Zoofic - Back To Where You Once Belong - Part 1
Here is another installment of Zoofic. Once again, very NC-17 with a Bestiality warning. Thanks to anax who actually volunteered to beta this monster.
“You even have to ask me? Come on Anthony, it's only my life's work!” Marta put her hand on her hip and snorted into the phone. “When should I expect them? I have to get an enclosure ready.”
Marta took in the details, hung up and called Kate, her volunteer, and then went to select an enclosure. If she wanted to move the den from one enclosure to another, she'd need some extra muscle...good thing there was someone else around. Marta stuck her head in the bedroom, and Ed looked up from where he was lounging on the bed, reading.
“Come and help me,” she said to him. He closed the book and hopped off the bed, snagging his coat and shrugging it on to follow her down the hall. She often wondered what drove Edward to wear the brown coat. He'd wear it in the heat of summer if she let him and he wore it everywhere; he'd even come to bed with it on. Elric pelts puzzled her. At first she'd thought the bright red of the adolescent Edward was used to attract himself a mate, but now she wasn't so sure.
She explained to him what she wanted to do, and between the two of them they got the big plywood and carpet 'den' into the chosen enclosure, backed up to a wall. She got some thick bedding pads and linens and crawled into it, making a comfortable nest. Since the incoming pair had an injured member, she added extra bedding for more comfort. She then had Ed lug in some of his old toys while she arranged a few books. Elrics had no natural inclination to suckle, so she had to teach them to use sipper bottles. If this pair was really as young as she was led to believe she'd have to start out giving them water in bowls; she move in a base to use as a stable place to put a food and water tin.
As she paused at the door, doing her mental checklist of the enclosure, Ed came up behind her, murmured her name and nosed the nape of her neck. He was twenty now, and about as tall as Marta speculated he would get. They stood pretty much eye to eye, although that wasn't saying much for Edward because Marta was not particularly tall. She turned around and gave him a kiss and put her hands on his hips.
“Ok Ed, I have incoming, they will be here later this afternoon,” she said and rubbed his sides. “It's a young pair of mated Elrics, so until I get them settled will you please stay out of sight? In case the Edward feels you are threat.”
Ed looked at her face while she spoke, and at the end he shrugged, and sighed and tossed his hand.
“Thank you,” Marta said and kissed him again. He wandered off after that, presumably to the bedroom to continue reading his new book.
**
The van pulled into the driveway around six that evening, and she walked out to meet it. She hugged her friend Anthony, and they went around to the side to open the large sliding door. Immediately, the large crate strapped in the back began to rock and growl.
“He's really lively,” Anthony said with a wink, but Marta's attention was drawn to a small figure wrapped up on blankets on a stretcher. Anthony slid the stretcher toward them gently. Marta saw some bare toes peek from beneath the blanket, and the beginning of a cast above them.
“Here's our little guy,” Anthony said. “He's pretty banged up, he's been mildly sedated for the trip. I have a print out of all his medical records. He's mostly got a broken leg and some internal bruising. He's more docile than his mate.”
The Alphonse looked impossibly small on the stretcher, swathed up. He had some faint bruising on his forehead and some bandaged abrasions on his cheek. Anthony carefully slid the stretcher out and Marta took one end. The Alphonse stirred and mewed weakly, causing the Edward in the crate to rage anew.
“He was hit by a car?” Marta asked, inspecting the Alphonse on the stretcher. “The poor baby, he looks so young, you say they were found together?”
“Oh yes,” Anthony said. “Edward was very protective, it took some doing to subdue him. We finally ended up darting him.”
Marta naturally had a soft spot for Edwards and she looked into the crate, only to be confronted with a snarling golden visage.
“You're a good mate,” she told him. “Protecting your Alphonse, we'll be right back, ok?”
The Alphonse called out suddenly and the Edward in the crate went wild. The straps shook and the sides of the crate seemed to bulge. The Edward returned the cry and the door of the cage rattled ominously.
“Let's get the Alphonse inside,” Marta said stepping away carefully, making sure not to jostle or tip the stretcher, “then we'll deal with that.”
Very carefully, they got the Alphonse into the enclosure, and the two of them eased him off the stretcher and onto the padded bedding in the den entrance. The Alphonse was panting weakly, but he was still groggy and mewed softly as they settled him.
“Does he have pain meds?” Marta asked, tucking him in.
“I brought everything,” Anthony said. “We'll get it all out of the truck after we get the Edward inside.”
Marta nodded and followed him back out. She stood back as Anthony climbed in and unstrapped the crate, and together the got it out of the van and onto the ground. The Edward inside was very unhappy, and he wasn't shy about vocalizing it. He snarled and yelped and growled and screeched. He tried to bite the wire of the cage door, and he tried to claw at them through the air vents in the side.
“This one is a handful,” Anthony said, as he and Marta hefted the crate and started for the sanctuary. “And the main reason I'm so grateful to have someone like you around to deal with these problems. The clinic just couldn't handle him, they would've have had to keep him sedated and we both know that would be harmful to him in the long run.”
“Agreed,” Marta said. “This is why I have this place. These two are lucky this happened in your jurisdiction. Well, not lucky, but you know what I mean.”
“Damn straight,” Anthony said as they maneuvered the crate with its shrieking passenger down the hall. “I was third on the scene and this poor guy was frothing. Lucky for me the local authorities were more than willing to cooperate.”
They set the crate down with the cage door facing the enclosure door. Marta pushed the door open and stepped out of the way so the Edward could see his mate lying in the mouth of the den. The Edward in the crate made a highly-pitched sound of distress, but the Alphonse answered weakly. Marta and Anthony shoved the crate into the enclosure a bit, then Anthony got on top of it and leaned down and banged the cage door. When the startled Edward pulled to the back he quickly undid the latch and swung the door open.
The Edward darted out and immediately scampered to his mate's side, pausing only to turn back on Anthony and Marta and hiss threateningly. Anthony pulled the cage out, and Marta pulled the door closed. Together, they stood at the picture window and watched the Edward fret over his mate. He was very gentle, sniffing delicately, touching Alphonse on his head and making low sounds. The Alphonse was still in the grip of his sedative and could only answer faintly. Finally, the Edward curled up on the floor next to him, facing him and lay his hand on his Alphonse's hand peeking beneath the blankets.
Marta reached over to dim the lights, and the Edward's head popped up. He stared at the ceiling, then jumped to his feet and turned a circle. As he lowered his head he caught sight of Anthony and Marta watching him, and he crouched down and moved to block Alphonse from view, hissing.
“They are so young, I venture newly mated, and newly separated from their parents,” Marta shook her head. “They are probably so young they didn't realize the danger cars pose them.”
“Speaking of Elrics, I'm dying to see Ed. I haven't been around in a while, how has he been?” Anthony asked.
“He's great, go on into the living room, I'll hunt him down for you,” Marta smiled and Anthony turned away. She gave one last look to the small Edward bristling on his mate's behalf, and went to summon her own Edward.
**
After Anthony left, Marta went to check on her new charges. The Edward was curled up much as he'd been before, facing his mate and touching his hand. The Alphonse seemed to be asleep. She headed down to her office, and sat to read the notes and study the medication Anthony had brought from the clinic. Ed wandered in a bit later, and slouched in the chair in front of her desk and worried at her wire in-basket. She shooed him off, finished up her reading, and made notes on her planner about what she had to check daily with Alphonse. She would have to try to win the little Edward over, or she and Kate were going to have a hell of a time each time they wanted to tend to the Alphonse.
Marta's first tactic was food. She went to the kitchens, and there Ed found her once again. He helped himself to the fruit and vegetables she was preparing for the little Edward's dinner, (and hopeful first sign of friendship), and was shooed away again when she carried the pan down to the enclosure.
She opened the door slowly and heard the low growl, but she knew he had not moved from Alphonse's side. She turned the lights up just a bit and the Edward glared at her, rising up on his haunches and baring his teeth. Marta only smiled at him. He was so young, and so small. She would put this pair around eleven. She bowed a little to make her height seem less intimidating and took a few steps into the room. The volume of Edward's growl was proportionate to how closely she approached he and his injured mate.
Marta hunkered down and put the pan on the floor. Edward continued to growl, but his nose twitched and he kept looking from her to the pan and back again. Marta slowly pushed the pan in front of her, and edged just a bit closer. Edward hissed loudly, and Marta acquiesced and backed off, leaving the pan as far as she'd gotten it. Then she backed out of the door and closed it softly.
Once outside the enclosure, she stood at the very edge of the picture window to see what the Edward would do. He stared at the pan for a long while before cautiously standing. Then he hesitated, torn between the pan and Alphonse, and squatted down and tried to reach it without getting out of touching range of his mate. When that didn't work, he tried with his foot. There was nothing for it...he finally dashed forward, snatched the pan up and dashed the five feet back to Alphonse. Squatting back down, he inspected the pan, sniffing at it, then picked up a hunk of melon and offered it to Alphonse. Alphonse, however, was still asleep, and even though his Edward called to him softly and waved a hunk of melon under his nose he didn't stir. So Edward popped it into his own mouth. Then Edward tried the strawberry, and then the apple slice and some grapes and carrot sticks. Each piece was offered to Alphonse first before Edward scarffed it. She noticed he almost looked to be counting the rest of the pieces in the pan, and then he slyly slid them into the den to save them for his mate when he woke up. He settled down again and scooted up close, touching Alphonse's hand.
As Marta dimmed the lights again, she could hear his faint rumbly purr.
