FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 1

Jacob sat alone at a table as creatures poured into the small restaurant. The tall dark silver fox checked over his brown polo shirt and black slacks to make sure it stayed pristine. He looked over his phone as he anxiously waited for his date to arrive. Jacob pulled up a Facebook profile that showed a muscular white rabbit by the name of Michael Garcia. The information the rabbit provided on his profile showed him to be a licensed board certified physician and a father of two. The white rabbit's profile showed him to be 31 years old, 6 years older than the fox himself. For Jacob, he didn't consider a partner with kids to be a deal breaker. Subconsciously though, the silver fox couldn't help but feel extremely nervous about the date. From Jacob's judgment of the rabbit's messages, Michael seemed excited to meet him at a local Mexican restaurant. Jacob was still uneasy as he wasn't sure how Michael would act. For all he knew, Michael could've just been another creep that sought him out for his condition. Jacob scoffed as he remembered his other failed dates who turned out to be creeps.

Though this time, Jacob sought a referral from one of his coworkers. Jacob was more than willing to trust his coworker's judgement for the blind date, and the black she-wolf already had someone in mind when he asked her. And after a small interaction through Facebook, Michael agreed to the date, and the last message sent was the location and the time. Jacob had arrived 15 minutes early so that the two could have a great window seat. Thankfully, the dark silver fox spotted Michael as the white rabbit walked through the front door. The handsome muscular creature wore a pink dress shirt with purple slacks and black loafers. Michael spotted the fox from across the room and waved at him enthusiastically as he walked over to his table. Jacob stood up and gave the rabbit a firm pawshake before the two sat down. Their stallion server provided them with drinks, chips, and salsa before the two were left alone.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person Mr. Hayashi! Thank you for setting up this date!" Michael's rabbit ears perked up as he looked over the menu.

"It's no trouble, I appreciate that you arrived early as well. Also, you can call me Jacob," The fox smiled.

"Ah, sorry if it came out too formal! I haven't been on a date for a while," Michael nervously chuckled.

"I can understand why. My older sister is a doctor as well, I can just imagine how eventful your life must be as a doctor."

"It does get stressful, but I find it to be a truly rewarding profession. But what about you, what do you do specifically for a living? Your profile said you were a game designer but you didn't list a company."

"Oh, well I don't openly disclose my company's name on social media. But, I work at Perfect Pictures Studio here in Riverside as a level editor. The same company that your friend Mina works at. The reason I don't have it on my profile is because I tend to get creatures pestering me all the time about my employment."

"Completely get it! It sounds like a very impressive field, you're the second person I've met that works in the gaming industry. The first being my old friend Mina; this is the first time I've taken up her proposal for a blind date. How long have you worked at that company?"

Jacob grinned, "I've being working there for about three years now. I had to take up a few sign language classes before I was brought onto a full-time position. But my work isn't as vitally important as yours! I mean, you must be used to saving lives on a daily basis."

Michael chuckled, "God I wish I could save lives on a daily basis. While I am a doctor, my field of medicine is specialized in palliative care."

"Palliative care?" Jacob turned his fox head curiously.

"It's similar in concept to hospice care though with unique differences. I take care of creatures with life threatening illnesses, some that are treatable and even curable while others that are fatal. My job is to prevent and relieve pain my patients may experience from symptoms of their conditions. It's not uncommon to have a few of my patients pass away naturally due to complications from their illness."

"Oh... that sounds really brutal in all honesty. But it's truly admirable that you work in that kind of field," Jacob nodded.

"I can say the same for you as well."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well I mean you help create video games. You provide some enjoyment and comfort for creatures from all walks of life, including some of my hospital patients! A few of my patients use video games as part of their therapy."

"Really? I had no idea they could use it for therapy. I always viewed video games to be a fun distraction to break up the boring parts of life."

"You would be surprised how far video games have come in terms of medical and therapeutic applications," Michael laid back in his seat relaxed.

"That's pretty cool! I'm sure my boss would also love to hear how it helps. Like one time..." Before Jacob could continue their stallion waiter returned.

"Hello gentleman, are either of you ready to order?" The stallion smiled.

"Oh shit, um, what would you like Michael?" Jacob frantically looked over the menu.

Michael looked over to the stallion and inflected his voice to a lower pitch, "Nunca había venido a este restaurante antes. Que me recomendarías?" (I've never been to this restaurant before. What would you recommend?)

