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Transcendence

**Prologue: Shades of Grey

Pools of Malice**

Once there had been thousands of them.

Countless dark seeds that buried themselves into the hearts of mortals and drove them to such acts of debauchery and evil that the entire world of Enria had been consumed by sheer darkness for just a fraction of time. Such, wonderful, all-consuming darkness...

A war between 'superheroes' and 'civilians' began. Mighty men and women empowered by supernatural abilities tore the vast cities while nuclear arsenals of countless countries tried to wipe them from the face of the planet.

The Hero Wars scarred Enria's countenance and its history.

Then the No Ones interfered.

The blasted 'guardians of existence' who had been the first to unleash the Malefactors decided it was time to vanquish them once more.

For all the strength of darkness, it could not stand up against the light that the No Ones re-introduced.

Reprieve was formed and the superheroes ascended into the skies away from the darkness where their light could grow. When they descended back into Enria, they eradicated the Malefactors one by one... even if those 'superheroes' didn't know they were fighting pure evil itself.

By the end of the Hero Wars, there had only been seven Malefactors left.

Three years ago, an eighth was introduced.... only to be destroyed in the same year.

"Fear was idiotic," one of the gathered shadows snarled. "Too ambitious."

"But powerful," another agreed. "In this world of religion, heroism and philanthropy, we barely held a candle against the power of Fear. It grew much faster than we ever did in its short existence. Fear grips every mortals' heart."

"Perhaps..." a third conceded. "But we still exist as well. We only need to remind mortals of that fact."

The fourth shook its head sadly. "But what can we do? In the wake of Descent, mortal hearts are stronger than ever. They are united as one, empowered or not. Despite the dim glow of their light, when united, they shine brightly and we cannot take hold."

"Then we separate them," the fifth Malefactor growled. "We consume them one by one, turning them into a factory for our own darkness."

A sixth Malefactor grunted. "Ambitious... To achieve this, all of us must work as one. Where is Pride?"

In the shadows of the Pools of Malice, the six remaining Malefactors stood. All around them was sheer darkness save for seven, large pools of silvery liquid. Each Malefactor guarded their specific pools for each one was filled with the raw essence of their entire being.

Pools of raw Greed, Lust, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth and Pride.

"Pride is the only one of us who has found himself a suitable host," Greed scowled. "That is our current problem. We cannot fully invade Enria without a host! None of these mortals are suitable!"

A calm voice cut through the darkness.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance in that matter."

All their red, burning eyes flung towards the only pair of blue eyes in the Pools of Malice. Blue eyes with pupils that looked like eight-pointed stars.

R3... the Writer of Reality and a No One.

"You..." Wrath snarled, stepping forward ominously. "You have a lot of gall showing yourself here."

"Do I?" R3 answered calmly from beneath his helm. "As I see it, you have a lot of gall even existing. Keep in mind that it was only by my whim that you all exist. Should I will it so, you will all be destroyed."

"Then why not destroy us now, Writer!?" Wrath challenged.

The other Malefactors began protesting but when R3 lifted his hand, they all fell silent.

"The world is not just filled with light and dark," R3 explained, his voice smooth, cool and sagely. "It is a world filled with a myriad of colours. Colours that cannot be formed without the proper hues that come from additions of light and dark. You are the dark. If I destroy you, I'm going to be left with an oversaturated canvas and I may just have to do a rewrite. I hate rewrites."

Wrath puffed out his chest. "Ha! So you need us, do you?"

"No," R3 answered simply. "I said I 'hate rewrites' not that I can't do rewrites. I don't need you. It just so happens that I would rather not let you die so easily. Thus, I offer you a deal."

A deal with a No One was pretty much a deal with the devil. They saw the big picture. Their plots always ended with that clichéd 'I planned this all along' line and the Malefactors had been borne the brunt of more than one of those plans. The seeds of darkness had been used many times before and they were wary of a 'deal' with the most powerful No One.

"What do you want?" Envy asked softly.

"I will offer you the chance to enter Enria without the need of highly concentrated aspect of evil you rule. You can infect anyone. Anyone at all. Entirely up to you. You'll have to grow and develop on your own, of course but you'll at least be on Enria. The condition is that you have a time limit. One month. Thirty-one days and you can only infect those that your already-integrated brother, Pride, comes in contact with. Not a single No One will be allowed to interfere unless your actions directly concern them. If, by the end of that month, you cannot extinguish all light on Enria, then you will be completely obliterated."

Greed narrowed its eyes at the No One. "What's in it for us?"

"Apart from completely consuming all of Enria in darkness and extinguishing all light?"

That was a good deal... but...

"What will you No Ones be doing?"

"The No Ones not already on Enria will not do anything," R3 answered. There was a strange smugness in his voice that scared the Malefactors. "But, if you're eager for some other reward how about I give you the key to another reality if you succeed?"

The Malefactors were instantly filled with awe and shock. R3 was essentially allowing them to attack Enria with no restrictions and if they succeeded in engulfing the planet entirely in darkness... they would be allowed to entire another reality and consume that one too!

It was a deal too good to pass up!

"It is a deal," Sloth rumbled.

They could all sense R3 grinning beneath that helmet.

"Perfect."

?

**Chapter 1: Ball and Chain

Skyview Apartments, Apartment 6**

"You may now kiss the bride."

Jason Wolfe felt his heart flutter and a swoon was threatening to take him as the veil was lifted from his face. Eyes from all his friends and family were watching him closely, leaning close in anticipation as Brett Sykes - his one and only Brett Sykes - turned to him and gave him the most beautiful, heart-warming smile. Their noses pressed against one another just like they always did only this time, it was as husband and wife not as a fling.

Slowly, Brett grasped his cheeks and turned his head to the side. Their lips met, locking for the first time as a marriage couple. Everyone cheered. Rice flew into the air and the doves took flight. Rose petals danced around them and Jason melted into his husband's arms. Wedding music played in the background but it all seemed so dull against his husband's heartbeat.

Of course, the kiss had to end.

There was the reception, the honeymoon and then that trip the signing of the mortgage to get that beautiful house on the bluff he and Brett spent so much time on...

So many things to do, his sighed mentally.

As he pulled away from Brett's kiss, he stared at his massive, muscled husband and sighed.

"My bride."

And thus the nightmare begun.

"Wh - What?" Jason stammered.

"You're my bride, Jason," Brett accused, that smile on his face turning into one pure mockery. He lifted the ring that was wrapped around his finger. "And now, this proves it."

Jason glanced at the ring on his hand... and the white dress he was wearing. The ring began to turn a searing, hot red and he gave a cry as he tried to yank it off. The instant his fingers closed around it, it only intensified in heat, burning itself into his flesh.

