The Elf, the Cat, and the Human

by Sasha L. Miller

  "Really." Akeid drawled. "Then why am I wasting my money?"

  "You're an ass." Teric decided, amused despite wanting to kick Akeid in the shin. "That's what I was asking."

  "Well, to be truthful," Akeid smirked, the corners of his lips turning up, "I would definitely not say no to sex. But I wouldn't say no to dating either, at this point. I'm scoping out the situation."

  "Ah." Teric smiled, wishing he could lean back in his seat without squishing his tail. "Those are … if not honorable intentions, then intentions I can live with."

  "Good." Akeid still hadn't stopped smirking, ignoring the waiter as he set down their salads.

  "I'll be back to check on you in a few minutes." Ken managed to not actually look at Teric's ears this time, and Teric smothered his smile. Maybe he would earn a nice tip yet.

  *~*~*

  Edrin scowled at his ceiling. It was nearing three in the morning. Three. On a school night. And Teric hadn't even called to say he'd be out late. Staring at the ceiling, Edrin fought the urge to track down that damn elf and strangle him. Teric had had other boyfriends. And lovers. Edrin shouldn't be getting jealous over this one.

  It would be easier if it weren't someone Edrin hated. Maybe. Scowling, Edrin flipped restlessly. He really hated it when Teric dated. He knew for a fact that Teric didn't pick up as often as he did, though he'd never called Teric on it. He didn't want to—he liked that Teric was so … untaken.

  Except that sometimes he wasn't, and Edrin really needed to jump on one of the opportunities when Teric didn't have a boyfriend or lover. But Teric got hit on by everyone, and he didn't need unwanted advances from his roommate and best friend too. Smothering his face into his pillow, Edrin willed the night to go faster and for Teric to get back to the room already.

  *~*~*~

  Edrin scowled irritably at his mirror. His hair sucked. Jamming the baseball cap on over his head, he winced as it tried to cut off his circulation. Teric had worn it yesterday, right. Fixing the straps in the back, Edrin tugged it on again, and turned to shove his feet into his shoes.

  He didn't want to go to class. Scooping up his backpack, he slung it over his shoulder and wondered once more how long Teric was going to stay away from the room. He still hadn't returned, and Edrin really didn't want to go to class and find Akeid there. Or worse, not find Akeid there.

  Tugging his baseball cap lower, Edrin pulled open the door to the dorm hallway and started walking. At least French class was nearby. One of the perks of living in Dawson was that the language building was right next door. Not that it was much of a perk for Edrin; French was a liberal arts elective for him. The rest of his classes were held in the science building on the far side of campus.

  It was a good fit for Teric, though. The top two floors were classrooms used by the fine arts professors, and he had half his classes there, which was one of the reasons they'd chosen the room they had this year. Smothering a yawn, he trudged down the hallway, fighting the urge to grumble under his breath.

  He'd skip, he really would, but Teric yelled at him when he did that, and the professor gave small quizzes at the end of every class for attendance purposes. Pushing out the side door of Dawson, Edrin picked up his pace to cross the twenty yards to the classroom building.

  It was nippy out, and Edrin fretted for half a second, hoping that Teric had brought a coat with him before he caught himself. Teric was a big boy and could deal with being cold if the need arose. He was a Russian after all, and it was cold over there.

  Climbing the stairs to the second floor, Edrin dragged himself into the small classroom. The professor hadn't shown yet, but that was probably because Edrin was nearly ten minutes early. He was much too used to going all the way across campus and still being late. Sighing, he threw himself into his usual chair, dumping his bag on the floor.

  There were two other students in the room, both who he didn't know. The girl at the front of the room gave him a quick glare before returning to her studying of something, and Edrin rolled his eyes. He so should have skipped.

  Five minutes and three arriving students later, Akeid sauntered in, looking far too pleased with himself. Edrin decided the best policy was ignoring him and concentrating on not digging his pencil through all five of the subject sections in his notebook.

  Of course, the bastard had to pick the seat next to him. He didn't say anything though, so Edrin continued his ignoring policy. Maybe after class he'd make sure that Teric had actually spent the night at Akeid's and not left for dead in a snow bank somewhere. Akeid looked entirely too smug for the latter, though, unless he'd managed to get laid somewhere else.