The stallion waiter gave a warm smile, "¡A mi me encantan los tamales que hacen! ¡Te los recomiendo mucho!" (I really love the tamales they make here! I highly recommend them!)

Michael smiles and handed over the menu, "Pedire ese platillo, por favor." (I'll have that dish, please.)

The stallion nodded and looked over to Jacob, "And what would you like sir?"

Jacob looked momentarily surprised before be responded shyly, "Oh just the bean and rice burrito please."

"Alright, I'll be right back with your orders." The stallion nodded and headed towards the kitchen.

Jacob looked over to the rabbit, "I didn't know you knew Spanish. Was it your first language?"

"Second, I was taught English first and then Spanish when I was a child. It also helps me emotionally connect more to my other patients who only speak Spanish."

"Oh right... I shouldn't have assumed," Jacob's pointed fox ears flattened with embarrassment.

Michael chuckled as he placed his fluffy paw on Jacobs, "It's alright, so how many languages do you know?"

"Three languages mainly. I've grew up learning Japanese and English. Though I just recently taken up American Sign Language for my work," Jacob chuckled with embarrassment.

"Wow, that's a pretty impressive list!" Michael complemented.

"Oh, you're too kind," Jacob's ears folded with embarrassment.

Michael chuckled, "You do look very adorable when you're embarrassed."

Jacob's face became slightly warm as he let Michael rest his paw on his own, "Thanks, I also do appreciate you coming. You're probably the first non-creepy guy I've had the pleasure of being on a date with."

Michael laughed, "Creep? Do you tend to have many drawn to you?"

"More than you believe. Because well... you know," Jacob looked away embarrassed.

"Because of your condition? Being positive and all?"

"Yeah, I've been on anti-viral treatment for four years now. The results still have me as negligible, but I'm committed to playing safe if I ever get into a relationship."

"I get it, I'm also on Prep just for peace of mind. Though so long as you're on your medication it's pretty much impossible to spread it to others. Treatment has been progressing through leaps and bounds in the medical field. It's very rare that I get a patient who suffers from AIDs complications."

"That's a relief. I'm glad my condition doesn't scare you away. It does for most creatures which I understand. But sometimes I have to be careful with who I go on dates with."

"Because of the creeps? Let me guess, were your other dates into pozzing?"

"Yeah... I know it's no longer a death sentence but just the thought makes me sick," Jacob shivered in disgust.

Michael shook his head, "Some people... I got my fair share of dating horror stories."

Jacob chuckled, "No fucking way! I mean you're an attractive looking rabbit with a good job and kids. What could be worse than having a partner that wants you to infect them with a deadly disease?"

Michael laughed, "It's true, while I may not be able to top your horror stories there's one who comes to mind. There was this one chick I dated a year ago in Moreno Valley. After only our first date she wanted to get close to my kids and become a mother figure. When I told her I didn't feel ready to introduce her to my kids, she tried to stalked them at their school for weeks on end."

"Damn that is pretty bad. How on earth did you handle it?"

"Simple, I had to get a restraining order on that crazy bitch for her to back off. It wasn't easy I tell you, but thankfully I haven't heard from her since then." Michael shrugged.

Jacob chuckled, "I'll admit, you got me there!"

They both laughed for a while in their seats before Jacob lifted his drink in the air, "Well how about a toast? To new beginnings and maybe a successful first date?"

Michael nodded and raised his glass as well, "To new beginnings. Though the date isn't over yet handsome. But so far, you're doing just fine."

Michael and Jacob both smiled and clinked their drinks before taking a sip. Just as they set their glasses down, the stallion waiter returned with their dinner plates. They enjoyed each other's company as the two ate their meals. Every so often, Jacob would admire and looked over his date while they ate. He noticed the rabbit's lean and fit physique that were hidden underneath his business casual clothes. Despite being a doctor with two kids, Michael still seemed very youthful and physically fit for his age. For Jacob, he felt the rabbit could easily pass for a late-20's college student. A sensation of relief washed over the silver fox as he could finally relax and be himself for their first date.

The two continued to talk about general entertainment and world events while they ate. The conversations were light hearted as creatures around them left after the dinner rush was over. They took their time to enjoy their meals before both of the creatures finished. After they paid for their meals, the two headed outside as nightfall arrive. Jacob walked with Michael to the nearby parking lot as they concluded their date. The rabbit stopped near the parking lot as the two stood close together.