"Ah! Goddamnit!" he cried.

Brett suddenly wrapped his arms around him forcefully and pulled him close. The entire audience was suddenly on their feet, their eye blazing red and the entire church darkening with menace.

"Bride," they chanted. "Bride. Bride."

"No..." he whimpered, switching his gaze back to Brett who was grinning at him maniacally.

"Admit it, honey," Brett snickered. "This proves it. Now give your husband a kiss."

"NO!" Jason cried.

He sat up, throwing the sheets covering him aside, each breath coming in ragged gasps as he took in his surroundings. Slowly, the vestiges of the nightmarish church faded. Accusing family and friends transformed back into dull furniture. His father transformed back into the couch at the corner of the bedroom, his mother went back to being the lamp beside said chair.

"Jason...?"

Brett stayed the same, though.

Jason fought hard not to flinch when he saw Brett roll over towards him, looking up sleepily at him. The big Rottweiler looked so adorable when he was sleepy despite being nearly three hundred pounds of pure muscle. It was hard to believe he was attending one of the most prestigious colleges in the world alongside Jason and was a Psychology Major. Rumours had it he would be the graduating Valedictorian.

"You okay, hun?"

The mere reminder of their engagement sent Jason's heart leaping out of his chest, shotting up and throat and erupting from the top of his head in a titanic explosion that was conveniently shaped like the words, 'MARRIAGE'. He glanced down at his right hand, seeing the golden ring with a sapphire glimmering there.

A sapphire that matched his sapphire-blue eyes. It was the reason Brett got him the ring.

He wasn't married yet...

... but he was definitely engaged.

"Y - Yeah..." he stammered, his voice rising to its usual high-pitch when he was nervous or lied. "I - I'm fine."

He had been with Brett for three years now and it had been two months since the Rottweiler had proposed. That was more than enough time for his... his...

Just say it... He's your... your...

"Fiancé?" a small image of him asked, appearing on his shoulder. The imaged looked exactly like him by wore a black shirt with a big, yellow smiley face on it. Optimist, the positive side of his subconscious. No one else could see him which made Jason seriously question his own sanity at times. "Come on. You've been engaged for two months! You've been expecting him to propose for longer! You want this! What's the problem!?"

"Simple. He's not the one." Pessimist, another part of his subconscious said. He wore a shirt with a red frown-face on it. "Remember, R3 is still piecing together Connor. Jason still loves Connor."

Connor Stark had been Jason's first love. A charming, overly-hormonal but sweet tiger who transformed into a raging, muscular beast known as the Raging Tiger whenever he was under stress. They loved one another and Jason had sort of proposed before Connor tragically died... By Jason's own blade. In order to stop Connor's grandfather, Titanitus, Jason had to destroy them both while Titanitus was possessing Connor.

Because Connor had signed his name in Jason's reality, thus binding his existence to Jason, and since Jason used a weapon that was basically a physical manifestation of his will to kill Connor, the tiger had been completely obliterated from existence.

There was bit of hope, however.

R3 the Writer of Reality, ruler of the No Ones, chief protector of all existence and sort of Jason's uncle was sifting through all possible realities and copying and pastings bits of Connor together. Jason wasn't entirely sure how that worked but, apparently, there are multiple Connors in existence, alternate versions of the real one. R3 was just taking bits of each one to reforge the Connor Jason had eliminated.

But it would take time.

Brett shuffled over to him and wrapped his massive, muscular arms around Jason, hugging him tightly and resting his head in the bend on Jason's neck.

The warmth and contact made Jason feel loved.

He loved Brett back and it certainly wasn't that he still in love with Connor. That was a fact. But he had chosen Brett. It was why he had said 'yes' when Brett proposed.

So what is it?

Why am I having these nightmares?

"You're afraid that it's a brand, aren't you?" Brett asked softly.

"What?" Jason asked, turning to his fiancé.

"The ring... the marriage. I know you don't really care what other people think of you but you still think that if you get married to me, one of us will have to be 'the husband' and the other 'the wife'. You're afraid that because, you'll still be in college and I'll have a job, that I'll be the one bringing home the bacon, you have to wear the dress. So in theory, you'll be the wife since you'll be stuck mostly at home doing the cooking and the cleaning."

Jason winced at the word 'wife'.

He sensed Brett grin.

"And it scares the hell out of you to be pegged as anything 'girly' because you're gay." Brett nuzzled his neck, running his soft, wet nose through Jason's jet-black fur. "Worse, you're afraid we won't be able to adopt."

Again, he winced.

There were three things he wanted in his life right now.

Brett.

A stable lifestyle.

And a child.

He felt a little terrible that Connor wasn't in those wants but he had moved on.

The first one he already had.

The other two...

It was alright in high school not to care what people thought of him and he was still open with his sexuality... Just... he wasn't about going announcing it to the world or going to any pride parades. The world wasn't equal despite the Descent Incident that had occurred three years ago. There were several minorities that were still looked down upon and given a hard time because of things out of their control.

Homosexuals were just one of them.

The last thing he wanted was to be rejected the chance of adoption because he was gay.

"Jase," Brett said softly, his big, meaty hands locking right in front of Jason's large, thick abs. "There are ways and there are open minded people out there and there are some real assholes mixed with them. You've got to give them the benefit of the doubt. You've got to take the good with the bad."

Jason shrugged his fiancé off and slipped off the bed, his tail drooping. "I... I just don't know, Brett..." he murmured. "I... I just feel like it's high school all over again when I was still in the closet... I just keep imagining meeting people randomly on the streets and calling me 'bride'. "

Hell, at their wedding he was wearing the white dress and the veil...

That brought shudders to him.

Brett rolled his eyes and grinned up at him. "In these fantasies, are you wearing a hot pink cocktail dress, wearing heavy makeup and jewellery?"

Not for the first time, Jason was glad that he had black fur and no one could see him blush. "Maybe..."

Sighing, Brett pull his naked form from the bed and scrounged around for his underwear. The previous night had been one filled with hot, steamy sex. That was the one thing Jason loved about being engaged to Brett. Every night felt like the night the Rottweiler had proposed. Although, on that night, they had done it on their favourite bluff overlooking the city of Newroads and slept under the stars in each other's arms.

"Jason, if you want, I can be the wife. You top me remember? But you've got to realise that we're going in this as equals. Gay marriage is hardly the same as normal marriage. There is no 'husband and wife'."

"So what'll the priest say when we're supposed to kiss?" Jason asked.

"What priest?" Brett laughed, finding a pair of blue boxers with lightning bolts across it. "No religion will bind two men in 'holy matrimony'."

"Oh... right... And, Brett... Those are mine."

