FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Nothing in the world speaks to the desperate nature of escape quite like a bus station. This one was everything one could expect for a middle-sized, forgettable town. Cramped and tiny, it held maybe a handful of people at once. Even from the outside, it spoke of that sort of quiet melancholy that followed a desperate traveller. Large, plate glass windows opened onto a widened alley for the incoming vehicles. While they may have once served a purpose, they now opened onto the bare concrete of the building next door. Jeff watched his ghostly reflection in the windows as the bus lurched to a stop.

The front windows opened onto a busy street and the only patch of green within the immediate area. It was a small horseshoe park, encircling the town's only major landmark. A stark contrast, with its manicured lawn, to the vacant and forgotten bus station. Even the ticket counter, perched half a foot above the floor, was devoid of staff. An old brass bell rested on the counter with a thick coating of grime to show how often it was rung.

More revealing were the chairs. Molded from thick plastic and bolted to metal tubes, they were a relic of many decades past. Weathered by sunlight and the traffic of many years, they creaked and groaned. It didn't matter if it was a small child or an overstuffed duffel bag, both were more burden than the chair could bare. As people ahead of him shuffled off the bus, he found it difficult to stand up.

The trip had given him plenty of time to consider his decision. There had even been a few stops along the way where he could have rushed off the bus. A quick call to his parents and he could have been home within a couple of hours. Now, at the end of the trip, he realized how alone he was. He'd made this choice and had to stick with it.

It was the need to escape that kept him in his seat until now. He'd been desperate to leave long before Casey and the heartbreak that followed. He'd always thought of his hometown as some forgotten shithole that had been holding him back. Now, he began to doubt it was the town's fault. Looking out the window at the small churn of lost souls that poured out of the bus, he could only feel regret.

Self reflection couldn't last long as the other passengers vacated their seats. Everyone aboard smelled of tight confines and far too many people in one place. The driver was glowering at him and the others that tried to linger. Pulling himself up, he shuffled forward and tried not to focus on what he was walking into.

The crush had dissipated by the time he walked through the arrivals door. A few passengers settled into the ancient chairs. They waited for the next bus, pausing to going through their things. It struck him that the courage to jump onto the bus had now faded. He realized he had not planned much beyond that. He needed a place to stay, that much was for certain, and with limited funds it would have to be cheap.

The one phonebook in the station hung from a metal cable below the old payphone. Clad in thick plastic, Jeff had to set down his backpack to heave it up and open the pages. Unfortunately, the book itself had been a casualty of many previous visitors. Pages were missing, written over or weathered away from years misuse.

Staring at the lines, he realized that he didn't even know where to start looking. He let go of the phone book and let it swing free, smacking against the far wall. Above it was a cork board, covered in an assortment of postings from local businesses. There were a few hotels in the area but his eyes settled on a crumpled white piece of printer paper on the board.

"Rooms for rent", it read. "Negotiable prices. Contact Paul at the number and address below. No references needed. Welcoming environment."

Jeff pulled one of the tabs from the paper and held it for a long moment. He'd never lived by himself before. He'd never even rented an apartment before. The one time he stayed in a hotel was shortly after his 8th birthday when the car broke down on a family trip. The sound of another bus pulling up shook him out of his thoughts long enough to remember where he was. Glancing to the board and back to the slip of paper, he took a deep breath and picked his pack back up.

Fishing out a quarter, he lifted the receiver off the payphone and slid the quarter in the slot. He needed a place to start and this was as good as any. Punching in the numbers, he waited as the rings rolled from one to three to five before someone picked up.

"Hello?"

The voice was gruff and direct. It set Jeff back a bit as he stuttered out a greeting in kind. The man on the other end, Paul he guessed, didn't seem happy to be getting a call. Once Jeff mentioned the rooms for rent, the irritation began to fade from the voice. They chatted for a moment about the room and Paul provided directions from the station.

"...and two more blocks down the road. It's a big white house. Can't miss it."

Jeff nodded absently as he scribbled down the directions on the back of the slip. It took a moment before he realized Paul couldn't see him. Spluttering out a confirmation, he wrapped up the call and set the phone back in its cradle. Looking at the back of the paper, he glanced out the front window and took another deep breath. He needed to get a handle on himself and standing in a bus station like a lost lamb wasn't helping.

