Involuntary

Chapter Five

Elric and Ann were making lunch in the kitchen when Dmitrei walked in with his hands in his pockets, deep in thought about seeing Elena again later that night.

"You're home early," Elric said as he took off the oven mitts and walked over to give him a half hug.

Dmitrei winced. Elric was picking up so many human habits, like being friendly. "I worked a half shift."

"We thought you would want to work all day, considering the cute little lady next to you," Ann teased from her seat at the counter where she stirred something in a large bowl. "Have you eaten?"

He nodded. He had finished the sandwich on the way home. "Are you about to eat? I need advice from Elric."

"Hey, I'm the emotionally intelligent one. You should get advice from me," Ann said.

She had a point. She was also a human woman. He would get both of their advice, anything was useful to him at this point.

"Okay," he said sitting down in one of the chairs and stretching . The chairs were bigger than at the shelter, meant to withstand the substantial weight of a gargoyle, and still be quite comfortable. "I need to know about taking a human on 'a date.'"

Elric let out a short bark of a laugh. "Yeah, I'm glad you're asking Ann on this one," he said. "I thought the way to ask a woman out was for all her I was a gargoyle and she was fortunate to be chosen by me."

She snorted, "It was sort of charming, in a completely wrong kind of way." She lifted her shoulders in a shrug, "Then again, now knowing you aren't crazy, I suppose it's sort of romantic how quickly you knew."

He swung an arm around her waist pulling her in against him for a quick kiss, "Instantly, baby."

"Ugh, so human," Dmitrei muttered.

They both laughed and went on kissing, ignoring him. He averted his eyes, waiting for them to finish so he could have an answer to his question. Then again, he thought, peeking at them. If he went out with Elena, would he end up with something like they had? Not what he had pictured wanting before, but it didn't seem so bad now. Kissing Elena had definitely been something.

Elric pulled back abruptly and stared at Dmitrei, "Ew. Stop thinking about kissing while I'm trying to make out with my mate."

"Stop making out with your mate while I'm sitting at your kitchen table," Dmitrei retorted sharply. "And get out of my head."

Elric snorted, "Gargoyle thoughts. Hard to ignore, especially in close proximity."

Ann, on the other hand, pushed forward and sat across from Dmitrei. "Oh my gosh, you kissed her already?"

"I did. It was nice," he said with a small smile.

"Whoa," Elric said sitting beside his mate. "Start over at the beginning."

Dmitrei did, telling them about holding Sebastian, the other shelter worker, the shelter, their conversation, and lunch.

"Get to the kiss," Elric snapped impatiently.

Dmitrei told them about the way she misunderstood his staring and how he surprised himself by going for it. How they exchanged numbers.

"So, you haven't set a time or anything?" Ann asked.

"No, I needed help knowing more about dates first," Dmitrei said.

"You came to the right place," Elric said putting his hands behind his head.

Ann smirked, "Says the guy who used, 'I'm an immortal, mythical creature' as a pickup line."

"Yeah." Elric looked thoughtful, "Did you try that?"