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As every year, the students at St. Ogre High were forced to attend a talent show. The whole thing only took place because the school was still trying very hard to be considered hip and in by the students. But the entire drama was just one of a long list of compulsory events that the students had to attend after school. What led to them having to sacrifice their already sparse free time.

Even if the event was not very popular in general, some students still had joined the competition. So did Xavier Downing, who was called Jester by most students. Since he had to be at school that night anyway, he signed up for the competition to at least have some fun while wasting his time.

His sister gave him a yellow and black striped wool sweater that matched his eponymous coat color for this special occasion. He was the perfect mix between the ginger tabby cat his father had been and the black British Shorthair that his mother was. Even his hair was parted perfectly and gleamed in rich orange and black.

Just then, Bob Wolferton screeched into the microphone, making the students in the front row jump. The instruments blaring from the speakers at the audience made Jester's ears ring, which lay flat against his head to express his displeasure. He felt sorry for Bob, who must have put a lot of effort into the song.

But while the big wolf with the deep black fur leaned towards the audience and tried to get them to clap, it was evident that the audience felt more than uncomfortable.

The students looked around for the exit. Even Bob's parents, a white wolf dressed in the finest tweed and a black wolf wearing a matching suit, seemed embarrassed by their cub's performance.

There was absolutely no one celebrating Bob's song. And the disgraced musician noticed it, too, as the crowd stared at him motionless as the janitor unplugged the microphone, muting his voice. Irritated, he tapped the device a few times before looking around. But then Mr. Hillsborrow, the school principal, came onto the stage.

"A round of applause for Bob, ladies, and gentlemen!" said the fox, pushing the smaller wolf off the stage, who seemed to protest. But Mr. Hillsborrow would not hear of it and looked at the smaller one with a stern expression before turning to the spectators with a broad smile.

"Now we come to our last performance before we get to the vote," he said, glancing at a small card before looking up again and frowning in wonder. "Xavier Downing, ladies, and gentlemen!" Jester frowned and wrinkled his little nose a little before taking another deep breath and striding onto the stage, his back straight, the mic firmly in his hands.

"Jester, wohoooooo, Jester, you can do this!!!" he heard his friends shout, who were sitting next to his mother and sister, who were also clapping and smiling broadly. Isa, wearing the same yellow and black striped sweater as he did, jumped up and down with his friends to cheer him on.

The audience only applauded cautiously. It was apparent they couldn't wait for the show to end. Bob had drained the last bit of patience out of them. These kinds of events were still more of a compulsion than joy, and Jester knew it.

The light, which had been shining down on him in a neutral yellow a moment ago, changed to a deep red, which was reflected in his orange hair and made it light up like fire.

The first riffs of Nothing Else Matters sounded and the first students, who immediately recognized the song, started cheering.

Jester took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tuned out everything before he began to sing.

So close, no matter how far

Nothing but the guitar and his voice could be heard. Jester closed his eyes and let himself be guided by the background music. His voice echoed softly from the speakers to the audience.

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trusting who we are

And nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way

Life is ours, we live it our way

All these words, I don't just say

And nothing else matters

His voice got more and more intense, harsher, giving in to the feeling of loneliness that he had been feeling for a long time. It wasn't easy being one of the few gay kids in school. All the average students found partners, and he sat between the chairs as always and endured being alone.

Trust I seek, and I find in you

Every day for us, something new

Open mind for a different view

And nothing else matters

His voice grew louder again, darker as he completely forgot about the music and didn't even notice that the audience was already with him. Many students joined him and sang with him.

Never cared for what they do

Never cared for what they know

But I know

As the electric guitar kicked in, Jester opened his eyes and looked straight at the audience, shouting out the rest of the words as appropriate, making eye contact with individual students who stood up and sang to him.

They were all a chorus, absorbed in the song and forgetting themselves. This is what Jester has always wanted to achieve. Inspiring and enrapturing an entire audience so that it experienced the music with him. And he did it this time.

As the last chords of the guitar died down, the light changed to a faint orange, breaking the mood. Everyone looked at each other in amazement before the students sat down again, and Jester stood still on the stage and looked at Isa, who jumped up with tears in her eyes and began clapping wildly.

"Jester! Jester! Jester!"

At first, it was just Isa screaming his nickname, clapping her hands in time with each syllable. Then her mother followed, who was a bit reluctant at first, but then grew louder when Isa looked at her encouragingly. Jester's friends jumped in, and the excitement spread like a wave before everyone in the audience clapped loudly and called his name.

Jester just stood on stage with wagging ears and waving tail, slender fingers wrapped around the microphone, and looked happily into the raging crowd. His purr of delight was faintly audible through the microphone before he noticed it and took it slightly from his chest to disguise the sound that attested to his satisfaction.

Mr. Hillsborrow walked up to Jester and put a hand on his shoulder with a big smile as he put his own microphone to his lips while looking at the audience.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Xavier Downing! Or should I say...Jester?!"

The fox looked at him questioningly, and Jester just shrugged his shoulders, flattened his ears in embarrassment, and nodded slightly. He heard his nickname from all rows, which he had not chosen himself, but now fully adopted. The crowd erupted in even louder cheers.

"Now for the vote, ladies and gentlemen!" exclaimed Mr. Hillsborrow, and the crowd quietened a bit, sitting down and murmuring. It took a while for the room to calm down.

The principal called all the artists who had presented themselves to the audience that evening on stage. Bob stood right next to Jester and gave him a scowl that gave his golden eyes something more menacing than his face usually showed. One after the other, the principal pointed to the individual performers, and the audience cheered, sometimes more, sometimes less loudly. However, when Mr. Hillsborrow came up behind Bob, the other students fell silent, causing the wolf to drop his ears and tuck his bushy tail between his legs, looking sadly at the ground. Mr. Hillsborrow patted Bob's shoulders in pity and sighted nearly inaudible.