**
Marta and Kate stood and watched the young Edward threaten them through the picture window.
“Oh Marta,” Kate said, “he's precious.”
Marta laughed.
“He has a bad case of the 'I'm so fierce',” Marta grinned. “It's understandable, he's so young and he's frightened and his Alphonse is injured and that makes him anxious. He's such a good mate already though. Here's the problem, I have to get him out so we can check on Alphonse who is awake now and might be in some mild pain.” Marta turned and gestured across he hall where she'd made another unused enclosure cozy. “He's going to be very unhappy and I have experience dealing with Edwards. What I want you to do is open and close doors for me, ok?”
“Got it,” Kate said.
Marta pushed up her sleeves, took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright then, let's do it.”
Kate opened the door. Marta walked in and went steadily toward Edward. Edward's eyes widened and he jumped up hissing, but he backpedaled before her determined march. His eyes darted to Alphonse, and Alphonse called his name, but now Marta was between them. He wanted to go to Alphonse more than he wanted to threaten Marta, so he tried to skirt around her. This is what Marta was hoping he would do; she jumped behind him and made a grab for his nape, but he twisted at the last second, and she caught the shoulder of his red pelt instead. He whirled and tried to bite her arm, but Marta had been bitten enough in her career to anticipate when one was coming, so she released his shoulder and with her other hand grabbed his braid. Edward let out an indignant squawk, and she hauled back on the braid enough to get him off balance. When he flailed, she got him by the nape.
Edward had a complete look of astonishment on his features, and he suddenly wanted to curl up a bit. But instead Marta grabbed him by the seat of his pants and marched him out the door. Kate ran across the hall in front of them to open the second enclosure, and Marta bum rushed the little Edward, (who was barely level with her breasts), right through the door into the second enclosure. She squeezed his nape and he sank to the floor; then she released him and ran out the door, Kate pulling it shut behind her.
He raged! He charged around the smaller enclosure, kicking toys and books out of his way. He pounded on the glass of the door and even pointed at them a time or two, but then Marta left. She went for the cart that had all her supplies for Alphonse on it and wheeled it into the enclosure where Alphonse lay. The Alphonse made a sound of distress and watched her with his large bronze eyes. She smiled at him and took a few things off the cart and knelt by him.
“Hey there,” she said softly. “Do you hurt? Are you hurting sweetie?” She slowly raised her hands, and gently touched his head and arm. Alphonse stared at her, trembling slightly. After a few moments of getting him use to her touch, she began to check him over. She changed a couple of his bandages, and he was amazingly compliant. It might be fear, she reasoned. She got some of the liquid pain killer in a syringe and held his nose until he opened his mouth and then quickly shot it down his throat. He coughed a little and she petted his head until he stopped. She petted his hair - it was still fine and baby soft - and he regarded her. She smiled at him.
“You're so pretty, you're such a sweetie. Your Edward is very lucky,” she told him softly. The Alphonse blinked at her, tilted his head a bit. Marta checked on his cast, and then put a sock over his small bare toes.
“There now all done, I'll get you both a treat,” Marta glanced up at Kate, who was standing in the doorway looking off at where the Edward was penned. He'd gone quiet, and Kate was covering her mouth, her eyes crinkled in laughter.
“What's he doing?” Marta asked with a grin.
“I think he thinks he can chew his way out,” Kate said, uncovering her mouth and smiling. “He's very determined,” she said to Marta, and winked. Marta grinned, packed up her stuff and gave the Alphonse one last gentle pat on the head. He started to purr.
“You're a good boy,” she told him. “We're going to make you all better.”
Marta pushed the cart into the hall, and then she and Kate stopped to watch the small Edward chewing determinedly on the door handle. He noticed them watching, straightened up, and began railing them again. He flailed around, slapped the door handle a few times and bristled. Marta pushed the cart on down the hall and he screeched after them, pressing his nose to the glass on the door. Marta pushed the cart into the infirmary, then went to a cabinet and opened it, fishing a couple of granola bars out and pocketing them.
“Ready to return his majesty to his enclosure?” she asked Kate with a grin.
Without his Alphonse there to protect, the small Edward lost a lot of his bravado when Marta opened the door. He immediately hightailed it to the other side of the enclosure, and watched her warily.
“Hey come on, I'm not going to hurt you,” Marta said in reasonable tones. “Don't you want to go back to Al? Don't you want to see Al?” Edward lifted his nose a bit and huffed, then he bared his teeth and pressed himself into the corner.
Kate glanced down the hall.
“Marta, here comes Ed,” she said. “No, Ed, no... go on back.” Kate waved at him, and Ed stopped with uncertainly just outside of view out of the picture window.
“Ed, go on back,” Marta called, and her momentary distraction was all the small Edward needed. He zipped past her and barreled into Kate at the door. Kate landed on her ass with a yelp, and Marta took off after the escapee. But the small Edward stopped short in the hall at the sight of the adult Edward standing there, very near the place he could smell his mate's scent. He turned, but Marta was behind him, and his head whipped back and forth between the two.
“Don't let him pass you, Ed,” Marta called down the hall. “Don't let him get by you if he runs your way, ok?”
Ed gave a sniff of disdain and eyed his smaller relation. The young Edward warbled in uncertainly and perhaps a touch of fear. In the wild, adult Elrics could sometimes be aggressive in territorial matters, but they were not known to attack adolescents. The little Edward seemed to decide that the adult Edward was the lesser of two evils, and suddenly charged down the hall toward him. Ed merely stepped into his path, and Edward skidded to a halt and looked toward the door of the enclosure where Alphonse was.
“Let him pass if he wants to go to his mate Ed,” Marta told him. Ed stepped aside slightly, and the smaller Edward raced into the enclosure and to his mate's side. Marta grinned and headed down the hall.
“Good job Ed, great job! I'm proud of you,” she told him. He grinned hugely, and she hugged him briefly. Marta then went to the doorway of the enclosure and watched the pair check each other out anxiously. They calmed as they realized neither were worse for wear. Marta slowly entered, and Edward began to growl. She took the granola bars out of her pocket and unwrapped one as she squatted down.
“Look, this is yummy,” she said, extending it toward the small Edward. He made no move toward it, instead deciding that he needed to huddle over his mate. But then his eyes widened a bit, and he looked over Marta's shoulder.
Ed leaned down over Marta and tried to get the granola bar.
“Ed, what? No, you greedy thing...” Marta got out but was in no real position to stop him. Ed plucked the granola bar from her hand and sniffed it. He took a bite off the end of it and chewed it slowly. And then he said something. The smaller Edward perked up, nose twitching, and the Alphonse was now staring at Ed too. The smaller Edward licked his lips and stood slowly, but he kept giving Marta wary glances. So Ed stepped around Marta and walked right up to him and offered him the remainder of the granola bar.
The smaller Edward snatched it, sniffed it, then bent down and gave it to Alphonse who took it and sniffed it. Marta stood up slowly and cocked her eyebrow. Ed looked back at her nonchalantly, and held his hand out for the remaining granola bar. Marta unwrapped it and tossed it to him; he caught it neatly and handed it over to the smaller Edward, who grabbed it and shoved as much as he could into his mouth.
Marta watched as the smaller Edward gobbled his treat and the Alphonse ate his with small, precise bites. Neither seemed disturbed that there was an adult Edward standing there. In fact in a very casual fashion the smaller Edward grabbed the larger Edward by the sleeve, and then leaned on him and began a steady stream of chatter in their soft language, pointing at Alphonse a few times as he did so.
Was the little Edward telling Ed what happened?
Ed bent down and patted Alphonse on his head and Alphonse began to purr happily. Edward kept a hold of Ed's sleeve and looked relieved to have him there. Marta began to feel like a third wheel.
“Wow,” Kate said behind her, “Ed is good with kittens.”
Well that was news to Marta.
**
The next day, they were low on supplies. After Marta fed the Mustang, and Ed carried breakfast into the little Edward and his Alphonse, she put Ed in the car and took him to town with her. He sat in the front seat, watching the scenery go by. Why was it a surprise to her that Edward was good with kittens? He was good with children, and that should just translate over to his own kind. Case in point:
They pulled into Cullen's Produce and got out of the car. Ed followed Marta in, and they were both greeted by Mr. Cullen. Marta had known Mr. and Mrs. Cullen since acquiring the sanctuary; their store was the main supplier of the produce Marta fed her charges. The Cullens had a granddaughter that lived with them, and was usually in the shop when Marta stopped by.
Ed was her boyfriend.
Melissa was eleven now, and Ed was the best thing since sliced bread. She came charging from the back room as they entered, and practically threw herself on him. She had been doing this since she was five. Marta always grinned when she remembered a fourteen year old Ed's astonishment that there was a five year old girl hanging on his leg. Melissa began to talk to him, in the way little girls would chatter on, just like he was one of her gang and knew everything that was going on. It never bothered her that he never spoke, never said her name. Ed dragged along one of the isles with Melissa hanging around his waist and looked at some of the fruit there.
“She really loves to see Ed,” Mr. Cullen said. “She'll go on about him all night now.”
“Well Ed is very flattered to have such a steadfast admirer,” Marta grinned. “I'm going to need some extra this week, we have new guests.”
After a while Marta noticed Melissa had gotten very quiet; she looked around and saw the two of them in the back of the shop, and raised her eyebrow.
“Melissa? What are you giving Ed?” Marta directed at the pair. They both jumped guiltily, and turned to stare at her.