The walk was brief and direct. Paul had been right about the ease of finding the house. Three stories and towering over the cottages around it, the place was impossible to miss. The white of the exterior had faded over the years and had not been well kept. Cracking in some places and dirty in others, it looked more like the memory of white than anything.

Jeff walked up the rough, wooden steps to the narrow covered porch. A small room to the side looked like a recent addition, the door shut and locked at the moment. He rattled it for a moment before realizing the latter. Ears flattened against his head, he turned to the other door.

Set with a large window, he could see the tiny landing beyond it. To the left, it went upstairs while to the right was another door with a single metal '1' screwed to it. Being the most likely option, he turned and gathered up his courage. Before Casey he'd been far too introverted to do something like this. There was some comfort in being forced to grow like this. He rapped on the door and swallowed hard as he heard footsteps from within.

Behind him, a staircase headed upward before curving to the left. Curious, he peeked around the corner and arched his neck up to see where it might lead. If it was an upstairs room, maybe there was an option for some more privacy. He was still attempting to peek around the corner when the door in front of him swung open. A gray-muzzled lupine snout, peaked with two amber eyes and a raised brow poked out from the open door. He started for a moment before settling back into his fur.

"Hi," the surprised fox extended as paw. "I'm Jeff. I called about the room?"

The wolf's muzzle dipped down for a moment, arching back upward as those amber eyes passed over him from foot to ears. A brief snort followed before he pulled the door open and ushered Jeff inside.

The two of them shuffled through a small living room, cluttered with a couch and loveseat. The television on the opposite side buzzed with a low hum as it displayed a color shifted football game across the large screen. Splayed out across an aging couch was a young rabbit in a rumpled football jersey and a pair of cargo shorts. Despite his eyes remaining locked on the game, his hand lifted to wave. Paul nodded and motioned towards the small dining room ahead.

Eventually they settled in around a broad, oak dining room table. Set up against a row of built in shelves with a variety of knick-knacks, the cramped table seemed rarely used. The top was rough with some gouges and shifted underneath any pressure. Unsure of the delicacy of the furniture, Jeff settled into one of the chairs and folded his hands in his lap.

Paul produced a pair of glasses from his breast pocket and pulled some papers from a nearby drawer. Shuffling through them for a moment, he settled on a few and placed them on the table in front of him.

"We've got a room on the main floor. Shared bathroom, kitchen and living room. I assume you can get along with other people."

Jeff looked over his shoulder at the rabbit who was now scowling at the TV with his arms extended towards it. After a short but loud 'C'mon!' Jeff turned back towards Paul. He didn't seem to register that anyone else was in the room as he settled back onto the couch for the next play.

"Who else lives here?" Jeff began spreading the papers out as he read over them. The room was cheap and the deposit was manageable, but it also ate up the bulk of his cash.

The wolf settled down in a chair next to Jeff, "Lucky's the one on the couch." Registering his name, the rabbit raised a paw and waved before returning to watching his game.

"I'm Paul. I own the place and live in the larger basement room. Over there," he motioned to a door near the front entrance, "is Jas. He's usually out late for work. I'll introduce you after he gets up." He pointed up at the ceiling, "Gabriel and Marco have one of the apartments upstairs. The largest private apartment is Xander's. They usually keep to themselves up there, so at most you'll pass by them in the hall."

"That's a lot of people in one house...."

Paul smirked and chuckled, "You picked a college town. Most of the houses around here got chopped up into apartment years ago. I'm looking to fill rooms while people are out for summer break. Once the new school year starts, you'd be lucky to find a walk in closet available."

Jeff's eyes widened as how brow began to furrow. The wolf let out a short sigh through his nose and placed a hand on Jeff's shoulder, "I promise. We're all normal enough here. Except Lucky, he's a bit too obsessed with men in short pants throwing balls around and tackling each other."

The rabbit's hand shot up with all but the middle finger folded down. Paul smiled and looked back to Jeff, "Let me guess. Here from out of town? Just graduated?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Two bags and looking for the cheapest place to live? Yeah. You look a little green around the gills. I'll cut you a deal. We'll hold off on the deposit for the moment. You can get settled in for a night or two and see if you're comfortable with the place. Get your bearings and figure out what to do next."

Jeff glanced to the papers and then back up at Paul, "Really?"

