“See, this is where I’m s’posed to say I’m surprised to find you neck deep’n bodies ‘n’ sheets.”

I pulled my face from where I’d been lapping nectar out of the lovely folds underneath me, the even lovelier woman they belonged to mewling her displeasure at my tongue’s departure. I grinned, equal parts taken with her delicious pouty whining and the absolute vision standing in the door.

“Well look what the cat dragged in! And with such accusations!” If Droste was bothered by my over-the-top, affected southern drawl, they didn’t show it. The voyeurs in my head, on the other hand, were all too happy to provide the color commentary. [Rotlimb: Ugh, fucking really?] [Belial: Your accent is atrocious, Ash. Do put some effort into the facade, at least.]

“More a statement of the obvious than an accusation, ain’t it?” I laughed, not bothering to deny it.

“Who’s your friend, Foots?” asked the guy I’d set to filling me. His name escaped me, but that was understandable. If he’d even said it, I wouldn’t have bothered to remember. [Rotlimb: It’s bad enough you’re subjecting us to being pegged while you lick a whore instead of fucking her!!]

I leaned back into the next thrust, grinding my ass cheeks against his thighs just to spite Four. Another particularly needy whimper escaped the woman on the bed, a whimper that quickly morphed into a moan when two of my fingers curled up into her while my thumb began circling her clit. [Butcher: And who is to blame for that, Four?]

Droste kicked off of where they’d been leaning against the door frame and ambled closer with that confident saunter they knew drove me wild. “So it’s true then?” [Rotlimb: For fuck’s— This shit again, One?]

“Mmm, gonna need you to be a tad more specific.” I scraped my nails down her thigh as I dove in to flick my tongue over her clit, causing her to cry out with a wordless wail that’d turn a priest to sin from the sound alone. “Or save it for later and join in on the fun. You know you want to!” [Butcher: If you hadn’t lost your cool, you never would have been crushed, and we would not be saddled with this pervert.] [DZ: Just a reminder that I’m still thirteen in here.]

Droste, much to my disappointment, circled around us like a cat stalking its prey rather than take me up on my offer. Still, I would have had to be blind to miss the lust burning behind their heavy-lidded eyes. And honestly, the denial made me all the hornier, and that was saying something given how wound up I was, courtesy of the juices on my tongue and the amazing dicking my ass was getting. “It was mighty hard gettin’ in here, what with all the Teeth ‘round the building, and rumor has it Butcher Four’s deader’n a doornail.” [Rotlimb: You know as well as I do there’s no way I’d have fucked up like that if the goddamn Simurgh hadn’t manipulated things somehow!]

“And here you are, playing in the lion’s den. That tells me either you joined up for shits ‘n’ giggles… or you’re Butcher Five.” [Belial: There is little sense in repeating an already failed argument.]

I sucked her clit with just enough pressure to grasp it with my lips for a second before slipping away, and I got a buck into my face and a needy whine for my efforts. I pulled back to speak only to groan in ecstasy as the next thrust into my ass synced perfectly with my shifting body. I blew out a breath past grit teeth and an impossible to suppress grin, denying, “Actually, turns out I’m number six!” [Butcher: So it can fuck and count. Better than the useless waste Five was.]

The set of Arin’s jaw tightened, and familiar with the signs that one of Arin’s lectures was brewing, I rolled my eyes and turned back to the folds I’d abandoned. It was easy to lose myself in their softness, slick with syrupy honey, while I ground myself back into the rhythmic plowing, stretching me out in all the right ways. [Ror: I’m not useless!]

“That ain’t the reassurance I was hopin’ for, Foots! You’ve always been wild, but that don’t mean you kill people for shits ‘n’ giggles!” [Belial: Ignoring your problems does not make them go away, Ash.]

“What’s that thing you’re always saying?” I asked rubbing my chin through my toy’s slickness while raking my nails down her flanking thighs. “‘Take what’cha need, don’t give a damn?’ News flash, that’s what the Teeth are all about! Just, y’know, with a body count.” Your power is kinda shitty, Five. I mean, who wants to be forgotten?? [Butcher: You are worse than useless!] [Rotlimb: Bitch, do not get me started!]

The last of the lust I’d seen brewing in Droste’s eyes died altogether. They turned away, already folding the space behind them into one of their portals. “I ain’t fixin’ to waste air arguing. I guess this is goodbye.” [Ror: Y-You’re just pissed because you died from tripping…]

My heart stopped as they stepped through. The bad kind, not the holyshitI’mcomingsohardohmygooooood kind. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go! We had a thing, the two of us not together but not not together, against the world and stupid, bland, boring shit everywhere! I scrambled to my feet, my eyes and my thoughts already fixed on the space through the portal. I exploded into being on the other side, only to be engulfed by the sound of Droste’s scream and the unexpected feeling of sticky warmth all over me.

Hm. Not just on me, but all over the crater of my arrival. Curious, I drew a finger over my cheek to look at the mystery substance more closely. Red and vaguely chunky. What was it? [DZ: Jesus, did you just…?!] [Rotlimb: Huh… Okay.]