Then the principal took his place behind Jester, and the audience exploded in a bang of cheers and clapping. Again his name was shouted through the crowd, and even the other performers joined in and applauded him. All except Bob, who bared his teeth and growled. Jester smiled wide, and his ears twitched nervously again when he couldn't help but grin happily. "That makes the winner obvious!" exclaimed Mr. Hillsborrow, handing Jester the small trophy and proclaiming him the winner of St. Ogre High's talent show.

After a few bows and more cheers, all the performers left the stage, including Jester, who stood in a dark corner for a brief moment to catch his breath.

With a soft meow, he sat down on a crate and stared down at the small goblet, which shone golden in his hands as a shadow formed over him. Puzzled, Jester lifted his head to see Bob grabbing his neck with a growl of anger and pulling him up until his wet snout was against Jester's nose.

"You think you're really awesome, don't you?" Bob hissed, baring his long teeth.

Jester didn't know what to say. His tail wagged nervously, his damp fingers tightening around the cup. The huge paw that had wrapped itself tightly around his slender neck squeezed even tighter so that Jester couldn't breathe thoroughly.

"I dare to doubt that. He's still more talented than you, though, Bob," said a voice coldly from behind the angry wolf, who was immediately dragged away by the collar of his worn leather jacket. Jester fell onto the box with a soft thump and rubbed his sore throat.

"What are you doing here?" Bob asked the slender figure standing in front of him.

Jester had seen him before, though he wasn't exactly sure where. Maybe in the cafeteria? Or on the school bus?

Wide-eyed, he took in the long slender legs covered in fine scales that showed a light gold polka dot pattern on beige. The fair hair shone softly like bronze even in the dark, and the red horns, which seemed small and slightly sharp, peeked out from between the thick curls. A pair of teasing red eyes winked at Jester before the boy turned back to Bob and just gave him a mocking grin.

"Piss off, Bob," the newcomer said quietly, and Bob snorted heavily. "I'm serious. Don't make me light your butt on fire!"

Bob narrowed his eyes and stalked off, hands clenched into fists. "You'll see what you get out of it, Jester!" he spat out as he passed. "Yes, yes, Bob." the other boy snapped, turning to face Jester with his hands on his hips and a soft grin on his face.

"I congratulate you! That was an insanely good performance!" he finally said and got on his knees in front of him. Still rubbing his neck, Jester just nodded. He hadn't expected the wolf to attack. What would have happened if the stranger hadn't joined them?

He just looked at him with big eyes and smiled softly, his tiny teeth flashing.

"Miserable stalker," Jester finally growled, swallowing with a painful sigh. "Well, I have to admit, I sneaked up on you too," the stranger said, extending his hand. Jester briefly looked at the slim fingers with the red-painted fingernails, irritated, before putting his hand in them and winced inwardly.

The palm was warm and dry, nestled perfectly against Jester's. The two boys looked at each other briefly before the stranger snorted and tilted his head to the side. "I'm Rory," he said slowly, squeezing Jester's hand.

"Jester..." he growled, flattening his ears. "Why were you sniffing after me?"

Rory gave an embarrassed laugh, scratching behind the little horns that lit up in the distant light like little flames between his fair hair. Jester's fingers twitched, wanting to touch the little tips. He wanted to find out if these were as sharp as they looked, how the hair would feel between his fingers, and if the fine scales that snaked down the long neck would be rough under his fingertips.

"I wanted to find out if you're already in a band. Your performance was more than fantastic, and my boys and I are still looking for a new singer...." Rory murmured and smiled slightly. "I just wanted to ask if you want to join us..."

Jester frowned and cleared his throat. It was still scratchy, and the longer Rory knelt in front of him, the hotter he got in the wool sweater he was wearing. "I don't know..." he mumbled, glancing around the hall, hoping his sister would join him, wondering where he was. "You don't have to decide that right away!" Rory said, standing up slowly, the leather of his boots squeaking slightly as he shifted his weight.

Jester looked him up and down and swallowed. How had he never noticed him before? With his long limbs and slender build, Rory was exactly what Jester found attractive.

"Make up your mind and just let me know," Rory finally said and turned to go. "And stay away from Bob. Your victory did more damage to his ego than you can imagine!" With a happy laugh and a final wink, he turned away from Jester and slowly strode out of the corridor and into the hall, his long tail swiping lazily back and forth.

Jester's mind raced. He never thought he would be offered a place in a band. Although he liked to sing and he also liked to perform in front of others, he never thought that he could find someone who wanted to practice his little secret hobby with him. And now this dragon came along and grinned at him with his sharp teeth and offered him just that.

"Rory, wait!" Jester called, jumping up and stumbling after the taller one. "I'm in!" he finally gasped as he stood in front of Rory, who was grinning down at him.

"Very nice!" he laughed contentedly and patted him lightly on the shoulder several times before Rory stopped and looked at Jester thoughtfully for a moment. His hand was still on Jester when his thumb began to draw circles across the thick wool fabric.

"Jester!" His mother stood a few paces away, waving her arms. It was evident that she finally wanted to go home.

"I have to go!" Jester yelled and started hurrying to his mother and Isa, who looked curiously at the dragon, who just watched him go. "I'll see you at school on Monday!" Jester yelled before turning away from Rory and falling into his mother's arms, who showered him with kisses.

Thus, Jester didn't see Rory watching the scene thoughtfully, as if he was irritated by something.

"Who was that?" Isa asked, scowling at Rory. "That's Rory. He offered me a spot in his band!" Jester explained.

Isa seemed to think about his words for a moment before she smiled contentedly and stroked his back. "Did you agree?" Jester just nodded and began to purr in his throat when his mother scratched his ears. "But don't let your grades suffer, Xavier!" She pointed out and looked at him thoughtfully.

