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Chapter 5:

Kari flopped onto the bed in her apartment, and pulled up the covers around herself, wrapping them around her petite body. The chill of the wintry night threatened to shear through the blanket like a cold steel knife into her spine.

The chill pervaded through every part of her life. It was there in the winter. In the spring. In the summer. In the fall. And it especially loved to embrace her at winter yet again and again. And it loved to crawl through the little space in her moth-decimated sheets that she never bothered to replace, to slide against her and caress her, reminding that she would be in its embrace forever more. Night after night, it would wait for her until she got home, and welcome her into its cold arms.

But she remembered that, for a time, she had another lover. Once upon a time, someone else held that space beside her. And his embrace was warm. And that made the cold that much more heavy upon her body.

***

That Christmas morning following that particular night was truly, in all her then eighteen years of life, the best Christmas she ever had.

He had walked her to his apartment - his humongous body blocking the chilly winter air - a heavy arm wrapped around her shoulder like a scarf. She found herself thanking the powers that be that the streets were empty with how affectionate he was - nervous glances every which way every time he pulled her close to reassure her.

It wasn't quite the stuff of the cinema. After all, it was just a daddy and his little girl. Athaulf lived all by his lonesome. He told her about how he once had a childhood sweetheart who told him she would wait for him until he got back. But that turned out to be the stuff of fairy tales, and she had left him for another after two years by herself, having refused to put her life on hold.

Still, she had their daughter - now 16 years of age. And he wasn't the sort to hold grudges - and even if he had any, he'd put them to the side for her.

"She's such a wonderful pup. You'll love her. Little sweetheart, though...kinda mouthy, but you'll get used to it. I like to think she gets the bluntness from me," he said with a laugh while holding Kari close, rocking her along with his laugh. Athaulf had a bit to drink before he left with his prize in tow - told her it was to "numb the headache she gave him during the match" - though she had refused his offer of a free drink. "Hah, my mother'd love ya if she were still around."

She had heard it was a bad sign when men brought up their old flames. But she didn't care. Being held close. Affectionate nuzzling between her ears. And just being in the arms of someone so strong and gentle. If this was a bad omen, she wanted to be branded by it.

Normally, men and women that she knocked out and had her way with in the ring didn't bother following up. They didn't care about her. That was the nature of the job anyway - knock 'em out, fuck 'em, and forget about them. The girls of Dick's Drinks knew better than to form attachments.

But most of the others had someone to go back to. Gwyn had her big brother. The triplets had each other as well as several brothers and sisters - both younger and older. Matthias was a workaholic and often busied himself setting everything up and also ran a small cafe during the day. Even Dick h

Kari found herself always tempted to bend the rule backwards...and even break it in half. And now, she was. And she couldn't muster the fear to deny herself this little brief reprieve from endless solitude, the intimacy-less void.

For a moment...she forgot that she was Kari. The 19 year old employee who turned tricks at Dick's Drinks. No, she was Kari...it was like she was...Well, she didn't even have an age to go back to. But she had heard about so many times on television, in news articles, from her peers. A warm home decorated with lights and little tinsel and wreaths and joyful carols being sung from every which way, excited pitter patter of little feet down the stairwell to see what Santa had brought them. No hostile glares. No fear of being called an ungrateful brat for asking any questions. No demands to smile for the family video camcorder or else.

It was a fantasy. A fairy tale. And suddenly she was living it. She had someone to walk through the snow to a place someone called home. Perhaps, one day, she might call it that, too.

She didn't have much to say. Not that she was trying to shut down on him - she just wasn't a talkative sort. She loved hearing about his family. About his daughter. About stunts he and his war buddies pulled. Her eyes lighting up as his stories took her away from her reality, which he was already making a fantasy.

She was about to fall asleep while walking, listening to his soothing voice, interspaced by raucous laughter - the jolliness of which assured her that everything was as it should be - that tomorrow, for the first time in what seemed like forever, could be something to look forward to when the sun rose once more.

The blissful buzz between them...shattered into a thousand shards by way of her stomach growling like a dog. Her eyes flashed open - her ears and tail standing on end and stiffening, as did her entire body underneath Athaulf's grip. Her eyes darted towards him - already flinching.

To which he gave a comforting rub of her shoulders. He merely piqued an eyebrow, and asked with a knowing, fanged grin, "Hungry?"

***

The 24-hour diner was a bit of a hole in the wall - but the warm lighting and staticky country tune being played from what she assumed must be some sort of rustic classic type radio filled the pair with a certain sense of warmth. And in spite of the peeling paint, everything was maintained meticulously, without a speck of dust nor a dirty dish nor stain to be found anywhere.