  The professor came in then, following a pair of students chattering loudly about some sports game or another. Edrin frowned at them, tracking the professor as he crossed to the front of the room. Setting down his books, he checked his watch and then scanned the classroom. "Bonjour," he began, and Edrin focused on the French and not on Akeid and his damn smug expression.

  *~*~*

  Edrin gave up easily. Class let out a few minutes early, and he'd made up his mind to go bug Akeid, if only to make sure that Teric really was okay. But when he'd stepped into the hallway, Akeid had been waiting. Waiting, like he knew what Edrin was up to, and planned to torment him with it.

  Turning away from where Akeid was leaning against the hallway wall smirking, Edrin started to go back to his dorm room. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Akeid, he decided. He'd just wait for Teric to show up again, and if he didn't after tomorrow then Edrin would simply call campus security and report a missing person.

  "Wondering where your roommate is, Marshall?" Akeid called, and Edrin paused—Akeid was only trying to bait him, he told himself.

  "I have a pretty good idea," Edrin said, turning to scowl at Akeid, even as he cursed himself for rising to the bait.

  "Hmm, you do, do you?" Akeid's lips curled up. He pushed away from the wall to saunter over to where Edrin stood. Edrin held his ground, curling his fingers into fists around the straps of his messenger bag.

  "Yes." Edrin scowled more viciously as Akeid invaded his personal space. He wouldn't back down from Akeid, though.

  "I sense a little hostility, Marshall," Akeid purred at him, bright blue eyes wickedly bright. "Jealous?"

  "Teric can do what he likes," Edrin gritted out, wishing that Teric had decided that Akeid wasn't worth his time.

  "Or who, hmm?" Akeid smirked. "He is quite the lay, I have to admit. The things he does with that tail of his—"

  Edrin gritted his teeth, wondering how much Teric would kill him if he buried his fist in Akeid's face.

  "Something you probably know nothing about." Akeid's smirk only seemed to grow, and Edrin leaned back slightly, tempted to turn and walk away. That would only give Akeid more satisfaction from this little exchange, though, so Edrin stayed where he was, glaring heatedly at Akeid's smug expression.

  "Poor human," Akeid drawled. "You've been living with him for years and I bet he won't even let you see him undress. Must make you crazy with that little crush of yours."

  "I don't!" Edrin snapped, fighting his shock. He wasn't obvious. He knew he wasn't obvious—he worked very hard not to be obvious.

  "You do." Akeid smirked at him, leaning closer. "It's why I want him," he whispered, and Edrin didn't think, just swung a fist and caught Akeid across the jaw. Akeid stumbled back, laughing, and Edrin turned and stalked away before he tried to do worse.

  *~*~*

  "Sneaking out while my back is turned, I see," Akeid observed with good cheer. Teric yelped, startled, and whirled, his tail flaring out for balance.

  "You went to class." Teric glowered playfully, tugging his shirt into place properly.

  "I did." Akeid sauntered across the bedroom, pleased as Teric's eyes followed behind the thick frames of his glasses.

  "Mmm, and now it's my turn." Teric said, smiling. His tail twisted around his waist and hooked in one of the belt loops on his jeans. Akeid let his eyes follow the motion for a
moment before stepping right up to Teric and kissing him deeply, enjoying the instant response. Teric tilted his head up to meet him and Akeid really was glad he'd searched Teric out because he was a fantastic kisser. Curling his fingers in the waist of Teric's jeans, he tugged him close, pondering shoving a hand down Teric's pants.

  "You could skip." Akeid teased at the skin above the waistline of Teric's jeans with his fingertips, whispering the words huskily into Teric's ear.

  "I could," Teric said, smiling coyly as his tail wrapped around Akeid's wrist, soft and furry and lightly stroking the inside of Akeid's forearm. "You didn't."

  "You were sleeping," Akeid countered, kissing Teric again.

  "Mmm, but—" Teric broke the kiss off, amber eyes playful as he smiled. "I'm not skipping."

  Akeid smirked. "Not even if I—"

  "Ah—" Teric twisted away, ducking his head down and away from where Akeid's fingers had stroked so softly against the edge of his ear. "No. Bad elf," Teric scolded, hiding a smile. "I really do have to go."