“Nothing...some of my chocolate bar,” Melissa said, hands behind her back. Ed shoved his hands in his pockets.
“How much is some?” Marta asked.
“All of it,” Melissa confessed. Ed studied the ceiling.
“Come on Ed, you can take things out the car,” Marta said and shook her head.
Ed and Melissa exchanged a look that said it pained them deeply to be parted, but Ed came up and dutifully carried crates of vegetables and fruit out to the car. When they got in the car for the trip home, Marta looked at him sidelong.
“Sneaking chocolate at your age,” she said. “You have that poor girl completely snowed, you should be ashamed.”
Ed made an exaggerated sigh and hung his head in an exaggerated way.
Marta laughed, started the car and drove them home.
**
Marta looked in, and smiled to see Edward sharing books with Alphonse. The pair was really growing on her. Most of Alphonse's bruising had faded, and he seemed to be feeling much better. He was propping himself up on his elbows to read, while Edward held the book open. Marta went to fetch some more pillows and snagged the bottle of multi-vitamins on her way; it wouldn't hurt to give them to the pair for the duration of their stay at the sanctuary. She came into the enclosure, and Edward began growling at her, but she knew now that he was all bark and no bite. She came over to where the two were and Edward jumped up and bared his teeth, but when Alphonse made a sound and looked at his mate, Edward begrudgingly moved aside. Marta helped Alphonse to sit up, tucked pillows all around him to make him comfortable, and petted his head to hear him purr.
“Look Al, yummy,” Marta unscrewed the cap of the vitamins and popped one in his opened mouth. Al had learned that 'yummy' meant a treat or food in the short week he and his mate had been in the sanctuary. He looked a bit askance but swallowed dutifully and got another pat.
Marta got one out for Edward and turned around and stooped down to his level.
“Look Edward,” she enticed, “yummy.”
Edward dutifully opened his mouth, too, and Marta did as she had for Alphonse and popped the vitamin in. Edward immediately spit it out. Marta picked it up and offered it again, but Edward clamped his mouth shut. So Marta pinched his nostrils shut. Edward decided to be 'so fierce!' and tough it out, but his eyes soon started to water. When his mouth finally gaped open to take a breath Marta popped the vitamin in again; then she grabbed his jaw and put her hand on top of his head, forcing him to keep his mouth shut. He grunted and squirmed and tried to twist away, but Marta was bigger and onto him, and she only let go after she watched his throat work convulsively.
Once freed, he staggered around and coughed in an exaggerated fashion, and gave her dirty looks. He went over to Alphonse for comfort, and Alphonse indulged him, wrapping his arms around Edward when Edward hunkered down next to him and whined.
“Oh it wasn't that bad, it's good for you,” Marta said. “I'll let you have a treat after dinner.” She went over and ruffled Edward's hair, but he just pouted, although Alphonse smiled at her. She left them there cuddling, madly in love with them both.
**
It wouldn't be long before Alphonse had his cast removed. Marta had already arranged with T.E.R.N. to have the pair 'tagged', (actually an identification number tattooed on the body), so that, if they were ever taken in again, their progress could be tracked. She stood in the back doorway of the sanctuary, watching Ed play with the pair. Alphonse had to be carried around, but Ed had him draped over his back. Edward was latched onto Ed's waist and they were all growling and play wrestling, (only being very careful to be gentle when play wrestling with Alphonse, because he still had a cast).
Marta was a bit gratified by their immediate acceptance of Ed. She contributed it mostly to their age. They must have been very recently separated from their parents, so recently that they still missed them enough to want an adult presence in their time of trauma. But Ed's own lack of natural instincts probably played a major role as well. His absolute lack of aggression was the key, she was sure.
She watched Ed pin the little Edward on the ground and grin down at him while he hissed and struggled. Alphonse, lying over Ed's back with his arms around Ed's neck, tugged and heaved, and tried to help his mate to no avail. Finally, Ed moved to let Edward up, and they stared at each other a long moment and then touched noses; Edward laughed then, and rolled away. He got to his feet, and Alphonse shrieked merrily when Ed jumped up to chase him.
It was not lost on Marta that this would probably be the closest thing that Ed would ever have to his own kittens in his lifetime.
**
When he slid into bed behind her, he was already purring. His hands were warm as they pushed under the t-shirt she was wearing. She looked over her shoulder at him, and he smiled his slow smile, leaned forward and let the tip of his tongue touch the corner of her mouth.
“I would have thought you'd be worn out, you've been playing with the kittens all day,” Marta said softly. She let Ed push her t-shirt up, and surrendered it when he tugged it over her head. Ed tossed it behind him, and pressed his bare chest against her bare back, running one hand up her stomach and cupping under a breast. He casually flicked his thumb over the nipple and started mouthing her shoulder, rubbing himself against her butt. It had been a very satisfying venture, teaching Ed to be more dominant. He was an appreciative lover; he liked to take his time, map out his strategy, and she could anticipate enjoying a slow conquering. Eventually, he rolled her onto her back, his lips moved up the side of her neck, over her jaw, to her chin, and then finally opened over her mouth. For a bit, there was nothing but the sound of muted moans and shared breath. Ed drew back a bit, panting lightly, and Marta licked her lips and opened her eyes to look at him.
“You found the butterscotch stash, didn't you?” she asked.
He gave a guilty start, then a sheepish smile, then pushed his face beneath her chin and licked at her throat. She ran her fingers into his long blond hair, and chuckled. Ed was still an enigma. At twenty, he was poise and grace under pressure. Nothing rattled him much anymore; he was comfortable with himself and the world around him. He took things in stride now, things he would have never tolerated as an adolescent. He displayed amazing intelligence, almost to the point of looking like he might start lecturing about any topic brought to his attention. But, aside from a few names and chosen verbs, Ed didn't bother trying to speak, and bribing him to do it, she knew, was impossible. It wasn't as if he really needed speech, though...he could convey his moods eloquently enough with his eyes, sounds, and gestures. In matters of the heart, Marta knew him very well.
Ed's lips left her throat, moved over her collar bone, and then lower onto the swell of her breast. She threaded her fingers deeper into his hair, gently massaging his scalp, and he sighed, and then closed his lips over the nipple he'd teased to hardness with his thumb. Marta closed her eyes as well and tilted her head back a bit. The hand that wasn't in his hair ran up and down what she could reach of his back as he suckled. He trailed his hand lightly down her side, just brushing against her skin, then dragged his fingers over her thigh and onto her mon; Marta let out an involuntary whimper. Ed shivered against her at the sound, doubling his efforts on her nipple and pushing his hand between her thighs.
Marta opened for him and he cupped her for a moment; his fingers then traced lightly along the outer lips before they first invaded. Marta sucked in a deep breath as Ed ran the side of his finger against her clit before pressing it inside of her, and then again as he brought the pad of his thumb against her clit once he had his first finger buried. He rocked his hand slowly, forward and back, and let the motion move his thumb up and down...just a bit, but it was enough.
Releasing her nipple, Ed pushed up on his elbow and rumbled at her. Marta tightened her grip on his hair and began to thrust against his finger. He slowly eased a second finger into her while dragging his tongue over the nipple he had abandoned, then he licked across the span between her breasts and bathed the second nipple. Turning his hand, he curved his fingers upward, and Marta squeezed her eyes shut and gasped out, her legs parting farther on their own.
“Mmmrrwwwhmmm,” Ed husked and nosed the underside of her breast. “Pwwroowrr,” he told her. He shifted up then, began kissing down her stomach, ran a lazy tongue over her navel and then buried his nose against the hair on her mon.
“Yes,” Marta said softly, “yesyesyes Ed.” She knew the scent enticed him, drew him.
She moaned when Ed withdrew his fingers, but then his hand pressed to the inside of her thigh, and she spread her legs further at his direction. Crawling between them, he settled down on his stomach and, without much preamble, he buried his nose in her vagina. Marta tilted her hips up and Ed lifted with her, huffing gently, his hands kneading on the tops of her thighs. Ed was good at this, he'd gotten so good at this. She dug her fingers into the sheets at either side of her hips. Ed drew back and lapped her outer lips, purred against them before burying his tongue. Reaching back to grab the headboard, Marta lifted one leg and settled the side of her heel on the small of Ed's back. Ed flattened his tongue, and dragged it upward and over her clit, which made Marta reach down and take a handful of blond hair again to tug. Ed pressed again with his tongue, then lapped her clit over and over.
One of his fingers found it's way back in, and Marta sobbed and bucked up. Ed's other hand was still on her hip, and he pressed down and grunted. He used his finger to open her a bit and then his tongue moved from her clit, pushing inside her instead, and his upper lip brushed her clit now. He purred, and the vibrations wormed their way inside her, skating over her nerves. Moaning, she released his hair, and her hand found its way to her own breast. She caught a nipple, rolled and tugged.
“Ed...Ed please,” she begged.
She could have sworn he chuckled, and then his tongue withdrew; she mourned it. He pushed up on his hands and crawled slowly up her body, then lowered himself so that just the skin of their bare stomachs touched; it caused her to jerk and shudder. His eyes caught hers and she was trapped, held; then he leaned down, his face to hers, and stuck his tongue out to draw a line over her lips. She could smell herself on him, taste it when his tongue forced its way inside her mouth. Then his fingers were in her again, rubbing, stretching, parting. They soon departed again, but in their wake came his cock. He nudged first with the head and then teased with it, sinking just until the head was buried and then withdrawing; he did this several times.
