Late for a Date

[Iƪƪia]

Illia smiled a feline smile at him. Whatever traces of tension she previously felt had faded away. She let out an involuntary purr as she lowered her body and looked up at him.

"True," Both of her heads spoke in unison, "Fire and ice could never be taken ssso literally."

She straightened up and looked over his glowing scales. Stepping forward, she touched her forehead to his. Z was right. He didn't feel nearly as hot as he looked. He was a bit warm, but she didn't mind much due to the fact that her fur gave her extra protection against the heat.

"It'sss true. You aren't that hot," She said, smiling broadly at the awkward phrasing.

[ωΘĿƒ]

Z pressed his flat, scaly forehead into her soft, curved feline's brow slightly, the chill of her fur just enough so that he could feel it.

"What did I tell you..." He snickered, lightly, easily, his crocodile smile spreading widely over his long snout - splitting it in two with a glowing line that looked like molten fire. He noticed the purr in her voice, and thought it was kinda cute. She sure didn't look like it, but he had a hunch that she could be a big fluffy kitty when she wanted to. He wondered briefly if she could also be a snake - striking quickly, and without warning. That thought passed quickly out of his mind, dropping to the bottom of his consciousness like a river rock in a pond.

"Illia, I don't say this much, but you're great... I mean really, really, great..."

He didn't quite know how to say it, so he just let out whatever came to mind first. That sounded good enough, but just to make sure she understood his meaning, his single-clawed wings brushed lightly against the fur of her shoulders, almost like a wing-hug.

[Iƪƪia]

Illia looked into his yellow eyes, purring softly. It was entirely too apparent that he was never given much attention. She wondered briefly just how neglected Z might have felt. Perhaps that was the reason he seemed to get into so much trouble. A sudden wave of pity overcame her, but she managed to push that from her mind as quickly as it had appeared.

"Thanksss," She replied gently, "You're pretty great too, ya know."

A scurrying sound behind her forced Illia to pull away. Two sets of eyes scanned their surroundings and two tongues tasted the air. Still nothing. However, she was suddenly worried about the time. Just how long had they been out here? She replaced her skin, still focused on her surroundings.

"Perhaps we should head back?" She returned her attention to Z, "Personally, I'd rather not spend all year in detention."

[ωΘĿƒ]

Z reclaimed his human form right after Illia, listening for the same thing she seemed to be looking for. Nothing, but as Illia spoke, that familiar paranoia crept its way into his mind too. They had been out here a long time, hadn't they? He had liked it, the closeness, the feeling of for once in his life being appreciated. But, as much as he had liked it, he was still suspicious. They weren't the only two in the school, and that headmaster dude had a nasty habit of popping up suddenly and unexpectedly.

Z tried to keep himself from looking too disappointed, but he agreed readily with Illia, a quick joke covering up his sorrow.

"Well, I can't leave Mikey alone without something setting fire, so I have to be there, but..." He finished looking around, turning back to her, "I can see where he might get annoying, what with the spider-breath and all."

Z looked at the lake, just a faint glow of what was left. Come to think of it, the lake had already been pranked. Best not to draw attention to it by lighting it up like the sun.

He told himself Illia was right, but still, it bugged him to see her go.

[Iƪƪia]

She edged toward him, her smile returning once again. She quickly looked around the area once again, still finding nothing.

"I had a really nice time tonight," She said quietly.

Her head snapped back once again, half-expecting to find that someone was watching them. There was still no one, of course. Her tensions eased a little, she took another step toward him.

"Well, we should do something like this again sometime," She said.

Placing her hand atop his shoulder, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

[ωΘĿƒ]

Z was about to end his night with one last witticism. That is, until he felt the staggering shock of the kiss. He felt the control of his skin slip, then, unable to stop it, it failed completely.

He jumped, startled, struggling to regain control. In the course of a minute, he was able to, but he was still blushing madly, trying to yell at himself inwardly and figure out what happened at the same time.

What would he say to her?

"Well, um..." He tried to make his mouth work properly, "I have to... I, uh mean-"

He stopped himself, before he could dig any deeper a hole. He took a little breath of air, then responded as calmly and as civilly as he possibly could.

"I'd like that, Illia, and I thank you for this night and your company."

Just like mother had taught him, but, it felt a little stuffy. A little formal and elegant, and definitely out of place after what had happened. So, to make up for it, he quickly added.

"And, I'm sorry about the uh, accident. Won't happen again!" He hid behind a goofy, self-confident grin.

With that, he couldn't take it anymore. He had to stop while he was still breathing.

"Good night." He murmured, sternly, more to himself than to Illia, then, he left. His skin flickering slightly as he left.

[Iƪƪia]

Illia watched him depart, a somewhat shocked expression on her face. She wasn't sure how he'd react, but she certainly wasn't prepared for that. It was a rather abrupt way to end the night, as well. Sighing, she looked up at the moon, only to find it now hidden behind a cluster of clouds.

"Yes, perhaps I did come on a bit too strongly," She murmured to herself.

A slight smile tugged at her lips as she lowered her gaze once again. She decided that she'd better leave too. Stepping forward, she looked back at the lake, it's surreal glow now completely gone. Well, this had definitely been the most interesting date she'd been on. She laughed aloud before turning and heading back toward the academy.