"I've got a soft spot for people trying to find their footing."

Lucky piped up from the couch, "And he's got a hard spot for cute guys needing a hand up."

Paul's glare looked like it could have ignited the couch in a moment as Lucky turned back to his game. The wolf coughed into his paw for a moment, "Blunt as Lucky is, he's got a point."

"You... you want to sleep with..."

Paul held up a paw, "Woah. Not that." He pressed his paw against his forehead before letting out a deep sigh. "This place is a waystation for alternative lifestyles. People down on their luck, people who don't have any kind of family anymore. We got thrown together by circumstance and I had a place for them to stay. It's worked out alright so far, save for the abundance of mouthy lapines."

Lucky stifled a chuckle.

"If you're not comfortable with that, I understand. There's no strings attached. You look like you could use a place to crash that isn't flying through the air or rolling on the ground. That's all I'm offering right now."

Jeff's gaze pulled away from Paul and trailed around the house. He'd never lived with anyone but his parents before and now, now he didn't know who he'd be living with. A couple of free nights was cheaper than trying to find a rundown motel to stay in. Paul was right in that regard, the trip exhausted him and he wanted the world to settle back down again. He'd never considered the full impact of getting on the bus, only that he needed to get away.

"I'll take it," Jeff voice cracked as he spoke. He was still very unsure about all of this and throwing himself in the deep end frazzled his nerves. That anxiety, mixed with exhaustion and desperation, it made it difficult to think. He wasn't able to focus on anything else beyond getting a door that he could close and shut out the world to catch his breath.

Paul nodded and gathered the papers back up. "Happy to help, but this is a short term thing. You want to stay longer, we'll need some signatures and first month's rent." His gaze dropped to meet with Jeff's, locking on the young fox's eyes. "I've still got bills to pay and I'm not running a charity."

Jeff nodded trying to keep his composure as Paul fished a key out of his pocket. "Down the stairs, first door on the left. You've got your own lock for added safety," Paul placed the key on the table before sliding it over to Jeff. His finger remained on the key for a long moment, "That said, I can pop the doorknob if necessary. Please don't make it necessary."

Paul lifted his pawfinger from the key and Jeff closed his paw around it. Unsure of what to do next, he watched awkwardly as Paul began to clean up the papers on the table. It took a moment for him to realize Jeff was still sitting there gawking. He slid the papers back into their drawer and turned to face the paralyzed fox.

Paul sighed, "You're free to go."

Jeff snagged the key and his bags, stumbling his way through the kitchen and down the stairs. After a few more heavy footsteps the sound of a door swinging open and then shutting echoed up the hall. Paul rubbed the bridge of his muzzle for a moment as he considered his decision. Lucky looked back up from the couch and over to Paul.

"He's cute."

Paul glowered at the rabbit for a moment, "And you're a smart ass." He smiled, "But you've got a good eye."

Jeff slumped back against the door. He desperately hoped that interaction wasn't going to come back to haunt him. Already his cheeks flushed under his fur and his heart raced in his chest. He was still new to this. Really to anything more than the quiet and repressive nature of a small town. Jumping headfirst into this without so much as a plan was terrifying. Even worse, he would have very little money left to keep himself afloat.

What about food and clothes? Or even furniture? He slid down the door, backside bumping against the mottled gray carpet. The fact that he had savings meant he wasn't going to starve for the moment but those were going to run out very soon. He might have a month after paying rent before he'd be trying to fish pennies out of the couch upstairs.

What the hell was he thinking? Why was he even here? Why did he think he could even do this? Casey dumped him because he couldn't even function without another person. He always deferred to what the group wanted to do or what Casey asked of him. Now he was alone, surrounded by strangers and without much of a safety net.

Tears began to pour down his cheeks, half relief and half regret, as he tried to choke back the sobs. He'd been an idiot since he first got on that bus. It was all an excuse to run as far away from his problems as possible. Once he got here, there were even more problems. Ones he'd never even considered. How was he going to make this work? Was it too late to call his parents?

Given the privacy of a room and a moment to reflect, he couldn't stop crying. Every overwhelming emotion crashed over him and it wasn't long before he was balled up on the floor. His face buried in this thick fluff of his tail as he tried to muffle the choking sobs. This was impossible! He'd been dead within a week! Who even were these people around him?