“You utter brat,” Marta laughed and sobbed, she grabbed his shoulder and pulled on him.
“Brat,” he parroted then grinned; he knew what it meant.
“Yes, that's you,” she said, tears in the corner of her eyes. “Ed I'm so fucking horny, please!” She wrapped her legs around him, tried to pull him deeper.
He held out on her for a few more moments before giving in and sinking to the hilt. They both groaned then and went still, just feeling each other, being joined.
“Marta,” Ed said, voice low and husky, and then he began to move. Ed was powerful...he was controlled strength. She could feel his butt flexing against her legs with each thrust forward; when he pushed up on his hands, she could watch his arms tense from the shoulder. He was primal beauty, his long blond hair trailing over his shoulders and obscuring the nipples on his chest.
He tilted his head back and moaned lowly, licking his lips, and on his next thrust he ground against her before pulling back. Marta ran her hands up his arms, pulled on him with her legs and sobbed to him. Ed answered her and bent his head forward, his pace increasing.
Somewhere, floating in all the bliss, Marta caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head slightly.
They had an audience. Her eyes widened and she tensed up immediately; Ed gasped in confusion and leaned down to take her mouth, attempting to subdue her. But he also turned his head to the side. The little Edward stood there, when Ed looked at him, he tilted his head and made an inquiring noise. Marta reached up and jerked Ed down, using him as a living blanket to cover herself, and Ed squawked.
“How did you get out?” she asked their little interloper. The little Edward snorted at her and put his hands on his hips. Then he treated her to a long jabbering sentence of his sing-song language, and Ed growled at him a little. Marta wasn't sure what to do...Ed was still inside her, still hard and he tensed under her hands. Little Edward stuck his nose in the air, pointed at the pair of them, and started 'talking' again. Ed's mouth pulled down on the sides and he pushed up on his hands again, forcing Marta to release him.
Then little Edward reached up and pulled the underside of his eye down, stuck his tongue out, and turned around and bent forward to present them with his rump. Then he slapped it. That was it...Ed pulled out and rolled across the bed. Marta yelped at the sudden movement and exit, and the little Edward squeaked and took off down the hall. Ed was on his feet and after him in a flash. Marta lay there for a moment blinking, then get got up, threw on her robe and chased after them. She passed by the door of the pair's enclosure and found it open, so she peeked in at Alphonse; he was sitting up, and he blinked back at her.
“Your mate is very naughty,” she told him. She turned her head at the caterwauling coming from down the hall. Ed came marching up it, naked and still erect, but under one arm he held a struggling small Edward. He came up to Marta, sat Edward on his feet, slapped him firmly on the rump and shoved him into his enclosure. Marta tried hard not to laugh, and Ed glared at her. The little Edward stumbled in, grabbed his ass, and turned to glare at them both. He shook his fist and jabbered, but when Ed made one threatening step inside the doorway the little Edward dove for Alphonse and pushed behind him to huddle in the den.
Marta examined the door handle and the lock. It didn't look alchemized, and she decided maybe Ed forgot to lock it when he went in to tell the pair goodnight. Ed had more or less adopted them, and he liked to 'tuck them in' at night before coming to bed. Marta shut the door and made sure to lock it, then shook her finger at the little Edward peeking out from behind Alphonse. He showed her his tongue and then ducked back into the recesses of the den.
“All Edwards are brats,” she told Ed as she turned to go back to the bedroom. Ed followed behind her, grumbling under his breath.
Once back in the bedroom, it wasn't hard to soothe Ed out of his foul mood. It just took a little attention to his still rigid cock, (Marta was absolutely amazed that he'd remained aroused throughout the whole adventure), and he was more than happy to pick up where he left off. She closed her eyes as he lowered himself over her, moved back inside her and rocked against her. He was slow for a while, tender, but as the heat rose with their needs he picked up his pace. She arched up to meet him, hands dragging down his sweat-slicked back to dig into his rear and pull on him hard to drive him deeper. He began to pant rather raggedly, tossing his head, and she marveled in the splay of his hair. Her stomach clenched, her inner thighs trembled.
“Ed...Ed...ED,” she called to him, as white light sparked behind her eyelids and pleasure radiated from between her legs. Gritting her teeth, she rode it, suspending all thought for those precious moments. Ed was still thrusting when she slowly came down, and she bore down hard, because that was what he liked; he yelped, tensed and shuddered, and gave one last, heavy thrust. Her eyes darted to his face...Ed was beautiful in ecstasy. His brow furrowed down, and he pressed his lips together, his eyes tightly shut. But, little by little his expression softened, his lips parted slightly to pant, and he sighed from deep inside his chest. As he lowered himself over her, his purr was becoming evident over his ragged breathing, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly.
She always told Ed she loved him, but she was starting to think it was getting beyond that, and she wasn't sure she should admit it to herself for fear for her own sanity.
**
Alphonse sat nervously in Ed's lap, clutching at Ed's coat and looking up at him, making soft inquisitive chirps. Ed patted his hair and nuzzled him. Alphonse was wearing a pair of children's pajamas with one leg cut out, his cast foot in a large thick sock, and he was bundled in a blanket. They were heading to the clinic for an X-ray, to make sure Alphonse's bones had knitted. He was scheduled to have his cast removed the following week, and Marta wanted to make doubly sure he was healed enough before having it removed.
The little Edward had howled like he was dying when Alphonse was taken from the enclosure and he was locked inside of it. He'd shrieked and thrown things at the picture window, refused all types of treats offered to calm him down, and there was nothing for it but the leave him raging there under Kate's watchful eye.
At the clinic, Ed got a lot of attention and preened under it. He was, after all, a celebrity, and so very well mannered. The Alphonse was X-rayed and returned to Ed's arms, where he clung and snuffled. But he accepted a cookie when one was offered and ate it, then tucked his head under Ed's chin.
“You'd think it was Ed's kitten,” one of the techs remarked. Marta had to agree. She began to wonder what was going to happen when it was time to let the pair go.
Alphonse was met with almost-tearful joy when he was returned to his mate, and Edward growled and swatted at Ed when Ed leaned over to put Alphonse back in his nest. This earned Edward a light cuff on his head, and he retreated to grumble about it, then noticed a couple of granola bars he'd kicked around in his earlier rage and snatched them up, eating both to be spiteful. Ed snorted at him and Marta went and brought a granola bar and orange for Alphonse
Ed sat down, pulled Alphonse between his legs with Alphonse's back to his chest, and unwrapped the granola bar for him. While Alphonse munched happily, Ed began peeling the orange. The little Edward siddled over cautiously and squatted down, wrapping his arms around his knees and training his eyes on the orange in Ed's hand. He made a few small pitiful sounds and reached out to pat Ed on the foot, but Ed ignored him.
When Ed had the orange peeled and Alphonse had finished his granola bar, Ed broke the fruit into segments and offered one to Alphonse. Alphonse took it and looked at his mate, huddling near the end of the mat and looking repentant and pitiful. Alphonse smiled and offered the segment to Edward, who eased up to take it from Alphonse's fingers while casting glances at Ed, as if ready to dodge a cuff. But Ed only looked at him, and Edward happily munched his segment as Alphonse was given another. Ed ended up splitting the orange between them, and before they were through Edward was cuddled up to Ed's side while his mate leaned back against his chest. Marta watched them from the doorway, and then turned away before Ed saw her tears.
**
Although the sound of the buzz drill made Ed nervous too, he stood behind Alphonse with his arms wrapped around him. They both watched Marta anxiously as she carefully cut the cast down the middle, then squeezed her fingers into the opening and cracked it apart. She pulled it off, and then pulled over the cart with the basin of warm water and wash cloth. She washed Alphonse's leg, flexed his foot up and down, and smiled up at him. He was wide eyed, looking from his leg to Marta and back again. He bent his knee a bit and frowned. Marta knew it would be stiff and sore, and that she could justify keeping the pair for a least one more week until Alphonse was ambling around comfortably. Alphonse turned and reached for Ed's neck, and Ed bent over and let him wrap his arms around it; then Ed scooped him up and looked at Marta.
“Al needs to walk,” she told Ed. “Set him on his feet.” She came over as Ed bent down and put Alphonse's feet on the floor. Alphonse kept firm hold around Ed's neck, but he looked down at his feet, his one pajama-clad leg and his one naked leg. Then he looked up at Marta, and then at Ed, and made a soft sound. Ed immediately picked him back up and Marta sighed...Alphonse wanted Ed's attention more than he wanted to stand. She needed to put him back in with Edward and watch him to see when he started moving about on his own again.
Alphonse was returned to his sulking mate, who had once again been locked up to keep him out of the way. Edward immediately noticed the change in his mate and sniffed all over him when Ed sat Alphonse in the nest, sniffing all up and down his mate's bared leg. Alphonse patted Edward's head and got pounced. The pair began to roll around, mock growling and biting, and Marta beckoned Ed out of the enclosure and shut them in.
“Let's leave them alone for a while and let Edward coax Alphonse into moving around, that should get him up on his feet and running in no time,” Marta said, rubbing Ed's arm. “You're a good surrogate parent you know, the best.” She kissed him on the cheek, and he gruffed a little and followed her down the hall.
When Marta went back a couple of hours later to check on them before dinner, neither was to be seen. She opened the door slowly and moved into the enclosure quietly. She could hear sounds from the recesses of the den, grunts and half-moans and sighs that were all too telltale. If Alphonse could mate then Alphonse could walk. She tip toed back out and shut the door softly behind her.
