"And sent!" Thalia threw her head back with a loud groan of relief, leaning back in her chair. The project had been finished with time to spare. Thankfully, the rest of the group - despite not being physically present - were right on top of their delegated tasks. Narration, editing, music, sound effects, credits. It had come together, rather well, despite the uncertain start.
She placed her laptop on the coffee table, flopping back on the couch. She and Maktov had watched the finished animation on her television a few moments before sending the project in. His head inclined to her, a slight smile on his lips. "Well, that's over."
"It is," Thalia agreed, though some sense of anticipation tingled in her. She tried to shrug it off as the uncertainty of their upcoming grade.
"Now what?"
Silence crept over the two of them. He'd lingered at her home for the better part of a month, returning to his place for fresh clothes, toiletries, and whatever else he needed. In part, he was apprehensive to return home. Being alone, after trauma and after their current arrangement, made his stomach clench. And Thalia didn't mind his presence.
Maktov had made himself helpful while staying at her place. Assisting with chores, cooking occasionally, doing odd jobs around the place that Thalia wasn't too keen or knowledgeable about. Taryn had even gone to him about some of their homework, a few times. Hell, he'd even begun having mail temporarily forwarded to her address.
About a week ago, Mag had sent notice that the people who'd attacked Maktov had been caught and dealt with. Whatever that meant. Though, Thalia had some guesses after hearing Cherie hushedly talking about the new toads his aunt found. Thalia could hear the air quotes positioned around toads and found.
Apparently, Mag had a whole menagerie in her backyard.
It was safe for him to go back, though. To his credit, he'd offer to leave and she told him it was fine, he could stay as long as he liked. So, he lingered, arguing it was easier to finish the animation project this way.
And now that project was complete.
The longer the silence lasted, the harder Thalia's heart pounded. Of course, she'd thought about this moment. Agonized over it, actually. Especially after he had healed. They hadn't fallen to temptation, despite his time with her, but there had been the touches. Her palm on his arm, his hand on the small of her back, fingers straying as they handed each other items, which evolved into snuggling on the couch or holding back pretenses of sharing a bed. It was their close proximity and how close they'd grown, part of her argued. Though, that part had gotten smaller and smaller.
"It's still early," Maktov hedged, throwing Thalia a sidelong look. He'd already made a, albeit tentative, plan for the night. "And Taryn is spending the night at their friend's house, right?"
"Yeah...?" Something wriggled just out of Thalia's grasp. Some sort of realization hovering, tauntingly.
Maktov smiled, leaning across the short distance between them. "Then, how about we go on a date?"
"What?" Thalia's eyes widened, and instantly being bombarded with recollections of Taryn's insistence on spending the night at Pheebs's place. Her face flushed, embarrassed at the thought of her own child plotting against her. "Did you and Taryn plan this?"
Maktov gave her a broad smile, those sharp teeth of his bright against his shadows. "Perhaps."
She sat there, staring at his face for a moment. Every so often, she'd open her mouth, to find something to dissent with. But she'd always close it, realizing there really wasn't a reason not to. With heart pounding, Thalia pushed off the couch. She could feel Maktov's eyes follow her, curious and intent.
Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, but unable to meet his gaze with her thrumming heart and reddening face, Thalia mumbled, "Okay. Let me get ready."
---
The date swam by. It was a mish-mash of laughter, going to the underground market, and exploring further, enjoying the more festive night time atmosphere. It was truly much more alive in the dark, with vendors just beneath the pier, hawking wares, and some sort of stage performance going on. At both entryways, performers strummed a stringed instrument, their cases gathering tips.
As before, Thalia stayed close to Maktov, holding his hand as he guided her through the dark. Those little balls of light were offered, once again, and she realized many others poked through the dark market, holding the spheres in their grasp.
Even with the cool night air, there was a buzz of heat around the area. Or, perhaps that was just Maktov and Thalia. When their hands itched to touch one another, their lips grazing a little too often, their bodies drifting close and nudging one another, Thalia and Maktov decided it was time to go.
Locked at the lips, the two of them stumbled through Thalia's bedroom door. Maktov kicked the entrance shut, dropping the surroundings into darkness. In the shadows, the stumbles of two sets of feet, making their way toward the bed, filled the air. Every so often, an article of clothing would be discarded in the chaos of kisses and touches.
The two settled on the mattress, Maktov's back pressed to the headboard while Thalia straddled him. Both only dressed in their undergarments. Her hands slid along his chest, his shadows licking at her skin with that strange, feathery sensation. He had one hand at her jaw, holding her close to the kiss, while his other traced the soft curves of her side, landing on her hip.
Thalia was the first to wander from the kiss. Her lips teasing along his jaw and his neck. The shadows tickling at her lips and nose as he moaned. The air around them hot and tingling with weeks of pent-up desire. Her hands slid further south, fingers instantly going for his button and zipper on his pants.
"Wait," he gasped as he grabbed her wrists. Thalia tilted a curious gaze to his face, though she couldn't find a thing in the dark with his eyes closed. Only the shift of his body beneath hers gave credence to his existence. "Before we get too into it, I want to show you something."
Thalia's lips curved into a smile, a snort leaving her. "I swear, if it's your dick..."
Maktov let out a short laugh, though a lopsided smile bared his pointy teeth to her. "Kind of, but there's more to it."
"What?" She raised her eyebrows, curiosity alight in her voice.
His hold on her wrists relaxed, but he pressed her hands atop her thighs. When his touch drifted away from her, Maktov said, "Just close your eyes for a moment, alright?"
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