Anna truly was an amazing person, Cinead had to admit with a small shake of his head as he followed after her through the forest. She wasn't daunted by anything. She had just found out he wasn't human, and could still make jokes and tease him. It was refreshing. Reaching out, he calmly took one of her hands. "Well... as far as I know, i'm all still here. The magic just shrinks me down."he shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't really given too much thought to how he was able to fit inside the shape he wore now.

Anna nodded as she spoke to signal she was listening to him as she lead him through the woods. The music started becoming louder and louder as she started leading him parallel to the perimeter of the gathering. As she had predicted, there were some drunken partygoers here and there. Some girls cat called him while some guys cat called her. Anna had learned to ignore the dummies, knowing that responding wouldn't do a thing to someone on liquid courage. "Don't listen. They don't even know what they're doing." She reminded gently as they walked on. She rather not have a repeat of the pizzeria while Cin was still possibly on some adrenaline from the boar and protecting her/blowing his cover.

Before long, they managed to get to the parking lot. "Ok. Lead to your place." She grinned as she unlocked her doors and hopped into the driver's seat.

Time passed surprisingly well as Cinead quietly walked with Anna, occasionally rubbing his thumb in circles against the back of her hand, thoroughly enjoying the good excuse for contact he had to be able to hold her hand. He was feeling surprisingly relaxed, despite having just revealed his greatest secret, and caught himself smiling much more frequently then he consciously intended to. The smiles did eventually begin to fade however, as Anna's prediction of there being drunks scattered around the fringes of the party came true. He tried to take her advice and ignore them, but a few comments still managed to reach him.

"Hey handsome! Why don't you ditch Shorty and come experience a real woman."

"Ooo! She got her a hottie!"

"wow! That dude is really tall!"
"Can we get matching tattoos?"

This last gave him momentary pause. So he did have a mate's flame, If that comment had come directly from seeing his and Anna's marks. Evidently his was somewhere on the back side of his body. Briefly wondering where it was exactly, he didn't immediately recognize when they arrived at Anna's car until she released his hand and got into the driver's seat. Blinking, coming back to the present, Cinead fluidly climbed into the passenger side of the car, buckling himself in. "I believe that finding my apartment won't be terribly difficult. It's part of the Meadowview complex A couple blocks east of campus." He explained. "i'll pointed out to you when we get closer if you don't know where it is."

Anna heard the comment as well and decided to try and see where his mark was when they got back and he was fully clothed. As he explained where his apartment building was, she nodded, getting a mental picture. "A friend used to live there. I think I remember how to get into the area." She agreed, hiking herself up a little so she could see through the back window of the car as she backed out.

She then noticed she was around the same level as his face and decided to be a bit mischievous. After she finished backing out, she turned to him and quickly kissed his nose before settling back down and driving away, keeping her face nonchalant as if nothing happened. She had to fight the urge to smile victoriously though. She couldn't even see his face until they hit a red light, if they hit one.

A stronger sense of curiosity tugged on the edges of Cinead's consciousness for a moment and he briefly wondered if he was again sensing what Anna was feeling. The sensation faded by the time they made it back to the car however, overridden by what he thought might be excitement. Blinking thoughtfully, the dragon shifter quietly went around to the passenger side of the car, Anna having beaten him to opening her door first, and fluidly got inside. He buckled himself in, ignoring the scratchy sensation the seatbelt had against his skin and glanced towards his new mate , Curiosity coloring his expression. She was twisted around in her seat, backing up the car slowly. He thought she looked happy. All of a sudden, she turned her face in his direction and quite deliberately planted a kiss on the end of his nose before plopping back down into her seat and acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He couldn't help it. He laughed.

"Oh Anna. If only I could hear your thoughts and know what is going on in your mind right now." He said musingly, reaching out and taking one of her hands in his.