Michael smiled, "Thank you for such an awesome date. Mind if I get your phone number before I go?"

"Sure, and thank you for coming. Any place you want to go for a second date?" Jacob asked as he casually moved close.

"How about a movie? Let's say next Saturday at your place?" Michael lifted his head and softly nudged his muzzle against the fox's to show affection.

"I like that. I'll send you the address on my phone and pick out a good movie. Anything you like to see?"

"Just show me your favorite movie, it'll tell me a bit about yourself. Then later we'll stream one of my favorite movies. I'll be sure to keep in contact throughout the week!"

"Can do, well I hope you have a safe trip home. Goodnight, Michael," Jacob said sweetly.

"Goodnight, Jacob," Michael leaned forward to give a small kiss on the fox's lips.

Jacob tilted his head down at a slight angle while they held the kiss for a few seconds. The fox's arms on instinct closed around Michael's waist as the two embraced each other. Both of their hearts quickly pounded against their chest from the excitement of the small kiss.

Once they separated from the kiss Michael's rabbit ears flattened, "Sorry if I'm moving a bit fast. Just wanted to show my appreciation for going on this date."

Jacob's long fox tail wagged, "No, it's quite alright I enjoyed it. Well, see you soon!"

After the kiss, the two traded phone numbers before they left. Jacob let out a heavy sigh as he casually walked toward a nearby bus stop. Jacob maneuvered his way passed rows of homeless creatures before he sat at a bunch near his bus stop. The fox casually scanned from side to side so that he could be aware of his surroundings. Once his bus had arrived, the fox climbed on board and headed home. Jacob reflected on his actions and tried to review the date overall as he sat in the passenger seat. Nervous butterflies filled his stomach as he rode back home to his bus stop. Luckily, he lived close to his work so the trip only took him a few minutes to reach his apartment.

Once settled into his couch, he replayed the date back in his mind. When he came out openly as HIV positive a few months ago, his first few dates were too scared to touch him let alone give him a kiss. Despite how treatable the disease became and his commitment to being honest, most creatures were disinterested in him once they learned his status. And yet, on his first date Michael had shown a willingness to look past it and treat him normally. Jacob couldn't help but feel content with how smooth the first date went. All he could do now was wait and see how things would play out for the second date. Once home, Jacob had gone to his medicine cabinet to complete his daily anti-viral medication for the night. Before Jacob turned in for the night, he reminded himself to make sure he thanked his coworker for the date referral when he returns to work next Monday.

For Jacob, the weekend went by in a flash before Monday came. After his daily morning routine, Jacob arrived to work on time at a small three storied office complex in downtown Riverside. Once he checked in with the receptionist the fox reported in as his fellow coworkers gathered for their daily morning meetings. Jacob's boss was Mika Jones, a raccoon who served as the Lead Game Designer and had been with the company since its inception. The female raccoon rose through the ranks quickly and became one of the most reliable designers throughout the years. She was in charge of making sure that the artists and programmers were on the same page in terms of the look, feel, and play mechanics for their next game.

With a voice interpreter by her side, Mika conducted her morning meeting in sign language. Before Jacob could join as a full-time employee, his employer had him take up several sign language classes at the community college nearby. Perfect Pictures Studio established a program where potential hires who are primarily hearing were greatly encouraged to take up sign language classes while working part time for the first year. If they proved to be sufficient in work and school, Perfect Pictures Studio would recruit them as full time employees. Two years ago Jacob finished those classes and proved his track record at his part time work and the fox was recruited as a full time employee. He mostly understood the morning meeting. Sometimes when Jacob didn't understand a specific sign or concept from Mika, he would listen to the voice interpreter to catch what he had missed. This communication system worked for all the employees, both deaf and hearing as everyone would understand their daily responsibilities.

Jacob sat at his computer and started to work on editing the many levels required for the game. Their new project was a war game titled Operation: Ceasefire that was aimed at a very niche market of First Person Shooters. Compared to their big budget action FPS competitors, the company's game was market towards players that prefer a realistic simulated experience. Jacob had to make sure the environments, levels, and layout would match perfectly with the lead artist's vision while also being easy to work with for the programmers. The fox enjoyed his work as hours rushed by in a flash until it was time for his lunch break. Jacob headed towards the small cafeteria and stood in line to pay for his meal. Once he finished and set down his tray at a nearby table, he heard several fast footsteps approach from behind.

