Chapter Text
Shota was peacefully searching for more mushrooms in order to finish his latest potion when one of his trap spells activated.
He frowned, turning in the direction of the spell. It felt like someone was in it, but they didn’t feel human. Not like the hunters and adventurers that usually got stuck in Shota’s traps.
With a huff, Shota teleported himself to the area to deal with the interruption.
What he found instead was a huge merman, frantically flailing his huge tail around to escape the snare while his bright yellow hair scattered every which way.
A second later, before Shota’s very eyes, the merman shifted into a centaur, still with his back legs stuck in the spell.
“Fuck! No, please! Gotta-!” Another shift and now sat a normal looking elf with the same long blond hair.
Shota decided to make his presents known then, stepping out and into the light. The creature whipped towards him with a vicious snarl. “Stay away from us!” He demanded, clutching… Shota’s eyes went wide. It was an egg. A rather large green egg was being cradled in the man, creature, animal, shifter’s arms as he continued to try and fail to escape.
The distant sounds of shouting had Shota turning in confusion. He turned back to find the shifter flailing more aggressively, obviously panicked.
“Are they hunting you?” Shota asked. The shifter ignored him, still trying his best to get away while holding the egg as gently but securely as possible.
Another distant shout and Shota felt hunters flood into his claimed forest area. “Here!” Shota shouted, waving his hand to undo the spell when the words the hunters were screaming finally caught up to him. “My house is up on the hill! Take this! It’ll lead you there! Hide inside and don’t come out! I’ll deal with the hunters!” Shota demanded as he tossed his gemstone necklace over to the shifter.
The blond shifter hesitated, clearly untrusting, but he finally gave in after another angry scream echoed through the trees.
With the shifter running, or flying with the new harpy body, Shota turned to face the hunters. With his red-eyed glare and capture spell that appeared as a cobra-like scarf, Shota melted into the shadows and began his ambush attacks.
No one hunted in his forest without permission.
—
Hizashi was gasping for breath as he squeezed himself and the egg into the first empty corner he could find.
It had all been going fine before.
Hizashi was used to hiding. Hiding was what shifters like him were meant to do after the… King’s Trial started centuries ago. It was a competition of sorts. Magical creatures all had value in the world, and their pelts were worth even more. Shifters were the highest quality catch. Snagging a shifter, especially a young one, would practically make the person enter high society as a noble immediately.
Over the past two hundred years, the shifter population had dropped from a strong twenty thousand to hardly a few hundred. It wasn’t even like breeding was an issue, since they could reproduce asexually or with same sex partners if need be. It was overhunting and egg crushing.
Gods know Hizashi had witnessed more than his fair share of death and killings by the time he could crawl.
All that to be said, Hizashi was used to hiding.
He was also a fighter.
Hizashi knew how to protect what was his. So when he spotted a huge group of experienced and scarily powerful hunters killing a shifter couple and approaching the lone egg they had been trying to protect, he snapped.
Hizashi had tossed aside his rabbit shift in favor of a dragon, swiftly killing a few of the hunters before grabbing the egg and taking off.
For the past few weeks, Hizashi had been running for his and the egg’s life. He hadn’t even had time to activate the poor egg either, so it was just a blank slate with no hope of a future unless Hizashi made it out alive too.
In a rare moment of calm, Hizashi overheard a few elves talking about a forest that no mortals dared enter unless they befell the wrath of the demon who lived inside.
And, honestly? Hizashi was sick of running. He accepted the fact that he’d sell himself to the demon if it meant he and the egg could survive.
What he found instead was a man with long black hair, soft dark eyes, and possibly the most handsome face Hizashi had ever seen before.
When the man offered him a place to hide while he dealt with the hunters, Hizashi took it. He wasn’t usually the best with sensing magic, but the man standing before him was positively flowing in it. Almost like it was alive around him.
In conclusion, Hizashi was stuck in a stranger’s place with a shifter egg he swore his life to protect and absolutely no plans or ideas on what to do next.