As the pair stepped into the diner, there was an immediate "JUST A MINUTE!" hollered out from the back as they entered - the clattering of washed dishes causing the mouse to flinch, with all the hairs upon her ears standing straight up.

Athaulf's humongous paws stroked her back gently, allowing her shoulders to relax ever so slightly. The mouse taking a deep breath as a rather pear-shaped black bear lady entered, wiping her paws on a worn, but seemingly otherwise clean washed out pink apron with the phrase 'kiss the cook' on with a novelty sized set of lipstick marks to punctuate the cute little phrase.

"Howdy, Atty! Up to mischief, huh? What can I getcha, hun?"

Athaulf offered an easy grin to the black bear. "Hey, Annie. Merry Christmas - the usual if you don't mind. Two of 'em."

"And who is your little friend? She looks good enough to eat!"

She tensed. She knew it was an expression, but given how much larger they both were, it lent a certain credence to the phrase.

"Oh, this is Kari. She's from Dick's."

"Oh." The bear's face soured a little. Kari winced, ears flattening against her head. Annie shook her head. "It's not you dear. But Dick...if Lucifer fucked a cactus in the North Pole, the baby still would not be half as prickly, cold-hearted, or foul as that man."

"It...It pays." Kari's cheeks stretched as she tried to maintain her smile.

"Bless your heart, dear." Annie clicked her tongue as she shook her head. "Atty, you better treat her right, y'hear?"

"Oh come now, you know me better than that." Atty gave a fanged grin.

Annie shot Atty a glance, but rolled her eyes and waved them dismissively to the empty seats in the diner. "Have her pick whatever she wants off the menu. My treat to both of you. On the house."

"Oh come now, you don't have to do that. I got h-"

"Lookie here, Mister." Annie shot a look at Athaulf. "Anyone who puts up with Dick is worthy of a little T-L-C - even more than you can spare, hun."

Athaulf put up his hands with the same easy smile upon his face. "Well, if you insist. Thank you kindly, Annie."

"Dayumn straight. You're going to take my kindness up yo' ass, love it, and ask for seconds, y'hear?" Annie smirked. "Now what would y'all like to drink?" She crossed her arms, eyes shifting from mouse to wolf, waiting for their orders.

"Coffee. Black."

"Just water."

"Comin' right up!" Annie turned upon her heel and left to the kitchen.

"Annie's a real sweetheart. I remember when I got back from the Gulf War and my wife dropped the bombshell on me. Remember sitting in this booth right here, and not knowing what to do with myself. Back then, they still served alcohol. Even now, if no one's around, Annie will mix me a drink or two." He chuckled. "She refilled the mug I was cradling until the cows came home." He shook his head, waving his hand at the air. "Pardon, you probably don't want to hear that from an old fogey like me."

Kari paused. She had heard stories from the older women at Dick's. Don't trust a man who talks about his ex. Still, something was different about Athaulf. Her eyes locked with his."I've...seen and heard it in more than a few men." The mouse gave a half-hearted giggle with a sad smile upon her lips. "At first I was concerned when I saw it. I mean, I've never drank myself, but hearing their stories, I started realizing why people would. To forget. To escape. Some apparently want the courage to get loose-lipped. I try to chat them up if the night isn't too busy - sometimes people just want an ear."

"Well, that's mighty kind of you. Though I bet more than a few of 'em try to give you their numbers," Athaulf grinned.

Kari shook her head, an uneasy smile drawing across her face. "I mean...yeah, sometimes. I don't think any of them have ever taken me home with them, though." Her eyes looked up at Athaulf out of the corner of her gaze.

"Hah, well, I'm a crazy sonuvabitch. Something about you just...spoke to me, y'know?."

Kari shook her head and tried to tighten her smile a little for Athaulf. "So what is it about me that spoke to you?"

He shook his head, and gave a half-hearted smile. "Let's get on happier things..."

Kari's eyebrow perked, "Happier things?"

"Happier things."

Kari shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Well, happier things for clients generally meant one thing. She didn't know what little girls did to make their fathers happy, real or not. She never figured it out herself. Might as well do what she knew. "So...I guess I'm your prize." She put upon that same porcelain mask, and offered a sweet smile. "What would you like me to do...?"

"I'd rather not think of you as a prize." Athaulf smiled lazily, with a genuine affection twinkling in his gaze. "I'd rather think of you as my little girl."

"You keep saying that. I mean...I've heard of all that before, but I admit, I've never really considered it."