"Don't worry, mum, that's not going to happen!" Jester laughed and walked arm in arm, with his sister and mother, out of the hall and to the car.

"And? What's it like to be in a band?" Isa asked, flopping down on the bed next to Jester.

He had been a member of Rory and Jacque's band for two weeks. The first meeting had been a bit strange as Jacques, who was actually from France, doubted Jester's talent since he hadn't been on the talent show. Apparently, Rory had auditioned several classmates, and it had always ended in a fiasco.

But when Jester sang an AC/DC song for the two of them, Jacques immediately agreed. The fierce-looking battering ram who was constantly chewing quietly on a blade of grass became a tame lamb with just a few lyrics, which immediately made him grab his bass and begin to accompany Jester's singing. Then Rory started playing his guitar. Together, they rehearsed several classics that they wanted to play live at the next opportunity.

Jacques always seemed grim and reserved to everyone else. The blank expression he always wore threw people off immediately, especially when they had planned to annoy them because of the band. It wasn't long before Bob took it upon himself to badmouth Jester's success at the talent show. He and his pack of bullies had approached Jester the very next day.

First, they'd knocked the tablet out of his hands, causing the raspberry soda to spill over the new white shirt his mom had given him. It had "Superstar" printed on it in gold letters. She probably would have given it to him anyway, no matter what the outcome of the talent show would have been.

Just the thought of it made Jester's chest warm. If there was anyone he could always count on, it was his mother and sister.

He'd been close to tears when Bob stood in front of him. His hot breath, which had smelled a bit foul, had blown wetly into his face, and his pointed ears had twitched excitedly as if he could just about control himself.

But Bob didn't get any further because Rory and Jacques had already stepped up next to Jester. The wolf had inspected the ram, ears flattened and eyes wide, and rushed out of the cafeteria without another word.

"That oaf just doesn't know where his place is," Jacques had mumbled while looking down at Jester, who just stared at him with wide eyes.

The goat boy wore a black top and basketball shorts. He had probably just come from exercise. The yellow streak in his hair shimmered golden as he cocked his head slightly, the light catching on his black horns, which looked neatly polished.

"So you're the little kitten everyone's talking about," he grumbled, leaning down to get a closer look at Jester. His snub nose had twitched, then he had straightened up again and snorted silently. "Well then, let's see what you've got."

Rory had just slapped Jester on the shoulder encouragingly and led him into the rehearsal room, where they ended up having a jam session.

Jester hadn't been happier in a long time than he was at this moment. He had never had the chance to play with a band, although he had always dreamed of doing so.

And when he saw Rory plucking his strings as if in a trance while giving Jester sideways glances that Jester didn't understand, he realized that he had finally arrived. He had finally found something that really made him happy.

Since that day, there has been nothing but music and the dragon's big red eyes, which kept scrutinizing him as if seeking an answer he couldn't find without Jester's help.

Of course, Jester pretended not to notice. Yes, Rory was incredibly attractive to him. He had appealed to him with his long limbs, which shone almost silver in the light, and the red lacquered claws. Jester liked the happy nature that seemed to bathe every room Rory entered in warm light. But he was sure that he had no chance with him. And so, he treated Rory like any other boy in school.

Jester couldn't imagine what would happen if they found out he was gay. This was a confrontation that Jester wanted to avoid at all costs.

"It's nice," he muttered, wincing slightly when Isa began scratching his ears. She stared thoughtfully out the window over Jester's bed. The two of them purred softly and enjoyed each other's company until their mother called them to dinner.

His mother also quickly noticed that Jester felt comfortable with the changes of the past few weeks. Although he came home a little later every day because the band always rehearsed after school, she didn't mind as long as he did his homework and didn't neglect his household chores. Something Jester was trying hard for.

Jester was happy with his life. The school was going well, the band was fun, and yet he couldn't help but feel a sadness he had never known before. And that feeling grew stronger the more he saw Rory.

Every accidental touch, every deep look that Jester couldn't place made his heart beat faster. However, it also hurt more. Because Rory was something he couldn't have. And that was one of the worst feelings Jester had to endure in a long time.

"Well, my handsome, how are we today?" Jacques growled as Jester stepped through the rehearsal room door in the school's basement.

The janitor had actually made a room available for them when word got around that Jester was now part of the band. Everyone loved his performance, and it was of great interest to the school that the band had a rehearsal room to practice for the following school events. The band would now serve as the figurehead of the school. That was something the three hadn't expected.

The next event was announced in a week. The autumn ball to which the parents of the students were also invited. Jester looked forward to it. His mother had offered to bake pumpkin pies. It was the best pie in the world, but unfortunately, she rarely baked it since his father was no longer with them. That's why he wanted to gorge himself on it that evening. And the better they played, the more likely his mother would turn a blind eye.

Jacques lounged on the couch, as always with a thin straw in his mouth, and polished his thick horns with a cloth and pomade, which he had probably stolen from his father again. The ram put a lot of value on his appearance, and it showed.

His leather jacket was draped neatly over a chair to prevent the leather from wrinkling, and his black jeans were snug on his narrow hips. He must have polished his hooves particularly thoroughly that morning too.

"Why are you dressed up like that?" Jester asked, tossing his school bag in a corner. Jacques was about to reply when the door to the room swung open, and Rory entered. He had a girl hanging from both arms who giggled loudly with rosy cheeks. Probably because of something Rory had said.

The pain coursing through Jester's chest was unexpected, and the sight of the woman's curves snuggling invitingly against Rory's tall frame only made the lump in his throat thicken.

"Hey, guys!" the girls chirped. She was a pig, just like the other girl he had seen Rory meet in the last few days. Probably siblings. Her pale pink skin was smooth and as perfect as only a pig's skin could be. Her pretty floppy ears had rings on either side, and she wore a dress that fitted skin-tight around her body. She was lovely, with her round snub nose and red lips. No wonder she caught Rory's eye.

