Tails, You Lose

It'd been about three months since Dennis Hunter could say that he didn't believe in the supernatural.

He'd grown up in a fairly progressive household, and even then, the more laid back Christian teachings from his parents had never seemed to stick. Luckily for him, he'd avoided having any kind of edgy atheist phase during his high school years but he could remember clearly when he was 5-years-old telling the guy playing Santa Claus whom his mom had taken him to see for pictures that he knew he was just someone dressing up to play pretend. Dennis had found it so strange that his mom had apologized profusely to the staff after they were done even if he knew that none of them actually thought that the man he'd posed with was a magical old man who delivered presents to good kids every year in a single night but now he thought he understood. Children were supposed to buy into the lie; after all, it was just a handful of years that kids could claim to still see something special in the world that adults couldn't so it was only appropriate to let their imaginations run wild and it might even get a few of them to behave better than they might've otherwise without continual external reinforcement. Even if it was effectively a mass delusion it was harmless. After the scolding he'd received when his mom took him out to the car in the parking lot about how he shouldn't tell that to kids when he was in class, Dennis had learned to just sit back and take things at the pace they came to him. Nor had it come as a surprise to his parents when he told them he no longer believed in the big J.C. or His dad when he turned 18; they'd even asked him what took him so long to tell them. It was the last time that he had thought about any kind of that couldn't be explained by the universe around him outside of fiction.

Now Dennis knew better. He was reminded every day now because what had happened at the mall from what seemed in the present like an eternity ago could not be rationally explained away by a monotonous scientist in spectacles or pithy Mythbusters segment. Despite the fact that the culprit had disappeared out of their lives with only a single smirk of acknowledgement at what he'd done to them, his presence still loomed over every aspect of their waking moments together. In a single lazy afternoon, after a spur of the moment decision to go to an everything-must-go sale at their dead end mall, it felt as if his own life had been ripped away from him.

For Jun it had been worse than that.

---

Dennis Hunter awoke to the sound of two things.

The first was the sound of the rain pitter-pattering against the windows of their home. In the past, he might've welcomed something like that. After all, it was his favorite kind of weather and if things got bad enough it would mean a cozy day spent indoors with her as they watched this movie, or that TV show, played a game, or simply basked in each other's presence. In spite of the more cynical predictions of some of his friends, Hunter had found that the love he felt for his partner had not faded; ever since they'd tied the knot, it lent a certain air of maturity to things that their prior casual dates and hookups never had. Her smiles and laughter were something that inspired the same reaction in himself whenever he was near her, even years on from when they'd first met in college when she'd been a weary looking senior with deep bags hanging beneath her glasses and he'd been a cherub-cheeked freshman who'd sat down for his first Mandarin tutoring session. Sure, he'd rubbed more than he'd cared to count out thinking about her with bottles of hand lotion and Kleenex boxes when he'd thought he'd never have a chance with her, but he was sure he had more than made up for that base carnal desire with everything that had happened between them since, especially The Incident.

The second thing he heard he was a choked sob. It was almost the soundtrack to every day now, it seemed like. As Dennis sat up in their bed, trying to remove the sleep from his eyes, he tried to suppress the sigh that nearly threatened to spill from his lips. No matter how exhausting it was for him, what Jun was going through was a million times worse than the tension and unease that he could muster. Still, as he tossed the gray comforter aside, a small part of him had to admit that the picturesque day that occupied so many memories in his head had become as much of a fantasy as anything else that had happened to them lately. Exhaustion was the predominant feeling that filled their once happy home now.

As he stood up, his knees cried out in protest, but Dennis powered through the discomfort and walked over to the other end of the room to slip on the tattered plaid slippers by their shared closet. Even if he could distract Jun with some minor activity her thoughts would never be far from her predicament. How could they not be? It wasn't like she could very well ignore what had happened, though whether that had been by cruel design or a simple side effect of the entire procedure, he was sure neither of them would ever know for certain. Depression hung over her now as dark as any of the clouds that floated in the sky outside their walls.

He ran a hand through his mop of curly brown hair and tried to think of something positive to bring her, if only for a moment, out of her funk as he crossed the room towards the deceptively simple white door that led to their shared bathroom but found that he couldn't think of a single thing. It wasn't as if she'd been the only party effected by The Incident; after all, it was only due to her staunch refusal to accommodate the bastard who'd cursed her that they hadn't moved to separate sleeping arrangements. As much as he loved Jun with every fiber of his being, when he let his eyes wander to anywhere but her face, it made him feel more than a little uncomfortable and the way that her eyes pleaded for forgiveness with him every time made his heart nearly stop in shame.

