Pulling up to the bar, Joel and I climbed into some bar stools that were clearly built for the Amazonian-like women. I looked down at the granite counter before me, pulling into myself. A dark yellow hand waved in my line of sight and I raised my head. In front of me was the bartender. Her white hair was cut short into a bob-cut, and despite the modest T-shirt and jeans she wore, her ample curves even made them look sinful, doing little to hide her figure. 

“What can I get you, boys? And before you say anything, it’s on the house. We don’t get men around here often, so consider it an incentive.” Joel happily thanked her and asked for a rum and coke, while I settled for a random beer they had on tap. She winked and set about getting the drinks as a couple of ladies tapped Joel and me on the back. 

“Hey, you guys w-wanna hang out with us?” One asked, her voice slurred as her friend laughed at her. Joel turned to face them with the confidence I wished I had and let them down easily. 

“Sorry, you ladies are wonderful, real A-grade chicks. But I don’t swing that way.” They groaned at that. “My friend though, this muscley freak next to me is one hundred percent available.” Joel grinned deviously at me and turned down his drink before asking for me. The two women reached out to me, but I shook my head. They started to argue but stopped after the bartender told them to back off. I thanked her and took the Budlight she had gotten me, taking a big gulp of it before setting it down. 

“Yeah, they can get rowdy. Night’s just begun and some of them are already drunk off their ass. I’m Astridelphia or Astrid. Welcome to my club.” Even over the music, the sweetness in her voice sang through it. 

“Dean. Oh, you own this place?” I asked, absentmindedly making conversation. Nodding her head, she leaned forward, her breasts resting on the counter. I tried not to stare by making sure to maintain eye contact, but she noticed. 

“Not a fan of us Bevusian’s I take it?” I told her that wasn’t the case. “Oh really? Then why did you reject those two? I think they were eager to, well, see where the night goes, ha-ha.” I laughed and took another swig of my drink. She was flirting, that much was obvious. But unlike with the last couple of interactions, it felt less...forced. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy assertive women, but their intentions were too straightforward.  

Oh God, is this what it’s like to get hit on as a girl? 

“I just broke up with my girlfriend. Ah, no... she broke up with me.” I admitted, drinking my feelings down with another drink of booze. Astrid reached out with a hand, and when I didn’t shoo it away, she gently grabbed my hand and sincerely apologized. Seeing that things were progressing in a way that was satisfactory to him, Joel excused himself to go dancing. Stopping only to whisper in my ear, ‘go get em’ tiger’. Ignoring him, I turned back to Astrid who had returned to filling drink orders. 

“I’m uh, sorry for bringing your mood down.” She waved off my concern and set me up with another beer before making her way around the bar to sit next to me.  

“Jilla, take care of the bar for me for a while?” A lithe-looking Bevusian nodded, her face blushing blue when our eyes met. “Now then, why don’t you tell me all about your breakup?” 

*** 

“How in the fuck ish it my faulth, you know?” I stumbled through my words as Astrid watched on, using her arms to make sure I stayed steady in the oversized chair. “Ithss not like I toothk over her daaad’s farm, ithhs’s not like I wan-wanted to become the bane of everyone at school.” I angrily slammed my sixth bottle onto the bar and seethed silently. She started to rub my back, her hand gingerly roaming up and down my spine. 

It was nice. 

“So, you were serious when you said you don’t hate Bevusian’s? Also, just stick with Bevu, it’s getting annoying hearing that repeated for the past hour and a half.” She laughed at her joke, but even in my drunken state I could tell how nervous my potential answer made her.  

“Naw, you’re alrights in my bahk.” I felt her hand tense for a second as she perked up at my response. Interrupting her from saying anything, Joel stumbled over to us saying his boyfriend texted him. And as bad as he felt leaving me, he wasn’t going to, in his own words, ‘pass up a trip to pound town’.  

“I-Isn he like four hourss away?” I asked 

“He showed up to surprise me and is waiting for me at my apartment!” His giddiness was suffocating, but I was happy for him. “I trust the tall yellow lady will take care of you?” He said eyeing Astrid with mock concern.  

Gee, what a friend. 