Jacob turned around and recognized the figure as the tall black she-wolf approached him. The wolf spoke and signed at the same time, "Hey! How are you doing today?"

Jacob smiled as he spoke, "Oh hello Mina. I'm doing well. Good to see you too!"

"Ah, don't forget you have to sign while you speak! Company policy!" Mina teased and stuck her tongue out after she signed.

"Oh right sorry," Jacob remembered the wolf was hard of hearing. Once the fox sat down at a nearby table he brought his fluffy paws up, "Anyway, I wanted to thank you for last Friday."

Mina eyes brightened up as she sat across from the fox, "Oh you mean the blind date thing right? So did it go well?"

Jacob nodded as he spoke and signed, "Yeah, it's the first date that didn't turn into a complete nightmare. How did you and Michael meet anyway?"

Jacob started to eat his meal as Mina signed and spoke, "We used to be neighbors and became fast friends. He was three years older than me when I first met him back in the mid 2000's. That rabbit was like an older brother to me and I always hung out with him throughout the years. However, he graduated high school by the time I entered in my freshman year and we lost touch for a while. Michael went off to college and then med school as I struggled through high school. But the way we reconnected was a funny story actually. It turns out, Michael was one of the first few original backers on Kickstarter that supported this company's first game Champion Racing!"

"Huh, what a funny coincidence! When did he realize you were hired at this company?" Jacob asked before he took the last few bites of his fish sandwich.

"Right around Comic-Con three years ago I think. If I recall, in the fall of 2022? He recognized me when I did a live stream from one of our booths that year. He went through my old Facebook page and contacted me there. I was a bit surprised when he wanted to reconnect with me."

"What makes you say that?"

"He had just finished med school at that time. Michael was already married for 13 years and had two kids by the time he found me. I just thought he simply moved on and forgot about me. Thankfully, that wasn't the case."

After Jacob swallowed his remaining sandwich he signed, "You mentioned he was married. What happened to his wife? Is he divorced? It wasn't mentioned on his Facebook."

Mina gave a sorrowful look, "Sadly she also passed away three years ago in 2022 right after Comic-Con. Her name was Anna Garcia, he met her when they were both juniors in high school. I thought it'd be good if he went out on dates again and tried to reconnect with someone."

"How did she die?"

Mina fidgeted her wolf paws nervously before she continued, "Michael and Anna were driving when their car was struck by a drunk driver from behind. Anna was behind the wheel when it happened. She lost control of the car's steering wheel and accidentally severed into a nearby light pole which caused the car to roll over repeatedly. Michael managed to survive with only minor scratches while his wife wasn't so lucky. Despite his best efforts, Michael couldn't revive her and she died before the ambulance arrived."

Jacob shook his head, "That's really fucking awful. That poor man, no one should go through that."

"No kidding, it was an extremely difficult time for him these last few years. But he stayed strong for his kids' sakes. I'm telling you this so that you don't bring this stuff up on accident."

"Yeah, we're about to have a second date soon. I would hate to ruin it by accidentally bringing this stuff up to him. I appreciate you telling me this."

"It's no trouble, I want him to find happiness in a relationship again. If this does work out for the both of you, then I would be content with that," Mina gave a warm smile.

"No kidding. Say, did you mention anything from my past to Michael before our first date?"

"No, just what you were comfortable revealing such as your status. Other than that, I wanted him to get to know you more as you two dated."

"Thanks, I hope you can keep it that way. Other than that I still can't thank you enough for having us meet!" Jacob smiled.

"Of course, well I'm going to have lunch with Jackson at the PR office. Let me know how the second date goes!" Mina winked as she stood up.

"Wait... um I just have one question."

"Oh, what's up?"

"Do you know what he likes in terms of movies?"

Mina pondered, "Well when we were teenagers he was really into anime. However, now I think he's into comedies. Plan on taking him out to the movies?"

"Something like that."

"In all honestly, if you want to play it safe you can't go wrong with a decent comedy. But it's up to you, I'm sure he'll enjoy the date no matter what two are watching."

