Ash parked in the driveway of his sister's house, right next to her car. He'd only been to her place a few times, and always before it had been hers and her husband's. Now just hers.
He debated for a moment over whether to start bringing stuff in, but left it all where it was. Keep things easier at first.
The front door opened before Ash could decide whether to knock or try the doorbell. Val stood there, the same crooked smile on her face as when they were kids. Maybe slightly different now. More knowing and tired, less smug and whimsical.
"You made it," she said.
"Of course."
"Never know. It was only ever a fifty-fifty any time I invited you."
"That's different."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
Val moved back to let Ash in. "Because those were social things?"
"Partly? Also... Carl kinda sucked."
Val's grin widened, but a touch of sadness hit her eyes. "Guess now that he's the ex you feel safe saying that, huh?"
"Safer than before."
"Sure." Val shrugged. "You never liked him that much. S'not like I don't know that."
"I tried."
"Not very hard."
"No."
"But then... here we are." Val punched Ash lightly on the shoulder. "You win."
"You know I'd rather have been wrong."
"I know. What can ya do, though."
"What can ya do," Ash echoed.
The siblings stood awkwardly for a moment.
"You wanna bring your stuff in?" Val asked.
"Kinda might as well, right? Just as easy now as later. And I've still got my shoes on."
"Sure. Lemme slip my boots on. I'll help."
It was cold out. Not bitterly so, but enough for Val to start whining by the time they made the last trip from the car. She blew on her hands, fruitlessly trying to warm them up, then stuck them straight down the back of Ash's shirt.
"Ah! Hey!" Ash squirmed away from Val's icy touch, but since her hands were down his shirt he couldn't easily escape.
"You're warmer than I am," Val argued calmly. "Share the wealth."
"At least warn me."
"You'd just be on guard then."
"Yeah. Exactly."
Val pulled her hands back, now closer to room temperature again. "You remember where your room is?"
"You mean the one I stayed in that one time I slept here?"
"Yep. Yours now."
Ash shrugged awkwardly. "I swear I don't mean to stay long. Just... you know."
"Pff, whatever. It's stupid having this whole house on my own. Was always too big for two as it was. I just bounce around going crazy on my own. That or use, like, two rooms for days at a time." Val waved her arms. "What was I ever thinking?"
Ash stayed quiet. He assumed he knew what she'd been thinking, and didn't want to be the one to bring it up.
"Don't look at me like that," Val said. She picked up a bag and started walking.
"Wasn't looking at you like anything."
"I saw you."
"Yeah. And there was no look."
"There absolutely was."
They arrived at what was now Ash's room and set their respective loads down. It was a somewhat barren room, not having been properly lived in, only ever being a temporary place for guests. Since most everything Ash owned was going to be put in here somewhere, that would at least fill some of the empty space.
Val looked at Ash and raised her chin slightly, daring him to say what they were both thinking. He squirmed under her gaze just as he had when she'd placed frigid fingers on his warm back.
"You could always get a different place," Ash said.
"That wasn't what you were thinking."
"No. But it's true. You could."
Val sighed. "Technically, sure." She waved a hand around. "I actually do like the place, though. Like, I picked it for... for living in. Forever, maybe. I love it, really. Just... not alone." She shrugged. "And Carl gave it to me in the divorce, so it's easy. I don't feel like going through the process of selling and moving again."
"No, sure, I get that." Ash's eyes darted around for a second, involuntarily seeking escape. "At least it wasn't a messy split? I guess?"
"No. He was fair about it. More than fair, really. Got the house, came out decent financially. I can't fault him for any of that."
"Buuuttt... he did leave."
"Yeah. That I can fault him for. And... not, too."
"Not?"
"He wanted kids as bad as I did, Ash. And I never really told anyone, neither of us did as far as I know..."
"What?"
"It's me, Ash. I'm the one who couldn't have them."
Ash tensed up. Val was already well past tense.
It was more than either had intended to discuss. Ash knew about the kids thing being an issue. And knew that it was the reason for the size of the house and yard and everything. He hadn't actually known they'd figured out what the problem was, though maybe he could have guessed something close if he'd really wanted to think about it. The way the divorce went down and all.
"His new girl doesn't have that problem," Val said quietly.
"Aw fuck, Val." Ash enfolded her in a deep hug. "I didn't mean to bring any of that up."
She shrugged miserably in his arms. "Was gonna happen sooner or later. I didn't want to talk to anyone about it, but I would with you sooner or later. 'Specially with you living here." She managed a forced chuckle. "Might as well get it out of the way."
Ash kept holding her. "You didn't have to tell me if you didn't want to."
"Ah, dear brother, but of course I wanted to."
"You did?"
"I did. And I didn't."
"Oh. Right."
"Hold something in too long, something that needs to get out..." Val sneaked a hand out from Ash's hug and made a false explosion with her fingers. "S'gonna blow first chance it gets."
"Ah."
"Better to you than... well, anyone else, really."
"Even Mom and Dad?"
"Especially them, are you kidding me?" Val managed to wriggle free and push Ash to arm's length. She stared straight at him. "Do you even know how excited they've been? Thinking I had everything set and grandkids were on the way? I mean, you've not been giving them much hope-"
"As little as possible."
"-and here I was finally... finally getting set..." Val turned and headed out of the room. "At least with the divorce I'm getting all kinds of sympathy and no one's asking impossible questions yet. You want a drink?"
Ash struggled to shift mental gears. "Are you having one either way?"
"Yes."
"Then sure. Why not. I'll finish bringing stuff to the... to my room, then-"
"Later."
"It's just sitting in the entryway."
"So? Whose way's it gonna be in?"
"... ok, later."
"Correct."
****
'A drink' turned into more than one, though spaced widely enough through the afternoon and evening that both Ash and Val stayed closer to sober than not. Val perhaps just a tad less so.
Ash made a few valiant attempts at bringing more of his stuff to his new room, and eventually managed to bring most of it over, shoving the better part of it in the corner.
At least after that there wasn't anything much else to do, and he could let himself properly relax into an ongoing, mildly-alcohol-lubricated conversation about whatever they felt like.
"I think you should tell me what happened," Val said as they sat together in her living room.
"What happened with what?"
"That's the question, isn't it." Val had her knees pulled up to her chest. She rested her hands on them and peered suspiciously at her brother. "I said I wasn't going to pry-"
"You did."
"-but now that my shit's out there already... what's yours?"
"Who says I have any?"
"You did, more or less. In all my years... well, the ones we've been living out in the world on our own anyway, I've never had you beg me for a place to crash."
"Ok, whoa, I did no begging. I merely asked, and you were nice enough to say yes. I'm now regretting asking, just for the record."
"Yeah, yeah. But still, though. You've been all independent and shit. Never really needed me or the 'rents or anyone to bail you out, so far as I know."
"That's me."
"So what happened?"
Ash sighed and rubbed his face. "It's stupid."
"That's ok. Hit me with it."
"You really wanna know?"
Val fixed her brother with a Look. "I think I've been very clear that I really, really wanna know."
"Fine. But it's not that interesting. Or particularly flattering."
"S'fine. It'll distract me from my life for a bit."
"Oh gee, well I'm so glad to be sharing for the sake of... distracting you."
"And also I very much care about my darling brother and his emotional needs. Obviously."
"Ah, yes. Obviously."
Val took a sip of her latest drink, then arched her eyebrow. "Whenever you're ready."
"Yeah, yeah." Ash ran his fingers through his hair. "So the short version-"
"I want the long version."
"I don't wanna tell it. The short version is... we opened a bakery."
Val stared at Ash, waiting for the punch line to whatever joke this was going to turn into. None was forthcoming.
"You did not," she said.
"Did."
"You?"
"Yes. Me and Marcy."
"Marcy? Who's that?"
"My girlfriend. At the time."
"What happened to Fiona?"
"Uh... nothing. Just... not together by then."
"You only met her two months ago!"
"Three. At least. Have I not mentioned Marcy?"
"No. How the hell did you possibly have time to fall for someone new and open a fucking bakery with her?"
"I told you it was stupid. You had fair warning."
"Fuck's sake, Ash. I didn't think you meant it quite that literally. You don't even know how to bake!"
"Correct."
"Or how to run a business."
"Better at it then baking though."
"Uh huh. So this bakery..."
"Was a disaster basically immediately."
"Ah."
"I didn't really lose much on it, not after we managed to sell it, but I didn't have a hell of a lot of money, and hadn't been working for a bit... not counting trying to run that place."
"Sure. And Marcy?"
Ash shrugged. "We fell apart when the bakery did. Made for a clean break, at least."
"Small mercies." Val took a longer drink. "You really thought going into business with a girl you'd hooked up with the night before was a solid plan?"
"Hey, we had a connection, ok?"
"A connection?"
"Well... yeah."
"Is that code for 'she had a pretty face and knew this trick with her tongue?'"
"... no."
"It totally is, isn't it?"
"... maybe."
Val sighed and leaned her head, resting it on her propped up arm. "Brother mine, I do so love and care for you, but goddamn do you need a chaperone to function in society."
"I do fine."
"You chase after whoever your newest love of your life is just like a puppy. A puppy who somehow never learns better."
"Do not. Most of the time we just... have fun for a while. Marcy's only the second... third..." Ash stopped and thought a moment. "Fourth girl tops I really thought I had something with."
"Oh. Only four."
"That's not bad."
Val nodded. "All things considered, it actually isn't."
"But, you know, I guess I didn't."
"Seems that way."
Ash sighed and slumped in his seat. "Am I just bad at relationships? Is that what it is?"