  "All right, fine," Akeid said, pouting briefly. "Come back tonight?"

  "Call me," Teric said, shrugging. "My homework still comes before you."

  "I'm hurt," Akeid drawled, following Teric from the bedroom.

  Teric scooped up his jacket from where it had been left draped over the living room couch the previous night. Pulling it on, he smiled again, showing off his sharper-than-normal canines. "You're not my boyfriend. Don't be." Teric laughed, crossing back over to kiss him again. "Mmm, yes, definitely call me."

  "We'll see." Akeid smirked. "Your room phone?"

  "Yes," Teric said, digging a pen from his pocket. "I'm going to write on your hand, don't wash it."

  "All right," Akeid agreed with amusement. He'd never had anyone write their number on his hand before. Teric scrawled the four digits across the back of his hand gently, then gave him another quick, hard kiss.

  "With the normal campus extension and all that. See you." Teric waved, his tail slipping up under the hem of his jacket as he headed for the front door. Akeid watched him go with a smile on his face. He'd call, but Teric would probably hate him by that point. Still, if Edrin didn't say anything—which he might not, if he was trying to keep his crush secret—then Akeid had no qualms with sleeping with Teric again.

  *~*~*

  Teric breezed into their room with a 'freshly laid' smile on his face, and Edrin pretended that his blankets had eaten him. Teric said something softly, but Edrin was too busy trying to not hear him to pick out what he'd said. Teric must have decided he was asleep, because he didn't say anything more and was much stealthier in his moving about the room.

  The good thing about Teric being catlike was that he was catlike. He snuck like a pro, quietly and with expert balance. This was an excellent thing for when Edrin was napping in the middle of the day, which he admittedly did often. Hopefully Teric wasn't mad at him for punching his boyfriend. Edrin stifled a sigh into his pillow and willed the world to go away some more.

  The door shut quietly, and Edrin frowned. Teric had just gotten back. He probably had class. At least he wasn't a missing person, Edrin thought grumpily, scowling. If he ever found out that Akeid was just sleeping at him to get back at Edrin … that would be bad. Pressing his face into the pillow, Edrin scowled.

  He really, really hated Akeid right now. Normally it was simmering hate for the way that Akeid dressed and acted and spoke and looked so damn collected and handsome all the time. But now he was messing with Teric, and sleeping with him which just made the envy and anger even worse, and it was apparently Edrin's fault. Edrin hadn't ever done anything to Akeid, except for maybe cutting him off on Saturday night.

  He just hoped that Teric wouldn't hate him for getting him involved in this Akeid thing. Or for punching his boyfriend. Or for liking him when he shouldn't, because Akeid would probably tell him all of that at some point or another, and Edrin really sucked at lying when Teric asked him direct questions.

  *~*~*

  "You're awake." Teric smiled, shutting the door behind him. Edrin grunted sleepily in response, and Teric laughed. Edrin had to have just woken up, to be that incoherent. Crossing the room carefully—Edrin was a slob—Teric dumped his backpack and jacket on his neatly made bed.

  Stretching out the kinks in his back, Teric tugged off the ski cap that was keeping his ears from freezing and fought a yawn. Last night had been fun, but tiring. Akeid would probably—well, might—call, but Teric would decline for tonight. He had homework and Edrin could probably use some attention. He always got sulky when he thought Teric was attached to someone.

  "Have plans for tonight?" Teric asked, pulling out his science book. He had to do a bit of catch up for tomorrow's class. Akeid had distracted him far too much yesterday.

  "No," Edrin mumbled, drawing the blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders over his head. Teric laughed, settling into his desk chair. His tail wrapped around the armrest easily and Teric decided to wait Edrin out. Flipping his book open to the right page, he started reading and waited for Edrin to uncocoon. Edrin flipped down the blanket after a few minutes. "Why?"

  "We could do something?" Teric offered, very willing to be distracted from science.

  "Oh." Edrin frowned. "But don't you and Akeid—" Edrin cut off, scowling, and covered his head again.

  Teric sat up straighter, curious. "Don't Akeid and I, what?"

  "You're not doing anything with him?" Edrin asked, muffled through the blanket.

  "No." Teric shrugged, though Edrin couldn't see it. His tail unwound and he stood up, setting his book back on the desk. "Edrin."

