Ch 5 Shopping Quest

After eating breakfast Marco began to explain what a mall was in words he hoped she would understand.

"A mall is… like a market. Yeah, it's just like a market, but you can't really haggle on prices, as they're fixed prices."

"So just another word for shopping center?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Well that's dumb, but whatever let's get going." Hekapoo got up from the table but saw Marco wanted to say something. "I know you want to say something Marco so out with it."

"Well," Looking a bit nervous Marco started fiddling with his thumps unsure how Hekapoo would take what he was going to say. "First I'll have to wash the dishes before we go and well… this is going to be a problem we need to fix," he said as he pointed at Hekapoo.

"What about me?"

"You look like a demon that has fire hovering over their head and that's going to draw some unwanted attention."

"We've already been through this before. I'm not a demon, I'm a cosmic entity."

"Yeah I know that, but normal people they don't," Marco pointed out. "And really what difference would it make? So unless you can magically change your form we're going to have to give you a disguise I'm thinking an afro wig to hide your horns."

"Oh don't worry about that. I can actually change my form a little bit, but not by much." Hekapoo raised her hand and was about to snap her fingers but was stopped by Marco.

Wait! Does this transformation involve you bursting into flames again?"

"I wouldn't say burst into flames, but uh yeah kind of."

Sighing in annoyance Marco started picking up the plates and put them in the sink before saying, "Come on let's go into the backyard where you can't say anything important on fire."

"I could if I tried."

"Please don't."

"Fine." Hekapoo groaned in disappointment. "But only because you begged me not to."

Ignoring her Marco led Hekapoo into the backyard where she could do her thing that would involve fire and something being set on fire. Just to be safe Marco grabbed a fire extinguisher if things got a little too hot for his liking. Marco also had to explain what a fire extinguisher was which Hekapoo didn't think it would work on her fire. After all, her fire was magical.

Now in the backyard, Marco told Hekapoo to stand on the concrete part of the backyard. Marco then backed away from Hekapoo as far as he could at three meters.

"You know Marco my flames aren't that dangerous. You don't have to take all of these precautions with me."

"My kitchen, my bedroom and hoodie beg to differ."

"I will admit I got a little emotional at those times, but I now see that things on Earth are quite flammable and that I would need to either fix it or replace it. I have things now under control you don't have to do all this all the time now."

"We'll see about that after you prove to me you cannot set the concrete you're standing on, on fire then we'll talk about you playing with fire in my house."

"Fine whatever." Without further delay, Hekapoo raised her right hand and clicked her fingers as fire lightly covered her body for a second.

Gone was Hekapoo's old form and out of the fire came her new form. Her once pale ashen skin replaced with a light bronze skin tone, her horns seemingly vanished from out of sight along with her arm spikes and claws. One look over her and Marco saw that she looked remarkably human now, but she some of her important features stayed the same. She still had her deep red hair and yellow eye, but those were really small details that could easily be explained away if anyone asked, hair dye and prescription anime eye contacts. The one thing that really stood out was her long sharp fang that still stuck out of her mouth a little.

"So, how do I look?" she asked as she twirled around to give Marco a good look over her new form.

"You look, great. You can definitely… mostly pass for human now. Also, no scorch marks on the concrete. Got to say Hekapoo, nicely done."

"Was there any doubt I couldn't," she asked with a grin.

"There was plenty of doubt. Is this all you can do?"

"Sadly yeah. I can only change some of my features a little bit, but nothing major and I cannot hold it for long. If I go over my limit, which is like a little bit over a day, I instantly turn back into my original form," she informed him.

"That's good to know."

"Enough dilly-dallying, let's go to the mall already."

"In a minute I just need to make a list of all the things we need to buy for you for when we get there."

"Oh crap, you're one of those people."

After Marco wrote down the things he thought he would need to buy for Hekapoo's life on Earth he called for an Uber to pick them up and drop them off at the mall. The drive went mostly well as Marco explained life on Earth to Hekapoo a bit more like the different countries in the world, American history, and most importantly American laws. He didn't want Hekapoo getting arrested and thrown in prison, because if that happened he might be viewed as an accomplice in her crime and end up arrested and thrown in prison with her.

After they were dropped off, they found themselves in front of Echo Creek's shopping center. Looking around at the mall a thought came to Hekapoo's head.