His panting grew ragged. His brain was on fire. Anxiety after anxiety filled his every thought until he could take it no more. Then it all started to go numb. Everything shut down. He could do nothing but cry and shudder until he finally passed out from exhaustion.

Without a clock, he had no idea how long he stayed like that. He only knew, as he awoke to his stomach rumbling and the dusky sunlight through his only window, it had been a while. Tears and drool matted his tail and muzzle. Sighing as he settled back into his fur, he pulled a towel from his duffel. He took a moment to gather himself and cleaned himself up. The familiar smell of the towel, the distant memory of home, almost pushed him over the edge again. However, hunger kept him anchored in the moment.

His paws rubbed his raw, itchy eyes as he slumped against the wall and tried to regain what composure he had left. The nap and the panic attack had actually settled him down. It was enough of a catharsis that he could think straight again. The reasonable side of his brain kicked in. It may have been a mistake but he needed to make the best of it. He'd put up with assholes of all spectrums through high school. He'd had his heart broken. Surely he could put up with a few roommates.

That thought settled in his mind, he looked about the room. Aside from a small wardrobe against the wall, it was empty. The floor hadn't been the most comfortable so he'd need something else to sleep on. Possibly a desk or something so he could convince himself he was an adult.

His stomach growled again in protest. Food would have to come first, though.

He took a few moments to further clean himself up. Brushing out his cheek and tail as he tried to keep himself calm. Once that was done, he busied himself with emptying his things into the wardrobe and found a new shirt to wear. His nose twitched as a new scent began to filter into the room. Someone was cooking in the kitchen and the scent of spices wafting down throughout the house. It made it all the more difficult to ignore his rumbling belly.

He had the cash to grab something beyond the candy bar from the bus station, but he didn't know where anything was. Everything was new to him and that included the people currently living here. Paul had seemed nice enough but he was still a stranger and Jeff couldn't help feeling awkward around him.

One thing was for certain, he couldn't starve to death in some basement apartment. He took a deep breath, gathering up his wallet and pushing open the door. By now the scents weren't the only thing traveling down the narrow staircase. Some chatter had begun up on the landing. The voices were soft enough that Jeff had to strain to hear them. He padded quietly up the stairs, pausing at the top of the stairs to make out what was being said.

"Another new guy?" One voice spoke out above the others as it was punctuated by the sound of a microwave slamming shut. "You have got to stop collecting people off the street, Paul."

"Really? You want to talk about collecting people?" Paul's voice quivered with irritation, despite sounding like a gentle jab. "How many of your conquests have walked in and out of that front door?"

"Yeah, but they weren't off the street."

A deep sigh followed a resigned groan as the sound of footsteps began to travel away from the kitchen. Dishes clattered for a moment and Jeff found himself looking up from the hallway to the sight of Paul's face.

"Eavesdropping, huh?"

Jeff shook his head, holding his paws up. "No, I'd... and there were people and..."

Paul frowned and rolled his eyes, "I wouldn't recommend making a habit of that. I hadn't heard a peep out of you since you went downstairs. Everything alright?"

"I... yes?"

"Very convincing."

"I'm new and I guess I was tired and..." Jeff slumped against the doorframe. "I have no clue what I'm doing."

Paul snorted, "You think the rest of us do?" A smile spread over his face, "Sorry. Cynic in me. What did you need then?"

"Something to eat. A bed. A job." Jeff half smiled, "An idea of what to do with my life now?"

"The first two are doable. The last two, I'm not touching with a ten foot pole."

Jeff nodded as Paul motioned to the table.

"For the moment," he said as he strolled over and pulled out a vinyl covered aluminum chair, complete with mid 70's floral print. "I've got a roast here. I usually make enough for leftovers but seeing as you aren't yet a tenant, I suppose you're a guest. You're welcome to have some."

"I couldn't."

Paul shrugged, "Alright, I guess that's settled then."

Jeff stopped, "But, could I?"

"See," Paul stopped mid-reach for the double tined fork resting beside the roast. "You need to stop that. You're not in your mom's house or your friend's. You are in a place that, god willing you actually manage to settle yourself enough to make a decision, you will be living in. If you can't do something without someone else telling you, the door is right there behind me." He motioned back to the front room. "You're on your own. I don't know about you, but when I got there, I needed way more help than I care to admit. So you can have some roast or you can get your own food. Gotta make the choice yourself, fox."