"Alright, thanks. Anyway, I'll catch up with you later I'm going to head back to work," Jacob stood up with his empty tray.

"Okay, see you later!" The black wolf waved before she exited the cafeteria.

Jacob waved back before he returned his tray near the garbage cans. The silver fox relaxed for the rest of his lunch break before he went back to his office cubicle. Hours would pass by quickly while he intensely focused on his work. Before long, it was already nightfall when he clocked out for the day. It was typical for time to feel fast for him since everyday there would be plenty of assignments that needed to be completed before certain deadlines. Every day he would report to work and finish his assignments on time before the fox went home.

As the days passed on, Michael and Jacob started to learn more about each other before their next date. At the end of each day, Michael and Jacob would have text message conversations with each other about their day. While Michael was responsible for the round the clock care of dozens of patients, he was still able to find the time to play an active role his kids' lives. Michael would send a few pictures of them together at certain events and family gatherings to Jacob via text. Michael had a son named Alejandro and a daughter named Madeline. While the daughter's white fur color was similar to Michael's, his son's closely matched his mother's brown fur coat. The fox couldn't help but find Michael's kids to be adorable for their age. Jacob was relieved to find out that they were quiet and polite children, despite the small rabbits' tendencies to strike rebellious and rambunctious poses for photos.

Eventually Friday rolled around as the two had relatively short work days. Jacob made sure to go through his small humble home and meticulously cleaned the place before Michael arrived. Jacob had extra time to clean the house as Michael ran a few errands before he left the nanny to take care of his kids for the night. Jacob waited anxiously as he prepared a few snacks for them to eat while they watch a few movies.

He felt his phone buzz rapidly and noticed the call came from Michael. Jacob quickly answered the phone, "Hello, did you find the place okay?"

"Yeah, I also found the visitor parking lot. So what floor and number are you again?" Michael asked

"Second floor, room 21. Just up the stairs and the first door to your right." Jacob instructed.

"Got it, I think I see it. I'm heading up there now. See you in a bit!" Michael said with a cheery tone.

"Okay, see ya!" Jacob hung up the phone.

After a few seconds, the fox's ears perked up once he heard a few knocks on the door. Jacob quickly went to his bedroom to charge his cell phone before he walked up to his front door. He looked through the peep hole to see his rabbit companion as he stood in front of the door. Michael wore a red polo shirt with dark blue jeans and sneakers. The white rabbit dressed comfortably as the two were simply going to relax and enjoy movies inside his place. Jacob eagerly opened the door and gave a warm smile.

"Welcome to my humble little paradise. Make yourself at home," Jacob invited him in.

"Thanks, this is a pretty nice place you got here. Got any roommates?" Michael walked inside and looked around.

"Naw, I'm by myself. My job pays me enough to live on my own thankfully. I don't have to worry about that kind of headache."

"Cool, just wanted to be sure. So what do you have planned for us tonight handsome fox?" Michael sat down on the fox's comfortable sofa.

"Well the first movie I wanted us to watch is Doukyuusei by Shoko Nakamura. It's an older film from the late 2010's but I find it to be a personal favorite of mine." Jacob sat next to him as snacks were placed on the nearby coffee table in front of them.

"Oh? I don't think I've seen that one," Michael smiled as he scooted closer.

"I'm sure you'll like it," Jacob pressed the play button with his paw rested on Michael's left leg.

Michael simply nuzzled the fox as the two sat and watched the movie. The movie was a romantic comedy between two male high school students in Japan. Despite the characters different lifestyles and aspirations, the two characters would form a romantic connection throughout the movie. Michael casually snaked his left arm around Jacob's shoulder as they continued to watch the movie. Jacob let out a soft sigh as his body softly pressed up against Michael's. Jacob would casually rub Michael's left leg while the two relaxed in their seats.

On occasion the two would chuckle and laugh at the movies comedic tone and jokes. Jacob looked over and saw Michael with a warm permanent grin on his muzzle. While Jacob was watching the movie, Michael had leaned in and softly planted a kiss on the fox's neck. Jacob jolted in his seat as the kiss was unexpected which caused him to let out a soft huff.

Michael's ears folded, "Sensitive spot of yours?"

Jacob nodded, "Yeah, really sensitive. Though you're the first to ever kiss me there."

Michael's nose twitched curiously, "Really? Have you ever been in a long term relationship?"