The pig girl teasingly stroked Rory's chest, apparently catching a nipple, which she rubbed vigorously as she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Do you really want to rehearse now? My parents aren't home, and we could still spend some time together," she tweeted. Rory eyed Jacques first and then Jester, who surveyed the scene with a blank face. Jester didn't notice how his tail was getting bushier and started to sweep back and forth frantically so that even the others quickly realized that the cat was about to have a fit.

"I think I'd better practice with the boys now, darling," Rory said, pushing her out the door. She started whining and making a pout until it was almost pathetic. Rory was undeterred, however, and closed the door with promises to call and make things right, which made Jester snort.

As soon as the door was closed, Jester turned to the electronics and set up his microphone, scowling ahead and emphatically ignoring Rory.

Jacques didn't comment on what happened but scowled at Rory as he put away his polishing kit. Rory looked questioningly at his bandmates and finally took up his guitar.

"What's the matter with you guys?" Rory finally asked when Jester and Jacques still hadn't spoken to him. "Nothing," Jester hissed, avoiding Rory's hurt gaze, who was just staring at him from his corner by the amp, shoulders slumped.

Jacques shook his head slowly, slung the strap of his bass guitar over his shoulder, and began to pluck the first notes to One Man Army without taking his eyes off his fingers.

Rory's high frequency of female attention was indeed something that bothered Jester a lot. It hurt him physically to keep seeing him with another girl on his arm. And few girls didn't want to be within his reach. While he doubted the dragon was intimate with all of these suitors, word quickly spread that the band's guitarist was on the hunt.

Jester really tried not to let the irritation show. It wasn't really his place to be offended or hurt. After all, he wasn't entitled to Rory, and the dragon boy just wasn't gay. It wouldn't be the last time Jester was interested in a boy with whom he didn't stand a chance. So it was better if he finally came to terms with it.

...

He was just shuffling down the stairs to the school's basement when he heard a noise in the darkness that made him wince. Sighs and giggles echoed in the dark hallway, making Jester perk up his ears suspiciously.

As Jester crept down the aisle, the giggles grew louder and louder. Luckily, he could see in the dark. An ability for which he had always been very grateful.

The janitor had again forgotten to turn on the fuse, which is why the entire basement had no electricity. Luckily he had shown the boys how to turn the fuse back on once, so they weren't dependent on him.

Jester rounded the corner leading to the fuse box and was about to open the door when he heard the giggling again, followed by a low groan.

Well, Jester knew what was happening. It wasn't uncommon for students to hide in the basement to make out. But what he heard then hit him like a blow.

"More, please, Rory..."

The words almost overwhelmed him as Jester's fingers tightened on the door handle, cracking his joints slightly. Rory mumbled something in reply, but Jester couldn't hear it.

He tiptoed to the open door a little way down the hall and peered through the crack.

Then he saw it.

Rory's bareback, the tight shorts he liked to wear hanging between his knees while his slender tail swept lazily back and forth. He was bending over a girl, of whom Jester saw only slim legs wrapped tightly around Rory's waist.

Jester felt tears welling up in his eyes. He knew he would never stand a chance with Rory. He was far too interested in girls for that, and Jester didn't believe in throwing himself at him despite everything to maybe persuade him to have a one-night stand with him.

But seeing these girls get what he so desperately wanted still pained him. Jester knew it was irrational to expect Rory not to be so blatant. After all, the latter surely thought that he was being very secretive. It wasn't Rory's fault that Jester was there whenever he was having fun. And yet Jester could do nothing against the growing hot anger inside him.

With an emphatic bang, Jester shut the door, hurried to the fuse box, and turned the fuse back on, lighting up all the lights in the basement at once.

He heard screeches of surprise from behind the door, but that didn't stop him from hurrying back down the aisle and into the rehearsal room. His heart was racing, and his ears pounded with every beat as he hid behind the couch, pulled his legs to his chest, and began to let the tears, that threatened to choke him, flow. How much longer could he pretend there was nothing?

He was aware that his displeasure was more than evident. Maybe not for Rory, who didn't question his actions and endured Jester's moodiness. But Jacques certainly knew, even if he didn't say anything. The goat had looked at him more than once with a knowing look as Jester snarled off when Rory arrived with a new girl.

He wanted to be part of the band so bad. And yet he wasn't sure how much longer he could deal with the heartbreak. His bad mood was unfair to the others. No one allowed others to be treated so poorly. Surely they would throw him out of the band soon, no matter how much they liked his singing.

Jester sniffled behind the couch and tried to calm down. He just had to decide what he wanted. Even if what he wanted most would never be his.

...

"You're a stupid idiot, you know that?" Jacques growled, taking a long gulp of his Coke, which he'd been holding for quite a while. It must be lukewarm by now, thought Rory.

He fell onto his back with a sigh, whereupon the grass tickled his ears. He and Jacques had met in the park after school. For some reason, Jester didn't have time to practice. He seemed more than distracted the whole time. Did he have troubles at home? Did his mother worry him because he was at school late every day to rehearse with the band? They had finally found a drummer, which allowed them to have more variety in their sets.

Ben, a black labrador boy, was new to the school and had approached Jacques directly to offer to be the drummer for them. At first, Rory hadn't been particularly enthusiastic. While he knew that a drum set was essential for the kind of music they wanted to make, Jester got way too excited when he saw the black dog.

And then there were the events they rehearsed for.

Fall Ball was only a few days away, and they really needed all the practice they could get. Rory didn't understand why Jester made himself so rare. And Ben couldn't be found either. Were the two hanging out together? Did the cat take a look at the dog? That Jester was gay was an open secret for the band. It hadn't taken long for them to notice how Jester occasionally eyed boys at school. Rory also got the odd look that made it evident that Jester had an exceptional interest in him, even if he was trying to cover it up.

