He couldn’t stop purring as he stared at the man opposite of him. Something about him just made his very soul flutter and it was hard to keep himself on the ground. He tipped his head as Djinn answered and a coy expression made its way on his face as he lowered his chin. ”a pleasant memory.” His cat was rolling beneath his skin like a playful kitten, rubbing and pushing Killian to go closer. He did manage a couple of steps before stopping. He looked him over for a moment trying to decide the type of condition his fairy was in. A much better one so far he was seeing. Their last meeting was less than delightful. The feline waved a banner of a rib injury and Djinn, of course, looked like he had made friends with a stranger’s fist a few times. ”I visited. Didn’t stay long though.” He gave him a small shrug before biting into the apple. ”Didn’t really meet anyone interesting. I seem to have met the only fairy to keep my interest.” He winked at him before turning his attention away from Djinn for a moment. He needed to gain control over his heart beat again and breathing. Looking at the opposite man simply made him run hot.

His search for resolution, however, didn’t come as he was once more being drawn back into the very man that caused his stomach to tighten and do flips. Djinn was licking at his fingers and hazel eyes watched his mouth for a moment, before lifting to his face as he said something along the lines of him wanting some. A small smile crossed his features as he stepped in closer. Without so much as a word, he leaned in close and teasingly licked some of the butter off the bottom corner of his mouth before allowing his lips to move and press into Djinn’s. It was slow but lingering. The small and simple move only made him crave more except he knew he had to stop himself. No less just being around him made him feel like an addict having withdrawals. He needed more. He had to have more. ”I like messy.” he purred as he finally pulled back. He moved to where he was a little more besides him now, leaning his shoulder into Djinn’s waved the apple at him with his other hand. Taking another bite he stood tauntingly close to him wanting to feel the heat of the man next to him as his craving for touch was nearly to the brim.

Was it wrong to miss someone you didn’t technically have nor spend more than a couple of hours with at a time when they did run into each other? It felt wrong at least especially considering he knew Djinn was doing his damnedest to push him away. He knew those demons lingered in him but for now, it wasn’t enough to fully push him away. He wanted to help him conquer them, he wanted to see him succeed, he wanted to be there when he finally pulled his head out of his ass. Was that wrong of him also? Djinn’s success would almost feel like his own. He wanted to watch that achievement. Quietly he allowed his gaze to slide upwards at Djinn for a moment and then tipped his head to where it laid on his shoulder, his posture becoming rather lazy as he leaned on Djinn for support. His scent was strong and enjoyable once more starting the pleased purrs. ”What brings you to Aelfmenn?” he questioned as he nuzzled the top of his shoulder moving towards his neck where his lips lingered for a moment. He was as addicted to Djinn’s scent as he was everything else. ”Or you haven’t started the fun yet?”

He definitely didn’t want the buttered bread because what he wanted was the man that held it. Much as any other given opportunity, Killian saw it and he took it. The bit of butter was his prime excuse for getting in as close as he did and for even daring to cross that border that Djinn had so desperately tried to keep clinging to. Naturally, though being a cat he had to push the limit. He had to keep testing and toeing that line. He wanted Djinn to give in. The lick of the butter should have been the stopping point but Killian couldn’t control himself. The feline was frisky and becoming more riled with the neared presents of the fairy and before he knew it, his lips were pressing into his. Fingers itched to move from their planted place at his sides and move to Djinn’s but instead, they tightened into each other. The lingering moment made him feel breathless and weightless, giving him a euphoric high he had been searching for and craved. Only Djinn could provide this and it was only him he wanted it from. The incessant purring was loud enough that it vibrated every inch of his body as the heat steadily began to rise. First, it started in his toes and then steadily climbed higher just reaching up to his lips and he knew at that moment if he didn’t back off from it, the pressure would make him explode. He pulled back just enough sensing the change in his companion. He was as lost as he was and it made him feel proud to know he could get him so senseless.

”You have no idea how true that is.” He wanted to lean in again and every muscle had begged him to. The hazy drunk feeling he got from his overexposed senses. He licked his own lips for a moment, hazel eyes closing as he finished the distance a tad more only to lean now beside him.