Brett gave him a mischievous look. "I know." The Rottweiler swaggered out of the bedroom of their small apartment located near Skyscape College. Jason couldn't help watch that cute, bubble butt and that adorable, nub-like tail swing out of view.

Then he realised he'd have to wear Brett's underwear.

Or I could pick out a new pair from the drawer just a few feet to my right...

He thought about that for a moment...

Nah...

There was an odd sense of 'togetherness' in that fact but it already felt like they were exchanging wedding vows. That and he would have a hard on until he took a shower knowing his fiancé wore the same underwear. Again, he wouldn't mind on a normal day especially not on a weekend. Sporting a boner all day with his fiancé in the same house was his perfect idea of spending the day.

But there was just something about today that was special...

... something he was forgetting.

Hmmm... What is it?

He picked up Brett's red and white briefs, shuddering and relishing the their warm touch as he slipped them over his slightly aroused package.

Is it Brett's birthday...?

All thoughts of his nightmare were pushed out as his mind was consumed by this nagging feeling that something important was supposed to happen today...

... our anniversary...?

"No, that was last week," Horndog answered, the third and last part of his subconscious. Like the others, he looked like a miniature version of Jason but sported a black shirt. A black shirt with a squirting penis as a design. "I remember. It was totally hot. Wrestlers can be really flexible!"

WHAM!

Jason jumped slightly when Optimist hit Horndog with what appeared to be a frozen tuna.

What the hell is that!?

Optimist shrugged. "A Flying Frozen Tuna of Death."

What happened to the 'Flaming Frying Pans of Doom'?

Pessimist reached behind his back and pulled out an enormous frying pan that was ablaze. The weapon was almost as big as he was! "I get it."

What does Horndog get?

The hormonal part of him suddenly leapt to his feet, pulling out a large chaingun-like weapon only its barrels were enormous. "DILDO-CHAIN GUN OF PENETRATION!"

Jason sighed heavily as his three subconscious entities began warring around him. He shuffled out of the bedroom in Brett's underwear as Horndog quickly gained the upper hand. The horny little guy had the advantage with those red and white boxers as Jason was slowly getting more and more aroused.

Amidst the cartoon-like explosions, screams for help and comical clangs and thwacks, he managed to hold onto the thought that he was missing something about today. Brett was in the bathroom and from the sound of running water, he was starting to take a shower. Jason entered the kitchen and began brewing some coffee.

"Not a birthday... not an anniversary... Do I have a paper due?"

No... I've got all my assignments finished...

Is the milk expired?

He pulled open the fridge and sniffed at the carton of milk.

It was fine.

Are all the bills paid?

The hot water was running so that couldn't be it...

He growled in frustration as he sorted through the pantry for some form of breakfast.

Maybe we need to go shopping...?

No, they did that yesterday and the pantry and fridge were fully stocked. Weekends were meant to just be their 'couple time' unless either of them had an assignment to do.

Did I put out last light...?

"Damn straight!" Horndog said, standing triumphantly on the dildo-stuffed bodies of Optimist and Pessimist. "You howled loud, man! And why do you think Brett needs a shower? It's 'cuz his ass his sore, his fur is covered in your cum and he needs to recover because you rode him ALL NIGHT LONG! OH YEAH!"

Jason winced because he couldn't stop the memories from flooding his mind.

Last night had been steaming hot.

He made Brett squeal.

Knock-knock.

He glanced over at the door.

Dan must be coming over!

That was what he had forgotten! It was almost noon and on every other weekend, Dan and Chris - the Blue Wolf - came over to check on their 'sons'. Those two were getting as serious as Jason and Brett. Though neither had proposed yet, it seemed that soon, one of them would take the plunge. Chris was already starting to call Jason 'son' and it was making Jason giddy at the thought he'd have the Blue Wolf as a stepfather.

"In a minute!" he shouted. For a second, he wondered if he should get dressed.

But then again, it was Dan and Chris. They'd both seen him naked before. It was no big deal.

Jason headed to the door and swung it open.

... and he really wished he had put on some clothes.

"Um..."

"Hi..." the young, athletic stag said, waving weakly. "I'm... I'm Dominic West... I'm here for the roommate interview...?"

GAH!

That's what Jason had forgotten!

Today was the day he and Brett were interviewing prospective roommates! They had a spare room since they both slept in the same one. With the idea of buying a house as soon as they get married just around the corner, they had to start saving money. Getting another roommate would cut down the cost of living so they could save for a house.

And today...

... well today was just going to be one of those days...

Jason let out a loud yelp and slammed the door immediately, pressing his back against the door, eyes wide in horror.

Holy crap!

I just opened the door half-naked!

"There's not 'half' about it, big wolf," Pessimist chuckled.

Jason glanced down in horror.

Despite Brett's briefs, his thick, pink, tampering nine-inch cock was poking out of the waistband, riding up his washboard abs.

The shower stopped and Brett poked his head out of the bathroom, still dripping wet. "Jase? Who was that?"

"Oh... No one," he answered, his voice reaching high pitches again. "Absolutely no one."

Brett gave him a critical look. "That was a guy after the room, right?"

One drawback with living with a psychology major with genius-level intellect.

Lying was futile.

"Maybe..."

Brett grinned. "Was he cute?"

"Um..."

Only wrapped in a towel, his fur plastered against his godly body and dripping from head to toe, Brett stepped out of the bathroom, gently pushed Jason aside and threw open the door.

NO!

"Hey there!" Brett greeted, grinning from ear to ear. He held out a wet hand. "My name is Brett Sykes. Soon to be 'Brett Wolfe'. Nice to see you again, Dominic."

Jason watched in horror as the stag reached out and shook Brett's hand, grinning widely.

"You too, Brett!" Dominic poked his head around the door and glanced at Jason. "So, this must be the lucky guy, huh? The one you're hitched to?"

Jason braced himself.

Here it comes...

"So when's the big day?" Dominic asked.

"We just got engaged," Brett said with a grin, pulling his hand away. "Still tugging along trying to pay off college and that stuff." The big Rottweiler stepped aside. "Come on in. And don't mind Jason. He gets turned on when he's wearing my underwear."

No! Don't say that!

Jason was just completely frozen as Dominic entered the apartment. The stag had a fairly impressive set of antlers, eight points if he counted correctly. The guy was built for speed and lean with muscle. Nowhere near as Brett or Jason but still fairly impressive. His bright, green eyes matched perfectly with his coppery pelt that hung to a 5'7'' frame.

Alarm bells rang out in his head the instant the stag brushed past him, not-so-subtly running a hand over his abs, crossing his cock and slipping away.

What the - !?

"In case you didn't know, Jase," Brett said with a smirk, "he's gay."

"What?" Jason hissed as Dominic examined the apartment. "You're going to let another gay guy live with us!?"