ONWARDS TO PART TWO
“You even have to ask me? Come on Anthony, it's only my life's work!” Marta put her hand on her hip and snorted into the phone. “When should I expect them? I have to get an enclosure ready.”
Marta took in the details, hung up and called Kate, her volunteer, and then went to select an enclosure. If she wanted to move the den from one enclosure to another, she'd need some extra muscle...good thing there was someone else around. Marta stuck her head in the bedroom, and Ed looked up from where he was lounging on the bed, reading.
“Come and help me,” she said to him. He closed the book and hopped off the bed, snagging his coat and shrugging it on to follow her down the hall. She often wondered what drove Edward to wear the brown coat. He'd wear it in the heat of summer if she let him and he wore it everywhere; he'd even come to bed with it on. Elric pelts puzzled her. At first she'd thought the bright red of the adolescent Edward was used to attract himself a mate, but now she wasn't so sure.
She explained to him what she wanted to do, and between the two of them they got the big plywood and carpet 'den' into the chosen enclosure, backed up to a wall. She got some thick bedding pads and linens and crawled into it, making a comfortable nest. Since the incoming pair had an injured member, she added extra bedding for more comfort. She then had Ed lug in some of his old toys while she arranged a few books. Elrics had no natural inclination to suckle, so she had to teach them to use sipper bottles. If this pair was really as young as she was led to believe she'd have to start out giving them water in bowls; she move in a base to use as a stable place to put a food and water tin.
As she paused at the door, doing her mental checklist of the enclosure, Ed came up behind her, murmured her name and nosed the nape of her neck. He was twenty now, and about as tall as Marta speculated he would get. They stood pretty much eye to eye, although that wasn't saying much for Edward because Marta was not particularly tall. She turned around and gave him a kiss and put her hands on his hips.
“Ok Ed, I have incoming, they will be here later this afternoon,” she said and rubbed his sides. “It's a young pair of mated Elrics, so until I get them settled will you please stay out of sight? In case the Edward feels you are threat.”
Ed looked at her face while she spoke, and at the end he shrugged, and sighed and tossed his hand.
“Thank you,” Marta said and kissed him again. He wandered off after that, presumably to the bedroom to continue reading his new book.
**
The van pulled into the driveway around six that evening, and she walked out to meet it. She hugged her friend Anthony, and they went around to the side to open the large sliding door. Immediately, the large crate strapped in the back began to rock and growl.
“He's really lively,” Anthony said with a wink, but Marta's attention was drawn to a small figure wrapped up on blankets on a stretcher. Anthony slid the stretcher toward them gently. Marta saw some bare toes peek from beneath the blanket, and the beginning of a cast above them.
“Here's our little guy,” Anthony said. “He's pretty banged up, he's been mildly sedated for the trip. I have a print out of all his medical records. He's mostly got a broken leg and some internal bruising. He's more docile than his mate.”
The Alphonse looked impossibly small on the stretcher, swathed up. He had some faint bruising on his forehead and some bandaged abrasions on his cheek. Anthony carefully slid the stretcher out and Marta took one end. The Alphonse stirred and mewed weakly, causing the Edward in the crate to rage anew.
“He was hit by a car?” Marta asked, inspecting the Alphonse on the stretcher. “The poor baby, he looks so young, you say they were found together?”
“Oh yes,” Anthony said. “Edward was very protective, it took some doing to subdue him. We finally ended up darting him.”
Marta naturally had a soft spot for Edwards and she looked into the crate, only to be confronted with a snarling golden visage.
“You're a good mate,” she told him. “Protecting your Alphonse, we'll be right back, ok?”
The Alphonse called out suddenly and the Edward in the crate went wild. The straps shook and the sides of the crate seemed to bulge. The Edward returned the cry and the door of the cage rattled ominously.
“Let's get the Alphonse inside,” Marta said stepping away carefully, making sure not to jostle or tip the stretcher, “then we'll deal with that.”
Very carefully, they got the Alphonse into the enclosure, and the two of them eased him off the stretcher and onto the padded bedding in the den entrance. The Alphonse was panting weakly, but he was still groggy and mewed softly as they settled him.
“Does he have pain meds?” Marta asked, tucking him in.
“I brought everything,” Anthony said. “We'll get it all out of the truck after we get the Edward inside.”
Marta nodded and followed him back out. She stood back as Anthony climbed in and unstrapped the crate, and together the got it out of the van and onto the ground. The Edward inside was very unhappy, and he wasn't shy about vocalizing it. He snarled and yelped and growled and screeched. He tried to bite the wire of the cage door, and he tried to claw at them through the air vents in the side.
“This one is a handful,” Anthony said, as he and Marta hefted the crate and started for the sanctuary. “And the main reason I'm so grateful to have someone like you around to deal with these problems. The clinic just couldn't handle him, they would've have had to keep him sedated and we both know that would be harmful to him in the long run.”
“Agreed,” Marta said. “This is why I have this place. These two are lucky this happened in your jurisdiction. Well, not lucky, but you know what I mean.”
“Damn straight,” Anthony said as they maneuvered the crate with its shrieking passenger down the hall. “I was third on the scene and this poor guy was frothing. Lucky for me the local authorities were more than willing to cooperate.”
They set the crate down with the cage door facing the enclosure door. Marta pushed the door open and stepped out of the way so the Edward could see his mate lying in the mouth of the den. The Edward in the crate made a highly-pitched sound of distress, but the Alphonse answered weakly. Marta and Anthony shoved the crate into the enclosure a bit, then Anthony got on top of it and leaned down and banged the cage door. When the startled Edward pulled to the back he quickly undid the latch and swung the door open.
The Edward darted out and immediately scampered to his mate's side, pausing only to turn back on Anthony and Marta and hiss threateningly. Anthony pulled the cage out, and Marta pulled the door closed. Together, they stood at the picture window and watched the Edward fret over his mate. He was very gentle, sniffing delicately, touching Alphonse on his head and making low sounds. The Alphonse was still in the grip of his sedative and could only answer faintly. Finally, the Edward curled up on the floor next to him, facing him and lay his hand on his Alphonse's hand peeking beneath the blankets.
Marta reached over to dim the lights, and the Edward's head popped up. He stared at the ceiling, then jumped to his feet and turned a circle. As he lowered his head he caught sight of Anthony and Marta watching him, and he crouched down and moved to block Alphonse from view, hissing.
“They are so young, I venture newly mated, and newly separated from their parents,” Marta shook her head. “They are probably so young they didn't realize the danger cars pose them.”
“Speaking of Elrics, I'm dying to see Ed. I haven't been around in a while, how has he been?” Anthony asked.
“He's great, go on into the living room, I'll hunt him down for you,” Marta smiled and Anthony turned away. She gave one last look to the small Edward bristling on his mate's behalf, and went to summon her own Edward.
**
After Anthony left, Marta went to check on her new charges. The Edward was curled up much as he'd been before, facing his mate and touching his hand. The Alphonse seemed to be asleep. She headed down to her office, and sat to read the notes and study the medication Anthony had brought from the clinic. Ed wandered in a bit later, and slouched in the chair in front of her desk and worried at her wire in-basket. She shooed him off, finished up her reading, and made notes on her planner about what she had to check daily with Alphonse. She would have to try to win the little Edward over, or she and Kate were going to have a hell of a time each time they wanted to tend to the Alphonse.
Marta's first tactic was food. She went to the kitchens, and there Ed found her once again. He helped himself to the fruit and vegetables she was preparing for the little Edward's dinner, (and hopeful first sign of friendship), and was shooed away again when she carried the pan down to the enclosure.
She opened the door slowly and heard the low growl, but she knew he had not moved from Alphonse's side. She turned the lights up just a bit and the Edward glared at her, rising up on his haunches and baring his teeth. Marta only smiled at him. He was so young, and so small. She would put this pair around eleven. She bowed a little to make her height seem less intimidating and took a few steps into the room. The volume of Edward's growl was proportionate to how closely she approached he and his injured mate.
Marta hunkered down and put the pan on the floor. Edward continued to growl, but his nose twitched and he kept looking from her to the pan and back again. Marta slowly pushed the pan in front of her, and edged just a bit closer. Edward hissed loudly, and Marta acquiesced and backed off, leaving the pan as far as she'd gotten it. Then she backed out of the door and closed it softly.
Once outside the enclosure, she stood at the very edge of the picture window to see what the Edward would do. He stared at the pan for a long while before cautiously standing. Then he hesitated, torn between the pan and Alphonse, and squatted down and tried to reach it without getting out of touching range of his mate. When that didn't work, he tried with his foot. There was nothing for it...he finally dashed forward, snatched the pan up and dashed the five feet back to Alphonse. Squatting back down, he inspected the pan, sniffing at it, then picked up a hunk of melon and offered it to Alphonse. Alphonse, however, was still asleep, and even though his Edward called to him softly and waved a hunk of melon under his nose he didn't stir. So Edward popped it into his own mouth. Then Edward tried the strawberry, and then the apple slice and some grapes and carrot sticks. Each piece was offered to Alphonse first before Edward scarffed it. She noticed he almost looked to be counting the rest of the pieces in the pan, and then he slyly slid them into the den to save them for his mate when he woke up. He settled down again and scooted up close, touching Alphonse's hand.
As Marta dimmed the lights again, she could hear his faint rumbly purr.
**
Marta and Kate stood and watched the young Edward threaten them through the picture window.