She had known he was curious himself, assuming she had the idea of his mark's location in her mental back burner as well, somewhat nagging her softly. The girl did wonder what he was thinking about too. The dragon could be enigma sometimes, managing to have a completely stoic face without giving away his emotions. She wished she could do that. Anna was an open book to those that knew her, Cin included. She remember the first he guessed her curiosity about something he did the week before and her shocked look coupled with his chuckle afterwards. He had managed to learned her looks, cues and body language pretty quickly. Anna attributed it to his natural form, knowing it had something to do with it somehow.

Anna giggled a little at his laugh. It was infectious to her. "What? I thought you did that already, what with all you seem to already know." The human shrugged as she drove. "Besides why you say that so out of the blue?" She asked coyly with a small teasing grin.

"on the contrary." Cinead retorted, once again tracing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand. "I find it very difficult to read you. Although," he mused, "that is getting easier..." He admitted, carefully watching her face as he spoke. "And I ask because I still don't know. I'm finding it difficult to understand how... how it is that you are excepting this situation so... calmly. You've just discovered that the man you have been spending your time with isn't really human. And then that same dragon claimed you as his mate..." The corners of his mouth turned down at this point, eyebrows pulling together in the middle, giving him a rather troubled expression.

"Well," she pulled into the area of his apartment complex and parked by the curb. "I've had a...eventful life. Crazy things have happened from friends coming out as multiple things, realizing my parents were narcissistic and neglectful to even sudden deaths for various reasons from the time I was a kid. I've always had to just take these kind of things in stride and then freak out in private. Right now I'm positive I'm having a delayed reaction. All I know right now is that I...I really like you. To the point that being scaly doesn't deter me. It's a little confusing, I will admit. But I'm willing to figure it out with you. I mean, that's what dating is for, right?" She smiled and turned to him. "You're amazing. Being a 20,000 pound lizard that can fly, or the biggest microbiologist in the world. I wanna see where this goes with you, that's the main thing for us right now. Okay?"

As Anna explained herself as best she could, Cinead carefully, if surreptitiously, studied her face for any signs that she might be going into shock or about to start crying hysterically. She did neither, turning a characteristic smile towards him as they sat parked in front of his apartment complex. She didn’t look like she was about to have a meltdown. But then again, even she admitted that she might be having a delayed reaction. Concerned for her well-being, Cinead promised himself to keep a close eye on her for the next several days, even if that meant he had to lose sleep over it.

Reaching out one of his long hands, he gently brushed his knuckles across her cheek.”...Okay.” He agreed softly. A brief smile pulled up The corner of his mouth. “Now, let us go get me a new set of clothing and take a look at your leg, shall we?” Brushing The back of his hand once again across the skin of her face, the dragon in his human guise unfolded himself from the front seat, circling back around the car to open Anna‘s door for her and offering her one of his hands.

Anna had been unaware of the intense staring Cin did while inspecting her face as she spoke, only noticing him lightening up a little when she turned towards him with a smile. She also felt a weird sensation, kind of like determination on the edge of her mind. What was that about? She'd figure it out later.

She relaxed a little when he agreed and touched her face. He was smiling a lot more since the...reveal. That was good. She was surprised when he mentioned her leg though, having forgot about the burn in that moment and the following because....dragon. "Th-There's no need to worry about my leg! Just a small singe is all!" She reassured as he got out and came around the car. She knew that she was very well talking to a wall with how stubborn Cin could be, but she was fine! She grabbed his hand and got out of the car.

"Where do you live?"

Of course, Cinead did snort saufley at the nonchalance in Anna‘s voice when she spoke of her burn, but he would determine for himself if it was “not that bad” for himself soon enough.

Pressing A button on the driver‘s side door that locked the car, Cinead gently pulled his mate out of the way before shutting the door and focusing on her question. “My apartment is in the building that is second from the last on the left, facing the inner side of the complex on the third floor.” He said smoothly, tugging her gently along behind him by their still linked hands. Leading her through a neatly groomed lawn and under some trees, Cinead led Anna up three short flights of stairs to the top landing of one of the stairwells, pausing in front of the door.

“Well,” he huffed quietly, “ we might have a problem. My keys are back in the clearing with my pants...” Sighing heavily through his nose, Cinead glanced towards Anna, dropping her hand as he started back down the stairs. “ wait here a moment. I might have a solution.”