Wait! Could it be…?! I rubbed the red substance along my tongue. Awww, it’s not strawberry jelly… [DZ: Dude! What’re you doing?!] [Rotlimb: Fucking what?] [Belial: That is blood, Ash.]

“What the fuck, Footloose?!” A pissed off Droste, their clothes in tatters and pieces of their face still regrowing, pinned me with a glare. “You just killed those people!!” [Ror: Oh god, I think I’m gonna hurl.] [DZ: You fucking ate—?!] [Rotlimb: Ugh. At least we figured that out before you exploded any of our men…] [Butcher: That, Five, is a useful power.]

“No I didn’t.” [Ror: Oh come on.]

“Yes you did!” [Rotlimb: Can it, bitch.]

“The explosion killed them.” [Butcher: Useless. You think you’re on this level, Five?]

“Your explosion!!” [Ror: You—!] [Butcher: To end two lives in an instant?]

“In a post-capitalist society, can anyone really be said to own anything?” I couldn’t stop my grin. “That is the people’s explosion, Droste.” [Ror: That’s…] [Butcher: Your only worthwhile thing you ever managed to do was kill Four by accident.]

“For fuck’s sake, can’t you take anythin’ seriously?!” [Ror: I…] [Butcher: So sit down and shut the fuck up while those of us with actual powers and experience guide the newblood.]

“I mean, I take consent very seriously. Does that count?” [Ror: …] [Rotlimb: Damn right, One.] [DZ: Ror, don’t listen to these assholes, okay?]

“Still have one moral left in you? Then listen up, Foots, and listen good: I’m leavin’.” A funny sound I didn’t recognize slipped out of them as they tipped over backwards, out of my line of sight. “Do not follow me.” [Rotlimb: Cram it, Three!] [Belial: Careful, Dylan. MirrorriM may be the shortest lived among us, but you are a close competitor.]

I teleported into the air over Droste, only to find they’d already vanished. I fell to the scorched pavement with a disappointed grunt. Gone. [DZ: Uh, Ash?]

Had they really left for good? I really liked them… [DZ: Footloose? Dude, c’mon...]

The two of us against the world. And now I was alone? [DZ: It’s so gross, please pull it out!]

Well, maybe not alone. I reached behind me and pulled the limp dick out of my ass with a wet squelch. “Prude.”

“See, this is where I’m s’posed to say I’m surprised to find you neck deep’n MILK ‘n’ CEREAL.”

I pulled my face from where I’d been lapping MY MILK AND CEREAL out of the lovely BOWL underneath me, the even lovelier woman they belonged to mewling her displeasure at MY THEFT OF HER DELICIOUS BREAKFAST. I grinned, equal parts taken with her delicious pouty whining and the absolute vision standing in the door.

“Well look what the cat dragged in! And with such accusations!” If Droste was bothered by my over-the-top, affected southern drawl, they didn’t show it. The voyeurs in my head, on the other hand, were all too happy to provide the color commentary. [Rotlimb: Ugh, fucking really?] [Belial: Your accent is atrocious, Ash. Do put some effort into the facade, at least.]

“More a statement of the obvious than an accusation, ain’t it?” I laughed, not bothering to deny it.

“Who’s your friend, Foots?” asked the guy I’d set to COOKING THE SAUSAGE. His name escaped me, but that was understandable. If he’d even said it, I wouldn’t have bothered to remember. [Rotlimb: It’s bad enough you’re subjecting us to WATCHING YOU EAT BREAKFAST!!]

I HAPPILY MUNCHED ON A BREAKFAST BURRITO just to spite Four. Another particularly needy whimper escaped the woman AT THE TABLE, a whimper that quickly morphed into a moan when I ATE THE LAST OF THE BURRITO, LEAVING HER NONE. [Butcher: And who is to blame for that, Four?]

Droste kicked off of where they’d been leaning against the door frame and ambled closer with that confident saunter they knew drove me wild. “So it’s true then?” [Rotlimb: For fuck’s— This shit again, One?]

“Mmm, gonna need you to be a tad more specific.” I SNATCHED THE WOMAN’S CORN FLAKES TOO, causing her to cry out with a wordless wail that’d turn a priest to sin from SUCH A CRUEL, HEARTLESS THEFT OF CEREAL. “Or save it for later and join US FOR BREAKFAST. You know you want to!” [Butcher: If you hadn’t lost your cool, you never would have been crushed, and we would not be saddled with this FOOD PILFERER.] [DZ: Just a reminder that I’m still HUNGRY FOR DONUTS in here.]

Droste, much to my disappointment, circled around us like a cat stalking its prey rather than take me up on my offer. Still, I would have had to be blind to miss the HUNGER FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY burning behind their heavy-lidded eyes. And honestly, the denial made me all the HUNGRIER, and that was saying something given how VERY FULL I WAS FEELING FROM EATING SO MUCH FOOD. “It was mighty hard gettin’ in here, what with all the Teeth ‘round the building, and rumor has it Butcher Four’s deader’n a doornail.” [Rotlimb: You know as well as I do there’s no way I’d have fucked up like that if the goddamn Simurgh hadn’t manipulated things somehow!]