He was just happy the house wasn’t creepy or scary inside. It was a lovely cabin with countless little trinkets and such strewn about. Which… included cats, Hizashi noted. Three cats were watching him as he trembled pathetically in a corner.
Hizashi shuttered, fear clinging to him like a second layer of skin. He prayed that the man would help him, beat or scare the hunters off, return, stay kind, and maybe let him stay.
There was a shift in the air before two feet hit the ground in a quiet thumb. Hizashi flinched, shifting into a gorgon to curl protectively around the egg just in case this was it, his end.
“Hey, um… Are you hungry?” Hizashi flinched again before slowly looking up. It was the man. He was alone. No injuries. Not even a burn from that powerful fire mage. “If you’re hungry I can make something. Uh… Is there anything you don’t eat?” The man asked. Hizashi slowly shook his head, still completely tense. “Ok. Are you injured, by the way? I can heal you if need be.”
Hizashi flinched back, ducking his head down as his breathing shuttered. “Yes.” He answered, preparing for a possible strike. “Ok. My magic requires touch to heal. You might need to be in your… um… true? True form? Sorry, I’ve never met a shifter before.” Hizashi did as told, tucking the egg safely behind him as he forced his base form out for the first time in a very long while. Maybe years.
All shifters have different base forms. Hizashi’s was mostly human. The parts that weren’t human were… mystical.
Hizashi’s human skin was dotted with sparkling freckles that mirrored stars. His hair was shiny like golden silk. His teeth were pointed slightly, apart from his canines which were more sharp. His ears were also pointed like an elf. Hizashi’s eyes were spiraled as well, an extra circle in his lime green irises. Hizashi assumed his body was also larger than a normal human, but the human man standing on the other side of the room could be no more than an inch shorter than his base shape.
The injuries were… Hizashi was in pretty bad shape. He had burns, cuts, arrow wounds, and poison damage covering various parts of his entire body. If he was human, he’d be dead.
“Are you alright with me getting closer?” “Yes.” Hizashi answered in a whisper.
Slowly, oh so slowly, the man stepped closer. When he saw Hizashi flinch, he crouched down to crawl closer instead, no longer towering over the shifter.
When the man reached out, Hizashi hissed. He felt bad, turning away when the man pulled back from him.
“What-what’s your name?” “Hm?” “I don’t know you. I’m- I don’t- I can’t just trust someone I don’t-” “My name is Shota. What’s yours?” Hizashi turned to face the man, Shota. “I’m Hizashi.” “Nice to meet you. I’m a Sorcerer. Half druid.” “I-... I’m a shifter.” Shota huffed out a silent laugh. “Hadn’t noticed.” Hizashi blushed.
After a few more questions to get to know one another, Hizashi was finally calm enough to let Shota touch him. The cat rubbing against the sorcerer’s side helped him as well, since the action was clearly a sign of trust from an animal Hizashi knows are hard to get love from.
With a gentle hand on Hizashi’s ankle, Shota started to glare down at him. After a tense moment, Hizashi watched Shota’s eyes shift to a stunning shade of scarlet red. When the light of his eyes appeared, Hizashi noticed the magic in the air. Swirling and alive, the natural magic of the world danced around Shota’s body before flowing into Hizashi through their shared connection.
As the seconds ticked by, Hizashi felt his wounds starting to stitch together and close. The poison in his system filtered out like water, quickly replaced by the cells in his blood multiplying to make up the difference from his previous blood loss.
Hizashi let out a content sigh, though his body stayed tense as he shielded the egg.
“Fuck.” Shota groaned, finally pulling away and moving to rub his face roughly. “Are y-you ok?” “I’m fine. Migraine. You can stay there or take the couch. I’m going to make food. Anything specific you need?” “Um… Meat?” “Sure.” Shota nearly toppled over as he stood, stumbling out of the room like a drunk on a holiday.