"This place looks like a Quest Buy, but way smaller and safer."

"What's Quest Buy? That some kind of shop?"

"Yeah kind of. You can find pretty much anything in Quest Buy, but the thing about that place is that it's easy to get lost in those places. I've heard of people going to Quest Buy just to buy a snack or a bar of soap and never come out only to be found dead from starvation and dehydration in the plywood section. Which makes perfect sense when the legends say that the founders of Quest Buy had an ancient cryptic system of symbols they used to organize the store. Some have even gone mad trying to decipher it."

Shocked and horrified Marco had just one question after hearing that. "Why would anyone want to shop there?"

"You can find almost anything there, there's a lot of good deals, and they never seem to run out of anything."

"That's still not a good enough reason to risk your life over some nick-nacks."

"You'd be surprised what people would do for some silly little nick-nacks. I mean, you can't stand here and tell me that humans don't do go to extreme lengths to get things they want on the cheap."

"No… well, only on Black Friday."

"What's Black Friday?"

"A bloodbath."

Not really wanting the details on what this bloodbath on Black Friday was, Hekapoo just started walking and Marco took the subtle hint she didn't want to talk about it any further and walked beside her. It wasn't because she was squeamish or anything, it was just that she was just desensitized to all acts of bloodshed which did not immediately involve her or things she cared about. After all, when one gets to her age you've seen all the worst atrocities that life can throw at you and more.

Upon entering the mall Hekapoo saw the immense number of people walking to and from wherever they came from and where they needed to be. They moved with purpose and direction undaunted and undeterred from the great labyrinth that is life.

'Wow, this place seems way more organized then Quest Buy. No one here looks lost or dying of starvation.' Hekapoo thought as she continued to cast her gaze around. Turning back to Marco she asks. "Okay Muscles, what now?"

"Okay, H-poo first off." Marco reached into his pocket and pulled out a list and started reading from it. "We need to buy you some clothes for school and everyday use, after that we'll get you a school bag and books along with school supplies like pens and other stuff. After that we'll stop for lunch and last on the list I'll get you a phone." Marco listed off but sadly Hekapoo heard none of it after he called her H-poo.

"Did you just call me H-poo instead of Hekapoo?"

"Ah… yes, I did."

"Why?"

Marco was confused as he himself wasn't really sure why he did call her H-poo. "I don't know really," he answered shrugging his shoulders. "But thinking about it now, maybe it's because you keep calling me Muscles and I just naturally just started calling you H-poo."

"But why H-poo? Why not Red, Ember, or even D?" Hekapoo listed off only to see Marco have a confused look on his face in the last nickname she gave. "The D stands for Demon."

"Oh, well it's just... I don't know. It sounds more unique and personal. I also thought it sounded cute in my head."

Hekapoo couldn't believe what she was feeling right now when she heard Marco's explanation. "Well, it does sound cute." She felt touched. "But you cannot call me that in public. Only in private."

Marco smiled as he just thought of something to tease Hekapoo with. "I will only when you're being a good girl and if I'm feeling generous. Now shut up and let's go get you the stuff you need for your stay here on Earth."

Hekapoo's eyes widened at what was just said to her. "That's what I said to you last night, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it was. How does it feel to have a taste of your own medicine?"

The shock faded from her face as a smile replaced it as she looked towards Marco. "Respect."

Both now smiling Marco and Hekapoo walked off to start their shopping spree together without ever realizing that the chain grew a little longer. Marco made the average choices of stores to buy clothes from like Target, Best and Less, and other stores where somebody would be able to buy cheap clothes. Hekapoo liked it. Like every girl, she loved to shop for new clothes even if Marco wanted to veto some of the clothes Hekapoo chose for being too revealing. One particular item that caused him trouble was a short tube top that showed off way more cleavage than normal for Hekapoo, but couldn't find it in himself to say no to her. Deep down somewhere in Marco's mind he knew this inability to voice his concern would bite him in the ass sometime soon. Unfortunately for him, whether it be by some omniscient force or the universe just deciding to make today a little more interesting, he didn't have to wait long to realize how correct he was.

After getting a sizable amount of clothes for Hekapoo to wear for her stay on Earth they were about to leave the clothing section of the mall until Hekapoo stopped in her tracks. Marco bumped behind into Hekapoo who didn't even notice all she did was stare off into the distance.