"You weren't complaining when I was living with you, your dad and..."

Brett trailed off.

Both of them knew Jason still flinched at the mention of Connor.

"That was different!" Jason snarled, yanking Brett over to the corner so Dominic couldn't hear them. "I am not going to have another gay guy living under our roof!"

"If you're worried he'll jump your bones, don't," Brett said, pushing him back slightly and heading over to Dominic. "I know Dom."

"I gathered that, yeah." Those alarm bells began ringing again and he gave Brett a scrutinising look, his sapphire-blue eyes gaining a laser-like intensity. "Where do you know him from?"

"From clubbing."

"Clubbing?" Jason repeated. "Since when do you go to clubs?"

"I don't anymore since I proposed," Brett answered, shrugging and making a helpless gesture with his arms. He let go of his towel, the wet piece of cloth dropping to his knees and exposing his thick, furry sheath.

Jason's jaw dropped.

"I had a life outside of you guys before I met you, you know," the Rottweiler finished, turning to Dominic and wrapping an arm around the stag's shoulders. "Here, let me show you around, Dom!"

Had a life...?

But when he met me, he was just about eighteen...!

He wouldn't have been allowed into any clubs! He's a minor!

"Not like you were any better when you started sleeping with him," Pessimist said. He flicked out his Flaming Frying Pan of Doom and hit Horndog's face before the latter could make another lewd comment.

"You've got to remember the world doesn't revolve around you, Jason," Optimist said, drawing his Flying Frozen Tuna of Death and readying himself to strike Horndog. "Besides, Dominic seems nice. Why not give him a chance?"

Sighing, Jason muttered that he'd go put some pants on and returned to the bedroom.

"He seems nice."

"Gah!"

Jason immediately shut the door, slamming his back against it.

Sitting on his bedside table, a white and gold book in one hand and a crystal pen in the other, was one of the supreme beings of existence... R3 the Writer of Reality. The entity was one of the guardians of existence that watched over countless realities. Such beings were known as 'No Ones'. R3 was the surrogate leader of the No Ones - or so he claims since the 'true leader' was meant to be EX the Existent but no one had ever seen him.

In his 'No One form', R3 appeared as a tall human-like figure dressed from head to toe in glimmering, gold and white armour. A cloak was wrapped around his shoulders, falling to his feet. The cloak appeared like it was panning through the cosmos, galaxies, nebulae and comets dynamically swirling by. The No One's head was encased in a thick, metal helm with three prongs that rose from the middle of his forehead and his temples to make a golden crown. His features would have been visible by the 'T' shaped visor of the helm but it all things beyond that visor was blacked out regardless of the angle of light that struck it. All things save for R3's sapphire-blue eyes with pupils shaped like eight-pointed stars.

"Why do you guys always come up to me when I'm half-dressed!?" Jason snapped in a whisper.

Jason was the son of one of the No Ones, F6 the Patriarch.

The No Ones normally entered a reality through an 'Avatar', a physical manifestation of themselves that abided by the laws of the reality. Essentially, a version of themselves that was part of the reality they were entering. If the world they were trying to visit had people that were made completely of edible jelly, they'd appear as edible jelly. In those cases, should they mate and procreate, their offspring would be just another member of the reality.

Jason was the one exception.

When F6 the Patriarch procreated with Jason's mother, Serena, he had done so in his true form, as a No One. Thus, Jason was born as part No One. He had the ability to bend the laws of reality around himself and allow a sort of 'loophole' where those very laws were warped and bent slightly. It allowed the No Ones to enter the reality without having to do so through their Avatars.

He recalled hearing at one point from H2 the Harbinger of Havoc, another No One, that the only other time the No Ones could enter a reality without their Avatars was if R3 allowed the Apocalypse Decree. As its name dictated, the Apocalypse Decree was the final judgement. No Ones would pour into the reality and either purge it or save it.

"There's not 'half' about it," R3 said absently, still regarding his book.

Jason growled and yanked his denim pants from the floor, angrily stuffing his legs into it. "What's this about?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted chocolate mud or sponge cake for the wedding."

He froze. "Um... Why do you care?"

"Apparently, I'm in charge of catering," R3 answered, turning a page of his book. "Your father was rather insistent about it. Told me that you would procrastinate, panic and fill your days with your constant neurosis and never get anything done. I have already taken the liberty of setting up your bridal registry."

'Bridal registry'...?

My bridal registry...?

A feeling of terrible emasculation filled him, instantly killing his erection... which was a little fitting.

"Umm... Thank you...?"

"You might want to check it," R3 said, setting down a slip of paper on the table. "Though the gifts pegged by the other No Ones won't be their actual gifts, mind you."

"What are they getting me?" he asked. He realised his mistake. "I mean, us? What are they getting us?"

"They're getting you and Brett something separately, as individual gifts." R3 flicked back to the first page. "Hmmm... I believe V10 is planning on getting you a Temporal Computer and Brett a Mind Probe."

"A what!?"

"A Temporal Computer is a highly advanced piece of technology that comes after the Molecular Computer and the Quantum Computer. It is so advanced that it is capable of predicting its own results ahead of time, jumping through time and snatching its results from the future. And a Mind Probe is this tiny device that you stuff any orifice of a subject to -"

"Too much information!" Jason cried, picking up two socks and stuffing them into his ears. When he was confident R3 had stopped talking about sticking mind-reading devices down - or up - people's orifices, he pulled those socks out. "Seriously though? Are they really planning on giving me all that stuff?"

"Of course. You are their first and only nephew, after all." R3 turned the page.

Knowing he really shouldn't ask, Jason felt his curiosity kick in. "So... What are you going to get me?"

"Not entirely sure," R3 admitted with a shrug. "Tossing up between Connor and your own Reality."

Jason froze.

The C-word again...

It was weird... He could stand it if his subconscious said the word but if someone else it, it was like a fresh stab to the heart.

"But I suppose you're not quite ready to get married yet?" R3 asked.

"Of course not!" Jason replied all too quickly. He realised Brett could very well be listened and feared he'd open the door and find his heartbroken fiancé on the other side.

So he didn't open the door.

"So are all the things that Brett said true?" R3 asked.

"Huh?"

"The things about your fears. About how you're afraid you'll be called a 'girl'. About adoption. And that... other thing."

"What other thing?"

Realistically speaking, there was no point in trying to lie to the Writer of Reality.

"The fact there there's another guy in the house that Brett is all too familiar with and you're afraid will steal your fiancé from you."

Yeah... that...

"What is their story anyway?"

"I feel I shouldn't be the one telling you. That is something you should be asking your future-husband."

That was right...

Growling, Jason said, "Was there somewhere this was going?"

