FSE

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THE POST-WAR DREAM

Sitting in a bunker here behind your wall.

It's a place you've been many times before. Once for a good stretch when your father died, but almost always briefly.

You've gone away inside, beneath blissfully cozy sheets and soft words.

Time passes by like an old video set to fast forward, people and events coming and going without much registering in your mind.

Familiar people. Strangers.

You're here, and you're a part of it, but there's no danger when you're this far back in your head.

Nod. Say yes. Say it doesn't matter. Say you'll do what Lotte wants.

Ignore the concerned looks. Say everything is okay when they keep asking.

Forget everything as soon as it happens.

No pain. No happiness. Just empty cycles.

Crawl back in bed and forget there was ever a problem.

This could be a permanent state of affairs if not for one thing:

You're no good at being lonely anymore.

A certain jitteriness takes hold inside, and you fidget restlessly.

Something soft touches your cheek.

A concerned voice pierces the wall.

"Dearest...?"

Lotte.

Your apartment door appears in the middle of the wall.

"Did you lie down again?"

You smile.

Yeah, fuck this shit.

Screw ego death. There's someone waiting for you out there!

The door opens, filling your vision with white light.

---

The first thing you see is her face, mere inches from your own.

Black hair falls all around you, obscuring the world and filling your head with Lotte's sweet, comforting scent.

Her eyes meet yours, and the look on her face turns from concern to relief.

Birds chirp outside.

She smiles with her eyes, and your heart skips a beat.

"Hey…" You say.

"Hey..."

Your wife is so soft and perfect.

How could you ever think of leaving her behind?

God, you wish she would just-

Lotte lowers her face and kisses you, passing on the breath of life.

Your heart bursts and color returns to the world.

Holy hell, it's good to be alive.

Lost in each other's eyes, you ambush her by grabbing her ass and yanking her onto the bed.

She's caught off guard only for a moment, shifting to bring herself down on top of you.

Hands on either side of your head, looming over you, every kiss she gives tastes finer than wine.

"Dearest, you're smiling again." She says.

"How could I not?" You ask, and genuinely mean it.

How could you not be happy when Lotte is nearby?

Your wife takes a spot on the bed next to you, wraps an arm across your shoulder, and nuzzles you affectionately.

She's wearing civilian clothes again. Black on gray, just like the day you met.

You spot a familiar set of curtains hanging by the window and sigh with relief.

"Ft. Douglas. I could cry Lotte, I'm so happy."

She kisses your cheek. "Me too, dearest…"

May as well just come out and say it…

"So, this is going to sound strange, but I don't think I was really here the last few days. I don't remember coming home."

"You weren't." Lotte murmurs as she pulls your head against her shoulder. "You've barely said a word since-"

A sudden mental ache causes you flinch.

"-even during treatment. Everyone has been worried for you."

"Treatment...?"

Lotte swallows hesitantly and raises your left hand over your head.

Your mouth quietly opens.

Every finger between your pinky and your thumb is badly bruised and wrapped in splints.

You become aware of a dim pain through much of your body that you'd previously been able to ignore.

The right side of your body aches especially. Doreen pummelled you blue there.

"I-- Lotte, I can't work with these. Even with physical therapy I'm going to have trouble moving my fingers!"

Lotte pulls you in.

"After consulting with Major Roe, the decision was made to discharge you from the Army. I'm sorry, Pavel."

You close your eyes and let your head fall to the pillow.

That's it then.

Less than a month of living the dream and it's already over.

After all the bullshit you went through for a chance at your nursing cert, discharge feels like a rotten way for things to end.

You should honestly be more upset about all this, but it's proving difficult.

Lotte's whiskers are tickling your cheek, and the disappointment in her voice is as real as your own.

"I…I'm okay with this." You say. "I can heal. I don't need a career to be a worthwhile person."

Lotte laughs softly.

"What? What's so funny?"

Your wife climbs out of bed and pulls you up by your good hand.

"We have an appointment to keep. Let me go get something. After that I can help you put shoes on…"

---

Ft. Douglas is a very different place than the ghost town you remember.