Worried Marco decided to see if she was alright. "Ah, H-poo are you okay there? Heka-." And without warning Hekapoo shot out in a full-on sprint. With speed unattainable to any normal human in the direction she was staring at with Marco being violently being dragged behind thanks to the chain.

Thankfully it wasn't long before Hekapoo came to an abrupt stop as Marco slammed into the wall next to her still holding on to the new bag full of clothes he had bought for Hekapoo in his hands. Slowly getting up Marco was slightly dazed and confused with a possible small concussion saw Hekapoo's face firmly planted on a shopping display window. Her eyes from what he could see were fixated on a female mannequin wearing some sexy intricately lace dark red undergarments.

Marco's eyes widened as he noticed the store's name. "Oh, no," he mumbled panic flooding him as he had found himself in front of Victoria's Secret.

"Who is this Victoria and what are her secrets?" Hekapoo asked out loud to herself. Grabbing onto Marco's hand she dragged him into the store with her.

Before he knew it, he was inside Victoria's Secret hand in hand with Hekapoo. He wanted to leave this place and was about to tell Hekapoo that the stuff here was too expressive, but a store clerk was already on them, most likely attracted by Hekapoo's wide-eyed excitement for being in there thinking she'd be an easy sell.

"Hi there," a female store clerk greeted with a bight clean smile that looked well practiced. "How may I help you?"

"Yeah hi," Hekapoo responded. "I want that matching set out in front. Where can I find them and do they also come in yellow?"

"Yes they do, if you'd follow me I'll show you where we keep them," Marco could practically see the dollar signs in her eyes.

"Excellent, come on Marco."

"Wait, Heka-" he tried to plead, but realized it was too late to stop.

Before he knew what was happening Hekapoo and the clerk were already picking out the size needed for her and a few other ones she liked. There was a little bit of chatter going on between them about how lucky she was to be so well imbued. All Marco could do was stand there and pray Hekapoo didn't want much and that she didn't ask him for his opinion on it.

"Hey Marco wake up. I'm going to the changing room to see how they fit and I want your opinion on them," His palm quietly met his forehead hearing his prayers were left unanswered or downright ignored.

Outside the changing room, Marco waited patiently. Hekapoo only really needed a minute or two to change in real time, but in his head things were going a mile a minute. A weird mixture of frustration, panic, sexual arousal and shame clouded his mind. It was the slight sound of the changing room door opening that all his previous thoughts focused into one of sexual arousal.

Stepping out of the change room, Marco saw the exact same red lingerie that he saw in the display case but Hekapoo wearing a larger size instead of a plain mannequin. Now don't get him wrong Marco had seen Hekapoo naked before, today in fact, but this right was so much more for the teen. The way the fabric clung to her body to illustrate the curves and support all the right places it was almost as if this lingerie was designed for her. However, a strange thought came to Marco's mind as he looked over Hekapoo was that he couldn't help but picture her real form wearing the lingerie instead.

Knowing that Marco's attention was now on her Hekapoo struck a sexy standing pose. "Well Marco, how do I look?"

"You look amazing." He answered honestly but panicked as he realized what he was saying "I mean, you look great. I mean uh, okay… I think? H-poo." He stammered not knowing if what he said was more or less embarrassing.

Hekapoo smiled at his answer as she saw him look away from her as he awkwardly tried to hide his erection under his hoodie. He did hide it well from her before she knew he had one realizing it was just that his body posture gave it away.

"Thanks, Marco. Now just wait there, I have to get changed out of these-"

'Oh thank god.'

"So I can try on the other stuff this lady helped me pick out. Next up, this bikini," Hekapoo emphasized as she held up a yellow string bikini to show him before she tried it on.

'God, please give me the strength to endure this torture,' Marco prayed and as luck would have it somebody answered his prayers.

That is until he got to the cash register where God had truly left the boy behind to suffer.

"That will be that will be thirteen hundred dollars."

"What?! Hekapoo I'm not paying for this. This is way too much for me to spend," Marco gasped at the price. "I already spent three hundred twenty-five dollars on the other stuff we got at the other stores and I still need to pay for your books."

"Come on Marco, please," Hekapoo begged with her hands clasped together as her eyes started to tear up for added effect. "I can't live without them in my life."

