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Red never understood why students took creative writing if they didn't bother to take it seriously. He supposed by teaching at Morgana University, one of the most prestigious schools of magic in the country, he was asking for it. Especially now, at six-thirty on a Friday evening, when the weekend had all but started, with dreams of parties and the upcoming home game floating through students' minds.

"'The Wolf began to slip, and fell straight into the great trough, and was drowned. Little Red Riding Hood went joyously home, and no one ever did anything to harm her again.'"

Professor Julian Redford, known amongst the staff and students simply as "Red," set down a heavy book and peered through wire-rimmed glasses at his students. Only half of them were paying attention, staring off into space or playing with their phones. The ones that were listening wore slack expressions or drooping eyelids, clear signs of boredom that Red had trained himself to ignore.

"This is one of my favorite fairy tales in American literature. And no, it's not because I share a nickname with the main character," the fox said with a dry chuckle that was met with unrelenting indifference. "There are over fifty versions of this story across many cultures and going by different titles. But where do you think the original author got the idea? Surely it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision?"

More silence. Red, beginning to dread grading the pop quizzes he'd planned for the end of the lesson, suppressed the urge to tell off his students for being so quiet. If they thought this class was an easy A, they had another thing coming. "The answer: life experience. Every story, fiction or not - especially fables and fairy tales - are born from a kernel of truth. Some may be inspired by a significant event in a person's life, or maybe it's meant to convey a lesson the author learned themselves. As you begin your first short story assignment, think about what truth you want to get across to the reader. What truth is important to you?"

Glancing at the clock to make sure he hadn't rambled for too long, he waved his hand at the projector, causing it to whir to life. With the lecture presentation already queued, the title page illuminated the screen, large enough for the whole hall to see.

"Now, on the topic of truth. Who can tell me -?"

His lecture was interrupted by a dainty knock, only just audible to Red's keen ears. Annoyance sparked at such a rude interference, but then he saw who it was. A black wolf peered cautiously through the door he'd cracked open, eyes darting from the professor to the dozens of students and back. He looked clearly embarrassed to interrupt, but whatever he was feeling paled in comparison to Red's utter shock and disbelief. He knew who this man was.

The lights flickered, plunging the whole lecture hall into momentary darkness and eliciting confused whispers from the students. Noticing the brief electrical malfunction, he pulled himself together and cleared his throat. "One minute everyone. Excuse me."

Without another word, he left the podium and met the newcomer outside the hall, closing the door to make sure they weren't overheard. Now that he was closer, he studied the wolf properly to make sure he wasn't crazy. The wolf wore all black, including a leather jacket and jeans that made him look like a biker. His fur was brushed to perfection, a spiked leather collar nearly buried in his neck fluff. He was tall, maybe six feet, a thin scar parted the fur on his muzzle, and he was bulkier than Red remembered, but the fox was certain who this was.

"Wayne?" Red muttered shakily, a strange but familiar feeling welling in his chest. It rose to his throat and started to choke him, but he squashed it before it could intensify.

The wolf nodded, a somber expression softening his features in a way that made Red's heart melt. "Yeah, Red. It's me."

Red could hardly believe his eyes. It had been ten years since he'd seen Wayne, and now here he was as if nothing ever happened. It was like looking at a warped photograph of an old friend. "What are you doing here? Where have you been?"

Wayne rubbed his arm with a pained expression. "It's kinda complicated. I know it's weird seeing me here, but I want to explain. You have a few minutes?"

Red glanced back at the door. Suddenly a dull lecture with unenthusiastic students didn't seem so bad. "Now's not a good time."

"Red, please." The wolf looked downright pitiful with his ears pinned to his drooping head. He tugged at his collar uncertainly, but his words were genuine. "I'm sorry for everything, and I wanna make it up to you. Give me five minutes, that's all."

"I can't!" Red hissed, a surge of anger flaring from within. "I have a class to run, and you couldn't have chosen a worse time to show up. If I was really that important, you wouldn't have left in the first place, so stop trying to make me feel sorry for you."

Red turned to leave, but a paw grabbed his shoulder. Wayne realized what he'd done and released him instantly as if he'd touched something searing hot. "You're angry. I get it."

"So you're not as idiotic as you look. Congratulations."

Wayne deflated at the snide remark and pulled out a wrinkled receipt and a pen. Scribbling something on the back, he pushed the paper into Red's paw. "My shift ends at eight tomorrow. Meet me after work, and I'll explain everything. If you don't...I'll leave you alone."

The wolf instinctively moved in for a hug but seemed to change his mind, stifling a nervous cough and awkwardly waving a paw. "I hope I see you later, Red. I really am sorry."

Red watched him walk away, unsure what to make of what just happened. The paper felt like a hundred pounds in his paw, but he didn't dare look lest he get any bad ideas. Wayne was a selfish jerk with no values, simple as that. He probably came crawling back after all this time out of loneliness or spite.

Stuffing the receipt into a pocket, he pushed the event out of his mind and returned to class.

......................................................

"Wayne Nox? The same Wayne who ghosted you after going on vacation to the Bahamas?"

"The very same," Red said, only half paying attention. It had been harder than anticipated to stay focused during class, but even in the relative solitude of his apartment, his mind hadn't gotten any clearer. In the kitchen, his cousin Jade pored over a pot of boiling water and a pile of chopped herbs while he tried to grade some nonfiction papers with little success.

A thick fog lingered in his brain since the incident with Wayne that refused to dissipate no matter how hard he tried to shake himself into reality. It was like Wayne had shattered his perfect picture of a life, and now he couldn't make heads or tails of it. Just like he had all those years ago.

"He's bad news if you ask me," said Jade, scooping a handful of herbs and tossing them into the pot. This didn't surprise him. The vixen never sugarcoated things when it came to personal matters, a trait that he both admired and despised. "There's no way he disappears for a decade and then just randomly shows up at your class. You don't know what he's been doing all this time. He could be down on his luck and asking for money, or maybe he's been dealing with illegal magical objects and wants business with you."

"Unlikely," said Red. "He hates asking people for money and knows I refuse to use any magic that's unregistered or not my own. You know that."

"Just saying."

Red crossed out a redundant sentence and fiddled with his pen between two fingers. Amongst the mess of papers was Wayne's receipt with a name and address scribbled on the back. The mere sight of it made his head spin, and he squeezed his eyes shut, massaging his eyebrows. "He wants to meet me tomorrow at his work. Tell me his story."

"Then don't go," said Jade matter-of-factly. With her back turned to him, all he could see was the brunette bun she wore to keep her hair out of her face while teaching magical medicine at Morgana. She was the reason Red ate so well and visited the gym on weekends. "It's obvious he'll just lie to try and get back in your good books. He'll say he's sorry, that he's changed, that he gives a damn about how you feel, but we both know that's crap."

"I don't know, he seemed honest. Maybe he has changed," said Red, clicking his pen by habit. At class, he would have agreed with Jade, that Wayne's return spelled nothing but trouble. Now, after a few hours of contemplation, he wasn't so sure. "People can change given enough time, and ten years is plenty. Who knows?"

"He's not a character in one of your stories, Julian." Jade ignored Red's scowl upon hearing the awful name his mother had given him at birth. "Some people just don't have it in them, and he doesn't. Remember the time he showed you up in front of the whole school?"

Of course he did. It was the first time they'd almost let slip their relationship to the public. They'd gone to a house party the night of high school graduation, and Wayne had a few too many drinks. He found the wolf swapping saliva with one of the popular girls and blew up at him, furious that he'd throw him aside so easily. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was because no one knew Wayne wasn't totally straight, but something compelled the wolf to laugh and deny ever being involved with him. They didn't speak for a week, and Red nearly went to a different college just to avoid him.

The fog weighed him down again, causing the fox to caress his temples to stop his head throbbing. "He apologized for that. And it wasn't the whole school, just the seniors."

"Whatever. Frankly, I'm surprised you two lasted a year." Jade added a pinch of some spice Red couldn't see and stirred the mixture, filling the apartment with the scent of garlic. "You're too trusting for your own good. Lucky you have me to keep you in check before you do something reckless."

"Yeah, lucky." The address on the receipt was looking more inviting by the second. Jade was right; his and Wayne's relationship had been volatile at times, but there were good times too. Like the time they went out for gelato on Red's birthday, their first date. Or when Wayne came over on weekends after finishing work and they'd watch stupid shows until one in the morning. Or when they started college in the same apartment and celebrated by expressing their love for each other in the most carnal way possible.