Last time you were here you could walk 4 blocks and never see another soul.

The streets were cracked and covered with frost; No one braved the cold if they could avoid it.

Today the streets glow in the warm light of early spring, and are packed to bursting with something you never expected to see:

Families.

Every way you look, anthros and humans are holding hands and having lively conversations with one another.

Husbands with their wives, fathers with their daughters, and no shortage of very happy mothers playing with their children.

It's a nice scene, set against the backdrop of a lively festival running down Main Street.

You feel Lotte rest her hand on your shoulder from behind.

"Happy Founding Day, Pavel."

To your left are vendors hawking patriotic knick-knacks, handing out informative pamphlets, and giving miniature flags to children.

To your right is a long row of carnival games and a pillar of smoke rising into the sky.

There's even a live band playing politically safe rock music somewhere in the distance.

You catch a whiff of what's riding on the wind and start to drool.

"Lotte, they're grilling real meat over there."

"Indeed."

You lick your lips.

"I-I think I smell pork. They're serving chicken, Lotte!"

"Beef too, I hear."

You look at her in disbelief.

"BEEF?! Did someone important show up?!"

A teenage rat and her human brother run past hand in hand. Their father strolls by a moment later, waving to an unseen companion further down the way.

"You could say that."

Your stomach growls impatiently.

"Lotte, can we–?"

Your wife boops you on the nose.

"Only if you're a good boy."

Turning a corner in the shade of an abandoned street light, you see several long tables set up over the adjacent cross-street.

Teams of uniformed anthros work dutifully around dozens of charcoal grills, each sizzling with a tantalizing amount of meat.

Unfortunately, the large crew is serving an equally large crowd; The food line stretches well past the intersection and down the street.

You moan and bounce on your feet like an antsy kitten.

"Do officers get first dibs, Lotte?"

"No."

"Do you know some way we could skip the line?"

"Afraid not."

God damnit. The one time they're fair about something it's for this!

Nothing to do but take your place and wait in line.

Chairwoman's ghost, that's a lot of food.

Potatoes being mashed, pickles being deep fried, cheese being cut!

This is an absolute cornucopia you can't even begin to imagine the price tag for.

"Does the Army always go all out like this Lotte?"

MC2 Farshaw trots by with a plate full of pulled pork sliders and a mound of mashed potatoes.

"Only on Founding Day. High Command takes the annual cookout very seriously. There have been mutinies over inadequate provisions."

The line lurches and you take a few steps forward. Someone to your left interrupts your culinary daydreams with a tap on the shoulder.

A maned wolf dressed in dolphin shorts and a white tank top smiles down at you, a pup in overalls held lovingly against her shoulder.

"Well hey there Corpsman! Enjoying your first cookout?~" Says Major Charles. “Me and this cutiepie just got done eating, as it happens. You wanna say hi to Pavi, Lydia?~"

The little girl turns her head from her mother's shoulder to look at you shyly with two bright blue eyes.

She's the cutest thing you've ever seen.

"C'mon sweetie! Show him your big, beautiful smile!~"

Lydia reaches out with her tiny little arm and waves. “H-hi Pavi. I'm Lidee…"

Chairwoman's ghost, your heart! She's so precious!

You give her your biggest, friendliest smile and wave back.

"Hey there! Your mama's told me all about you."

You affect a little gasp, and lean in conspiratorially. Little kids love that kinda thing; Lydia can't help but mimic you.

"I heard you saw a real helicopter in The City. Is that true??"

She livens up with a genuine smile on her face. You barely even notice the scar where she had her harelip fixed.

"Yeah! I-it was big and it in-inna sky!"

"That's so cool! What did it look like? What color was it?? I've never seen one before!"

That certainly gets her going.

The trick to talking with little kids is to find out what they like and act like it's the coolest thing ever.

Not only was the helicopter red, which you are informed is the best color, it had big metal thingies on the top that spinded round and round so it could fly like a fly, not a bird.

You went to the Bismarck City Air Show as a kid too. Cool to hear they have more working “airpanes" these days.

Soon the line starts moving again and you have to wave goodbye to your little friend.