She followed closely behind, looking around as they walked in. She was remembering the place now that she was here again. Her friend used to live in the building across too if she remembered correctly. They went up the flights of stairs and Anna tried to keep up with him. The burn was making itself apparent when her dress kept brushing by it with her movements. She refused to slow down though!

They soon made it and Cin remembered where his keys were. “Oh no.” She started trying to think of ways to get in without having to worry about running back to the meadow. She started to kind of remember the card trick to try and break into a weaker door. She jiggled the door and sighed when it was firm. The trick definitely wouldn’t work on this. Anna grunted when he said he had an idea and left, leaving her to think if she could jimmy the lock somehow with her mind.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Cinead curved around The front of the building, coming to a stop at the trunk of the tree that grew in front of and just to the side of the balconies on his side of the apartments. Glancing quickly towards the glass doors that lead out onto the balcony of his neighbors beneath him to make sure that no one was watching, he quickly pulled himself into the branches of the old oak, climbing swiftly and quietly until he was level with his own balcony. Eying the distance for a moment, Cin took a deep breath through his nose before stepping forward quickly, leaping towards the railing.

“Oof!” The air was audibly and rather forcefully pushed out of Cinead’s lungs as his chest collided with the railing, having missed judged the distance compared to the length of his body. He had managed to grab on with his hands, but was closer than he expected and ended up colliding with the wrought iron instead of vaulting over it as he had planned. Gasping in air for a moment, he then shook his head at himself, mentally chiding the arrogance he had displayed before pulling himself up and over the railing and onto the balcony. Hoping that the neighbors hadn’t heard much, Cin padded quietly over to the sliding glass door and pulling it open, glad that he usually left it cracked a few inches almost all the time. Pushing aside the screen, he slipped inside his apartment, closing the screen behind him once more.

Making his way across the soft carpet of his living room, pausing for a moment to turn on a sleek silver standing lamp, Cinead finally unlocked and opened the front door. He smiled with his eyes at Anna before gesturing with one hand for her to come in. “Welcome to my home. Why don’t you come in.” He offered, amused.

Anna was waiting patiently and looking up ways to discretely break into a house without breaking the lock to the door. Nothing was really practical due to her not having lockpicking tools. She snapped her head up when she heard a very faint thump. Huh, must’ve been a cat knocking something off the counter next door. She went back to her search and soon after the door opened to reveal a content seeming Cinnead.

“Hey! Sorry I took so long, crazy party.” She pretended to greet as she came in. “So...how’d you get in? And do you have another set of keys?”

With a soft huff of what could have been brief laughter, Cinead shut the door behind Anna and gave her a momentary quizzical look. Then he gave his head a small shake before gesturing her over to one of the seats on a soft gray leather sectional.

“I jumped onto the balcony. I always leave the glass door partially open.” He explained nonchalantly. “ and I do believe I have a spare key sequestered away in one of the kitchen drawers.” He then reassured, glancing towards the kitchen on the other side of a half wall, a cut out making a sort of window into the other room. “ can I get you anything before I go retrieve some new clothes?”

She stared back at him. Anna guessed that joke flew over his head. He gestured to the couch and the short woman happily took his offer, plopping herself onto the couch, leaning back a little and crossing her ankles. “This is a comfy couch.” She praised, bouncing a little.

She accepted his answer for how he got in. “It’s a good thing then...wait. How’d you get all the way around? We’re not on the first floor.” He probably climbed, hopefully he didn’t hurt himself though. “Don’t forget to make copies of the spare, too.” She added as an afterthought. She knew she’d forget, the scatterbrain she was. Anna just shook her head in response to his last question.

“ i’m glad you like it.” Cinead responded to her complement of his couch, somewhat reassured. He had never actually had anyone over before, so it was nice to see that his choice in furniture was acceptable. As Anna then appeared to be surprised by his admission of coming through the balcony door, he couldn’t help but crinkle his eyes with amusement. “ I climbed the tree and jumped.” He offered with a chuckle, walking past the couch towards a hallway that obviously led to the bedrooms. Before she could respond, he had slipped out of sight and gone into the back most room, closing the door behind him.

