Mitzi was excited as they pulled up to the brick building that housed the gaming store.

  “Wait right there.” He said, and hopped out of the car and opened the door for her. She smirked at him.

  “I DO know how car doors work. This morning I was off my game.” She said, then stuck her tongue out at him. He smiled and squatted down in front of her.

  “I am trying,” he said, “to be a gentleman. Now. Before we go in, I need to warn you of something.”

  “What’s that?” She became worried, but all Dan felt was amusement.

  “There’s a couple of guys from my online Mazes and Monsters group. They might be a bit nervous around you.”

  “Because I’m a goblin.” She said.

  “No.” Dan said. “Because you are a very pretty girl. Pretty girls make these two guys nervous, and they will be until they get to know you..”

  Mitzi was blushing all the way to the tips of her ears. She covered her face with her hands.

  “Stop it.” She said.

  “Nope.” He grinned and took her hand. “C’mon. Let’s see what Rob has picked out tonight."

  Mitzi had never seen anything like the inside of the gaming shop. Foil packs, boxes, dice, and books were everywhere. There was a main counter with a P.O.S. system she noted, and to the right was a door leading to a back room she could see was full of tables. One table showed activity and she could see Rob looking through shelves. She clung to Dan’s hand with a death grip and she stopped to look around.

  “What is all this?” She asked.

  “Collectible card games for the most part.” Dan said. “They each have artwork on them and explain how the card can be used in the game.”

  She pointed at the books and started pulling him over to them.

  “Those,” he said “are RPG books. Short for “Role Playing Games”. You pretend to be characters in a fantasy world and go on adventures.”

  She looked up at him, genuinely confused.

  “That sounds like if someone made a game out of working at your magazine.” She said, and Dan laughed.

  “Actually, that might be a thing with some of the board games coming out. Let me show you.”

  Dan led her to the back room to the tables. She smiled as Rob jogged up to meet them. He clapped Dan on the shoulder.

  “Holy mother of God, we got you out twice in four days. Hot damn.” He knelt before Mitzi. “AND I have you to thank for that.”

  Mitzi gave him a hug. Rob really was sweet. She suddenly wondered if he’d be interested in Bandy and threw the idea out. The last thing she was going to do was play matchmaker for her sister.

  “Happy to help!” She said. Then she saw the bookshelves. She walked away, Rob laughing behind her.

  There were bookshelves on most of the walls in this room and they all held boxed board games. She’d never heard of any of them. The boxes were more detailed than the few she’d managed to play with the broodlings. They were all colorful and they all seemed to have beautiful art on them. She was going to get to try some of these now. Maybe all of them? She slowly walked and looked at them all. She’d pull one out and stared at the box.

  Mitzi felt her hair stand on end. Someone was watching her and it wasn’t Dan. She turned, and sitting at one end of the table was a larger man with a receding hairline, and a beard with no mustache. He wore glasses. Beside him was a thinner gentleman who seemed to have stolen all the hair in his family. They were watching her and trying very hard to not watch her.

  Mitzi smiled. These were Dan’s game friends, she assumed. She decided to try and make a good impression. She walked up and waved.

  “Hi! I’m Mitzi.” A thought struck her and she tried to not giggle at the realization. “I’m Dan’s girlfriend.”

  “Uh, Chris?” The larger man said. He smiled nervously.

  “William.” The hairy guy said, trying to act like he wasn’t surprised. He pulled his phone out and started scrolling.

  Mitzi nodded, and hopped into a chair, putting her hands on the table. She had such an urge to mess with these two.

  “Ever met a goblin before?” She asked.

  “Uh, no.” Chris said, sweating. “Well, kinda. Not in real life, though.”

  Mitzi arched an eyebrow.

  “What do you mean?”

  Suddenly William looked up.

  “Are you seriously going to count M&M encounters as “meeting a goblin”, Chris?” he said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because that was ROB. Technically you’ve met ROB. ROB isn’t a savage goblin. He’s much more-” he cut off abruptly and his eyes widened.

  “Civilized?” Mitzi finished for him.

  “That is not how I meant that to come out. Sorry.” He said. Mitzi smiled. It was out in the open now.