And then there were his moody moments. These mostly coincided with the moments when Rory showed up with a girl.

"Now, why am I an idiot again?" Rory asked, scowling at Jacques.

The ram boy chewed on a stalk of grass as usual and eyed him sideways, his thin lips moving slowly. Rory was aware that Jacques was getting more than he was letting on. The Frenchman simply preferred not to comment on everything that was going on around him, let alone interfere. But it must be crucial if he had something to say now. That was the only reason he had asked.

Jacques was his best friend, and as seldom as he would interfere, he needed to listen to him on those rare occasions.

"Our little kitten is head over heels in love with you, and you have nothing better to do than pretend you don't feel the same way," snapped Jacques, pursing his lips. "You should at least give him a solid rebuff instead of torturing him with your little affairs. That being said, it's annoying having all those women around you constantly. How can you keep that giggling around all the time?"

Rory blew some smoke through his nose. It wasn't the first time Jacques had made him wonder about his sexuality. As they progressed into high school, Rory finally got the girl's attention he always thought he needed. It wasn't that he didn't like girls. Actually, he liked them very much. He loved touching their soft skin. He enjoyed smelling the floral perfume, the gentle voices whispering softly in his ears. He even liked the long fingernails that scratched his scales from time to time.

But then again, his eyes fell on one or the other boy here and there, and it took his breath away. It had been the same with Jester. When the little tomcat stood on the stage, the red light behind him, his wild, orange hair shining like fire, something stirred inside him that he had never felt before.

And then Jester had started to sing.

Rory remembered clearly how his heart had stopped for a moment. How everything around him was a blur, and nothing was in his focus as the slender form swayed gently to the beat of the music while playing one of his favorite songs.

Rory had imagined how the smooth fur would feel under his fingers throughout the performance. Was his little pink tongue rather rough, as was typical for cats? Would he extend his claws if he held on to him while Rory...

"Rory, you're going to get a boner..." Jacques said dryly, his gaze now more than disapproving. "Jester is not one of your mattresses. He's our singer. The dearest kitten that we could wish for. A good friend. I don't care if you have problems with your own sexuality. If you think overcompensation is the best solution, please. Be my guest. But you'll stay away from Jester if you don't have honest intentions."

Jacques' voice grew more menacing with every word, and Rory felt a chill run down his spine towards the end. While always pretending to be calm and stoic, Jacques was not one to be underestimated. One of the other bullies had already had to make acquaintance with his horns, which also appeared smooth as an eel that day. He must have polished them more than thoroughly in the morning.

"I don't want anything from him, and I'm not gay either," Rory finally growled, turning away with a snort.

"No one says that. But you want something from Jester, and you're too

stupid to admit it. And that's why you're dragging a rat's tail of groupies through our rehearsal room, hurting our little one, and I can't watch that. Now we have finally found a singer whose voice and personality suit us.

I can't let you scare him away with your stupidity and personal crisis." Jacques growled and turned his eyes away to look over the park's green area. "I feel like running!" he finally stated and jumped up.

As was his nature, he ran at once, agile as a gazelle, over the small hills, leaping here and there into the air. Rory saw the joyful smile that he knew was very rare in the distance. And it only came out when his friend was particularly happy.

While Jacques hopped across the meadow like a young lamb, Rory lay on the grass and thought about what Jacques had just said. Did he want something from Jester?

He found him attractive, yes. His round thighs and narrow waist reminded him of a girl's figure. But his chest was flat and covered with fluffy fur. He always smelled a bit like herbs, probably due to the catnip in his tea. And if his tail swung relaxed behind him, Rory wanted nothing more than to bury his face in the bushy fur.

Jester was pretty and gentle. But also wild and aggressive. Whenever he was angry, his fur stood up in his neck, and his tail flapped wildly, giving him a cute appearance that made Rory's stomach warm.

"You should be nicer to him if you want something from him," Jacques finally murmured, falling back onto the grass next to Rory. "And stop taking girl after girl. That's incredibly gross, by the way."

"Why is that gross?" Rory asked, confused as Jacques just raised an eyebrow wordlessly. Maybe his friend was right. Perhaps he wanted something from Jester. And perhaps he should be nicer to him.

...

At last, it was time. Autumn ball. All the students were excited, like little kids. The whole day the only thing that was talked about was the event of the evening. The girls discussed make-up and dress ideas, and the boys bragged about the dates they had a hard time getting to go out with them.

And the band itself was nervous and excited. They had the morning off to rehearse. And that's where the problems started.

Rory was incredibly friendly to Jester. It all started with a chocolate shake he had just brought along. This was followed by minor touches like a gentle hand on his shoulder, blunt claws scratching his neck as he passed, and a never-ending stream of pet names and praise that made Jester clench his teeth.

The barrel then overflowed when Rory wanted to hold Jester's hand on the way to the cafeteria.

The cat boy had hissed with his fur raised and scratched Rory's arm with his claws stretched out, causing Rory to roar out loud in pain and shock so that the corridor walls seemed to shake.

Shocked, Jester and Rory had stared at each other for a moment before trudging after Jacques, who had watched the scene through gritted teeth but made no comment, heads bowed.

Now Rory, Jester, and Jacques were sitting in the school cafeteria. The cat and the dragon squirmed under Jacques' scowl like little children who had done something wrong.

The whole situation had been more than strange, and no one knew precisely when it started and whose fault it was.

Then Ben joined them and handed everyone a lemonade, looking around questioningly when he noticed how quiet they all were. His eyes fell on Rory's arm, on which the deep scratch marks between the fine scales were clearly visible.

"You okay, guys?" he asked uncertainly, his floppy black ears twitching nervously as Jacques eyed the other two with a raised eyebrow.