You need to be the adult, Hunter, he scolded himself as he reached for the knob and closed his eyes to steel his nerves. Both of you can't fall to pieces over this. Be the rock; don't let her drown in the storm.

She was standing in front of the mirror when he shuffled in and stared blankly at the offending object in front of her. Her palms lay flat against the cool marble of their sink and if Dennis didn't know she were alive she would've been able to do an excellent imitation of a statue. Jun's long, raven hair was pulled into a sloppy bun, stylish purple glasses askew on the bridge of her nose without a care as she didn't even turn to greet him. Instead, all she could muster was a puckered pair of full, gorgeous lips that had been reshaped into a pale thin line against her tanned skin.

"Morning, Jun bug," Dennis said cautiously as he tiptoed towards her. There was no way of knowing at the moment what, precisely, had caused her to spiral this early but as he drew closer and glanced down at the discarded t-shirt and jersey on the white tiled floor it probably hadn't been much. A simple reminder that nothing made logical sense anymore would've probably been enough to do anyone in, let alone someone as gentle and overly trusting as Jun was. That hyper awareness of how others usually felt around her had proven itself both a blessing given the large amount of friends she had but made her experience hell every time something truly rotten came her way.

"I... got up because it sounds like today's one of those days. Am I right?"

Jun looked down at him from her towering vantage point as he sidled up next to her but gave him no response. Even his teasing pet name didn't get a rise out of her. That was definitely not a good sign.

Dennis himself to look in front of himself and how upside down her reflection had made everything. She would have never admitted it aloud due to personal modesty in the past, but she had been a knockout. Despite her once petite size, her mother had ensured that she would be graced with a stunning figure - breasts that he'd once loved to bury himself in, an ass that he could watch ripple if given the slightest poke, legs he'd begged her to let him get trapped and squeezed between - and the adjustment everything had made to their romantic life had been one of the hardest things to get used to. Whereas before he could hold her in his arms and have her gaze up at him from his stomach, she stood well over 6" feet tall and, if he did much the same, he was sure he would've found himself somewhere just above her crotch now.

Hesitantly, he moved a hand towards one of hers parallel across the countertop. It was a risky move to do so without so much as a response; sometimes she craved all the physical contact she could get and others she would pull herself violently away. It really depended on a mood he currently had little way of gauging. Still, nothing ventured...

Porcelain fingers found their opposite, a deeply rich brown that reminded him of a walnut tree he'd loved to climb as a kid in the front yard of his family home, and he gently worked the skin, pressing against his back and forth in what he hoped was a soothing manner. To her credit, though he felt Jun flinch, she did not pull away. At the very least it might mean she would be amenable enough to tell him just what it was she was doing without a shirt on at the moment.

"It's okay. You don't have to answer me right away, you know."

"...tired," Jun eventually mumbled, still not turning to look at him.

"I bet," Dennis murmured sympathetically. Now that he was close enough, he could see the glistening sheen of sweat against her dark skin and smell the stench of it wafting from her. It was a frequent occurrence now; whatever had happened, it had brought a whole host of routines and rituals that Jun would've never thought before and that included what had become an exercise regimen that put even some of the more serious jocks he knew back in uni to shame. Not that she had a choice in the matter, of course.

"It never stops," Jun whispered. "I think I'm finally getting control of things and then it makes me do this or that."

He could feel her broad, thick fingers curl themselves against the sink. Had she still had the ability, Dennis was sure her knuckles would be white with the tension. Jun's eyes close and he can feel her massive form begin to shake in place next to him.

"I just want it to go away, Dennis. I don't even feel like I'm me."

"..."

A pregnant pause. It was a well worn road by now between the two of them and any misstep on Dennis's part could be liable to set her off. It isn't Jun's fault, not really. He has asked himself, staring up at the ceiling as she snores softly next to him at night, if he would still feel as loyal as he's been if it'd been the minds of Jun and the burglar that had changed and nothing more. Yes, he always thinks, but it isn't without a moment's hesitation. A part of him doesn't know whether he can even truly call her his wife anymore, not that he would ever think to ask that question aloud.

