FSE

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Jasper was wearing the body of one of the foxes. That was, at least, the way he thought of it - even though it was likely to be a permanent change. Until yesterday he had been known as Tim Mitchells. Almost nobody knew who he was, now.

The _fox_known as Jasper was supposed to have come from the planet called Shoal, according to what the Switch had told him. Records from Shoal were unreliable and easy to fake. Thousands of others who had switched bodies had used a similar story to the one Jasper had been given. They assured him that nobody would figure out who he used to be.

For now, Jasper was still stuck here, down on Earth. They had snuck him inside the gate that surrounded the Seven Star Casino, an establishment catering purely to the artificially created 'aliens' known as the foxes. They were part fox, an accident caused early on in the settlement on Shoal, resulting in the first aliens being man made. Unfortunately, those were the only intelligent species that had ever been found, despite Earth's and later Shoal's best efforts. Jasper was one of them, now that he thought about it, as if the black nose sitting constantly right in front of his eyes didn't make that blatantly obvious. His feet felt odd inside his shoes, his fur almost uncomfortably warm and the tail at the end of his spine seemed to flit about with a mind of its own. Jasper had taken more than a couple of different forms inside a virtual reality, but that wasn't nearly the same as experiencing the real thing, where everything was sharp and every movement carried a certain sense of weight that a virtual world never could. It was going to be a lot to get used to.

The casino itself tried to place itself firmly in the past. An early twentieth century, art deco style curved all around the white building in elegant, sleek lines. The Seven Star tried to avoid the use of modern technology as much as it could, although a few small pieces of technology broke the illusion from time to time - the phosglobes inside the old fashioned lamps and the robotic servants being the most obvious. The females wore black or blue dresses for the most part, the cut of them made to be fairly revealing. The males wore black suits made in a twentieth century style, although they were a little tighter than was _strictly_necessary, making the outline of each male's body easy to enjoy. Jasper himself wore one of those black suits, the cut of it making him distinctly aware of how snug it wrapped around his behind. There was a hum of conversation at the grand looking entrance to the casino as small groups of the aliens milled about. A room had been booked for him after he had left his old self behind, along with a ticket for a shuttle straight from the Seven Star to the spaceport, followed by a flight off planet. Three more days and he could leave this place. More than anything else, Jasper wanted to see the Earth from far above. Before today he could barely have dreamed of doing such a thing. This body, being on his own, barely having more than a thousand credits to his name... none of it mattered if he could get himself on board that ship.

Jasper walked inside, catching a smile from a vixen as he hesitantly wandered up the stairs. He smiled back, feeling like the look he gave was somewhere between awkward and polite. She turned back to her friends after giving him a soft wink. The foxes had never been known for being particularly modest.

There was an energy field inside the massive doorway, invisible save for the tiny blue light in each corner of the entrance, bringing with it an instant coolness the second that Jasper stepped through. His overly sensitive ears picked out bits of the chatter going through the place. Most of the talking was happy, or drunk, or flirtatious, with some dissapointed mutters popping up every now and then whenever somebody found themselves losing too much money. Put together, the hum of conversation was positive. It was a place to relax after a long journey and everyone here was making the best they could of it, before a long flight back home to Shoal.

He was nervous - worried that someone would find out who he really was. Jasper didn't have much money, he knew he didn't, but he bought a drink to calm his nerves anyway. Five credits were quickly discounted from his account. It was a cocktail of some sort, the glass full of ice and a clear liquid, a sprig of mint decorating it near the lip. A real drink, only legal in this city, as far as the Northern Union went.

Jasper took a sip of his drink, enjoying the taste and, equally, with his sensitive nose the sweet, minted scent of it. He wandered around the tables. The games they played were extremely old fashioned, replicating the Las Vegas that had existed back in the days when not everything was virtual, before the times when computers were commonplace. Cards flicked through the skilled hands of the dealers, while dice tumbled along green felt tables, sometimes landing to the sound of a loud cheer. It was a sign of a quality establishment. Anything that offered real services was considered upmarket, these days. Amongst humans, at least. The foxes insisted on having what they called a real society, so maybe it wasn't so unusual for them.