Lotte takes you by the hand once Major Charles is out of sight.

_ "I want one."_

---

Lotte steps inside the base clinic and chivalrously holds the door for you.

On any other day you'd have to plead with her to come inside, yet today she seems almost eager.

A stout capybara behind the counter drops her clipboard and covers her face when she sees you walk through the front door.

"Heya Georgia. Uhh, here to visit a friend. Can we check in?"

She races into the back office.

"GIRLS! HE'S HERE AND HE'S TALKING!"

Uh oh.

About a dozen nurses, PAs, and orderlies come racing from the clinic floor to ply you with questions, mother you over your injuries, and make sure their little brother is okay.

Kennedy the otterly hangs towards the back of the crowd, looking no less relieved than the others and fighting hard to hold back tears.

Martina the stoat, a med student from Sioux Falls who got roped into a combat rotation, takes your good hand and begs you to never go near the front again.

"Pavel, seeing you hurt just about killed us! I cried myself to sleep that night!"

Emily from surgery gets her arms around your neck and whines like a sad, lonely little puppy. "Why were you all alone?! WHAT DID WE DOOO?~"

Lotte watches from the sidelines wearing her subdued little smile.

"He can't leave. He needs an x-ray!" Someone shouts.

"We did that already. He needs counseling!" Says another.

"Quit tugging, his ribs are bruised! Why are you being so rough? He's sensitive!~" Wails a skittish little mouse.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

Everyone quiets down ominously.

Oh no.

You didn't think it was even possible for her to *get* angry.

The crowd of mother hens parts for the snow leopard in a white lab coat storming towards you.

Major-Doctor Roe, mistress of everything medical, is missing her signature smile.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Corpsman! D-do you--" She starts shakily, hands trembling. "Do you have any idea how it felt to hear GUNSHOTS and not have you nearby? O-or what it was like trying to realign your bones by hand and splint your fingers with tears in my eyes?"

She jabs you in the chest with her finger.

"And now after half a week of dissociating, do you really think you can just sail into my clinic as if you didn't give me the worst night of my career?!"

"Yes...?"

Your mentor yanks you into a full body hug and cries. "YOU STUPID BOY!"

"Aww!" The girls say in unison.

She holds you close to her chest and takes a deep breath, drying her eyes with one hand while stroking your hair with the other. "My toddler Davie knows not to go off on his own, Pavel, so why would you? You're worse than my kindergartner."

"But I'm a grown up…" you protest internally. “I have my own wallet and everything!"

Roe tugs disbelievingly on your collar.

"Chairwoman's ghost, why is he leashed Obmeyer?"

A long braided cord runs from your neck to Lotte's hand.

"The Corpsman insisted." She says impassively.

"It makes me feel safe." You mumble.

Roe blinks at you.

Her hand touches your face.

"Pavel, don't you ever let her try to tame you. You're perfect just how you are, heartache and all."

And she hugs you again.

"I won't Doc." you say, and hug her back.

Georgia comes up behind Roe, holding a plain red envelope and something big wrapped in brown paper.

"Everyone chipped in when they heard you were discharged. It's just something to remind you you're still part of the family."

Inside the envelope you find a simple, homemade greeting card with a photo of you practicing your suturing on the left side.

"Busy boy at work!" Says the caption.

On the other side are signatures from dozens of patients and coworkers alike.

D'aww!

You have to sit down to open the brown package. Your left hand is all but useless at the moment, and this thing is surprisingly heavy.

The wrapping soon falls away, leaving you to stare in disbelief at what's inside.

...

"I don't deserve this." You say, and try to hand it back to Roe. “I-I didn't finish my contract."

The snow leopard smiles coyly and pushes the frame back into your hand.

"For one year, or the duration of the Second Wyoming Expedition." She quotes. “Second Wyoming is over. I have every authority to give you this."

Emotion swells inside.

"Doc, I… I barely did anything! I–!"

"You did everything we asked you to do. I barely had to show you a thing. You have shown clear proficiency in the work–"

"It was less than a month!" You protest.

Fuck fuck fuck, don't get teary eyed in front of everyone!

