game and she missed that rush of excitement when she walked through the stadium doors. That excitement as her boyfriend pulled her along by the arm to guide her to their seats. Despite the countless strangers surrounding her on both sides she felt utterly alone.

“In the fourth your Guardians are just unable to keep up with this young upstart out of Unova."

On the jumbotron she could see Lance's paw raised towards the crowd, the mocking gesture enough to set them off once again. He stopped by his team's bench, head tilting and a paw rising to grab a towel that was tossed out to him. With a dexterous snatch he grabbed it out of the air and wrapped it around the back of his neck, bucked teeth poking out while he gave one last wave to the viewers.

The game was practically over anyways. Even with thirty minutes left on the clock. The aura of the crowd that had seemed so energetic when she first arrived was now suffocating to the point where the tightness in her chest that had been forming was overpowering. Before she realized it she was on her feet, hands clenching and breathing picking up when she realized just how little space there truly was to maneuver.

“Excuse me, pardon me…come on, move!" She grumbled, pushing past the shirtless men with no shortage of disgust. “Just let me through!"

Her hands tucked to her chest so she wouldn't have to risk touching their sweaty forms, not that they seemed to notice or care that she was forcing through. It made her blood boil. It felt as if everyone were purposefully trying to ensure that she had a bad time.

The tunnel leading down into the arena was devoid of people this late into the match. A true fan, like those in the stadium above, would no doubt stay to watch the game all the way to the end. The thought that maybe she wasn't as faithful as she had thought herself to be came to mind, but she brushed it off.

It wasn't like she couldn't watch the ending online when she got home.

The concession area seemed so eerily clear after the mob she had walked through to find her seats. A few fans were using the lull in the action to visit the already heavily picked over souvenir stands, although most seemed to be on a slow, meandering track towards the exits.

Vendors sat behind their counters, regarding her with a friendly nod or gesture of the hand, only to lose interest as soon as it became clear she wasn't going to purchase anything. She had already blown most of her cash on food and drink anyways, and she hadn't even had the opportunity to consider souvenirs.

It was a shame too, she realized as she walked past the intricately laid out stands proudly displaying all manners of paraphernalia. If she had her choice, there were a number of things she would have been more than happy to buy.

She saw shirts similar to the one she was wearing on display, their colors bright and vivid. It made her tug self-consciously on her own. The colors had already begun to fade to the point it no longer resembled the vivid red of a roaring flame. If anything it looked more like the final, desperate throes of the setting sun. It didn't seem like she had only had it for a year. She forced herself to tear her eyes away from the display, banishing that thought to the back of her mind.

The majority of it was no surprise to her. Jerseys, posters, mugs, even plush dolls of the pokemon players themselves donning the uniforms of their namesakes. These were hung at the top where they could clearly be seen, their prominent position making them impossible to ignore. More than a few caught her eye, priced to the point that she couldn't help but balk at them. Something like that would have set her measly savings back far enough she wouldn't dream of purchasing one.

The exit was a few dozen steps away now, and she finally knew that she wasn't going to be able to resist the urge to leave. The walk had done little to calm her racing heart and the thought of those crowded stands, fighting back to her seat, and suffering through the rest of the game wasn't at all appealing.

“Excuse me, miss?"

The voice rang out from behind her, bright and cheerful like a ringing bell. She paused, her heart pounding so fast that it threatened to burst from her chest.

Standing in a hallway leading down into the complex, just past a barricade that had been set up to deter traffic, was the cinderace she had seen on the field. His fur was dotted with sweat under the bright overhead lights, his ears large and perked up in curiosity while he glanced over her uniform. The towel that he had draped around his neck was held on either end by his paws in a relaxed pose that betrayed how he seemed to be tucked away enough that no one could see him.

For some time she could only stare at him in disbelief. He was taller than most of his species, taller than her, although the bouncing ears hanging from his head might have helped with that.

“Hey, sorry to bother you. Wondering if you could do me a favor?" He purred with a voice as smooth as silk and with a level of confidence that spoke volumes of just how sure of himself he was. Around his neck he wore a thin, black collar. Every time he spoke, a small, yellow indicator lit up, seamlessly translating his words. “What's your name? I'm Lance, but I'm sure you knew that already."

Brandi could have kept walking. She could have forced herself towards the exit doors. Still, the nervous energy that had been building in her chest suddenly had a new reason for being there. A professional player, albeit one from the opposing team, was actually speaking to her. The number of times she had daydreamed this very thing happening were too numerous to count.

She shifted under his appraising gaze, her hands tightening around the keys in her pocket. Finally, however, she glanced back at him and did her best to seem nonchalant. It was difficult, especially with how animated Lance seemed. He almost vibrated with energy to the point she wasn't sure if he could even remain still.

“…Brandi. Shouldn't you be on the field?" She spoke with a hint of venom in her voice, the memory of how thoroughly he had run roughshod on the Guardian's still very fresh in her mind. “Game isn't over yet." Fairweather fan or not, there was no reason to give him any leeway. The last thing she wanted to do was seem as desperate as she actually felt.

“Brandi's a beautiful name. I like mine over ice." He joked, chuckling to himself at the eye roll that this comment elicited from her. “I'd say they're doing pretty well without me, don't you think?" He tilted his head appraisingly and nodded down towards her jersey. “You have a beautiful town here. Stadium's great. I always love it when fans come out to support their favorite teams."

His sickly-sweet voice focused on the word favorite, putting much more emphasis on it than need be, as if he had picked up on her departure. She still didn't know how to feel about this, but now she could feel heat rising to her face. Was he goading her? It felt like he was prodding her as effortlessly as he would the other players on the field.

“Yeah, listen. I'm kind of busy, so…"

His smile faltered and his ears shot up when she turned to leave. One paw landed on the barricade in front of him and the other reached out towards her in a beseeching gesture that made her hesitate.

“Right, right. Sorry, look I'll make this fast. My coach doesn't like it when I go out into the common areas, especially at another team's stadium." He gestured with his head towards the large Unova Underdog merch stand that stood across the great hall from where they stood. “You know how it is…you get crowded and maybe someone gets a little too rowdy, and well…"

It didn't escape her attention when she saw the proprietor watching them curiously, although his attention seemed to be focused entirely on Lance. He had already grabbed the sleeve of the other man working the stand and was directing his gaze as well. The sudden attention made her feel just as uncomfortable as the suffocating mass of people in the stands and made her wish she had just kept walking. Still, there was a feeling she wasn't used to, one that, for a brief moment, at least, offered her respite from her nervous energy.

A professional athlete, a celebrity to some, had approached her. That was enough to keep her rooted to the spot.

“The security guard outside our locker room told me her daughter was a big fan of mine. Said it was her birthday and asked for an autograph." That grin came back now, but there was something else there. Something in the way his nose and whiskers twitched as he mentioned it while his ears seemed to droop. “She was super nice, and I wanted to do something for her."

A moment passed between the two of them and she began to unclench her fists, if only slightly. The tension that had been ever present in her shoulders lessened, the minute relaxed posture not escaping his gaze.

“Can you just ask them for two of my…It always sounds so weird when I say it, but damn do I love knowing I have them." He gestured with a paw towards the top rack where two large plush dolls of the cinderace rested. “All I ask is that you tell the guys at the booth I want those two." A paw dug into his tight athletic shorts, fishing around for a moment before he drew out a marker and a piece of paper. “Just tell them to bill it to my team. I already told my coach I'm paying for it."

He took a moment to scribble something on the scrap of paper before handing it off to her. She was close enough to him now that she could smell the slightly spicy aroma of his body combined with the salty tang of sweat that hung around him. It wasn't, she would never admit, exactly an appalling scent, not like the men sitting next to her had been.

“Please? If you're busy obviously you don't have to." Those bright, blue eyes of his were dazzling this close, almost seeming to sparkle like Alolan water. “If there's somewhere you have to be, I mean. Girl like you probably has someone waiting for her."

“…fine." She grumbled after some time. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, she told herself. “Just…because you asked nicely. And no, I don't. I'm here by myself."

The rabbit's ears had perked up expectantly while he watched her, the little cotton-ball tail of his twitching in a fast, almost impatient manner.

“That's the spirit! I'd say hop to it, but uh." He tapped his nose a few times and winked at her. “Little too obvious."

The workers at the stand regarded the note that she passed to them with curious expressions. They glanced from her then over to Lance who shot them a friendly wave. If the rabbit was trying to embarrass her, he was doing an excellent job of it. It left Brandi feeling more than a little uncomfortable when she overheard them chuckling to each other as they pulled the two plush dolls down.

The fabric was incredibly soft underhand and she was surprised by just how heavy they were. Suddenly she realized just why they were so expensive; any kid would have loved to have this for their birthday. To her relief, and slight chagrin, when she got within a dozen feet of the barricade Lance took the liberty of hopping over the small barrier to meet her.

“Thanks! You're pretty awesome for a Guardian. Are you going to come back for the game tomorrow? Should be a good one!"

His smile had never once faded to the point where Brandi almost felt like it was the only emotion he knew how to show. His paws were just as soft as the toys when they brushed against her bare skin. His touch rested just above her wrist with a smooth, almost casual stroke of his paw. It seemed to linger for just a moment, enough to send goosebumps up her arm before he took one of them from her.

“I don't think so. My ticket was just for one night." She shifted a little less restlessly than she had before. It was hard not to feel calm around him, he exuded a level of confidence that she wasn't familiar with. “I've never…been to one of these by myself. Wasn't really fun."

As she spoke, Lance bit down on the cap of his marker and pulled it free, holding the tip between his prominent front teeth while he scrawled something on the yellow section of the jersey. Brandi was left standing there with the oversized toy impatiently waiting, aware that more and more people had begun to pass them by. There were a few excited, whispered voices from all around her from those wearing the same black and yellow uniforms. Those wearing the Guardians attire seemed more content to sneer under the breath at the sight of the pokemon that had ruined their game day.

“I guess that's partly my fault, huh? Can't be much fun watching a blowout." He mumbled past the cap in his mouth. “Can't help it, ya know?"

“I guess not." The allure of the smooth-talking cinderace enraptured her, holding her in place as effectively as an ariados' string shot. Where before she had felt alone in the stadium, he made it feel like it was only the two of them. “It's…not as much fun when you don't have someone to talk to."

Lance nodded a few times as he heard this, his ears cocked to show that he was listening to every word that she had to say. With a pop he returned the marker to the cap and took the other plush doll from her, only to surprise her by pressing the first one back into her hands.

“That's a shame, you seem pretty cool…for a Guardian fan! I'll let you go. I think I've talked your ear off long enough." He said with a cheerful smile. He ignored the confused look on her face and nodded towards the large toy in her hand. “Why don't you hang on to that one for me? Never know when you might need a handsome little devil, right?"