As Jasper walked hesitantly through the room, he started to notice the subtle differences in each individual's face. A sharp nose or the look in their yellow eyes, the shape of a chin or the point in each fox's ears gave them an individuality that was almost human.

He needed to take his mind of all of this for a little while.

Some of the tables were offering five credit bets. Jasper was interested in blackjack, but he had never picked up the rules for it, so he ended up finding himself with a pair of dice in hand at the end of one of those felt tables. It wasn't the gambling that thrilled him so much. It was the fact that all of it was real. The taste of mint, sugar and alcohol on the tip of his tongue, the way his tail brushed against his pants, the feel of the ever so slightly imperfect dice in his padded fingertips, smooth all over, tapping against each other as he rolled them in his palm. Jasper threw the dice, watched as they rolled to a stop as his heart skipped a beat. He lost. He lost, but Jasper didn't care. This was the best he had felt in years.

A black, furry hand sat itself on the edge of the table, right next to Jasper. He had gold rings around his two middle fingers, claws polished and perfect.

" Mind if I watch this one? I'm good luck, you know?"

Jasper looked at the male.

If there was one thing he could say about the male's expression, it was that he was self-assured. Black stripes curled around his mostly white muzzle, eyes slightly closed and mouth curved in a flirtatious smile. His pointed ears were decorated with silver rings that ran all the way from the base to the tip, shirt opened up enough to show off his fuzzy white chest.

" I don't mind." Jasper smiled.

" I can tell you're not much of a gambler. But don't worry. I'm right here. They say I'm a lucky one."

" Uh..."

" Go on. Give them a throw."

The stranger leaned right over the table, seemingly oblivious to the others watching them. Not that they seemed to mind. The looks on their faces made it seem as if they found the whole scene rather cute. The dice tumbled over the table and came to a rest. Jasper lost, again.

" Maybe not so lucky. Can I get you a drink to make it up to you?"

A cheer lit up the huge hallway, interrupting Jasper just as he was going to reply. The excited cries filtering through the place changed his mood, encouraging him to go along with it. " One more would be okay."

" One more, then. I'm Keeves, by the way."

" Jasper."

" Cute name." Keeves nodded over to the bar, encouraging Jasper to follow alongside him. " I know I don't look too bad at all, but you're okay with me flirting, right? I don't want any misunderstandings. We might be foxes, but not everyone goes for males."

" I'm okay with it."

" Makes two of us." Keeves smiled as he tucked his ears back and leaned over the bar, ordering both of them a drink.

Jasper took a seat at one of the old wooden tables nearby, staring out into the courtyard. They seemed so graceful here, wandering about inside what could only be described as a palace. For a moment, Jasper looked at his own fingertips, curling them in and watching in amazement as they reacted so naturally to his thoughts. They were his, he thought. This was who he was, now. Jasper couldn't have been happier about that fact.

Keeves slid a drink, the same as he had before, in front of Jasper and sat opposite to him. " You looked like you were pretty far away."

" Just thinking about something."

" Would I be allowed to ask what about?"

" I don't know. I was just thinking about the past." Jasper said.

" Don't, if it's not worth thinking about. There's plenty to enjoy right here, so you might as well live in the moment." Keeves voice was subdued, different to the cocky tone he had taken at the table.

" I thought you'd be saying something to embarrass me." He smiled.

" That was... a bit of an act earlier, sorry. I mean, I'm an obnoxious jerk from time to time, sure, but I was mostly nervous about trying to buy a drink for you. Took a liking as soon as I set eyes on you, Jasper. Anyway, I didn't scare you off, so it's all fine." The fox took a sip of his drink. " Admittedly the first thing I thought of was sleeping with you. I'd prefer to get to know you, though, for more than a night. Or do both. Either way."

For a second Jasper turned his eyes away, feeling embarrassed, both for the words and the fact that he wasn't telling the truth. Jasper, the fox, had only been around for a day. Was that really who he was? Was it right for him to play along like this? What had been a simple escape from his life on Earth was turning more complicated the very first time he spoke to someone. He worried about what he was going to do if he did manage to escape the planet.

Keeves' hand touched Jasper's cheek, gently pushing him around to look into his bright yellow eyes. " You're adorable."