“Oh Marta,” Kate said, “he's precious.”
Marta laughed.
“He has a bad case of the 'I'm so fierce',” Marta grinned. “It's understandable, he's so young and he's frightened and his Alphonse is injured and that makes him anxious. He's such a good mate already though. Here's the problem, I have to get him out so we can check on Alphonse who is awake now and might be in some mild pain.” Marta turned and gestured across he hall where she'd made another unused enclosure cozy. “He's going to be very unhappy and I have experience dealing with Edwards. What I want you to do is open and close doors for me, ok?”
“Got it,” Kate said.
Marta pushed up her sleeves, took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright then, let's do it.”
Kate opened the door. Marta walked in and went steadily toward Edward. Edward's eyes widened and he jumped up hissing, but he backpedaled before her determined march. His eyes darted to Alphonse, and Alphonse called his name, but now Marta was between them. He wanted to go to Alphonse more than he wanted to threaten Marta, so he tried to skirt around her. This is what Marta was hoping he would do; she jumped behind him and made a grab for his nape, but he twisted at the last second, and she caught the shoulder of his red pelt instead. He whirled and tried to bite her arm, but Marta had been bitten enough in her career to anticipate when one was coming, so she released his shoulder and with her other hand grabbed his braid. Edward let out an indignant squawk, and she hauled back on the braid enough to get him off balance. When he flailed, she got him by the nape.
Edward had a complete look of astonishment on his features, and he suddenly wanted to curl up a bit. But instead Marta grabbed him by the seat of his pants and marched him out the door. Kate ran across the hall in front of them to open the second enclosure, and Marta bum rushed the little Edward, (who was barely level with her breasts), right through the door into the second enclosure. She squeezed his nape and he sank to the floor; then she released him and ran out the door, Kate pulling it shut behind her.
He raged! He charged around the smaller enclosure, kicking toys and books out of his way. He pounded on the glass of the door and even pointed at them a time or two, but then Marta left. She went for the cart that had all her supplies for Alphonse on it and wheeled it into the enclosure where Alphonse lay. The Alphonse made a sound of distress and watched her with his large bronze eyes. She smiled at him and took a few things off the cart and knelt by him.
“Hey there,” she said softly. “Do you hurt? Are you hurting sweetie?” She slowly raised her hands, and gently touched his head and arm. Alphonse stared at her, trembling slightly. After a few moments of getting him use to her touch, she began to check him over. She changed a couple of his bandages, and he was amazingly compliant. It might be fear, she reasoned. She got some of the liquid pain killer in a syringe and held his nose until he opened his mouth and then quickly shot it down his throat. He coughed a little and she petted his head until he stopped. She petted his hair - it was still fine and baby soft - and he regarded her. She smiled at him.
“You're so pretty, you're such a sweetie. Your Edward is very lucky,” she told him softly. The Alphonse blinked at her, tilted his head a bit. Marta checked on his cast, and then put a sock over his small bare toes.
“There now all done, I'll get you both a treat,” Marta glanced up at Kate, who was standing in the doorway looking off at where the Edward was penned. He'd gone quiet, and Kate was covering her mouth, her eyes crinkled in laughter.
“What's he doing?” Marta asked with a grin.
“I think he thinks he can chew his way out,” Kate said, uncovering her mouth and smiling. “He's very determined,” she said to Marta, and winked. Marta grinned, packed up her stuff and gave the Alphonse one last gentle pat on the head. He started to purr.
“You're a good boy,” she told him. “We're going to make you all better.”
Marta pushed the cart into the hall, and then she and Kate stopped to watch the small Edward chewing determinedly on the door handle. He noticed them watching, straightened up, and began railing them again. He flailed around, slapped the door handle a few times and bristled. Marta pushed the cart on down the hall and he screeched after them, pressing his nose to the glass on the door. Marta pushed the cart into the infirmary, then went to a cabinet and opened it, fishing a couple of granola bars out and pocketing them.
“Ready to return his majesty to his enclosure?” she asked Kate with a grin.
Without his Alphonse there to protect, the small Edward lost a lot of his bravado when Marta opened the door. He immediately hightailed it to the other side of the enclosure, and watched her warily.
“Hey come on, I'm not going to hurt you,” Marta said in reasonable tones. “Don't you want to go back to Al? Don't you want to see Al?” Edward lifted his nose a bit and huffed, then he bared his teeth and pressed himself into the corner.
Kate glanced down the hall.
“Marta, here comes Ed,” she said. “No, Ed, no... go on back.” Kate waved at him, and Ed stopped with uncertainly just outside of view out of the picture window.
“Ed, go on back,” Marta called, and her momentary distraction was all the small Edward needed. He zipped past her and barreled into Kate at the door. Kate landed on her ass with a yelp, and Marta took off after the escapee. But the small Edward stopped short in the hall at the sight of the adult Edward standing there, very near the place he could smell his mate's scent. He turned, but Marta was behind him, and his head whipped back and forth between the two.
“Don't let him pass you, Ed,” Marta called down the hall. “Don't let him get by you if he runs your way, ok?”
Ed gave a sniff of disdain and eyed his smaller relation. The young Edward warbled in uncertainly and perhaps a touch of fear. In the wild, adult Elrics could sometimes be aggressive in territorial matters, but they were not known to attack adolescents. The little Edward seemed to decide that the adult Edward was the lesser of two evils, and suddenly charged down the hall toward him. Ed merely stepped into his path, and Edward skidded to a halt and looked toward the door of the enclosure where Alphonse was.
“Let him pass if he wants to go to his mate Ed,” Marta told him. Ed stepped aside slightly, and the smaller Edward raced into the enclosure and to his mate's side. Marta grinned and headed down the hall.
“Good job Ed, great job! I'm proud of you,” she told him. He grinned hugely, and she hugged him briefly. Marta then went to the doorway of the enclosure and watched the pair check each other out anxiously. They calmed as they realized neither were worse for wear. Marta slowly entered, and Edward began to growl. She took the granola bars out of her pocket and unwrapped one as she squatted down.
“Look, this is yummy,” she said, extending it toward the small Edward. He made no move toward it, instead deciding that he needed to huddle over his mate. But then his eyes widened a bit, and he looked over Marta's shoulder.
Ed leaned down over Marta and tried to get the granola bar.
“Ed, what? No, you greedy thing...” Marta got out but was in no real position to stop him. Ed plucked the granola bar from her hand and sniffed it. He took a bite off the end of it and chewed it slowly. And then he said something. The smaller Edward perked up, nose twitching, and the Alphonse was now staring at Ed too. The smaller Edward licked his lips and stood slowly, but he kept giving Marta wary glances. So Ed stepped around Marta and walked right up to him and offered him the remainder of the granola bar.
The smaller Edward snatched it, sniffed it, then bent down and gave it to Alphonse who took it and sniffed it. Marta stood up slowly and cocked her eyebrow. Ed looked back at her nonchalantly, and held his hand out for the remaining granola bar. Marta unwrapped it and tossed it to him; he caught it neatly and handed it over to the smaller Edward, who grabbed it and shoved as much as he could into his mouth.
Marta watched as the smaller Edward gobbled his treat and the Alphonse ate his with small, precise bites. Neither seemed disturbed that there was an adult Edward standing there. In fact in a very casual fashion the smaller Edward grabbed the larger Edward by the sleeve, and then leaned on him and began a steady stream of chatter in their soft language, pointing at Alphonse a few times as he did so.
Was the little Edward telling Ed what happened?
Ed bent down and patted Alphonse on his head and Alphonse began to purr happily. Edward kept a hold of Ed's sleeve and looked relieved to have him there. Marta began to feel like a third wheel.
“Wow,” Kate said behind her, “Ed is good with kittens.”
Well that was news to Marta.
**
The next day, they were low on supplies. After Marta fed the Mustang, and Ed carried breakfast into the little Edward and his Alphonse, she put Ed in the car and took him to town with her. He sat in the front seat, watching the scenery go by. Why was it a surprise to her that Edward was good with kittens? He was good with children, and that should just translate over to his own kind. Case in point:
They pulled into Cullen's Produce and got out of the car. Ed followed Marta in, and they were both greeted by Mr. Cullen. Marta had known Mr. and Mrs. Cullen since acquiring the sanctuary; their store was the main supplier of the produce Marta fed her charges. The Cullens had a granddaughter that lived with them, and was usually in the shop when Marta stopped by.
Ed was her boyfriend.
Melissa was eleven now, and Ed was the best thing since sliced bread. She came charging from the back room as they entered, and practically threw herself on him. She had been doing this since she was five. Marta always grinned when she remembered a fourteen year old Ed's astonishment that there was a five year old girl hanging on his leg. Melissa began to talk to him, in the way little girls would chatter on, just like he was one of her gang and knew everything that was going on. It never bothered her that he never spoke, never said her name. Ed dragged along one of the isles with Melissa hanging around his waist and looked at some of the fruit there.
“She really loves to see Ed,” Mr. Cullen said. “She'll go on about him all night now.”
“Well Ed is very flattered to have such a steadfast admirer,” Marta grinned. “I'm going to need some extra this week, we have new guests.”
After a while Marta noticed Melissa had gotten very quiet; she looked around and saw the two of them in the back of the shop, and raised her eyebrow.
“Melissa? What are you giving Ed?” Marta directed at the pair. They both jumped guiltily, and turned to stare at her.
“Nothing...some of my chocolate bar,” Melissa said, hands behind her back. Ed shoved his hands in his pockets.