"The world is not made up of just black and white, Jason. Nor is it simply 'husband and wife' or 'married or unmarried'. There will be complications. There will be endless shades of grey, reds, blues, greens, yellows, purples, indigoes and every other colour you can think of. There are countless possibilities, endless paths and infinite roads you can take. Don't judge the path by the people who have already walked them or by the footprints left on the road. Have the power to carve your own path and shine your light into the path of your choosing."

...

Jason shook his head. "Was that supposed to be meaningful or did you just decide to string together some arbitrary collection of 'destiny' metaphors to make me think you're wise and all-seeing?"

R3 shrugged and got off the bedside table. "A little from Column A and a little from Column B. So was that sponge or chocolate?"

"Chocolate," Jason sighed.

The door behind him opened and Brett stepped in with Dominic.

"And this is our bedroom," the Rottweiler announced. "Sorry it's a bit of a mess. We had a late night." He winked at Jason who grinned sheepishly and waved a little at Dominic.

The stag offered a faint smile in return.

"Sorry about earlier, Dominic," Jason said, holding out his hand. "I just kinda got freaked out when I was... erm..."

"Saluting him?" Brett offered.

He growled at his fiancé. "Sure... Let's go with that. Anyway..." He regarded Dominic again. "I'm sorry. Hope you like the place."

Dominic shook Jason's hand. It was a firm grip. "Thanks... But I don't think I'll take it..."

Jason let go of the stag's hand in horror. "Huh? Why not?"

Did I scare him off?

Wait... Do I smell?

For the first time, he wondered if Dominic was looking at him as the stereotypical 'gay man'. The type that would jump his bones the instant he looked around or dropped the soap in the shower. Three years ago, Jason would've thought exactly the same thing if he started living with two, muscular gay men...

"W - Wait," Jason stammered. "If you think I'm going to jump you, I won't! I swear!"

"Not that you haven't thought about it," Horndog chuckled. Optimist and Pessimist levelled their respective weapons at him.

"It's not that," Dominic said, pulling his hand away from Jason's. "First of all, you guys are great but you're both carnivores. I'm vegetarian and I get sick just thinking about meat."

"Must be why he's so lean but still fit," Optimist observed.

Horndog drooled. "Hmmm... Lean meat."

CLANG!

Pessimist hit him with his Flaming Frying Pan of Doom.

"And secondly, your neighbours are party animals. I need my sleep."

That they were...

The first few nights, Jason and Brett had trouble sleeping because there were constant parties going on. At one point, a drunk guy actually stumbled into their apartment and started molesting Brett. Jason almost threw him right through the wall. They learned to lock their doors after that.

Thankfully, the two of them had found a way of inducing sleep...

"And lastly," Dominic sighed, glancing around. "You guys don't even have a game console!"

Jason felt his world crumble. "The world isn't just about gaming, you know..." he murmured.

"Sure it is! Have you ever had online sex?"

He blinked. "Huh? Why would I? I've got Brett. And how does that work anyway?"

Brett beamed. "Oh, it's great! You get to do things that you never though -"

Jason stared daggers at his fiancé.

"Shutting up," the Rottweiler muttered.

"Anyway," Dominic said, smiling and heading towards the door. "It's a nice place but just not my type of place. I'll see you around, Brett! Nice meeting you Jason!"

And with that, the stag left.

"Aw... I liked him," Jason admitted.

Brett pressed his soaking body against his. "As in 'liked him' or 'liked him'?"

Jason leaned over and kissed his lover. He pulled away for a moment just to say, "Which one will get me more sex tonight?"

They kissed again but it was Brett's turn to pull away.

"That one."

*****

The interviews for the rest of the day went rather... spectacularly, to say the least.

First there was the bisexual football jock who was more than willing to get in bed with both Brett and Jason but when he mention his girlfriend, both occupants gave him a big red cross.

As juvenile as it sounded there was a serious 'No Girls' policy with their applicants. It wasn't that they were being sexist... okay, maybe just a little but they were a gay, soon-to-be-married couple! They wanted to do things as a gay couple that would normally offend any normal girl... Like 'milk' each other and then use the produce for their breakfast cereals... or doing it on the couch... in the shower... Practically anywhere...

Then there was the pot smoking artist who was giving Jason a headache just being around him. He liked his health and didn't want to go on 'trips' while he was doing it with Brett. That was a big 'no'.

He wasn't about to forget the conservative activist that they both slammed the door on the instant they saw the 'No Same-Sex Marriage Badge' on his chest.

Then there was the guy with a paper bag over his head claiming that the federal police had put him in the Witness Protection Program and he had to keep his identity a secret or the mob will come after him... Yeah, that didn't turn out too well either...

"At this rate, we'll never find a suitable roommate," Jason sighed, collapsing onto the kitchen counter. "Was there anyone else that was coming to see the apartment?"

"Just one more," Brett said, sitting down beside him and nuzzling his neck.

"I hope it's someone that has some semblance of normality... I mean, geez... Did you have to pick all the weirdos in the world?"

"No offense, Jase, but you're not exactly the epitome of the word 'normal'."

No... No I'm not...

"You know... I'd almost settle for Robin at this point..."

He felt Brett suddenly grin. "I'm glad you said that..."

Jason sat up almost knocking his fiancé down. "No... You didn't..."

Knock-knock.

"He did," Pessimist sighed.

Before Jason could get up, Brett was zooming towards the front door, practically bouncing on his way there.

The instant that door opened, Jason's mind overloaded.

"Hey Robin!" Brett greeted cheerily.

"Brett," Robin answered in her usual, dull, emotionless drawl. Her long silvery hair was tied up in a ponytail behind her while her amethyst eyes as cold and sharp as ever. She stepped into the apartment without so much as waiting for Brett to invite her in and sniffed the air. "I take it you two have taken advantage of your time together."

"Mayday! Mayday!" Optimist cried, running around with a bucket of water. "Someone put out that fire!"

"You can't put out a fire with that!" Pessimist snapped, pulling out a fire hose. "Stand aside!" He pulled the trigger and the hose started dousing some of the flames burning away at Jason's consciousness.

"We sure have!" Brett answered, grinning from ear to ear. When the Rottweiler shut that door, it seemed like the words 'NO ESCAPE' suddenly fell on top of Jason, pinning him down and binding him in tight, shackles.

"Humph," Robin muttered. "The least you could have done was to get rid of the smell..."

Brett caught the slim but athletic Robin in a big bear hug and lifted her into the air, causing her to give a cry of shock and demand to be put down. "Aw! If you're going to live with us, you'll have to get used to that! Also, Jason and I divide the day into three parts. Morning Sex, Afternoon Sex and Evening Sex. In between each of those, there's Breakfast Sex, Lunch Sex and Dinner Sex. Weekends, there's also Movie Night Sex."