  "What?" Edrin mumbled.

  "Take off the blanket, Edrin," Teric ordered, leaning against the corner of Edrin's desk gingerly. Nudging Edrin's leg with his toes, he waited patiently.

  "Why?" Edrin tugged it down so that his head was still wrapped, but his face and a bit of unruly, ruffled hair peeked out.

  "Because." Teric made a face at him. "You don't like Akeid."

  "I—" Edrin hesitated, and Teric raised his eyebrows. "Fine, I don't like him."

  "Okay," Teric said, with exaggerated patience. "Why not?"

  "Because." Edrin shrugged sulkily. "Does it matter? You picked him."

  Teric smiled, shaking his head. "He's just a boy. You're my friend, Edrin, and currently you come first in the pecking order."

  "Really?" Edrin didn't sound convinced, but then he shrugged and muttered, "Okay."

  Teric laughed. "We're not going clubbing tonight."

  "Yeah, you already got your tail," Edrin said, looking faintly put out. Teric flushed, his tail thwacking against the side of the desk in agitation.

  "Oh, shut up. A movie?" Teric suggested, ignoring that he should be doing his homework.

  "Okay," Edrin said. "I'll buy the tickets if you get the snacks."

  "Fine, but you're getting one of those refillable buckets of popcorn and that's it," Teric threatened, standing up to get his wallet.

  "I can live with that." Edrin grinned, getting up with his blanket still wrapped around him.

  "And you have to put some pants on," Teric said with amusement, eyeing Edrin's fuzzy legs.

  "I'm wearing shorts," Edrin said, letting his blanket fall to cover his chair. "Complain a little more, cat."

  "Shut up." Teric stuck out his tongue, tucking his wallet into his back pocket and picking up his jacket again. "Or I'll only get you a small popcorn."

  "That's just mean," Edrin complained, pulling a sweater on over his t-shirt, and a pair of jeans over his shorts. Teric winced, but didn't say anything, only shook his head ruefully. Edrin was a strange roommate, but Teric wouldn't trade him for anything.

  *~*~*

  Akeid hung up slowly, wondering if Teric was just avoiding him now. He'd find out tomorrow in class, he supposed. It wouldn't be that big a loss, even if Teric had been the best lay he'd had in a while. He'd ditch Jenai and Mareth and sit with Teric in class again tomorrow, if Edrin hadn't killed Ter
ic's interest in him.

  Maybe he could find a new way to distract Teric from his notes.

  *~*~*

  If he said anything about Akeid's motives, Teric would find out about his crush, Edrin mulled, staring at the ceiling. Teric was already asleep, having practically passed out after the late movie they'd seen. After a trip to the movie theatre to see what was playing, they'd gone to dinner—fast food—and then gone back to the theatre to catch the movie.

  It had only been midnight when they returned to the room, but Teric did have a morning class—with Akeid. Edrin wondered what the chances were that Akeid would say something. He had no clue. He didn't know what Akeid was planning, except for hurting Teric because of Edrin. If Edrin said anything to Teric, though, even just that Akeid was using him to get at Edrin, then Teric would wonder why Akeid hated Edrin or why he thought that sleeping with Teric would hurt Edrin.

  Because, yes, they were roommates and best friends—though Edrin would never say that out loud because best friends were something that girls did with lots of giggling—but there shouldn't be any reason that who Teric was dating would hurt Edrin. Except in that 'Edrin didn't like Akeid' way. And he really, really hated the smug bastard right then.

  *~*~*

  "Ulgh," Teric grumbled, flipping the chair out and sitting down carefully. His tail snaked out from under his jacket as he sat. His head ached from too little sleep and he really wanted nothing more than to skip this class. Only, Akeid was here, and he'd blown the elf off last night. He also couldn't fall too far behind in the class material, or else he'd never pass the class.

  Dragging his notebook out, he set it on the table and flipped open to a fresh, doodle-free page. Digging the pen out of the metal bindings, he set it down on top of the page and stared down at the lower tiers of desks, waiting for the professor to come in and start class.

  "Here." Akeid set down a cup in front of him.

  Teric glanced up, surprised. "Hi." He peered at the cup curiously, his tail twitching as Akeid settled down in the seat next to him. "What is it?"