Chapter 32: Going Home

BECK

Beck woke up the next morning with Mika snuggled up against her, the cat’s whiskery nose nuzzling her bare chest. They hadn’t been too concerned about sleep the night before, but now that they’d finally succumbed to it, Mika was making the most of the opportunity to get cozy.

Beck sighed, draping an arm around Mika, pulling her closer. She was due to head home today, and she found herself wishing she’d also landed a job here, despite her initial doubts when Iro had first mentioned it.

He seemed content, like he’d finally broken free from his “streamer shell.” She’d been quietly worried about his mental health, but this trip had shown her he was doing just fine.

Eventually, Mika stirred, stretching against Beck without letting go, purring softly as she snuggled back into her human companion.

“Mika,” Beck said, giving the cat a gentle shake. Mika just grumbled, keeping her eyes firmly shut. “Mika, we need to get up. Do you really want me to call Iro in?”

Mika hissed softly at the threat but complied, finally waking up and resting her chin on Beck’s right breast to look at her human lover. “Mmf. Don’t you dare…I…have ~such ~a bad hangover.”

Beck groaned and started to rub Mika’s back. “Ugh. Don’t remind me.”

Mika giggled lazily and scooted forward, tracing a random pattern on Beck’s stomach. “You were…~really good~ last night. Will you be coming back soon?”

Beck sighed and relaxed under Mika’s aimless touch. “I’ll be here as often as I can.”

She leaned down and kissed Mika’s forehead, her lips coming away with a few stray hairs that she brushed away without a fuss.

A sudden knock on the door startled them both, but all that followed was Airy’s voice echoing from the hallway.

“Book! It is time for dinner. Huh? Oh! ~Beck! ~It is time for ~breakfasty~. Airy did better!” Her excited voice faded as she moved down the hall, and both Mika and Beck groaned.

“C’mon…some water will help cure the hangover,” Beck said, starting to rouse Mika with her.

Mika just grumbled as she got up, sleepily searching for her nightie, lost somewhere during the night. “I’d kill for a drink right now. Can’t get hungover if you’re drunk.”

Beck swatted Mika’s right butt cheek, causing the cat to squeak and glare back at her. “Save the drinks for an occasion. Let’s go. I’m sure they’re expecting us if they sent someone to get us.”

Mika scoffed as she slipped into her silky nightwear. “Especially to send the birdbrain…”

***

After finding some proper clothes, Beck and Mika joined the breakfast table, only to find the last two seats were right next to each other.

They didn’t mind, but the giggles and sideways glances were a bit annoying. Beck knew Iro would tease her about it, but she had plenty of ammunition to fire back.

As breakfast wound down, Zeltaria kept Iro and Beck at the table while the rest of the staff dispersed.

“It was a genuine ~pleasure~ to have you here, Miss Beck. I apologize we didn’t have more time together, but I enjoyed what we had,” Zeltaria said warmly.

The Succubus’s elegance and beauty were evident in even the smallest gestures, like thanking a guest for their visit.

Beck smiled at the Succubus and smirked at Iro. “Oh, don’t worry, it was as good for me as it was for you. And I can always come visit again.”

Beck giggled while Zeltaria’s laugh was more of a regal cackle.

“I can send someone with you to help with your luggage if you like, miss Beck. Though I’m sure Iro here will already be coming along to see you off,” Zeltaria continued.

Beck shook her head. “I-I’m good, thanks. Iro will be more than enough help. It was a delight meeting you and everyone else—”

“And especially Mika, I notice. The fur on your shirt is a bit of a giveaway,” Zeltaria said with a knowing grin.

Beck blushed while Iro snickered, but Beck could only nod in response. “I’ll send her along. Skalla can manage without her, and will probably do better without having to keep an eye on the liquor cabinet.”

“That…sounds great,” Beck said, still trying to hide her general enthusiasm about Mika, but knowing these two probably saw right through her.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll have Mika get ready to go and join you. Iro, would you be so kind as to deliver the message to Skalla? I’m sure she’d appreciate the notice.”

Iro nodded and hopped up from his chair and headed for the kitchen, leaving Beck alone with Zeltaria. The Succubus leaned forward slightly, resting their elbows on the dining table. “I’ll tend to him well, you know.”

Beck looked a little surprised at Zeltaria’s blatantly honest statement. “I, uh, I’m not ~that~ attached to him. He’s just a good friend, you know?”

Zeltaria scoffed and slowly shook their head, leveling a cool stare on Beck. “I can tell it’s ~so much more~ than that. Whether or not you realize it.”