He wanted to be re-assured, to have someone to speak to. To find a new life off this world. Jasper went along with it. He couldn't bring himself to do anything else. " You're not so bad, yourself." The words didn't sound nearly as confident as he wanted them too.

" I know." The male replied, showing a playful grin. " So tell me about yourself. Actually, no, I hate it when someone says that to me. Howcome you came here? A lot of us want to sink into VR like the humans do. Only place we can do it, really. We could give it a try."

Jasper shook his head. " No, no, not that. Sorry - I'd prefer to stay in the real world."

" You seem pretty insisent."

" It's not really something I like."

" Yeah?" Keeves tilted his head and flicked an ear.

" It's not real."

A big, silly smile appeared on his face as he showed his pointed fangs. " That's why we call it 'virtual'. "

" Yeah, I know. I just don't want to end up like they are. It's fun being here, playing some of the games. I don't need to waste my life hooked up to one of those machines. It's not-"

" - I know. I get it."

Keeves leaned across the table, curling his hand around Jasper's, giving it a squeeze. " Come up to my room? I'm not asking to do anything. Just want to get away from the noise. I've got a balcony overlooking the whole street if that helps to convince you."

" Just for a drink?"

" Just a drink. No obligations, I promise."

They left the room and wandered together to the elevator, the polished gates opening up and letting the pair in, before they shut with a loud clatter. The machine slowly rumbled up towards the twentieth floor. Keeves placed a hand between Jasper's shoulders and gestured to the left. They took the short walk through the hallway and Keeves used a key to open the door. It was nice how they had the little touches like that, Jasper thought, instead of resorting to retinal scanners.

Jasper wandered into the bedroom, running his hand along a wooden cabinet and looking out at the view of the city lights, right before he turned to look at the old fashioned lamps by the bed.

" So." Keeves said, standing at the door, arms folded with a frown on his face.

Turning around, Jasper looked at him.

" Going by the way you kept looking at your hands, and how awkward your ears are, I was guessing that you haven't been wearing that body long. That suit gives it away. They always hand out that brand for a new client. That and the fact that I can smell the tank water on you. You're pretty fucking lucky that it was me who noticed you first, although I still don't know what to do with you. So... why? Debt? You commit a crime?"

" Please don't turn me in. Don't do this to me." Jasper crept back, eyeing the balcony.

" Why did you do it, Jasper?"

" I just wanted to get off world."

Another frown appeared on Keeves' face. " Oh, come on. Nobody goes through all that just to get on a ship."

By the time he spoke again, Jasper's foot was on the edge of the balcony door, the warm air brushing over his ankle. "I was sick of doing nothing every single day. That's all there was. I woke up, got in the VR capsule, logged, ate, logged and slept. No friends - real ones, anyway. You know how lonely it gets, living like that? It's not enough. I needed something more than that."

" Jasper."

" Don't do this." He shook his head, the warmth spreading over his head as he stepped out of the doorway.

It was a blur. Keeves rushed towards him and he felt the fence at the edge of the balcony against his hand, followed by the feel of the fox's arms around Jasper's body, dragging him back inside.

" I wasn't going to..." Jasper looked away.

" Hard to tell from where I was standing. You mean it, don't you? You actually went through that just to get some shitty job on Shoal. Here I was wishing I could spend all my time lazing about in a capsule like all you humans do." Keeves let go and stood in the doorway again, although this time it was the one leading to the balcony, arms spread out as if to stop Jasper throwing himself off it. His shoulders slumped. " I don't know what the fuck to do with you."

" Sorry."

" Did they give you any credits?"

" A thousand."

He made a wry smile. " A thousand. Right. That'll last about four weeks. You didn't think this through very well, did you?"

" Not really." Jasper admitted.

" No friends to help you out?"

He shook his head. " None that I know for real."

There was a pained look on Keeves' face as he stared at Jasper, his tail flicking wildly behind him, ears folded right back against his head. " Stay here tonight. The couch should be fine - I'm taking the bed. The bathroom has a decent dryer and make sure you wash properly, you still stink of those tank chemicals. I'll try and find you something to wear that isn't a dead giveaway."

" Thanks."

" Yeah. Sure."