"I mean... this one sure sounds like you were."
"Oh thanks."
"Just this one, though. I mean, usually you don't come out of one bad enough to come seek asylum with your sis, right?"
"It's financial! That's all."
"Mmhm. You coulda gone to the 'rents, you know."
"Mom and Dad? No way. Woulda either been too much sympathy, or told ya sos, or Mom trying to set me up again..."
"She tries to help."
"Uh huh. I don't need that kind." Ash raised his glass in a haphazard salute. "Honestly, Val, I think you're who I needed. I need that weird mix of support and sarcasm. And, like, it's nice that you're a girl I don't have to worry about falling for, y'know?"
Val tilted her head. "Is that what I am?"
"Among other things."
"Huh." Val contemplated silently for a minute. "Yeah, I guess that all makes sense. Some of it's kinda why I'm happy having you here too. For real, don't worry about finding somewhere else. Just... just let's both chill a while, yeah? Together?"
"That sounds nice."
"Right?"
"Mmhm. No pressure. So much easier." Ash scratched his cheek. "But, uh, you think it'd be awkward if one of us, like, met someone?"
"Oh god. Do you already have someone you're into?"
"No! No no. Nothing like that. Just... what if?"
"I dunno. Go with it, I guess. We're both adults."
"Ok. Yeah. Maybe."
"How about try to go at least a week without falling for someone though, ok? Just see how you like it."
Ash casually flipped Val off, making her giggle. "Four times I've fallen for someone, ok? We established that. Maybe five. Four or five."
"Uh huh."
"Sometimes I know what I'm doing."
"Glad to hear it."
"Now I want to go pick up a girl just out of spite."
"Be sure to announce that. Girls love that sort of thing. Drops panties like no one's business."
"Maybe I will."
"Good."
"Good."
The siblings stared at each other a long, unblinking moment, then Val stood up.
"Another drink?" she asked.
"Yes please."
"Same again?"
"Sure."
"Coming up."
****
Val woke up the next morning with a bit of a dry mouth, but otherwise none the worse for the wear. It took her a moment to remember the day before, and that she had her brother staying with her. It was so easy to fall into a routine of being all alone in an overly large house.
Val threw on a long shirt and hit the bathroom, then the kitchen. Ash was already there, rummaging confusedly through cabinets.
"Starving already?"
Ash smiled crookedly at her. "Couldn't find coffee. I assume you have coffee? The maker is right there."
"Of course I have coffee, silly."
Val gently pushed Ash out of the way. He went to stand on the other side of the kitchen island.
"It's just up here at the top," Val said, having to stand slightly on her toes as she reached the top shelf of one of the cupboards. "That's all."
When she turned around, coffee in hand, she found Ash with an insane blush on his face.
"What's up with you all of a sudden?"
Ash coughed awkwardly. "Val, you, uh, don't have underwear on, huh."
Val's face took a bare instant to match Ash's red colouring. "Oh. Oh shit." She looked back at the top shelf and thought about how she'd had to stretch to reach it. "Um, how badly did I just flash you?"
"Um... pretty badly."
"Frick. Dammit." Val set the coffee down. "I thought I was doing well to remember putting anything on at all."
"Usually naked?"
"In the mornings. I mean, why not? S'just me. Was just me." Val took a deep breath, not quite daring to meet Ash's eye. "I'ma go find some pants."
"Probably a good idea. I mean, even just panties would help."
"Yeah, no. Full on pants time, I think. I just..." Val stopped. There really wasn't anything else to say. She pointed back the direction she'd come from, toward her room. "I'll... yeah."
Ash put coffee on while waiting for his sister's return. He thought about getting dressed himself, since he was only in a shirt and boxers. Which, really, he'd remembered underwear, so this wasn't on him. Somehow, though, more clothes seemed more appropriate all of a sudden.
Both sibs had their faces down to a dull pink by the time Val came back, now wearing jeans. Her cheeks flushed a little darker as they looked at each other, but the main blush had passed.
"That's a hell of a way to start your stay, huh?" Val said quietly.
"It's something, alright."
"You think, like, how many years we lived together, I never, uh, did something stupid like that."
"Never flashed me your whole butt?"
"Oh god, the whole thing? Really?"
"Well, no. Like half of it. Aaannnd..."
"Oh fuck. Don't say it."
"Ok."
Val waited. Ash didn't say it.
"Well tell me!"
"You said not to!"
"Yeah, but... I didn't mean it. I need to know."
Ash squirmed and held up his thumb and finger slightly parted. "Like, maybe, a li'l something else."
Val covered her face with her hands. "Fuuuccck. I haven't even done anything down there in... a week?"
"That's what you're worried about?!"
"No, but... if you had to see it, coulda at least been presentable."
Ash stared at Val. She peeked back at him through a gap in her fingers. With no warning, he abruptly broke out laughing.
Val smiled shyly and dropped her hands. She managed a giggle, though mostly only because of how hard Ash was laughing.
"This is such a disaster," Ash said, still giggling in the wake of his laughter.
"You think?"
"Don't you? I mean, not in a bad way. Just, like, in a disastrous way."
"What's the difference?"
"I dunno. It's funnier, I guess?"
"Is it?"
"That or embarrassing. Or both." Ash turned. "How do you know when this coffee machine's done?"
"It stops making noises."
"Ah. Fair enough."
A few minutes later, the siblings were sitting across from each other on stools pulled up to the island. They each sipped coffee, using it as a distraction from either having to talk or sit in horrible, awkward silence.
"You look thoughtful," Val said.
Ash nodded. "I guess."
"Whatcha thinking about?"
He hesitated. "You want the truth?"
"Is it my butt?"
"Maybe."
"Then tell me a lie."
"Ok. I thought maybe we should get a painting for your living room."
"... a painting?"
"Yeah. For that bare wall."
"Ah. It was gonna be for pictures. I have a bunch already, actually. They just never went up."
"Oh. Should we put them up?"
"No. Mostly Carl's in them. Or they remind me of him."
"Oh. Shitty."
"Yep."
"Lucky that thought was only a lie then."
Val snorted. "Yeah. So lucky."
Ash cradled his coffee mug, sitting thoughtfully for a minute. "This isn't gonna be weird, is it?"
"What?"
"Living together."
"Shouldn't be. This morning excepted."
"I mean, it's been less that a full day, though. You can't just except a big chunk of that."
"My house, my rules." Val waved her hand. "Honestly, I just need to adjust to having someone around. No biggie."
"Mmk."
"Seriously. It's good." Val stood up. "Let's make breakfast. You being here's an excuse to actually make something, and not just, like, throw a bagel in the toaster when I get hungry enough."
"Yeah, ok. Maybe I'll go get dressed first."
"Why?"
"I dunno. You are."
"Yeah, well, there's a happy medium that I didn't find this morning. You're doing ok, though."
"Still. I'ma grab pants."
"Whatever floats your boat, I guess."
"Uh huh."
Val watched Ash until he was gone, then sagged, leaned on the island, and shook her head. What the hell kind of mistake was that anyway? Forgetting about panties of all things. Flashing her brother.
They were adults. It wasn't a big deal. Or maybe it was more of a big deal. Either way, it was just such a dumb thing to do.
****
Making and consuming breakfast led to no further moments of awkwardness. Ash volunteered to do the dishes afterward, partly just to get a better sense of the kitchen.
Once he'd finished and went to find Val, she was in the living room playing a game on a fairly massive tv.
"Whoa, where'd that come from?" Ash asked. "I shouldn't have missed that."
Val pointed to the side of the screen. "There's panels there that slide over it. I never wanted anything this big, but Carl did. So he built it to hide away. I think he just liked having a secret compartment for his tv, honestly." She shrugged. "He wanted to pay for it, who was I to say no?"
"Plus now it's awesome and it's yours."
Val grinned crookedly. "Plus now it's awesome and it's mine."
Ash flopped down next to her and watched her play. "I keep wanting to say something like 'it kinda all worked out for you' or something. But I know that's not really right."
"No, I get it. As divorces go, it was a good one. Still coulda done without the little things like heartbreak and questioning all my life choices and things."
"Yeah, no, I mean those aren't always the most fun."
Ash watched a while longer. "This Spyro?"
"Yeah. It's a pretty chill game. I need that sometimes."
"Sure. You wanna just play, or you have something two player?"
"Uh... we only ever had a few games that I liked. Wasn't that much into 'em. But there's Mario Kart, I guess."
"Ooh, that's be sick on this screen."
"That's true."
"Wanna do it?"
"Ok. Lemme finish this level."
After breaking out Mario Kart and spending a few races being suitably enamoured with the overly large screen to play it on, the siblings retreated into a more mindless playstyle that left time for quiet introspection.
"I had a thought," Ash said.
"Well quick, write it down before you forget."
Ash expressionlessly reached over and pinched Val in a sensitive place on her tummy. She yelped and drove into a wall, too slow to catch her brother's hand with a wicked slap before it was gone again.
"I had a thought," Ash repeated patiently.
"Better hear it then," Val said, rubbing where she'd been pinched.
"What if you got a dog?"
"A dog?"
"You know. Four legs, furry, waggy tail, barks, often-"
"I know what a fucking dog is!"
"Oh good."
"I mean, what would I do with a dog?"
"Well, you were saying about having this whole place and it being too much and kinda empty and stuff. A dog'd help."
"That's what I got you for."
"To be a dog?"
"To fill space."
"Ah. My life's purpose revealed at last."
"Happy to help."
Ash set his controller down in between races while Val selected a new character and vehicle. Her previous choice being 'unlucky.'