Stepping over to the door of the bathroom, Cinead couldn’t help but release a soft sigh of weariness, exhaustion finally starting to hit home. He flipped The light switch, retrieved a washcloth, and began cleaning off the soles of his feet. When he was finally satisfied, the dragon shifter then took the time to study his reflection in the mirror, cleaning off small smudges of dirt and checking himself over for any lingering injury, doing his best to ignore the shadows that were starting to develop beneath his eyes.

It was only when he had removed his makeshift loincloth and had retrieved some fresh clothing from his closet that Cinead finally remembered to take the time to look for his own mate‘s flame. He should, after all, have one. Returning to the bathroom, he gazed at his reflection once more, twisting this way and that, trying to discover any hint of the marking. and just when he was about to give up, twisting around to try and see his back, he finally found it. At the top of the space between his shoulder blades, a burst of color formed a flame that licked over his skin, frozen in a twisting formation that left the very top of the fire arcing a thin tongue onto the nape of his neck. He stared at it for several seconds before a sudden fierce joy swept through him, Hot and somewhat possessive. He really had claimed Anna for himself. Eager to reveal his mark to his mate, Cinead hastily pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and jeans, The plain black T-shirt that he had pulled off the hanger held in a fist, and he hurried back out to the living room, his eyes glowing gold.

Without a word, Cinead leaned down, kissing Anna’s mouth fiercely. Mine, that kiss said silently. While their lips were still connected, he slowly sank onto the seat next to her, pulling her close with one arm before finally breaking away, taking her hand as he turned his back towards her, placing her fingers onto his neck. “Look.” He barely managed to get out, his voice choked with strong emotion.

Anna pretended to gasp. “Such treacherous choices!” She made sure to sound scandalized, giggling shortly afterward. He then went to change and she was left to entertain herself while her boyfriend was away. She got out her phone and checked her Instagram. Let’s see, friend 1 was now engaged, friend 2 got a new puppy!

She started looking through the small set of photos that her friend posted. It was a tiny little poodle!! So adorable!!!! She had been looking up more puppy pictures when she felt a sudden oncoming of intense joy. It was weird because she felt it and didn’t feel it at the same time? She didn’t have much time to ponder it before Cin came rushing back over to her. Huh, his eyes were gold again.

She was only able to note that before he pulled her into a passionate kiss. She happily returned it, assuming he was just happy to be with her right now. If so, it was a sweet gesture. She felt him come closer and pull her in even more as they kissed, finally pulling away and guiding her hand to the beginnings of his back. She was curious and looked for herself. She saw the mark and then understood after a second of staring like he did.

She squealed and just pulled him into another kiss. “We match!” She laughed after they broke apart. “Let’s take a picture of them together! For memories!” She suggested, glee filling her mind.

Excitement and happiness that was outside his own sphere of joy brushed against Cinead’s awareness and he wondered, not for the first time, if it might have something to do with the bond he shared with Anna. ...Were these her emotions? Before he could consider it much more beyond that one question, she had pulled him into another kiss. Humans had gotten it just right. No wonder he had seen couples kissing all the time. He liked the possessiveness of it, the way that he was able to simultaneously feel, smell, and taste his mate, be able to feel and know that she trusted him enough to get this close. He was going to have to work on his self control.

As they broke apart once again, Anna laughed, her breath brushing over his skin. He couldn’t help but smile in return. “ if you would like.” He responded to her suggestion, twisting around on the couch until she could get a clear shot of his back.

She nodded quickly, getting off of him so he could position himself and show off his mark. Anna then maneuvered herself so her own mark was visible next to it, ending up somewhat leaning on his back. She snapped a few pictures with her phone before getting off of him and letting him know she got the photo.

She looked over the photos after she sat back next to him, showing him the shot she believed was best. “I got it!” She chuckled, content that she managed to get a good picture without necessarily seeing it.

“Now for a selfie!” She declared, pausing after a moment to look at him. “Do you know what a selfie is?”