Before she could so much as open her mouth, the rabbit had turned and was already racing back the way he had come. Brandi was left standing there holding on to the rabbit toy, the dawning realization of just what had happened leaving her face as red as her jersey.

---

The bus ride home was awkward.

That was the only way she could describe how she felt as she clutched the toy Cinderace to her side. She wished she could have ignored the glances she got from others wearing the colors of the Galarian Guardians. The fans that gave her major side-eye for holding a facsimile of what had quickly become apparent as the star player for the opposing team.

Outside of the radius of the real thing, Brandi could no longer ignore the judgemental stares. Most of the time was spent staring out the window, the thought of the day, more specifically, Lance, playing through her mind.

He had seemed nice enough, she admitted to herself, even as the thought of that smiling face made her scrunch her own up as if she had bitten into a ripe lum berry.

The ride into the city was long on account of the line of cars tying up traffic, the sound of horns in the background occasionally breaking through her thoughts. He seemed like a nice guy, albeit one that seemed not to have a single care in the world. She wondered what that must have been like, having the confidence to approach someone you didn't know and buy them something like this.

On one of the yellow stripes was a scrawl of quick, chaotic handwriting that she could just decipher reading 'Lance', accompanied by a crude little heart to go with it. At least, she thought it was a heart, either that or a deflating soccer ball.

When her bus finally arrived at her stop the sun had set over the city, bathing the sidewalk in the luminescent glow of street lamps. Normally she didn't enjoy staying out this late, not in this neighborhood. It made her nervous walking towards her apartment building and despite her conflicting feelings on the matter, she held the stuffed toy closer to her.

A whiff of spice and a hint of smoking woodchips hit her nose from the lingering scent of Lance clinging to the toy's jersey. It was strangely reassuring, reminding her of days spent around a campfire in the solitude of the woods, miles from civilization. She had to remind herself that she wasn't in that place.

She bet no one would have been willing to approach her if she had the real thing accompanying her.

The stairwell of her building was dimly lit and the ever present hum of the flickering light announced to her that she had made it. In that moment she released a breath she felt like she had been holding since she first stepped out of the stadium.

Get a hold of yourself. She thought inwardly as she ascended the cracked, cement steps leading upwards. It was just something nice for a stranger, it doesn't mean anything.

It wasn't strange for her to find her roommate River laying sprawled out on the couch. One arm had been tucked over her face to shield her eyes from the dim light above a kitchen sink overflowing with dishes. When the door closed behind Brandi River shifted, her bleary eyes looking up at her in annoyance and exhaustion. The half-finished takeout box sitting on the coffee table in front of her and the shoes she still had on were enough to tell Brandi what she had been up to that night.

“Hey…how'sa game?" She mumbled, the hint of a slur present in her words while she began to force herself into a sitting position. “Fuck…what time is it?"

“It's like eleven at night." She said, walking past her with no shortage of haste in her step. She had been hoping she'd be able to hide her new little friend before her roommate saw it. “What's with you? I didn't think you'd be home yet."

River snickered and grabbed the takeout box in front of her as she pushed herself to her feet. It didn't escape Brandi that she was using the coffee table for balance while her body seemed to shift as if she stood on the deck of ship at sea.

“Yeah, well…bar was like superrrrr crowded. Way too many people in town…oh my gosh. What. Is. That?"

Each word came out in a rush of amusement that prickled Brandi's brow since she knew what had taken her fancy. She hesitated in her doorway while fighting to keep the red from showing on her face when she looked into the smiling face of the lapine toy. On reflex she squeezed it a little tighter to herself.

“Uh…souvenir?"

“Didn't think you were into that sort of thing…" She snorted and giggled to herself while she walked over to the kitchen to pour herself a tall glass of water. She looked down at her glass disdainfully, as if willing it to be anything else before tilting it back and taking long, deep gulps. “I mean…hell, it's totally cute."

Brandi's stomach twisted a little when she finally opened her door and tossed it into the shadowy depths of the room. Having it out of her hands after carrying it for the last couple of hours felt disappointing in a way, as if her hands missed the presence of it.

Her fingers lingered on the doorframe while River returned for another glass of water. This time she nursed it while leaning back against the kitchen counter, glazed eyes a little more alert than they had been. River made no attempt to leave, lingering instead like a shadow on the wall.

“A guy gave it to me." She finally stated, almost blurting out the words in her haste to overcome the block her mind fought to place on her. The intent of Lance's gift hung heavy on her mind still, nibbling at the edges of her thoughts like a rattata worrying a piece of wood. “It was…kind of weird?"

That comment alone was enough to make River positively light up. Her grin had become more salacious, suggestive as one of her hands pressed against her hip while it cocked to the side.

“Okay…okay sit, sit down." River rushed over to the couch and pulled the cord on the lamp set next to it. Her outfit was, in one word, suggestive. It was attire that seemed far too small for her curvaceous body type, the skirt barely reaching down to her thighs while her tight tanktop emphasized the swell of her breasts. It was definitely not comparable to anything in Brandi's closet. “Tell me everything. I thought you weren't trying to date again?"

The expectant look she gave Brandi was enough to crumble the attempts to disregard her. In truth, she wanted to talk to her about this. For as long as they roomed together River had been the one to bring home man after man from her forays into the city's bar, each seemingly just as attractive as the last. Each seemingly so disappointed when River kicked them out the morning after. It was impressive in some regard, Brandi would admit.

There had only been one man that Brandi had ever brought home, and the thought of him still made her grimace.

The attention she showed her felt out of place when Brandi took a seat on the other end of the couch. They may not have been friends, but they didn't dislike each other, and she couldn't remember the last time River had seemed so excited about something she had done. Part of her just wanted to chalk that up to the alcohol that was no doubt circulating through her system. The other part felt almost excited to be shown such interest.

“I went to the game…tell your friend the seat was garbage, by the way," she grumbled, “I was going to leave and, well…"

“Was he cute?" River leaned forward when she asked this, watching her curiously. “I mean, did he ask you out or anything?"

Brandi bit down on her lip hard enough to feel a tinge of pain radiating from it. He HAD been, she realized, but uncertainty stole her voice. From those buckteeth that seemed to give his voice an airy quality to his floppy ears. The feel of his fur grazing her hand when they had touched. How could she explain these feelings? She didn't recall a time she had ever seen her roommate bring home someone that wasn't human.

“He was a Pokemon…" She said in a cautious tone, hating how her voice cracked just a little at the admission. “So…"

“Soooo…was he cute?"

Brandi could only stare at her since she didn't seem so much as fazed by the revelation. If anything, the other woman was now leaning closer, shameless curiosity spelled out across her face. Brandi recalled seeing this exact same face whenever River watched her trashy reality shows.

“…Yes." The admission felt soft to her, the tumultuous wave of emotions that flooded her all at once overtaking her while she continued. “R-Really, really cute…like…do you think pokemon are cute?"

“Some of them are!" River piped in with a happy chirp, finally relenting in her focus and leaning back against the couch. The look on her face spelled out nothing short of vindication at her revelation, and she beamed that bright grin at her. “What was he? Are you…" she hesitated, “are you interested in Pokemon? Is that why you broke up with Derek?"

The thought of the dark-haired man felt akin to a punch to the stomach. Even after several months she still remembered their last night out, how they had planned on going out of town to see the championship game. How uninterested he had suddenly seemed in the conversation that night, building from weeks of growing aversion to her attempts to get him excited.

The room seemed to grow smaller at that moment, the tight constricting feeling in her stomach almost overwhelming her like it had at the game. Even with the distance from the two of them she felt like she was being enclosed on all sides and she needed to remind herself to breathe calmly. Brandi gestured over her shoulder towards the open doorway of her bedroom and the dawning of realization soon overtook River.

“What? He was…oh, oh you're joking." The momentary reprieve from River's infectious excitement was broken, replaced by an almost jubilant merriment in her voice. “That cinderace?"

Brandi suddenly felt sheepish, a feeling that certainly wasn't helped when River burst out laughing.

“And he gave you that?! Oh my gosh, is he…a freaking celebrity or something?"

“Football player." Brandi mumbled. “For the team the Guardians played against tonight."

“So…he's perfect for you then! You love that dumb game. Didn't take you for someone that would chase a jock, though." She wiped a tear from her eye and released an exhaled breath after that. Silence hung between them like a heavy weight, until she finally ventured to ask, “So when are the two of you going out?"

Brandi realized at that moment that for all that she had started feeling about the rabbit pokemon, this might have been the extent of what he wanted from her. She reached up to rub the back of her head, mindful of the way River watched her and sighing under her breath.

“I don't think that's going to happen. It isn't like he asked me out or anything," she almost felt bad when River's shoulders deflated. It wasn't often they had a common interest to discuss and it made her feel surprisingly nice to have the air-headed woman's attention for once. “Besides…you heard me say he was playing for the other team, right?"

“Is…that supposed to matter?" She asked, “I mean…you didn't care about football until you met Derek, right?"

River stood and took her glass back to the sink. Her smile had already faded from abject excitement to one that screamed pity. Her eyes seemed more downcast, the wisp of a curl of the lip and a more comforting voice. She didn't seem to notice the look of embarrassed annoyance on Brandi's face, at least, if she did, she didn't let it bother her.

“I'm not going to date someone like that. I have some team loyalty."

“Well, you might have wanted to lead with that. Kind of a dumb reason to say no to a guy, if you ask me." She was already yawning as the excitement of the discussion began to fade away. “I mean, nothing wrong with having a fantasy, ya know? Still, it sounds like you might have had a chance there. If you really think being a fan of a team for, like, two years doesn't let you do that, then whatever, girl." If she had followed through on it, were the unspoken words. “For real though," she yawned again, this time not even trying to hide it and leaving Brandi to suddenly realize just how tired she was after all that. “I'm going to bed. You enjoy your new cuddle buddy."

Brandi sat there alone feeling a mixture of emotions grasping at her like sharp hooks. They tugged and pulled, making her hands squeeze into tight fists until her nails were digging into her palms. What if River had been right? What if she had pursued the admittedly charming pokemon when he first made it clear he was interested in her?

It didn't make her feel better when she turned on the light to her room and saw the stuffed animal laying atop her bed. It seemed so out of place amongst the red and white motif of the Guardians that covered every inch of wall space.

“Well…guess it's just you and me…" She said as she moved to sit on the side of the bed. She glanced out of the corner of her eye to see that River had already closed her door and she reached down to grasp the stuffed cinderace. It welcomed her in a soft embrace with faux fur that tickled her face and made her giggle despite herself. “Handsome little devil that you a-“

She froze when she caught sight of that scribble across the jersey. From this angle she could see that what she had first thought was the rabbit's messy handwriting were actually numbers. Her heart nearly skipped when she breathed in that smokey spiced scent that still lingered on the fabric in her arms and realization hit her soon after.