Keeves sighed and wandered to the pack by the couch, grabbing a blue shirt and a pair of black pants. Without a word he threw them to Jasper, then stalked off to the bedroom and slammed the door behind himself. Before that door shut, he saw Keeves' face, the look on it more caring than he would have expected. For a moment, Jasper just stared at the clothing. This really wasn't how things were meant to have turned out.

There was a moment when he thought of sneaking out of the door and escaping to his own room. Did the other fox care, really? Surely he would have just turned him in if he had wanted to. Jasper felt as if he had nowhere else to go.

Jasper wandered slowly into the bathroom, taking a look at himself in the old-fashioned mirror. No electronics at all. Just the glass giving his fox-like reflection back to him. Watching himself stare back, Jasper slid his fingertips down the smooth material with a sense of curiosity. People didn't usually use real glass anymore. He had seen his body inside the tank several times. It was much different when it was him, alive and breathing. Cute would have been the word to describe him. That fox that stared back at Jasper was young, barely looking twenty, and seemingly innocent with his big green eyes.

After undressing, he stood under the hot water and breathed out a deep sigh as his fur was soaked all over, nose catching the scent that Keeves had been talking about. He had been right. Jasper did stink of it. He desperately wanted to be rid of that scent, scrubbing a thick lather of shampoo through every inch he could get his fingers on, down his white belly, over his back, his crotch and even between the toes on his padded feet. The water foamed up and disappeared down the drain between his feet, leaving Jasper dripping wet. He couldn't help but feel over his body, exploring the lithe form he had been given, his muscles giving a definite if slightly thin shape. Reaching down, he felt over his sheath, pressing his fingertips around the length inside and giving a soft squeeze. Almost immediately, his body reacted, his tip exposed from it, fleshy and pink. Jasper couldn't help himself. Underneath the stream of warm water, he began to stroke with a padded palm, letting his jaw stay open as the water pattered down to the pure white tiles below. For a little while, he kept stroking himself off, before deciding that this might not be the best place to do this. Slightly reluctantly, he let go and turned off the faucet, giving himself a shake to get rid of some of the water that seemed to be dripping off every possible part of his fur.

An automatic dryer blew hot air all around his body as he stood next to it, his eyes closed, lost in the billowing air that made his coat softer and softer. Jasper was left with his fur puffed up once it swtiched off, that chemical smell nowhere to be found, even as he dipped his nose down close to his chest. There was nothing but the scent of soap and a very faint musk. It made him feel better, as if he had been born like this.

After dressing himself in the borrowed and more comfortable clothing, he stepped out into the loungeroom to the sight of Keeves looking out at the city.

" You ought to brush after. You'll leave hairs everywhere." Then, he started to smile. " But it looks adorable when you're all puffed up."

" Sorry. About doing all this to you."

" You're only half to blame. I could've decided to walk off and leave you at that table. Might've been that you'd make it Shoal without me jumping in."

" Why?" Jasper asked, slightly disbelieving.

" You've got an innocent looking face. I know - I'm sure that's deliberate, but it suits you. There's something sweet about you... so, yeah, I had a momentarily lapse and wanted to help. Just about as bad as your reasons for coming here."

" They're the truth!" Jasper protested.

" No, no. I believe what you said. I like to bitch and moan about work and the ban on VR, but if I were in your shoes, I might've done the same. Or I would've moaned and gone and sat in a capsule all day anyway. I'm better at complaining than I am at actually doing something about it. So what did you look like? Before... all this?"

The question made him uncomfortable, bringing back some very recent memories. Unpleasant was the first word that came to mind when he thought of the transfer. " I... don't really want to say."

" You were probably pretty cute. Sure are, now."

" I'm not sure if I'd say that."

" Ahh, give yourself some credit. You're cute. Really."

Jasper felt his ears fold back instinctively.

" And easily embarrassed." Keeves made a sigh and tried to show a small grin, but his eyes didn't look nearly as happy. In fact, he looked stressed. " I'll help you out, get you a job on Shoal and find a place for you to stay. You're okay, right? No pains or anything like that? Sometimes they don't do the best job with tank body."

" I feel fine?" Actually, he was starting to worry as soon as Keeves said that.

" If you go collapsing on the floor on me, I'm going to take you to a hospital. Don't even care if they find you out at that point. Got it?"