Recollection of their first time brought a shy smile to his lips. Wayne had been just his type - lean, confident, and bold. He remembered sneaking into the high school pool, a chubby nerd with dorky glasses and a lupine fixation, to spy on the swim team as they practiced. Wayne, the team captain, had spotted him while coming in to change and took the opportunity to ask him out. Red had thought it was a joke until he came over that night to take him for gelato. Even now it surprised him how someo e lik Wa e would be e in at ated wi a b r g w i er l e h

"Julian! Stop it!"

The fog cleared. Jade was screaming at him from the kitchen, the entire apartment swept in a strong gale that blew papers, kitchen utensils, and loose decorations about the place. The wind spun like a cyclone, ripping the air from his lungs and making it hard to breathe.

Red sprung from his chair and outstretched his paws. A wave of crimson light pulsed from his body, halting the pandemonium instantly. Papers drifted to the ground to join the mess he'd already made while Jade glared at him, stray strands of hair falling over her face.

"You've got to control yourself!" Jade stressed as she straightened up the kitchen and made sure the pot hadn't spilled. She waved her paw, and a number of kitchen items and ingredients put themselves back into place, enveloped in a soft emerald glow. "You could have killed me just now!"

"You try having TAD, then. See how you handle it," Red shot back bitterly, doing the same with his papers. He kept his eyes down, doing his best to hide the fact that his heart was trying to leave his chest.

It wasn't his fault his magic was so unpredictable. Thaumaturgic affective disorder, or TAD, made it near impossible to keep it in check. Any time his emotions spiked or he got too down on himself, his magic would grab the wheel and take him - as well as anyone nearby - for a ride. It was hard to think sometimes and even harder to keep himself stable with his magic and brain constantly at war.

Jade seemed to regret her insensitive remark and ladled some of the pot's contents into a glass. She brought it to him, easing him back into his seat. "Blow on that first. Make sure you drink all of it."

Red did as he was told, blowing ripples into the translucent green liquid and tipping the glass into his maw. Despite its garlicy odor, it had a bitter green apple taste that made his tongue want to retract to the back of his throat. It was only a few mouthfuls, but this potion never tasted good, even at age 17 when he'd been diagnosed. Already his heart began to calm, the mind fog held at bay for the time being.

Jade sat down and slid a glass of water toward him, her face etched with concern. She prodded the receipt. "Where does Wayne work?"

Red, taking a gulp of ice-cold water, snatched the paper and unfolded it. It was worn from being folded repeatedly, but he could still make out the words he'd read countless times since class ended. "The Witch's Dungeon. Looks like it's on the other side of town. Heard of it?"

Jade shook her head, reaching up to redo her bun. "I need the car tomorrow to get to a conference. You won't rest easy unless you give him a chance, so be careful. If he tries anything funny or you want out, I'll drop everything and come get you."

The fox studied her face for any sign of sarcasm or bluff, but he found none. "You'll really do this for me?"

"It's what family does," she replied and returned to the pot, pouring more potion into bottles that she corked and set aside. "Just don't let him push you around. He may have changed, but so have you. If there are any problems, you can't just go along with it like before."

"Don't worry. I won't."

....................................................

Problem number one. The Witch's Dungeon didn't exist, at least according to his phone's GPS. The app yielded no results, so he was forced to find it manually. It could have been a new establishment the app hadn't been updated to track yet, but he found that unlikely since it had never failed him until now. Still, he knew the town well enough to navigate, and eventually his method worked.

Problem number two. The Witch's Dungeon was a leather bar. Red should have seen it coming, given the address was in the seedier part of town, an area he tended to avoid at all costs. He knew people who'd been mugged here, and the lack of consistent police activity on the edge of town didn't help. If he called Jade, it would take her at minimum twenty minutes to get here. But the worst part was the kind of clientele he knew frequented leather bars, and he didn't fit in one bit. He considered himself classy, not kinky, so the moment he spotted the bar's flickering neon title amongst a sea of shabby establishments in the area, he knew he was in for a harrowing experience.

Problem number three. He was woefully overdressed. Even outside of work, he rocked a sweater and tie with a nice pair of jeans. "Dress to impress," as his mother always said. But now, his look did anything but. Inside, an arrangement of booths and tables were populated by various leather enthusiasts. A group of bikers guffawed loudly amongst themselves while chugging beer and mirthfully watching a sports game on a wall-mounted flatscreen. The raunchier patrons wore leather harnesses leaving them all but topless. Even the staff fit the theme, wearing varying degrees of questionable outfits. It was like someone took a Hooters and gave it leather. And hired only good-looking men.

The place was surprisingly packed for such a barren area of town. Its interior was more elegant than suggested by its outside view. The furniture looked to be made of mahogany, the walls washed in a calming beige that didn't seem bland in the place's vigorous energy. Lantern-like lamps hung from the ceiling, adding a homey texture to the atmosphere that somehow made it more inviting. Behind the bar, the wall was brick lined with a vast collection of liquor.

And then there was Wayne himself. He tended the bar with an energy befitting the place, chatting up the patrons and mixing drinks with a smile. The most striking feature, however, was his choice of clothing - or lack thereof. The wolf had neglected to wear a shirt, leaving cannonball biceps, strong pecs, and a rippling six-pack visible for all to see. No doubt it helped bring in business.

Ignoring scrutinizing looks from the customers, Red made his way to the bar and awkwardly waited to get Wayne's attention. The wolf was busy talking to a leather-vested heavyset boar with a mixer in hand, too enthralled by his conversation to notice him. Only when Red edged closer and waved a paw did the wolf's eyes snap up to meet his.

"Red, you came! Give me just a second, and I'll join you after I finish up the next couple drinks."

Wayne mixed his last drinks in record time and slid them over to their respective customers, disappearing out the back door once his replacement arrived. The boar he'd been conversing with turned to appraise the fox.

"You new here, kit?" he drawled in a pronounced Southern accent. Red's meek nod brought a grin to his face in between two thick tusks. "I can tell. Word of advice: if you're comin' to a place like this, it doesn't hurt to check the dress code."

Unable to find a reply, Red gulped and nodded. His heart plummeted when the boar stood and moved toward him, his wide muscled frame and prominent belly invading his personal space. The boar's grin widened after looking him up and down.

"Shame the barkeep's so keen on you. You don't look half bad, kit."

"Uh...thanks?" Red's hesitant reply fell on deaf ears. The boar had slipped past him and made for the exit by the time the words left his lips.

A paw clapped onto his shoulder, making him jump. Wayne's smile brought him back to the surface. "Glad you made it. C'mon, let's grab a table."

As the Wayne led the way, Red saw he'd put on a black tee, probably to cover up the goods now that he was off the clock. Without a counter to obscure his lower half, the fox noticed he wore on-brand leather pants and black boots. He tried not to notice the way they framed his thick thighs and bubble butt. The wolf had definitely been hitting the gym harder since he left.

Finding a booth, Red slid into his seat across from Wayne, who seemed unable to shake his goofy grin. "You hungry?" Before Red could respond, he said, "Don't worry, I ordered us both a Dragon Slammer. It's to die for. Trust me."

Red considered asking what a Dragon Slammer was but felt it didn't matter at this point. This whole experience felt like a forbidden dream, a guilty pleasure he would surely be punished for. It was surreal in an oppressive way.

"So," he said, trying for small talk. "You work at a leather bar? That's neat."

Wayne chortled, the sound rumbling deep from his chest. "The Witch's Dungeon isn't a leather bar. It's a gastropub with a leather theme. Have you ever seen a leather bar this tame?"

Tame wasn't how he would've put it, ears flicking at a particularly loud cheer from the biker gang that prompted raucous laughter and the sharp clinking of glass. Then again, he'd never been to a leather bar, and Wayne seemed to read his mind.

"It was the owner's idea," he elaborated. "A homey place for magical guys to hang out with a bit of a risqué side. As you can see, it's a hit."

Red couldn't get over how popular this place was for its location. All this furniture and decor had to cost a fortune. "How come it doesn't show up on my phone? Finding it wasn't easy."

Wayne wiggled his fingers as if casting a spell. "Magic. If you don't have magic, you can't find it, which means a GPS won't see it. The Dungeon's built for magical people only. It's part of our niche."

Well, it worked. Red cast another glance around the dining area, now with the knowledge that everyone in here had magic. Even the biker gang, which he'd assumed to be the most mundane thing about this place.