Lance had left her a phone number.

---

Amongst the rays of the early morning sun the café was crowded. Brandi tried to stifle a yawn while she clutched a cooling coffee mug in her hands. Steam had ceased rising from it during her silent vigil. Never had she felt so out of place in her favorite early morning hangout which left her feeling as if everyone knew just what she was waiting for.

Her phone lay on the table before her, screen dark and silent. At any moment she expected him to call and tell her that he couldn't make it, that it would be a mistake for him to be seen with her. Any number of problems could have arisen, maybe his manager didn't allow him to see strange girls in towns they breezed through on tour. Maybe his teammates took offense to his attempt to style on them with the fan of a rival.

She nearly jumped when she realized the chair across from her was being pulled out and a cheerfully smiling, furry face was just a foot from her own.

“Morning, gorgeous.~"

Lance was wearing a modest, tight black shirt that had darkened around the collar just below his translator while beads of sweat dotted the fur on his forehead. The rabbit was breathing softly, his chest rising and falling in a quick, steady rhythm.

“Hey! Sorry about that, I totally thought I could do my morning run before this, then I kind of...got lost," his nose twitched at the admission. For once, she realized, his blue eyes seemed hesitant to meet her own. “I'm sorry I made you wait, I left my phone in my shorts at the hotel. I'm glad you called me, though! I was beginning to think I had lost my appeal! A scary place to be for a guy like me!"

When Lance finally met her gaze she felt whatever tension had been held in her shoulders start to fade away. When he looked at her it felt like nothing else in the café mattered, taking her back to months ago when a dark-haired man had looked at her in a similar vein.

Despite herself, she could feel her frown slowly creeping into the smallest of smiles while her mind betrayed her. “It's okay…if I'm being honest, I didn't think you'd show up." She absently shrugged and allowed herself to lean back in her chair. “You know, guy like you must keep really busy."

Outside of the stadium, in the calm, relaxed atmosphere of the café, Brandi was surprised to find her anxiety fading away. He wasn't just cute, she could see. He was handsome for someone covered with fur and pronounced buck teeth, the slender curve of muscle under his tight shirt speaking volumes of just how much time he had to have spent taking care of himself.

“You think I'd give my phone number out to a girl and just leave her hanging?" She felt something nudge her under the table, and she realized that the cinderace had brushed one of his large feet against her ankle. “Come on, I'm not a total monster. I mean, if you talk to some of the guys on the team they'd tell you that me liking pinap berries on my pizza makes me one."

His reassuring smile won her over far more than she was willing to admit. It seemed so different from the one she had seen on the stadium's jumbotron, less forced or overly smarmy. It made her feel warm and set her heart to pulsing a little faster in her chest. He truly was cute, she realized, and she stifled the giggle that nearly betrayed her relaxed demeanor.

“I suppose monsters don't go around giving out stuffed pokemon. Egotistical boys trying to seem cool? Maybe." She teased, eliciting a bright grin out of him and a casual shrug. “I guess I should thank you for that. I almost want to say he's as cute as the real thing…but I don't think that's possible."

His big ears twitched when the waitress stepped over to their table, interrupting what he had been about to say. The rabbit pokemon waved off the menu that she was about to hand him with an awkward chuckle. “Nothing for me, thanks. Super strict diet." His bright, sparkling blue eyes darted towards Brandi, “gotta keep my figure, right?"

Brandi felt her face warming at this and she tried to hold back the amusement bubbling up in her. “Nothing for me, thanks."

He probably did this in every town he went to. The thought sprang up before she could quell it. He could have any girl he wanted, so why was he interested in her? He was a pokemon, what would other people think? The waitress didn't seem to see anything out of the ordinary, and no one around them seemed to look up from their coffees and pastries.

She didn't realize that Lance had been waiting for a response to a question till he softly cleared his throat. That foot came again under the table, just the gentlest of touches that made her shiver.

“Did you hear me?" He asked quizzically, his head tilting a little to the side. “Did you want to maybe show me around? I have a few hours before they need me back at the stadium for practice. I mean…if I'm not imposing or anything." That twitch of his nose and a paw reached across the table towards her palm up. “Unless you have another date you need to run off too? Wouldn't shock me."

Brandi regarded the offered paw for a few moments, the beseeching expression on the cinderace's face never once dissipating. It seemed so much more genuine that she would have believed, so full of promise that he wanted to be with her. The fur was soft under her hand when she embraced his paw, the ticklish sensation making her smile when he drew her out of her chair.

“I think I have some time…"

It had only been three days since Brandi last stood in the stadium, but it felt like a lifetime. The shouts of the crowd were muted and dulled by the glass window overlooking the field itself. A speaker near the window hummed faintly each time the announcer's voice broke over it in crystal-clear clarity.

To say Brandi felt out of place here was an understatement. Where being out in the stadium itself amongst all the people had been overwhelming, the seclusion of the VIP box was like being on another planet. The room was spacious but intimate, with a row of chairs overlooking the field. Behind these was a small seating area with a few plush, expensive looking couches surrounding a large screen TV. It had been on when she walked in, displaying intimate shots of the players from the cameramen on the field below.

Her Guardian's jersey had been left at home. She hadn't had the opportunity to run home after their afternoon together. Lance had offered her a solution in the form of an old jersey bearing his number. The faded uniform hung over the back of a chair nearby, ever present out of the corner of her eye as if it demanded to be seen.

He had brought it up just before he was meant to go on the field, seemingly sheepish about offering it to her. It certainly wasn't a souvenir from the stands. It was made of more rugged material, the spicy, smoky aroma of the fire-type clinging to it. He had mentioned it was his 'lucky' jersey, bearing the design she had seen on their throwback jerseys. The material had frayed around the arms and neckline, but it still held together.

Brandi had felt awkward accepting it.

She found it difficult to concentrate on the game while her mind continued running through the events of the last few days. The rabbit pokemon had proven rather quickly that his charming demeanor wasn't just for show. His tastes were lavish and exuberant, she had come to realize in no short term. It still made her uncomfortable thinking of him fishing a wallet out of his athletic shorts to pay for the ride they took in the city's Rapidash-drawn carriage after forgoing the notion of the bus.

They had already made plans for the next few days, too. After tonight he'd be in town for the last of three games over the weekend, and he spoke rather energetically about what all they could do. Expensive restaurants he wanted to try, a ride on one of the day cruises that travelled the canal splitting the city, even going so far as to offer her a shopping spree through the high-end part of town. Of course, he had quickly corrected himself in saying it wouldn't be JUST for her.

That thought still made her shift uncertainly in her chair. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the offer. Hell, these were things that she had found herself silently wondering about on more than one occasion. Her frugal lifestyle had barely allowed her the opportunity to afford a ticket, regardless of how poor the seating was.

Right now there was only one thing she would have liked.

Most of the day had been spent with his paw in her hand, the simple touch never ceasing to send electric currents up her arm that made her heartbeat quicken. She had hoped he didn't notice the tinge of redness to her face whenever his appreciation for the city shifted towards indirectly complimenting her. His words were as smooth and sweet as honey, making her feel almost lightheaded as a grandiose sense of importance overtook her.

As she nibbled on her lower lip, she couldn't deny it was just how Derek used to make her feel.

That had plagued her more than she would have liked to admit. How similar he seemed to Lance despite their difference in species. How they had both offered her the world in the palm of her hand if she would simply accept their offer.

Lance had needed to only ask her, albeit a little cautiously, about coming to the game that night. He had seen the look of apprehension cross her face and without hesitation he had offered to buy her a ticket for the luxury box. It sat lower to the field than she had ever been before, close enough she swore she could see the sweat beading on Lance's brow while he danced across the field.

His movements were quick and smooth, pure poetry in motion to watch this close. He seemed like a flowing river effortlessly gliding around defenders, keeping the ball between his feet and denying anyone that got close.

Whenever he had a moment, she could see that he was glancing up towards her box. Flashing that smile that she knew was for her.

In a stadium full of people, Lance made her feel like she was the only one there. At least, the only one important enough to warrant his attention.

That might have been why the slim lead the Unova Underdog's had was soon overtaken. Normally she would have been elated, cheering for the red and white clothed pokemon whenever they scored a goal. Now, however, she could only focus her attention on the cinderace bounding merrily across the field.

Her eyes fell on the jersey once more and she reached a cautious hand out towards it, her fingers just brushing against the rough material. She brought it towards her slowly, almost as if fearing it might combust at any moment. Lance's natural scent clung to it and she found herself bringing it close to inhale slowly. It made her stomach feel warm as the masculine aroma washed over her, flooding her senses in a bouquet of smoked cedar and rawst berries.

“Damn rabbit…" she mumbled to herself.

She set the jersey aside after a momentary longing and returned to her seat to try to focus on the last half of the game. It was difficult for her to do; her mind kept returning to the jersey, the private seating, the promises that he had made for her. The entire time she couldn't stop thinking that this was exactly what Derek would do when he realized Brandi was upset with him.

Long after the final buzzer rang out to signal the end of the game and the cheering of the home team crowd had faded away she was left searching her feelings. The door opening behind her and the cheerful humming of Lance did nothing to stem her doubts, although the sudden touch of a paw resting on her shoulders made her jump.

“Woah, easy there. It's just me," Lance chuckled, “sorry that took so long. Figured you'd prefer it if I took a shower." The cinderace's fur was still noticeably damp, clinging to his body in places while the cloying scent of his sport shampoo overwhelmed her olfactory senses. It made her nose curl up, eliciting a small pout from the tall rabbit. “Hey now, I know that sour face isn't just because we lost…"

A paw was offered to her, assisting her from her chair. She wondered if this feeling she had was how he felt when he was under the field. It was an intense scrutiny that made her feel as if she were under a microscope.. All of a sudden being the center of his world was something that she couldn't bear.

“Brandi, seriously…is something wrong?" His tone held genuine worry and his paw had dropped away from her. It tensed ever so slightly and he made a motion to reach out as if to touch her, but he held back each time. “Did…I do something wrong?"

As she turned to him she could see the way he looked at her, the proud visage becoming a bit more slumped, his ears drooping ever so slightly. His face bore an expression that she hadn't seen before. One that made her spill her thoughts without so much as a second thought.

“What is your plan for…us."

The words hung heavy in the air and he seemed to perk up at the realization. His nose twitched and the doubt that had painted across his face like a death mask was replaced with an uncertain expression. It wasn't one that made her feel confident, and she was quick to push the subject.

“You keep…buying me things." She said, knowing just how ungrateful she must have sounded. Someone like River would have been over the moon for such pampering. In fact, she had made mention of this to her more than once. “The last few days have been amazing, Lance. I've...had more fun with you than any other man I've ever known."

