Puffed Up Problems

    Barnaby was completing a job when Evelyna came so they could meet up afterwards. This job was odd to him because the company had him be a mascot at their opening in an inflatable costume. That did not bother him. After all, his hero suit could inflate too. The thing that seemed odd was that it almost seemed to come out as muscle suit hidden under a turtle neck instead of a costume for some reason. Barnaby always managed to pull off a serious expression and complete his work professional. At least until he heard a little chuckle behind him. He turned to see Evelyna covering her mouth with her scarf. A small blush began over Barnaby’s cheeks when he saw the playful eager smile on Evelyna’s lips.

     Evelyna walked over to him. Her hand immediately ran over his new additions of puffy buildup. Barnaby stiffed up as she tried to hold in her giggles while stroking his arm. Though the instant she began lightly squeezing his new muscles his face began turning shades of red. “I never thought someone would pump you up,” Evelyna teased as she noticed how tightly inflated the outfit was. Barnaby humped off her comment as his head turned away from her. Secretly hoping she hadn’t noticed his response to her actions yet. Evelyna though could not stop the chuckle at his reaction. “Though you look puffy enough to hug now,” Evelyna continued with a playful tone.

Her words caused an instant reaction as her face was covered by shirt fuzz and a light pressure wrapped around as she lost her footing.  After a moment in plush mound that could rival any pillow she pushed up enough to see that Barnaby was still dodging her eyes. Though now his arms were wrapped around her waist till one hand came up to her shoulder. Evelyna just smirked as she placed her arms on his back. “Happy now?” Barnaby tried to say bitterly. He recalled her putting Kotetsu in something similar with the same desire being the result. This time though he wanted the attention instead of hearing her suggestion.
Evelyna give him a peek on the cheek. “Yes! Thank you,” Evelyna said as she nuzzled into Barnaby’s shoulder.

“Mr. Brooks,” a voice interrupted. “We’re ready for the last session,” the man said.

“All right, I’ll be right there,” Barnaby said before turning back to Evelyna. “Will you wait for me outside?” he asked. She agreed and left the area quickly. Barnaby returned to work, which he hoped to finish up quickly.

Evelyna only had to wait a short time before Barnaby appeared still in the inflated suit. “Do they still need you for something?” she asked in confusion.

“No,” Barnaby began as he offered his hand. He helped her up to her feet. “I asked to use this for the evening. Thought you might enjoy it a little more,” Barnaby said still trying to dodge complete eye contact. He caught a little smile on Evelyna’s lip when he glanced back. Part of him was trying to write off what he was wearing as a disguise so he could walk around without being recognized. “How about we go for a walk?” Barnaby suggested as he began moving.

Evelyna tugged on his arm, “Wait a second!” Barnaby turned around to be greeted by her hands. She began running her hands through his hair. She managed to tie it back into a ponytail. “There! Now people will think twice about it being you,” Evelyna said with a grin. Barnaby’s eyebrow went up as he thought about her comment. She took his hand again. “Ok! Let’s go Barnaby!” Evelyna almost cheered as she returned to hurrying along. Barnaby grinned as her excitement was apparently. Also that she had taken to walking with her arm wrapped around his while the other held his hand.

The short walk was going fine till they reached one spot. The place the pair had come to only yesterday. But than it was filled with people while today hardly anyone was here. Compared to yesterday everything in the area was quiet. A low sigh escaped Barnaby’s mouth. “What’s wrong?” Evelyna asked.

Barnaby released her hand. “Enough. I’m done,” Barnaby began muttering as he turned. Evelyna followed his movement. He yanked his shirt collar down revealing the nozzle. The movement was sharp as he whipped the nozzle open while his brow furrowed.

Evelyna clamped her hand down on the nozzle. “Wait a minute! What is going on? You were fine just a moment ago,” Evelyna said as she moved in front of Barnaby. Her other hand came up to his chin and moved his gaze back to her. “Barnaby something is going on behind those big green eyes. What is it?” Evelyna asked as she stroked his cheek. Barnaby tried to move his head away but she just brought it back. This time she had the puppy eyes waiting for him.

Barnaby sighed. “You’re tired of me and looking for a big buff guy instead,” Barnaby muttered as he tried to dodge the eyes again.