"I've said it before and I've said it again: whatever the new normal is, we'll get through it, no matter what it takes. A lot of people would've given up but you didn't. Even if what happened to me instead, I don't know if I could go through with it. You're stronger than I'll ever be."

In more ways than one, Dennis thinks to himself, as he removes his hand from next to hers and then down onto the small of her back. He leans in against her shoulder, meeting her gaze in the looking glass.

"I know you can do it no matter what it takes, Jun bug. You never give up; not ever."

The course load she'd taken in college had proved that beyond the shadow of a doubt. The business marketing class she'd taken had been downright abominable from what he'd managed to glean from her before their allotted time began in the evenings they met every week and the few remaining minutes before her next pupil arrived. She'd told him, a few years later after they ended up at the same business firm together, that she'd nearly missed walking on stage to get her diploma when her roommate at the time hadn't woken her up from the coma she'd fallen into once finals were over.

"Th-thanks, my xingan."

Jun's breathing next to him slowed, if only for a moment, as he could feel her suck in air through her nostrils and then deeply exhale a moment later. At the very least, if only for a short time, it seemed that he'd helped bring her into better spirits.

"Ugh, I smell horrible... Why didn't you say anything?"

Dennis tried not to laugh and pushed himself away from her.

"Didn't really seem like a great time to bring up the fact you apparently rolled around in a dumpster."

His beloved stuck out her tongue.

"Asshole."

"Your favorite, though."

She reached down and began to tug at the band of her sweatpants as Dennis found his cue to leave. Even now, it still felt odd to be undressed in the same room, no matter if it was nothing he hadn't seen before on someone.

"Um, Dennis. Can I ask you-"

Jun paused, biting her lip as she looked to the stall and then back to him, her hand hesitantly at the hem.

"-Forget it."

"Something wrong?" Dennis asked and looked over at the shower. "Pretty sure I went out the other day and got everything you asked for."

"That's not exactly what I was going to say," Jun said quietly.

"I could go downstairs and start breakfast. You normally don't have it before you go on a run. What was it you liked? The peanut butter and oatmeal, right? Could whip that up while-"

The waistband snapped back and she reached up to remove the scrunchie from her hair, letting her charcoal locks cascade gracefully down onto her broad shoulders.

"Never mind. It was stupid to even think about it."

"What was it?" Dennis frowned. "C'mon, it can't be that embarrassing."

"I don't really think I need to ask questions I already know the answer to, alright?" Jun grumbled. Dennis almost took it as an opportunity to turn tail and flee but instead he stood his ground.

"It's been seven years, babe. I can tell when you really want to know the answer to something but are too scared to hear what people have to say about it."

His spouse's mouth opened, closed again, and then set itself back into the same pursed grimace she'd had when he'd walked in on her depressive episode.

"If you're not going to leave until I spill it, fine."

The same kind of calming breath filled her lungs as she placed her hands on her hips, closed her eyes, found whatever zen she needed, and then opened them again to look at him square in the face.

"I'm tired of things not feeling the same between us. I want- need something to be like how it used to be. Just this once, could we..."

For a horrible moment, he thinks that Jun is going to ask him that particular question, but his discomfort still remained as her real inquiry came out.

"...um, take a shower. You know, together?"

Now it's Dennis's turn to open and close his own mouth a few times. So far, he hadn't even considered the possibility of something as basic as that. Before, back when the world was as it should be, he would've already been out of his clothes by now to usher her under the hot water so they could have their way with one another.

"Jun, I don't really know..."

"See?" Jun shook her head. "I told you it was pointless. Some days I think you can hardly stand to look at me."

"Hey, that's not what I-"

With an angry swipe, Jun yanked her pants and boxers down her legs and shimmied out of them. She stomped over to the stall door, jerked it open, and reached for the knob to turn on.

"Jun, I'd never-"

"Yeah, I get it," she said flatly. "Just go."

"Alright, alright," Dennis said gently. "I'll get out of your hair." He stood there for a moment longer and listened to the hiss of the droplets as they exited the pipe before he turned to leave. He didn't want to linger more than he had to. As much as it made him feel guilty a part of him had to admit that Jun scared him more than a little now. He had had no idea of what the personality of the thief was like but if parts of her old life could be changed as easily as something disappearing into the froth of a blender then the idea that she could something, anything, to him without recourse put him more than a little on edge. Even the whoosh of the air behind him as he began to shuffle towards the exit felt hostile as he heard the clatter of Jun's glasses being placed without care down onto the surface.