“I mean, it wasn't just for you." He said, the weak airy chuckle that escaped him like a deflating ball doing little to convince her. “Come on, I'm only going to be in town for a few more days. Can't I…at least make a few memories for you?" She had never seen this side of him; it tugged at her heartstrings to see him so uneasy.

His paw was warm and soft when she took it in her hands. She squeezed it tightly and he allowed her to step closer to him. The heat in the VIP box had become oppressive, as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. She always felt hot when she was near him and she knew that it wasn't solely from his fire-type nature.

“I'm leaving soon. I just want to have fun with a girl I like…" That grin tried to come back like the sun fighting to shine through on an overcast day. “Is that so wrong?"

She placed his paw on one of her shoulders and leaned closer to him, her arms wrapping around his waist and resting on the small of his back. This was the closest she had come to him in the last few days. He hadn't pressed whatever budding emotion had started to grow between them; for all his cockiness, he had respected the unspoken boundaries she had set.

Brandi appreciated him for that. For how soft his fur felt against her bare skin, for the feeling of his muscular chest as she rested her cheek against it. She could hear his heart beating fast and to a rhythmic pattern that made her wonder if she was the only one nervous here. His free paw drifted around her, pulling her firm to his muscular body while his chin came to rest gingerly on her head.

They stood there in silence for a few moments, savoring each other's embrace for as long as they possibly could. It was Lance who broke their moment frozen in time as a soft chuckle chased away the silence.

“You know, I almost got jealous when I saw how tight you were holding that stuffed doll the first time we met..."

“I like the real thing much better…" She mumbled into the fur on his chest. It was still damp, the natural heat of his body causing small plumes of steam to rise from his furry coat. She was thankful he couldn't see the blush that turned her face as red as his fur. At that moment, Brandi would have loved to just melt away and never be seen again. “Why me?"

Brandi felt Lance leaning down and a paw pressed against the bottom of her chin, tilting her gaze up till she was looking into the buck-toothed smile of the rabbit pokemon. They stood there for a moment, frozen in silence while Lance's eyes darted over her face while her question begged for an answer.

Their lips met for the first time with a rush of emotion overtaking Brandi. His facial fur tickled just as much as his paws, his lips were soft and hot against her own making her gasp softly. It felt so familiar yet so strange, a sensation that she appreciated and found herself wanting more of. She had to stand up on her tiptoes to better return it while she positively sunk into his embrace. Shivers ran down her spine while his paws roamed along her back, caressing and teasing her at every moment.

The kiss broke far too fast for her liking, and it embarrassed her to no end to see the small, glistening strand of saliva that connected their lips. Lance noticed it too and let out a rumbling chuckle before tilting his head to regard her.

“Because…I thought you were one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen…" His expression grew devilish and he poked his pink tongue out at her moments later. “Plus…you were alone, so I figured you didn't have a boyfriend." He considered it for a moment and winked at her, “and…you were wearing a Guardian's jersey, and I've always wanted to see just how far the ol' star power goes. Nothing like a challenge."

Brandi rolled her eyes a little at this but laughed nonetheless. Her cheek pressed to his chest while she turned to look out the window at the empty stadium below them in all its solemn glory. His paws began to caress the small of her back, dexterous digits gently teasing and toying with her.

“I don't want you to keep treating me this way." She finally said, sensing him start in her hands and simply pulling him tighter to her. “You don't need to…bury me in gifts to make me like you. I need you to know that. If nothing else," she steeled herself and gazed up at him. “If nothing else, if you leave town and I never see you again, I want you to know I liked you for more than just your money."

What if he did just end up leaving? What if this was nothing more than infatuation that would end with the sound of the final bell? It wasn't something she wanted to consider. It was something that awoke unpleasant thoughts and made her want to push him away just so he wouldn't end up hurting her.

His nose twitched a little and he chuffed under his breath, the warm exhale tousling her hair ever so slightly. “If that's how you really feel, I suppose I can rely on my winning personality." He smiled at her in a faint, ephemeral way that spoke volumes of his uncertainty. “…can we still go out to dinner tonight?"

That made Brandi chuckle, and she let out an exhausted sigh while taking his paw in her own. “Alright, you convinced me. But we're getting dessert too."

---

The air was heavy and humid as fat clouds rolled past the blazing afternoon sun. Brandi did her best not to make it obvious she was trying to catch her breath, not with how pepped up Lance seemed to be. The cinderace had a paw pressed against the trunk of a tree on the forested path and was stretching out both legs in turn. He had decided against his normal athletic attire for a more rugged set of cargo shorts and a white top that was already dotted along the underarms and neckline with sweat.

“Whuff," he said in his perpetually cheerful manner that almost made Brandi want to push him into the bushes, “I don't think I sweat this much during most games."

It had been a suggestion she made in one of the high-end restaurants that Lance had managed to get them into – without a reservation, she noticed. Over desserts with names that Brandi couldn't even begin to fathom, she had brought up a park a few miles from the city. It was nothing special, she had relayed, little more than a glorified rest spot amongst travelers on the highway leading into the city.

The area was full of steep inclines and vegetation-choked pathways that bogged them down. A trip that she remembered having taken a little more than an hour had already entered its second, and the storm clouds that were beginning to roll in from the south hadn't gone unnoticed.

“I guess…this is easier when you're a kid." She said this with the slightest stammer in her voice. She shot him a glare when she heard his snort of amusement at the sound. “Didn't think it would be this hot either."

“If you want to see hot, you could always give me that kiss you promised me." The cinderace leaned against a young sapling, still seeming just as fit and virile as he had been since jumping out of the car. Brandi would have given anything for that endurance afforded to a pokemon. He poked his tongue out at her and held his hands out at his side beseechingly. “Pleeeease?"

After last night things felt different between the two of them. She wondered if Lance felt the same way since he had requested a 'goodnight kiss' after he had dropped her off after dinner. It was something that she wished would have lasted longer as they stood amongst the peeling wallpaper in her apartment's hallway, the threat of someone walking in on them ever present. It was definitely a far cry from the first kiss she had shared with Derek at the football stadium.

She would have liked to invite him in but River had decided to spend the night in for once, and introducing him to her didn't really strike her as a good idea. She could already imagine the probing questions River would ask, and she certainly didn't like the thought of him seeing a woman Brandi herself considered more attractive. Jealous as she was, she still couldn't stop herself from gushing all about him to an intoxicated River.

Brandi also didn't want him to see just how she lived compared to the lifestyle that she envisioned for him. It was nothing like the opulence and upscale accommodations he was certainly used to. It was a subtle twitch of the ears or a wiggle of the nose, small signs that she had started to pick up on from her time with him. Little indicators that he was happy, anxious, even disappointed.

“You're such a needy rabbit, you know that, right?" She mused as she stepped up to him only for the taller male to instantly embrace her. The scent of his sweat was almost overpowering, a heady, spicy aroma that made her mouth tingle with the sheer intensity of it. It refused to be ignored, even here in the wild. “Arceus…you're lucky I-mmmph!"

She was silenced so swiftly by their lips meeting that she couldn't finish her sentence. Her face reddened and her body sunk into his strong arms like ice left under the blazing sun. Her back pressed against the rough bark of the tree with the taller pokemon effortlessly pinning her in place, not that she wanted him to back off. She knew, however, that if she were to make even the slightest attempt he would back off.

Brandi could see it in the way his half-lidded eyes looked at her, silently begging for permission that she didn't need to vocalize. She had never liked it when Derek did this to her, when he would leave her no option to say no or to escape from his hold. With Lance it just felt different.

Brandi gasped into his mouth when she felt her legs leaving the ground as Lance effortlessly lifted her. The blossoming heat in her face became a full fledged inferno while her legs wrapped tight around him, giving her some small sense of stability in his grasp. His tongue was a warm, wet brush along her lips, and as she gazed into his eyes she found herself unable to deny him.

Their tongues met cautiously at first, a spark of curiosity and apprehensive passing between them. Lance was always the one to make the first move even here, running his tongue slowly along the top of hers and moving deeper into her mouth the harder he pressed Brandi to the tree. It didn't hurt, she realized, he was making a conscious effort not to let any of his weight fall on her, it was merely a way for him to show her just how much he wanted her.

“I guess we couldn't do this at that mall. I mean, we could, but everyone would be staring." He purred after a momentary pause, his forehead pressed firmly against her own. “Was this your plan? Get me somewhere you can have me all to yourself?" Those ticklish paws teased her cheek as he caressed her, making her shiver in his hold.

“You wish…" She breathed exuberantly and shifted slightly in his grasp to find a more comfortable position. “You furry bastard, you're lucky you're cute," that set his ears bobbing and she squeezed her legs a little tighter around his lithe waist. “Otherwise, I might have said this was a little forward. Now come on, put me down."

“Alright," he said, nose twitching in amusement, “if you insist."

He begrudgingly allowed her to slip from his grasp, his paws alighting on her shoulders for the barest of moments. Finally he stepped back, giving her relief from the warm aura that surrounded him. Despite the heat of the day and the sweat dampening her shirt she found herself longing for his weight against her.

Their path along the trails wound a serpentine pattern through the trees. There was just enough space for the two to walk side by side together, a casual brush of his paw against her reminding her that he was there. Other than that it felt surreal being with him in such a quiet place, the only sound being the occasional cry of a bird pokemon in the trees overhead.

It was a far cry from the stadium and the mass of humanity that swelled and ebbed like a living tide. At one point, Lance's paw tired of its game and delicately enclosed her own, something she was all too happy to return with a tight squeeze.

“As far as dates go," Lance began, his voice soft so as not to offend the serene picture, “I almost feel like I should be...doing more."

Brandi could feel him squeezing a little tighter. She had noticed the way his ears had drooped slightly when they first stepped out of his rental car at the beginning of the trail. She hadn't wanted to say anything about it.

“What do you mean?" She finally found her words when she turned to look at him out of the corner of her eye. “Are you...not having fun?" Brandi realized the edge that had begun to form in her words. She tried to dial it back quickly, silently cursing herself for instantly going on the offensive. It was something Derek always accused her of.

She expected annoyance, exasperated sighs, even a request to go back. That was why she was so surprised when he shook his head vigorously like a poochyena worrying a bit of rope.

“Of course I am! It's just, well…I'm not used to a date being this," with his free paw he gestured to the surrounding forests, “simple. I mean, when I first joined the team all my teammates would talk in the locker room about the 'benefits' of being an athlete. Everyone talks about the parties, the restaurants, the vacations...no one talks about how much your life changes when just walking down the street is a big deal."

Brandi didn't release his paw as they stepped over a tree that had fallen in their path. Lance went first, spry as he was and effortlessly hopped over it. She was relieved to see him smile at her as he helped her over it. She had expected a sour expression and passive aggression, even outright hostility bubbling under a cold facade of acceptance.