Jasper nodded. Being caught was preferable to dying.

" I really shouldn't be doing this." He sighed. " You know, no one ever accused me of being intelligent. I'm doing the right thing, though, which is more than I could usually say. Provided you're not lying, but I honestly don't think you are."

As Keeves started to walk towards his room, Jasper reached out and touched his shoulder. The other male just stared at him, his expression impenetrable. He didn't really know why, not really, but he placed his hands on Keeves' sides and tapped a tiny kiss on his lips, having to point his nose up a little to reach. More of a touch than a kiss. To thank him, maybe.

" Jasper..."

Reaching up, Jasper felt the rings around the base of the other fox's ear. A pair of arms curled around Jasper's body and he was met by another kiss, this one made better by the feel of Keeves' tongue licking once against his lips.

" I'm hopeless, did you know?" Keeves said, tightening his grip around the smaller fox's body. " Barely met you and I'm already kissing you. Plus you're sort of a liar and were human a few days ago. I'm saying I'm not usually like this."

" What are you usually like?"

He looked embarrassed. " Don't want to say, to borrow a line from you."

They kissed again, properly this time. He was hesitant and a bit clumsy, having to bump noses together, before Keeves' guided his head to tilt to the side. They locked their muzzles together and their tongues touched, swirling together in a gentle dance. Without even thinking, Jasper found his tail swaying from side to side, thoughts lost in a momentary piece of happiness. It was only a moment, before Keeves' pulled back and stroked Jasper's cheek. He let go, looking regretful as he did it.

" I really shouldn't." Keeves said in a soft voice.

He nodded and took a few steps back towards the couch, sitting down. It wasn't clear what he must have been thinking just then. Jasper was just glad that the only person he knew, at least as a fox, had decided not to react badly. Keeves wandered off to his room again, closing the door much more quietly this time.

It was strange here, in Vegas. The hotel room was unnecessarily large. Ridiculously so, with room enough for four people to live if it was spit up. Year after year, he had spent his days living in a tiny apartment that contained a food dispenser, bathroom, bed and VR capsule, with barely enough room in the cupboard to fit his personal belongings. The capsule had taken care of most things, had exercised his body while he spent endless amounts of time in a dreamlike state, had notified him of anything important. It had been Jasper's home since he was six.

He walked out to the balcony again, felt the warm air making his nose dryer, blowing up against the coat of fur that he was wearing. Voices were down below him, shouting, cheering, bringing the street to life. Drunk revellers, human and fox alike, stumbled around the streets to be met by a drone telling them to return home. Some did, and others ignored the machine's instructions. The rules were lax here. There was little the drone could do but to repeat itself. Coloured lights and tacky casinos lined the street almost as far as he could see, the neon flashing relentlessly in front of the absurd buildings. One of them was a pyramid, the walls lit up with pink and red lights. He just watched, letting an hour pass by, fascinated by a city that truly was alive, wishing he was able to wander down the road below.

" I'm getting worried everytime I watch you stand here." Keeves stood next to him, leaning against the glass door, seemingly afraid to step too close to the edge.

" You don't like heights?"

" That obvious, is it? I'll be a mess when the ship takes off. Being in space is okay, it's the getting there and coming back that bothers me. Thankfully it's quick."

" I've always wanted to go on a ship. I've done the simulations again and again, but it was never very satisfying. That was part of what made me do all this, to see the Earth from above and feel what it's like to get shot up there. I want to have some real memories." He explained. " I'm really hoping it will work out. I'm so glad to have seen this place, at least, even if it all goes wrong."

Tucking his arm around Jasper's lower back, the fox dragged him back a single step and stood with him, watching the city. " That's hopelessly romantic."

" I -"

" Uh, uh, I didn't say I didn't like it."

Jasper wrapped his arm around the male.

" I never took the time to see things that way." Keeves continued. " I spend most of my time working at a cafeteria in a small town, making coffee that doesn't need making for foxes that work in offices that don't need working at. A machine could do my work, but you know, the Mandate. It's nice there, as much as I like to moan about it. I think you'd like seeing it."

" Yeah, I'd like that. I've heard that Shoal is pretty."

" It's not Earth, but it's nice enough."