"Pardon pushing it upon you last night." He frowned, biting his lip slightly - for a moment, his facade of ease lowered. "Didn't feel right to stop and explain it to you in the middle of a fight - and by the time I realized it, you were trying to make my good eye match my bad one." The big wolf chuckled to himself under his breath..

"You're a weird one," Kari giggled. They were all a little weird. The patrons of Dick's Drinks. Then again, she wasn't exactly a typical flower herself.

"Well. I've watched a few of your matches. Not sure if you noticed me." He held up his paws. "Wasn't trying to...stalk or whatever. But you did catch my eye."

Kari shook her head. It might be a bit creepy, but there were people who came back to see her shows all the time. And while it could be creepy, there was a sensation from Athaulf that made any doubts go away.

She put her paw upon his. Calloused. More than her's even.

"Did you do a lot of boxing in the army?"

"Marines," he corrected, offering a smile.

"S-sorry," Kari said, her ears wilting along with her voice.

He leaned back and laughed. "It's an old marine...tradition? I never much cared for it. A lot of us hate being grouped together with the army. A typical soldier doesn't do half the shit we do. But...bah, for me, at least, no sense in getting upset over it. And to answer your question, hell yeah. Knocked out a few of my fellows and also a British Royal Marine once in an international competition." He grinned fangedly. "Fun times."

"You'll have to give me a few pointers." A bit of a sheepish smile returned to Kari's lips. "So...not to be vain. But what about me caught your eye?"

"I suppose 'caught my ear' would be more appropriate. Overheard one of the other waitresses talking about how you got your start at Dick's."

Kari looked away. Her breath felt like it froze in her chest-an icy layer in her throat choking her. "What about it?" She shook her head even as she spoke. Her eyes squinted, attempting to clench her ducts shut.

"Coffee, and water!" Annie announced as she approached the table, with both drinks in her tray. She stopped, and looked to Kari, before back to Athaulf.

"Is he making you cry?" she asked to Kari, while threatening to shoot fire with her eyes.

Kari held up her hands and shook her head. "N-no, not at all. We were just...ch-chatting."

"...if you say so," she said, without allowing her gaze to leave Athaulf.

Athaulf forced a nervous chuckle, before picking up his menu. "I guess we should get started ordering for the little lady and me. Ah, order whatever you want, Kari-my treat."

"I couldn-"

Annie's glare intensified-and she feared Athaulf would either break down crying under the pressure or his head would pop, in spite of him not actually doing anything offensive...

"A-aha, I mean, th-thank you Mr. Athaulf, I'll have the 'migas blancos' with fruit instead of hashbrowns!" she spat out as her eyes raced over the menu. She made a mental note that Annie would make for a fiercesome opponent in the ring, at least as far as her stare went.

"I'll have a 36 oz "Big Man" steak special, as usual, with hashbrowns. Oh, and get the kid a stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes with butter and syrup."

"But-"

"My treat."

"But I have to-"

He leaned in and lowered his voice-putting up his paw so Annie couldn't read his lips.

"Any pounds you put on, Daddy will help you melt off."

He gave her a knowing look with a sly grin, and her ears almost instantly folded-she could feel her body nearly melt into the seat, shuddering at the wild bucking of her imagination, and all she could utter was a meek "okay."

Annie chuckled, and shook her head. "Careful of this one-Satan was a helluva sweet talker, too!"

Kari's cheeks flushed scarlet...and she smiled at the company. "Th-thank you both...I-I really appreciate this. It's been a long time since I've eaten with anyone like this."

Athaulf blinked. Annie looked to Athaulf, before looking to Kari, and back to Athaulf quizzically. The big wolf then smiled. "Well, let's make this a regular thing then."

Annie smiled, and steppd away, shaking her head. "You two behave while I get cookin' on yer food, y'hear?"

Athaulf grinned toothily, but dared not even nod, before returning his gaze to Kari. He patted his thick leg and motioned her over...

Kari frowned. "N-not in here..."

"Nah. Nothing like that. Just come here."

Kari's ears wilted...and her tail tensed...but she obliged, and stood up to cross over and seat herself upon the old vet's lap.

He wrapped a trunk of an arm around her and cradled her head to his broad chest...

She found little comfort-and only tensed more with questions. The first of which being, "Why...?"

"...is it that strange for a guy to be affectionate?"

"...I mean no, but..."

Athaulf squeezed her tighter, and kissed her between her ears. "...you can tell me all about it."

The pancakes were piping hot, and filled her belly-it had been the first time in a long time that Christmas seemed bright. And, back then, she remembered silently wishing, praying, that such holidays would keep coming.