It was hard to deny how deeply he wanted to submerge himself into Djinn but he supposed just the heat of the man next to him would be enough. He leaned lazily in a very cat like fashion as his head perched itself on his shoulder. His scent was beginning to intoxicate his senses again and he simply just swam in it. He couldn’t do more even though he knew he wanted to. For now he also had to be on the lookout to be sure he hadn’t been followed by those burly men who seemed to have unknown but ill intentions. Attempting to get himself out of this touch starved mood he asked him what had brought him here anyways. He suspected some kind of trouble but Djinn’s answer rather surprised him. He was simply dropping in for a bite to eat as he was traveling. ”Me?” he asked though it was sweetly deceiving. ”Oh you know. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.” His finger made shapeless forms now on Djinn’s forearm. ”I bore easily in one place. There’s far too much to see with being stuck in one area.” especially since he had nothing for to pin him down he was a solitary figure with the occasional Djinn on his arm…. And sometimes Lucia at his hips. The very thought of his friend caused a smile to come to his face as he finally lifts his head up but remained completely leaned into him. His lips though were starting to travel again as he spoke a rather two-sided coin question.

Just by the way Djinn answered caused his skin to prickle with excitement. His voice was low and vibrating and he would have gotten lost in it had the fairy not broken his trance. Just by the sound he made when he said his name he knew what was coming. Djinn was trying to ruin this. He was trying to remind him that there was to be a distinct distance between the two of them and the feline clung to whatever shred of touch he had left. Hesitantly he pulled back to allow him to look at his companion who attempted his best play of what he currently knew as ‘Djinn’s mask’. The words that left the other mans lips were a small surprise. ”I’m alive aren’t I?” he asked tipping his head. ”I must be doing something right.” it was a jokesters smile that crept on his lips but he didn’t make any movement to scoot in closer and brush it off. Instead, he pressed his lips together and then spoke. ”No more trouble than usual.” of course there was the whole climbing into castles when he shouldn’t have, taking coins from women who clearly needed it more than he did, and then there was also the whole matter of walking into a mess when he should have gone the other way. ”Curiosity can be too much for a feline.” Yes much like the domestic house cats that had to piss off the dogs in the neighborhood by playing ‘you can’t catch me’ or you know knocking things off of counters.

His companion was on the move now as he stepped away from him. Hazel eyes followed as he started to walk and once catching sight of his blue eyes willing him to follow the man did in a quick couple steps to fall into line with him. His head tipped when he spoke and he gave a slow smile. ”Depends on where you want me to start.” he answered though not giving a direct answer nor would he probably ever. It was something that his playful nature wouldn’t let him do. He’d rather bat around it instead of being up front. ”Each city is different and each comes with their own quirks. You figure it out.” He rolled one of his shoulders as his gaze drifted from Djinn and now onto their surroundings in quiet observation. He finally tossed the apple to the side as it landed with a soft thud on the ground off to the side. As Djinn spoke once more, he nodded his head. ”I know.” He had been there when Felix took off and worse hid Larkin only to be later found out. ”I was there when it all went down.” He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck squeezing the skin a little along the spine up to the back of his skull. ”It was when Lucia – my companion….. Went missing.” Though that was when he perked up quite a bit and spun to walk backward facing Djinn now. ”oh!”

”Speaking of Lucia, I found here!" he was nearly vibrating with a fond happiness for the female leopard. "she's not gone. I just wasn’t able to find her because she had been taken in.” He in no way was going to say the man’s name or what he was simply for the protection of both parties not that he suspected Djinn would go meddling. "Though I was right. Felix had harmed her...." his eyes dimmed a bit at the thought of the hybrid wolf. What a piece of the scum of the earth. There probably wouldn't be another person in the world that he could detest as much as he did him. Unfortunately, though he knew that Lucia was forced to have any association with him at all. He was her mate and that was an unbreakable bond that only death could fix. " he's the one that had caused the whole problem that is occurring now in Cendra."

Not like Killian had anyways.

Yes, he couldn’t help but figure out where this Maddox lived who had taken his beloved Lucia into his lair. There was no way he could get up there but the smell was clear as to what was around there. A large burly scaly beast. He beamed a little though happy his friend was quite alive and seemed to be doing very well for herself at least for now anyway. ”I spoke to her a week or so ago. She got out too since they thought she was dead and all.” or rather he bought her because she was dying? He didn’t really know but that was the story he was told. He didn’t buy it. Of course, he wanted to know more about this Maddox fellow but Lucia was told strictly to not bring anyone back with her. It seemed weird to him.

He spoke of his jacket and he nodded his head. ”Of course it has otherwise I wouldn’t keep it around.” It was nice to have something of his even though he fully wouldn’t admit to it. The scent though was steadily starting to wear off which was a bummer but of course just knowing it was his was pretty much a bonus. ”I think if you wanted it back, I might have to fight you for it.” he spun back around and started to walk normally only with a slow smile coming to his face taking one step in and bumping his shoulder into Djinn’s. Goodness, he couldn’t get enough! This whole not touching thing was going to drive the feline up the wall.