A sudden detail occurred to him, and he looked at the wolf in surprise. "Wait, you have ma -?"

"So I owe you an explanation," said Wayne, readjusting his collar, which Red only now noticed he still wore. "It's probably a good thing I didn't do this during your class, because this'll take more than a few minutes."

His question hung on the tip of his tongue, but Red refrained in favor of finally getting some answers. Any suspicion or oddity regarding Wayne's return was about to be explained, and suddenly the oppressiveness of the bar lifted, leaving them both in their own bubble. Right now, it was just him and Wayne.

Wayne let his gaze become unfocused and distant. Red's heart sunk once more. That was the look of someone choosing their words carefully, and it didn't bode well. The wolf took a deep breath and began. "As you know, I went on vacation to the Bahamas with my parents. One night, we were at this Thai restaurant - really fancy place. Things were going well, and I was feeling good, so after we ordered drinks, I decided to...you know...come out to them."

Red's chest tightened; what a recipe for disaster that was. Despite being one of the most flirtatious people he knew, Wayne kept his sexuality a secret from most, especially his parents - and they weren't subtle with their conservative views. Red could understand the desire to open up, but he couldn't fathom what had possessed Wayne to do it hundreds of miles away from any other friends or family.

"They didn't take it well," Wayne continued, now fiddling with a napkin and actively avoiding his eyes. "There was an argument, and I left before the food came. I was pretty upset, so I went to the nearest bar and got drunk."

"Why didn't you call me?" Red blurted before he could stop himself, attracting the attention of a couple gruff bears from the next table over. He didn't care. "We could have talked it out! I could have stopped you from doing something stupid!"

"That was my second mistake that night," said Wayne with an empty smile, completely unfazed as if he'd already anticipated an outburst from his former lover. "I didn't want to face you with my mind still reeling. I thought if I just dealt with the problem on my own, I could keep it from hurting you."

"A lot of good that did. You're right, that was a stupid mistake." Red retracted further into the booth, snatching a cocktail menu to read for no reason and checking his anger. He wasn't quite sure where it was coming from. Maybe it was because his own boyfriend hadn't turned to him when he needed him the most. Or because he'd finally managed to tune this stupid wolf out of his life, only for him to barge back in and ruin everything.

Wayne seemed to sense what he was thinking, splaying his ears and tugging at his sleeve. "If I was thinking straight, I'd have done it, honest. But you have to understand -"

"It's fine," Red cut him off. It certainly wasn't fine, but his brain hurt, and it was beginning to get hard to think. He needed this story done with so he could go home and bury his thoughts in a dozen papers that still needed grading.

The world, unfortunately, was not that kind to him. At that moment, a waiter came with their meals and set down two of the biggest burgers Red had ever seen. Double patties loaded with cheese and mushrooms, along with a star-shaped leafy vegetable he didn't recognize stared him in the face. Once the waiter left, he looked up at Wayne, who watched with a mixture of defeat and amusement.

"It's made with real dragon meat, imported from China," he said, reading the bewildered look on Red's face. "Go ahead, try it."

Despite having lost his appetite, Red squished the burger down and took a bite. The meat had an unexpected spice to it, but it didn't taste like anything he knew. The melted cheddar and grilled mushrooms exploded with flavor, and the leafy vegetable tasted like a mix of arugula and spinach.

"Good, right?" Wayne said with pride. "Dragon meat's hard to get nowadays. Had to make a lot of deals to get it to America."

The Dragon Slammer was good, Red agreed, but that was far from his mind at the moment. He put the burger down and pulled his water closer. "So what happened next?"

Catching the hint that distractions weren't welcome, Wayne awkwardly cleared his throat. "Like I said, I was drunk. So I...uh..." He gazed at Red forlornly as if pleading not to judge him. "I was wandering aimlessly, just passing the time until I got my shit together. And I...stole a stop sign."

Red thought about asking him to repeat that, hoping it would come out different somehow, but no, he heard right. Wayne was impulsive at the best of times, and usually it was Red who kept him at bay. It was perfectly in character for him to do something so stupid in the heat of the moment, but that only made Red more resentful.

"A stop sign? How did you even...?"

"It was already loose," said Wayne, as if it were obvious. "Anyway, it gets worse. The stop sign was on a weird intersection, so when one guy made a turn, he couldn't see the other car coming around the corner. There was no sign to stop him, and..."

Red knew what was coming. "You caused an accident."

"I went to jail for it," said Wayne ashamedly, now staring directly down at his untouched burger. "Eight months. Naturally, my parents wanted nothing to do with me once I got out, and I didn't deserve you after what I did. So I started an honest life on my own."

His ex-boyfriend had been to jail? What else happened while they were apart? Red's mind raced with possibilities, but the fog was coming down again, making his brain sluggish. "Why are you here then?"

"I need a fresh start," said Wayne, lifting his gaze to meet Red's. His chocolate brown eyes shone with earnest and want. "I worked a lot of jobs before finding this one, and I like it here. It pays well enough, and there's plenty of opportunity if I decide to switch things up. Students come in here sometimes, and they mentioned you were teaching at Morgana, so I thought I'd give us another shot. I'm finally ready to make things right."

It was tempting. Something about this wolf drew him in, made him want to surrender to him once more, fall into that familiar feeling of warmth he exuded. But even through it all, Jade's warning shone bright and clear. How was it Wayne found a job near the university and only now decided to reconnect? Looking at him now, after hearing his story, so much had changed about him. What else wasn't he telling him?

The wolf waved their waiter over and ordered a drink. Red noticed how his half-flexed bicep strained his sleeve. "When did you get so buff?"

"When did you get so thin?" It was a valid reply, and Wayne shrugged his broad shoulders. "A lot's happened, Red. I know it's hard to trust me so soon, but please give me a chance. I'll make it all up to you, I promise."

A lot had changed in the last ten years. Too much. Here he was, the person who had once been the love of his life only to disappear to suddenly, leaving him empty. As the wolf watched him with pleading eyes, he saw the lover underneath, and it set his heart racing all over again. Through all his doubts and all of Jade warnings, he could tell Wayne truly wanted a fresh start. And that hurt more than any insult or scathing remark he could've given.

"I can't do this." Red pushed himself out of the booth and made a beeline for the door, leaving Wayne's flabbergasted stammers behind. He ignored the questioning looks from other patrons and emerged back into the night air. The sun had fully set, leaving the street in darkness save for a few weak light posts, but he didn't care. He'd known this was a mistake from the start, that he didn't have the stomach to get involved with Wayne again, and yet he'd fooled himself into trying anyway. How pathetic was that?

"Red, wait! Please, tell me what's wrong!" Wayne's footsteps echoed on the pavement behind him, and Red sped up to avoid the confrontation he knew was coming. He'd almost broken into a run when a paw grabbed him from behind. The wolf's anguished face made him regret everything. "Was it something I said? If I did something wrong, I'm sorry. I'll do anything to make up for it if you just -"

"Just shut up!" Red snapped, blinking his eyes and willing them to stop stinging. "How can you come back after all this time and expect me to just...accept what's happened? I'd finally moved on, and now you're here, and it's just too much."

Wayne's face relaxed into a look of pity. "I know how you feel. Really, I do!" he added when Red looked skeptical. "I wasn't sure at first either, but I've had time to think. Leaving you in the dark broke me, and being with you is the only thing that makes me complete. Sure, we weren't a perfect couple, but I do want this. No tricks."

The wolf stepped closer, bringing his paws up to hold him steady, and Red was too weak to resist. His touch was gentle, just like before. "I mean it, Red. I love you."

The words rolled easily off his tongue, quelling the roiling storm in the fox's head. Wayne gazed at him warmly, tilting his head and leaning in, and Red found himself doing the same. Reveling in the wolf's comforting embrace, his breath became steady. He was back in their bubble again, and suddenly he didn't care who might see them on the sidewalk. This was their moment. He tilted his muzzle, their warm breaths mingling, and then their lips brushed.

The light post above them shattered and went out, startling them apart and peppering them both in glass. Red's heart pounded a mile a minute, his mind racing once more. It was hard to see Wayne's face in the dark, but he could barely make out an outline of bewilderment.

"I'm sorry, I can't," panted Red, and once more he left a disappointed Wayne staring after him. This time he didn't stop.

His legs carried him on their own, navigating a predetermined route while he desperately fought off another panic attack. How could he have been so stupid? He'd nearly kissed his ex, and after bailing in the middle of their date no less. It was a date; he knew that now. He'd been too caught up in denial and nostalgia to realize he'd been baited, and now he'd made a mess of everything. Like he always did.

