	Dana said her farewells and headed for home just before five o'clock that evening. She'd been at Marco's since half-past one, and the entire afternoon had been nothing more than conversation about what she'd been up to in Britain and what Marco and Ezra had been up to in the past five years.

	At irregular intervals, Marco had glanced over his shoulder at Irine's window. Most of those times, Irine was peeking out with curiousity obviously conflicting with her angry fear. He had made a mental note to ask her what she found so interesting about this so-called 'evil' shark when he next got the chance.

	As Dana's car drove off, engine purring loudly, Marco leaned his head against Ezra's shoulder.

	So, you think it's worth inviting her over again? he asked.

	She's certainly just as bubbly as she was back when we were all at school, replied Ezra, wrapping his arm around Marco and turning them back toward the house, but I think it'd be better to invite her over to my place... Your sister was being uncharacteristically creepy today.

	You noticed her watching us?

	I could practically FEEL her eyes burning holes in my skull. I LIKE your sister, but I DON'T like her when she's scared... she gets angry and creepy.
	So, we keep inviting Dana over until she's not scared of her anymore and can muster up the courage to say hi.

	Ezra shook his head. That could take forever. Plus, I'm sure Dana wants to hang out with us while someone's staring daggers into her soul. She may have stayed happy and bubbly, but after she'd first noticed Irine spying on us, I could tell she was feeling a bit wary.

	Alright, next time we'll either go to yours or hers instead.

	Ezra turned the handle to the front door and nearly jumped out of his skin when Irine spoke from the hallway just beside him.

	So, the fish is gone, is she? she grunted.

	Are you TRYING to give my husband a heart attack? asked Marco in annoyance as Ezra caught his breath.

	It's not MY fault your stud's scared of girls, said Irine, her normal good natured smirk creeping back onto her face.

	Yes, Dana's gone. You can come out of creepy hermit mode now, said Marco, miming slapping some sense into her.

	Don't slap if you don't have the balls to go through with it, she replied with a wink, So, is the cu- evil fish coming back any time soon?

	'Cu-evil?' Is that a new word you've just made up?

	Shut it! snapped Irine as she began to blush, Is that stupid girl coming back any time soon to snatch your boy away or not?!

	Yes, she WILL be coming back over at some point, but only to HANG OUT, not STEAL my Ezra. You can drop the facade, Irine  you're not worried about me and Ezra, you're scared of Dana because she's got fins.

	Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.

	Marco leaned closer, a smirk spreading across his face. Or does little Ms. Straight have a thing for her? 

	The comment earned him a solid slap across the face. He reeled back in surprise, hand to his reddening cheek and nearly tripped over Ezra's hooves. Any evidence of Irine's good nature returning had vanished in an instant.

	Fuck off, spat Irine, turning and retreating to her room in full creepy hermit mode.

		*****

	Marco was still shocked by Irine's violent outburst when he was lying in bed beside Ezra much later that evening, the bedside light still on. He was topless, Ezra was naked. Normally in this situation, he'd be hugging his stallion or stroking his bare stomach or back affectionately... maybe even venturing south for some playtime. But all he could do tonight was stare at the ceiling, wondering what could have possibly been going through his sister's mind today. Girls made no sense to him.

	Are you still reeling over that slap? came the sleepy voice of Ezra. The tired stallion rolled to face him, looking him in the eye to try and guage what he might be thinking. I don't mean to be rude, Marco... but the way you said that, you were kind of asking for it.

	I know, said Marco absently, It's not about getting slapped. It's about how different her reaction was to Dana's arrival and her leaving.
	How do you mean?
	Well, Marco closed his eyes, trying to focus on everything that had happened with his sister that day, first off, she wouldn't be caught dead with Dana anywhere near the house... Then later, she was RIGHT there at the door as Dana drove off.

	She could've been making sure Dana wasn't just moving her car into the driveway, ventured Ezra.

	I thought of that, yes... but Irine cut herself off at one point, remember?