Zeltaria stood without another word and Beck turned to see Iro returning. “You are, of course, welcome to return any time, Miss Beck. There will always be room for you at Valouri Manor.”

Beck stood to match Zeltaria as Iro slid in beside her. “Thank you, Miss Zel, I really appreciate it. Everything. It was all a wonderful week away.”

Zeltaria gave a graceful nod and waved goodbye to Beck. The sound of her hoof-like feet on the tile and stone echoed as she left the dining room and ascended the stairs.

Beck turned to Iro and pulled him into a hug. “You know, you did good for yourself.”

Iro looked a bit surprised but returned the hug. “Thanks, Beck. There were times I wasn’t sure it would work out, but I think everything’s going to be okay.”

Mika showed up soon after, looking professional in her maid uniform. The stark black and white of her outfit made her a sight to behold, but Beck was more interested in the cat ~in~ the uniform.

“Ready to go, ~Miss Beck~, dog?” Mika asked, a smirk on her face as she addressed her friends with varying degrees of effort.

Beck gestured towards the stairs. “I just need to finish packing. I was kind of busy last night.”

She started towards the stairs, then turned back to the two non-humans and blew three playful kisses at Mika. The cat’s ears perked up instantly, trying to pretend she hadn’t noticed.

When she couldn’t ignore it, she shot a glare at Iro. “Not. A. Word.”

IRO

Iro mimed zipping his lips shut and smiled as Mika and Beck disappeared upstairs, leaving him alone to prepare for the trip to the airport.

He was about to follow them when Holly emerged from the dressing rooms near the kitchen. Seeing Iro, she smiled.

“Hey…good morning, pup,” she said, though Iro could tell she was tired. Her usual energy was nowhere to be found.

“Hey, Holly. Are you okay? Did you and Zel have to do that ~thing~?”

Holly shook her head slowly, her brows furrowing in thought before she managed a small smile. “N-not yet. Zeltaria’s just…weighing her options. Soul binding is complicated. It’s not something you want to rush.”

Iro frowned. “I thought you’ve done this before…”

Holly waved her hand dismissively. “We ~have~, but…Zel said she wanted to try something different this time. Or maybe she said ~new~? ~Safer~? I can’t remember…”

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Iro, hugging him loosely. “Give Beck a hug for me, okay? I need to go lie down. Zel’s orders.”

Iro held onto Holly a little longer than she held him, then let her go slowly. “Okay. I’ll say hi to her for you. And goodbye for now, I guess.”

Holly gave Iro a thumbs-up and wandered off into the mansion. Her room was on the second floor, but lately, Iro noticed she spent most of her time on the main floor.

Beck and Mika’s return interrupted Iro’s thoughts, and soon the three of them were on their way to the airport, traveling along the city’s canal network in a gondola.

Beck and Iro shared a quick hug before she went inside the airport.

Iro gave Beck and Mika some privacy for a quick kiss, happy for their newfound closeness but sad to see them part so soon.

“You ~promise~ to come back?” Mika asked, pouting slightly.

Beck giggled and nuzzled Mika’s nose, a move she discovered last night had the same effect on the cat as it did on her dog friend. “~Promise~. One more kiss for the road?”

Mika glanced at Iro, who was politely looking away, then leaned in to kiss Beck.

They were just starting to wrap their arms around each other when a large, burly bull-man bumped into Beck, separating them.

“Not your type,” he muttered as he walked away.

Mika was about to pounce on him, but Beck grabbed her from behind as she yelled. “Hey! You! Come back here and ~apologize!~ That was my girlfriend you bumped into!”

Iro turned around, grinning. “~Girlfriend~?”

Mika quieted down and shook her head before Beck tightened her hug and kissed Mika on the cheek. She then let go and waved goodbye as she entered the airport terminal.

As Iro and Mika watched Beck disappear into the crowd, they fell silent, unsure who would speak first.

Finally, Mika broke the silence with a boast. “Got her in bed in two days. What was your time?”

Iro glared at her. “That’s not something to brag about.”

Mika grinned, “What? We clicked, I think I’m smitten, and she was too. Don’t tell me you’re ~jealous~?”

Iro grunted and turned away, stuffing his hands into his pockets and heading for the nearest canal to catch a gondola back to the mansion.

“Get over yourself…just…” Iro turned back to look at Mika. “Don’t hurt her, okay?”

Mika fell silent and followed him, finally clutching Iro’s arm to pull herself closer. “Okay.”

As they returned to the mansion, Mika seemed unusually thoughtful, and Iro noticed she stayed quiet for the rest of the day, even when Cerys scolded her in the foyer over a missing bottle of wine.