  “I’ve read Tolkien.” She said. “I know how people see us. That’s not us when we’re left to ourselves.”

  William nodded.

  “What ARE goblins like?” Chris asked, and Mitzi smiled.

  “We’re actually trying to figure that out ourselves now that we have time to. You should come to Runt’s and find out yourselves! There’s twenty-something of us there running the place.” She said.

  “They have trebuchets that launch dinner rolls. It’s awesome.” Dan said as he sat down beside Mitzi. He smiled at her.

  “What are we playing?” She asked.

  Just then, Rob sat a box down on the table and took the lid off.

  “Wingspan!” He said.

  “Birdgame.” William said with a smile.

  “Birbs.” Chris added.

  Rob just gave them both a look, as if this wasn’t the first time he’d dealt with this.

  “Want me to nail their ears to the floor?” Mitzi asked. She gave Rob a sweet smile.

  Rob burst out laughing and Chris looked panicked. William gave her the finger. Rob clapped his hands, drawing all their attention.

  “So the basic idea of Wingspan-”

  “Birdgame.” Said William.

  “Birbs.” Chris added.

  “Jesus CHRIST, you two!” Rob said. “The object of the game is to gain points by meeting random goals selected from the pile here. You play birds and lay eggs. It’ll make sense soon enough.” He indicated a pile as he set it down, then selected three cardboard tiles from it. Chris and William began setting out card decks and handing out play boards.

  Rob continued.

  “So we’ll start with Dan and that way Mitzi can see how the game is played each round before having to take her turn. Sound good?”

  Mitzi nodded. She was excited. The cards had beautiful paintings of birds on them and had information about each at the bottom. She looked at Dan and he was just watching her. She fanned her cards and tried to hide her face behind them, which just made Dan laugh. He started his turn.

  As the game had gone on, Mitzi had gotten a better feel for Rob’s friends. She thought of them as Rob’s now because Dan only knew them from their games. They were both nice. They were also both very smart and witty. Mitzi almost had trouble keeping up with their banter. She spent a large part of the game just listening, and watching Dan. He was happy, and that made her happy.

  The game ran for about two hours and lasted three rounds. Mitzi managed to win, with William coming in a close second. Dan apparently just played to be there because he came in dead last and felt happy to just be there. As Dan, Chris, and William packed up the pieces to go back on the shelf, Mitzi came around the table and motioned for Rob to kneel, which he did.

  “Thank you for inviting me.” Mitzi said, and hugged him. “And for getting Dan out.”

  “That was all you, but you’re welcome. AND you’re welcome any night we do this. I’ll make sure Dan keeps you in the loop.”

  Rob stood back up and looked around.

  “I’ll tell you what.” He said. “How about you go ahead and pick out our next game before you go.”

  Mitzi had to keep her self from hopping up and down right there. She still bounced over to the shelves and looked through them for several minutes.

  “What’s HeroQuest?” She asked after a time. She FELT Dan wince.

  “Man, it is so much fun.” Chris said.

  “You, uh,” Dan said, walking up beside her, “you have to kill monsters. Including goblins.” He felt embarrassed and worried. She sighed.

  “Can I still try it?” She asked. “One of us in this room has actually fought and killed goblins and it’s none of you three.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  There was a silence as the three men stared at her. Dan felt sympathy. Chris broke the silence.

  “You’re kinda bad-ass, Mitzi.” He said, and Mitzi gave him a toothy grin. It showed off her fangs.

  The goodbyes didn’t take long and Mitzi made sure Dan promised to come back next week. She held his hand on the way out and realized the sun had set.

  “Hungry?” Dan asked.

  “Yes. I usually snack at work so I’m kinda starving.” She said.

  “Ok. Next week I’ll make you something. This week, we’ll eat out.” Dan said, and she looked at him in surprise.

  “You’d do that for me?” She asked.

  “Well, yeah. It won’t be as good as Lenny’s but I think I’m ok in the kitchen.”

  Dan walked her to her door and let her in. She smiled at him. He was still being a gentleman and he seemed to really enjoy it. Once he was in the driver’s seat, she looked at him.

  “You are extremely sweet to me, Dan. I’m not used to it, but I do appreciate it.” She said.

