Standing Up - Chapter III
"Welp. This is it." Daniel announced humbly. They had made the transition from the truck as easy as the transfer into it, and finally were in the living room. The apartment was decently sized. The walls were a dark grey, and most of the furniture was shaded along a grayscale scheme. The area smelled faintly of lemon cleaning supplies. Perhaps the wolf had preemptively cleaned the house earlier in the day, hopefully anticipating a guest.
"Feel free to hop on the couch. I'll get us something to drink, juice sound good?" Daniel dropped his jacket on a hook near the door. His shirt was plain white, and a bit worn-looking, and Casper imagined why he never noticed the shirt earlier.
"Hey, this is nicer than my place." Casper spun on the spot to look at the place. "Sounds perfect." He added, smiling up at the towering wolf. His frame was wide, his stance confident.
Daniel returned promptly, placing a pair of glasses, brimming with orange juice on the coffee table. Casper hadn't moved to the couch, and instead was browsing the spines of tomes on a nearby bookshelf. "Here we are, damn bottle had some ice in it... had to turn my fridge down a bit. I left some milk here in January or so, when I came back a month or so later-" He began, standing upright quickly. "Oh shit, the table. Sorry man. Here, let me get it out of the way." He added. The table slid easily along the floor as Daniel pushed it carefully - not to spill the overfilled glasses - and the distance now easily accommodated Casper moving onto the couch.
"Oh, no problem, no problem. I didn't try yet anyway. I was checking out your books, I'm kind of big on reading lately." He rolled to the couch, expertly performing a transfer from the chair to the fluffy loveseat.
"Apparently juice helps with hangovers, and by the looks of it you're gonna have one-hulluva-one tomorrow." Daniel rotated the table longways, pulling it toward them as he sat, until it met the edge of the sofa. His accent showed again, bringing a warm smile to Casper's face who found it incredibly charming.
"Everything at my house is much further apart. It's ridiculous... Don't worry though. Not a big deal, haha." Casper reached for his glass, bringing it to his lips carefully for a sip. It was refreshing, and did well to help rouse his wakefulness. "I've heard that too, and now you've got me worried."
"Yeah, I guess so." Daniel laughed. He flicked the television on. "Netflix and chill?" he said, nudging the bear's side with a cheesy smirk. Their eyes met, and they both smiled warmly. "You know, I almost didn't go to the club at all tonight. I'm very glad I did." He added.
"Me too." Casper smiled, the pale insides of his ears blushing.
"So, would you mind telling me a bit about your paralysis?" Daniel asked, "I'm genuinely curious. I have to admit I've never met a paraplegic before beyond a passing hello."
"Oh, I don't mind. Sooo... When I was a teenager, I got into a car wreck as we were leaving our driveway." Casper started. "YEAH!" He inserted. Daniel eyes had widened at 'driveway', almost to the size of the rims of his wheelchair. Casper continued: "We lived sort of out of town, along a long straight road. Some dumbass was speeding through at like 100mph. I was in the back seat - I think we were headed out to a restaurant to meet with a work friend of my dad's. Anyway, he nailed the back door where I was as my dad pulled out. I remember being in that stupid booster seat," Casper laughed. "I was a short kid OK?" he waved a paw at Daniel's smirk. "I swear I didn't hit 5 feet until I was 15" he shook his own head.
Casper had indeed been quite cursed in height in his younger years, and by misfortune the height he grew into in his later teens was now all but useless to him.
"So, the car hit the side I was on. We had this er, fence, I guess? 'Sort of 'cushioned' the impact of our car as it moved aside. I got whiplash first, and when our car hit the fence I went ragdoll mode to the other side of the car. I guess my back got scrunched hardcore when I landed, because from then my legs haven't moved. My parents were OK other than my mom losing some teeth. I didn't know I was paralyzed until later on in the hospital when I woke up, 'suppose I got knocked out right away."
Daniel's dense, grey eyes showed sorrow for Casper. He frowned, reaching to put a paw on Casper's lap. "Sorry dude. Happened to you so young. How's the feeling in them? None at all? I guess that's a dumb question." He trailed, spitting the last part quicker than the rest.
Casper shook his head, smiling. "Well.. uh, it's sort of complicated. At first, I didn't have any sensation anywhere, whatsoever. Apparently where my spine was damaged became inflamed from the trauma, which makes it hard for them to tell what's actually going on. It actually can make an injury worse, but they have a way to help reduce it. When the swelling went away, it was pretty much determined that I wouldn't ever walk. Turns out I have what they call an incomplete injury to my spine. Think of snapping a stick vs bending it until it's torn, but still connected. I have some sensation in my legs, but I can't feel your hand on my lap as much as I would on my arm, if that helps." Casper sighed, putting on a silly tired face from going on such a long rant.
"I see." Daniel nodded, rubbing Casper's thigh as if to test him. "Tough experience for a kid, geez... I guess I'm happy you're doing okay now."
"I really am." Casper agreed, "I guess I still have some struggle areas but for the most part I've got all this locked down."
Their conversation soon dissolved as they became drawn to a television show they'd mutually enthused about moments before. As the first episode ended, Daniel inched closer to Casper and put his arm along the back of the couch, their sides rubbing. He wasn't sure what to do other than make a leap and hope it went well, and he grinned the same cheesy grin from earlier when Casper met his gaze. Another episode finished, and now Casper had his head resting against Daniel's shoulder. He wrapped his arm closer around Casper's neck, rubbing his shoulder passively. The night was quiet, long away from any parties or thumping techno. A clock read 1 AM nearby.
Once again, Daniel moved closer to Casper, causing the bear to turn his head. The two locked eyes for a long moment. A magnetism drew the two together slowly. Each gazed into the depths of the other's eyes, and without a word Daniel dived for a kiss. It caught Casper off guard. He tensed, causing Daniel to back out. He feared he'd done wrongly, but Casper's expression betrayed the idea. Casper grinned. His eyes seeming to glimmer in the dim light. Their depth told a story of longing and loneliness.
Daniel blushed, displaying a foolish look himself. He tightened grip around Casper's neck, tugging him closer. This time he dived for a kiss that lasted much longer than the first. Daniel's pants sported a lump again, which he adjusted with a frustrated grunt between smooches. The culmination of first seeing the handsome bear alone at that bar table until now was enough validation for Daniel's motives and desires, and without much secret Casper felt the same. He too felt a dull lump in his pants, but made no move to adjust it.
The wolf panted, exhaling and brushing his paw along Casper's face as they kissed - each turned to face the other more than ever.
"Mm..." Daniel moaned into a kiss. "L-lets relocate, handsome" He panted, breaking away from Casper's warmth and rising from the couch. His foot clumsily knocked into an empty glass, causing it to clatter helplessly against the coffee table before rolling over the edge with a thump. Casper was caught off guard, gasping as their lips departed. He reached for the wheelchair at the couch's side, but was quickly swept up by the hungering wolf.
"You're too easy to carry." Daniel noted, locking his arms under Casper's legs and upper back. His butt sagged, bouncing against the wolf's taut belly as he was carried toward the bedroom, heart racing faster and faster.