"For real, though," he said, watching Val for signs of her actual feelings on the subject. "Could be something to consider."
"S'not the same as a family," Val said quietly without looking at him.
"No, I know. I didn't want to sound like I was saying it was. Just... could be something." He toyed with a stray thread on his shirt. "Not to belittle anything, but sometimes dogs are better than people. A lot of the time, actually."
"You're not wrong. I don't think I want a dog, though. Not now, anyway. It'd be all that work. Getting everything ready. Always having to take it for walks. Always needing to provide attention and affection."
"What exactly did you think kids would be like?"
"Well... you know, somewhat fewer walks, I guess."
"But you can't put them on a leash."
"True."
"So tie game, more or less."
Val sighed and temporarily abandoned her selection process entirely. "Maybe I wasn't even ready to be a mom at all."
"Well I wouldn't-"
"You're right. A dog would be easier than kids. Or at least not any harder. And here I am dreading the amount of work it'd be. How the hell was I ever gonna raise kids?"
"Maybe you just don't want a dog. That might be all it is."
"Maybe."
"And you woulda had a husband. Wouldn't have just been you."
"I guess. Unless it turned into one of those things were he spent all his energy on work and the kids were all mine. I don't think it woulda been that way, but he made way, way more than I ever did, and he loved his work. Coulda happened."
"Uh, sure."
"Just sayin'." Val waved her hand at Ash. "And it wouldn't be such a different scenario with a dog, either. Like, it'd be way easier if you were gonna be here to help, but we don't actually know how long you're staying. And then what if the dog gets all attached and then you leave and I've got a heartbroken pupper and-"
"Val. Val. Shhh, it's fine. It was just an idea."
"Yeah. An idea."
"I've got more. That was a first draft."
"More, huh?"
"I'll let things settle before I try again."
"No, go on, try another one."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I wanna see if you actually have other ideas, or if they're all just about getting a pet. I've thought of it myself, you know. It's not just your brilliant idea."
Ash sat pensively a moment. "What about a cat?"
Val rolled her eyes and swung a cushion at him. "That's about what I thought."
"Cats are different. Less work, kinda. More independent."
"I know. And I'd be more likely to get one. But I don't think I'm there yet."
"Well what if we just went to see some. Get a sense of how you feel being around them."
"Yeah, why not. Something to do, I guess."
Ash nodded. "Something to do."
"Just to think about. Tomorrow good?"
"My schedule's open."
"Good. We'll check it out tomorrow."
****
In spite of Val insisting on driving to the animal shelter the next day, Ash had to drive them home. The reason being Val's arms were all full of kitty.
"What ever happened to just looking anyway?"
Val didn't take her eyes off the cat purring cozily against her chest. "Well I couldn't leave him. Someone else might have taken him."
"That'd be how it works, I s'pose. But again, just looking."
"He's the one. You can't mess with fate like that. He honestly hasn't stopped purring since I picked him up."
"Might be a kitty con man, just waiting to get home then he'll rob us. You don't know."
"I'll take that chance." Val traced her fingers down her cat's tail, then gently booped his little paw. "He's the most adorable thing of all time, just for the record."
"Duly noted. What's his name again?"
"Sebastian. You couldn't possibly have forgotten already."
"I was looking at other cats. And how'm I s'posed to remember a cat named like a person. Cats should have cat names."
"Like what?"
"... I dunno. Sebastian should be a person, is all."
"Disagree. Strongly."
"Evidently so." Ash sighed. "Well they had some stuff there, the basics, but we're not supplied properly at all for this."
"So we hit a store. Who cares?"
"Before or after going home?"
"Um..."
"Because if it's before, he needs to go in the crate. And if it's after, you have to decide whether you're gonna leave him home alone right away."
"... can't I just hold him?"
"Probably not."
"Shit. I don't know. Maybe just go home and we can scrounge what we need somehow."
"Scrounge?"
"Yes."
"From your home that hasn't had nearly enough time to accumulate occasionally useful junk?"
"... yes."
"And definitely doesn't have cat food lying around somewhere?"
"I said yes, ok! Stop bringing logic into this!"
"Right. My mistake."
****
Most of the rest of the day was spent trying to get Sebastian settled with the things he needed. Which was fine because neither sib really had anything else going on.
Ash was more than ready for a break by that evening. He'd enjoyed the day, and certainly didn't mind having an excuse not to think about his own life for a while. He sat lazily on the couch, got Val's massive tv working and playing the first movie he found that looked watchable.
When Val came in a little later, she stopped by him long enough to give him a quick, affectionate hair ruffle.
"What was that for?" he asked, only half curious.
"For having a good idea after all."
"Oh?"
"I already love him. Sebastian."
"Yeah, I knew who you meant."
"I didn't think I would, but... I really do."
"Good."
"He's sleeping in my room. I didn't want to leave him alone. He doesn't know the house yet. But I couldn't move him. Didn't have the heart."
"He'll find you if he wants to. Cats are notoriously quick studies of architecture."
Val stared at Ash as she sat down on the couch with him. She stretched her legs along the length of it, casually invading his space. "I can't tell if you're saying nonsense, or if there was actually a fact in there disguised as a joke."
"Guess you'll have to wait and see if he locates you or not."
"So I'll know if he's a student of architecture?"
"Yes."
"Oh sure." Val chewed her lip for a moment in thought. "This might sound crazy-"
"I'm used to that."
"Shut up. This might sound crazy, but I kind of, like, I feel some of those 'mom' feelings."
"What are those?"
"You know. Like what a mom feels."
"Which is what?"
"Just... the stuff I'm feeling."
"Ah. Well you know I can't actually feel the things you're feeling. You have to describe them to me."
"I can't."
"I sense this is going to be tricky conversation."
"It's good. That's all I'm saying. It feels nice. Feels warm and important and stuff. I dunno." Val leaned her head against the back of the couch and stretched her legs a little further, setting her feet in Ash's lap. "Some stuff I thought I'd feel with kids, except that didn't happen. Different, though. Better, in some ways."
"Better than kids. What a world."
"I'm being genuine and emotional here. Would you please try and-"
"You're right. Continue. Please."
"You're just gonna make another joke the first chance you get, aren't you?"
"Most likely, yes."
"Why do I even bother?"
"Because I'm your brother and you love me."
"No. That's not it." Val clicked her tongue softly, pretending to really consider the issue. "I think maybe it's because... you're the only one here."
"That is one of my finest talents. Nearly won a prize for it once."
"No you didn't."
"No I didn't."
"Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"Even though you're being kind of a smartass as a defense mechanism, for some reason I still love you and I'm glad you're here."
"Defense mechanism?"
"You know, when you're emotionally vulnerable so you-"
"I know what it is. That's not what I'm doing, though."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Ok. But ya know, you should be feeling some things too."
"I should?"
"Yeah. If I'm a cat mom now, you're kinda like a cat dad."
"He's your cat."
"You helped bring him into this home, mister."
"That's-"
"He's gonna need a father figure. That's you."
"You're getting silly now."
"Nuh uh."
"Yuh huh."
"Nuh uh!"
"I didn't sign on to be a cat father."
"But we have a cat now. Ergo..."
"You mean you have a cat."
"Our house, our cat."
"It's still just your house."
"Yeah, well, could be ours. Kinda."
Ash stopped for a moment and stared suspiciously at his sister. "What are you asking me to move in permanently or something?"
Val shrugged. "Maybe. Just... you don't have to. I want you to feel like you could if you wanted, is all. You were saying you had no plans. You could have no plans here. Could be like a little make-pretend family thing."
"And I'd have to be a cat father?"
"Cat step-father, if the full commitment was too much."
"I feel like that's worse. I don't know why, but I feel like it is."
"Well, just think about it." Val leaned over and patter Ash's knee as she stood up. "I'm gonna go check on Sebastian."
"You left him alone for, like, ten minutes. He'll be fine."
"New mom anxieties. You know how it is."
"I really don't," Ash told Val's back as she left the room.
****
Things settled in for a few days. Val got used to her new responsibilities and slightly altered schedule thanks to now having a dependant. Ash got some of that too, but much less so than his sister.
There weren't any more wardrobe issues initially either, until Val came to the kitchen one morning wearing a shirt very similar, length-wise, to the one she'd flashed Ash in. He stared at her disbelievingly for a moment until she caught his gaze.
"What?"
"Nothing," Ash said, looking away.
Val looked down at herself, and very quickly made the connection her brother had. "Oh, this? Don't worry. I remembered underwear this morning."
She lifted the hem of her shirt just enough to flash some colour beneath.
"Nice panties," Ash said. "You didn't really need to show them off, though."
"Nah, but I thought you'd be more willing to drop it if I proved there wasn't going to be... inappropriate viewings."
"Showing me your panties is still kinda inappropes, Val."
"Totes inappropes?"
"Enh. I wouldn't say totes."
"Oh good." Val moved past Ash, who couldn't help still taking note of just how much bare leg she was showing, in spite of that being very unhelpful. "We have to find the happy medium for decorum versus comfort, you know."
"We do?"
"Yes. And I know you know what I mean. Don't think I've missed you cheerfully waltzing off to the bathroom in just your underwear. That's more revealing than what I'm wearing, let me tell you."
Ash held up a finger like he was about to make an important point, then faltered slightly. "Well... I didn't know you were watching."
"Ah."
"I had to pee. I often have to do that when I get up in the morning, you know."
"I do. Hence the happy balance we're finding. Unless you truly find the way I'm dressed objectionable."
Ash involuntarily raked his gaze softly up and down the length of Val as she stood there faintly smirking at him. "That's not the word I'd use, no."