"That's a good question, Ben," snapped the ram, standing up. "Whatever is wrong with you two better get sorted out before the show starts!" he growled, nodding his head for Ben to follow him.

With his tail tucked in, the dog trotted after Jacques, who glanced over his shoulder at the two remaining at the table and murmured, "Idiots in love!"

Jester, ears picking up the words, lifted his head and wide-eyed Rory.

"What does Jacques mean by that?" Jester asked and looked at Rory with wide eyes that seemed to reflect something. Rory didn't realize it at first, but then he understood. It was hope.

Seeing it clearly that Jester was actually getting his hopes up gave Rory the last bit of impetus he needed. After what Jacques had told him, he had thought long and hard about what he wanted. Did he want to hop from one girl to the next to satisfy the hunger that the little kitten had awakened in him? Did he want to spend nights imagining what it would be like to hold him in his arms? What would it be like to live with Jester and share more than fleeting encounters he'd quickly forgotten?

The more Rory allowed the thoughts he had forbidden himself for the past few weeks, the more he realized how much Jester had cast a spell over him. He wanted the boy with the orange fur and soft hands that caressed the microphone and made him want to touch him like that. He wanted him by his side and close to him.

He was madly in love with the cat boy. And because he didn't know how to show it, he had acted so stupidly that morning. He had thought that if he was looking for Jester's closeness and gave him the same in return, Jester would understand; he would accept it.

He hadn't realized that the cat was trying to hide his feelings and pretend Rory was just another friend. Of course, he had his claws out.

"Let's talk!" Rory finally said, grabbing Jester's hand and pulling him out of the cafeteria and down a flight of stairs that led to another part of the basement. Here they would be undisturbed. At least at this time of day.

Jester had a hard time chasing after him. However, when the darkness in the basement swallowed them and Rory pushed him against the wall, he still held his breath and looked up at the dragon, whose silhouette towered darkly above him.

"Are you kicking me out of the band?" Jester asked quietly, tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes as Rory kept quiet.

"What? No! Oh my God! No! No-no-no!" Rory said quickly, raising his hands defensively and placing them on Jester's shoulders, who was now tipped against the wall. His fluffy ears drooped, and his hair suddenly looked dull and sluggish.

"Then what's going on?" Jester asked, and Rory took a deep breath.

"I'm in love with you!"

The words hung between them like a fog that wouldn't reach Jester. He stared up at him with his mouth open. He blinked a few times frantically before slowly knitting his eyebrows together.

"Are you kidding me?" Jester then hissed, trying to break free of the grip Rory just didn't want to break.

"Jester!" Rory whispered emphatically when he just managed to avoid the claws that almost scratched his face. "Jester, now, listen!"

However, he didn't want to stop fighting back. Why wouldn't he listen to what Rory had to say? Then the dragon got too wild, pushing the feral tomcat against the wall with a deep growl. This startled Jester so much that he looked up at Rory in fear.

"I know you think I'm nice... maybe even interesting," Rory began, taking a step back and putting his hands in his pockets. "The thing with the girls, this had nothing to do with you. I threw myself at them because I didn't want to admit that I might be poled differently..."

Jester still didn't respond. His large brown eyes darted over Rory's form, leaning against the wall opposite him.

"I don't know how to be in relationships or build that. I never got into it because most girls only wanted one thing anyway... from me at least.

But I can't think of anything else except being with you. And if you feel the same way, I hope we might do something..."

"Do something..." Jester asked after a long moment of silence while he processed what had been said.

Had the dragon just confessed his love to him? Was the womanizer so bad at communicating his feelings? What was he supposed to think of that? What did Jester think of that?

He was just about to answer and ask more questions when Jacques's voice echoed in the basement and made both of them flinch.

"Get your asses up here. We have to rehearse!"

Jester and Rory looked at each other wide-eyed before rushing up the stairs. The ram boy was already waiting for them, scowling, arms folded.

"Everything settled?" he asked with a scrutinizing look that he let wander back and forth between the two.

Rory looked questioningly down at Jester, who also looked at him briefly, then took a deep breath before intertwining his fingers with Rory's.

"Yeah, all settled," the cat said, not glancing at Jacques and dragging Rory behind him into the ballroom, where their instruments were already set up on the stage.

Jacques and Rory exchanged puzzled glances before a big smile crept onto Rory's face.

The show was a complete success. The crowd danced like the devil was among them. The technique didn't cause any problems, and even the principal danced with one of the secretaries.

Rory was his typical seductive self on stage. Jacques gave the raging crowd his usual scowl, and Ben enjoyed himself behind the drums.

His pink tongue lolled out of his mouth, and his tail darted from side to side as he set the beat flawlessly.

After the show, they had to do several more extras, and then a young woman appeared standing with the principal on the stairs leading down from the stage.

She introduced herself as Kat, a manager looking for young talents in the area to work with. Ben was immediately enthusiastic, and Jacques frowned, interested. Jester hid a bit behind Rory, who had retaken his hand and was slowly running the red claw through his fur as he listened intently to what the woman who looked like an elegant snake had to say.

The principal eventually chimed in, suggesting that the boys take a break before making important plans, which Kat endorsed.

"I'm sure the boys would like to enjoy some private time first," she purred as she gave Jester and Rory a knowing look.

Without waiting for further approval, Jester and Rory hurried off. They scurried down the stairs to the basement again and ducked around a corner where no teenagers were making out yet.

"If only it were all that easy," Rory sighed as he leaned against the wall next to Jester. The cat twitched his ears slightly as he eyed the larger one questioningly.

The discussion had been more than necessary. And while Rory had admitted how he felt and Jester now knew his own feelings were more than reciprocated, he didn't know how to proceed from there.

Should they be together to make it official? What would Jacques say? Would Ben be jealous?