“I bet they tell you not to get mixed up dating your fans, right?"

“Well, yeah. That's why I'm not dating a fan." He corrected her with a playful nudge of his hips against her side. “I don't know. I saw you in the stadium and you looked…" He trailed off, for the trees broke in the path ahead, and spread across the verdant ground was a sea of reds, yellows, and orange wildflowers. “Beautiful."

Everywhere they looked were bright colors and a sweet, aromatic scent that hung on the breeze that was otherworldly compared to the city. Whatever feeling had been tying her stomach into knots relented in its uncaring gasp, and she heard Lance sighing next to her.

“But like something I couldn't...maybe shouldn't have." He chuckled a bit and finally released her hand. Stretching his arms up he tucked his paws behind his head and did his best to shrug. “Sometimes I still feel like that dorky scorbunny kicking soccer balls in his parent's backyard. Worrying that his dad's going to come out and kill him for the dents he left in the house's siding."

“If it makes you feel better," she began, waiting for him to turn before she allowed herself to smile, “...I still think you're a dork."

He shot her a wry grin and shook his head. Instead of commenting on it he moved to an open patch of ground and flopped down. His paw came down on the spot next to him, gesturing for her to join him and when she did he sighed before leaning back on the grass.

“I didn't take you for a girl that likes hiking, you know." He shifted and tucked his arms behind his head, his lithe body stretching out on the soft grass. The verdant carpet welcomed Brandi when she slipped into place next to him, and she started a bit in surprise when one of his arms gently wrapped around her shoulders. “I was almost worried I wouldn't be able to keep up."

“You don't need to try and flatter me, ya know." Brandi rolled her eyes a bit, remaining still for a few heartbeats before giving in to his hold. “We both know you could have easily left me behind if you wanted."

She pressed herself against him gently, the sound of bird pokemon chirping and the faint buzz of insects serenading them both in a natural orchestra. The sense of peace that came with being out here made her realize just how much she had forgotten being out of the city.

For his part, Lance seemed content to let his paw drape across her shoulder, giving her reassuring rubs every so often. Fat, fluffy clouds rolled overhead, heavy with rain, cutting through the blue sky and offering some reprieve from the heat of the sun's rays. They did nothing to defend her from his ambient body temperature, not that she would have voiced her displeasure about it. It was a comfort that seemed more than worth it, like a jacket on a windy day that lulled her roiling emotions and made her want to sink into his embrace.

“When you said you wanted to come out here...I guess I was kind of nervous, you know?" He shifted a bit but didn't take his eyes off of the sky. “Can I be honest with you?"

“Can I stop you?" She mused, only to blink when he rolled onto his side to better look at her. She stilled for a moment before doing the same, now directly facing the cinderace. “What are you thinking?"

His whiskers twitched a little and his ears drooped ever so slightly. His sign of embarrassment, Brandi knew. Instead of answering her he simply looked over her, his paw finally releasing its hold on her shoulder.

“I guess I'm thinking why is this girl so interested in me if she's not doing it for what I can buy her?" When she shot him an incredulous look he sighed and rubbed the back of his head gently. “Contrary to what you might believe, I'm not dumb. I know most of the time a human wouldn't be interested in a pokemon unless they have something to get out of it."

Brandi's expression grew tight and she shifted a little, trying her best to keep the annoyance out of her voice. It was a feeling that she hadn't expected, but one that gnawed at her chest like a school of carvahna that had found its prey. Before she could say anything he was pulling her hand to his chest, something that happened so suddenly that she didn't know how to react.

The rabbit's heartbeat was fast and light, like a ticking clock that was wound too tight. It gave her just enough pause for him to chuckle and continue.

“You make me feel...I'm nervous around you, and I worry sometimes that I treat you too much like any other fan. I feel like I have to try around you, and I like that. I like knowing that if I'm not good enough for you then you'd tell me." His paw stroked delicately along her hand for a moment before he finally released it. He seemed surprised that she kept her palm pressed flat to his chest which made the tones of his heartbeat pick up. “I like you because you don't treat me like a celebrity. When I'm with you, I feel like…"

“...just another person?" She finished for him. Suddenly his heat felt so much stronger, and she soon realized that it wasn't just in her head. He was getting hotter, looking away from her as if there were something in the distance that suddenly seemed far more interesting. “Do you think I'd bring you out here if I didn't want to spend time with you? Do you...know why I like you?"

He tilted his head a bit, smiling wearily at her and rolling his shoulders in a shrug. “Is it the ears? I've had girls tell me they think they're cute."

Brandi found herself smiling back, unable to help the mirthful giggle that bubbled up in her. “It's those buckteeth, actually. I just looove how they feel when we kiss."

She saw him moving closer and welcomed him when he leaned in and pressed their lips together. The kiss was brief, not nearly as deep as it had been when they first started their walk, but she found herself enjoying it all the more. Yes, she could feel the prominent ridge of his front teeth pressing against her lips, but she didn't allow that to detract from her enjoyment.

“I like you…" she began as soon as they broke apart, “because when I asked you to come out here with me, you didn't hesitate to say yes."

He seemed taken aback by this, and when he fell silent she pressed on.

“I dated a boy right out of highschool. He was the one that loved, hell...was obsessed with the Galarian Guardians, and he was the one that got me into them. All our dates were either watching the games at his apartment or going to his favorite sports bar." She could feel the warmth blossoming on her face. It always formed an uncomfortable pit in her stomach when she thought back to those days. “He decided what we did because he didn't like what I wanted to do. Hell, he'd get angry if I said how we always did things he liked."

Lance mercifully remained quiet. With River it always made her feel self-conscious talking about her relationship since she never seemed to give it much attention. That was the thing with River, she realized, she was always looking for the next big fling.

“One day I thought I had finally convinced him to...to come out here with me. It was in the spring before the training camps even started. He kept telling me we'd go next weekend, or make up an excuse why we couldn't." That pit in her stomach seemed to lessen with the reassuring press of his paw on her back, the gently rubbing stroke calming her more than she could have imagined. It coaxed the words from her as effortlessly as a masterful musician plucking the strings of his instrument. “After two months he finally said he just didn't want to, because he thought it would be boring. That he wouldn't have any fun."

Lance listened with rapt attention, and she knew at that moment that she might as well have been the only thing in his world. She found herself crawling into his hold, and finally she allowed herself to go further. The fur on his chest welcomed her when she pressed her face into it, the rabbit pokemon momentarily stiffening in surprise before relaxing and pulling her closer.

“I told him I didn't want to be with a man who wouldn't make time for me. He said that he didn't want a girlfriend that wouldn't understand 'his needs'." She found herself laughing, albeit with a bitterness that surprised her. It came from a place deep within her heart, having been hidden for so long. “When he was in the mood he made me feel like I was the most important girl in the world. Looking back...those moments were so damn few and far between. I wasted three years of my life with him."

That pit that had felt so deep and heavy felt lighter than she ever remembered. It had seemed so all encompassing when she went to the game by herself, fueled by the loss of a familiar face she had grown accustomed to. It had threatened to swallow her whole on so many somber nights, no matter how much she tried to fight it.

“I don't know how far you want to go with this…" His words were soft and held a hint of nervousness behind them, one she was unhappy to hear coming from him. “But I would never want you to do anything to think you need to prove yourself to me. The first time I saw you smile I knew that I wanted to see that as often as I could."

There was so much more she wanted to say. Feelings so unfamiliar that ebbed and flowed through her mind too fast for her to fully grasp. She wanted to tell him so many things, to let her heart burst with emotions that were overpowering her. Instead, she bit down on her lip and basked in the moment. Allowing his embrace to chase away all the doubts and uncertainty that threatened to ruin this serene picture.

Brandi didn't know how long it was until the clouds overhead began to grow darker and the sound of thunder in the distance became more prominent. Lance was the one to coax her off of the ground as the first few raindrops fell upon them, harbingers of the onslaught to come. The last thing she remembered from that heavenly day was the sound of their laughter as they rushed through the rain back down the path to the parking lot below.

-

The city lights were bright beneath the penthouse window of the grand hotel. It was a towering citadel amongst the squalor of the downtown area, one that Brandi could see from her own apartment window. From up here, however, it all seemed so far away. She found herself idly searching the darkened cityscape below for that familiar building, so far removed from where she currently stood.

After a week stay the room had a lived-in feel to it, with the comforter and blankets tossed aside. Discarded clothing lay in piles on the floor with no attempt to keep them organized from what was clean and what was undeniably dirty. When they had walked into the room he had simply mumbled an apology for the chaotic state of it before heading into the bathroom. He had tossed his translator onto the bed in his haste, leaving no chance for the conversation to continue.

She hadn't even had the chance to say she didn't mind it, after all, it was what she had expected out of him. If anything, it made her feel better knowing he hadn't seemed to plan to have her there.

He had truly been unusually quiet that night.

She felt like he should have been exuberant, especially after the game he had played. Especially with her finally, with a put-on act of begrudging playfulness, agreeing to wear his old starter jersey. She looked down at it now, the too-large outfit hanging off of her like a child playing in their parent's clothing. It should have been a good night.

His team had won, after all. They had the bright, shiny trophy waiting for them to take back to Unova. They had the acclaim and the praise, that much she could see from her position in the VIP box as his team celebrated their victory. From the cooler of sports drink dumped across the cinderace's back, cold enough that she swore she could hear him yelp from her position. Still, all she could think about was the bittersweet smile that had touched upon his lips the entire ride back to the hotel.

Thoughts of just how fast the week had progressed drifted in and out of her mind like dust motes in the sun. It was all a fluke, just dumb luck that had led him to pick her out. It could have been anyone else. Things like that didn't just happen to people like her, she knew. To be plucked from obscurity and to spend a whirlwind week with a man, even a pokemon, wasn't something that happened in real life.

Soon this penthouse would be emptied of whatever meager belongings the pokemon had brought with him. It would forget him, his cedar aroma and his temporary stay. Another city would welcome him with open arms until the time when he had to move on yet again. The cycle would repeat, she knew. Maybe he would even find another girl to give the best week of their life.

She thought of that lonely smile he seemed so prone to wear when he didn't realize she could see it. It made sense now when she thought of just how many times he had gone through this very thing in so many different cities.

The sound of the water cutting off in the bathroom caught her attention and finally drew her gaze away from the sleeping city below her. She saw the door cracking open a little bit, a waft of steam escaping before Lance opened it just a crack wider. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, the furry outline of his muscular form apparent under the water-slickened fur that had already begun to steam in the dim light.