Jeff's hand stretched out and grabbed the back of the matching gaudy chair, pulling it out and settling in. "A couple of slices, please. All I've had today was a week old chocolate bar."

Paul smiled and sliced off a couple of thick wedges, laying them on a plate in front of Jeff. As he served himself, he bowed his head for a moment and closed his eyes.

Jeff had never had cause to say grace. His family wasn't particularly religious and with two other siblings, it was more often the case that food vanished if it wasn't eaten. A few moments hesitation could mean he was left with a cold sandwich or a slice of cheese rather than a hot meal. When Paul opened his eyes, Jeff still staring at him, he quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes I say grace. No you don't have do. Eat your food before it gets cold." With that, Paul dug in.

It still hadn't quite registered with Jeff how out of his element he was. He nibbled at his food, thankful for something real in his stomach. Still, the ever looming sense of displacement hung around him. Paul was right. Hopping on that bus to come out here was the first of many decisions he'd have to make for himself. Why didn't he think this through?

After the quiet meal, Paul gathered up the dishes and pointed Jeff towards the sink. Doing the cleaning was as an appropriate payment for the food and Jeff couldn't deny that. It wasn't like he hadn't had to do chores at home. Quietly, he scrubbed down the glass casserole dish, the plates and the silverware. After drying each with a rough, yellow towel hanging by the edge of the sink, he slid them back into the cupboards Paul pointed to.

"Plates up there, cooking dishes down there. We generally share dishes. Makes it easier for everyone involved. If you want your own, you're welcome to grab some but be warned they may get shuffled into the rotation."

Jeff dried off his paws and rubbed them for a moment as he stood in the kitchen. One thing down, only billions more to go.

"I need a bed."

Paul nodded, "Fair enough. Carpet's not padded anyway. What should you do about that?"

"You know anywhere in town I can get one? Preferably cheap... And nearby?"

"There's a thrift store a couple blocks down the road. They might have some stuff there. If not, you might have to head out to the furniture store on the edge of town. Beds aren't cheap though."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

Paul chuckled and patted the young fox on the shoulder, "Go have a look down the street. The rest can get sorted out later. Helps to focus on the things you can get done now instead of worrying about what might happen in the future."

The thrift store carved out a place in an old, empty strip mall. The remains of an old grocery store ate up most of the real estate despite being vacant. Its sign still hung partly attached above the doorway. What remained open were a small coffee shop and a mid-sized diner. Pushing open the much abused glass door, Jeff caught a familiar scent. The smell of old, abused furniture and desperation that filled every thrift store. Most of his hometown's city center was old antique shops and second hand stores. Being so small, there weren't many other businesses that could remain successful.

Here, it felt a little too much like being back there. Old, oddly shaped shelving and ancient display cases from the seventies made up the bulk of the store. Cheap bookcases were haphazardly crammed with merchandise. Forlorn toys and stuffed animals gazed out from their perch. That sense of panic, of being far outside of his own element, itched at the back of his skull once more. He was about to walk outside, if for no other reason than some fresh air, when he heard a voice from behind him.

"Can I help you find anything?"

Jeff started as the voice pulled him back to the present. The source of the voice, a young calico teen, smiled awkwardly and waved his pawfingers at Jeff.

"Were you looking for something in particular?"

Jeff nodded, "Bed. Need bed."

The young calico raised an eyebrow and shrugged. He motioned over towards a few old couches and loveseats. "We've got a couple of futons and there may be a twin sized over there." He lifted a paw to rub the back of his neck, "Sorry. It's all kind of a jumble. Inventory control is not a big thing here."

The two of them began to browse through the furniture. Jeff peppered the calico with questions, when he caught himself staring a little to long. He couldn't help himself. Ian, the cat's name, was adorable. Soft spoken, gentle, helpful. He was everything Jeff regretted giving up in himself after Casey broke his heart. It was difficult to keep his mind on what he was doing when he was crushing so very hard.

"This one looks in good shape. It's kind of heavy and a little small." Ian lifted the corner of a twin bed, its wooden frame shifting a little as he did so. "Can't beat the price, though."

"I'll take it!" Jeff blurted out, "I mean. I don't have a very big room so it's not like I have much option."