"I agree, you should buy them for your girlfriend sir. After all, there is no price for love."

"She's not my girlfriend," Marco corrected the clerk only to receive an odd look from her. "And before you ask no, she is not my sister."

"Yeah, we have more of a master and slave relationship going on here. We've even got a chain and everything."

"Hekapoo!" Marco called out in shock as Hekapoo said that not really liking the comparison to master and slave. He knew very well that she saw herself as the master here.

"Oh, don't worry about me… I'm sorry, what is your name?"

"It's Joy." She answers.

"Right, Joy. Like I was saying don't worry about me. Because I'm always the master in this relationship."

"Please stop."

"You should have seen the first time we met each other."

"No."

"It was a wonderful night."

"Don't do this to me."

"He was chained to the bed with me on top of him."

"There is so much context that she's leaving out, but I gave no consent to any of it."

"His friend, not mine, was watching us the entire time. I won't lie, it was hot and I was surprisingly into it and if she asked I wouldn't have minded if she joined in on the fun."

Joy, caught on to what Hekapoo was doing to her... boyfriend? Lover? Love slave? She didn't really know. All she needed to know was she was getting a fat sale from this. As well as a good stories to tell her friends on her lunch break so she played along.

"Hot, tell me more," she leaned further intrigued by this story.

Hekapoo was about to tell her more, but was stopped when Marco's hand covered her mouth.

"I'll pay for it if you promise not to say any more than you already have, deal?"

Hekapoo removed Marco's hand to speak. "You know, I'm feeling quite generous right now. I'll only ask for half of the stuff I wanted," Hekapoo looked down on the assorted garments and picked out the ones she wanted the most from the pile. "This half if you start calling me Mistress Hekapoo or Mistress H-poo will do just fine."

"Yeah, not happening." Marco stated in an authoritative manner. "I'll pay for the half you wanted but after this I'm not getting you anything else but the essentials. Am I understood?"

"I can work with that," she agreed to the terms.

And so Marco paid up to Joy and glared at her begrudgingly as he handed her six hundred fifty dollars in cash and kept the receipt he was given, just in case Hekapoo got her new expensive underwear and swimsuit burnt like she did to one of his hoodies. That reminded him to buy a replacement hoodie if he still had money by the end of this excursion.

With that out of the way, Marco took the newly bought merchandise along with the other stuff he had gotten for her, and walked straight out of the store literally dragging Hekapoo alongside him with the chain that tethered them together. Hekapoo wanted another look around for anything she wanted to get next time she came back, but his financials couldn't another hit. He was lucky that Hekapoo agreed to half of what she originally wanted and he wasn't going to take any chances.

When they left the store they proceeded to get the other things they needed for Hekapoo like textbooks and a smart phone to get her onto his family plan. He needed to teach her how to use it, but that could be put off until they got back home.

After a few hours of shopping, Marco and Hekapoo found themselves siting down on a table right next to the food court with everything they needed for Hekapoo's life on Earth, which came out of Marco's saving as the gold Moon gave his mom wasn't transferred into dollars yet. Hell, he didn't even know where his mom and dad went. He made a mental note to call them and ask where they were. That could wait for the moment as Marco was hungry.

Looking at his phone it read 12:05. "It's right about lunch time, you want anything?"

"Anything that's got a lot of meat on it would be preferable or sweet or both just make sure it's good."

"Okay, but just so you know that the food here is not as good as the food I cook at home but it's way faster."

Hekapoo felt a little disappointed to hear that. Her experience with Earth food so far was great and she didn't want that to change, but one world's crappy food is another world's delicacy.

"I trust you to get me something good."

"Alright, I know a place near here that sells the best burgers and chilly fries you've ever had."

"Considering I don't know what those are they'll most likely be the best I've ever had," she pointed out. "That is until you make me your version of burgers and chilly fries. You can make them can you?"

"Yeah, I can but they're not my specialty."

"You're selling yourself short there, Marco. I bet they'll be great. Now let's get going, I'm starving.

Just as they about to get up and leave three muscular men that looked like they were in their early twenties started to walk towards them, mostly towards Hekapoo's direction.

"Hey girl, how's it going?" one of the three muscle bound man asked with a smile full of confidence. "How about you ditch this scrawny weakling and come with us for a good time?"

Next story to be updated- 'He is mine to have'