Curious eyes turned to him as he spoke and he just gave him a smile. He made it seem like he was up to no good and most of that was true. He wasn’t at least a good 80% of the time anyway. The conversation though took a turn and his happiness died down a bit when he could feel the energy off of Djinn change. Not being entirely sure why he nodded his head when he asked about caring for her. ”I do. She’s like… a packmate.” Maybe that would ease whatever this feeling was from Djinn. Animals ran in groups most of the time and though both of their cats are pretty solitary creatures they still rather enjoyed each other’s company among other activities. His eyes drew forward and there was a scent that kind of caught him off guard. He recognized it. It was the man he had run into earlier who had tried to drag him off. They were going directly towards him and before he could steer Djinn off another direction the man then asked if he could take him on.

In honesty, no. Killian wouldn’t stand a chance against him at least from what he had witnessed when the fairy had taken down those men back at the Inn. No less the cat wasn’t going to let that get in the way of his pride. ”I can hold my own.” he said with a jut of his chin. All he had was a cat and Djinn had an appearing and disappearing weapon. ”If anything I can at least take one hell of a hit.”

A voice shot through the air breaking him of his concentration on the handsome devil next to him and reminded him the problem they were walking in to. His brow arched as the man yelled thief, he clearly looking less than guilty. ”I'm not a thief.” he said almost offended. Djinn question caused him to give a smallish look. ”You could say that.” He watched as the man assumed the position and got ready to whack a few heads together and he rolled his eyes. ”You are quite the show to watch but no -- I won’t leave you to clean up my apparent mess.” The large man had a few other men that started to come in and around them and start closing in. His focus went on the one with the larger man who enclosed on him intent on grabbing him for the final time. The other man was pointless in the larger man’s opinion. ”Come’re Cat!”

The smaller man went in first and Killian ducked and moved to the side making the man miss. The feline was by no means a trained fighter and though he could give a few good punches he was nothing like his battle born ballerina boyfriend over there. The young man was swift to backtrack and swing forcing the cat to grab his fist and twist his arm. Slipping a foot behind the younger man’s legs he pushed down knocking him off balance with a twisted arm and once he had him in place and on the ground not able to move out of his grip he kicked him in the face leaving him writhing in pain. The bigger man was definitely not on his top lists to go toe to toe with. Killian knew his battles and this one he was going to lose and lose terribly. As his buddy laid on the ground with a bloody nose rocking back and forth the large man growled and charged at him. He tried to block and dodge it but needless to say, his human form was a lot weaker than his roughly 180 lb feline form. He was gripped almost instantaneously by his throat.

He wriggled to get loose as he was brought up to his tiptoes feeling his meaty sausage fingers tightening his grip. There was only one thing he could do and that was shift. A loud hiss escaped the feline and right before the man's eyes, he switched forms. Now he held a large jaguar instead of a smaller sized man. Large black paws wrapped around the large man's arms with razor claws and dug into the soft tender skin causing the man to yowl in pain. Back legs launched his large black mass forwards pushing his entire weight into the man and though he was big he could hold the force of the large cat. As stood atop the man with fangs in his face about to snap shut before he spied Djinn fall to the ground limp.

How did that happen?

Immediately he scrambled off of the large man and darted to Djinn’s fallen body. A loud hiss and swat at one of the men who were closest to him. Ears laid flat against his large skull as stomach lowered partially atop the fair, guarding him. How did they get the best of him? When did he get hit? The few that Djinn had been facing that were still standing and the one Killian knocked into with a bloody nose was now staring at the pair. The large man was unnerved by nearly having his face chewed on and commanded his men to grab Killian. ”Grab the cat.” His men looked at him. His tail was whipping back and forth attempting to figure out how he was going to drag Djinn out of there. ”You heard me! Grab him. Dump the other man. He has no use for me.” he waved them off as they went to wrestle Killian off of Djinn without getting mauled.

It took awhile but they got the cat also knocked out since he wouldn’t comply with going and under the man’s orders drug the large cat off and in a cave with a large kennel.

A bitter taste was when his mouth when he started to come to. He could tell they poured something down his throat. A queasy feeling started to settle in his stomach as he swallowed against nausea. Whatever it was it wasn’t settling in his stomach very well. Claws flexed and scratched stone as hazy pale yellow eyes blinked to remain open. He wasn’t sure where he was or how he got there but he did know his head hurt like he had a sack of rocks slung at it. Soft groans were given that sounded like low growls from the panther. Ears remained pinned to his skull against the pain. He could hear voices echoing off of the walls causing his head to tremor when they would get loud or laugh.

