387 – Buttered Up
The heat was still clinging to Morgan's skin as she stepped off the edge of the arena, one hand clasped in Calcine's, the other tugging her hat low so she didn't have to meet the cheering crowd's eyes.
El Furia had said it wasn't your normal fight club, and they'd proven it by not even announcing a winner. Everyone had enjoyed themselves, so why ruin it with a score? That was the thinking.
A part of Morgan was disgusted by that idea. You were supposed to pour in every bit of effort you could muster to win. That was what brought out the best in people, and she and Calcine hadn't given it their all. They could've ruined Hustle and Heatstroke if they'd pressed the advantage, had the pair of them moaning into the dirt as they pounded some nice new holes into the arena floor. It was the kind of thing people wanted to see tonight, and the Morgan of about fifteen minutes ago would have done it.
But they hadn't. They'd held back and let the pair of them fall in love all over again. It was the kind of sappy outcome Morgan would normally scoff at. But the crowd had loved it, every second of it, and Calcine had been so focused on bringing it all together that even suggesting they intrude had felt wrong. They weren't even going to the changing rooms because Hustle and Heatstroke were going to fuck like Scorbunnies in there, and they didn't deserve a single delay from that task.
Watching Hustle drag Heatstroke off by the arms had made Calcine so happy that her contentment radiated off her in warm, rolling waves. Morgan glanced up at her, unable to resist. A playful gust rippled through her feathers as she exhaled, slow and deliberate, letting Calcine's heat pour in. Her pulse skipped.
Arceus, she was gorgeous. All molten muscle and glowing stone, a walking furnace with titanic curves. Morgan tilted her head, took it all in, and then she couldn't help getting herself a piece of it. She slipped in close and wrapped her arms around that colossal, devastating ass, burying herself against the heat of Calcine's hips. Her fingers flexed instinctively, squeezing the curves like they were the only prize that mattered.
Maybe they didn't need to announce a winner when everyone came away feeling like one.
Calcine looked down at her with a slow, pleased rumble in her chest. "You alright there, little bird? You're hanging off me like you're about to melt."
Morgan didn't let go. She just pressed her face tighter against Calcine's hip, feathers rustling with a soft exhale. "You're warm. I'm soaking it up while I can."
Calcine chuckled, a low, molten sound that rolled through Morgan's body and stirred up all kinds of dark, exciting thoughts. "I know this form won't last forever, but I will always be free for a warm hug. We're partners, and I meant what I said. This ass is at your service."
Morgan let out a shaky breath that collapsed into a soft laugh. It was hard to act cool right now, with all her thoughts burning on her tongue to get out. "Much as I'd love for you to sit on me. I'm not Sparky, and we do need to see our Trainer."
Calcine arched an eyebrow, then smirked. "I fail to see the problem. We can do it after I turn you into a pancake."
Morgan gave her a light smack on the ass, not that Calcine even flinched, then trailed her fingers along that impossibly firm skin. "I have plans for this, but I'm feeling raw right now. A talk to cool down would be good. I do still have plans for tonight."
Calcine leaned down, brushing a kiss across Morgan's temple. Her voice dropped, smoky and tender. "Later, then. But for now, lean on me. I've got you."
Morgan did. Let herself be small, let herself be held, and any fear of seeming weak? Gone the moment she caught the looks from the crowd. All those wide-eyed, whispering faces lit up with awe and envy so thick you could feel it in the air.
Wrapped in Calcine's glow, one arm still full of ass that could humble a Legendary, Morgan felt untouchable. She wore that confidence like a cloak as they finally reached Brandy. Naturally, she led with the most pressing issue.
"Brandy. Why do you have twenty popcorn buckets on your head?"
"Twenty-three," Sparky corrected, beaming and gesturing proudly with all four arms. "Behold! A monument to your extremely adorable triumph."
"I didn't want to ruin her fun," Brandy said and squeaked when Morgan swung a wing, whipping up a gust of wind that toppled the stack toward Sparky. She yelped as falling popcorn buckets rained down on her, kernel grains bouncing everywhere.
"I love ruining her fun." Morgan smiled. "You're so lucky to have me."
Sparky lay amongst the plastic wreckage, grinning as she waved a fist in the air. "The joke's on you. This has only made me more powerful. I am reborn, fueled by corn, protected by bucket armor, and thriving on romantic nonsense."
Brandy snorted, squeezing Dani in her arms as she gave Morgan a once-over. "You both really went through it, doing okay?"
"Doing great," Morgan smiled, still leaning into Calcine's side. "Had a minor identity crisis. Fell in love again. Touched a divine ass."
Calcine hummed proudly.
"It's a really good rear," Dani said dreamily from Brandy's arms. "Like a big warm bread loaf made of lava. But with structure. And bounce. Maybe a sexy trampoline describes it better."
Morgan stared. "Dani, what the hell are you talking about."
Brandy kissed the top of Dani's head and squeezed the Magikarp's ear. "She's been like this since I started nibbling her ears while I watched you."
Dani gave a woozy smile. "It's true. My brain is soup. Happy soup."