Ian smiled and Jeff felt his chest pound. "Sounds good. Did you need some help moving it?"

Jeff nodded, "I'm down the street a little way and I don't have a truck right now."

"Alright. We've got a guy who can do deliveries. It's kinda spotty when we can get him, but I'll call and check on his schedule. Let me get the address from you."

Another chunk of his cash was gone but he had a bed to sleep on. Jeff walked out the doors, trying to keep himself from glancing back over his shoulder. He regretted not getting Ian's number. It would have required a herculean amount of confidence to do so but that didn't stop him from regretting it. Of course, he knew where Ian worked now. He could stop by another time and try his luck.

While his walk home started with musing about trying real dating, it didn't take long to go much further. He thought about what might happen if they went out for coffee. He didn't much care for it but Ian might like it. He seemed like the creative type. Someone Jeff could picture writing their novel in a coffee shop.

Next he had images of Ian in glasses, working studiously. Jeff saw himself encouraging the young feline's pursuits. Being the supportive boyfriend he'd wanted Casey to be. He'd be much better at it of course. He'd hold Ian's paw when he was worried. Or help him find the right words to use in his story.

By the time he reached halfway home, Ian and he had been together for months in his mind. They'd settled in after Ian sold his first book. Jeff would be working some low pressure job but Ian would be a brilliant best selling author. The two of them would go on trips for book signings and appearances. He'd watch from the wings as Ian bathed in the spotlight. There wasn't any envy, because every night Ian would come home and embrace him. Every night would be a passionate display as they reunited.

Of course it was all fantasy but Jeff wasn't about to let that get in the way of being happy. He deserved someone like Ian. Someone who could help him get over Casey and become the better person he knew he could be.

Walking through the door with a newfound determination, Jeff had finally decided. He was going to stay. This had been the right choice and the time for doubt was over. He opened his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash, slapping it onto the dining room table in front of Paul. The older wolf clacked away on an old adding machine, looking up when Jeff's paw hit the table. He glanced down at the cash, then up at Jeff, before slipping his glasses off his muzzle.

"I'll assume that's a rent payment and you're not propositioning me."

Jeff's ears flushed a dark red as he stammered out an apology as he gathered the money back up. He shuffled it into order in his paws and handed it over with a meek smile. Paul chuckled and fished out the rental agreement. He counted the cash and typed away on the adding machine. Meanwhile, Jeff kept his head down and filled out the application in hunched silence.

Once complete, Paul handed over a receipt and shook Jeff's paw. "Congratulations, you're not homeless."

Jeff smiled. It was a difficult decision but he'd made it. His life was going forward and that was what he needed. A sliver of his unearned confidence restored, he took his copy of the agreement and headed off to his room. A pair of long ears popped up over the couch back as Paul sorted the wad of bills.

"He signed up, huh?"

"Yup." Paul licked a thumb and extracted a crumpled twenty from the stack, smoothing it out. "Figured he would. Looks like he fell off the back of the truck. Would have given him as much time as he needed but I guess he found what he was looking for here."

Lucky popped his head over from where he'd been laying on the couch. "If he did, he'd be the first person in this godforsaken town to do it."

"You can move out anytime you want, bunny."

"Why would I?" He slid back down into his reclining position, "You throw in ESPN for free with rent. I'm not going to get that good of a deal anywhere else in town."

Despite a fitful night's sleep and dreams involving Casey, Ian and himself in a raunchy three-way, Jeff was up early. Ian had gotten back in touch with him and said the delivery would have to happen in the morning. Their delivery guy's main job meant he was almost always working nights. Getting himself dressed and presentable, he rushed out the front door in a flurry.

Jeff planted himself on the steps of the covered porch. Another night sprawled out on the floor had been murder on his back but that didn't matter. Not only would his new bed be arriving, but someone who would likely help him fill it. Exhausted and giddy, he jumped to his feet when he heard a truck's horn.

A small, boxy truck that had seen better days pulled up to the curb right out in front of the house. Ian hopped out of the passenger side, dusting off his shirt and waving to Jeff. Out of the other side came a stocky, crimson red reptile. His wings folded against his back and a tousled mane of coppery frizz stuck out from between two thick black horns. A lump formed in Jeff's throat as he glanced down at himself and then up at the shirtless dragon.