Jade would be busy for at least another hour, and he didn't want to bother her again with his crap, so he made his own plan. Half an hour later, he found the public library, which he knew was open until midnight. He came here frequently to get work done after class, or simply to clear his head in peaceful quiet. Tonight was the latter, so once inside, he grabbed a random book from the fiction section and found a cozy armchair in the back. Something about the library's towering shelves and near-silent ambience created the perfect atmosphere to lose oneself in their head.

Once he was situated, Red examined the book, which to his slight dismay, turned out to be a contemporary romance. It wasn't his favorite genre, but he didn't have the energy to search for a proper piece of literary fiction. Not that he'd be here long anyway; he'd text Jade soon to let her know he was here.

Red never understood the appeal of romance stories. They were always contrived tales of hopeless cases with nothing better to do in their lives than pine for each other. And they always got together in the end, so there was never a reason to worry in the first place. Even the tragic ones ignored the minutiae of a complicated relationship - the love that hurt, the pain that comforted, the gritty details that created a truly compelling story. He knew love, and pain, and loss, and no one ever got it right. He remembered feeling all three at once, and it was the most unbearable moment of his life.

It had been three months after Wayne disappeared. Chubby twenty-year-old Red had moved back home with his parents since his apartment was now empty; he couldn't bear to be alone. He'd done everything, called the police, asked Wayne's friends, even tried to contact the wolf's parents to no avail. No one knew where he'd gone, and now he had nothing.

At his computer, Red clutched his chest, staving off the throbbing pain that had persisted for a couple weeks now. He idly scanned a list of new assignments and ignored the due dates. His grades were nowhere close to passing, but he didn't care. Who needed a degree anyway? Wayne had worked full-time at a car shop since graduating high school, and he was fine. At least until he -

"Enough," he said aloud, not caring that his mother was in the next room. There was no reason to dwell on the past. Wayne was gone, and that was that. He opened a document he'd started that day, a new story to pass the time until dinner. Half a page of garbage stared back at him.

"Honey? You awake?" His mother poked her head into the room, and Red started typing at random to appear busy. There was a pause in which he saw her move closer in his periphery. She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to come down and help me make dinner? We're having your favorite, fried chicken."

"No." Who did she think she was, pretending that everything was okay? With a decent marketing job and a loving husband, she had no idea what he was dealing with. And every time she tried to convince him otherwise, it was just another nail in the coffin.

She glanced around at his unkempt room, at the usually-pristine bookshelves gathering dust and last week's clothes tossed haphazardly in the corner. "Sweety, please talk to me. You haven't left your room all day."

And there she went again. Red looked at her this time, spotting the worry lines etched on her face. He knew she wasn't worried about him. She was worried about what he might do if she pushed him too far. As she should be. "I'm writing, Mom. I'll come down and eat when it's ready."

"You know you can talk to me, right? Your father and I are both here for you."

"Please get out," Red said through gritted teeth. His heart thumped painfully against his ribcage, and his claws mashed the keyboard as if trying to puncture it. On the screen, the words 'make it stop' appeared over and over in frantic succession.

"Have you talked to your cousin Jade recently?" she continued, her paw gripping tighter in what was supposed to be a comforting way. "She's had a bad breakup before, and she's only a phone call away. Maybe she can -"

"I said get out!"

There was a sharp spasm in his chest, and his mother promptly released him. She was thrown off her feet out of the room in a flash of red light. Her auburn hair falling over her face, she scrambled to her feet looking frazzled and afraid. She stepped forward toward her son, but the moment she tried to reenter, the door slammed into her nose and locked with a click.

His mother's pained yelp made him regret everything, and he jumped to reopen the door. She stood there covering her nose, from which bright red blood trickled between her fingers. "Mom, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to - let me get a towel or something."

A quick run to the bathroom later, he passed her a fresh hand towel, which she gently pressed to her muzzle without saying a word. She didn't dare look at him, and Red knew he'd done something unforgivable. His vision blurred as tears stung his eyes and the ache in his chest worsened.

"I'm s-sorry," he sobbed, unable to find anything more to say. What could he say? "My m-magic is acting up again. It was an accident."

Eyes squeezed shut, she firmly shook her head and turned her back on him, heading downstairs. A strangled gasp left his lips as he felt his knees hit the floor. This was his fault. Maybe he deserved to be alone. That way he couldn't hurt anyone. Was that why Wayne left? Because he didn't want to fall victim to Red's uncontrollable emotions?

He didn't recall how long he crouched there, sobbing in the hall lost in self-loathing. All he knew was this feeling was unbearable. It was pain unlike he'd ever felt, starting in his chest and branching out to his extremities. It coursed through his veins, crept along his spine, and sunk into the folds of his brain. It took him over, crushed his heart and clogged his throat until he could barely breathe. Through ragged gasps, he croaked out a quiet, desperate wish.

"M-make...it...s-stop..."

The pain in his chest exploded, and his vision went dark.

The next thing he remembered was waking in a hospital recovery room. When the doctor, a handsome lynx with glasses, came to check on him, he said his heart had stopped. Apparently, his mental state had finally reached its breaking point, and when Red wished for it all to end, his magic had acted of its own accord and attempted to grant that wish. It was lucky his mother came back upstairs before it was too late.

They sent him to a psychiatric hospital after that, where he learned how to cope, to take care of himself and keep his magic from turning inward once more. When he left a couple months later, he accepted solitude and moved on. He was foreve alo e, and tha w s ok . No o wo ld rt h m a a n

A burning sensation at his fingertips and the smell of smoke brought him back to reality. With a start, he dropped the book, which was now up in flames. In an instant, he summoned a powerful gust of wind, blowing out the fire but spreading ashes everywhere. The few guests present gave him disturbed looks, finished what they were doing, and left the vicinity.

"Typical," muttered Red, gathering what he could of the ashes atop the charred pages of the novel. He'd need to apologize to the owner and probably pay for the damage. They wouldn't care his TAD had caused it, but it was the right thing to do.

Beyond that, he knew one thing: it was time to face change. Clearly keeping Wayne at arm's length was doing more harm than good. And if that wolf deserved another chance, then so did he.

.............................................

"Sweet place," said Wayne as Red led him into his apartment. He'd gotten Jade to swing by the Witch's Dungeon after picking him up the previous night. A short talk with the manager was all it took to get his number to Wayne, and now here he was.

"No it's not, but thanks anyway." Red deposited a hoodie onto the couch and turned to face his ex. It was surreal seeing him here after all this time, dressed in the same black attire and spiked collar as that night after class. He found his nerves rising into jitters, as if he were bringing home a new boyfriend to meet his parents.

"Nothing wrong with it. Hey, are those yours?" Wayne pointed to the back wall where several tall bookcases stood side by side, fully stocked with a variety of texts. He moved closer to examine them, and Red followed him.

"I bought them, yeah. Interested?" Red watched the wolf trace the books' titles with a claw, an ear cocked in fascination. "Some of them I have to read for class, but I've been collecting these for years. I go through about five every month."

Wayne whistled appreciatively. "Not bad. I don't read that fast, but I've been getting into it. Been getting into a lot of sci-fi lately."

Could've been romance, Red thought before putting on a smile. "Have you? What authors do you like?"

"I'm back! They didn't have the Parmesan cheese we usually get for some reason, so I had to - oh, hi Wayne." Jade nudged the apartment door shut with a foot and heaved an armful of groceries onto the kitchen counter. Her face impassive, she began sorting them out with a brief glance at the wolf.

"Jade! It's been a while." Wayne didn't move to greet her, though his tail flicked at the sight of Red's cousin. "Anything I can help with?"

"I'm okay, thank you. But Julian, there's something I need to show you real quick. It's about work." She abandoned her groceries and went into her bedroom. Red caught the hint and followed her after giving Wayne an apologetic look. Wayne didn't seem to mind, turning back to the bookcase with keen interest.

As expected, Jade was waiting for him emptyhanded. From the look of concern on her face, he could tell what was coming. "I can't believe you're going through with this. When are you going to learn to say no?"

"I did at first, but Jade...I think he's genuine." Red knew it would take more than words to allay her skepticism. It was part of why he'd agreed to bring Wayne here. If she could see him up close and talk to him in person, maybe she could be convinced. "Just wait and see for yourself. Besides, you didn't have a problem letting me see him last night."