"Should I get a straw?" Calcine asked, "I could drink you up."
"Focus, big girl," Morgan said, patting Calcine's hip. "Save that Magikarp thirst for later. We've got emotional closure left to finish."
Calcine sighed theatrically, casting a lingering look at Dani that smoldered more than she'd probably intended. Her voice dropped low. "You know I could have her twitching from my fingers. It wouldn't take a second-"
Calcine caught herself, coughed, and straightened her stance. "But I am far too committed to our date to even entertain such distractions."
"Sure about that?" Brandy asked, her voice low and sweet, but her eyes told a much dirtier story. They dragged up Calcine's frame with slow, deliberate hunger, lingering on the curve of her hips, her glowing chest, and finally, her mouth leaning in like she was fishing to be kissed breathlessly "Dani can be the appetizer. I could be dessert."
"Hah," Sparky cackled from beneath her pile of popcorn buckets. "You're just trying to get out of a sexy punk dressmaker riding you into a couch. Let Morgan enjoy some Coalossal. You've already got a terrifying lady lined up for the night."
"I'm not scared of Rhona," Brandy said, "I'll just get Dani to kiss her until her bones jellify."
"I'm like a love rice cooker. Except with better lips." Dani beamed. "Or a fondue fountain for feelings. Or maybe a romantic vending machine? No, wait! I'm like a soft-serve machine but for kisses."
Morgan blinked. "Brandy, we left you alone with her for one fight, and you've broken them."
Brandy was biting her lip, trying not to laugh. "Okay, go enjoy Calcine, and I'll try to piece Dani back together before Rhona turns up."
"I'll give you both the play-by-play," Sparky promised. "Go on, go be disgustingly in love somewhere else."
"Almost completed our first triangle." Calcine chided. "It'll be you and Morgan on a date next. Kissing. Sharing feelings. Deep throating each other."
"Gross," Sparky muttered, still under a bucket. "I'll get feathers in my mouth."
"Better than what's usually in there," Morgan shot back. "You've swallowed worse."
Sparky peeled a bucket off her face just enough to smirk. "Yeah? And I never once choked. That's the bar I've set that you got to beat."
"Ladies, please don't make a competition of sucking Calcine's dick." Brandy tutted.
"Actually," Calcine rumbled, crossing her arms under her chest with smug gravity, "I encourage it. May the best throat win."
Well, so much for giving up on competition. Morgan was back in.
"Come on, you," Morgan said, tugging at Calcine's waist. She was far too heavy to move, so she just had to hope Calcine would follow. "I can't really top this, but I want to finish our date out. Thanks for letting me have her, Brandy; I really do appreciate it."
"Seeing you both like this is worth waiting on getting a Coalossal in bed," Brandy said, her voice softening around the edges. She leaned into Dani and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Besides, I've got my hands full with the soup fountain."
"Soft-serve," Dani corrected faintly. "But maybe it does soup too."
Morgan rolled her eyes fondly. "Don't let Rhona beat you too badly."
"I might top her!" Brandy yelped, but even she didn't sound like she believed herself.
Calcine finally let herself be pulled forward, the warm weight of her stepping in beside Morgan like she belonged there. Sparky threw popcorn buckets at them as they went, but they ignored them and let the buckets bounce off. It was just so much funnier not to react.
Morgan glanced up at her partner, fingers tightening slightly where they still rested at Calcine's waist. "You know, I really thought I'd have to fight for every scrap of you."
Calcine looked down, her molten glow softening. "You did. Just not the way you expected. Happy to be your partner, on the arena or off it."
They slipped out together into the cooling night air beyond the arena. The sounds of the crowd faded behind them, replaced by the hush of streetlights and the distant rumble of a city settling in for the night. For the first time in what felt like forever, Morgan didn't feel like she had to rush anywhere.
She had what she needed.
Calcine's hand found hers again, fingers large and sure around her own. Morgan shivered in delight as Calcine squeezed.
"Let's go finish that date," Morgan said. "You'll like what I got planned, I think."
Calcine smiled. "Lead the way, little bird."
"You're going to find out I'm plenty big enough if you keep calling me that," Morgan said, giving Calcine a sharp grin and a flick of her tail feathers. "I'll make you swallow a pillow."
Calcine gave a slow, dangerous smile, the kind that promised heat and trouble. "Then I hope you brought extra pillows. Because for every pillow I eat, you're eating two."
"Your flirting game is awful." Morgan snorted, "You're lucky you have such an amazing ass."
Calcine leaned in, her voice a low rumble by Morgan's ear. "I'm luckier to have you."
Morgan let that sit for a moment, warm and heavy in her chest. Then, unable to hold it in any longer, she leaned in and sank her teeth gently into Calcine's bicep, a half-growl, half-kiss of protest.
"That's for being irresistible," she muttered, lips brushing hot stone. "And smug about it."
Calcine just chuckled, low and pleased, and Morgan let it go. She had an ass to squeeze, breasts to nuzzle, and a plan for this Coalossal that could make a bit of surrender worth it. Because if Rhona didn't break Brandy, what Morgan was going to bring back home sure would.