One paw reached out, gesturing towards the messy bed. She knew it embarrassed him to speak like a normal pokemon, especially after he had showcased by taking the translator off at her insistence during one of their dates. Brandi had known what to expect, so it shouldn't have surprised her so much to realize that the man she loved truly didn't even share her language.

Just another thing that made them so incompatible.

Brandi moved quickly to grab the translator collar and gave it straight to Lance, feeling no sense of reassurance when he gave her a thankful sounding grumble. It was a few more minutes before he finally poked his head out of the door, his translator lighting up when he began to speak.

“Sorry to make you wait...I forgot to grab my clothes, too." He said apologetically, gesturing with his head towards the floor near the window and setting his ears to bobbing. “I uh, would normally ask first if you wanted to see me like this."

Brandi found that sense of longing sparking up within her despite her apprehension. It had been a feeling that plagued her every night when they had parted at her doorstep, when she knew that she'd have to wait to see him again. A feeling that wasn't helped by the facsimile of him that she kept laying on her bed.

The plush had proven to be an excellent surrogate for all that she had wanted to give the cinderace on those long, lonely nights.

She realized that she was staring at him far too late and bit down on her lower lip. It took everything in her not to step up to him, to let the steaming furry form wrap itself around her in an embrace that she had come to long for.

“Maybe I do…" She said softly, “so…why don't you come out of there and let me see you."

To his credit, and her frustration, he lingered in the doorway. She could see that he was grasping at the wooden doorframe so tightly that his short claws were digging into it, the small pinpricks almost cracking the wood. Finally, he stepped forward and took a few steps towards her, his face a muddled mess of conflicting feelings that she couldn't begin to parse.

It reminded Brandi so much of herself.

They met quickly, her fingers finding purchase in the slightly damp tuft of fur on his chest. She felt him stiffen, and she glanced down when she realized that the front of his towel was pressed firmly against one of her legs. The steam rising off of him did nothing to help the heat in her face, only exacerbating the feelings that were rushing through her.

She wanted to touch him, to strip the towel away from him to see just what she had been so intrigued wondering. He was a rabbit, a pokemon, how different would he be from a human? The thought had plagued the back of her mind since her first discussion with River about him. It was a feeling she wasn't used to, the urge to take control like this. It was a feeling that Derek had never allowed her to feel.

“I don't want to leave you."

The words crashed over her like a wave. The look in his eyes broached no doubt that what he wanted was what she had found herself beginning to desire. She slowly lowered one hand from his chest as they gazed into each other's eyes, and she felt the plush material of the towel under her venturing fingers.

“What makes you think I want to leave you?"

His body trembled when she drew it away from him and allowed it to fall in a heap on the floor. All at once her mouth went dry and her heart started to pound in her chest when her eyes finally fell upon the unusual anatomy of the rabbit. It was so different from that of a humans, that she could see right away.

Surrounded by white fur, his manhood seemed to be hidden from her gaze in a protective covering that jutted out from his groin. It confused her at first, making her linger for longer than she would have liked to while hesitation overpowered her. In her budding desire her trembling hand slowly reached forward to cup the underside of his fuzzy sheath, garnering a silent exhale of breath from Lance.

It was incredibly soft under her fingers, firm enough that she could tell just what was hiding within. Below his shaft hung a heavy sac that exuded an intense warmth that she could feel from just how close she was pressed to him. The room seemed to fade away while her fingers glided along the supple softness and explored every last inch of it.

“Do you like it…?" She heard him whisper from somewhere above her head. “Never had a girl so interested in my sheath before…"

The dry chuckle made her face redden, more so because she didn't want to admit that he was right. It utterly fascinated her with its sheer exoticness, the animalistic qualities of her lover so enrapturing that for a moment she didn't realize that a bright, pink tip had begun to poke free. Lance shifted slightly in her grasp, the hot, steamy breath of the cinderace radiating down on her like a furnace.

“I love it…" She responded softly, that stomach twisting desire nearly dropping her to her knees before him.

Brandi found herself leaning against him for support, his strong arms promising that he wouldn't let her go even while his hips began to lazily thrust forward. Each gentle rock of his hips freed a bit more of his shaft from its hiding place, the pink flesh glistening in the dim light from the large window which bathed the room in an almost ethereal glow. She finally forsook her plaything when she felt his needy shaft brushing against the back of her hand.

This time, she did give up the fight that kept her standing before him. Their eyes locked once more while she slowly sunk to her knees. Time seemed to slow when his shaft bobbed just before her face, the almost overwhelming scent of cinnamon and strong spice making her mouth water. His paws seemed uncertain where to rest now as they ran along her shoulders, one of them finally finding purchase on the back of her head. It rested there firmly, keeping her still and steady with no sign of yielding, not that Brandi would have wanted it to.

They both knew that they wanted this.

Her fingers found the thickening base of his tapered cock after the last inch slipped free. It stood tall and proud before her, much longer than she would have imagined from how short his sheath was. It was a little thinner than Derek's had been, but no doubt it was designed to bury itself as deep into a female as possible. It's surface was a bright, almost bubblegum pink that radiated a heat so intense that she felt as if she were staring into the sun.

“Brandi…" He mumbled, only to groan when her tongue took a quick, tentative lick along the tip of it. “That's it, fuck...you don't know how badly I've wanted this…"

Whatever hesitation he might have had when they returned to his room had seemed to fade away in that instant. His paw rubbed the back of her head reassuringly, pulling her a little closer each time she licked the tapered head of his shaft.

Despite the shower he had taken, the taste was stronger than she would have imagined. It was spicy enough to make her mouth water, the sheer masculinity of the rabbit overcoming his attempts to dilute it in the shower. The sharply pointed tip felt strange under her tongue, so much different than her old boyfriend's. That was fine, she soon realized; from how he shivered under her tongue work it seemed he was much more sensitive than Derek had been.

His shaft twitched rhythmically in her grasp, and before her eyes a thin, translucent drop of pre formed on his tip. It had a much headier aroma than the rest of his shaft, and when it touched her tongue she was momentarily taken aback. It was like biting into an overripe chesto berry with a hint of saltiness that made her feel all the more thirsty for more. It was quickly replaced by another drop, then another while his hips began to rock more desperately.

One thrust of his hips was deeper and more commanding than the others, and before she realized it he had pushed straight into her mouth. He groaned above her head when the warm embrace of her lips surrounded the first inch of his shaft. Her face curled up in an expression of distaste at his sudden desire to take control, but she found herself enraptured by the sudden change in him.

He was groaning above her head in his excitement and the paw on the back of her head was soon joined by the other. The rhythmic rocking of his hips caused his shaft to glide slowly along her doting tongue, each movement releasing another burst of salty pre for her to gulp down.

It was a level of control that she wasn't used to being under. One that simultaneously made her want to pull back to deny his pleasure, but also give in to let him have what he so desired. He had shown her that beneath his posturing facade was a man that she felt herself drawn to, one that she would have been happy giving anything to.

That thought flew around her mind like an angry beedrill, never once letting her forget what she was doing. Her hands found purchase on his firm, muscular ass cheeks, her fingers burying into the soft fur to the firm flesh below. She could feel him tense under her hold which only set him thrusting more eagerly, the tip of his long erection far enough in to tickle the entrance to her throat. It had been so long since she did something like this that she found herself taking great breaths of air through her nose, each one saturated with the scent of a randy pokemon.

Brandi could feel his bushy tail wiggling to and fro in abject delight above his fuzzy rear, the movements just as excited as its owner.. Her lips bulged outwards slightly as she huffed around half of his slick cock, the remainder gliding back and forth before her eyes each time he humped against her face. The rabbit's movements were fast and eager, never once losing the machine-like accuracy that prepared her for the next time his tip would tease the depths of her throat.

For Lance's part he seemed to sense that this was all she was content with taking. His paw rubbed soothingly through her curly hair, teasing the brown locks while reminding her that he was, at least for the moment, in control here. Control that she had returned to him after a week of holding it away by forcing him out of his comfort zone. Of making him work harder for her attention than he might have for another girl.

He was vastly making up for it now with paws that were all too familiar with just where to touch and press. His breathing had caught a faster, higher pitch that reflected the number of drops of pre that were leaking into her mouth, forcing her to swallow what had soon become overwhelming.

“Brandi...get ready…" He grunted, the only warning he would give her as his thrusts started to reach a fevered pitch. “I...can't hold back…!"

The rabbit's thrusts were incredible even with only four inches buried in her watering mouth. Each time he pulled back a small trickle of her own slick saliva and a bit of sticky pre decorated her pouting lips, only for it to leak down her chin in slow rivulets. There was just too much to swallow, and she found it all the more desperate as his balls began to pull upwards.They had seemed to bounce and twitch with each of his motions, swaying like wrecking balls that promised her just what was about to flood her.

They wouldn't disappoint.

Lance's climax came with a loud, straining groan and his paws digging firmly into her short hair. The pinprick of his claws became apparent for the first time, making her realize that he had gone gentler on her than he could have. As it was, now she was trapped with her face in his musky groin, the twitching shaft on her tongue suddenly exploding in a miasma of spicy flavor that overwhelmed her taste buds.

She coughed and gasped around his shaft as rope after thick rope of rabbit cum blasted down the back of her throat. There was little she could do to assist in swallowing it, and even less she could have done to stop the incredible flow. She pulled one hand from his rear and instead pressed it to his stomach for some semblance of reassurance. As her fingers glided along his fur-covered abs, one of Lance's paws embraced her hand.

It squeezed tightly and reassuringly as the sudden, intense onslaught of rabbit cum began to slowly subside until only a few drips on her tongue remained. The cinderace's cock pulled from her mouth with a loud, sudden gasp from her that brought her back to the reality of the dim hotel room and the damp towel she found herself kneeling on. She had been so focused on him that everything else had vanished, leaving her almost missing the reassuring presence of his cock between her lips.

It glistened now with thin trails of leftover cum and her own saliva as it bobbed before her face. It hadn't diminished in size, not in the least, and if anything it seemed just as ready to go as it had when it first fell from his sheath. It demanded attention from her, having been trapped for too long without satisfaction.

The paw wrapped around her hand pulled her up slowly. Lance was mindful of the way her legs wobbled when he tugged her against his naked form, and he made sure to hold her steady.

“That was amazing!" He whispered passionately into her ear, his paws having found a new place on her back as they lazily traced her form. “You were...oh man, I know you didn't take it all but...I guess I didn't know what to expect from you." He chuckled in a delighted fashion that made her face redden. “To be honest…I didn't think you'd let me do that."

The wet warmth of his shaft against the front of her shirt was a constant reminder of just what she had done. The taste of his cum was strong in her mouth, almost overpoweringly spicy even when reduced to mere remnants. She found herself panting while trying to catch her breath as the whirling storm of emotions sought to drop her back to her knees.