"To be frank, I didn't think he'd get this far," sighed Jade. "I just don't want a repeat of before. You've been through enough heartbreak. I still haven't forgotten the accident that sent you to the emergency room."

"You don't have to worry about me," said Red, thinking about the spontaneous combustion incident at the library the previous night. "I've been working on it. Just give him a chance. He's a good guy."

Jade shook her head in defeat. "The things you do for family..." She squeezed his shoulder and pushed past him without any more argument.

Taking that as a sign of agreement, Red returned to living room to find Wayne on the couch with a thick book on his lap. It touched him that his wolf was already so engrossed in something from his shelf, but then he saw Wayne's demeanor. His ears splayed flat, his shoulders slouched, and his eyes had become glassy, the same way they were when he had begged Red not to walk away outside the Witch's Dungeon.

"Wayne? You alright?"

The wolf jumped at the sound of his voice and pushed the book aside. Despite looking as if he'd been caught with a paw in the cookie jar, he regarded Red with a kind smile. "I'm fine. Everything okay with work?"

"I..." Red remembered the excuse Jade made to talk to him alone. "Oh! Everything's fine. Just a small complication, but nothing that can't be resolved."

"Do you like lasagna, Wayne?" Jade called from the kitchen, having resumed sorting her ingredients. "I'm putting together a family recipe, but I can improvise if I need to."

"Love lasagna," said Wayne, licking his lips and rising from the couch. "There's actually a few neat facts I learned about Italian cooking from a coworker. Did you know..."

While Wayne went on a tangent with Jade in the kitchen, Red decided to replace the book he'd left on the couch. A quick look revealed it was a book of fables, the same one he'd brought to class on Friday, left open at the story of "The Three Little Pigs." Wayne approached most things with an air of stoicism. When they used to watch movies together, the wolf even laughed at the more emotional scenes, much to Red's chagrin. What about a children's tale could make Wayne so upset?

No. He promised himself he wouldn't do this again. Refusing to give it any more thought, he replaced the book on the shelf and joined the other two for some errant conversation. Tonight was supposed to be a good night, and he wouldn't let anything bring it down, including himself.

The lasagna took less than an hour to make, and dinner was delicious. Jade, who had humored Wayne's chatty personality during preparation, began asking him pointed questions about his absence once the meal was underway. The wolf, in his usual laid-back manner, took it in stride and explained everything exactly as he had to Red. Jade eased up after that, and she was reasonably amiable throughout the rest of dinner.

What impressed him the most, however, was Wayne's behavior. Hard, brash Wayne, the wolf who hated authority and rejected the very concept of emotion, had turned into the sweet sensitive guy Red always wanted him to be. He felt proud despite having not seen him for several years. For most of dinner, he kept quiet and reveled in the sound of Wayne's voice while they talked. Occasionally, the wolf would catch his eye and smile, setting his heart aflutter and forcing him to return to his food lest he make a fool of himself.

` Only once dinner stretched into an hour did Jade's phone go off. She disappeared into her room for a few minutes and came back wearing a serious expression. "Something happened at the lab, and I have to go. Don't know how long it'll take. You two will be alright while I'm gone?"

Red nodded. "Go ahead, I'll do the dishes and clean up. Wayne, want to help?"

Jade was gone within the next couple minutes, and soon Red and Wayne were hard at work washing dishes at the sink. The air was oddly tense between them as they worked. He wasn't sure whether it was because Wayne had nothing to say, or because something was wrong, but he decided to break the silence once it became too much.

"How was dinner?"

"Delicious. Jade's a good cook," said Wayne, rinsing a plate and handing it to Red to dry. "Not that I'm surprised. You were always the better cook between the two of us."

Red chuckled out loud for the first time that night. "I take it you forgot about that time I nearly burned down the apartment making pasta?"

"In your defense, I'm the one who turned up the heat," said Wayne with a wry grin. "If you weren't there to take the pan off, we might've actually lost our home."

Red remembered it like it was yesterday, also recalling it was only a month before Wayne disappeared. In a way, it was their final thrill before everything fell apart. Good or bad, he'd been holding onto these memories like a lifeline in hope they might become a reality again. Perhaps if he hadn't, he wouldn't be here now.

"Hey Red?" Wayne dried his paws and regarded him, his face looking soft. "Thanks for doing this. For giving me another chance when even I didn't think I deserved it. It means the world to me."

It was his face that compelled Red to do it. The way the wolf gazed at him with such love, such adoration that they pierced through whatever was left of the wall Red had put up for so long. Those eyes held a maturity he'd never seen in him before, an undeniable notion that the wolf truly knew what he was doing, and what it meant for both of them. Red wanted - no, needed - to reciprocate that feeling, so with a gentle paw he brushed the wolf's side, leaned forward, and met Wayne's lips with his own.

It was like all his worries over the past few days were released in one great sigh. This was the release he needed all along. If Wayne had any misgivings about the kiss, he wasn't showing it. The wolf accepted it with passion, bringing a strong arm around Red's body, pulling him closer and deepening their embrace.

They held each other like that for a while. Only when their lips finally parted did Wayne speak again, a whisper soaked with confliction. "Are you sure?"

Red answered with another passionate kiss, slipping his other paw onto the wolf's waist and reveling in the warmth of his body. He teased two fingers underneath his shirt, asking the wolf's permission. Wayne rumbled deep in his chest and stepped backward, pulling the fox with him. Red caught the message and began steering them to his bedroom, his heart beating excitedly.

Both their shirts were off before he realized what he was doing, and soon he felt a soft mattress on his back. Wayne stood over him with lust in his eyes, and now that they weren't surrounded by dozens of chatty customers, Red had a chance to truly admire his boyfriend. He followed the contours of the wolf's broad shoulders to a pair of strong arms, then down to a set of plump pecs above firm abdominals. The mere sight of him set him panting, and Wayne spotted his fixation with ease.

"Come here," he said, his voice authoritative but soft.

Red obeyed, scooting to the edge of the bed and finding his nose at level with Wayne's six-pack. The wolf popped the button of his black jeans with a suave grin and slid them downward, Red following suit and tossing his pants aside. Prominent bulges tenting their boxer briefs, they moved closer yet to feel each other's touch once more.

Red rested his paws on the wolf's thick thighs, caressing the hard muscle there as he pressed his lips to the firm midriff before him. One by one he planted frenzied kisses on each abdominal, drawing heated gasps from his partner. He rose off the bed to trail his tongue up into the cleft of Wayne's pecs, remembering how much the wolf used to love such a display of worship. As expected, a shiver rippled down his body, tensing the muscles underneath Red's kneading paws. Recalling another of the wolf's old triggers, he tilted his head and swiped his tongue over a dark nipple. A pleasured shudder from Wayne was all he needed as confirmation, so he closed his lips over the firm nub and gave it a tiny suck.

Wayne sucked in a breath through gritting teeth, sparing a paw to push Red's muzzle deeper into the muscle. Red took his time teasing that nipple while pinching the other and relishing in the pleased growls it evoked. He rose to full height and allowed Wayne to ravish his muzzle again, his paws moving to cup the wolf's firm bubble butt.

"Careful," growled Wayne, allowing a fang to graze Red's lip. The sharp but playful threat only sparked defiance, Red taking it as an invitation to splay his fingers and give those hard but pliable cheeks a firm squeeze.

Wayne let out a doglike bark, pushing Red back onto the bed and smothering the fox's body with his own. A hot tongue lashed against his bared neck, and he turned his head away to give him more to play with. While the wolf snuffled and growled, Red continued to admire his impressive body, running his paws up and down over the contours of his muscular back. Their rigid cocks grinded against each other, separated only by two layers of thin fabric.

Red felt the spikes of Wayne's collar prick his collarbone and reached to undo it, but a large paw blocked him before he could. "Leave it on," grumbled the wolf, his warm nose still taking in his scent. The fox didn't protest, letting him do his thing while feeling his muscles shift with every grind.

Soon their underwear was tossed onto the floor, and they felt each other's heat fully. Wayne panted like his feral ancestors, frotting their lengths together with increasingly erratic thrusts. Red bit back a moan and relished the contact. The wolf had propped himself up on his arms, and he could see the sheer need in his partner's eyes. Those chocolate brown orbs lowered to meet his, and there seemed to be an unspoken understanding.