"Not objectionable?"
"Not hardly."
Val flushed, and her smirk lost it's confident edge. "Thanks, I think."
She wasn't any more certain than Ash whether it had been a compliment, nor what it meant if in fact it was one.
Val was saved from having to think too hard about it by a soft but insistent, "Mrow?" She smiled and bent down to pick up Sebastian, who seemed to have followed her on his own lazy schedule.
"You still probably should be careful about bending over like that," Ash said.
Val pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, all while holding and cuddling her kitty.
"Just thought you'd like to see 'em again."
"Your panties? I mean... you're gonna make it weird."
"Well I could take them off, but that might be weirder."
"Ya think?"
"But then again, it's a much more presentable area than last time."
"Val..."
"Trying to get back into the habit of regular maintenance, you know."
"I don't know, and-"
"Yes you do."
"Ok, I do. What are you getting at?"
"Me? Mostly deflecting from the fact that I forgot what I was doing and flashed my butt again."
"You... oh. Well, I didn't think you were going admit it."
Val shrugged. "It's early. I'm not fully awake."
"Yeah, I get ya." Ash shifted awkwardly. "Far be it from me to tell you you need to wear pants in your own home..."
Val snorted. "Really? You're gonna say it anyway?"
"No, I'm going to heavily imply it."
"What happened to me not being objectionable?"
"You're still not. Just... you know what I start thinking about when there's a girl first thing in the morning dressed like you are?"
"No, I... wait, you mean like one of the loves of your life?"
"Generally, yes. Someone I had a 'sleepover' with. Or more."
"Oh gross, dude."
"What do you want me to do about it? It's the association I have."
"Yeah, well, don't think of me that way. If you're gonna enjoy the show, enjoy it. But only thinking of me as a sister. Not... not one of them."
"... are you sure that's better?"
"How could it be worse?"
"I'm sure it could. I just can't think of why right now."
"You can't?"
"No. Too distracted by those legs of yours."
Val smiled and cuddled Sebastian closer, kissing him before turning her back on Ash and walking away. "Enjoy 'em, brother dearest. Someone should."
"Don't sway your hips at me like that!" Ash called after her.
"Don't tell me what to do!" she retorted easily. "I'm gonna feed Sebastian. Start working on breakfast, would you?"
"I... fine, yeah. I'm hungry anyway."
****
"So I've been thinking about something," Val said.
It was a few days after her return to bare-legged mornings, and they'd only been increasing in frequency since then.
"Why does your tone inspire such anxiety in me?" Ash asked.
"I really couldn't speak for your inner nervousness."
"Maybe also don't speak with such foreboding?"
"There was nothing foreboding about what I said."
"You should have heard your tone."
Val shook her head and paused long enough to suggest a reset in the conversation. "Anxiety aside, let me know what you think of this. You know how I was married and everything?"
"I vaguely recall something about that, yes."
"And how Carl was basically the only guy I was with for... a while."
"Basically?"
"Entirely the only guy. Like, for years. The only one. And then... then there's been nothing since then. Alone. You being the most consistent male presence ever since."
"To be fair, I've been more consistently present than anyone else could really hope to match."
"That's true. But what I'm wondering is what that's doing to me, as far as like messing with my sense of relationships."
"I don't follow."
"Like, I could have rebounded on someone, yeah? Gone for a short-lived, ill-advised, messy relationship with the first vaguely promising guy who presented himself."
"I... suppose you could technically have done that."
"But I didn't."
"Right."
"So what if you're the closest I get to something like that."
Ash blinked slowly. "You're rebounding on me?"
"No! I'm saying I'm not rebounding on anyone. Or I haven't rebounded. I'm not going to. Something like that. But just... maybe it would have weirdly been better for me."
"I can't condone that line of thought."
"I don't need you to condone it. I just want to know if it makes any sense."
"... maybe some sense. A very little."
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"Ok."
Ash shrugged. "Ok, so assuming that's the case... so what?"
"So... maybe it explains how I've been feeling around you."
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning the way you look at my legs. Makes me feel kinda nice."
Ash looked away, flushing. Even though Val wasn't currently dressed in any particularly revealing way. "They're nice legs."
"Thanks. And that time I accidentally bent over-"
"There's been more than one."
"The main one. The very revealing one."
"Ah."
"I genuinely was more embarrassed that you weren't seeing me at my best than that you were seeing too much."
"For real?"
"At least partly, yeah."
Ash shrugged awkwardly. "So what am I supposed to do with that?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to say it. Let you know. Obviously it doesn't really mean anything."
"Obviously."
"But if you want to keep looking sometimes... that's ok."
Ash tapped his fingertips thoughtfully. "Is that sort of the same thing you're thinking when you look at me sometimes?"
"Hm?"
"You brought up about me being shirtless sometimes."
"I believe it was you prancing around in your underwear."
"I have never pranced in my life."
"But yes. The lack of shirt." Val smiled cautiously. "I appreciate it at times."
"Ah."
"We both get a little something to look at, on occasion. No harm done, right?"
"That's one way to look at it." Ash shook his head. "I knew you were looking. I just... I get sloppy. Not used to living so long with a girl and having to worry about shirts and things."
"You still don't, if you don't want to."
"And let my sister use me for her sick visual pleasures? What kind of boy do you think I am anyway?"
"You don't want me to answer that."
"Fair."
****
Ash wasn't quite sure what to expect after their most recent talk about clothing, or a lack thereof. It turned out not to be too bad, really. He'd toyed with the idea of being more careful and proper, but it just seemed like so much work.
The thing with Val was it was kind of weird being as casual around her as someone he was dating, but it was also easier and kind of nice too. There wasn't all the relationship stuff getting in the way. She was his sister, was all. Nothing to have to worry about. No dates or sex or drama. Just Val.
Sure it was weird knowing she was Looking at him, but it was nice having that little confidence boost from time to time, that he could even catch her eye. It wasn't always easy being between girlfriends, and having Val to check out occasionally and also keep him feeling interesting wasn't the worst.
Though neither knew the extent of the other's thoughts, Val felt fairly similar about things. Her perspective was different, coming from a much longer, more committed single relationship, but the boost to her confidence was well appreciated just the same. And experience teasing and mildly flirting with someone was more useful to her than it could ever be to Ash, given their respective histories.
"Not so much."Val mused sometimes about trying to find someone new, and shifting her focus off her brother. She was feeling more and more like she might be ready to try dating again.
Sebastian kind of kept her busy, though, and having Ash around just always felt like he was an easier target for her occasional minor needs. Not her larger, deeper needs, but they hadn't been making too much a nuisance of themselves yet. She could feel some yearnings emerging, though, things she hadn't felt for years, probably. And sooner or later she'd have to do something about them.
****
"Maybe I should get a cat too," Ash said.
Val was busy dancing around a cat toy on a string while Sebastian fiercely pawed and pounced at it. "It's been a solid decision for me."
"I've noticed."
"It'd mean committing, though."
"I know. I might be ready for something like that."
"Oh really? Finally maturing, are we?"
"I'm mature."
"Ok."
"Why would you suggest otherwise?"
"Your long string of relationships that presumably were attempts at faking being an adult."
"Whoa, dude, that's not cool. Looking for happiness isn't some personal fault. Even if I haven't had the best luck or made the best choices necessarily."
"Oh sure."
"I'm just as good an adult as anyone."
"You're not wearing pants, though."
Ash was, in fact, only in boxers from the waist down. "We agreed that was fine!"
"We did. But it somewhat undercuts any talk of maturity."
"Oh really?"
"Yes."
"So if I go put pants on I'll be more of an adult?"
"Having to ask means it won't really help."
"You've got such double standards sometimes."
"Only when it's funny."
"Ah."
Val got down on the floor with Sebastian and played with his tummy until he decided he'd had enough and brought the claws out. "I think you should really look into it. Cats are great."
"You're biased."
"I am. But you wanted one, didn't you?"
"Seriously thinking about it."
"So do it."
"You're right, though, I'd have to commit. And before you say anything, I am aware my follow-through on these things has a pattern of being... temporary."
"Everything is temporary. You're just... more temporary than most."
"Oh thanks."
"You think you're really ready to settle here then?"
"I mean, if that's still cool."
"It is. And let's be real, once you found your dream job, what kind of sister would I be kicking you out and risking all that?"
Ash gave Val an unamused look. "Part time at a drive through is not my dream job and you know it."
"Oh. My mistake."
"I'm still working on something better. But... staying here means so much less pressure. Don't have to worry about getting a really good job. Not for a while, maybe, if nothing comes up."
"True."
"I think having a pet to come home to would be nice."
"It is."
"But... what if I'm jumping the gun on it?"
"You mean what if you meet someone, yeah? And you want to immediately move in with her?"
"Well, not immediately."
"Uh huh. Maybe don't worry about it, dude. Or maybe try and learn and grow from your experiences and next time you meet a girl, really get to know her before thinking about moving in together."
"I usually don't anyway."
"Oh good. So no problems then."
"You think?"
"Why not?"
Ash thought about it. "Well maybe I just will."
****
Val put her hands on her hips. "You can't call a cat Dragon."
Ash grinned. "Absolutely can."
"I'm sure that wasn't her name before you adopted her."
"Ah, but it is now."
"That's... that's not a name. It's a mythical animal."
"So?"
"So you can't call her that."
"Not up to you, I'm afraid. She's my li'l Dragon. Too late to stop me."
Val sighed. "Whatever." She looked around. "Where'd she get to anyway?"
"Um... yeah, not sure about that. She's kind of an independent soul. As dragons can be."