The fires in Jason's consciousness flared up even more. His three subconscious parts ran around in a panic. Horndog was actually on fire but the other two didn't care and was making bombing runs at the flames in stealth bombers armed with water-filled bombs.

"For the love of EX! Just nuke it all!" Pessimist cried.

"You'll destroy his consciousness!"

"It's already gone!"

Robin slipped out of Brett's grip and dusted herself off. "Huh... Well I suppose that sounds fair... Myself and my boyfriend will be of the same mind."

A huge torrent of water shaped conveniently like the word, 'Boyfriend' came crashing down onto Jason's burning consciousness, dousing every flame and soaking his three subconscious parts in water. Pessimist and Optimist were fighting over the remote that would detonate the nuclear bomb buried somewhere deep in his consciousness. Horndog was still running around screaming.

"You have a boyfriend!?" Jason exclaimed.

"Why?" Robin asked sharply. "Is that so hard to believe?"

Actually... yes.

"No," he answered shakily. "But... Who is he?"

Robin appraised her surroundings. "He will not be living here if that is what you're asking. We are hoping to find an apartment of our own but his college debts have become somewhat too strenuous and he must live close to his current job."

"Why not move in with him, then?"

"Same reason you would rather not have him move in here. Far too many people. He will visit from time to time. Perhaps spend the night and I will do the same at his residence to give you two your privacy."

It's funny how she's already assumed she's going to move in...

"Can't you guys find some place to yourselves? Just to two of you?"

"You're being a little pushy there," Optimist said. "Seriously, who better to have a roommate than Robin? She already knows you. You two have been through a lot together and it's not like she's going to make any judgments outside of what she normally does anyway."

"Yeah, but what about her boyfriend?" Pessimist countered. "How's he going to feel with her living with two gay guys?"

"It's the perfect temptation-buffer. She can't seduce two gay men nor will she run the risk of having sex with them either."

"Good point..."

"So it's a good idea."

"Yeah."

"Again," Robin said curtly, "cost of living is high these days. Our economy is not as strong as it was since Descent." She regarded Jason expectantly. "Do I have your approval, then?"

Jason mentally sighed.

I suppose there can be no harm done...

It's not like I'm going to sleep with her... or her boyfriend...

... I am engaged after all...

He glanced at Brett and saw those cute, round, watery puppy-dog eyes aimed at him and he knew he couldn't fight back. Not against an arsenal like that.

"Alright..." he sighed. "I suppose you do..."

"Excellent," Robin answered, turning around on her heel. "I shall inform the moving men to start bringing my things up."

Jason sat up. "What!?"

She glanced over her shoulder at him. "I took the initiative to have my things move here. Is that a problem?"

He thought he should say something along the lines of, 'Damn straight it is!' but he realised that this was exactly something Robin would do. Sighing, he sat back and just let her be. Brett hugged him as Robin sauntered off, humming a nameless tune.

"Are you mad at me for inviting her?" Brett asked, nuzzling him again.

There was no way he could stay mad at him.

Jason nuzzled him back. "No... I'm mad at her for assuming she could move straight in... though... All things considered, I suppose she was right... We wouldn't be able to say 'no' to her anyway..."

Brett kissed his cheek lightly. "I wonder who her boyfriend is..."

"Someone as cold and as bitchy as her, probably."

"Be nice," Brett laughed slapping his chest lightly.

*****

Thankfully, Robin didn't really have that much stuff to bring with here. Just books, her computer a huge assortment of clothing, some stuffed animals and pictures of boy bands. Honestly, Jason was astounded at just how girly she was. In the back of his mind, he imagined she was some evil, sadistic witch that performed dark rituals in her room and cast voodoo spells on men's balls as she pretended to roast them over a spit.

But... she seemed actually pretty normal...

"All settled in?" Jason asked, leaning against the doorframe to her room. Robin was packing her clothes into her closet.

"I soon shall be," Robin answered without looking over her shoulder.

"I guess you should know the house rules then... Um..." He scratched the back of his head. "Never leave anything empty in the fridge of pantry... If you're with someone, put something on your doorknob -"

"How often have you had to exercise that rule?" Robin interrupted.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Believe it or not, it's become a habit."

Most of the time it's an accident... Like me accidentally leaving my boxers on the doorknob...

"We're guys so we leave the toilet seat up," Jason continued. "Don't bite our ears off because of that. Umm... I do all the cooking but if you wanted to help out..."

"I shall cook should you require the assistance."

"Great... There are laundry hampers so when you need your laundry done, just put it in there. There are two. One for the coloured clothing and one for the whites. The white one is for the coloured and the multicoloured one is for the whites."

Robin sat up and stared at him incredulously. "What kind of insane system is that?"

Jason blushed. "Brett and I thought it was pretty funny..."

"It is idiotic."

"It's how it's done in this house," Jason growled.

Robin sighed and returned to her unpacking.

"Oh and we've only got the one ironing board so the one who irons first has to iron everything."

"Who ended up ironing most of the time?"

"Me," Jason admitted with a sigh. "Brett always gets me, somehow. I just can't stand all the clean, unironed laundry going around and when he starts wearing an unironed shirt..."

"It's clear who wears the pants in this relationship..."

Jason bristled. "Hey! I get to boss him around to!"

Robin smirked at him. "Really? 'Boss' or 'nag'?"

I'm not going to answer that.

"Who does most of the shopping?" Robin asked.

Ah-ha!

"We both do," Jason replied smugly.

"Who picks out what they need and who's the one that tells the other one to fetch something?"

...

"I pick and send Brett around." That sounded like the dominant role... but then again...

Aw crap!

Robin was smirking. "Now tell me. I noticed that there were two cars out there. Who drives more often?"

"We share."

"Does he ask for directions?"

"No. I -"

GAH!

He turned around and stormed back into the kitchen. Brett looked up from where he was slouched on the couch.

"Something up, handsome?"

"Robin is already getting on my nerves," Jason snarled collapsing next to him, arms crossed and growling softly. "Remind me again why this was such a good idea?"

Brett leaned in and nuzzled him. "Because you know her, you can endure her and she can pay the rent."

An evil grin crossed his face. "Yeah... she can. I wonder if she has life insurance..."

"Be nice."

Whatever conversation they were about to have stopped as the newscaster began reporting on the recent gang activity in Newroads.

"Alleged crime boss, Maximillian Devries has been released today after the jury ruled that there is no substantial evidence to link him to the drug trafficking rings that ex-Justice Guard member, the Blue Wolf, uncovered several months ago. Judge Natalia Powers said that while Devries' actions and past record speak out against him and the public clearly wants him executed, there is no substantial evidence to link him to this particular crime."