"-- and need no further instruction. As head of medical, I've already authorized it. Take your diploma please, young man.~"

You collapse into the chair behind you and just stare at the thing.

Papa died talking about it.

Mama died so you could have it.

Now it's in your hands and you can't…

Lotte approaches you from behind and starts to read.

"In virtue of authority granted by the Human and Anthro State of Bismarck, The Army of Bismarck, via association with the National Medical Training Center, certifies that Pavel Yekaterinavitch Obmeyer has completed all relevant training in the field of Nursing. He is hereby granted all rights, privileges, and honors thereto."

You did it.

Mama and Papa would be so proud of you right now.

Roe hands you a napkin to dry your eyes with.

"I want you in here the day after that hand heals for onboarding. Think you can do that for me, nurse?"

You look up at Lotte for approval.

She nods.

"Nothing would please me more, ma'am."

"Good boy."

---

You find Beckett alone in a room at the end of the hallway, lying in a hospital bed and dozing quietly.

This is the first time in ages you've seen her out of uniform. It feels unnatural to see someone as energetic as her wearing a hospital gown.

A pang of guilt pricks you when you see the bandages crisscrossing her face and the bottle of painkillers sitting on a bedside tray.

The little bunny groans upsettingly in her sleep.

"Ahh… should we come back later? BB always sleeps like a brick when we bunked together."

Lotte, unperturbed, calmly approaches your friend and lays a hand on her shoulder.

"Staff Sergeant, you're needed."

That's all it takes.

Beckett bursts into wakefulness, looking around the room as if a bomb went off. "S-Sshh-SHIT!" She shouts. “A-am I–? Am I on watch? AM I LATE?!"

Lotte's frown deepens, and she pushes BB back into her bed. “At ease, Beckett. Nothing's wrong, you're still in the hospital. Are you lucid…?"

"I'm – I'm fine Lotte. I'm here, I just…" she says unconvincingly, “I'm sorry…I-I had a headache earlier. Took some pills they gave me and I guess I fell asleep. I get this throbbing in my–, in my forehead and I…"

Beckett raises a hand to wipe her face, flinching when her fingers touch the bandage over her damaged eye. “Where–where's Pavel? No one wants to talk to me about him or…"

Her whole demeanor flips to joyous excitement when she sees you.

"Oh my gosh, PAVEL! You're here! YOU'RE OKAY!" She shouts, practically bouncing in her seat.

Your friend tries to climb out of bed to embrace you. Your wife however forces her back down again.

"Stay, Beckett. You're on bed rest, Dr's orders."

BB's ears wilt pitifully. “But he's okay! I need to–"

You're on her with as big a hug as you can manage before she can finish. She squeaks in surprise, yet still finds the strength to squeeze the air out of your lungs.

"Where do you hide these muscles, BB?" You ask, half laughing and half wheezing.

"Hide what now?"

"Where do you hide all this muscle?"

Beckett pulls out of your embrace and tilts her head curiously at you.

"Hide my…my eye?" She asks haltingly. “It's, umm, it's still there. Just kinda needs a bandaid, haha!"

You laugh along, but your smile slips a bit. BB really doesn't know what you're saying, does she?

" It's not important." Lotte says, interjecting. “How is your head? Is the pain getting better?"

Beckett has to murmur the question to herself before she can come up with an answer.

“Oh! Yeah! I'm sorry." She laughs. “The pain doesn't really matter. My memory is getting better though! Doctor wrote something about it on my chart earlier, which I definitely remember. I think the…the umm…"

You and Lotte glance at each other.

Beckett gives up on the thought and ruffles her hair in frustration. “I'm sorry Captain, I don't know what I wanted to say."

"You're fine, Beckett. We've talked about this before." Lotte says neutrally. “This isn't an injury you can rush back from. Give it time. There's no dishonor in healing."

BB sighs and fiddles nervously with her fingers. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to make things difficult. I just want to be useful so I'm not left behind anymore…"

Beckett's good eye widens suddenly. “Lotte, where's Pavel?"

Your stomach sinks. Lotte's hackles rise subtly.