Hizashi stayed in the corner.
About an hour later, Shota returned with a large bowl of what had to be stew based on the heavenly smell.
“Just so you know, this has a few healing potions mixed in. Might taste weird.” Shota picked up the spoon and took a bite of the food before handing it over. He was showing it wasn’t poisoned, Hizashi realized. “Thank you.” “It’s fine. Do you need anything for the egg?”
Hizashi snarled protectively out of instinct.
“Ok then.” Shota huffed. “I’ll grab you some blankets and such. You can have that corner if you’d like. Mind the cats, they’re cuddly. I’m going to go to sleep. Shout if you need me, otherwise just help yourself to shit.” Shota yawned, stretching out his back.
Hizashi tried to apologize for his behavior when Shota returned, but the man just waved him off. “You’re not human. I don’t give a fuck how you communicate as long as you’re not being harmful. I don’t care if you growl or hiss. You’re just another one of my cats at that point.” Shota then wandered off, shutting the door to what had to be his room.
After a few minutes, Hizashi shifted his ears to listen as Shota slowly fell asleep with what had to be a cat purring near him.
Once Shota’s breathing and heartbeat had evened out, Hizashi finally relaxed. He wanted nothing more than to leave and find a secluded cave, but… Hizashi sighed. He was staying.
With that thought in mind, Hizashi started crafting himself and the egg a nest.
His egg.
God, Hizashi only then realized this was his egg now. All the running and hiding never gave him time to process that.
With a tired hum, Hizashi crafted a nest out of all of the blankets and pillows Shota gave him. It was by far the most comfortable space Hizashi had ever laid in, especially when he snuggled into the bright yellow sleeping bag that matched his hair with his egg cradled to his chest.
Hizashi smothered his face with the fabric. It smelled like Shota, which really shouldn’t have made him feel so safe and content. There were even traces of magic in the bag, sparkling in the darkened space like stars.
Hizashi hummed once more, pressing his lips to the shell of his egg. He’d test Shota for a few days. If it’s nice, and Shota lets Hizashi stay, he’ll activate the egg here. Where it’s safe.
Unbeknownst to Hizashi, Shota had placed a few soothing and sleep spells in the sleeping bag. It was partially because of the horrible eye bags Hizashi sported, but he also wanted to ensure himself a full night of rest.
Healing spells, especially ones so strong, took a lot out of him. The migraines and pain that followed him after sessions like that always required rest to get through without Shota losing his mind.
Shota also, distantly, hoped that sleeping in a pile of stuff that smells like him would help the shifter be more comfortable with him faster. He was cute, and Shota wouldn’t mind having him around.
—
It took a week, a week of Hizashi living in Shota’s lovely cabin home, for him to ask the sorcerer if he’d be open to letting Hizashi stay, at least until the hatchling was grown enough for them to leave and find a new home.
Shota, much to Hizashi’s surprise, told him not to be stupid and that he was more than welcome to stay there with the egg as long as he wanted if he contributed.
That brought them to now.
Hizashi was shifting into his dragon form, using his huge wings to carry fallen fruits while he used his tail to wave off other creatures while he headbutted the trees. When all of the fruits were collected, Hizashi returned to deliver them to Shota.
Hizashi stopped short, taking in the sight in front of him.
Shota was napping on the porch, like usual, but this time he was cradling the egg on his chest, humming in his sleep as the magic around them snaked about like gentle bundles of blankets. Hizashi watched in awe, amazed that Shota was capable of handling the egg so well. Usually, Shota napped near the temporary nest Hizashi placed the egg in while he went to do his chores. Now though, Hizashi doesn’t think he wants to come back to seeing them separated again.
“Hey.” Hizashi whispered, lightly rolling the bundles of fruit out of his wings and onto the porch.
Shota blinked his eyes open, looking over the pile of fruit with an approving nod. “I’ll get the spell started soon.