  Dan looked at her and the smile he gave her made her ears grow hot. He leaned over and kissed her. When he stopped, he seemed a little embarrassed.

  “You, uh, this is going to sound heavy handed or something.”

  “That’s ok!” She said. “I like your heavy hands!” He laughed, and she didn’t care. She wanted to hear it. Very much.

  “Ok. But you asked for it.” He grew hesitant. She traced a claw along his jawline and he closed his eyes. He seemed to relax.

  “You gave me my life back, Mitzi.” He said quietly. He took her hand in his and squeezed. “I don’t know what words to use right now for this. For what I’m feeling. I just know that I want you in my life and that you make me happy.”

  She cupped his face in her hands and gave him a kiss.

  “Thank you. That’s extremely sweet of you to say. It is not, however, getting either of us fed.” She grinned at him and he laughed.

  “Right. Food it is. Where would you like to eat?”

  “Somewhere that allows goblins.” She said. This was something she’d been low-key stressing over all day without realizing. Dan nodded, picking up on her anxiety.

  “Well, we’ll figure something out. Any place that isn’t willing to have you in it isn’t somewhere I want to be, anyway.”

  Mitzi just watched him as he pulled out into the sparse, Tuesday night traffic.

  Two restaurants wouldn’t seat them. Mitzi felt like a hindrance. Dan, though? This was the first time she’d seen or felt Dan angry. It wasn’t the violent outbursts of many of the enemies she’d faced or the Necromage, or even Runt with his quick temper. Dan’s anger was slow to ignite and it smoldered. If allowed to, it would burn everything around him.

  But Dan allowed himself to feel his anger. He fumed in the car for several minutes each time and then allowed it to burn out and eventually die. He’d turn to her, say something reassuring, then drive on to another location.

  They decided on a fish fry place. Mitzi loved fish anyway and the smells from outside were amazing. Dan paid, which Mitzi practically clung to his arm for doing, and they waited for their catfish and hush puppies at a table. There were two other couples at the restaurant eating. Neither seemed to mind her.

  Mitzi thought Dan should have been more angry than he was, but instead, he smiled at her and held his hand out to her. She took it gladly.

  “I’m sorry if I-” She began, but he held up a finger.

  “Don’t.” He said softly. “You don’t owe me an apology. This isn’t on you.”

  “Maybe, but it IS on what I am.” She said.

  Dan leaned forward and the kindness in his eyes made her almost want to tear up.

  “It’s on THEM for what THEY are. We’ll go where we’re wanted.”

  She just stared into his eyes for a long moment. She remembered something Dan had asked yesterday and something she'd said to Geraldine.

  “Dan, you asked this yesterday but, what IS this now? This thing we're doing? I told Chris and William I was your girlfriend. Am I?”

  Dan squeezed her hand.

  “I’d very much like for you to be.”

  Mitzi bit her bottom lip.

  “Good. Good. That’s a start. Especially after, um, last night.”

  She watched Dan turn red. Probably because they were in a public place.

  “Right. Was that too fast? Did we jump the gun there?”

  “No.” She said, and meant it.

  Dan nodded.

  “I’m glad.” He said to her. “You gave that back to me and I don't know if I can explain how much that means to me.”

  She gave him a sly look.

  “Can you try?”

  “What, in public?” He whispered, and she laughed. Fortunately for him, their food arrived.

  Mitzi had worked the deep fryer many, many times at the tavern. She was no stranger to fried food. The old bitch that ran the place wouldn’t “stoop” to serving catfish. Runt’s was currently involved in a running argument over finding a provider to sell to goblins. As such, Mitzi had yet to try catfish since they’d come to the wide world.

  She sniffed it, the first smart thing to do with a new food. She watched Dan eagerly tear into his. It was VERY white on the inside. She watched him dip it in tartar sauce. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. Mitzi shrugged and went ahead and tried it.

  It was different from almost any other fish she’d had. At least since coming from the Everywhen. It honestly reminded her of some of the fish that came through the underground rivers in the dungeon, but better. More flavorful. FRIED. She let out a low moan that drew the attention of both the other couples in the restaurant and the staff.