Wayne kissed him again, more passionately than ever before, their flexible tongues wrestling inside the fox's mouth. Even through that hot, toe-curling kiss, Red knew what was coming. With a single thought, a bottle of lube flew from his bedside drawer and into his open paw. Once Wayne pulled back, he grabbed the bottle and began preparing himself.

The moment the slick length started to enter him, Red felt a burst of euphoria as he was reminded just how much he missed this. It was like eating candy for the first time after a ten-year diet. Wayne bared his teeth in a pleasured growl, pressing his hips forward until his knot nudged the fox's entrance. He stopped there, knowing his lover never liked being knotted. After all this time, he still knew what Red wanted.

Wayne was big enough to need some time adjusting to, so they stayed like that for a few moments gazing into each other's eyes. He looked up and down Red's torso with admiration.

"You look good," he said, tongue hanging out the side of his panting muzzle. "I never told you that."

His heart melted. Lost for words, Red squeezed the wolf's hips with his upturned legs. Wayne got the message and started thrusting again, slowly at first but speeding up once they both got used to the feeling. Each time he almost hilted inside the fox, Red felt him jab that sweet spot that sent electricity up his spine. His vision became fractured as his glasses were knocked askew. He'd forgotten to take them off, but he hastily did just that lest they get damaged in their excitement.

The climax was coming and they both knew it. Wayne's thrusts had become short and frenzied, teeth bared with a deep rumble that rose in his chest as he hunched over with effort. Red, though his cock didn't receive any attention, felt his balls begin to tighten from the pleasure alone. All he could do was grasp the sheets, ride the waves of lust emanating from his ass, and watch his lover bring them closer to climax with each thrust. Wayne saw him watching and gave a naughty grin, pushing himself up straight to bring his arms up in a magnificent double bicep pose.

That was enough to tip him over the edge. A shaky gasp left Red's muzzle as ropes of white leapt from his shuddering cock and onto his stomach. A couple more thrusts, and Wayne hit his high as well. He must have been holding back a howl, because that deep rumble erupted into a barely contained growl that rocked him to the core. Hips angled to avoid knotting his partner, Wayne let his length throb inside the fox, his form shaking with the peak of his lust.

It was only after a few moments lying there in the afterglow that Red realized what he'd done - and he had no regrets. He watched Wayne catch his breath as he knelt above him, as if recovering from a minor workout. The wolf pulled out and collapsed beside him, tongue still hanging out in a doglike fashion.

"I love you," Red muttered without thinking, surprising himself.

Wayne's smile was infectious. He leaned over to smooch him on the side of his muzzle. "Love you too. Wanna go shower before Jade comes back?"

His heart lurched at the thought of his cousin finding out what happened the moment she left. "Our shower's too small to fit two people. I'll wash up real quick and then you can come in after."

"Sure thing," said Wayne, not showing an ounce of disappointment, though Red knew it was there. Any worries were quelled, however, when the wolf kissed him again and nodded to the adjacent bathroom. "Go on. I'll wait here."

Red never took long showers, so he was in and out in ten minutes. When he returned, towel around his waist, Wayne wasn't in his room, and neither were his clothes. Assuming he'd gone out to the living room, the fox redressed and came out of his room, but Wayne was nowhere to be seen.

"Wayne?" he called out, beginning to get a bad feeling. No one answered, and a pit formed in his stomach, an overbearing feeling of dread that made him want to curl up and cry. Was Jade right? Had Wayne buttered him up for one last round of sex and then left without so much as a goodbye?

Don't be silly, he told himself, repressing those feelings and taking a breath of calm. There was no reason to worry just yet. He'd simply call Wayne and ask him what happened. He patted his pockets, which had held his phone earlier, only to find them empty. Then he realized it didn't matter - Wayne had never given him his number in the first place.

"Wayne, this isn't funny. Are you here?" he called again, his voice wavering on the last word. Upon hearing no response, he cast a glance around the silent apartment, searching for any desperate sign that his love was simply playing a stupid prank, and then he saw it. A dull, barely visible glow emanated from between two books on one of his shelves.

It was his phone. Wayne must have put it there, he realized, though why the wolf went out of his way to hide it was beyond him. It was stuck on the notes app. A couple taps revealed that it was literally stuck - he couldn't switch to his contacts or even turn the phone off. The screen displayed a single line of text, another address he didn't recognize. It must have been another of Wayne's undetectable magical locations, he supposed. Then he noted with a sinking feeling that Wayne had somehow gotten past his password.

Studying the gap on his bookshelf, he noticed it was in an unnatural place. It was in the middle of a shelf, giving off the appearance that someone had taken a book to make space for his phone. He remembered replacing a book at that exact spot no more than an hour prior. The book of fables was gone.

Wayne definitely wanted him to visit this address. But why? Was this his way of asking him out on another surprise date? Doubtful. Perhaps it was simply his home address? Improbable. Any innocent intention was out of the question given his methods. Come to think of it, Jade's phone call after dinner may have been a trick. If Wayne somehow had magic - of which Red was now certain - he could have caused the fake call and frozen Red's phone with little effort.

This meant Jade would likely stay away until Red did what the wolf wanted. Calling the cops was impossible without someone else's phone, and Wayne probably had a failsafe for that as well. Red frowned at his phone, letting tiny sparks of red electricity leap from his fingers and into his device. The screen flickered between the notes app and the home screen, as if momentarily breaking its magical chains before the charm took hold once more. He knew what he had to do.

He grabbed his scarlet hoodie from the couch and went to face his ex alone.

......................................................

This is the stupidest idea I've ever had, Red admitted as he stood at a trail that led into the woods. It was like one of those cliché horror scenarios where the main character did the dumbest thing possible just to make the climax happen. Not to mention he was heading toward a literal cabin in the woods to face God-knows-what. What would he even do once he arrived? Somehow break through the charm on his phone - which let him scroll across the home screen now but still wouldn't let him open any apps - and call for help at just the right moment? Or would he be murdered on the spot?

The sun had completely set by now. A set of weak lanterns lit the dirt trail leading into the woods just well enough to traverse, but still the darkness loomed like an ominous presence. He checked his phone once more to find it in the same state as before, and it clicked. His phone would continue to malfunction, the charm getting weaker and weaker until he was right where Wayne wanted him. It was meant to lure him in no matter what he tried.

His anxiety caused a couple of stones to shoot into the trees at chaotic angles. Red reigned it in as best he could, and they stopped. After taking a deep breath that didn't make him feel better, he set off into the dark.

Red had never been afraid of the dark, even as a child, but these woods were downright unnerving. He couldn't see anything beyond the breadth of the lamplights, only the winding dirt path and a void pressing in on all sides. As he continued down the path and kept trying to fix his phone, he couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. Several times, he thought he heard a foot crunch against dry leaves somewhere to his left, but without a proper light there was no way of knowing for sure. He had no choice but to press forward, any view of the outside world having vanished long ago.

He heard it again. Two heavy footsteps, the second snapping a twig and making him jump. Red squinted through the dark but saw nothing. He quickened his pace and rapidly thumbed through the apps on his phone. They still refused to open. About a hundred meters in front of him, he caught a glimpse of dotted lights on a wooden structure. He was almost there.

Thump thump thump.

His stalker was running, and the footfalls were right behind him. Red didn't bother looking back, breaking into a full sprint toward the house. He heard someone panting only feet behind him, but it sounded forced and snarly like a rabid animal. It didn't matter he was likely running straight into a trap; any refuge from the person chasing him was enough.

He was too slow. He'd barely cleared half the distance to the house when something heavy crashed into him. His phone flew from his paw as he was tackled to the ground. Red yelled out, punching every inch of his attacker he could reach, but a blunt blow to the head knocked him from his senses.

Red remembered being dragged by the hood and more heavy footfalls hitting wood. He was too disoriented to discern anything, his vision blurred and dark. At one point, he was hoisted over the person's shoulder before the air became colder and it felt like he was descending a flight of stairs. He was heaved onto a hard surface, and only then did his head begin to clear.

He was on the floor of a spacious basement. It smelled like dried paint and sawdust, and it was lit by cheap lightbulbs fixed into the ceiling. A number of what looked like half-finished carpentry projects populated the place, including a large wooden slab the size of a ping pong table with no legs and a partially rounded bar stool that looked suspiciously like one from the Witch's Dungeon. His wrists were cuffed in iron shackles tethered to the concrete wall. Someone bent over him, rattling the chains to make sure the shackles were secure.

"Wayne?" Red breathed, half-surprised and half-defeated at the sight of the wolf.