Lance seemed to pick up on just what she was thinking, as his paws delicately stroked along her back while he regarded her with doting eyes. “I don't know how much you know about rabbits…" His whisper in her ear made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, especially when he began to slowly rock his hips against her. Steady, insistent, wanting so much more. “We're not usually satisfied with just one tim-"

“Take my clothes off."

He was struck silent when she so suddenly cut him off before he gave her a wry grin and nodded.

“As you wish."

His paws were surprisingly delicate as they began the slow, methodical process of undressing her. He started with her shirt, grasping the bottom of it and slowly pulling it upwards, only stopping to assist her in raising her arms towards the ceiling. He was already on the straps to her bra before the shirt fell to the ground, his dexterous motions making short work of the bonds that kept her hidden from his view. It was with a grateful sigh from her when her perky breasts were freed from confinement, the delicate buds of her nipples already hardening in the cool air.

His velvet-lined paws took a moment to cup them gently, making her whimper under her breath when his digits gently brushed along the sensitive skin. As much as she hated to admit it she felt like mere putty in his paws, his to do with as he pleased. It made her think of all the girls he must have taken to his hotel room over the years, the experience that made him so adept at making her squirm and mewl under her breath for him.

“You're so beautiful…" He cooed softly in the still air that hung between them. “I'd be lying if I said I hadn't wanted to do this since I first laid eyes on you…"

Her hands had hung idle at her side without her realizing it, not daring to get in his way lest she ruin the sultry touch of delicate paws along her chest. With how distracted he seemed by it, she took over for him and found the zipper to her shorts which she slowly pulled down. It didn't go unnoticed by Lance, his grin accentuated by the prominent presence of his buck teeth as he watched her work.

“You that eager for me, darling?"

Brandi hesitated for the barest of moments before dropping her shorts, leaving her standing in only a pair of white panties that was soon pressed against his throbbing, pink cock. It made her gasp when the cinderace began to slowly grind against the thin material, the heat radiating off of it making her knees wobble to the point she had to grasp him for support. He chuckled at her reaction to it, and despite the heat burning in her cheeks she shot him an agitated look rife with undercurrents of desire.

“You dumb rabbit...you think you're t-the only one that wanted this?"

Lance lifted her quickly, just like he had on the forest trail. It happened so fast that she was left gasping when his paws grasped at her ass, rubbing against the tender flesh far more energetically than they had her breasts. His voice was a soft growl in her ear and his manhood a constant pressure against the front of her groin. She felt a few drops of warm wetness splatter against her stomach when she unintentionally squeezed around it, only to hear his sultry voice melodically playing in her ear.

“You don't know how badly I want to rut you into this bed." He hesitated for a moment, before almost apologetically whispering, “I usually...wear a condom when I do this..."

Lance's tone grew a bit more cautious and she didn't need to be able to read his mind to realize that he didn't have one. She didn't either, the thought of protection the farthest thing from her mind. The sudden wave of frustration that overtook her made her grit her teeth and she found herself almost whining under her breath.

“I don't care. I want ALL of you."

His head whipped forward like a striking arbok, capturing her lips in a kiss before his tongue pressed into her mouth. It took her aback when she realized that he was probably tasting himself on her tongue, but he didn't seem to be bothered by it. If anything she was thankful for this passionate embrace which she found herself returning in mere moments as he effortlessly walked them towards the bed. Each step put so much more pressure from his manhood against the front of her panties, the thin material already stained with his own excitement.

Their tongues pressed and rubbed together, wrestling each other for dominance which she soon realized she couldn't claim if she wanted to. Everything she did he seemed to be able to match and it didn't take her long to realize he was toying with her, savoring the way she fruitlessly fought against his overwhelming strength. As her back collided with the downy softness of the hotel bed he had pinned her tongue and was savoring his prize, seeming to be intent on exploring every last inch of her mouth.

His powerful hips rocked idly against her, grinding his manhood along the front of her panties. Each thrust was accompanied by another warm splatter of his pre against her stomach where it pooled and ran back down to soak into the thin fabric hiding her womanhood from view. Their kiss only deepened when Brandi realized just what he was waiting for, and she took the initiative to give it to him.

She felt the damp cloth beneath her fingers and finally pulled it down for him, the cool air of the room against her tender womanhood making her shiver. She was not left to suffer it for long, for moments later Lance slapped his long cock against it, making them both gasp into each other's mouth. When he broke the kiss that had enraptured her, a long strand of their shared saliva momentarily connected their lips, glistening in the dim light before it broke and fell to her chin.

“Brandi…" He whispered softly, his entire body shivering when he felt her fingers grasping at his sensitive manhood. “I want you so badly…"

She didn't answer him with her words. Her fingers drew him downwards, positioning him until his cock tip was poised right between her cunny lips. It rested there for a few tense moments which left her waiting in unabated desire for him to finally take what they both wanted. It was a feeling that she hadn't felt in so long, a feeling that made her spread her legs wider for him.

It wasn't just that she wanted him, she realized, it was that she wanted him to take control of her.

Thoughts faded into a blissful sensation of desire that made her toes curl and her mouth fall open in a plaintive gasp. His muscular hips rocked forward slightly, tensed like a rubber band with the force to drive himself in her with no care for her body's resistance. He didn't give in to his body's drive, nor did he allow the pinprick of her nails digging into his back to deter him.

Brandi pulled herself taut against him, mouth hanging open in a silent exhalation of satisfaction while he slowly, methodically began to push into her. What saliva remained on his overheated cock mingled with her own feminine juices and his copious pre to make his entrance as painless as possible. His thin length towards the tip betrayed just how much he had to give her and it coupled with his intense body heat to give her an idea of just where he was inside of her.

His breathing was heavy and ragged in her ear, picking up every time his hips betrayed him with an energetic twitch that made her gasp in euphoria. Time and place melted away into a dream of fervid pleasure that rocked her to her very core. It was nothing like taking a human, she realized, nothing at all like…

That was funny, she realized as her mind grew foggy from the scalding waves of heat that radiated from her groin.

At that moment, she couldn't even remember his name.

Lance's gasps grew deeper pitched with every inch that so effortlessly slipped into her. His pre warmed her up immensely from the inside and dribbled out slightly each time he pulled his hips back. There was just so much of it that her body couldn't contain it, not that she was upset by it. It made her body's gradual acceptance of him so effortlessly easy that she felt as if she were floating on a cloud.

His loud grunt and the slap of something heavy and furry against her upturned ass signaled to her that all eight inches of rabbit cock were firmly buried in her. She felt the ticklish fur of his sheath grinding against her tender cunny lips, incessantly rubbing against her as if he were trying to push it in along with the rest of his long cock

His heavy balls twitched with every pulse of his shaft, a silent promise that he had so much more to offer her.

She found herself wanting it. Wanting desperately to feel that scorching spray of his pure essence buried deep within her. Would she be the first human he had ever cum inside? It was asinine for her to hope it were true after how many times she had envisioned him doing this with other females, even with his insistence on using protection. It didn't stop her from hoping it were true.

Of course, Lance had other thoughts on his mind, and he was already beginning to draw away from her. She found herself missing the comforting heat and weight of his balls against her ass, but she wouldn't be disappointed for long. With one firm thrust he drove back into her, grunting under his breath and letting out an exalted sigh that was accompanied with a rather heavy spurt of pre deep in her cunny.

“I think we're ready, gorgeous." He whispered to her, his voice tense with lust that made her mouth curl up in an eager grin. “Hope you're ready to learn how a rabbit fucks…"

Brandi wasn't even given the opportunity to respond before he drew back once more and started to thrust. It was nothing like being on her knees before him when she felt like she had some control. It was nothing like being bred by a human who was prone to losing their rhythm. Lance was a machine in white fur, his hips pummeling against her and choking the air from her very lungs with each battering thrust.

He was faster than she could have ever imagined a man being. Her nails dug deeper into his skin, eliciting a hiss from above her. Their bodies rocked in sequence with each other, the thump of the headboard against the wall increasing in depth each time he sped up. There was no moment where he seemed content to slow his pace, no relief for her from the feral intensity that overtook him.

Brandi found herself awash in waves of pleasure as his smooth prick glided effortlessly along her inner walls, each thrust accompanied by a spray of pre that seemed to grow hotter by the second. His fur ground ceaselessly against her, tickling her breasts and rousing her nipples to life from the delicious friction it caused.

Lance's breathing had picked up, hot and heavy against her face while his paws sought out her legs and lifted them from the bed. He moved further over top of her, his feral form looming in the shadows like a harbinger of sinful, carnal delight before her legs found purchase on his shoulders. Their eyes met for just a moment, a silent whisper of desire carried between them that told Lance just what she wanted.

This new position rendered her defenseless against him, unable to resist in the slightest way, not that she would have wanted to. What he had been doing to her mere moments ago was nothing compared to this, the speed and intensity of his haunches pounding against her body almost making her fear he would break her in his mad desire to mate. The friction in her womanhood had become a beacon of heat that radiated through her body, making her toes curl and her voice reach a new fevered pitch of wanton lust.

In that moment she knew that she was his. That realization brought with it an intense wave of satisfaction that crashed over her and took her away from reality. Her climax came with a heady cry and a weak attempt to thrust against him that only proved to deter his movements, forcing his paws to hold her steady to receive him.

It was pleasure like she had never felt before, satisfaction that knew no bounds while he rammed into her with all the force of a stampeding taurus. It was the most wondrous sensation she could have ever imagined.

His hips pounded away at her a few dozen more times in what felt like mere moments of sordid zeal that would have put his best performance on the field to shame. There was nothing she could have done to stop him in that moment, as his head tossed back and he voiced his own gasping groan to the hotel room. His heavy balls smacked against her ass like a stinging spank, and began to twitch.

The load that he had pumped down her throat proved to be a precursor to a great deluge that seemed neverending. His tip planted itself so deep in her that it filled her very core with spurt after spurt of thick, steaming seed. In this position little leaked out until he proved to be too much for her, filling her to the point that her body could no longer accept him and it spilled freely down her legs.

Lance remained above her, breathing heavily while his blue eyes scoured her pleasure-contorted face. One paw reached up, shaking with exertion before delicately stroking along her sweaty cheek. His hips rocked idly to ensure the last few drops of his load was spilled into her, although a considerable amount of it now leaked down their conjoined bodies onto the bed sheets below. He didn't pull himself free of her tight grasp, nor would she have wanted him to.

“You...are...amazing…" His honey words whispered to her seemed so far away. Even when they kissed once more - a gentle peck of the lips, little more than a reminder of affection compared to the wanton abandon they had shown earlier - she felt so far away from it all. “I don't think I've ever...cum that much before…"

Brandi could only smile at him, faint as it might be. It felt as if all the energy had been sapped out of her in that instance, drained so efficiently that she felt like little more than a toy for him to manipulate. It was some time before he finally began to draw out of her, although it didn't go unnoticed by her that he retained his erection, the pink flesh glistening in the air between them.