  She didn’t care. She took her time savoring it.

  “I take it you approve?” Dan asked with a chuckle.

  “How do humans know how to cook fish better than goblins?” she asked.

  “I dunno. We’re picky?”

  "I think you’re perfectionists.” Mitzi said.

  She fell silent as she concentrated on her fish. Dan stayed quiet as well, letting her savor the whole experience.

  “Should I take you home after this?” Dan finally asked when she was done.

  Mitzi propped her head in her hand as she thought about that. She traced little patterns in the table top with a claw. It was a very good question.

  “You probably SHOULD take me home.” She said. “Do you WANT to take me home?”

  He spoke quietly.

  “I want to take you to A home.” He reached out and put a hand on hers again. She turned her hand up and took his. It was tempting.

  “As much as I’d like to, I should go home tonight.” She was disappointed and felt the same from Dan. But Dan squeezed her hand and gave her a smile.

  “I understand.” He said. “Maybe I can walk you home sometimes? After work?”

  “I get off late.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” He said.

  She felt like her heart was going to burst. He was an absolute treasure. Then Dan tilted his head and gave her a curious look.

  “We should go.” He said, and she nodded

  As they drove back to Goblin House, Dan was oddly quiet. He was still radiating like he had yesterday, but he was nervous. Almost frightened.

  “I’m ok.” He said into the quiet. "I’m just, well, I'm not used to feeling this way. And I'm curious about what you're feeling right now.”

  She looked at him. She felt, well, something. That made him look back at her for a moment before concentrating on the road again. She’d felt something similar in him. It WAS almost frightening, but it made her want to start giggling like when she’d gotten home from her walk.

  “That’s the one I mean.” He said.

  Mitzi didn’t know what to say. She was pretty sure she knew what she was feeling now. She’d read about men being terrified of this sort of thing. But this was Dan. He wouldn’t run, would he?

  “When we get to the house, can you wait a few?” She asked.

  “Of course.” He said and smiled at her. Even with his confused emotions, he smiled when he looked at her.

  It didn’t take long to reach home. He parked on the street in front of their nonexistent front yard and killed the engine.

  “Ok.” He said. “You want to talk?” He turned to her as best he could in the driver’s seat. Mitzi undid her seat belt and climbed over the console and sat in Dan’s lap. It would be easier this way. He could see her easier. He moved the seat back to give her more room, for which she was thankful.

  “Dan?” She said, then grabbed his hand and put it on her lap. She held it there with her hands, tracing it with a claw. “I’m new to all this. You know that. My life was fighting and survival until we got here. I never really wanted, well, this. Until it was here.”

  She felt his hand on her back and she closed her eyes. She sighed.

  “Have you ever been in love?” She asked.

  Dan became very still. He felt stunned. He finally spoke.

  “No. Not really. I thought I was once, but it was just hormones. Every other time things seemed to fall apart. And, well, you know.”

  She nodded.

  “Needless to say, I haven’t either. Which is probably good since until now I’ve been related to everyone I know.”

  He laughed at that and she smiled. She traced his knuckles gently.

  “How do you think you’d know if you were?” She asked.

  Dan swallowed. He felt excited and afraid. She lifted his hand and kissed the back of it before setting it back in her lap. She met his eyes again.

  “I. . . I’m not sure. I guess. . .I guess I’d feel safe with that person. I'd feel whole."

  Mitzi didn't think she’d blushed this much in her life before now. She could feel it radiating from him now. She bit her lip before she spoke.

  “Would it be weird for a human if it happened quickly?” She was being shy about this and she couldn't help it. He still might bolt if he ever saw the way she’d lived in the dungeon.

  “I've heard of it in stories. I never considered it would be something that might ever happen to me.” Dan said as he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

  “You make me feel timid, Dan.” She said. “I'm afraid that I'll frighten you off, or that you’ll start seeing me as a goblin again and leave. You’ll ask Geraldine for that potion thing.”

  He gently kissed her forehead.

  “I never stopped seeing you as a goblin. That doesn’t mean you’re not a person, too. I know how your life was before. I’ve seen, well, ferals back home. But I’ve seen what humans can do. I've definitely seen what elves can do. Goblins are no worse or better than any of us.” Dan said. He took his hand from her and cupped the side of her face.

