Untouchable: Chapter 24: Bursting the Bubble
Xander lay in Paul's bed not wanting to go to work and face the awkward and difficult conversation he was sure to have with Sean. He heard the front door slam.
"I'm such a fucking idiot!" Tanner yelled up the hall.
"Tell me something I don't know already," Paul said from the kitchen, "what was it this time."
"I don't want to talk about it," Tanner yelled up the stairs.
"If you didn't want simpathy and attention you wouldn't have yelled at a house still full of furs," Paul said.
Xander decided he needed the bathroom more then the bed. He threw back the blankets and rolled from the mattress.
"I never should have delivered the phone personally, damnit why did I go over there," Tanner said as he walked up the stairs the the kitchen.
Xander sighed loudly when he reached the toilet.
"So what is this new dumb escapade of yours?" Paul asked.
"I drove to someone's house because I thought they were interested in well you know, but it was just wishful thinking," Tanner said.
"Oh spit it out, you wanted to hook up," Paul said.
Xander washed his paws.
"Well I did, Xander's friend, Sean, is so fucking hot," Tanner said.
Xander forgot everything he was doing to listen to Tanner.
"Wait, I thought you generally went for girls," Paul asked.
"I do, but I have a thing for wolves of either gender," Tanner said.
"Wait how did you end up at his place?" Paul asked.
"I was dropping off his phone," Tanner said, "well and after you told me about the news story about him, I thought he'd like taking his mind off things."
"So a pity fuck," Paul said, then asked, "wait why did you have his phone, you're not a stalker are you?"
"No im not a stalker Dickhead, so the news thing topped off a shitty weekend he broke his phone, and it would of been a pity fuck if he chose to have sex with me, I'm hopeless," Tanner said, "I totally miss read him when he came in during the work day yesterday to get it fixed."
Xander yelped as he noticed his frozen paws, then turned off the tap. The need to know the answer made Xander interrupt their conversation. He rushed into the kitchen stark as the new day sun..
"Wait his phones been dead how long, and what news story?" Xander said eye to eye with Tanner.
"Uhm it's been..." Tanner said then looked him up and down mostly down, "...wow! paul good for you!"
"Xander! put on clothes!" Paul said muzzlepadding his forehead.
"No, please when did his phone break and what news thing are you guys talking about," Xander said while he gripped Tanners collared shirt.
"Monday morning channel five did a story on him," Paul said, "I thought you knew!"
"No, No I didn't... fuck, when did his phone break?" Xander asked.
"Saturday, or Sunday, ask him, I don't know, he has his new phone now," Tanner said.
Xander ran to Paul's bedroom and got his phone.
"Wow, I think I'm developing a thing for Collies," Tanner said back in the kitchen.
"Back off he's mine, you fucking bi, size queen," Paul said.
Xander texted Sean, "I just heard about the news thing and the phone, I'm sorry please call me, we need to talk."
He passed the room watching the read receipt for Sean to read the text. He grabbed his bus pass and bee lined for the door.
Paul blocked his path, "woo woo woo, where do you think your going?"
"I need to go to work, I have to find Sean," Xander said.
"Then shower or at least put clothes on you idiot," Paul said.
Xander realized he was naked and ran back up the stairs past a smug looking Tanner.
"It's not his fault Paul, all the blood his brain would use to think with is tied to other resources," Tanner said dryly.
"Oh, ha ha, shut up, you're just jealous," Xander yelled back.
"Not jealous man just thirsty," Tanner said.
"Stop hitting on my boy friend Tanner or are you mixing up the signals again," Paul yowled.
Xander hopped and stumbled out the bedroom door trying to get in his other pant leg.
"Take a shower Xander you smell like sex," Paul said.
"Or Hatchet body spray," Tanner said.
"I don't have time," Xander said.
"Make time, if not for Sean then do it because it's indecent to smell like that in public," Paul said.
"Decency doesn't seem to be a concern at this point, considering he was just showing off his jibblets and bits," Tanner said.
Xander threw off the pants he fought to get on, then ran into the bathroom.
"What's your big hurry, you didn't seem in a rush just a bit ago?" Paul said.
"I need to catch Sean before he heads to any meetings or to see clients," Xander said, while he shivered under the cold shower water.
"Why is that? You still need breakfast," Paul said.
"Breakfast that's what I came home for," Tanner said.
"He might leave and he isn't responding in messenger," Xander said shampoo in paw.
"Oh ok, I'll make you a plate," Paul said.
"I probably don't-"
"Have time to argue with a guy that can drop you off," Paul said over Xander.
"That would make things way easier thank you Paul," Xander said then slowed down.
"So you thought he ditched you and stole the channel five portion of your account?" Paul asked.
"I left pissed voicemails, I thought he was trying to make me submit so he could rub it in my maw," Xander said.
"Ah, I don't know that guy well but that doesn't seem like him," Tanner said.
"It's not, I'm... I was angry and wasn't thinking," Xander said, he turned off the shower, shook, then towel dried.
He quickly ate while Paul hovered near by with his keys and a sad expression.
They were both quiet well they got in the car.
"So I hope this all goes well," Paul said.
"Me too thanks for the ride, I appreciate it and you," Xander said.
They turned onto East Madison street.
"So you want to get dinner again?" Paul asked softly.
"At the restaurant?" Xander asked his knees bounced with repressed energy.
"Yeah, just nothing fancy this time," Paul said still quiet.
"Gonna tell me why you were shredding that napkin this time?" Xander asked.
Paul bit his lower lip, then said, "I'm afraid too."
"What is so horrible that you can't tell me," Xander said.
"It's not horrible it's wonderful but how you react could be horrible, and you could be..." Paul said.
"I could be what?" Xander asked.
"I'm not your best friend, I'd be less important to you... I'm looking for my future husband. Are you, or am I just a fuck buddy?" Paul asked.
"I like you and want to keep seeing you, why does Sean have to be a problem, and why do things need to be moving faster," Xander asked then he huffed on the side window and drew a tictactoe board in the fog.
"I don't know why I'm so insecure, I just feel I'm more into you than you are into me," Paul said as they turned onto 4th avenue.
"But I am into you," Xander said.
"As much as Sean?" Paul asked.
Xander sat and remembered a shared childhood and the last few weeks, then he said, "I care about you and have enjoyed the week with you, but your comparing a lifetime with a brief time frame."
They pulled in front of city hall, Paul grabbed Xander's paw before he left the car, "so dinners a yes no matter what happens?"
"Yes I'll see you at seven," Xander said then leaned in with a kiss.
Paul's paw held the place Xander kissed and he smelled afraid, Xander wished he wouldn't worry then went inside.