Brett winced. "Looks like we're going to get an earful from your dad and his hubby when they come to visit..."

While the Justice Guard had disbanded and superheroes had their identities openly known to everyone, there was no stopping them from running around saving people and helping to protect society. Petty crimes dropped to negligible levels.

Big crime bosses and supervillains, however, were still around.

Families of superheroes were put under close surveillance like they were royalty that needed to be protected all the time. It wasn't always effective but with all supers being now well-known, they all congregate around one another. They formed little cliques, clubs and support groups.

One such group that Jason was offered to join was known as, 'My Parent is a Superhero'. Of course, they forgot he was a superhero as well... or had been. His short-lived career hadn't really hit the stands and most people thought that the reason he was the first one off Reprieve - the orbital space station the superheroes called their own - when it fell was because he was a 'greenhorn' too eager to go back to normal life after the disaster that struck all supers.

He was comfortable with that.

A lot of supers didn't believe he had actually played an integral role in averting the disaster either and he pounced on that advantage to blame some 'Bane Bloodbath' as the instigator of the catastrophe. No one blamed Kevin Riley.

Which was just as good.

Kevin was just misguided and he got to fade back into the background.

Crime wasn't as bad as when Reprieve was still in the skies but there was still crime.

"Still can't believe dad went back to being a lawyer..." Jason sighed heavily. "I suppose there's something to be said when you've got a former superhero prosecuting you..."

Brett chuckled as the newscaster switched to another topic.

"On an unrelated matter, reports of yet another disappearance has been reported. This time near Newroads National Park. Some camper's equipment was found at the camping grounds with signs of struggle and evidence of someone being dragged away. Blood was found at the scene and it has been identified as one Nora Le'Tombe."

Jason instantly sat up, causing Brett to topple over and tumble behind him.

Le'Tombe...?

An image of a snake with a creepy smile and heavy eyeliner appeared on the screen. Jason recognised that face and under any normal circumstances, he wouldn't growled and thrown something at the TV screen upon hearing her name.

But the fact that she had 'disappeared'...

Le'Tombe was the school psychologist back at Newroads High. She, along with Vice-Principal Norwood had schemed to get him thrown into the remedial classes by using his own intelligence and prejudice against superheroes against him. They claimed he was cheating, saying that his extremely high marks in maths was evidence enough when compared to his failing grades in Social Studies.

When he had accepted that he was gay, Jason had gotten some of the No Ones to help him cause Le'Tombe to breakdown. She resigned as school psychologist but remained as a biology teacher.

"Hey..." Brett muttered, pulling his nose from the small of Jason's back. "Isn't that that chick that tried to get you kicked out of school?"

"Send me to remedial classes but yeah, that's her," Jason answered.

"She was apparently camping with her sister, Lara Le'Tombe, over the weekend. When her fiancé, one Ted Norwood, reported her missing, police immediately went to investigate."

Huh... Norwood was her fiancé...? Makes some sense.

Never would've thought...

"Those disappearances are growing increasingly disturbing."

Jason yelped and glanced over his shoulder. Robin was standing behind the couch, arms crossed and her eyes fixated on the television. She had the unique power to alter people's attention, essentially allowing her to become 'invisible' in a sense. That power had evolved to the ability to create illusions but that was a strain for her.

"Done unpacking?" Brett asked, grinning and standing up. He wasn't wearing any pants just a pair of briefs, these ones blue and yellow. "Great! So I guess Jase will get dinner running, huh?"

Groaning, Jason got off the couch and stretched as well. "Yeah, I suppose I will."

"Prepare another helping. My boyfriend will be coming as well."

It irked him that she was so... demanding. It was only her first day and already she was bossing him around like she was queen of the household. However, he forced himself to calm and vowed that after her first week, then he'll start crushing her skill between his hands.

"What are we having?" she asked.

"Nothing fancy," Jason answered, heading to the kitchen. "Just fried rice and beef with black bean sauce mixed with some oriental vegetables."

Maybe I can demand if her boyfriend is coming over, she should at least help me out...

"I shall prepare the vegetables."

He started as Robin turned and swept into the kitchen ahead of him. She was already taking out the cutting board and a knife. Having been used to doing all the cooking since he and Brett moved in, he was a little startled to have someone help him.

Not that he minded.

Brett was a heavy eater and he tended to work it off during the gym... and in the bed. Jason usually had a lot of cooking to do.

Maybe this could work...

"What ingredients do you need?" she asked.

He told her exactly what he needed and was surprised to find that they worked quite well together as they prepared the meal. Brett was lounging about on the couch, flicking through too many channels to actually be watching anything so wasn't really any help. Robin, on the other hand, surprised him as she moved around him and with him.

The last time he had tried to get Brett to help him cook, they had crashed into each other, slammed into appliances and nearly got Brett's big toe cut off. Two big guys in the kitchen was not a good idea. So the Rottweiler vowed never to enter the kitchen unless Jason gave him permission to do so.

As he tossed the fried rice in the wok he had bought a while back, he noticed Robin was stirring the beef and tasting it every now and then, adding sauces and spices as needed.

"Where'd you learn how to cook?" he asked, breaking their silence.

"I took Home Economics as my elective back at Newroads High School."

Huh...

"And you?" she asked curtly though she made it clear she really wasn't that interested.

"When I was couch surfing, I had to learn how to cook to pull my weight around the household. Learned a lot when I was spending time with Jen and her brother. Jen is an amazing cook."

Speaking of Jen...

"Hey Brett," he announced, "Remember that we're picking up Warren tomorrow and having lunch out."

"Uh-huh," was the reply. His Rottweiler was staring at the TV screen, transfixed on some show about a new piece of workout equipment that could exercise every muscle without the need of changing modes or the equipment itself.

"Your friend is coming?" Robin asked.

"Yeah... Warren Bladebreaker. He's a buddy of mine during Middle School. Joined the military once he hit high school. Became an Alderonian Marine. His tour is over and he's looking for some place to crash."

"With us?"

He wondered how Robin would react to another bundle of muscle and testosterone in the house. But he decided that wouldn't be wise. Warren and Jen were yet to learn that he was gay let alone engaged. He wanted to tell one of his dearest friends on his own terms and not with Robin going around blurting the truth because she thought she was doing him a favour.

"No. He's staying with Jen."

"Does he know?"

Oh boy...

Jason just imagined Robin actively seeking out Warren and Jen the instant she knew he hadn't told them yet. There would probably be some comical chase scene through Newroads as he hunted her down before she could blurt out his... well, it wasn't so much a secret... More like his 'untold truth'. There was a particularly fun image of him dropping a grand piano on her and he set that aside as something he'd do anyway.

"About what?" he asked.