Even as a younger fox, Jeff had never been a physical child. He avoided PE whenever he could, often with the thinnest of excuses. This had the unfortunate effect of instilling bad habits and a crippling sense of body shame. In middle school it was so bad he couldn't shower at the school, for fear of everyone making fun of his pot belly. Maturity had little effect on both his attitude and his physique which meant his mind immediately went to a dark place.

Ian was dating the dragon. That much was obvious. How could he not? The reptilian adonis glistened in the morning light as his scales caught the sun. Jeff's mind was already ramping up scenarios about the two of them grabbing each other at night. Ian squealing in glee as he pressed himself against those broad pectorals.

His mind's eye saw them going to the beach and sneaking off to some hidden cave to rut like animals. Or the dragon was working out in the gym as Ian blushed and desperately tried to hide his arousal. In Jeff's head they had been dating for years. They spiced things up by finding other insanely hot guys to hook up with for a fling and then ghost.

Jeff's previous confidence vanished in an instant. His ears pinned to the side of his head and his smile became more forced. Ian waved his hand in front of the fox's face a few times before he snapped out of his jealousy fueled imaginings.

"You okay?"

Jeff forced a smile with far too many teeth, "I'm fine. Just fine. Great. Just great."

"Uh, okay. Is this a good-"

"It's fine. Fine. Thanks."

Ian furrowed his brow for a moment before waving the dragon over. The two of them lifted the bed out of the truck and began to haul it into the house. Jeff followed, images of them going at it on the bed before getting here, dancing in the back of his head.

The bed proved difficult to squeeze down the narrow staircase. The application of some elbow grease and removing a few screws eventually got it down there. Even if it wasn't still in one piece. Jeff stood in the small, basement room with Ian and the dragon opposite of him. The bed was half built and crammed in a corner.

"Are you sure it's fine there?" Ian looked incredulous.

Jeff forced another smile, trying not to look up at either of them for too long. Every time he did, he could swear they were secretly holding hands. "It'll be fine. I need something to do today anyway."

"Alright. Sign here then."

Jeff scribbled a signature at the bottom of the form Ian presented him. He snatched the receipt away as quickly as Ian could tear it from the bottom of the sheet. The calico took a step back and shrugged at the dragon before turning back to Jeff.

"It's all yours. Pleasant dreams."

With that, Ian walked out the door and headed back upstairs. Both the dragon and Jeff watched after for a moment before Jeff turned back towards the bed. It felt like it was in just as many pieces as he was.

"Yer crushin' on him pretty hard, huh?"

Jeff started a moment, spinning around to face the dragon he'd completely forgotten about. His ears flattened completely against his skull. "No. No. He's... I mean, you two..."

The dragon blinked for a few moments as a smile began to spread over his face. Soon it broke out into a chuckle, faltering for a moment before bursting out in laughter. "Me and him? Ya don't know either of us! Why'd ya think that? Nah man. We ain't a couple. That's crazy!"

Jeff's ears crept back upward as he blinked. "But you..."

"What? 'Cause I don't have a shirt? It's hot out! I'm movin' beds. Geeze man. Ain't everything gotta be pervy!" The dragon punched him in the shoulder. "Yer wound tighter than a bed spring, man. Chill out."

"Sorry, I... I don't even know. Thanks though."

"No prob roomie."

"Roomie?"

"Yeah. Roomie. Ya live here and so do I. Jas," the dragon extended his hand. "Nice ta meet ya."

"Jeff." He took the offered hand, his knuckles protesting under Jas' vigorous handshake.

"I gotta go drop a couch, man. Chill out and unwind." He chuckled again as Jeff sunk on to the mattress. "Me and Ian. That's wild man!"

"I know. Look, I just thought..."

Jas was already midway through the door, his thick tail swaying behind him as he kept chuckling. Despite the embarrassment he felt, there was also a sense of relief. At least he'd managed to keep it together long enough to not screw up his chances with Ian. He sunk back onto his mattress as Jas' chuckle became contagious.

The dragon wiped a tear from his eye, chuckling under his breath for a moment. "Man, ya really gotta chill. Anyway, gonna grab a nap. You peace out, dude." He chuckled for a few more moments as he went to head up the stairs. Jeff could just hear him talking to himself.

"Me and Ian. Heh! Ian's girlfriend sure woulda had somethin' ta say about that too! She's tha jealous type."