Beckett's hands start to tremble. “H-he went off on his own and I needed to find him to–"

You reach for BB's hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. Her cheeks turn pink when she notices you sitting opposite of Lotte.

This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Try to cheer the poor girl up! She's suffered enough on your behalf.

"So… Are you sad the war's over, BB? Colleen says you almost snagged a husband. Just a shame the net missed, huh?"

That certainly gets her to smile. It takes a moment for Beckett to get the joke, but she perks up and laughs when she does. “And I was so close too! Maybe I used the wrong kind of bait?"

Lotte rolls her eyes and looks out the window.

“I'm disappointed, Staff Sergeant." She says impassively. “You baited him with Swiss cheese. It's common knowledge that humans prefer cheddar."

Beckett does a double take. The self-satisfied smirk on Lotte's face has you in stitches.

“I knew you had a sense of humor! Back at FMI, when we were in school together! You wrote that naughty couplet in the bathroom, didn't you!?" BB exclaims.

Your wife unscrews her canteen, looking deliberately blasé, and takes a long drink.

"I'm afraid I don't know who wrote it, Beckett. Silly, scandalous, salacious sonnets sourced senselessly in stinking scheißhäuser are hardly my area of expertise."

You double over laughing.

Holy shit you can't breathe.

You feel Beckett take up your hand again, holding it close to her heart.

"Thanks Pavi…" She whispers.

---

The rest of the afternoon ebbs and flows with BB's level of energy, often in silence but always by her side.

Sometimes she talks as animatedly as ever, telling stories about past Founding Days or memorable recruits with more sass than sense.

Other times she can barely keep her eyes open, flickering out like a candle in the wind only to spontaneously reignite minutes later.

You don't mind these moments. They give you a chance to reflect on everything that's happened.

Life as an army husband has been… pretty damn garbage, honestly. You've lived through personal tragedies, sustained injuries, and witnessed at least one murder. You won't survive if you ruminate on the bad.

Despite everything that's happened, through all the pain and loneliness, you've somehow managed to make more good memories than bad.

"Hold onto each one, Pavel." Mama's voice echoes. "They're what make this life worth living."

You yawn. It's almost evening time. As much as you like BB, everyone has their limits. You're ready to recharge your social batteries.

Your gaze crosses Lotte's by chance, and she seems to understand at once.

Anthros call it their “second sense." it's the way they just seem to understand who their human is and what they want, purely from context.

"As enjoyable as this has been Beckett, Pavel and I have an appointment to keep. You could use some rest as well." She says, standing up.

BB grabs Lotte's hand however before you can leave. “Wait, what about the thing? You know, the one we talked about? It's for Pavel, Lotte…"

Your wife's mouth forms a straight line. “I…had hoped you would forget about that. I am not certain this is an appropriate time to…"

BB jolts upward out of bed, flashing big, brown bunny eyes at Lotte before she can pull away.

"Pleeease Lotte? It won't take that long! You brought the stuff already, right?"

Lotte's cheeks actually pink up a bit. You never thought you'd see the day.

The two bunnies cover their mouths, shoo you off, and have an intense whisper conversation.

Whatever they're arguing about, BB seems to win. Your wife grabs her mysterious package, orders you to wait in your chair, and disappears behind a privacy curtain surrounding the opposite hospital bed.

Beckett bounces eagerly in place beside you. “Oh my gosh, I can't believe she said yes! Pavi, you're going to love this!~"

"Love what?" You ask. “Why are you two being so cryptic?"

BB ignores you, instead calling out to Lotte.

"Are you sure you don't need any help? It's okay if you do!"

She leans towards you over the side of her bed. “It really is a skill, y'know. I sold a hundred as a kid before I needed one, and I still had to ask for help."

"Sold what BB?" You ask, exasperated.

You hear the sound of clattering metal as Lotte's belt touches the floor.

Did she just take her pants off?

Your wife grunts. “I am still working on it, Staff Sergeant! Give me time. I've been in here less than a minute."

"Okay!~ Just let me know if you need help, I definitely don't mind!~"

Another suspenseful minute passes. Beckett's smile sinks.