The spell Shota was creating was a shielding one, a powerful spell that would wrap his entire forest in a barrier that would block it from perception. No one would be able to see the forest, and if they do, they’ll forget it was ever there seconds later. Shota had been wanting to perform this spell for a long time, but most of the ingredient's spoil quickly and he wasn’t fast enough to get the sheer amount of them before the time was up. Hizashi didn’t have that problem.
“Thank you.” Hizashi mumbled, reaching out to hold his egg and place it into his new bat wings.
With the new features in place, Hizashi snuck a glance at Shota as the man stood. His robe sleeve fell slightly, revealing the thick muscles around his arms as he stretched. Hizashi’s jaw dropped. He had no idea that Shota was so well built behind all of the baggy robes he always wore.
Shota noticed the staring, so he decided to tease the shapeshifter, just a little.
With a small bounce in his step, Shota moved to activate the levitation spell on the pile of fruit. The movement caused his baggy robe to fall off of his shoulder, revealing his neck, shoulder, and most of his upper arm for Hizashi to see while he worked. Hizashi’s green eyes zeroed in on it, making Shota bite back a grin. Who knew a shifter would be so easy to tease.
“Hizashi.” Shota called, his voice lower than usual as he brought a hand up to cart through his hair. Hizashi snapped his eyes up to his face, pointed teeth peeking out to bite his lip as he did so. “Y-yeah?” Hizashi finally answered. “You look a little red, do you need anything?” “No, no, I’m fine!” Hizashi waved his new second set of arms around as his blush deepened.
Shota tilted his head, eying Hizashi up and down as he approached him.
Once he was within arms reach, Shota grabbed Hizashi’s face to force him up by his chin. “Hm, well, let me know if that changes.” Hizashi’s face was cherry red by then, so Shota decided that was enough and let him go. Hizashi stumbled back, holding his face with wide eyes.
Shota smirked as he walked back into the house.
Oh, he was going to have so much fun with this.
—
It took a month.
One entire month of Shota subtly and not so subtly flirting with Hizashi for the shifter to finally break.
“Shota, can I please talk to you? In private?” Shota hummed in response. He had much more free time in recent days now that his spell had been completed, and it seemed his increase in flirting time had finally gotten to the other being. “Sure. Cats!” Shota yelled, calling his hoard of cats to him. “Watch the egg. Nothing and no one gets close to it. At all.” Shota ordered, to which the cats bowed and set to work, circling and nuzzling into the egg gently as they crowded the nest where it was safely stored.
Hizashi, losing his patience, grabbed Shota’s wrist and dragged him into the sorcerer’s bedroom and slammed the door shut.
“What’s got you so worked up, Hizashi?” Shota asked, casually strolling over to sit and lean back on his bed. Hizashi’s eyes raked over Shota’s body, tracing the skin he could and couldn’t see behind the robe. Shota, surprisingly, adored the attention. The feel of those eyes on him. So, he let Hizashi do it.
“I… You…” “I what, Hizashi? Something wrong?” Shota asked, leaning to the side so his long black hair fell away from his face. “Not wrong.” Hizashi finally managed to rasp.
“Hizashi.” Shota repeated, lowering his voice in a way he knew drove Hizashi crazy if the twitching of his ears or tails were anything to go off of. “Yes?” Hizashi squeaked. “Do you mind if I get more comfortable? It’s getting late.” “I don’t mind.” Hizashi whispered, hope evident in his expression.
Shota shrugged indifferently, strolling over to his closet and pulling his robe off in one smooth motion. He heard Hizashi’s breath hitch.
“Hizashi, could you take these? Place them on the desk?” Hizashi was shaking slightly as he walked over, reaching for the rings in Shota’s open hand. Instead of handing them over, Shota snapped his arm out to tug Hizashi in by the waist, so they were face to face. “You’re looking red again; do you want me to cool you off?” Hizashi shook his head, obviously keeping his eyes locked onto Shota’s face instead of his shirtless body.