And then there was the band itself. Would it have an impact on their success?

The manager had let it be known that she knew what was going on. However, the unavailability for female fans could affect the band's existence.

Jester's mind raced as he pondered all of this, with Rory watching him silently.

Without Jester noticing, he slithered his tail behind their legs and gently wrapped the tip around Jester's bushy tail, which seemed to be thrashing back and forth as he slowly began to panic.

Surprised, Jester winced and felt his cheeks heat up.

Sheepish, he looked over at Rory, who grinned softly and cocked his head.

"It's actually not all that complicated," he finally stated and squirmed a little closer, his tail wrapping more tightly around Rory's and their shoulders touching. "What do you mean?" Jester asked, and Rory intertwined his fingers with Jester's. "Well, we don't have to jump in front of the alter."

Jester just nodded and kept looking up at him. "We can take it slow and see where the journey goes," Rory continued, bowing his head slightly at Jester, who just stared at him with big round eyes, ears flattened, and mouth slightly open as he was spellbound. Staring into Rory's red eyes, pupils dilating more and more with every ticking by second. "After all, this is also very new for me...."

Rory's voice grew hoarse yet gentle as he murmured more nothings against Jester's lips. But he didn't hear all that anymore. His thoughts revolved around the warm lips that pressed lightly against his with every word.

All he saw was the dragon's wide eyes not turning away from him as his voice rumbled away in the background.

Jester was just about to reply, to join the conversation when Rory's eyes closed, and he sealed Jester's mouth with a gentle kiss.

Shock ran through the little cat's limbs as Rory's body pressed against his. Shivering, he closed his eyes and, in a trance, wrapped his arms around the dragon's shoulders as he pulled him closer with his arms around Jester's waist.

Then they said nothing for a long time.

Jester quickly realized that Rory was far more experienced at kissing than he was. His lips slowly moved against his, his hands resting on the firm curves of Jester's buttocks, massaging them inquiringly. With each squeeze of the slender fingers, Jester felt a flush run down his spine, sliding a little closer to Rory until their torsos pressed tightly together.

Neither of them knew how long they stood like that in the dark corridor, but when they pulled away and looked at each other breathlessly, the only thing they could do was giggle softly.

"That was good!" Rory mumbled, the pale scales on his cheeks tinged with a soft blush. Jester just nodded and leaned his forehead against Rory's chest, who began scratching his ears thoughtfully.

The low purr came on so suddenly that Jester couldn't stop the sound. Rory didn't say anything, though; he just grunted in his throat and rested his cheek against Jester's head. "I wonder how to make you purr in other ways..." And already, the delicate fingers of his other hand began to scratch the root of Jester's tail.

The surprised sigh that Jester escaped pierced the dragon's marrow. As the cat melted against his body, he grinned and looked down at him. Rory was about to say something when Jacques came around the corner and snorted. "You two are idiots. Stop cuddling now. Kat wants to talk to us!"

Rory and Jester, who had blown apart as if stung by a tarantula when Jacques arrived, gaped at the ram as he turned away without another word. They looked at each other briefly before following him with bowed heads. Jester hurried ahead, past Jacques, and through the door that led to the ballroom.

So he didn't see how Jacques, without looking at Rory, raised his hand and offered his fist for a fist bump, which Rory accepted with a snort.

"Took you long enough," Jacques growled, sliding the door open in front of them.

...

As Jester sat next to the hospital bed, he stared at the white wall in front of him. They had forbidden him to hang up pictures; after all, it wasn't certain how long he would stay in this room.

Maybe they would move him. The constant beeping of the machines was a well-known background by now. Sometimes, Jester couldn't fall asleep when he slept at home due to the lack of background noise.

But the security that the room gave him made him recap the last few years.

It was all supposed to be different. Nothing that had happened in the last six months was supposed to happen. And it all started so well.

After the band graduated from high school, they moved into an apartment together.

At first, Jester wasn't sure if that would be a good idea.

He and Rory were together, and while it wasn't always easy, they'd managed to form a stable, healthy relationship. It had been strange at first.

Jester wasn't used to the satisfaction of needs he usually had to hide. Rory had so much more experience with intimacy than he had. And while it was evident from the start that the dragon desired and wanted Jester, he was considerate of the cat boy and restrained himself.

This is how shy kisses turned into intimate togetherness, without fear or discomfort.

They were happy with what they had.

And then there was the band. Kat, the manager who had approached them at the fall ball, had kept her promise and helped them get known locally. At first, they only performed at private parties. But over time, the word got around, and they got gigs at company parties, openings of department stores, and finally, they gave their own concerts, which were always well attended.

Jester sniffed as he stroked the pale hand that lay cool in his.

Maybe everything would have been different if the concert hadn't happened? After all, Rory had gone out of the hall to get Jacques bass. The battering ram was sometimes so forgetful that it made the other band members' anger shoot up in their heads.

But that evening, they had all taken it with humor. They had been excited. Full of anticipation.

Jester remembered how Rory leaned down to him. His face was more prominent now, the cheeks more defined, and his narrow chest was now provided with firm muscles and broad shoulders. They got old. Jester liked that.

"I'll be right back, baby," he had purred. His warm lips were pressed against his, tongue teasing his for a brief moment, and then he was hurrying out the door.

Jester had not yet recovered from the butterflies still fluttering through his chest when the loud sound of shattering glass and bending metal reached him through the steel door Rory had just passed through.

For a brief moment, everything stopped. Nobody moved. Nobody said anything. And then all hell broke loose. Voices shrieked, Jacques and Ben, stormed out of the room, Jester after them, and through the door.

Looking back, Jester wished he hadn't followed the others. He wished he'd just sat there, knowing that Rory would be back any moment.

But he had gone through the door. And what he had seen couldn't be taken from him anymore.