"Why doesn't Hannah want me to visit…?" She asks vacantly. “I write every week and I don't talk about it anymore but they…"

The thought seems to slip away from her.

“BB? You alright…?"

She jolts back to reality as quickly as she left it.

"Ssshh-SHIT! Where's Pav– Oh, there you are! Ready for the surprise?"

You blink at her.

Lotte finally speaks up. “Alright. I am ready."

The curtain pulls back to reveal your wife, wearing her usual military issue underwear and, for the first time ever, a matching bra.

Lotte's medicine has made her grow boobs.

This is… Gospodi pomiluj, you're beyond words. They're so beautiful you could cry.

Beckett gives your wife an ovation.

"This is amazing, Lotte!~ You look so feminine right now!~ You're going to love this change, I promise!"

Your wife, less impressed, looks at her new bust. ““Weight gain" the doctor called it… A euphemism, it seems. I could have done without these, or the need for new undergarments."

BB gasps and tugs on your sleeve. “Pavi! Oh my gosh, PAVI! Do you think we can wear each other's clothes? We'd be like sisters!"

Lotte's normal frown lightens up a bit.

You grin and ruffle Beckett's hair. "You know, I bet you could share shirts. Maybe next time you can bring something and we'll see how Lotte looks in a v-neck."

Your wife rolls her eyes and tries to pop her back, groaning in frustration. “I feel, ah, tender. I'm not certain this fits properly."

Beckett waves her wrist playfully at Lotte. “Oh, that's normal! I remember having growing pains when I grew boobs. Tell me which straps feel tighter: top or bottom?"

Lotte stands up straight and rolls her shoulders, wincing in pain.

"The top, I think. I feel breathless."

Beckett's ears wilt and her enthusiasm dims. “Ohh… if it's the top straps then you probably need a bigger cup size. Haha. That would mean we really are the same size and ah…and ahhh…"

She makes a strained, uncomfortable laugh and pounds her fist on the bed frame. “Well that's just not FAIR, is it? You get to be tall, and pretty, a-and stacked while I'm just me!"

"But you are pretty, Beckett." You say. “You're the second prettiest girl on base."

Your little friend gapes at you, then covers her blushing face. “Pavel, stop!~ You're married!"

"Doesn't mean I'm blind."

It's true. BB is very pretty! Anyone with eyes can see that!

Her fur is soft and well groomed, she has impeccable hygiene, and those big brown eyes shine like gems in the right light.

Plenty of guys would jump at the chance to marry her, even if she's shorter than most anthros.

...just not you. You've got Lotte.

And two beautiful new titties to play with.

“If you're done swooning over my husband Beckett, I would appreciate your assistance. This is more difficult than anticipated."

"Oh, Pavel knows how to take one off! He grew up with sisters, remember?"

You feel your face heat up, but stand nonetheless. “I mean, I learned from other places, but I can help."

Lotte shrugs, and presents her back to you. The curtain shuts.

“I am well aware, husband, of your youthful escapades and disciplinary record." She says neutrally. "As a matter of fact, I recall someone in this room urged me to pass over you because of it."

"In my defense," Beckett chimes in, “I never expected you to be soulmates. Guess opposites really do attract, huh?"

Lotte shrugs, and moans in relief when the bra comes off. “Not completely, Beckett. We do share some similarities. For one, we have a certain affinity for risk."

You're surprised when Lotte leans forward and places her hands on the wall, donning a coquettish little smile and presenting her rear to you.

"Go on, boy. Finish what you started."

The smell of girl is already filling the air, courtesy of a wet patch between your wife's legs.

You feel your heart pound in your chest and your blood rush downward.

Lotte winks and waves her fluffy little tail at you.

She did this on purpose, didn't she?

You reach out and slip your thumbs into the waist of her panties.

A thin strand of vaginal fluid connects her underwear to her entrance all the way down to her knees before breaking.

Holy shit that was hot.

"I expect you to clean that up, dearest."

"Yes mommy," you murmur back, and lean forward to lick her pussy.