Shota hummed, letting him go so suddenly Hizashi stumbled back hard on his ass on the floor.
“Now look at that.” Shota said, moving to stand over the downed shifter. Hizashi’s entire body tensed, but he wasn’t afraid. No, Shota knew he wasn’t afraid at all. “I never thought I could get you on the ground for me so easily.” Shota stated, giving Hizashi a once over.
The spined shifter blushed again, staring up at Shota as he licked his lips.
Acting as if nothing happened, Shota walked back over to his closet to pull his pants down. He bent over, purposefully giving Hizashi a nice view of his thighs and back, both covered in countless scars he knew the blond went crazy about thanks to Hizashi talking in his sleep.
“Shota?” Hizashi called, voice strained slightly. “Yes, Hizashi?” Shota replied, turning to look over his shoulder with his back still turned. Hizashi’s clawed hands dug into the flooring, grounding himself.
“Hm.” Shota hummed, moving to kick his pants off the rest of the way and leaving only his tight underwear on. “There. Way too hot for all of that right now.” Shota sighed, running his hands up to pull his hair back and out of his face.
“Need some help?” Shota bent over again, offering his hand out to Hizashi to pull him up. Hizashi looked like he was about to melt through the floor with how much he was sweating.
“Zashi?” Shota called, hoping to break Hizashi just that little bit more.
It worked.
Oh, it worked well.
Hizashi tackled Shota to the ground, slamming the sorcerer down as he pulled his base form into place. “You have no idea what you’re doing.” Hizashi practically snarled.
Shota only smirked, giving Hizashi a defiant look. “I’m sure I know damn well what I’m doing, Zashi-” He was interrupted by Hizashi slamming their lips together.
Shota groaned at the sensation, feeling Hizashi’s hands running up and down his exposed sides as he kept Shota’s arms pinned below his knees.
“Zashi!” Shota gasped the second the two of them separated for air. Hizashi didn’t answer, only ducking his head down to kiss, bite, lick, and suck Shota’s neck and chest.
“Tell me to stop.” Hizashi said, his throat rumbling with a deep purring noise. “What if I-I don’t want you to?” Shota asked, fighting back the instinct to push himself closer to the needy shifter. “I can’t take it back. I- shi-shifters mate for-for life. Shota... Tell me to stop. I won’t unless you tell me.” Shota didn’t bother biting back a moan at that, tilting his head down to reconnect his lips with Hizashi’s. They stayed like that for a while. Hizashi pinning Shota down as they kissed and rutted against one another.
“I want you.” Hizashi whispered into Shota’s ear after pulling back again. Shota nodded once, forcing his arms out from under Hizashi’s legs to pull the shifter down by a gentle but firm grip in his hair.
“I’m already yours.”
Hizashi let out a groan, so low it shook the ground around them like a small earthquake. “You better mean it, Sho.” “Zashi, I’m yours. Make it official. I want you.” Shota replied, giving Hizashi’s neck a kiss as he whispered the words.
Shota yelped quietly when Hizashi suddenly yanked him up and threw him onto the bed, crawling up to pin him down again.
“I can’t take it back.” Hizashi repeated. “Good.” Shota replied, feeling Hizashi’s leg press down on him just a touch harder.
Hizashi let out a noise similar to a growl before he let the clothing of his transformation melt off. Shifters could create clothing out of the water in the surrounding air, meaning they could pick and choose when to have them on.
“Are you serious about this, Sho?” Hizashi asked even as he started kissing his neck again. The sharp points of Hizashi’s canines shouldn’t have turned Shota on as much as they did. Shota hummed back, moving to tug Hizashi’s hips down against himself as he nodded his head.
“Stop holding back, Zashi.”
The rest of that night was spent with Hizashi bonding, shifter style, with Shota and cuddling the sorcerer tightly after he was done. Shota didn’t mind at all, basking in the affection and even using his magic to clean them both off without having to get up.
Yeah, it was a really good night.