Rory was lying on the floor, his slender body oddly bent and his long tail at a prominent kink. Jester couldn't see his face because it was covered in blood, broken glass, and bruises.

He was about to approach his boyfriend when Jacques wrapped strong arms around his body and held him in place.

The ambulance had been quick. The police arrested the drunk who had pulled onto the sidewalk in a moment of inattention. He had rammed the van and Rory, who had been pinned between the van and the car.

Jester got up and sat on the edge of the bed with the still figure. The tubes and cables framing his face made him look like a lab experiment. The first time he'd seen him like that, he'd fainted. The sight had hit him deeply, and the pain had sucked the last bit of joy out of Jester's body.

He gently stroked his forehead, which felt unnaturally dry under his fingers.

"I'm so sorry for everything. If I had thought of the bass when I got out, you wouldn't have had to get out. None of this would have happened to you," whispered Jester, bending over the lifeless figure.

Rory has been in a coma ever since. Doctors didn't know if he would ever wake up. At first, Jester still had hope. But then, as days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, every ticking second sucked more life out of him. It was like sitting at the grave of a living corpse. Every word that went unanswered tore his heart a little more. Every touch that didn't find any counter-pressure plunged him deeper into a darkness from which Jester couldn't find a way out.

It quickly became clear that the band would no longer exist. At first, they were still looking for new guitarists, but it was never the same as with Rory. They finally broke up. Ben got married, and Jacques went back to his family in France.

Jester was left behind, sitting in the hospital for hours every day and persevering at Rory's side.

After almost a year, Isa could no longer look at the misery. She shook Jester, explaining that Rory certainly didn't want him wasting his life at the side of his hospital bed.

"It doesn't help him if you sit here and drown him with your tears, Jester!" she had said, looking deep into his eyes. "I know it hurts. I know that you are suffering. But you can't change anything about the situation. And it doesn't help anyone if you wither away in the hospital!"

Of course, that sparked a fight. Who was she to tell him to leave his loved one behind? For better or for worse, until death do us part! What became of these principles?

But then he realized that they weren't married. No oaths bound him to Rory's remains and he was free to do as he pleased.

And this awareness pushed him deeper into the darkness.

Eating or sleeping became unthinkable for him. How did he end up wanting to leave Rory now that he needed him? And so he had spent many months in the sickroom, a shadow of himself. And then he had a dream.

He saw Rory lying in bed next to him, gently stroking his face. "Please go," he had said. "Live your life. Isa is right. I don't want you to suffer next to me. There's no reason for that."

Jester told no one about the dream. They would probably accuse him of going insane already. But he thought about it for a long time. Was it really Rory who released him? Or just a nocturnal hallucination designed to help him make the decision he must have made in his subconscious a long time ago? Whatever it was, Jester bit the bullet and talked to his sister, who had avoided him whenever she could sense the last argument.

And she had reacted very differently than he had expected. She had hugged him and cried after he told her that he was actually leaving town. That he would distance himself from the situation.

They had been making plans for weeks.

At first, Jester wasn't sure where to go. He was at a loss as to what life without Rory might hold for him, what it might look like. This concept had just never occurred to him as the band and his relationship gave no reason for it.

The only thing he was sure of was that he would not go out of the States. So he wrote down all the states and pulled a note out of Rory's beanie, which he liked to wear in the winter.

In the end, it was Utah. There he looked for a job and an apartment. Everything was ready for his departure.

And now, the day had come when Jester would finally leave town.

He was afraid. He feared that Rory would die once he was on the bus because maybe he would realize that Jester had left him in his vegetative state. But then again, that could also cause him to wake up again. That he would be looking for him. That Rory would wake up and run after him like the heroes in the chewy romances, they used to watch together.

The lump in Jester's throat grew thicker and heavier. The tears he tried to hold back for hours finally broke through and fell onto the white sheets. He would go. He was sure. But he still didn't know if that was the best decision.

Slender arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders from behind as Isa snuggled up against his back and held him gently in her arms. They had talked about it for a long time. She knew how difficult it was for him to walk away. But she had made it clear to him that he had to go. He couldn't waste his youth on a sickbed. She wouldn't allow it.

And she was right. Rory wouldn't want that either.

"I love him so much, and I miss him so much," Jester sobbed as he let his grief run free and big tears and snot ran down his nose.

Isa leaned her cheek against his shoulder and just nodded. "I know, bro. But I can't let you cook here in your own juices made of self-loathing, remorse, and regret."

Jester gave a short laugh and sniffled.

"You'll keep an eye on him, promise?" Jester finally asked after a moment of silence. "If he wakes up again, you'll let me know immediately, will you?"

Isa nodded again and looked at her mother, who was standing in the doorway with a sad expression and watching the scene. She let Jester move back into her house when Jacques and Ben moved out of the shared apartment. He could never have afforded the rent on his own. She had also allowed Rory's belongings to be stored in her garage.

All in all, she had done everything possible to make Jester ok during this difficult time. Even when he and Isa fought because he didn't want to leave town, she hadn't interfered and instead baked him a pumpkin pie every day.

Leaving her was almost harder than leaving Rory behind, Jester realized, wiping the snot and tears from his face with a handkerchief.

"It's time, dear," his mother said quietly.

His bus would be leaving soon, and he couldn't waste any more time in useless tears.

Jester bent over Rory's head and kissed his pale cheeks, taking a deep breath. The scent was off. The man in front of him smelled like disinfectant, sensitive soap, and laundry detergent. But he didn't smell like the earthy fire he happened to adore so fast. It was like Rory wasn't himself anymore.

"I love you. I love you more than anything in this world," he breathed against Rory's nape, straightening up and leaving the room without looking back.

Accompanied by Isa and his mother, Jester left the hospital ready to start a new life.

Not because he wanted to. But because he had to.

He owed that to his dragon.