"She's still just a cat. Why wouldn't you get one who liked being close?"
"Like Sebastian? Because if I was looking for a dog I would have got one. Cats are cats. Gotta just respect it and deal with it."
"Sure. Fine. Are we gonna look for your cat or what?"
"I mean, if I haven't seen her in half an hour or whatever, I'll take a look. Otherwise I'll just assume she's scouting her territory."
"Scouting?"
"Yeah. Gotta know what she's working with."
"You're insane."
"Thanks for noticing."
****
Dragon continued to display a more lone wolf sort of behaviour than Sebastian, though the two cats thankfully reached a sort of mutual respect and tolerance for one another. Dragon didn't much care for being caught being affectionate with her counterpart, but their respective people found it adorable.
"I weirdly feel even more like a parent now," Val said. She sat sipping at a glass of wine at one end of the living room couch, Ash at the other end. "Even though Dragon's not really mine."
"No, I getcha. It's like... like having a step kid, kinda. Not yours, but yours."
"Yeah. Something like that."
"Mine's cuter though, obviously."
"Pff, you wish."
"It's maybe a little bit weird thinking of them as step kids though."
"Because they're cats?"
"No. Because that would mean we're, like, together."
"It's only what it feels like. Doesn't mean we're actually parents, and actually... a whole family. Or whatever." Val paused and took another sip of wine. "Though we actually are family. Just not in a married way."
"You think that's why family's not allowed to marry? 'Cause they're already family and it would get complicated if people could double down?"
"No, I think it's because of the weirdness and grossness and abuse and stuff."
"Oh. That."
"What's the complication anyway? If anything, it'd be simpler. No worrying about last name changes."
"Some people don't change them anyway."
"Yeah, but there wouldn't even need to be a discussion, let alone paperwork."
"True" Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So you're saying... it actually makes more sense for family to get married."
"Except for the weirdness and grossness and abuse and stuff, sure."
"Well yeah, obviously except for that. Goes without saying."
"Uh huh."
"But, ok, let me ask you this, though."
Val arched an eyebrow. "What?"
"If it was us, just for example, I don't think it'd be that gross. And there wouldn't be abuse. Maybe a bit weird, sure, and I can't totally rule out stuff. But overall, maybe not that bad."
"Dude, how much have you had to drink?"
"Hardly anything."
"Then what's this whole line of questioning about?"
"I mean, not to really think about it. Just as a for example."
"... you're serious?"
"As a thought experiment, yes. I'm really asking."
"I mean... ok, yeah, it's probably less a big deal in some situations. But there's... there's... you know, kids getting all fucked up."
"Couldn't have any anyway."
"Yeah, but for other people-"
"This was about us."
Val glared. "Is this about me letting you see me half-naked on a regular basis? Because I might have to stop that."
"Seriously, not actually suggesting anything. Nothing at all. Just hypothetical. You think I'd actually wanna... do... stuff?"
"I'd hope not."
"Good. 'Cause I don't."
"Good. It'd be weird."
"But not gross."
"But not gross," Val agreed. She hesitated. "Wait, maybe it should be gross too."
"Are you kidding? I'm super hot. And you're ok too."
"Excuse me?"
"I said-"
"I heard you. I'm hotter than you, though. Easily."
"You wish. And me and my cat versus you and yours... no contest."
"Dude. You bringing cats into a hotness contest?"
Ash raised a finger, then stopped and shut his mouth. "Shit, I think I might have. Pretend we were talking, like, cute or something."
"Nope. Too late." Val smirked. "And besides, Sebastian and I would have cuteness on lockdown too."
"In your dreams, sister mine. You got nothing on..."
Ash trailed off as he looked over at where he'd last seen Dragon. She was right where he expected, but was now napping curled up with Sebastian, nearly close enough to be considered cuddling.
Val caught the sight too, and both siblings smiled when their eyes met again.
"Fuck it, they got us beat," Ash said.
"That they do," Val concurred. "Adorbs."
"You notice they only get that close when they don't think we're looking?"
"That's yours. Dragon's all tough and independent on the outside, even if she's all fuzzy and wants to be loved on the inside."
Ash glanced at Dragon again, feeling his heart melt just a little. "You noticed that too, huh? Yeah, she's a li'l sook if you catch her in the right mood. Or if no one's looking."
"Mmhm. Sebastian's just a little attention slut though."
"True dat."
Val kept looking over at the cats, while Ash used the chance to study her freely.
"What are you smiling at?" Val asked.
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"No. Just you. The way you were looking just now. Kinda like Mom. Kinda."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. You ever see the way she looks at us when she doesn't think we're watching?"
"I think I know what you mean. All... maternal and stuff."
"Yeah."
Val's eyes flicked over to the cats again and she grinned. "You think she'd be happy finding out she's only getting grandkittens?"
"Ha, not what she was expecting, is it?" Ash shrugged. "I think she'd be happy if we're happy."
"Probably, right?" Val sighed. "And somehow, I think I really am happy right now. I don't know that it'll last or anything, but it's nice. Mostly just not even worrying about anything. 'Cept Sebastian."
"Sure. Easy going. What's not to like?"
****
Val was in the shower the next morning, not a care in the world. She was caught somewhat by surprise when the door opened. The brief nervous panic at being intruded upon only lasted a second. It was only Ash, after all, but still.
"What is it?" Val called out over the sound of the water.
"Nothin'."
"Um... wait your turn then?"
"I'll be quick."
"Dude, I'm in here."
"I know. I'm not looking. It's all fogged up anyway."
"How do you know that if you're not looking?"
The smirk on Ash's face was practically audible. "Ok, you got me. I peeked."
Val waited, but Ash didn't leave. "I know we've been taking liberties, Ash, but this is maybe a bit much."
"Why, are you peeking?"
"No, but still."
"'Cause you're nakey in there?"
"Yes. Obviously."
"Well I'm done anyway. And I'm not even gonna flush the toilet on you."
"Gee thanks?"
"You're welcome."
After finishing her shower, Val barely took the time to fuss with her wet hair a bit to make it damp and disheveled in an attractive way before marching off to find her brother. She caught him just outside his room. She wore only a towel wrapped around herself, but her expression and arm-folded posture forced him to take her at least somewhat seriously.
"What was that all about?" Val demanded.
Ash was uncowed, despite his sister's attempt at fiercely staring him down. He was barely any more dressed than she was, having been interrupted before he could get around to putting clothes on. "I needed to pee."
"So wait! Or use the other bathroom. I can confidently say it wasn't in use."
"It was farther away."
Val raised her eyebrows dangerously. "I don't think you needed to go that badly."
"I'm a sucker for convenience."
"You-"
"Why the sudden concern anyway? I thought we were being all cool and casual about clothes and whatnot."
"Yeah. Not about, like, sneaking in while I'm naked. That's way different. Bathrooms are off limits. You know that."
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"Yeah. Sorry. I honestly didn't think it'd bother you."
"Well... you caught me off-guard."
"I s'pose I did." Ash shrugged and smiled shyly, but with a sly sort of charm. "If it helps, I really didn't see much."
"Much? I thought you didn't see anything."
"I saw the vaguest of blurry skin tone somewhere in there. Not even any shape to it, really."
"Uh huh. You've made it worse again. You know that, right?"
"I don't think that's what I've done."
"You told me you saw nothing. Pretty soon you're going to be admitting you saw everything."
"Well obviously I didn't. You couldn't see me, right?"
"... mostly right, sure."
"So I couldn't see you any better than that."
"... fine."
Ash nodded to his doorway. "Can I go get dressed now? Unlike some people, I do have places to be this morning."
Val smiled wickedly and slipped past Ash into his room. "Be my guest." She sat down on his bed, carefully crossed on leg over the other without flashing anything, then just sat and waited.
"Really? What, you're gonna watch me dress?"
"Seems only fair."
"In what way? We established I didn't see anything."
"Sure. But it's an invasion of your privacy you weren't expecting, isn't it?"
Ash rolled his eyes. "Ok, fine. Sit there and perv on me. See if I care."
"Will do."
In fact, though Ash would have gone through with it, having very little choice in the matter, he didn't get very far at all. His plan had been simply not to change boxers just now while Val was watching. Everything else was relatively inconsequential.
"Oh my god!" Val said, her eyes going wide.
Ash stopped dead and turned to look at her. "What?"
"You're hard! I didn't see it before, but when you turned... oh my god, dude. Ash, what the hell?"
Ash gave Val a heavy look. "Well I was doing my best not to show you. You rather insisted, you know."
"I didn't think you'd get hard!"
"Have you seen you!" Ash shot back.
"What?"
"You! Sitting there like that. In your towel. All damp and... and showered. I can see most of your boobs. You must know that. And your crossed legs..." Ash shook his head. "Fuck's sake, Val, what do you want from me?" He held up a finger. "And to be fair, I'm not even fully hard. Somehow."
Val went through a quick range of emotions, anywhere from total embarrassment to furious wrath. She didn't really land on any of them such that they stuck.
She delicately uncrossed her legs and adjusted her towel, though there was a very limited amount she could do about it.
"Oops," Val said.
"Yeah. Uh huh."
"Well I didn't think it through."
"I can tell."
"Could you please stop being turned on? I can still see it getting bigger."
"Stop looking."
"Put pants on."
"I was trying!"
Val abruptly dissolved into uncontrolled giggles. Ash tried to maintain composure, but didn't last much longer than Val. The two of them laughed with and at each other, each desperately trying to keep themselves somewhat decent, and failing just a little more with each passing moment.