	Remind me. I can't remember what she said.

	'Cu-evil.' What starts with 'cu'?

	Cuddle... cut... cunt...

	'Cute.' I'm pretty sure Irine was going to say 'cute.'

	Ezra raised an eyebrow. 'Cute...' You honestly think that Irine  the supposedly-straight lady who thinks cum-filled pussy is hot  finds someone that she's mortified by... cute?

	Marco nodded. She's never found a boyfriend, he said, Maybe the reason is because she's into ladies, and she's never realised it?

	Her calendars always feature muscly hunks, Ezra pointed out.

	Because she doesn't know any better! I want to get Dana back here sometime within the next few days, and get Irine to grow a pair large enough to meet her. Dana's such an innocent, cheerful soul. If I'm right, then they're practically made for each other!

	Two things about that, hun... One, we only found out Dana's lesbian this afternoon, and two... what makes you think that we can convince Irine to meet her? People don't just get over their fears with the snap of a finger; it takes time.

	For the first one, I know  I'm trying to get in before some other girl decides that sharks aren't scary partners and takes interest in Dana. And for the second... I'm concocting a brilliant plan with my genius mind... I'm pretty sure I've got something good brewing.

	The last time you had a 'brilliant plan' we had to steam semen stains out of the carpet for a week.

	True, but that was when I didn't realise dicks needed knots to stay in when bent that way. That was an accident... THIS is a brilliant plan. It will work.

	Ezra sighed. He was too tired for this, but he knew that Marco would lie awake pondering all night long, without turning off the light, if he didn't get a chance to get it out of his head. If I listen to this plan, he said, does it mean we can turn off the light and get some sleep sooner?

		*****

	Irine returned home after work the following evening exhausted. It had been a long day, and she was looking forward to reading her book and unwinding.

	Her dad was at the neighbours, talking about orange trees, judging by the bits of dialogue she could catch, and her mum was cooking dinner, and looked up at her and smiled as she closed the front door behind her.

	Good evening, Irine, her mother beamed at her, How was work?

	Busy and exhausting, replied Irine, rubbing an itch in her left eye, Didn't help much that my mind's been elsewhere all day.

	And what's been troubling you for your mind to be with the fairies? her mother asked, going back to dicing up carrots, Is it something I might be able to help you with?

	Probably not. It's personal stuff.

	Then I won't intrude this time, but if you ever want to talk about it, I'm more than happy to listen, dear.

	I appreciate it, mum. Anywho, I'm going to have a shower before tea's ready. I'm all sweaty and sticky.

	Irine trudged upstairs, opened her bedroom door, intending to get some clean clothes from her dresser, but instead grunted in confused alarm at what she saw sitting on her bedside table. It was a small fish tank, filter all set up and whirring softly as the water was being fed through it, with a small, lone goldfish swimming about within. Beside the tank was a small canister of fish food, a fish ownership book and a note. She picked up the note and read it, her annoyance with her brother growing with each word.

	Oh sister of mine, it read, since I've got a fishy friend, I thought I'd get you one for yourself to help you on your way to getting over your fishy fear. Mayben one day you can actually grow the balls (not literally, that'd be weird) to meet Dana without running away as if she's a tidal wave. You'll be fine  just follow the instructions in the book and on the fish food, and you'll have your own happy little pet in no time! <3 Marco

	That stupid Marco and Ezra were going to continue to meet with that stupid Dana. She'd hoped that Marco had been bluffing to tease her, but the stupid boys were undoubtably going to keep meeting up with that cute  EVIL shark. Idiotic boys and their idiotic fish friends.

	She glared at the fish swimming about beside her bed. It didn't seem to notice her burning gaze, it just kept swimming left, spinning around, swimming right, spinning around, swimming up... Stupid fish. The thought crossed her mind that maybe she should toss the fish tank out the window, but she quickly dismissed it  fish weren't overly cheap, and despite her dislike for them, she didn't want the little fish to suffocate on the lawn. She then thought of moving it into her brother's room, but he was persistant  when she came home tomorrow, it would be right back where it was now. She sighed, resigned to the fact that this stupid fish was now her pet. She picked up the fish food and looked at how much the tiny swimmer would need.