"GODDAMNIT!"

The sound of Jun's frustrated growl broke the otherwise silent room and caused Dennis to nearly jump a foot in the air at her sudden outburst. As he whirled around, he saw Jun's massive forearms brought up to her face, massaging the skin under borrowed fingertips. In an instant, without even realizing that he'd made the journey at all, he was across the room and by her side, his arms outstretched, trying to reach out to Jun before she even bothered to look at him.

"What happened?"

"Smacked my head against the top of the shower stall because I can't see shit without my glasses, that's what."

Everything was harder now. Whether it was how much was needed to open or close something - though admittedly she'd gotten better after shattering one of the back doors when they'd gotten home from their ordeal - or even being able to find her center of gravity at times, Jun was a prisoner in someone else's skin. So far she'd lucked out and had avoided hurting herself but it seemed that it had finally run out this morning. Unsure of what to do, Dennis looked up and murmured, "Do you want me to go get you an ice pack or...?"

"Unless you can fucking find a way to undo everything in the freezer, don't bother."

Her arms lowered and Dennis was met with both the nasty red, bar-shaped welt that had appeared against Jun's face and the puffy swelling around her eyelids that had been brought about by a new round of tears.

"Why me?" she croaked. Dennis had no answer for her, simply letting the empty air hang between them. "All I want is to just not know anything is wrong anymore. I don't even care if things went back to normal."

"Some people get off on being found out, I guess. Maybe he didn't feel it was 'fun' unless you knew what you, uh, didn't have anymore," Dennis ventured, having to mentally stop himself short of finishing with lost.

"If I ever meet him again, I'll..." Jun growled but wherever her thought process had taken her finished impotently as the follow up died in her throat. Kill the guy? Not like that would get her back what she wanted more than anything else willingly.

"Don't really think he'd be the bargaining type since he wasn't the first time," Dennis finished for her gently.

"I know," Jun said in a hushed tone. "I know."

They stood there together, neither of them saying a word, as tears rolled down cheeks, her breath unsteady, without either of them moving another muscle.

"Promise me you won't leave, Dennis," Jun said at last. He glanced up at her, concern and fright etched onto every inch of her expression. She'd moved beyond hysteric hyper ventilating at what the changes meant to their relationship in the first few days but even now it was something that he found he had to continuously tell her at various intervals; it felt neurotic almost. Not that he minded telling her, of course, but the anger that erupted in him whenever he stopped to consider just how much she'd changed took him to places he didn't like to dwell on.

"If a woman had done the same thing to me, you wouldn't either," Dennis stated in what he hoped was an authoritative tone. Be the rock, his mind repeated once more.

"No! Never!" Jun sputtered and almost recoiled from his grasp at the mere thought.

A beat.

"It... it'd be hard," Jun admitted after a moment's hesitation, "but you'd still be you. I would get used to it. Eventually."

"You already know the answer, Jun bug."

Wordlessly, she shook off Dennis's hands, and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in for a hug that felt like he was being squeezed by an anaconda. He tried not to think of his poor shoulders as he stood there and leaned against Jun, his poor joints popping in protest at the vice around them. Her newfound strength was another thing she didn't have a particularly firm grasp on, especially since she hadn't been able to lift much (or really any other particularly laborious physical activity) before her transformation.

"Nǐ ràng wǒ de rén shēng wán zhěng."

Jun leaned down and touched her lips to his forehead. She gently rested her chin against the top of his head, slowly running aimless circles against the small of his back. He had to admit that, as awkward as he felt, it was good to be able to have a small moment between the two of them. No matter if he was painfully aware of her junk pressing itself against his chest and down towards his stomach it didn't matter. The warmth from her words alone was worth it.

"I'll do it."

Dennis tried to look up, but found himself barely able to move against the overwhelming closing in on all sides of him.

"I'll get in."

He nearly fell over as Jun let him go, perhaps more out of shock than anything else, but he quickly regained his footing and began to pull his own t-shirt over his head. He had to fight against his own discomfort, of course, as he yanked down on his own pants but he found it easier to do if he avoided the space Jun occupied. Easier said than done, of course, given her sheer bulk but off his undergarments came nonetheless. If she could go through everything with her chin held high than he owed it to her to try at least as much.