Wayne was back in the leather pants he'd worn at work. While his figure had been impressive in such a jubilant setting as the Witch's Dungeon, now he looked imposing as ever standing over him like he did. He looked down at him with a pained look on his muzzle, but Red was anything but sympathetic. Whatever reason the wolf had for abducting him, he wasn't interested. He tried to wiggle his wrists out of the cuffs, to focus his mind hard enough to manage a spell, but something stopped him. The cuffs must have been magic-suppressant.

"The cops are coming," he said, hoping the bluff would be enough to scare the wolf into letting him go. Instead, Wayne averted his eyes, his tail low and ears pinned to his head.

"I'm sorry," the wolf muttered, his boots clopping against the floor as he went to inspect something on a nearby table. Red was left confused at the apology, but he didn't have long to question it, for the basement door swung open at that moment. Light flooded the steps leading down momentarily before it shut, and another set of steps made their way down into the room.

A large boar stepped into view, dressed in a checkered shirt and jeans that gave him a lumberjack appearance. His gait and mannerisms seemed vaguely familiar, but Red couldn't put his finger on it. The boar stopped at the bottom of the stairs, glancing at Wayne and then peering over at Red with a knowing grin between his tusks.

"Nice to see you again, kit," came the distinguished Southern drawl, and Red knew where he'd seen him. They'd talked briefly at the Witch's Dungeon. "The name's Lance. Not that you'll live to remember it."

"You're working together?" Red asked incredulously, shrinking away from his captors. "What do you want with - just tell me what you want, and I'll do it. I promise."

Lance's grin came cold and cruel. "Nothing you can do, I'm afraid. Naw, this has been a long time coming. This is what happens when the big bad wolf misbehaves."

"Big bad...what?" Red had no idea what this 'Lance' guy was talking about, but as far as he was concerned, he was some sort of psycho killer who'd found his next victim. He looked to Wayne for clarification, but the wolf still stood with his back to him, fiddling with something he couldn't see.

Lance went to a nearby dresser and retrieved two large books. One of them Red recognized immediately, the book of fables Wayne had stolen from his apartment. The other looked similar, thick and leatherbound, but certainly not one of Red's.

"I had your boytoy pick this up for me. Magic is a fickle thing." Lance patted the cover of the fable collection and set it aside. He opened the other book and crouched down to Red's level, turning it for Red to see.

As Lance slowly flipped through the pages, Red thought nothing of it at first. It was the tale of Red Riding Hood, handwritten and copied verbatim from his own text. But then it got strange. After the Wolf met Little Red in the woods, the story shifted to a warped version of the Three Little Pigs. In this rendition, the wolf never met the first two pig brothers. The story skipped straight to the third pig where, in the author's words:

The Wolf made a deal with the third pig, promising a number of favors in return for forgiveness.

Forgiveness for what? The story went on, but Red was too confused to take any more in. He'd just tried to wrap his mind around why Lance had changed the story when he noticed it stopped abruptly in the middle of a half-empty page, presumably where Lance had decided to leave off. The last lines were:

But Red Riding Hood had no choice but to play along with the Wolf's scheme. So he went into the woods, and the Wolf followed lurking in the shadows. Only when the perfect moment came did he finally pounce. He took Little Red home, where the Pig's plan was revealed.

He read them over and over again, staring dumbfounded. These were the final moments before Wayne had attacked him in the woods and dragged him here. Everything else on the page was just as uncanny, even mentioning "Red's lovely dinner with the Wolf in the comfort of his home."

"Figured it out yet?" Lance smirked, snapping the book shut and startling him. "Yep, black market magic can be pretty damn useful if you know how to use it. Problem is, this thing only accepts orders in the form of a story. Pretty stupid if you ask me. But if I can write it, I can make it happen."

"Lance? Please let him go." Wayne finally turned to the boar and spoke in a small, pitiful voice that didn't fit him at all. "I'll do anything you want, and I won't complain. Just let -"

CRACK!

Lance whirled around and backhanded Wayne across the face with enough force to send him stumbling against the table. The boar's smile was gone, replaced by a glare of pure malice. "How many times do I have to tell you, Dog? Don't speak unless spoken to. You don't get a say in how you're punished."

Before Wayne could retreat, he advanced on the wolf, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him up so their eyes were at equal level. "The only thing you need to worry about are orders and consequences. You speak when I tell you to. You sleep when I tell you to. You fuck when I tell you to. Now keep your trap shut, or I'll tighten your collar again."

He released Wayne, who nodded obediently and took several steps back. When the wolf spared a glance at Red, his eyes glittered with tears that refused to spill, as if they needed permission to do that as well.

The collar, Red realized. That was how Lance was controlling him. He recalled the number of times he'd noticed Wayne wearing it and wondered why he never took it off. The wolf had even insisted he keep it on during sex. Wayne likely wasn't allowed to take it off himself, ensuring he remained completely at the mercy of this psychotic boar.

"Where was I? Oh yeah." Lance held up the book with a look of pride. "This thing has been a godsend. Your boyfriend told you why he vanished all those years ago, yes?"

Not knowing what else to do, Red nodded.

"He wasn't entirely truthful. Don't blame him; I told him to leave out the finer details," said Lance cockily. "You see, when he stole the stop sign and crashed that car, there were two people in the vehicle. Travis and Jamie Blanchard, brothers. My brothers."

Lance's expression darkened with every word he spoke, the hand that gripped the book turning white at the knuckles. Though his glare was directed at Red, Wayne shrunk further away from Lance as the explanation went on, a terrible look of guilt stretched across his muzzle.

"They died in the crash. And it's all his fault," Lance continued in a hoarse whisper. "The three of us used to be so close. We did everything together. Went on vacation, shot the shit at the local bars. Hell, we even worked for the same construction company. We built houses for a living and loved it."

"But now they're gone," he said, his voice cracking. "I tried to move on without them, but I couldn't. Work isn't the same anymore, and I can't even look at a blueprint without thinking of them. So I decided to give the selfish prick who killed my closest family a taste of his own medicine. Show him where carelessness and pride get him."

Red's mind reeled as the story went on, starting to realize he'd been in danger for far longer than a couple days. Lance had planned this whole thing years in advance. He caught Wayne's eye, but the wolf averted his gaze looking downright depressed.

"So I searched the black markets and got ahold of this bad boy," Lance said, tapping the book cover. "Learned how to use it and planned everything out. Then I bought the collar, and the day your boyfriend got out of jail, I seized my chance."

"Dog," he barked with a triumphant grin at Wayne. "Why don't you tell him who else I made you kill?"

Wayne, still nursing his jaw, bowed his head and began muttering names under his breath. They came out hesitant and shaky, the collar's magic forcing his vocal cords to act. "Jasmine Nox. Clarence Nox. Jessica Nox. Bridget Kline. Darius Kline..."

The wolf went on, but Red had heard enough. He stared at his boyfriend mortified, the puzzle pieces finally clicking into place. It all made sense now. Those were the names of Wayne's closest family members - his parents, younger sister, aunt, and uncle. Wayne had caused the death of Lance's brothers, so he forced the wolf to wear the imperious collar and kill off his own family as revenge. With the book, he could stay hidden and make sure things always worked in his favor. And Red was next.

"Feels good to finally set things straight," Lance boasted, cutting the wolf off. "But I think we've talked for long enough. Time to get down to business."

He opened the book and retrieved a pen from his pocket. Tapping it against his chin in mock contemplation, he glanced from Red to Wayne and back again. "I'll make the next line plain and simple. Not a writer myself, but I think they say less is more, right?" Without any more preamble, he started to write, speaking the words as they appeared on the page.

"Unable to resist the Pig's influence, the Wolf killed Red Riding Hood with one slash of his knife."

Wayne let out a howl of anguish as his legs forced him to approach, a long and recently sharpened butcher's knife in paw. Red thought he might hyperventilate. His heart beat so fast his magic would have gone haywire if it weren't for the cuffs. Wayne knelt beside him, chest heaving and tears streaking his face.

"I'm sorry, Red. I'm so sorry."

The paw holding the knife reared back, aiming for his stomach, and Red thought fast. He kicked with all his might at the center of Wayne's chest, knocking him backward into the boar standing directly behind him. With a squeal of surprise, Lance toppled to the floor with Wayne, and the book lay open inches from his feet.

Red seized his chance, hooking the book with a foot and clumsily dragging it closer. He did the same with the pen, and with only a few seconds to act, he started writing whatever came to mind.