	'A small pinch.' Seemed easy enough. She uncapped the food, pinched a tiny amount between her index finger and thumb, and opened the flap on the fish tank's lid, sprinkling the food onto the water's surface. The tiny goldfish swam over curiously and began gulping down the little granules. She had to admit that despite her hatred of water and fish, the small thing on her table was at least a tiny bit adorable.

	She crossed the hallway and opened the door to her brother's room, preparing to give him a verbal beatdown for buying her a fish of all things, but neither him nor Ezra were there. The stupid duo must be hanging out with their stupid shark. She returned to her room and picked up her book, preparing to find the place in it she'd lost the day before when she fell off her chair due to that se- VILE shark.

	All day, the only thing she'd been able to focus on was what had happened the previous afternoon  torn between furious fear at Dana and her sharkiness... and that confusing moment where she'd found the bronze shark to bedrop-dead gorgeous. The black dress, the bold green eyes... andthoseawesomebreasts. What? That particular thought wasn't crossing her mind... not at all.

	A day of torment over whether or not a terrifying shark lady might be interesting to meet, coupled with the surprise goldfish, had made her suddenly lose interest in her book. When she finally found the part she'd gotten to, she found she could only stare blankly at the page. She put the bookmark in its spot so she wouldn't lose it again, and turned to idly watch the little fish swimming in its tank.

	She eventually cursed under her breath and snatched some clothes from her drawers, trudging down the hall to the bathroom and having a quick shower. As she was drying herself, she heard Marco and Ezra's voices as they made their way back up the driveway.

	I'm telling you, she faintly heard Ezra say, It's a stupid plan. It's not going to work.

	All we have to do is wait and see, the voice of her brother replied, If it stops her from being so scared of Dana, it's worked.

	So, the fish was a ploy involving that shark. Irine could see the logic  obviously those two idiots weren't going to stop hanging out with Dana, so it made sense that she should have something to warm her up to having her around... but did they have motives beyond that? She dressed and made her way downstairs just in time for Marco and Ezra to enter the front door.

	So... a normal, non-anthro goldfish, eh? That's your plan for helping me get used to having Dana around? she asked, eyebrow raised quizzically.

	Don't think too much about the non-anthro part, Marco said, If you think about it too much, the logic of this entire story falls apart.

	Hm... how fourth-wall shattering of you. How about you answer my question instead?

	Yes, I bought you a goldfish so that you had both some water and a fish nearby at all times. Dana is a lovely girl, we enjoy hanging out with her, and it won't do to have you glaring out of your window at her every time she's here... it's creepy. Besides, it would do you some good to grow brave enough to meet her and gain another friend, wouldn't it?

	There's no other underlying thing that you're trying to pull?

	Marco raised his eyebrows in turn. Underlying thing? Are you trying to imply that I'm trying to hook you up with her?

	Irine blushed. Yes, I am.

	I can promise you, dear sister, I'm not trying ANYTHING more than to help you get over your fishy fear, said Marco, innocently raising his hands.

		*****

	You were pretty convincing with Irine earlier, said Ezra as he and Marco hopped naked into bed that night, You almost managed to convince ME that you're not trying anything.

	What was I going to do? Tell her that I noticed the way she covered up saying 'cute' and had an unnatural fixation on Dana when she was here? Marco opened the sheets and slid inside, letting his tail droop out the side. I'd like to LIVE to see my eightieth birthday, thank you very much.

	Very well, said Ezra as he shuffled closer to his husband, caressing Marco's nude thighs, we've got the goldfish part out of the way, and she seems to have accepted it. What's the next step in this grand scheme of yours?

	I'm still working on that, replied Marco, turning over and kissing Ezra passionately on the lips, Right now, I just want my husband to hush about my sister and make me feel extra special.