Jasper gave him a look, as if he didn't believe that. The other male just smiled and curled his arm tighter, bringing the two of them very close. They shared a moment together and in silence, the company making his time on the balcony something he believed he would remember for the rest of his life. Jasper needed to trust someone. They might have just met, but it felt safe to be held by Keeves, as if he wouldn't let things go wrong. Maybe the other fox wasn't thinking that way. Probably, if Jasper were being honest with himself. Still... there was something about him, fundamentally, that made it possible to place his faith in the male.

They did, eventually, return to the cool air of the hotel room.

Jasper tucked his hands under the bottom of Keeves' shirt, feeling the fur underneath, tracing his fingertips along his sides as his lips placed a kiss on the male's chin.

" ...Jasper..."

" You don't want me to?" He asked, disappointed.

" I want you to. I'm worried that you'll end up regretting it. I'm not all that much to speak about, when it comes down to it. Below average, I'd think someone would call me."

" You're not like that."

Keeves' smirked, but the expression was a little humorless. " How would you know?"

" You're not. If you were that bad, you wouldn't have helped me."

" Some kinda logic. But I'll take a compliment. Maybe I'm not so bad."

Standing up on his toes, he gave another kiss, working his nose up behind Keeves' ear to brush it against the fur, the tip briefly touching the metal where it was pierced. A pair of hands cupped around Jasper's backside, pulling the pair intimately together.

" Maybe this is a rude question for a first date, but you don't mind being on the bottom, do you?" Keeves asked, looking him right in the eyes.

" I'd like that."

A silly grin light up the fox's features. " Thought you might."

A hand rose up to Jasper's chest, gently pushing him, making him take several unsteady steps towards the bedroom. He was in no mood to argue, his clothes already feeling tight down at his crotch. Showing a smile over his shoulder, Jasper stepped towards the bed and began undoing his shirt, baring his torso to the other male as he let the garment fall to the floor.

" I'm going to have to have that ironed again." Keeves smiled back, standing right behind him and unbuckling his pants, letting them fall down to his ankles. Fingertips slid over the bulge between Jasper's legs. " I can imagine this would take some getting used to." He said, tucking his hands inside the waistline of Jasper's underwear and bringing them down, leaving him bare from his ears to the tip of his tail.

" A little."

Kicking away his clothes, Jasper turned and brought the other male's shirt up over his shoulders, very much aware of how exposed he was from his own sheath.

" A little, huh? I have to say it looks good on you. But then, I'm biased."

Keeves helped with what was left of their clothing. Soon, it was all left in a pile at the corner of the bed, his eyes glancing down at that fuzzy white package that belonged to Keeves. The fox he wanted to trust brought a hand up to Jasper's cheek, making him look right at his eyes. They kissed again, locking their muzzles together as his hands felt down Keeves' lower back and behind. Being with another male, and a fox at that... being with him for real and given the prospect of a future, and not in some faded, computerised reality, was something that he had never dared to hope for. The kiss broke, eventually, and they were left holding each other tight, tails touching as they curled around each other's legs.

" I think you're a good guy. I'm pretty sure you are." Keeves said. " I'll just say it. You're a great guy. Probably."

" You too. I think."

The fox opened his mouth as if to speak, smirked, then just tightened his grip and gave a few loving kisses to the tips of each of Jasper's ears. After giving a pat on his backside, the bigger fox let go, wandering towards his pack that sat against the built in wardrobes.

" Why don't you hop up on the bed there? I brought something to make it pleasant, uh, in case something like this was going to happen. The quality stuff. All pleasure, no pain."

Jasper did exactly as he said, sitting himself on his hands and knees, before sliding himself down to clutch one of the overly thick pillows near the top of the bed. From where he lay, he was completely and utterly exposed, tail moving up to sit near the tips of his ears as soon as he remembered it was there. His hear beat fast, almost nervously, as he turned his eyes to look at the well hung fox coating up two of his fingertips with the contents of a small silver bottle. One hand held Jasper's hip, while the other slid inside him, the lubricant warm and slick as it was spread around his rim. A gentle pleasure worked into him wherever those fingers touched, turning Jasper into an eager, softly panting mess.

