Standing Up - Chapter II
The brisk October air stung the noses of the duo as they stepped through the club's main entrance. The cold seemed to claw its way into the lobby as the door swung, only to be cut away as the door hissed shut its hydraulic hinge. It burned Daniel's nostrils each time he inhaled, and surely the bear's as well. Daniel zipped his jacket higher, clearing his throat and looking about the area. The club's outdoor lounge was lit dimly, though not without reason. Pretty shrubbery and other green plants surrounded the waist-level black gating, and the lanterns swung from their lattice above along with the feeble breeze. There were others here, many smoking at one far end. Others sat to eat a warm meal or chat in the more peaceful setting. The music outside sounded hushed, but any audiophile could determine which top-100 beat was playing with ease.
The duo chose a clean table to convene, Daniel even moving an unneeded second chair away for Casper to situate himself better.
"Man, I need to check the calendar. It's a bit chilly out here!" Casper grumbled, turning in his seat and fumbling in the bag fastened to the chairs' back until he produced a medium sized blanket, which he tucked around his thinly-clothed legs.
"Hah, yes, it is. We'll probably have snow well into April at this rate." Daniel agreed, rubbing his paws together. "But it is a bit refreshing."
"You won't see my butt out and about when it ices over, that's for sure." Casper noted, rotating his neck. He was ready to escape his chair and lie flat, and the alcohol buzz wasn't helping matters.
"I'm a bit hungry - you want... you want something from inside?" Daniel inquired, tugging out his wallet. "Something tells me the food here is good. I'll buy."
"O-oh, sure. Maybe just a burger and soda or something?" Casper replied. His face felt suddenly warm at Daniel's offering.
"Okay! I'll be right back." He hurried away, bumping into a patron exiting the club. His nervous apology could be heard easily, and after an awkward sidestep he finally darted inside.
Casper sat alone for a short while, rubbing his paws together to warm them. He became lost in thought, gazing away at a wind-blown plant along the fence. He pondered his level of inebriation, on whether or not to order a taxi for the ride home and pick his van up after some sleep. Now Daniel entered his thoughts, a number of 'what if's' speeding through his mind until a blurred figure appeared between his eyes and the distant plant.
"Damnation that was some fast fixin' Daniel laughed, reaching across the table to slide a nicely presented cheeseburger and fries before Caser. "Smells awesome too." He added, sitting down himself. Casper noticed the excited hunger in the wolf's eyes as his eyes readjusted to focus him and the meal before them. Daniel rotated his platter around and picked up a fry, growling and dropping it back. They might as well still be in the oil, and the steam rising from the food was only magnified by the cold, an easy tell of their temperature to anyone in the mind to notice.
"O-oh, heh. Sorry. Lost in space" Casper as he shook his head, grimacing at the wolf's burn. "Thanks so much, and you don't know how many times I've killed my tongue on a hot fry." He laughed.
They both devoured their meal in short time, discussing their own favorite food and drink over their dinner. Daniel had noticed Casper's state of wear, and spent much of his time eating considering options for the night. He liked Casper rather well, and this was about as far as he got with any male so far. He certainly found himself attracted, both to the bear's pure personality and his dashing appearance. Daniel rubbed an ear nervously as Casper was distracted with a drunken male nearby causing a fuss.
"...Casper?" Daniel asked finally, at first avoiding eye contact. The bear turned, tilting his head. "Uh..." The wolf looked away, sighing.
"What's up?" he said, rubbing a paw along the cold table.
"I'm wondering.. " he paused again, biting his lip. "I want to spend more time with you." he exhaled, denying his emptied lungs from another breath as he waited for a response.
Casper turned his head, ears lifting. "What?" he stammered. He certainly hadn't expected any of the events thus far. Caught off guard, he cleared his throat and sat upright. "Iiii- I mean, I wouldn't mind that." His words were each followed with a puff of chilled breath. They rose to the skies, dispersing into the darkness as they went.
Daniel grinned, rubbing his paws nervously. "Cool. I hate to sound like a rich bastard, I've got a second place - an apartment. If you want to go there?"
Casper shrugged. "That sounds just fine." He smiled, and Daniel stood up immediately.
"Let me go toss this stuff in the trash. I'm okay to drive, and I'll bring you back to your car later, no problem. It's the green pickup over there." He pointed.
"Sure, I'll head over" Casper nodded. He wheeled away from the table and made way to the truck. It was a current model, nothing extravagant. The truck was quite a bit higher of a climb than Casper's own vehicle, and he contemplated his plan of attack as he waited alongside the passenger door. The night was rather nice aside from the cold, and Casper relished the fresh air as he finger-tapped the spokes of the chair's wheels until Daniel's feet scuffed behind him.
"There should be room in the back for your wheelchair." Daniel thought aloud, unlocking the truck and pulling the door open. "Do you.. uh.. need help?" he felt idiotic, afraid to intrude upon Casper's independence.
"We'll see." Casper replied, rolling closer. He reached up to grab the door and the handle above it on the inside of the truck, hoisting himself into the seat until the blanket wrapped around his legs caught.
"Oh, one sec." Daniel said, ears rolled backward. He tugged the snagged blanket from its catch, and Casper did the rest.
Casper huffed, looking back down with a snicker as he adjusted his legs. "Thanks. Damn thing."
Guided by the bear, Daniel folded-down the wheelchair before toting it around the truck and wedging it into the back seat. Soon enough, the engine roared to life and they were on the road, heater full blast and radio tunes playing softly below the turbulent air.