”He’s coming to, boss.” a man shouted. Hazy vision picked up double blurry figures in front of the bars and though he was woozy he was still in fight mode. Large frame burst from his laying position and practically slammed against the bars with vicious intent. Loud hisses and growls escaped him and though he could barely focus on which man was the real one he didn’t care. Pressing his full weight against the bars as large paws reached between them to grab the figure that jumped backward as razor sharp claws just barely missed flesh. He had to get back to Djinn.He hoped he was okay and not too direly hurt and if he was at least hoped he could hold on until he could get back to him. He wasn’t as helpless as he could play sometimes. The truth was…. Just like any other large wild cat, he could be a man killer. It was against his nature as a person to harm another however they pushed the line when they harmed someone he loved and Djinn was his. He would make them regret their choices and hurting his fairy. He would be sure of it and kill every single one of them once he got loose…. It was only a matter of time now. Fangs bore as lips peeled back as far as they could possibly go. A few chuckles erupted behind the fallen man on the floor as his co-workers watched the scene amused. ”He’s still got spirit, huh.”

Dark fur spiked along his shoulder blades and neck as his body puffed out. He should have killed the boss when he had the chance. He was close, his face nearly between his fangs. He stepped back from the bars as head sunk low watching as the man climbed back to his feet. His tail whipped back and forth behind his large bulky frame as he started to pace, pissed off. ”We still need to get the collar on him.”

Collar?


”At least he can’t shift back..”
”No but he can still talk! We’ll get caught if he starts alerting the right type of people.”

It was then he was beginning to get the feeling of where he was. He had been caught by traders. Most traders dabbled in fur and meat trade. This meant they were capturing animals and selling them to a slaughterhouse. But it wasn’t just animals who got it, sadly some werebeasts did get caught and were forced to shift and stay shifted. They couldn’t do anything with human flesh after all. He pressed into the bars again testing the stability of them a couple squeaking from the pressure of the large cat. He hoped Lucia was smart enough to not shift in front of the wrong people. If traders were in the area… there was no telling how many there were.

Backing off from the bars, he stepped backward nearly to where his rump would hit the back wall. A could few rams would break the bars loose. As he tensed his muscles ready to push himself forwards, something made him pause. The smell of blood was in the air and it wasn’t just any smell of blood…. It was Djinn. Ears shift off his head as yellow eyes searched the area.

The smell of blood hung heavy in the air and he could tell exactly who it belonged it. Most cats would be rather caught in the delicious smell but it only worried the panther. Despite having blurry vision, he searched for any sign of movement that might state it was his fae lurking around. It was steadily getting better but it wasn’t quite where he wanted it to be. Ears twitched attempting to pick up the sound of movement, his nostrils flaring to pick up the scent and direction it was coming from. ”Djinn.” he said quietly in a telepathic reach out. He hoped he was around but at the same time if he was hurt he wouldn’t be able to help him. He was trapped in a barred cage and it would take a while until he could break the bars. The tip of his tail twitched a bit not in the least bit paying attention to what the men were saying now. Blinking his eyes a few times his vision clearing and then blurring every time. That was until he thought he saw a reflective shimmer. Squinting his eyes a little he noticed the brief flutter of a wing. It was quick but it was enough to let him know he was in fact around.

Not wanting to draw attention to where he was looking at, ears flattened to his skull again and paced closer towards the bars as one man moved closer to the cage. Quickly a large paw slipped between the bars with his claws extended nabbing material of the man's clothing. The man panicked when he was caught and then pulled closer to the cage by the animal much stronger than he was. ”I’m caught! I’m caught! Get him off! Get him off!!!!!” he wailed attempting everything he had to get away from him. Men rushed to aide their partner and this he hoped to give Djinn enough of a distraction to do what he needed to and slip around them.Loud snarls escaped the feline as his other front paws attempted to grab for material as face pressed into the bars attempting to bite when he dragged the man closer. He viciously wriggled and pulled on the man who was being tugged backward by the other men while two others went trying to whack him with a couple of sticks to let go. He ignored the beatings as his goal was to maul the one he held onto.

”You were told to stay away from the cage! What were you thinking.” the boss shouted at the man as he wailed and cried out when Killian finally got his other set of claws into the tender flesh of the man drawing out strains of blood. He was going to kill him. If he got this man close enough he was done for. However the whacks from the sticks were starting to get to him and he was forced to let go as his head turned and snapped at one of them, yanking it out of one of the man's hands and snapping it in his jaws. Scrambling back against the fence he attempted to grab another but they were smart enough to get away from the cage when they had the chance. ”Fucking Cat.” the man hissed as he whimpered and whined holding his bloodied forearm.”Oh I'm planning to do a lot worse than just that.” He hissed at the man telepathically. His muscles rolled beneath his dark coat as whiskers twitched.