"Ok. I'm gonna leave you be," Val said.
"Thanks?"
"Mmhm."
Val walked out of the room, pausing at the doorway to look back. Ash was waiting for her to actually leave before doing anything else. He didn't seem to realize, though, that with the angle he was now standing relative to her, she was getting an even better profile of his ever-larger erection.
"You should deal with that before going to work," she said lightly.
Ash flushed faintly. "I know how to handle it, thanks."
"Yeah I bet you do."
****
Val had a weird, nervous energy to her all day while Ash was gone. She had a hard time sitting still or focusing on much of anything. It wasn't a bad feeling, exactly, but not strictly a good one either.
She had to admit to herself that Ash was all she wanted to think about. Not him getting hard, or remembering him changing, though those both intruded regularly. But just... just Ash. Just generally.
It was a lucky thing Val had Sebastian, because he seemed to be the one thing that helped to her to chill. She held him in her arms lavishing attention while he purred some of the stress away.
"It's not fair," Val said.
Sebastian said nothing.
"I mean, you don't expect to have to worry about these things with your brother. I wouldn't have moved in with a boy so soon if I thought... if I thought there'd be any of this. Even just a roommate. You know, if there was potential. There shouldn't be potential with a brother. That's how brothers work, you know?"
"Mrow?"
"Yes I know I stopped petting for a second. My mistake."
Val kissed Sebastian's head and teased his ear a bit.
"You understand me. Well, no, you don't. But you don't argue. Or judge. That's more important, really."
Sebastian just purred.
"I mean, he was kind of right this morning. Don't tell him I said that. But, like, it's probably fine if he walks in while I'm showering. As long as he can't see anything. And I really think he couldn't."
Val sighed.
"So why'd I freak out? That's a good question. I think... I think I freaked out because maybe I was afraid I wouldn't freak out. And then I freaked out because I was freaking out."
"Mrow?"
"Shut up. What happened to not judging? I know it doesn't make any sense when I say it out loud. I know what I mean though."
Val stroked Sebastian some more.
"What would it make me," she said softly, "if I didn't mind my brother seeing me naked? What would that even mean? Don't answer that. It's rhetorical."
Sebastian wisely said nothing.
"So maybe I overreacted, because that's better than not reacting. But... if it's not a real reaction, is it actually any better?"
Val sighed.
"You've got it easy, little one. You can fall for whoever you want. Even if it was your sister somehow. People wouldn't judge. Not the same, anyway."
"Mrow?"
"No, obviously that's not what's happening. I'm just saying... if you... if something you did was..."
Val paused, but failed to reorganize her thoughts.
"Mrow."
"Shut up." She shook her head and groaned. "And now I'm losing arguments with my cat. That's not great."
****
Val had reached a decision by the next morning. She wasn't sure exactly what Ash would think of it, but there was only one obvious way of finding out.
Ash choked a little on the mouthful of orange juice he was in the middle of when Val joined him in the kitchen.
"Morning," Val said casually.
"Holy crap, Val."
"What?"
"That robe."
"You like it?"
"... that feels like a trick question."
"Why?"
"Because..." Ash waved his hand up and down, indicating her body. "I mean, it's super crazy short."
"It is a little on the scandalous side, isn't it?"
"Just a touch."
"I really like it, though. So silky soft."
"Uh huh. Why you wearing it?"
"I literally just said-"
"I know what you just said. Previous to that we established how short it is."
Val nodded. "Yeah, I haven't really felt comfortable wearing it in front of anyone before."
"Um..."
"And then I usually don't want to bother when it's just me. Feels like I'm getting all sexy for nothing."
"Only just yesterday you were getting after me about not even seeing anything. Now you're... what, dressing sexy for me?"
"Not for you. For me. But you can look too if you really must."
Ash shook his head. "I don't know what's happening here."
Val nodded sympathetically. "I know. It's a little sudden. But I kinda had a good conversation yesterday and I figured some things out. Kinda."
"With who?"
"... probably better if you don't know."
"What does-"
"Point being, I think I reacted a little more strongly than I needed to yesterday because... because I felt like I had to. Not because I really wanted to. And then I had to kinda figure that maybe, like, ok yeah, maybe I'd be ok with it if you... appreciate me sometimes. Like... like maybe more than before. More than what we agreed to."
"Oh."
"And it was an excuse to wear this robe, which cost enough that I really want to get some use out of it."
"Well... I guess I'm ok with that."
Val grinned coyly. "Just ok, huh?"
"I... appreciate it."
"Good. I could kinda tell anyway."
"It kinda falls open up, uh, here-ish," Ash said, indicating his chest while staring at Val's.does tend to do that. Not enough to show nipple, I think."
"Not so far," Ash agreed.
"But a li'l cleavage for sure."
"Plus it's super short."
"That too. You'll have to help me if I need to bend over or reach for anything."
Ash swallowed hard. "Fair enough," he said faintly.
"Or I'd be showing off basically every-"
"Yeah. Yeah you would."
"And we couldn't have that."
"Probably best not to."
Val hopped onto a stool by the kitchen island. Ash's eyes widened comically, and she belatedly closed her legs a little tighter and adjusted the edge of her robe.
"Oops," Val said lightly. "I didn't flash you again, did I?"
"Only... only enough to know you don't have anything on under there."
"I wasn't being subtle about that."
"No. But now I know. For sure."
"My bad."
"Is it? I'm not sure that wasn't on purpose."
"It wasn't. I'm just... not being as careful as I should."
"That sounds like it's in deliberate territory when you put it that way."
"Hm, maybe." Val flashed a winsome smile. "Pour me some coffee? Please?"
Ash's movements were slow and not fully coordinated. He nearly spilled the mug of coffee he set next to Val. She'd opened her legs a little wider when he had his back turned, just enough to threaten exposing herself again. It was quite a lot of fun when it was on her terms, and when she wasn't freaking out over what it all meant.
"You're gonna drive me crazy," Ash said. "You need to not wear that robe."
"But if I take it off I'll-"
"You know that's not what I mean! Just... wear your normal stuff."
Val sipped her coffee. "You were perfectly happy to see me all nakey in the shower yesterday."
"I couldn't see anything."
"But you might have. Anyway, I'm really enjoying this robe right now, and I intend to get some more use out of it."
Ash looked Val up and down. "You really never wore it for anyone?"
"Never."
"Even Carl?"
"It was too late between us by the time I got it. Hadn't been anyone else I would have dared."
"Except your brother?"
Val's eyes softened and her voice went quiet. "Except him," she agreed in a near-whisper.
"You know that's not fair."
"I do."
Ash chewed his lip and tried to look away, without much success at all for any length of time. "You know how hard it is not to think about just giving that sash a tug, seeing if it all falls open?"
Val's legs clamped together, but not out of any sense of modesty. Rather, the sudden thrill running through her demanded at least that small physical response. "Then I'd be basically naked."
"Correct."
"I knew you wanted to see me."
"I do. And I don't. At the same time." Ash looked askance at Val. "I'll admit it, I didn't think I'd see anything when you were in the shower, but I kind of hoped I would."
Val breathed sharply inward.
"Not everything," Ash said quickly. "Not that. Just... something."
"You could, if you wanted."
"What?"
"I mean physically it'd be very easy. I could try and stop you, but this robe is, like, not designed for modesty. You could see something with very minimal effort. And with a little effort more, you could probably get if off me entirely."
Ash closed his eyes and groaned softly. "I wish you wouldn't say things like that."
"Not that either of us would want it to come to that," Val said. "Just saying that, you know, physically speaking, it's very doable."
"You're a monster."
Val laughed. "It's just so easy once I get started. God I've missed having someone to flirt with like this."
"This is flirting?"
"... maybe? Whatever it is, I've missed it, is the point."
Ash considered for a moment, the took a step back. He reached for the bottom of his shirt and pulled it off in one smooth motion.
It was Val's turn to go wide-eyed and silent. She's seen him shirtless a fair amount recently, but never in a deliberate attempt at... at whatever he was attempting. If anything, that just made it hotter.
"You're right," Ash said. "That is fun."
"Shut up."
"You can do it but I can't?"
"I never took my top off."
"No, but you're welcome to."
Val stared at Ash, then smirked crookedly. She casually hooked her finger in the top of her robe and tugged on one side of it enough to reveal most of one of her breasts.
Ash was temporarily transfixed. "... well I didn't actually mean it," he mumbled.
"Oh didn't you?" Val asked sweetly.
"It was just, you know, rhetorical. Or something."
"Oh. My mistake."
Val readjusted her robe to cover herself again. She left a little extra cleavage showing, though.
"I feel like we're headed for some kind of mutually assured destruction here," Ash said. "Only we both kind of want to see what happens if we go for it."
"That's probably fair." Val grinned. "Mutually assured distraction, more like."
"That too."
****
Ash was quite happy to only have a short shift at work that day. It had been a long time since he'd had to deal with getting random boners all day, and he hadn't missed it.
Fucking Val.
What had been up with her that morning anyway? Any other girl he would have been certain it was a full on seduction. And a good one, too. With Val, as per usually lately, it was something more complicated than that.
Ash went to his room to change after work. Upon swapping outfits, he flopped onto his bed and tried to think some more. He'd been doing precious little other than thinking, but at work there were constant interruptions.
"Hey, Dragon," Ash said as his cat hopped up onto the bed with him. "What's up? Hungry?"
Dragon said nothing and walked straight onto Ash's chest where she curled up.
"This is almost affectionate of you. What did I do to deserve such an honour?"
The very softest of purrs was the only response.
