Dream!

Arthur confidently led the way through the university halls, his movements calm and purposeful as Ayame followed close behind.

She held her folder tightly against her chest, her fox-like ears twitching as her irritation from the encounter with Kael slowly ebbed.

The occasional student and fellow professor saw them and just greeted them, usually with a nod before returning to their own business.

As they stepped outside, the cool afternoon breeze greeted them, carrying the faint scent of freshly mowed grass from the university grounds. Ayame glanced up at Arthur as he gestured toward a sleek, dark car parked near the faculty lot.

"Come," Arthur said simply, unlocking the car with a flick of his fingers.

The car, a black Mana-powered vehicle, hummed softly as the doors opened. Its polished surface gleamed under the sunlight, and Ayame raised a brow at its understated elegance.

Sliding into the passenger seat, Ayame adjusted her folder on her lap while Arthur took his place behind the wheel. The soft whir of the engine came to life, and the car glided smoothly out of the lot.

For the first few minutes, silence hung between them. Ayame glanced out the window, watching as the bustling streets of Redux City passed by in a blur of movement.

Despite the quiet, Ayame's mind was racing. Kael's words replayed in her head, each syllable laced with condescension and arrogance. Her fingers tightened around the folder in her lap, the residual frustration lingering.

Arthur spoke first, his voice breaking the silence with a calm certainty, "What did he say to upset you?"

Ayame blinked, startled by the sudden question. She turned to him, her pink eyes meeting his golden ones for a brief moment before he returned his gaze to the road.

"How did you," she began but stopped herself. It was a stupid question. Of course, Arthur would know. Their Soul Binding made it impossible for her to hide her emotions from him completely.

Arthur's hands shifted slightly on the wheel to make a left turn as he continued, his tone unchanging, "I felt it. Your irritation. It was... distracting."

She let out a soft sigh, her ears drooping slightly as she sank back into her seat, "Kael is... persistent. And arrogant. He thinks his status gives him the right to..." She paused, her grip on the folder tightening. "To say things he shouldn't."

Arthur's gaze remained fixed on the road, but his brows furrowed slightly, "I see." he responded, not bothering to delve too deep into something that made her uncomfortable.

Ayame hesitated, unsure how much she wanted to share. But something about Arthur's steady presence made her feel safe, as if she could unload the weight without judgment. "He said things about my race. About FoxKin. Implying that I should feel... grateful for his attention."

The car slowed as they approached a stoplight. Arthur turned to look at her then, his golden eyes sharp but calm. "And you don't feel grateful?"

The question caught her off guard, but when she saw the faint glint of amusement in his gaze, she realized he was teasing her in his own peculiar way.

"Not even a little," Ayame replied dryly, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

Arthur gave a faint nod, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly. "Good."

The light turned green, and the car moved forward again. The silence that followed was less tense this time, more comfortable.

Ayame watched Arthur out of the corner of her eye, wondering how he managed to remain so composed, so unaffected by the world around him. It was both frustrating and admirable.

The only conclusion she came to was he was just that experienced in matters of the world that he'd grown numb to most normal interactions, allowing himself to remain calm.

Eventually, the car turned into the underground garage of their shared apartment complex. The dim lighting reflected off the polished floors as Arthur pulled into his usual parking space with precision.

"I felt your irritation earlier," he said, his tone quieter now, more introspective,"It was... unexpected. Usually, your emotions are easier to filter out. But this time, it was overwhelming."

Ayame looked down at her hands, her ears flicking back in faint embarrassment, "Sorry. I didn't mean to... distract you."

Arthur shook his head, "It's not your fault. The Soul Binding strengthens when emotions are intense. I came because I thought it would be easier to resolve the source of the distraction than to ignore it."

She stared at him for a moment, her pink eyes softening. "You came to help me," she said quietly.

Arthur tilted his head slightly, his golden gaze meeting hers ,"I came because your irritation was inconvenient," he corrected, though there was a faint hint of something else in his tone, something he might not yet understand himself.

Ayame smiled despite his words, "Well, thank you anyway. Even if it was just to resolve an 'inconvenience.'"

Arthur opened his door, stepping out of the car without responding, and Ayame followed suit. As they made their way toward the elevator, she glanced at him again, her heart feeling lighter than it had all afternoon.

"Arthur," she said softly as the elevator doors slid open.

He turned to her, one brow raised in silent inquiry.

"You're a good guy" she said simply, stepping into the elevator.

Arthur said nothing as he followed her inside, but for the briefest moment, Ayame thought she saw the faintest flicker of something warm in his usually emotionless eyes.

***

The day had been a long, but satisfying. Ayame had managed to shake off the lingering irritation of Kael's condescension, replaced by the warmth of Arthur's unexpected concern.

Night-time had quickly arrived and Ayame decided to head to bed early, wanting to have a nice peaceful night of sleep. As she lay in her bed, the cool sheets a comfortable contrast against her skin, her body felt at ease.

Her pink eyes drifted shut as she let the gentle hum of the city outside lull her into a state of drowsiness.

Soon, she had arrived in dreamland, fully asleep, and the dream started innocently enough, a vision of her and Arthur working on a paper together, his golden gaze focused on her as his hands guided her.

Then, the dream shifted, morphing into a haze of heat and desire. Suddenly, she was on her bed, her body bare and exposed, with Arthur towering over her, his muscular, toned sexy frame casting a shadow that enveloped her.

His eyes, usually so stoic, burned with an alluring intensity. His hands roamed her body, tracing the curves of her breasts, the soft swell of her stomach, the dip of her waist. The touch was feather light, yet sent waves of pleasure coursing through her.

"F~uckk." Ayame moaned out sensually. She had never had sex before, yet no-one told her it would feel this good, his delicate touch sent shockwaves down her spine, and made her heart pound in her chest.

Arthur's fingers danced down her thighs, parting them with ease. Ayame's breath hitched as she felt him, his touch more real than anything she'd felt before. His fingers found their way to her pussy, teasing her entrance before slipping inside.

"Eung… Ahh… Huuut!" Moan after moan escaped Ayame's lips, the feeling was indescribable, a maelstrom of sensation that left her writhing on the bed.

She could see his cock, huge and erect, poised at her entrance. And just as she was bracing for his penetration...

"Hah~Hah!" Ayame panted as she jolted awake, her body slick with sweat as her sheets clung to her body. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized she'd just had a wet dream, her orgasm leaving her sheets soaked.

A blush crept up her neck as she scrambled to process what had just happened. Her body still hummed with residual pleasure, and the memory of Arthur's touch lingered on her skin.

She slid out of bed, her mind racing as she contemplated the implications of such a vivid dream.