Lotte gasps suddenly and covers her bust with her arms.

"That's a strange sensation." She murmurs. “Almost like I…"

Lotte looks down at her bust. She gasps and immediately yanks her panties back up.

"Pavel, we're leaving!" She announces as she starts throwing her clothes back on.

Huh. Why would she…?

You reach down to pick up Lotte's bra from the bed and suddenly remember where you are.

_Gospodi pomiluj, _BB's in the room!

"Leave the bra!" Lotte orders tersely, pulling you out of the room the second her shirt's back on.

"Bye guys! Have fun doing the sex!~" BB calls cheekily as you go.

Honestly, you'd be far more excited about this if Lotte weren't trying to yank your arm out of its socket.

"Scheisse, o_f all the things that could have happened, this is the worst!" Lotte says angrily, her arm covering her chest. “I'll kill that _kwak if I see her!"

"Sweetheart, slow down! You're hurting me!"

"I CAN'T slow down. We need to get home right now!"

"And why's that?!"

"Because I'm LACTATING, PAVEL!"

...

"Woah. Lotte that's, uhh… Wow, that is…"

_ _ It is not physically possible for you to be more bricked up than this precise fucking moment.

Omniceptol is amazing. This is something out of a teenage wet dream.

"Quit drooling over me, husband! Give me 10 goddamn minutes and you can have as much as you want!"

Your wife yanks you down the hallway, past the double doors leading into the main lobby, and out the front door without losing her stride.

She stops dead in her tracks once you get outside.

The crowd from earlier is still here, waiting around for the evening fireworks. There are children everywhere.

She gasps. “No…"

Lotte is visibly leaking through her shirt and reeks of arousal.

Chairwoman's ghost, she needs it badly.

"NEW PLAN!" Lotte shouts, dragging you back into the hospital. “We find a secluded location."

Once again she yanks your shoulder out of its socket racing frantically down the hallways.

"Lotte, calm down! I work here, remember? I know where the showers are!"

She comes to a halt midstride.

You see little hearts in her eyes when she turns around to look at you.

"Of course you do…you're radiant, dearest…" she breathes, and kisses you lovingly.

Then she kisses you a second time. Then a third time.

Then a fourth-fifth-sixth-seventh–

"That's enough please! No sex in the hallways . " You say exasperatedly, and lead her in the opposite direction.

---

You double check your clothes for embarrassing stains.

"See anything?"

Lotte gets on one knee to inspect your pants.

"Nothing."

"What about odor? Do I smell…uh…"clean?""

She leans in for a sniff.

"Minor perspiration. A hint of charcoal from lunch. Dirt around the hem of your pants." Your wife says, standing up and taking hold of your hand again.

"Nothing incriminating, dearest. You are a model of unspoilt human virtue."

You stand up straight, close your eyes, and take a deep, calming breath.

Lotte assumes her usual impassive expression and turns to face the railroad tracks.

Good. This is good. You're going to make an excellent first impression together.

Cathy is going to see how well behaved you are and how responsible you're being. No more reckless Pavel.

Sofi is going to see how safe Ft. Douglas is, and that no one's out to spook you for being too cute.

You look down at your hands to check your fingernails.

One has been meticulously and smartly trimmed.

The other is also well trimmed, but covered in splints and bruises.

...shit.

"Hey Lotte?"

"Yes, dearest?"

You stuff your injured hand into your hoodie.

"Maybe, uh, don't mention Doreen. Or anything remotely related to her…ever."

Lotte closes her eyes and nods.

"As you say."

"Including getting drafted!" You blurt out. “If it comes up, say I volunteered."

She nods again.

"You did volunteer, husband, and I recall being very upset when you did."

You exhale some of the tension in your stomach.

" Of course. That's behind us now."

Lotte checks her wristwatch.

"1926. ETA 10 minutes."

"Okay, good. That's good. This is good. It's fine that we didn't dress up for this."

Because why would you? Not like this a fancy event, right?

You resolve to distract your uneasy mind with a bit of people watching.

About two dozen women are waiting patiently with you at Ft. Douglas's regional rail stop.