"Don't tell me, you're actually my secret spirit animal and you've come to deliver wisdom and comfort."
Ash waited in silence.
"Ok, so just comfort then. That's fine."
He reached for Dragon's head with a soft touch, alert for any of the signs he'd learned that she wasn't actually in the mood for physical contact. Contact other than her making a bed atop him, of course. That didn't count.
"What do you think I should do, hm?" Ash asked, as though one of these times Dragon would answer. "I mean, yeah, I liked what I saw this morning. I liked the teasing. But also... I kinda wish we hadn't taken things that far. Wish I hadn't walked in that bathroom yesterday."
Ash sighed. "Like, she's my sister. I'm not supposed to enjoy seeing her tits. Or... other things. And do you know how much time I spent today wondering if she'd wear that robe again? Too much. Way too much."
Dragon's ear flicked in an annoyed way. Ash stopped petting her in case it was his touch that was bugging her. It was more likely that than his quandary, since presumably she wasn't really getting much of the content of it.
"You think she's gonna show me more? Like, yesterday I wouldn't have thought so. But I guess maybe I just caught her the wrong way. This morning... goddamn, I mean I know you don't care, but that little flash of her cooch..."
Ash snorted, disturbing Dragon enough to earn himself an unamused look.
"I mean, she flashed me accidentally that other time. And I didn't really get why she spent any time worrying about not being groomed the way she wanted. Now I kinda do. Like, I know I only saw it for a second, but it looked amazing. Like... like the sort of pussy you just wanna dive into and drown in." Ash paused. "No offense."
Dragon stood up, digging her claws in enough to make a point, and hopped off Ash's chest to the edge of the bed.
"Well I'm sorry. Pussy and drowning can too be in the same sentence without it being horrific, ok?"
Dragon stared fixedly at Ash.
"Fine. Treats? Will treats help? Let's get some, ok?"
Dragon seemed to find that an acceptable apology and led the way, taking care to make sure Ash was following.
****
Ash was taking a shower the next morning when he heard the bathroom door open.
"Val? That you?"
"Who else?"
"Whatcha doing?"
"Don't mind me. Carry on."
Ash sighed and continued rinsing his hair. "Is this 'cause of when I walked in on you?"
"Perish the thought. We're past that, aren't we?"
"I genuinely have no idea."
Val didn't seem to be in any particular hurry. Ash couldn't see her all that well, except to make out her form standing by the sink, not going anywhere.
"I'm nearly done in here," Ash said.
"That's nice."
"Did you have something in particular you needed?"
"I've got it, thanks."
Ash rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He shut off the water and reached out for his towel. A little fumbling around where it should have been hanging confirmed it wasn't there any longer. "Hey, Val? Is my towel there?"
"Oh, yeah, it fell on the floor. I've got it right here."
"I don't think it did. But could I have it, please?"
"Hm... nah."
"Nah?"
"I'm busy."
Ash peeked out, still keeping his body mostly covered. Val had rubbed a spot more or less clear of shower mist and was delicately arranging her hair.
"Yeah, you look busy. Can you just hand me my towel?"
"Nope."
"Ugh. You jerk."
"Hey! No name calling."
Ash hesitated a moment longer while Val pretended to ignore him, then bit the bullet and stepped out of the shower, totally naked and dripping with water. "Don't even think about yelling about this mess I'm making."
Val didn't seem the slightest bit concerned about the water getting everywhere. She casually wiped more of the mirror and kept right on playing with her hair.
"I can see you looking," Ash said as he started drying off.
"Haven't even peeked," Val said.
"I can see in the mirror just as well as you can. You're literally wiping it clean again right now."
"I can't help it if I accidentally see something in there."
"You absolutely could have. All you had to do was not put my towel way over here out of reach."
Val's lips twitched into a faint, lopsided smirk. "What fun would that have been?" she asked.
"That's what I thought. Happy now?"
"Pretty happy, yeah."
"Oh. Well... good."
For all his grumbling, Ash was busy appreciating the view he had as well. Val was once again wearing that same short, silky robe. She wasn't quite showing off anything, but the effect of the robe didn't really require being overtly explicit.
Ash finished a quick dry-off, then secured the towel around his waist. He stepped close behind Val, meeting her eyes in the mirror. Her movements slowed as he drew near, and he caught the subtle change in her breathing.
"What are you doing?" Ash asked.
"My hair wasn't behaving itself, so I-"
"What are we doing?" he clarified.
"Well, you just showered, and I'm, uh..."
"Yeah. No. You wanted to see me naked. Fine. I want to see you too. I think we both get that."
Val bit her lip, her eyes bright and intense as they stayed on Ash's in the mirror. "Well you're not s'posed to just say it."
"You forced my hand a little just now. Moving my towel."
"I expected you be more adamant about getting it back."
"Is that your best excuse?"
"All I've got, I'm afraid."
"And was it worth it?"
Again, Val's lopsided grin came out. "Totally."
Ash flushed softly. "Are you gonna do more stuff like that?"
"Probably."
"And what if I start doing stuff like this?" Ash asked, slipping a hand around Val to gently pull her sash open.
Val looked down at herself. With her robe open, she was pretty close to naked herself. She tugged the edges back over her breasts, though there was still a gap straight down the middle. She didn't think Ash could actually see her pussy from the angle they were standing at, but she wasn't sure about that.
"Then I guess you'll see more of your sister then, won't you?"
Ash groaned softly. "Don't say it like that."
"What? That you'll see more of me? Or... remind you that it's your sis-ter you're trying to see?"
"The second one. You know that's what's making this weird."
"The only thing?"
"Basically. Isn't it?"
"Perhaps." Val tilted her head. "Or maybe we'd be in a similar conundrum even if you weren't my brother."
"How so?"
"Well... one might argue that if we were very close, emotionally, and were getting so close physically as well, that it might be almost as complicated."
"I don't think so."
"I know you don't. That's why you jump from bed to bed so easily."
"Ouch."
"I mean that in the most loving way possible."
"That doesn't much help." Ash took a reluctant step back. "You don't think... shit, am I just doing what I always do? Falling for the wrong person again?"
Val fought her disappointment at having Ash even that little bit farther away. "Certainly possible."
"You're better at the long term thing. What do you think?"
"Long term doesn't mean the same thing for us. We're always gonna be family, you know. Always have been, always will be."
"Is that... is that an argument for or against?"
"Neither, Ash. It just is."
Ash flexed his hands, clenching and unclenching them. "That doesn't help."
"I know."
"I want to... see you. And touch you."
Val bit her lip and felt a thrill run up her spine. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Like, a lot. But I don't want it to be my usual thing. I don't want to, like, fall for you like that, then find out it wasn't real."
Val took a careful step back, then an even smaller one. She bumped into Ash, feeling another, larger thrill as she felt something hard against her butt, under his towel. Hard for her.
"What's the longest you've ever known a girl before you either fell in love or went to bed with her? Or both, if they were the same time."
"Um..."
"Months? Years?"
"Well..."
"Less?"
"... yeah. Probably. I don't remember, but... usually not super long."
"So it's different, right? You never fell for me before. It can't just be that."
"You were never this hot before."
Val laughed. "Bullshit, but thank you."
"No seriously. You never were."
"I think maybe I've just never been this hot to you. It's different." Val rubbed her butt deliberately against the tent in Ash's towel. "Just like I've never really found you particularly attractive until just recently."
Ash's hands landed lightly on Val's hips. He pressed back against her grinding ass, locking them more firmly together. "That so?"
"Mmhm."
"I've always been attractive, thank you very much."
"So you think. And so, admittedly, have a fair number of girls."
"Thank you."
Val sighed. "Maybe you needed to grow up some."
"What?"
"You're not quite mature yet, but you're much closer these days. I think you really needed that."
"I... for what?"
"For me to ever see you as anything other than a brother. For me to see how hot you can be."
"Maturity doesn't have anything to do with that."
"Oh but it does." Val locked eyes with Ash in the mirror once again, slowing her grinding somewhat. "Imagine the hottest eighteen year old you can, Ash. Fresh out of high school, sneaking into bars with fake ID, partying with the girls, going out every night, getting wasted, hooking up with dudes whenever it takes her fancy, maybe lots, maybe never, knows how to look sooo damn good if she wants to..."
Ash frowned. "Ok, and?"
"Would you rather have her or me?"
"That's such an unfair question."
"Why? You've fallen for a few girls like that, haven't you?"
"... not exactly like that."
"You can pick her if you want. I'll be annoyed, but it'll be my own damn fault."
"Why would I ever? I mean... compared to you..."
"Yes?"
"Come on, Val, like... you're way better than that. You're beautiful, and way less work, and more fun to be around, and easier to talk to, and-"
"Getting it yet?"
"... maybe."
"Keep going with that list if you want. It was getting good."
"Shouldn't have interrupted then."
Ash wrapped his arms fully around Val and hugged her tight. He was deliciously hard against her. Her robe had ridden up, and even though his towel wasn't the sexiest thing to have rubbing on her butt, the knowledge of what was underneath made up for that.
"Maturity is important," Val said, in case the lesson hadn't landed as well as she thought it had.
"Yeah, yeah. In moderation."
"Moderation?"
"Well, presumably if we were both sufficiently mature, you wouldn't be grinding your naked ass on your bro-ther like this."
Val stiffened and moaned softly. She felt behind her for Ash's towel and tugged it away, letting it fall to the floor. His cock was left bare against her ass, skin to skin. She could feel his hard, warm shaft pulse against her.
"Ok. Moderation," she agreed hoarsely. "Moderation's good."
"It's sure doing it for me right now."