"No!" screamed Lance, lunging at the fox. He tripped over a prone Wayne and collapsed in a heap once more. Enraged, he heaved the wolf aside and ripped the book from Red's grip. "Nice try," he snarled. "I was going to give you a quick death, but now you're being a pain in the ass. Dog, give me the knife and kill him...with your claws."

Red looked at Wayne, and he looked back with an apologetic expression. Seeing the fury on Lance's face, he found the knife under the table and grabbed it. He rose to his feet, and then his demeanor changed. He examined the knife with a strange fascination as if seeing one for the first time. He appeared curious, almost innocently so. His fixation lasted only a moment before he glanced at Lance for confirmation, looked at Red again...

...and didn't move.

"Dog! I said kill him!" Lance ordered, less confidently this time.

Wayne still didn't move, but now he looked just as confused as Lance. He voluntarily lowered the knife, and realization dawned on his face. Grasping at his collar, it came right off, the buckle somehow having been unclasped sometime in the last half minute. Lance spotted this and swore. The boar furiously flipped the pages of the book, finding the last one with writing on it. He didn't need to read aloud for Red to know what the final, modified line now said.

Unable the resist the Pig's influence, the Wolf killed Red Riding Hood with one slash of his knife...or he would have if their bond hadn't been broken during a frenzied scuffle.

Lance threw the book aside, his livid eyes narrowed at Red. "Fine. No more games. I'll have to do this myself."

"Stay away from him!"

Wayne chose that moment to swipe at Lance with the knife, drawing a scarlet cut across his cheek. The boar barely flinched, running at him and tackling him to the ground. The knife dropped from Wayne's paw with a clatter, and the two of them tussled furiously on the basement floor, clawing at each other's faces and pummeling whatever parts of each other's bodies they could reach. At his size, Lance had the advantage, pinning the wolf with ease. But Wayne was more agile, finding ways to squirm out of Lance's grasp and send them both rolling again. Eventually, he managed to fish something shiny out of the boar's pocket and fling it towards Red.

It was a silver key. Red took it, jamming into the iron cuffs restraining his paws and, with some difficulty, unlocking them with a click. Now freed, he stood and yelled, "Wayne, get out of the way!"

Wayne complied, aiming a debilitating punch to Lance's throat and rolling away towards the knife. Red wasted no time, letting loose a blast of crimson light that knocked the boar backward several feet. He landed on an old wooden bedframe, which crumbled under his weight and engulfed him in dust.

By the time Lance got his bearings and coughed the sawdust from his lungs, Red and Wayne both stood over him, the latter of which looking murderous. In a small, defeated tone, he addressed Wayne. "Don't look at me like that. You got what you deserved."

Wayne growled and moved forward with the knife, but Red held out his arm. "Stop. You're technically innocent for now. Let's not change that."

When he turned his gaze to Red, the fox had to consciously suppress an urge to back away. The wolf looked positively rabid with rage, his once soft chocolate-brown eyes hard and piercing. Something inside him had broken tonight and changed his entire psychology. Or maybe it had broken long ago, and only now was it allowed to boil to the surface.

"He'll get his punishment," Red continued cautiously, ready to act in case Wayne made any sudden movements. "Don't make yourself a bad guy. He already did it once."

"Of course I did," Lance chuckled, and both of them turned to stare at him. "Why do you think it was so easy to make him the Big Bad Wolf in the story? He's not exactly a good Samaritan."

"Oh shut up," said Red, growing tired of the maniacal villain act. "You know very well he had no choice but to kill those people. Their blood is on your hands."

Lance's grin remained plastered to his face, his eyes holding a knowing gleam. "Didn't I tell you? The book wants a story that makes sense. One that comes from truth." He raised an eyebrow in Red's direction. "You should know, you're the writer. Every story has truth to it."

One final blast of red light, and the boar was rendered unconscious.

.....................................................

It took the police twenty minutes to arrive. Red and Wayne told them everything while Lance was cuffed and escorted outside. The book and collar were documented and taken into police custody until they could be properly registered as dangerous magical objects. They were told to stay in the house while they searched the house for any other incriminating evidence. Apparently there was no record of the house ever being built, but when Wayne explained how Lance had magicked it into existence, it made sense. Much like the Witch's Dungeon, it only existed for his purposes.

Once they finished questioning Wayne, he insisted they move outside, and there they waited for the officers to finish their job. The wolf had cooled down but didn't seem eager to talk, so Red sat with him on the front step, watching the police move to and fro amidst the flashing red and blue lights. He'd taken off his hoodie, leaving it in a lumpy bundle on his lap.

"Julian!" Jade rushed onto the scene, looking no different than she had when she'd left the apartment after dinner, albeit a little frantic. A couple officers urged her to stay away, but she barged right through and made a beeline for Red, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

"It's okay, she's my cousin!" Red shouted to the officers before returning the hug. "Jade, I'm okay. I promise."

"Why didn't you call me?! Did he hurt you? Where is he?" Jade whipped her head around to find Wayne, who had somehow left the front step unnoticed.

"Jade, listen. Wayne didn't do anything...not really." Red spotted the black wolf standing on his own around the corner of the house. The darkness swallowed him up almost entirely, nearly imperceptible to anyone who wasn't actively looking for him. "Long story short, Wayne didn't hurt me. It was this guy named Lance who'd been making him do things for years. One of the officers will give you the details."

For once, she didn't argue back. Desperate for information, she turned around to face a man in blue outside one of the cruisers, called, "excuse me, officer?" and approached him.

Meanwhile, Red went to join his boyfriend in his hiding spot. Wayne had his back turned to him, but one of his ears twitched at the fox's approach.

"Are you okay?" he asked, but Wayne didn't answer. He hadn't expected him to. Regardless of how eventful Red's weekend had been, Wayne had been tortured for the past ten years with virtually no hope of escape. He had a right to be more than a little upset.

"I have no one left," came the wolf's dead whisper after a minute's silence. Red knew the soul crushing truth about Wayne's family would come up. It didn't make it easier to face.

"You have me," said Red. Wayne's tail flicked at the remark, but otherwise he continued staring into the dark. Remembering Lance's final words, he brought up the question that had been nagging him ever since. "Wayne? What did he mean about you being a bad guy?"

Wayne laughed, but it lacked any sort of humor or joviality to make it convincing. "Don't you know? I've never been a good person. I treated you like shit when we were together."

"You had some less than desirable personality flaws. But you're alright now," Red replied, and Wayne shook his head dismissively. "No, really. Even with the collar on, there were times where I could tell you truly loved me and wanted me to know. Looking back, it was you talking, not Lance."

Wayne reached to his neck and played with the extra fluff there, as he had been since the police arrived. "Anyway, he was right. I was a jerk back then, so it made it easier for him to control me. I became the villain he wanted me to be. And anytime I tried to resist, he'd punish me or take out that stupid book and start writing."

"Speaking of the book," Red said, a thought occurring to him. "Why did he need my fable collection? Couldn't he just write whatever he wanted?"

"He wanted to make sure the story was accurate to the original," Wayne replied in a tired voice. "Or at least close to it. He didn't want anyone checking his internet history and figuring out what he was up to, so he went for a print reference instead. And since you had a copy, he thought he'd kill two birds with one stone."

All this time, Wayne refused to turn around. Red got the feeling he still didn't want to talk. "Wayne, listen. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now, but maybe you should get some help? I'll be here for you too. You don't have to deal with this alone."

The wolf turned, his face exhausted and forlorn. He stepped forward and gave him a gentle hug. Red felt his body shaking as their lips met, the kiss both gentle and passionate at once. "Thank you," he said, his eyes full of concern. "What about your TAD? I know this can't be easy on you either. You gonna be able to control your magic with all the stress this put on you?"

This time it was Red's turn to be reticent, pulling away and staring at the ground. "My magic won't be a problem anymore. I have it under control."

Wayne nodded in understanding. Clearly they both had deep issues after what happened. "I'll go talk with Jade, okay?"

Red nodded and let him go. Only after he was sufficiently out of earshot did he pull open his bundled hoodie. In the cotton folds gleamed a hint of metal. Wayne didn't need to know he'd snatched the magic-suppressant cuffs when he wasn't looking. Eventually, he'd find a way to disguise them as bracelets or something, but soon his TAD would be out of the equation. He would rather give up his magic completely than let his own head get in the way of their love.

Life wasn't a fairy tale, but this was one step closer to the happily-ever-after they both deserved.