"That's you're actually a superhero or the child of a deity in charge of governing all mortal bodies."

That he hadn't considered.

Those images in his head turned to three possible scenarios.

All started with him saying, "Warren... I'm actually a superhero and the child of a deity in charge of governing all mortal bodies."

Scenario One... 'I Don't Think We Can Be Friends Anymore':

Warren - a big, red-scaled dragon with green eyes and a blonde mane - would stare at him for a few seconds then abruptly turn around.

"Umm... Thanks for being honest with me, Jase... but I... uh... have to go find some guy to shoot... So... um... Bye! Don't call me!"

Scenario Two... 'Insert Riotous Laughter here':

Warren fell over, laughing. Most of it was just 'Bwahahahahahahaha!' There was an odd snicker or two added there but it didn't turn out well.

And lastly... Scenario Three... 'Spandex is Hot'

Warren leaned over, grabbing Jason by the collar and a devilish grin on his face.

"Awesome. I never did it with a superhero before. So you got super endurance too?"

As an added bonus... he kissed Jason.

GAH!

"I will take that as a 'no'," Robin said, pulling the beef off the stove. "How long has it been since you and he last made contact?"

"A while now. We talk over the net when he's not deployed."

"That means he does not know about your engagement either, correct?"

"Yeah..."

They started setting down the plates on the small dining table that sat between the open lounge and the kitchen.

"You better not start blabbing about it!" Jason snarled.

"I will be spending the day with David tomorrow," she answered. "I will be nowhere near you."

"Better be..."

A knock came to the door a few moments later and Brett jumped up to put some pants on, leaving either Jason or Robin to greet their guest. Since it was Robin's boyfriend, Jason let her do it while he shovelled the rice onto a presentable, big bowl and added the finishing touches to make sure the meal was both delicious to taste and eyes.

Brett emerged from their room a moment later wearing a plain, white shirt and his favourite gym shorts, the black ones with a yellow stripe. Jason growled lustfully upon seeing his fiancé and Brett replied by wrapping his arms around Jason's waist and kissing his cheek tenderly.

"Beef, huh?" the Rottweiler teased. "Don't you think you're going to get enough meat tonight?"

Jason rolled his eyes and shoved Brett lightly off. "You are so horny."

"Oooh! I think the beef needs a bit more salty seasoning!" Horndog cried.

Optimist and Pessimist were about to beat him to a bloody pulp when Robin pulled open the door and greeted her boyfriend. Her icy countenance broke into a brilliant smile, something Jason had hardly seen her do. She leapt forward, hugged the recipient and quickly pulled him inside. That smile was still on her face as she made introductions.

Oh no...

"Brett, Jason," Robin said, still beaming. "Meet David Storm, my boyfriend."

Alarm bells instantly erupted in Jason's mind and he seized Brett's hand... at least he thought it was Brett's hand. It was far too warm and far too cylindrical. Besides, he had held it far too often not to know what it was. Even upon realising he had grabbed Brett's cock - and his Rottweiler and let out a faint yelp at the contact - he grinned at Robin and David as if nothing was wrong.

"Hi, David! Pleased to meet you!" he said in his high-pitched, lying tone. "Brett, honey, meeting!"

He yanked Brett buy the cock straight into their room, slamming the door shut.

"Wow!" Brett laughed, instantly collapsing onto the bed. "I didn't think you were that eager, Jase. I mean, the beef comment was a little tasteless but -"

"It's not that!" Jason barked, throwing his hands into the air. Realising that both Robin and David might be able to hear them, he dropped his voice low. "Robin's boyfriend is gay."

Brett's sceptical look was a little hurtful but cute at the same time. "Jase, he wouldn't be a boyfriend if he was gay..."

"You don't get it! I remember him! On our way to New Hope City three years ago, he stole my underwear while we were on the plain and was jacking off in the toilets! He was sniffing it!"

A soft groan escaped Brett. "God that's hot..."

"Focus!" Jason snapped.

"Wait!" Pessimist exclaimed. "What if... What if he's not really Robin's boyfriend? What if he's after you? What if he's just using Robin to get to you?"

"Don't be stupid," Optimist snarled. "Do you think anyone would use someone else like that?"

"Oooh! Let's play connect the dots!" Horndog exclaimed.

"You're thinking crazy thoughts again, aren't you?" Brett asked.

"What?"

"Whenever you're being overly neurotic, you get this weird on your face. Your eyes sort of lose focus, you bite your lower lip and your nostrils flare. You look like you're constipated."

Jason tried readjusting his face, knowing full that Brett was right. That bought him a laugh from his fiancé. Brett slipped off the bed and hugged him tightly.

"Come on, Jase, it could be a different jaguar. Or, maybe he's bi. You never know. But don't go ruining this for Robin, okay?"

Sighing, Jason realised that this was not about him... this was about Robin and as much as he wanted to ruin that conniving, cold, icy bitch's life... he wasn't really about to. Nodding, he gave Brett a quick kiss.

"Thanks, Brett... You're the sense in my neurosis."

"There's no 'sense' in 'neurosis'."

"You know what I meant."

They returned to the dining area but it seemed that Robin was on the verge of leaving. David looked dejected as well.

Oh no...

Did they hear us!?

"Robin...?" he began softly.

"Sorry," she responded, holding up her phone, her emotionless mask having returned. "My lab partner apparently just deleted all our work from her hard drive. I must give her my half again or I will fail my engineering course. I must be off."

Jason saw the grin on Brett's face and realised he had just stepped into the proverbial lion's den.

"Need a ride?"

No! Don't leave me with David!

"I was going to merely take the bus..." Robin murmured.

Brett struck a casual pose and snatched his keys from the counter. "Guess there's one advantage of rooming with a couple of gay guys, huh?"

Seeing David's ears perk at that just made Jason's heart plummet.

Oh no... He's still... Maybe he's bi...?

"You going to be okay here with David, Jase?" Brett asked.

No...

"Oh yeah, David and I are cool." Jason turned towards the jaguar with a shaky grin. "Right, Dave?"

"Absolutely," the feline answered, returning a mirroring shaky grin.

"Great!" Brett answered, patting his shoulder. "I'll be right back. You two go on ahead and dig into that beef." He winked at Jason. "We'll be right back!"

Jason just kept grinning shakily and it seemed David was doing the same as both Brett and Robin left. They were still waving and grinning even as the door shut. Still waving and grinning as Brett's pickup truck drove off.

Waving and grinning a full ten minutes later... at least Jason was.

He turned towards David...

... only to find the jaguar standing right in front of him, a bit of saliva dripping down from the corners of his mouth.

"Uh... H - H - Hi, D - D - Dave..."

A soft purr escaped Dave's lips. "Hmmm... beef..."

Uh-oh...