“How much is some?” Marta asked.
“All of it,” Melissa confessed. Ed studied the ceiling.
“Come on Ed, you can take things out the car,” Marta said and shook her head.
Ed and Melissa exchanged a look that said it pained them deeply to be parted, but Ed came up and dutifully carried crates of vegetables and fruit out to the car. When they got in the car for the trip home, Marta looked at him sidelong.
“Sneaking chocolate at your age,” she said. “You have that poor girl completely snowed, you should be ashamed.”
Ed made an exaggerated sigh and hung his head in an exaggerated way.
Marta laughed, started the car and drove them home.
**
Marta looked in, and smiled to see Edward sharing books with Alphonse. The pair was really growing on her. Most of Alphonse's bruising had faded, and he seemed to be feeling much better. He was propping himself up on his elbows to read, while Edward held the book open. Marta went to fetch some more pillows and snagged the bottle of multi-vitamins on her way; it wouldn't hurt to give them to the pair for the duration of their stay at the sanctuary. She came into the enclosure, and Edward began growling at her, but she knew now that he was all bark and no bite. She came over to where the two were and Edward jumped up and bared his teeth, but when Alphonse made a sound and looked at his mate, Edward begrudgingly moved aside. Marta helped Alphonse to sit up, tucked pillows all around him to make him comfortable, and petted his head to hear him purr.
“Look Al, yummy,” Marta unscrewed the cap of the vitamins and popped one in his opened mouth. Al had learned that 'yummy' meant a treat or food in the short week he and his mate had been in the sanctuary. He looked a bit askance but swallowed dutifully and got another pat.
Marta got one out for Edward and turned around and stooped down to his level.
“Look Edward,” she enticed, “yummy.”
Edward dutifully opened his mouth, too, and Marta did as she had for Alphonse and popped the vitamin in. Edward immediately spit it out. Marta picked it up and offered it again, but Edward clamped his mouth shut. So Marta pinched his nostrils shut. Edward decided to be 'so fierce!' and tough it out, but his eyes soon started to water. When his mouth finally gaped open to take a breath Marta popped the vitamin in again; then she grabbed his jaw and put her hand on top of his head, forcing him to keep his mouth shut. He grunted and squirmed and tried to twist away, but Marta was bigger and onto him, and she only let go after she watched his throat work convulsively.
Once freed, he staggered around and coughed in an exaggerated fashion, and gave her dirty looks. He went over to Alphonse for comfort, and Alphonse indulged him, wrapping his arms around Edward when Edward hunkered down next to him and whined.
“Oh it wasn't that bad, it's good for you,” Marta said. “I'll let you have a treat after dinner.” She went over and ruffled Edward's hair, but he just pouted, although Alphonse smiled at her. She left them there cuddling, madly in love with them both.
**
It wouldn't be long before Alphonse had his cast removed. Marta had already arranged with T.E.R.N. to have the pair 'tagged', (actually an identification number tattooed on the body), so that, if they were ever taken in again, their progress could be tracked. She stood in the back doorway of the sanctuary, watching Ed play with the pair. Alphonse had to be carried around, but Ed had him draped over his back. Edward was latched onto Ed's waist and they were all growling and play wrestling, (only being very careful to be gentle when play wrestling with Alphonse, because he still had a cast).
Marta was a bit gratified by their immediate acceptance of Ed. She contributed it mostly to their age. They must have been very recently separated from their parents, so recently that they still missed them enough to want an adult presence in their time of trauma. But Ed's own lack of natural instincts probably played a major role as well. His absolute lack of aggression was the key, she was sure.
She watched Ed pin the little Edward on the ground and grin down at him while he hissed and struggled. Alphonse, lying over Ed's back with his arms around Ed's neck, tugged and heaved, and tried to help his mate to no avail. Finally, Ed moved to let Edward up, and they stared at each other a long moment and then touched noses; Edward laughed then, and rolled away. He got to his feet, and Alphonse shrieked merrily when Ed jumped up to chase him.
It was not lost on Marta that this would probably be the closest thing that Ed would ever have to his own kittens in his lifetime.
**
When he slid into bed behind her, he was already purring. His hands were warm as they pushed under the t-shirt she was wearing. She looked over her shoulder at him, and he smiled his slow smile, leaned forward and let the tip of his tongue touch the corner of her mouth.
“I would have thought you'd be worn out, you've been playing with the kittens all day,” Marta said softly. She let Ed push her t-shirt up, and surrendered it when he tugged it over her head. Ed tossed it behind him, and pressed his bare chest against her bare back, running one hand up her stomach and cupping under a breast. He casually flicked his thumb over the nipple and started mouthing her shoulder, rubbing himself against her butt. It had been a very satisfying venture, teaching Ed to be more dominant. He was an appreciative lover; he liked to take his time, map out his strategy, and she could anticipate enjoying a slow conquering. Eventually, he rolled her onto her back, his lips moved up the side of her neck, over her jaw, to her chin, and then finally opened over her mouth. For a bit, there was nothing but the sound of muted moans and shared breath. Ed drew back a bit, panting lightly, and Marta licked her lips and opened her eyes to look at him.
“You found the butterscotch stash, didn't you?” she asked.
He gave a guilty start, then a sheepish smile, then pushed his face beneath her chin and licked at her throat. She ran her fingers into his long blond hair, and chuckled. Ed was still an enigma. At twenty, he was poise and grace under pressure. Nothing rattled him much anymore; he was comfortable with himself and the world around him. He took things in stride now, things he would have never tolerated as an adolescent. He displayed amazing intelligence, almost to the point of looking like he might start lecturing about any topic brought to his attention. But, aside from a few names and chosen verbs, Ed didn't bother trying to speak, and bribing him to do it, she knew, was impossible. It wasn't as if he really needed speech, though...he could convey his moods eloquently enough with his eyes, sounds, and gestures. In matters of the heart, Marta knew him very well.
Ed's lips left her throat, moved over her collar bone, and then lower onto the swell of her breast. She threaded her fingers deeper into his hair, gently massaging his scalp, and he sighed, and then closed his lips over the nipple he'd teased to hardness with his thumb. Marta closed her eyes as well and tilted her head back a bit. The hand that wasn't in his hair ran up and down what she could reach of his back as he suckled. He trailed his hand lightly down her side, just brushing against her skin, then dragged his fingers over her thigh and onto her mon; Marta let out an involuntary whimper. Ed shivered against her at the sound, doubling his efforts on her nipple and pushing his hand between her thighs.
Marta opened for him and he cupped her for a moment; his fingers then traced lightly along the outer lips before they first invaded. Marta sucked in a deep breath as Ed ran the side of his finger against her clit before pressing it inside of her, and then again as he brought the pad of his thumb against her clit once he had his first finger buried. He rocked his hand slowly, forward and back, and let the motion move his thumb up and down...just a bit, but it was enough.
Releasing her nipple, Ed pushed up on his elbow and rumbled at her. Marta tightened her grip on his hair and began to thrust against his finger. He slowly eased a second finger into her while dragging his tongue over the nipple he had abandoned, then he licked across the span between her breasts and bathed the second nipple. Turning his hand, he curved his fingers upward, and Marta squeezed her eyes shut and gasped out, her legs parting farther on their own.
“Mmmrrwwwhmmm,” Ed husked and nosed the underside of her breast. “Pwwroowrr,” he told her. He shifted up then, began kissing down her stomach, ran a lazy tongue over her navel and then buried his nose against the hair on her mon.
“Yes,” Marta said softly, “yesyesyes Ed.” She knew the scent enticed him, drew him.
She moaned when Ed withdrew his fingers, but then his hand pressed to the inside of her thigh, and she spread her legs further at his direction. Crawling between them, he settled down on his stomach and, without much preamble, he buried his nose in her vagina. Marta tilted her hips up and Ed lifted with her, huffing gently, his hands kneading on the tops of her thighs. Ed was good at this, he'd gotten so good at this. She dug her fingers into the sheets at either side of her hips. Ed drew back and lapped her outer lips, purred against them before burying his tongue. Reaching back to grab the headboard, Marta lifted one leg and settled the side of her heel on the small of Ed's back. Ed flattened his tongue, and dragged it upward and over her clit, which made Marta reach down and take a handful of blond hair again to tug. Ed pressed again with his tongue, then lapped her clit over and over.
One of his fingers found it's way back in, and Marta sobbed and bucked up. Ed's other hand was still on her hip, and he pressed down and grunted. He used his finger to open her a bit and then his tongue moved from her clit, pushing inside her instead, and his upper lip brushed her clit now. He purred, and the vibrations wormed their way inside her, skating over her nerves. Moaning, she released his hair, and her hand found its way to her own breast. She caught a nipple, rolled and tugged.
“Ed...Ed please,” she begged.
She could have sworn he chuckled, and then his tongue withdrew; she mourned it. He pushed up on his hands and crawled slowly up her body, then lowered himself so that just the skin of their bare stomachs touched; it caused her to jerk and shudder. His eyes caught hers and she was trapped, held; then he leaned down, his face to hers, and stuck his tongue out to draw a line over her lips. She could smell herself on him, taste it when his tongue forced its way inside her mouth. Then his fingers were in her again, rubbing, stretching, parting. They soon departed again, but in their wake came his cock. He nudged first with the head and then teased with it, sinking just until the head was buried and then withdrawing; he did this several times.
“You utter brat,” Marta laughed and sobbed, she grabbed his shoulder and pulled on him.