“You have nothing to worry about, authorities would send me back to Bevu Prime so fast if I let any man get hurt here on my watch. On my honor, Dean will be fine.” Satisfied with that answer, Joel bid me goodnight and practically ran out in his excitement. With my pity party pretty much over, Astrid and I sat there as the music continued to blare.  

“I appresshhiate the thought Astrid but I think I’m just gonna head home,” I said. “Can uh get some water before I go?” She agreed and gestured something to Jilla and the next thing I knew a glass of water appeared before me. Downing it one go, I got up to leave and awkwardly thanked Astrid for listening to my troubles.  

“It’s not a problem really, b-but hey?” 

“Yesh?” She pulled out a business card and a pen from her pocket and held them in front of me. 

“C-Can I have your number?” Even in my stupor, I knew it was a bold move to ask someone that right after a breakup.  

Fuck it though. 

I took it and wrote down my number as legibly as possible and handed it back to her so that she could inspect it. When she assured me that it was readable and not random shit jotted down, we parted ways.  

I stumbled through the crowd under the watchful eyes of Astrid. They feared her enough that no one touched me as I made my way to the door.  

When I finally got outside the cool air did the trick in sobering me up somewhat, but I thought it might be best to sit in my car for a while first. Plus, I keep a stash of water bottles in there.

“Guess all that’s left is to cry in the shower and drunk text my ex.” I started walking towards the parking lot but as soon as I rounded the corner of the building, four arms reached out and grabbed me. One hand covered my mouth, two held my body firmly in place and the last grabbed my crotch 

“What luck, your friend left without you sweetie, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do this.” The bouncer from earlier laughed as I struggled to break free. I wasn’t a slouch when it came to getting out of holds, but four arms were definitely unfair. I tried to scream but her grip was so tight on my mouth that it barely came out as a whimper. 

“Shhh, just be quiet sweetie. It’ll be over so fast, and I’m really good with my mouth, you’ll love it.” I fought hard as she started to slip my pants and underwear down. Her hand snaked its way into my pants and began massaging my dick. “Hold still! I can already feel you getting hard. You fucking slut! You wanted this, don’t lie to me!” She hissed. I bit down hard on her palm, startled she let me go and I made a beeline for the club door.  

My drunken sprint was cut short when my head collided with a huge pair of tits attached to an even bigger woman. 

“Dean are you okay?” she asked, holding my face. 

“Get back here you little shit, when I get you, I’m gonna-” All the rage in the bouncer’s voice trailed off as soon as she spotted Astrid holding onto me. “A-Astridelphia, it’s not what it looks like, I was just walking him to his car.” She gulped, looking at me for help.  

Astrid looked down at me, her eyes glowing bright blue just as Freyja’s did.  

“Did she try to hurt you, Dean?” She asked me as calmly as she could. I could see horns starting to sprout from her head and her muscles increasing in size rapidly.  

“Yes.” 

In the blink of an eye, Astrid crossed the distance between us and the bouncer and gut-punched her. Before the bouncer could drop to her knees, Astrid grabbed her and slammed her head against the wall.  

“You know the punishment for assaulting a male, don’t you!” Astrid screamed at the beaten Bevu as she pleaded for mercy. I wanted to run, fearful that her aggression might extend to me if she couldn’t control herself in the moment. “What does it matter if I end you here? The results will be the same if the authorities get you too!” She wound up a punch with the Bevu yelling for forgiveness. 

“Stop it, Astrid! Now!” I was shaking now, my legs felt like jelly. Astrid came to her senses and deflated back into her normal self, letting the bouncer fall to the ground crying in pain. Astrid raised all of her arms and opened her palms for me to see she was no longer a threat. 

“Dean it’s okay, I would never hurt you. I’d never hurt a male, you trust me, right? Why don’t I drive you home, you’re safe now. Come here.” She whispered as she approached, casually ignoring the Bevu coughing up blood.  

As much as I wanted to run, I couldn’t. Like it matters, she’d be able to hunt me down with ease. Oddly enough, however, I trusted her. I don’t know why but despite my apprehension, fear, and the bile rising in my throat from witnessing the raw might of a Bevu. I knew she wouldn’t hurt me.