#just-themys

Since the paladins returned to the planet to acquire anothercastle-ship, Earth became another next hub for the Coalition. Refugeeextraterrestrials mingled with Earthlings, and after the initial calls forisolationism and the rash spread of xenophobia, the locals about the GalaxyGarrison began to accept the aliens among their masses.

It allowed Shiro and Sendak to meander through the shops in a leisurelypace with only a few double-takes. Sendak, himself, was unnerved, glancing downat his and Shiro’s joined hands.

“I do not understand.”

“It’s called holding hands,” Shiro said, squeezing Sendak’s claw. “It’sthe way humans show their affection for one another.”

Sendak grunted and looked away, and despite his fur covering hischeeks, Shiro could tell Sendak was blushing.

Shiro was too preoccupied watching Sendak’s neck muscles contract as hegulped, to notice the shorter person darting between them. Their joined handshit the man just under the chin, knocking the man to the ground.

They walked close but separately after that, but when they came to a donut shop, Shiro gripped Sendak bythe jacket and tugged him inside. Sendak waited on the long linepatiently, though he grunted when the person in front of them debated between thechocolate batter and a vanilla-filled donuts. Shiro glared him into silence butquickly ordered a pastry with Oreo crumbles and vanilla icing. He was about toorder a second donut and two coffees when Sendak’s claw slammed the counternext to Shiro’s much smaller hand.

“Buy out the store.”

“What? No!”

Vanilla icing stuck to the fur about Sendak’s mouth. “I must have moreof this Earthling delicacy.”

“They’re donuts, and we onlyhave money for a few –”

“As a commander of the empire, I am endowed with GAC. Freedom fighters cannot possibly comprehend the wealth I have – ”

“We’ll take a dozen, mixed.” Shiro forced a smile at the clerk beforepatting his mate’s claw. “Earth doesn’t use GAC, and the Galaxy Garrison onlygave us enough money for odds and ends, okay? I promised Keith I’d get him aCarmelo bar.”

Sendak accepted the box from the clerk and began to scarf them down ashe headed out of the store. Shiro watched him go with a sigh and paid. Thoughhe wanted at least one, he’d long accepted his eight-foot-tallpartner ate like a ravenous cloghopper.

So he stopped and blinked when Sendak dropped the box and offered Shiroone of the remaining donuts.

But things went drastically downhill after that. A child banged intoSendak’s leg and began to shriek. When Shiro brought Sendak a custom-made shirt– “I met your leader and was not impressed” – Sendak’s striking form tore theshirt across his shoulders.

The shirt-maker said Shiro’s chosen phrase - “I wasabducted by aliens, and all I got was PTSD, white hair, a cyberneticprosthetic, a pack of large cats, four cubs, one mystical lion, a princess, herroyal advisor, and a major role in a universal prophecy” – wouldn’t fit on oneshirt.

A broken door, a run-in with mall security – “that guy tried to hit mypartner with a rolled-up newspaper. And he’s a cat, not a dog” – and a negativereaction from lunch at Chipotle – the date was rapidly becoming one of Shiro’sworst.

Shiro lingered outside of the candy shop and glowered at the owner whoplanted his feet just outside the door, as if ready to yell at Sendak.

“Go inside.”

“What? No. Not without you.”

“You promised Keith a Carmelo bar.” Sendak brushed his shoulders withgentle caresses. “Go. I’ll wait out – ”

A clap of thunder rolled through the mall. Shiro glanced up, wonderingwhen the sky became so dark – maybe when he was arguing with the mall cop? – andducked when something flopped on top of his head.

Sendak’s jacket.

It encompassed Shiro’s head and fell below the curve of hisbutt.

“What are you doing?” he asked. 

The rain hit then, first as droplets and then in massive sheets, and asthe shoppers fled into the stores, Sendak urged Shiro toward the candy shop.“Go. Get inside. I’ll head back to the truck.”

The water patted down Sendak’s fur, sticking the strands to the side ofhis face and neck. His already tight shirt gripped Sendak’s chest like a secondskin, showcasing his spectacular pecs. His claws gripped Shiro’s shoulders andgave him a tiny nudge toward the shop. His low brows and glowing eyes mesmerized Shiro, perfect and endearing.

Shiro never loved Sendak more than he did in that moment.

He took his mate by the hand, threading their fingers together, andleading him back to the T-shirt shop.

“My husband is fluffier than yours,” Sendak read upon Shiro’s shirt alittle while later. “What is a… husband?”   

“It’s the Earth word for mate.”Shiro pushed up on his toes and ruffled the sodden hair along Sendak’s jaw. “Itmeans you’re mine.”

Sendak blushed again. Shiro smiled.