A solemn silence has fallen over the crowd, their eyes fixed on the tracks, same as your wife.

Most of them are enlisted. You're willing to bet it's because the officers' families were brought out first.

Many of them have their civilian clothes on, while a few more wear their field uniforms.

One intense looking soldier has her full dress uniform on. That's considerate of her, right?

...

You look down to inspect the hem of your pants.

"Is it bad? The dirt, I mean. Like, noticeable. I don't want to look schlubby. Should I maybe–?"

“You wouldn't make it back in time, Pavel."

Her arm wraps around your shoulder, and she pulls you to her side.

"You're their little brother, dearest, in blood and soul. Everything that has happened came about because they wanted you to be happy. They will be relieved to see you safe again."

Lotte has a point. That's how all this started, isn't it?

Mama was upset you wouldn't have time to finish school like Papa wanted.

Cathy and Sofi went looking for an answer.

Everyone agreed to lie about your age. You never asked, but they agreed to do it anyway.

They did it because they love you.

"Things will work out. It'll all be okay."

"As you say, dearest."

All at once, ears start going up all across the platform.

Your wife holds your hand tight against her side.

There, on the far horizon, you see it:

A bright yellow headlamp cutting through the evening dim.

Everyone holds their breath.

A train, the very same one that brought you here, gradually comes to a halt in front of the platform.

Several porters climb off setup step stools, and start pushing back the crowd.

A moment later you see a steady stream of travel weary humans and anthros disembark from the train.

All at once the spell of silence is broken and women start calling for their loved ones.

Wives for husbands, children for mothers, even one lucky woman fighting through the crowd to reach a pair of officials escorting her new state assigned human.

One familiar voice immediately catches your attention:

Colleen Honore loses her mind when a man half her height with graying hair, a thick mustache, and coke bottle glasses steps down on the platform.

"OH MY GOSH! DADDY!~"

Aww…

Portly and more than a little bookish seeming, the kangaroo's father is the physical opposite of his daughter; You'd have never guessed they were related if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes.

They depart the train station hand in hand, smiling at each other and talking happily as they go.

"You know, I don't think I've ever met an anthro who wasn't a daddy's girl." You say. “She looks at him like he's the most amazing man alive."

Lotte doesn't say anything.

The crowd doesn't linger longer than it has to. The sky is getting dark now, and the air chilly.

It's just you, Lotte, and the master sergeant left now.

One of the porters talks to her briefly about something before approaching you.

"Koslov, right? Your family is waiting in the last coach. We're going to bring it up in just a moment, but first we need to take care of something."

"Thank you, ma'am." Lotte says gratefully. “This has been a long time coming."

The last human off the train is a young man on a leash being led by a member of the military police.

He looks like a wasteland feral. His hair is long and messy, boyish like yours and the same color too.

He wears a gloomy, forlorn expression on his face, made more yet more dour by his thin frame and multiple missing teeth.

"That's him then…" Lotte murmurs. “Sergeant Babler's husband. There have been rumors about him for as long as I've been here, yet no one can recall meeting him."

The boy's teeth start to chatter once he comes face to face with his wife. The MP says a few words to Babler, who nods along silently before receiving her husband's leash.

"Please don't…! I'm sorry mistress, I'll be good this time! I didn't mean to–!"

The bear doesn't let her husband finish. She grabs him roughly by the collar without a word and hurls him forcefully towards the main barracks.

Only the leash keeps him from hitting the pavement face first. It hardly seems less painful given pained gasps coming from his throat.

You, Lotte, and the MP watch uncomfortably as he's led away in silence.

Metal clinks next to your ear as Lotte removes your leash. She steps away to dump it in a nearby trash bin, returning to your side with a disturbed look on her face.

"We will no longer be using a leash."

You swallow.

"Agreed."

At least he's not in the pens anymore…

The train lurches suddenly, rolling forward quietly.

A conductor hanging from the final coach says something into her radio once it reaches you, and the whole thing comes to a halt again.

The door opens.

Orange and black fur…

Whatever words you had planned for this moment die in your throat.

Three tigers step down onto the platform.