One hand wrapped around Jasper's length, giving it a soft squeeze as he felt Keeves' tip touch his rim. Watching the male, Jasper gave a tiny nod, almost aching for this to happen.

A moan escaped his mouth as soon as he was pushed into, the thick length pushing apart his rim and filling his passage very slowly, letting him feel every inch of it until Keeves' was buried deep. He clenched, then curled his arms tight around the pillow, squeezing his eyes shut and letting out another deep moan as the pleasure filled his head.

" Mgghh.. g-good, isn't it?" Keeves asked.

Jasper just made a pleasured whimper.

Each touch was careful and sure, the fox taking Jasper slowly at first, rocking his hips back and forth as he let out soft growls and mutters. Those movements were met by his own small pushes, bringing the male deep inside again and again. With the lubricant, it was pure enjoyment, his insides seeming to fit Keeves perfectly, wrapping snug around him. Every now and then Jasper would clench, bringing a gasp from his throat and a wriggle deeper against the pillow. Even as he was being topped, it was the small things he noticed, the little details that he had barely been able to experience before. The feel of padded fingertips sliding through his fur, the way his breath would bounce back off the sheets and onto his vulpine nose, the tiny specks of light inside his nearly closed eyes and the distant sounds dancing through the ears that were flattened against Jasper's head.

Those rocking motions Keeves gave became firmer and more insistent.

The grip around Jasper's length became tighter, encouraging him to spill his seed as the other fox had his way. A few more shoves moved his chest along the pillow, chin against the sheets. It wouldn't be long, now. An electric feel rolled up his spine as he heard Keeves cry out above him, filling his passage with that warm seed. Seconds later, Jasper had his own climax, his head filled with a pure ecstasy for those seconds. In that brief moment, he felt for the first time that this was who he was - Jasper the fox. It all felt entirely natural to him, being with this male, sharing a time born out of lust and a mutual liking.

A mess was left on the sheets as the moment eventually passed, the pair rolling over as Keeves spooned up behind him, their panting dying down until they lay together in silence.

" So..." Keeves said quietly, a tinge of guilt in his voice.

" Don't. I loved every second of it."

The bigger male brushed the side of his muzzle against Jasper's neck.

" You'll stay with me, right? Help me out?" Jasper said, sounding more full of need than he would have liked.

" You promise you meant what you said earlier? That you just wanted to get away from here?"

" Yeah, that's why." He replied, honestly.

There was a pause, sheets rustling as Keeves pressed up close. " I can't say anything for sure, but I'll try my best. We should be in the clear once we get to Shoal. They... tend to ignore things like this, if someone manages to make it." He said, voice having a certain sort of pride that hadn't existed before.

" Thanks."

" Of course, saying all that, if you keep flirting with me we might end up fucking again. Just to give you a proper warning, you know, out of courtesy."

He laughed. " I'll probably keep flirting with you."

" Mm." Keeves sounded pleased at the thought.

Clean sheets and sleep occupied most of the rest of the evening, the two of them sleeping naked together on the oversized bed. When Jasper woke in the morning, Keeves was still there, his arm almost possessively wrapped around his body. The sounds from beyond the balcony were barely audible. What he could hear was tired and hungover, just a few voices wafting up to his sensitive ears while a couple of machines hummed gently from many floors below. They made coffee together and talked about their lives. Keeves was ordinary to a fault, save for his outspoken manner and excessively pierced ears, but there was a life to him that Jasper couldn't help but be charmed by. They did fuck again, with Jasper pressed over the front of the dining table this time, as the morning started to wear on.

That evening, the pair were dressed and ready to head out into the casino. Keeves might have said he was lucky, but they burned through one hundred credits without winning a single roll. Lucky in a different way, Jasper supposed.

Keeves was terrified. The capsule scorched through the atmosphere, making him almost quiver with fear. The dampers reduced the vibrations to a gentle rumble, but it did nothing to help Keeves' nerves. Shutting his eyes, he tried to ignore the fact that he was hurtling down to shoal at a speed that could only be described as absurd. They would be dead if a single thing went wrong with it. Dead in an instant.

A hand reached over and squeezed his sweaty palm. A young fox, barely twenty, gave Keeves a smile. He did the best job he could of smiling back at Jasper.