Evelyna scooted in closer, “Oh Barnaby.” She rubbed her thumb up and down his cheek and as the other hand moved to cover the other side of his face. “I’m not tired of you! And I’m not looking for ANY other guy,” Evelyna said as her nose touched his.

“But you were watching that competition the day before and yesterday you were looking at all those guys..” Barnaby trailed off as his hands returned to his pockets. His hands stopped wondering around as the annoyance went down in him. Part of him wanted to touch her arms since they were so close but the bitterness caused them to stay still. He did lean into her warm hands as they moved on his face.

Evelyna thought about the day before while she watched the show. She cheered for them like she would at any sports show. Finally she realized that he brought up two days worth of things that seem to be bothering him. “Barnaby, were you jealous?” Evelyna asked as her hands came down to his chest.

“I am not!” Barnaby immediately shouted a pink mark came on his cheek. He took a step back as he tried to hide his face.
 
Evelyna wrapped her arms around one of his still puffer than normal arm. “My little jealous bunny,” Evelyna playfully said as she leaned her chin on his shoulder. Most of the time she was the one having to watch women and children fawn over Barnaby while he just smiled at them all. This was the first time she was the cause for concern.

Barnaby swung his arm around her. She was pulled in tight to his chest. “Am not! And don’t call me Bunny,” Barnaby continued to rebut out of instinct.

Evelyna smiled at his actions.  “The competition was the world’s strongest man and besides watching Tiger and you at work, where else am I supposed to see one man able to man a train with his bare hands,” Evelyna teased as her hand came up to his chest.  Barnaby’s mouth still had a frown.  “But mainly I wanted to see a friend of mine,” Evelyna continued to explain.

“Huh?” Barnaby said as his attention was returning to her.

“I have a friend who was competing in the European division. He made it to the final four of his division so I got to see him on TV,” Evelyna finished explaining.

“I feel like an idiot,” Barnaby muttered under his breathe. He turned back to Evelyna to be greeted by her large blue eyes and a relaxed smile. “But wait, what about all those guys that were here yesterday?” Barnaby continued questioning as part of him still wanted to be annoyed at her. Though he knew this was quickly becoming a losing argument.

“They were models from a regional muscle and fitness magazine that was having a convention in town showcasing for some new talent. It is a branch of the company you were just modeling for. When I helped with security the first day they told me this was good place to get some healthy snacks. Since it was close to your shoot I thought you might like to see if they had anything you wanted to try,” Evelyna explained as she motioned to one of the shops behind them. Barnaby began rubbing his forehead.  “Barnaby?” Evelyna asked coming back close to him.

“Wait,” Barnaby’s head snapped up. “Than why did you stop me from deflating a minute ago?”

Now it was Evelyna’s turn now as a blushes came to her cheeks. “Because I didn’t want you to..” Evelyna began quietly.

“Why? If it isn’t for me to look like one of those guys than why do I need to stay this size?” Barnaby bitterly snapped as his free hand began waving. Though the eyebrow going up only on one side of his face was telling a completely different story than what he was saying.

“Because this is first time we’ve been able to go out together in a while. You also didn’t use a hoodie, sunglasses or something else to cover up your face. Since this area had all the muscle guys from the fitness expo yesterday and they will come back tonight no thought it was you. So no one stopped us to take pictures with you or ask for an autograph. Or give me dirty looks for just being the one with you. I finally got to go out Barnaby,” Evelyna explained as she began playing with his fingertips. After she finished her explanation she flashed a half-hearted smile to Barnaby before looking back to their hands. “Plus I also wondered if this is what you look like with your hundred power activated. I can’t see it under your hero suit,” Evelyna added.

Barnaby blushed at her final addition before beginning to mentally review the day since they had left the studio with this outfit on. It had been quiet. He did not think anything of it but usually by this point the two of them would have someone interfering and asking something of him. Normally she did not seem to mind it and would give him sometime to deal with the fan or even offers to take the picture for them. Than they both go back to what they were doing. But now that he recalls the last time someone treated them like a dating couple was months back. That time was way back when they were dressed up in hoodies trying to hide Barnaby’s identity. Ironically it was before they began dating. Now no one seems to see them that way or at least say anything about it. Barnaby took the hand she left in his and pulled her closer to him. He used the other to scoop up her cheek so he could catch her lips with his. The sudden movement caused Evelyna to lose her footing until Barnaby slide the rest of his arm around her till she was safely nestled in his embrace. After a few moments Barnaby released Evelyna from the pressure on her lips but not from his arms.