  She sighed and he brushed her cheek with his thumb. She leaned into it.

  “Would you run away if I loved you?” She asked quietly.

  He was quiet, but the bond told her the answer before he spoke.

  “Only if I could take you with me.” He said. “You don’t have to be afraid of this.”

  He rested his head against hers and she closed her eyes.

  “I think I love you, Dan. Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe I’m just a weirdo like Bandy says. I don’t care.”

  “I love you too.” He whispered. There was no “think” involved. No doubt. He knew what he felt.

  She kissed him, and it was a while before she'd make it inside.

  She leaned against him. Dan slid his hand to the back of her head and she giggled as he pulled her ponytail down.

  “I thought I was going inside.” She said.

  “You never said anything about when you wanted to.” He looked into her eyes and she felt herself coloring. “You’re so beautiful.” He said.

  “And you are extremely handsome.” Mitzi replied.

  He felt something akin to doubt and she almost pinched his nose for it. Instead, she felt his hand slide down her back and slide under her dress. His eyes went wide.

  “Do you ever wear underwear?” He asked, the shock plain. She smiled, showing fangs.

  “I do. Just not tonight.” She looked away, not meeting his eyes and bit her lip. “I might have hoped something would happen.” She said.

  Mitzi turned and straddled his lap. She felt his hands slide up her back, and she reached down to undo his pants.

  “I, uh, I never thought I’d be this eager.” She told him, getting his pants down with some help.

  “I didn’t think you would either.” Dan said, his hands cupping her bottom. She slid forward and laughed softly at where he’d ended up between them. He whimpered. “You, uh, the way you talked. . .” He had to pause as she began gently moving against him. “I didn’t think you had ever wanted this.”

  “That, my dear Danathan, was when I didn’t have a choice in things.” She smiled as his breathing became faster. Mitzi leaned close to his face. She wanted to see his reactions. She pulled her dress up from between them. She wanted to feel him. “When it would be just SOMEONE. When I’d end up as breeding stock.”

  Dan began kissing and licking her neck and she let out a soft moan.

  “This is different.” She whispered between gasps. “Someone wants me for who I am. Not as a broodmare. Someone who-OH GODS.”

  Dan had kissed his way up to her earlobe and licked his way to the tip of her ear. He took the tip into his mouth and started sucking. She shuddered. She managed to lift herself enough to mount him. He gasped right by her ear and she shivered.

  “I love you” was the last thing she was capable of saying for a time. . .

  She lay there against him, the seat was reclined and his arms were around her. She shivered slightly as she came down from their high. He had her in a death grip with his face buried in her hair.

  “I love you.” He said softly and he chuckle. “I promise it’s unrelated to what just happened.”

  “I love you too.” She said, still trying to catch her breath. She’d done most of the work this time. “Can you find the little bottle in my bag?”

  Dan reached over and found it, pulling it out. He looked at it briefly before handing it to her.

  “What is it?” He asked.

  “Goblin contraceptives. Geraldine makes them.” She laughed as he suddenly helped her get the bottle open. She took one, closed the bottle, and tossed it into her open bag.

  “I may love you,” she said, “but I’m not ready for that.”

  She felt him smooth her hair. She closed her eyes. He felt happier than she’d felt him before. It had started when she'd admitted her feelings and hadn't abated.

  “I have got to get inside and get cleaned up.” She said. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  “I’m seeing the Saturday Night Thing for drinks.”

  “What in the nine hells is that?!” She asked. It sounded like something they would have developed in the monster pits of the dungeon.

  “My friend group.” He said, and she laughed at him. He’d named his friend group.

  She sat up in his lap again as he straightened the seat.

  “I hope you have a wonderful time tomorrow night then. I’ll see you as soon as I can.”

  She leaned in and gave him a kiss that she hoped would hold them both until they were together again.

  “I love you.” He whispered and she smiled at him again. The more she heard it, the more she wanted to hear it.

  “I love you too.” She reached over, grabbed her bag, and he let her out to go inside and try to explain to Bandy why he hair was a wreck and she smelled like sex.