“Brat,” he parroted then grinned; he knew what it meant.
“Yes, that's you,” she said, tears in the corner of her eyes. “Ed I'm so fucking horny, please!” She wrapped her legs around him, tried to pull him deeper.
He held out on her for a few more moments before giving in and sinking to the hilt. They both groaned then and went still, just feeling each other, being joined.
“Marta,” Ed said, voice low and husky, and then he began to move. Ed was powerful...he was controlled strength. She could feel his butt flexing against her legs with each thrust forward; when he pushed up on his hands, she could watch his arms tense from the shoulder. He was primal beauty, his long blond hair trailing over his shoulders and obscuring the nipples on his chest.
He tilted his head back and moaned lowly, licking his lips, and on his next thrust he ground against her before pulling back. Marta ran her hands up his arms, pulled on him with her legs and sobbed to him. Ed answered her and bent his head forward, his pace increasing.
Somewhere, floating in all the bliss, Marta caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head slightly.
They had an audience. Her eyes widened and she tensed up immediately; Ed gasped in confusion and leaned down to take her mouth, attempting to subdue her. But he also turned his head to the side. The little Edward stood there, when Ed looked at him, he tilted his head and made an inquiring noise. Marta reached up and jerked Ed down, using him as a living blanket to cover herself, and Ed squawked.
“How did you get out?” she asked their little interloper. The little Edward snorted at her and put his hands on his hips. Then he treated her to a long jabbering sentence of his sing-song language, and Ed growled at him a little. Marta wasn't sure what to do...Ed was still inside her, still hard and he tensed under her hands. Little Edward stuck his nose in the air, pointed at the pair of them, and started 'talking' again. Ed's mouth pulled down on the sides and he pushed up on his hands again, forcing Marta to release him.
Then little Edward reached up and pulled the underside of his eye down, stuck his tongue out, and turned around and bent forward to present them with his rump. Then he slapped it. That was it...Ed pulled out and rolled across the bed. Marta yelped at the sudden movement and exit, and the little Edward squeaked and took off down the hall. Ed was on his feet and after him in a flash. Marta lay there for a moment blinking, then get got up, threw on her robe and chased after them. She passed by the door of the pair's enclosure and found it open, so she peeked in at Alphonse; he was sitting up, and he blinked back at her.
“Your mate is very naughty,” she told him. She turned her head at the caterwauling coming from down the hall. Ed came marching up it, naked and still erect, but under one arm he held a struggling small Edward. He came up to Marta, sat Edward on his feet, slapped him firmly on the rump and shoved him into his enclosure. Marta tried hard not to laugh, and Ed glared at her. The little Edward stumbled in, grabbed his ass, and turned to glare at them both. He shook his fist and jabbered, but when Ed made one threatening step inside the doorway the little Edward dove for Alphonse and pushed behind him to huddle in the den.
Marta examined the door handle and the lock. It didn't look alchemized, and she decided maybe Ed forgot to lock it when he went in to tell the pair goodnight. Ed had more or less adopted them, and he liked to 'tuck them in' at night before coming to bed. Marta shut the door and made sure to lock it, then shook her finger at the little Edward peeking out from behind Alphonse. He showed her his tongue and then ducked back into the recesses of the den.
“All Edwards are brats,” she told Ed as she turned to go back to the bedroom. Ed followed behind her, grumbling under his breath.
Once back in the bedroom, it wasn't hard to soothe Ed out of his foul mood. It just took a little attention to his still rigid cock, (Marta was absolutely amazed that he'd remained aroused throughout the whole adventure), and he was more than happy to pick up where he left off. She closed her eyes as he lowered himself over her, moved back inside her and rocked against her. He was slow for a while, tender, but as the heat rose with their needs he picked up his pace. She arched up to meet him, hands dragging down his sweat-slicked back to dig into his rear and pull on him hard to drive him deeper. He began to pant rather raggedly, tossing his head, and she marveled in the splay of his hair. Her stomach clenched, her inner thighs trembled.
“Ed...Ed...ED,” she called to him, as white light sparked behind her eyelids and pleasure radiated from between her legs. Gritting her teeth, she rode it, suspending all thought for those precious moments. Ed was still thrusting when she slowly came down, and she bore down hard, because that was what he liked; he yelped, tensed and shuddered, and gave one last, heavy thrust. Her eyes darted to his face...Ed was beautiful in ecstasy. His brow furrowed down, and he pressed his lips together, his eyes tightly shut. But, little by little his expression softened, his lips parted slightly to pant, and he sighed from deep inside his chest. As he lowered himself over her, his purr was becoming evident over his ragged breathing, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly.
She always told Ed she loved him, but she was starting to think it was getting beyond that, and she wasn't sure she should admit it to herself for fear for her own sanity.
**
Alphonse sat nervously in Ed's lap, clutching at Ed's coat and looking up at him, making soft inquisitive chirps. Ed patted his hair and nuzzled him. Alphonse was wearing a pair of children's pajamas with one leg cut out, his cast foot in a large thick sock, and he was bundled in a blanket. They were heading to the clinic for an X-ray, to make sure Alphonse's bones had knitted. He was scheduled to have his cast removed the following week, and Marta wanted to make doubly sure he was healed enough before having it removed.
The little Edward had howled like he was dying when Alphonse was taken from the enclosure and he was locked inside of it. He'd shrieked and thrown things at the picture window, refused all types of treats offered to calm him down, and there was nothing for it but the leave him raging there under Kate's watchful eye.
At the clinic, Ed got a lot of attention and preened under it. He was, after all, a celebrity, and so very well mannered. The Alphonse was X-rayed and returned to Ed's arms, where he clung and snuffled. But he accepted a cookie when one was offered and ate it, then tucked his head under Ed's chin.
“You'd think it was Ed's kitten,” one of the techs remarked. Marta had to agree. She began to wonder what was going to happen when it was time to let the pair go.
Alphonse was met with almost-tearful joy when he was returned to his mate, and Edward growled and swatted at Ed when Ed leaned over to put Alphonse back in his nest. This earned Edward a light cuff on his head, and he retreated to grumble about it, then noticed a couple of granola bars he'd kicked around in his earlier rage and snatched them up, eating both to be spiteful. Ed snorted at him and Marta went and brought a granola bar and orange for Alphonse
Ed sat down, pulled Alphonse between his legs with Alphonse's back to his chest, and unwrapped the granola bar for him. While Alphonse munched happily, Ed began peeling the orange. The little Edward siddled over cautiously and squatted down, wrapping his arms around his knees and training his eyes on the orange in Ed's hand. He made a few small pitiful sounds and reached out to pat Ed on the foot, but Ed ignored him.
When Ed had the orange peeled and Alphonse had finished his granola bar, Ed broke the fruit into segments and offered one to Alphonse. Alphonse took it and looked at his mate, huddling near the end of the mat and looking repentant and pitiful. Alphonse smiled and offered the segment to Edward, who eased up to take it from Alphonse's fingers while casting glances at Ed, as if ready to dodge a cuff. But Ed only looked at him, and Edward happily munched his segment as Alphonse was given another. Ed ended up splitting the orange between them, and before they were through Edward was cuddled up to Ed's side while his mate leaned back against his chest. Marta watched them from the doorway, and then turned away before Ed saw her tears.
**
Although the sound of the buzz drill made Ed nervous too, he stood behind Alphonse with his arms wrapped around him. They both watched Marta anxiously as she carefully cut the cast down the middle, then squeezed her fingers into the opening and cracked it apart. She pulled it off, and then pulled over the cart with the basin of warm water and wash cloth. She washed Alphonse's leg, flexed his foot up and down, and smiled up at him. He was wide eyed, looking from his leg to Marta and back again. He bent his knee a bit and frowned. Marta knew it would be stiff and sore, and that she could justify keeping the pair for a least one more week until Alphonse was ambling around comfortably. Alphonse turned and reached for Ed's neck, and Ed bent over and let him wrap his arms around it; then Ed scooped him up and looked at Marta.
“Al needs to walk,” she told Ed. “Set him on his feet.” She came over as Ed bent down and put Alphonse's feet on the floor. Alphonse kept firm hold around Ed's neck, but he looked down at his feet, his one pajama-clad leg and his one naked leg. Then he looked up at Marta, and then at Ed, and made a soft sound. Ed immediately picked him back up and Marta sighed...Alphonse wanted Ed's attention more than he wanted to stand. She needed to put him back in with Edward and watch him to see when he started moving about on his own again.
Alphonse was returned to his sulking mate, who had once again been locked up to keep him out of the way. Edward immediately noticed the change in his mate and sniffed all over him when Ed sat Alphonse in the nest, sniffing all up and down his mate's bared leg. Alphonse patted Edward's head and got pounced. The pair began to roll around, mock growling and biting, and Marta beckoned Ed out of the enclosure and shut them in.
“Let's leave them alone for a while and let Edward coax Alphonse into moving around, that should get him up on his feet and running in no time,” Marta said, rubbing Ed's arm. “You're a good surrogate parent you know, the best.” She kissed him on the cheek, and he gruffed a little and followed her down the hall.
When Marta went back a couple of hours later to check on them before dinner, neither was to be seen. She opened the door slowly and moved into the enclosure quietly. She could hear sounds from the recesses of the den, grunts and half-moans and sighs that were all too telltale. If Alphonse could mate then Alphonse could walk. She tip toed back out and shut the door softly behind her.
ONWARDS TO PART TWO