Val was flushed and could feel herself breathing heavier. "So we're both mature enough to maybe kinda know what we're doing, and to know that even if it's a stupid thing to do, we're not being frivolous about it."
"Um... yes?"
"So, ok, are we perhaps still sufficiently immature to go do something even stupider?"
Ash groaned softly. His cock was firmly wedged between Val's ass cheeks, and the two of them were only grinding harder and more frantically with each passing moment. "I know I am."
"Yeah. I think I am too." Val put her hands on top of Ash's and slid them up her body. Once she got him moving, he cupped her tits fully under his own power. "But then again, maybe I'm just horny and haven't had sex in... a while."
Ash pulled Val's robe off her arms and handed it to her before returning to fondling her breasts. "That is certainly a consideration."
Val absently folded her robe and tossed it beside the sink. "You think we should worry about it?"
"Well... I'm used to being between girls, and from experience it'd take me longer than this to get horny enough to do something really, really stupid. I'm pretty sure this is just regular stupid." Ash set his chin on Val's shoulder. "If that helps any."
"I actually kinda does." Val turned around, putting her face to face with her brother, as close as they'd ever physically been, both totally naked. "Regular stupid I think I can handle," she murmured.
Val closed her eyes as she leaned in. There really wasn't far to go. Ash's lips met hers almost immediately.
Their bodies were pressed together all the way down, from mouth to increasingly entwined legs. Val's soft breasts pillowed against Ash's chest, and her hot, wet pussy rubbed urgently on his hard, throbbing cock.
"Keep this up, and I'm gonna have to do something stupid," Ash mumbled around Val's lips.
"I thought that was the idea."
"You're sure?"
Val pulled back to look at Ash, her eyes big and shining. "You think we could possibly stop now?"
"Not easily, no."
"Ash... I want you so bad right now. I know we didn't really figure everything out, but... I need you. Please."
"Val..."
"Pleeeaaase."
"You don't have to beg. I'm right there with you."
"Well you're not-"
Val was muffled by a sudden deep kiss. Ash pressed hard, pouring emotion and need into the kiss, and no small amount of tongue too.
Ash moaned into her mouth as she pressed extra hard against his erect shaft. A moment later he gasped and nearly fell over as Val leaped into his arms, legs wrapped tight around his waist, arms around his neck. He managed to get his hands under her butt and steady himself before falling over.
"I wasn't ready for that."
"Oops," Val said without the slightest hint of apology in her tone.
"You can't just jump on me like that."
"I can't?"
"Not without expecting to take whatever you get as a result."
Val grinned and let her eyelids lower flirtatiously. "Maybe that's exactly what I expect."
"Oh good."
Ash carefully walked over to the wall and pressed Val against it, helping balance and secure their somewhat precarious position.
Ah! That's cold on my back," Val said.
"It'll warm up."
"You sure about that?"
"Pretty sure." Ash thrust gently, sliding his cock up and down along Val's pussy lips. "And if not, I don't intend to be here long anyway."
"What? How fast do you think this is gonna be?"
"Not fast at all. I don't know about you, but I'm looking for a bed pretty soon."
"Oh. Yeah, I guess I'll allow that."
"Decent of you."
"Mmm, of course if you keep grinding on me like that, you're just gonna slip in right where we are."
"That's true. I might."
Ash shifted the angle of his hips relative to Val. The head of his cock pressed against her pussy for a moment, then slipped past. He did it again, loving the look on his sister's face.
"Oh my god that's so close," Val hissed.
"I know."
"You're gonna be inside me."
"Fucking hope so."
"Goddd Ashhh."
Val's nails dug into Ash's shoulders, not quite painfully, but definitely making themselves known.
"You like that?" Ash asked. "Almost feeling me go in? So close?"
"Stop teasing."
"Feels nice though, doesn't it? I... oh!"
Val let go with one arm and reached down. She grabbed Ash's cock and held it steadier, so on his next thrust it didn't slide away, it went straight in.
"Fuuuccck," Val moaned.
"Oh damn."
Val rocked herself, as much as she could while pinned between her brother and the wall with her feet well off the ground.
"Deeper," she begged.
"All the way?"
"All the way!"
Ash tried to be gentle, but it wasn't easy while holding Val. She wasn't helping either, constantly trying to bounce herself lower on his cock. He ended up burying himself much faster than he meant to, though it seemed to make Val quite happy.
"Yesss," she hissed. "I needed this."
"Goddamn, you're so wet," Ash breathed. "You took me so easily."
"I mentioned being hor-ny didn't I?"
"You did." Ash grinned. "All 'cause of me, huh?"
"Maybe 'cause of you. Maybe 'cause it's been so long. I don't know, really."
Ash pouted, then dipped his head and nipped at Val's shoulder. "Don't be coy. It's me."
Val's fingers tangled in Ash's hair. "Maybe. But that would mean I really, really wanna fuck my bro-ther. Like, really badly."
"Well you do. So that makes sense."
"God help me, I really do." Val's eyes went big and round, full of demonstrably false innocence. "Take me to bed."
"You want me to carry you?"
"Yes."
"I might fall."
"You better not."
"Can you just walk?"
"And let you out of me? Don't think so."
Ash got a firmer grip on Val's bare ass, then pushed off the wall and started walking. The entwined sibs bounced lightly off a few obstacles on the way. Val reached out and braced against whatever was handy as Ash carried her.
Both of them were a mess of insane, horny giggling by the time they made it to Val's room and fell to her bed.
"What, you couldn't have run me into a few more walls?" Val asked, still laughing uncontrollably. "Walk much?"
"You ever try walking straight with a girl riding your dick?"
"Surprisingly, never."
"Well it's not as easy as it looks."
"Maybe if you'd stopped kissing me long enough to watch where you were going."
"I tried! Then you just started kissing me even harder."
"Oh yeah."
Another fit of giggling rolled through them. It transitioned into moans as Ash built a slow, steady rhythm, fucking Val with long, deep strokes.
"Fuuuccck that feels good," Val cooed.
"It's amazing," Ash agreed.
"You're so deep in me."
"Deep as I can get."
"Deep in your sis-ter."
Ash groaned as Val gave another soft giggle at his reaction.
"I don't think we're supposed to enjoy that part so much," Ash said.
"If we're gonna fuck, might as well enjoy everything."
"Yeah, that's true." Ash kissed Val, then nuzzled her cheek. "I'm enjoying everything about you right now."
"Shut uuuppp. You'll make me blush."
Ash laughed. "I'm balls deep in you, and you're worried about getting embarrassed?" He caressed her face lightly. "You're so flushed anyway, I wouldn't even notice."
"Oh god, really?" Val examined Ash's face. "Well actually you kinda are too."
"I'd assume so. Can't fuck my sis-ter without getting a little worked up, you know?"
Val moaned and buried her face in Ash's shoulder, digging her fingertips into his back. "Is it bad that that's really doing it for me?" she mumbled.
"The sibling thing?"
"Yeah?"
"Fuck, probably."
"But it's doing it for you too?"
"It really is. Don't tell anyone."
Val giggled insanely. "Won't tell a soul," she promised.
Their lips met again, melding together in a longer and longer kiss. Even breaks for air didn't feel like they'd ended the kiss, only delayed it.
Ash was thrusting deep in Val, and was slowly getting even more forceful. Part of that force was a result of her doing everything she could to thrust back against him. Her movements were limited, but she wanted so badly to meet him every time.
"You know what's actually an upside to this?" Val asked huskily.
"Aside from everything?"
"Aside from that."
"Couldn't begin to guess."
"I can't get pregnant, you know."
"Um... sure."
"So you can basically just cum in me."
Ash groaned. "Don't talk about that yet."
"Why not?"
"I wanted to, like, do this for a while. Feel you. Be in you."
"You still can."
"If you talk about me cumming in you-"
"Which you totally can."
"-how'm I s'posed to last?"
"What, you think if I just keep telling you that you can fill me all up-"
"Val!"
"-all the way up with brother cum. That you can do it as much as you want. And I'll really, really enjoy it. You think maybe that might make you explode a teensy bit faster?"
"You monster."
Val giggled. "Well it's better to cum a little too early than to drag things on past when they're fun."
"I've done this before. I kinda know what I'm doing."
"Oh, right. Forgot about aaalll the girls you've banged. My sexpert brother over here."
"Shut up."
"Make me."
"'K."
Ash kissed Val, starting soft but getting deeper and more intense, slowly working his tongue between their lips until she met it and skirmished back into his mouth instead. It did, admittedly, make it much harder to talk.
Val's hands ran up and down Ash's back, sometimes grabbing his butt, sometimes tracing his spine, and sometimes tangling in his hair.
Ash's cock was making such sloppy sounds as went in and out of Val's soaked pussy. With their mouths full, the noises from down there were all the more noticeable. They were possibly a little embarrassing, but mostly they were just even more of a turn on.
"Fuck," Ash mumbled around Val's still searching lips. "Now all I can think about is cumming in you."
"Hehe, well you can, you know."
"I-"
"Seriously, Ash. Cum in me."
Ash pulled back a little to look at Val. Her eyes were so big and shining, her mouth parted in a soft pant. She watched him intently, seriously.
"I'm gonna, then," Ash said.
Val smiled wide. "Good."
She looked so damn eager, so excited. She had the whole time, sure, but it was something a little more than that now.
Val could see something very similar in Ash's eyes. He had a look that, she guessed, was him needing to cum. It had been growing steadily stronger the longer they fucked. On a physical level, he would certainly be feeling it stronger than her. On an emotional level, Val suspected she needed it way more than he did.