“And here you are, playing in the lion’s den. That tells me either you joined up for shits ‘n’ giggles… or you’re Butcher Five.” [Belial: There is little sense in repeating an already failed argument.]

I STOLE THE WOMAN’S PANCAKES TOO, and I got a HUNGRY POUT for my efforts. I SWALLOWED BEFORE speakING BECAUSE I HAVE GOOD TABLE MANNERS only to groan in ecstasy as the DELICIOUS MARRIAGE OF FLOUR, MILK, EGGS, AND OTHER ASSORTED INGREDIENTS TOOK ME STRAIGHT TO FLAVORTOWN. I blew out a breath past grit teeth and an impossible to suppress grin, denying, “Actually, turns out I’m number six!” [Butcher: So it can EAT and count. Better than the useless waste Five was.]

The set of Arin’s jaw tightened, and familiar with the signs that one of Arin’s lectures was brewing, I rolled my eyes and turned back to the PANCAKES I’d abandoned. It was easy to lose myself in their softness, slick with syrupy honey, THEIR FLUFFY GOODNESS stretching MY STOMACH out in all the right ways. [Ror: I’m not useless!]

“That ain’t the reassurance I was hopin’ for, Foots! You’ve always been wild, but that don’t mean you kill people for shits ‘n’ giggles!” [Belial: Ignoring your problems does not make them go away, Ash.]

“What’s that thing you’re always saying?” I asked rubbing MY MOUTH CLEAN WITH A NAPKIN. “‘Take what’cha need, don’t give a damn?’ News flash, that’s what the Teeth are all about! Just, y’know, with a body count.” Your power is kinda shitty, Five. I mean, who wants to be forgotten?? [Butcher: You are worse than useless!] [Rotlimb: Bitch, do not get me started!]

The last of the HUNGER FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY I’d seen brewing in Droste’s eyes died altogether. They turned away, already folding the space behind them into one of their portals. “I ain’t fixin’ to waste air arguing. I guess this is goodbye.” [Ror: Y-You’re just pissed because you died from tripping…]

My heart stopped as they stepped through. The bad kind, not the holyshitTHISBREAKFASTCORNUCOPIAISSOGOODohmygooooood kind. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go! We had a thing, the two of us not together but not not together, against the world and stupid, bland, boring shit everywhere! I scrambled to my feet, my eyes and my thoughts already fixed on the space through the portal. I exploded into being on the other side, only to be engulfed by the sound of Droste’s scream and the unexpected feeling of sticky warmth all over me.

Hm. Not just on me, but all over the crater of my arrival. Curious, I drew a finger over my cheek to look at the mystery substance more closely. Red and vaguely chunky. What was it? [DZ: Jesus, did you just…?!] [Rotlimb: Huh… Okay.]

Wait! Could it be…?! I rubbed the red substance along my tongue. Awww, it’s not strawberry jelly… [DZ: Dude! What’re you doing?!] [Rotlimb: Fucking what?] [Belial: That is blood, Ash.]

“What the fuck, Footloose?!” A pissed off Droste, their clothes in tatters and pieces of their face still regrowing, pinned me with a glare. “You just killed those people!!” [Ror: Oh god, I think I’m gonna hurl.] [DZ: You fucking ate—?!] [Rotlimb: Ugh. At least we figured that out before you exploded any of our men…] [Butcher: That, Five, is a useful power.]

“No I didn’t.” [Ror: Oh come on.]

“Yes you did!” [Rotlimb: Can it, bitch.]

“The explosion killed them.” [Butcher: Useless. You think you’re on this level, Five?]

“Your explosion!!” [Ror: You—!] [Butcher: To end two lives in an instant?]

“In a post-capitalist society, can anyone really be said to own anything?” I couldn’t stop my grin. “That is the people’s explosion, Droste.” [Ror: That’s…] [Butcher: Your only worthwhile thing you ever managed to do was kill Four by accident.]

“For fuck’s sake, can’t you take anythin’ seriously?!” [Ror: I…] [Butcher: So sit down and shut the fuck up while those of us with actual powers and experience guide the newblood.]

“I mean, I take consent TO MAKE AND ENJOY TOGETHER THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY very seriously. Does that count?” [Ror: …] [Rotlimb: Damn right, One.] [DZ: Ror, don’t listen to these assholes, okay?]

“Still have one moral left in you? Then listen up, Foots, and listen good: I’m leavin’.” A funny sound I didn’t recognize slipped out of them as they tipped over backwards, out of my line of sight. “Do not follow me.” [Rotlimb: Cram it, Three!] [Belial: Careful, Dylan. MirrorriM may be the shortest lived among us, but you are a close competitor.]

I teleported into the air over Droste, only to find they’d already vanished. I fell to the scorched pavement with a disappointed grunt. Gone. [DZ: Uh, Ash?]

Had they really left for good? I really liked them… [DZ: Footloose? Dude, c’mon...]

The two of us against the world. And now I was alone? [DZ: THEY WERE so DELICIOUS, please EAT THE LAST OF THOSE PANCAKES!]

Well, maybe not alone. I RETURNED TO THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP. “GLADLY.”