“Heh, curse of being a rabbit." He said when he noticed her gaze lingering on it. “I could probably go again; I usually chase girls off with this thing." He wiggled his hips a little, causing it to sway to and fro while a few drops of residual cum fell from the tip. “We don't have to, though…"

Despite his words the inflection of them told her just what he was feeling. To give herself to him had proven to be the most enjoyable experience of her life. The great amount of cum he had planted within her satisfied her far more than she would have ever imagined, but there was still more she wanted from him. The heat in the room only grew greater as a memory drifted to the forefront of her mind, as ethereal as a wisp of smoke and fading soon after.

It was one of the last fights she had had with her ex. A night like this in reverse, where she had refused to give in to his demands. Had finally refused the control that he had taken from her when she realized she no longer cared for it. When he didn't understand why she didn't want to give him the final virginity she had kept from him.

Looking over Lance now was nothing like what she felt for the human in those last few moments of their relationship. It had dawned on her already that she wanted him to have her completely, and with a deep breath she nodded down towards his hard cock.

“I think...I c-can go again…" She spoke hesitantly, the worry of just how he might react to her suggestion at the forefront of her mind. “But…"

His ears perked up expectantly while he waited for an answer, only to tense up when he saw her slowly starting to turn over on the bed. She glanced back at the pokemon resting on his knees just behind her and with a playful yet nervous grin reached back to grasp her ass cheeks. She could feel his slick cum covering them from where it had leaked out of her, and with Lance watching she spread them slightly.

“I've always w-wanted to try this," she admitted with a cracked voice, “a-and...if you wanted to…"

Lance watched her spread out like this, his paws resting on his hips while his large buck teeth nibbled on his lower lip. He slowly reached a paw out towards her and rested it on her taut ass, his delicate paw tracing along her smooth skin.

“No girl has ever asked me to do this for her before." He said finally, his ears perked high while his bushy tail wiggled ceaselessly. “Arceus...I knew there was something special about you."

If she had been excited by the prospect of being the first human Lance had ever cum inside, this revelation only made things so much more exciting. Her heart raced while the cinderace overtook her, the slap of his wet cock between her ass cheeks accompanied by his knees resting on either side of her.

The paw that had been teasing her ass dipped lower and elicited a soft hiss from her when it began to trail along her delicate lips. She hadn't realized just how sensitive he had left her from his maddening attempt to fuck her, but just the teasing fur of his paw was enough to make her entire body tremble. It certainly made her grateful he hadn't tried to take her overworked cunny again. He gathered up what cum had leaked out of her in his paw and soon after she felt the alien pressure against her delicate anal opening.

The furry digit spread the rabbit's slick cum all along her opening, pressing firmly against the center every so often to grunts of exertion from her. She gathered he was amused by the noises she made, as he made a point to try to press into her unyielding entrance even when he went to gather more of his cum. The whole time he did this his cock rested on her lower back, a silent reminder of just how much lapine cock she was about to take.

“I hope you're ready for this." He whispered to her breathlessly when he finally determined she was as lubed up as she was going to get. His paws fell on the bed just before her face, his slick manhood pulling back ever so teasingly slow along her back. “Fuck, Brandi. I never took you for a girl that wanted to try anal."

She wanted to challenge that playful tone of voice that seemed to mock her even if he didn't intend it to. She felt the urge to speak up and tell him that it was for him, the big dumb rabbit, to enjoy. Brandi felt like there were any number of things she could say to him, but she couldn't bring herself to do more than nod curtly when his tip delved into her ass crack.

The prodding tip seemed so much sharper than it had been when it was in her cunny. It poked and rubbed against her ceaselessly while he sought the entrance he had so carefully prepared, and Brandi found herself biting down on her lower lip hard enough for it to hurt. It was the anticipation that stilled her heart, that made her want to scream out in frustration with each missed thrust.

It wasn't until she felt the tapered tip find purchase against her slickened up rim that she finally exhaled her held breath. Lance tensed up above her, his hips instinctively twitching with the desire to thrust into her.

She grit her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, exhaling all the air in her lungs when he began to push forward. The heat he gave off seemed to have gone up a few degrees, or it might have just been her own body reacting to the lewd penetration that it was being forced to accept. Her hands squeezed into tight fists while her nails bit into her tender palms like the fangs of a seviper.

“Sweet Mew, you're tight!" She heard coming from above her head. “You don't...nnngh...know how hard this is…"

“I think I do…!" She snapped back quickly under her breath, the hint of a hiss underneath her words.

Lance's lanky form leaned further over her, his knees squeezing on to her sides reassuringly like a warm hug that succeeded in calming her. He pressed harder, slipping half of his long cock into her before she felt the familiar sensation of his pre spurting deep within her. It made her groan as he effortlessly slipped deeper without trying, her body betraying her by relaxing ever so slightly under the soothing heat.

The rabbit pokemon sensed the opening that he had and with one firm thrust of his hips - and a loud gasp from Brandi - he drove himself the rest of the way in. His balls authoritatively smacked against her drenched pussy, filling the room with the loud sound, reminding her just how much was still leaking out of her.

And how much more the lapine had to give her.

For now he seemed content to savor the tight squeeze she was giving him. His paws had grasped at the bed sheets and pulled them taut before ultimately releasing them. They seemed to hover for a moment, resting on the precipice of her view before they came down firmly on her shoulders with the hot breath of the cinderace washing over her neck.

“I can try t-to hold back...but fuck this feels goood…"

What little warning he was able to convey with this message did nothing to truly prepare her for the next moment. She hissed through clenched teeth when he began to draw himself back. Brandi had grown used to the presence of the intensely burning rod buried in her, and to have it pulled out so gradually sent a sharp sensation of discomfort shooting through her. It wasn't long that she had to endure this, as Lance soon thrust forward, driving himself fully balls deep in her once more.

It continued like this for a few minutes, a slow, pull out until only half of his lapine prick was left in her before he would drive himself back until his balls clapped against her wet slit. The rabbit huffed like a locomotive above her head, the few wet beads of sweat that fell over her back letting her know just how poised he was to take her. At any moment she was ready for that damaging ramming and thrusting, that incredible display of athletic prowess that would push her body to the breaking point.

Instead, he took her as slowly as he could without risking accidentally slipping out of her. It didn't help that Brandi had found him pushing in to be far more comfortable than when he would pull out. It took a bit of shifting on her hands to better present herself to him, allowing them both an easier angle for him to penetrate.

Words formed on her lips only to be dashed away as soon as she tried to spell them out. Her face burned as each thrust reminded her that she was letting a man, not just a man, a pokemon, use her in such a taboo way. Sheepish embarrassment presented itself in the redness on her cheeks and the continuous gasping cry that she produced each time he hilted in her.

From the soft chuckles overhead she gathered that it must have amused him to see her having completely lost her cool.

Lance began to speed up when the presence of his pre softened the edge to her grunts and groans. It helped greatly in easing the stinging pain that had threatened her to demand he pull out, leaving her so much more willing and eager.

The pinprick of his claws on her shoulders grew more intense, reminding her to hold still while his thrust grew deeper and more assertive. More and more he pulled back as his lust bubbled over like a boiling pot, his breath growing ragged and wild. The angle that she had presented to him was driven back down into the bed, leaving her no option but to take what he had to give her.

She gasped and cried, groaning to herself as the wanton thrusts elicited some perverse pleasure deep within her. It was so different from properly being mounted, but it was just so wild and abnormal that she found herself conscious of every maddening thrust. Where Lance breeding her cunny had been like drifting on a cloud this was a mad rollercoaster ride that threw her back and forth in her seat, threatening to send her spinning into the air at the slightest provocation.

Brandi's hands curled into tight fists while she withstood the pummeling onslaught on her unready body. Her head dipped and swayed, tossed back and forth while she bit her bottom lip hard enough for it to hurt. What slow preparations Lance had put her through were nothing compared to this.

Each time he pulled back he did it until just the tip was left within her, the harbinger of pain and pleasure resting for just a moment before it plunged back into her. Once again she could feel the rhythm he was setting. Thankfully not as intense or powerful as how he had bred her properly, but so much better than a human could ever do.

Her legs rose slightly from urgency and swayed in the air, the rabbit's heavy form not allowing her to raise so much as an inch off the bed. Lance had her pinned like a predator would his prey, his warm breath on the back of her neck and his paws driving her shoulders down.

In that moment, everything seemed to become hyper clear. She felt the fuzzy weight of the rabbit's balls crashing against her overworked clit. She felt his shaft madly grinding against her stretched rim while his tip plunged into deep depths. She heard every breath he took, felt each drop of sweat that fell from his form, how each individual nail dug into her skin.

The climax that overtook her came completely by surprise.

It took Lance by surprise as well judging by the sound he made when her ass suddenly wrung his shaft at the apex of one of his thrusts.

As her feminine juices decorated his sweaty balls in her aromatic scent, the first familiar spurt of rabbit cum was filling her. He held himself there, hips twitching rapidly while giving just the barest of shallow thrusts as if debating whether to start humping again. Finally, however, he simply collapsed over top of her.

Brandi grunted in surprise when the warm, damp form of the rabbit pokemon overtook her completely. Lance seemed content to leave his shaft buried deep in her willing body and instead wrapped his paws tightly around, shifting the two of them slowly. It wasn't until she was on her side with her back pressed to his chest and his arms embracing her that she finally exhaled her held breath.

“That was…" he began, chuckling even while the last of his climax coated her deepest depths, “the hottest fucking thing I've ever done…"

For Brandi, she found it difficult to keep her eyes open after that. She was an electabuzz that had discharged every last bit of energy in her body in a wild and forlorn attempt to keep up with him. She could do little more than gasp when his dexterous, roaming paws cupped the underside of her breasts.

“You are the most amazing girl I've ever met." To Brandi it sounded like there was little doubt or uncertainty in his words. It was spoken with all the confidence that she had come to expect from him over the past week. “I'll be honest...I don't think I can let you go after this…" He said it with a playful attempt at a joke, but he fell silent as he snuggled up closer to her. “Guess I'll just have to start booking hotel rooms for two, if you wanted."

The room was cool to the point of chilly as the sheen of sweat he left on her began to cool, but his body was a beacon of warmth that she used as refuge from the biting cold. She nuzzled against him, content to simply be held in his arms while the specter of sleep hung overhead.

“I don't think…" she began, and even though she couldn't see it she was certain that his long ears had perked up in the way she found so endearing, “I can let YOU go…"

Lance's response was to chuckle into her ear, the last thing she heard as a wave of contentment overtook her and sleep found her a willing target.