Now with a soft pink to her cheeks Evelyna wondered, “What was that for?”

Barnaby smiled, “I wanted to have the first pass at them.”

“First?” Evelyna asked.

“Yes,” Barnaby began as he pulled down part of the turtle neck he was wearing to show the nozzle again for the suit. “Because now I need those lips to go to work on this for me. It lost a lot of air just a few minutes ago. Figure I need a refill if we are going to finish our walk together,” Barnaby explained.  Evelyna squealed as she jumped back into Barnaby’s arms. Her arms shot around his neck and pulled her even closer to him. Barnaby smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. It did not take her long to slip down his neck to the nozzle. She was not wasting a moment as she began puffing into the nozzle. Barnaby’s view was mostly blocked but the motions of the situation had his full attention. Her body was moving up and down with each extra deep breath, her arms were still wrapped around his neck as one of her hands traced the edge of his hair, her soft hair let his nose rest in it as her scent filled him. When the tension around his arm finally broke his trance Barnaby ran his nose in Evelyna’s hair, “Hey. I think that is enough. This time I might really explode.”  He wanted to return her words back to her as he recalled the last time something this large was blown up between he almost caused the eruption. Evelyna almost jumped off him with her fingers closing the value. Her bottom lip rolled into a pout immediately as the mere thought seems to upset her. Barnaby could not resist the chuckle it caused in him. “Just kidding, I’m all right.” He lightly kissed her forehead. ‘She is so cute when she does that,’ Barnaby thought as he hugged her. ‘So big hearted. Thank goodness she doesn’t realize,’ Barnaby continued till his thought process was derailed.

Evelyna’s hand cupped his jaw as the other moved behind his head. She guided him down easily before her lips cloaked his. His eyes widen as she caught him off guard.   Where Barnaby was always abrupt and sudden with his kiss he had not managed to learn how show that heat. That was one thing Evelyna was excellent at. Her touch was always warm: feeling like a slow heat that was melting away all his strength. Each time her lips caressed his it was another wave of warmth washing over him. Her fingers so gentle in their touch it teased him by playing with the short hairs barely beginning the line on his neck.  The massaged his cheek as her scent filled him. His face began to shift through ranges of pink and red as his knees gave way.  Evelyna finally released him from her lips to be greeted by the dazed expression he was lost in. “Good,” Evelyna affirmed as her eyes tried to hold firm but still had their watery reflection about them.

Barnaby covered his mouth as he was still working through the leftover sensations. And his face was still a bit red from Evelyna’s deep kiss. “So, um what was this snack place you wanted to show me?” Barnaby asked trying to change the subject and bring up anything else.

Evelyna took his hand. “Yeah! It is this way!” she pulled him out of placed with a huge grin on her face as she began hurrying across the courtyard. She was smiling and pointing as she talked. Her voice seemed to be going faster than the rest of her could keep up with. A smile grin came to Barnaby’s lip as it had been a long time since she was this excited.

Finally it happened. Something that had not happened in felt like an eternity. Evelyna laughed as they talked together. They ate new foods together and made strange faces at the way they tasted. They walked in hand in hand; Barnaby could sneak a kiss in on her head or pull her under his arm as they walked. Evelyna pointed at different creatures that ran by. As they drifted apart when she moved to point at something they bump shoulders as a tease before coming back together. Evelyna’s arm wrapped around Barnaby’s waist as his hand went to her’s. For the first time in a long time they got to be a couple.

The walked reached its ended near the water front. When the sun was coming down; low enough for its warm oranges and yellows to be reflected in the bay. “Barnaby look at that,” Evelyna said as she moved over to the railing. She crossed her arms as she leaned on the railing. The breeze from the waterfront was light this evening as it only slightly lifted her hair. Barnaby came up besides her after a moment of watching her move. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Evelyna asked with her eyes trying to reflect the colors of the sky before her.

Barnaby slipped his arms under Evelyna as he came up behind her. He rested his head on her shoulder as the rest of him covered her like a blanket. “Yes it is,” he whispered into her ear before brushing it with a kissing. His nose glided down her neck before coming to rest on her shoulder.