	I can do that, cooed Ezra, rewarding Marco with another smotheringly sloppy mouth kiss.

	Ezra's fuzzy fingertips ventured south, tenderly probing Marco's moist pussy. Marco, in turn, gently fondled Ezra's balls, revelling in the swelling erection beginning to prod his leg. With his tail, Marco opened the drawer of his bedside table and retrieved the bottle of lube not-so-subtly hidden within.

	Are we lubing up tonight, are we? asked Ezra, his fuzzy finger lightly slipping across Marco's clit.

	Yep, we're getting extra slippery. Marco squeezed a little lube into his hand, rubbed it around his palm and reached down to Ezra's shaft, wanking the slippery liquid up and down its length. After Marco had finished his soothing wanking, Ezra clasped his hand with his lube-slippery one, transferring the excess slipperiness between them.

	With barely audible squelchy noises, Marco's opening was gently wettened by Ezra's lubed fingers. There was a few more minutes of mutual groping before Ezra lifted Marco's leg and slipped his member between his husband's thighs.

	With a coy grin, Marco guided the thick flare inside his vagina and moved his tail so he could reach the tip, applying some lube to it. Ezra noticed Marco doing this... he had a suspicion he knew what was about to happen.

	This again, is it? he asked, thrusting deep into his husband's depths.

	My tail's slimmer than that dildo copy of yourself that you got me, said Marco matter-of-factly, looking back over him to guide his tail to Ezra's anus. Let's try going a little deeper this time.

	Yeah, slimmer than me at the TIP... not further down, said Ezra warily, pausing in his thrusting to watch the tip of that massively long tail do loops around his own opening to lube it up.

	Just tell me if it becomes a bit too much, and I'll pull out, replied Marco, plunging the tip gently inside.

	With grimaces and groans of pleasure, Marco's tail slowly slid inside Ezra's rump. Marco made his tail waggle about in exotic ways, tickling every internal pressure point that could possibly make it any more enjoyable. With some effort, Ezra remembered that he was not alone in this moment, and managed to shakily come to a quivering rhythm to match his husband's sensual tail thrusts.

	The shaky gait of Ezra's thrusting was pleasing Marco's clit more than normal, and the way Ezra was gasping meant that Marco knew he was hitting all the right spots. The both of them were quivering from head to foot and quietly moaning in pure sexual bliss, lost in the moment, so the nearing climax came as a surprise for both of them.

	I'm gonna... I'm gonna... gasped Ezra, his legs and abs tensing up.

	Marco plunged his tail even deeper into Ezra's warm hole. Let me have it, sugar, he panted.

	It was the first time Marco had had his tail inside Ezra during his climax. He was startled by the clenching of his husband's sphincter, could feel the tension rising and falling in his prostate with each spurt. But, above all, he could feel the familiar unimaginable pleasure of Ezra's heavenly flare filling him up with those warm, sticky white juices... only this time, he could actually FEEL the force behind the squirts of cum filling him up. In that moment, he knew he'd done his job masterfully.

	Oh... oh god... panted Ezra, his rhythm faulting, I've never had one THAT intense before... Hold on, honey, it'd be rude to leave you behind after that.

	With shaky post-ejaculation thrusts and a slowly softening cock, Ezra continued thrusting, the sloppy noises of a full fanny being pounded echoing through the room. To help his cause, he reached around and vigorously rubbed Marco's sensitive clit. After a minute of further uncontrollable squirming, quivering and loud panting, Marco squirted his own juices, forcing some of their combined climax out of him and onto the sheets. Several more minutes passed, leaking jizz and deeply passionate kissing and panting occupying the boys' entire world. Then, with a long pleasure groan from Ezra, Marco removed his tail from inside his husband.

	Have I ever told you how much I love you? whispered Ezra lovingly, caressing Marco's chin and dewlap.

	Every day, my little stud, cooed Marco in response.