Jacob shook his head, "Just a few dates here and there."

Michael went silent for a few seconds, "Are you a virgin? It's alright if you are!"

Jacob looked down as his throat tensed up, "Yeah I'm still a virgin. I know it stupid to say this but I'm happy you asked."

"How so?"

Jacob tried to lighten the mood with a joking tone, "You're the first creature to ever ask me that. Sometimes I feel like when others know my status, they probably assume I'm some slut that got gang-banged by 20 different stallions or something. Because well, I'm a fox and have HIV. So they treat me like I had the plague."

Michael laughed hysterically, "Sorry, didn't mean to laugh so hard."

Jacob chuckled, "It's alright that was meant to be a joke."

Michael coughed and regained his composure, "So, if it wasn't from a stallion gang-bang, how did you became positive in the first place?"

Jacob let out a heavy sigh to calm his nerves. He was used to retelling his story yet the act would always stir butterflies in his stomach.

Jacob took a deep breath and spoke, "I used to be a heroin addict when I was in high school. I was dealing... with some intense demons throughout my life. And instead of talking about them in a healthy positive way with a counselor, I ignored my problems by turning to drugs instead. I started off with opioid pills my freshman year and I would feed into my habit by doing other creatures' homework for extra cash. That still wasn't enough to support my habit, so I started to steal from my family. But once it got too expensive I was desperate enough to use heroin my senior year since it was much cheaper. I continued to use heroin throughout my college years thereafter. I've made a couple of friends in college and they hook me up with even more heroin. But one day... I discovered that I had HIV after I shared a needle with a friend of mine back in college. I wasn't thinking straight and I got infected from his blood. But, I've been clean now for about... let's see today's March 8th so... for 1,825 days. Exactly five years ago."

Michael nodded attentively, "That's a pretty amazing story Jacob. I've never would've guessed since you seem very well adjusted. Do you still go to therapy?"

Jacob shifted in his seat, "I do about once a month. I keep a journal and talk with a counselor every month."

"That's very good Jacob. I know it must not have been easy going through what you did. But I'm extremely proud of you for getting the help you needed," Michael softly nuzzled his furry cheek.Jacob sniffled a bit as his voice cracked a little, "Yeah, sorry if that was too heavy of a subject to bring up."

"Don't worry its fine, after all I was the one that asked about it. I'm glad you were honest with me, I do believe in creatures getting a second chance at life. Just keep doing what you're doing and we'll be fine," Michael rested his head on the fox's right shoulder.

"Will do, thank you for listening Michael," Jacob gently rested his head against Michael's as they continued to watch the movie.

Jacob's heart raced faster as the white rabbit physically scooted closer to him. Michael would softly hold and rub the fox's paw as they snuggled on the couch. The silver fox's pointy ears and face became extremely warm once Michael planted small kisses on his right shoulder. Once the movie was over, Jacob turn to Michael and stared into the rabbit's blue eyes. Michael's gaze met Jacob's as the two leaned forward for a kiss. Their lips were pressed against one another's as the sound of soft kisses filled the air. Jacob's fur coat had stood on its ends from the excitement of the sweet kiss. Jacob turned his body sideways so that the two were able to face each other better. Michael gently laid on top of him with his lips still passionately pressed against Jacob's. Jacob slightly tilted his head sideways and opened his muzzle to invite Michael's tongue inside. Michael obliged as his pink tongue gently snaked into Jacob's warm mouth while they kissed. The warm slightly slimy tongue had folded and coiled over Jacob's while the two continued to kiss intensely.

A soft moan escaped Jacob's lips as Michael laid on top of the fox. Their breathing became heavy as their warm minty breaths brushed up against each other's muzzles. The physical sensation of another creature's warm fur coat had made Jacob's heart race faster. Jacob felt a powerful arousal from the physical closeness of another creature's body. The fox's paws curiously caressed and rubbed along Michael's backside and it caused his shirt to lift up. As Jacob continued to rub Michael's back, the fox exposed the rabbit's soft squishy white belly fur. The two stayed still and silent for a few seconds as they looked at each other. As much as Jacob enjoyed the intimate session the two shared, he secretly felt worried with how fast things were moving. He didn't want to potentially ruin the relationship by going too fast. Though Jacob didn't also want to ruin the romantic mood and make Michael feel guilty about it. The fox's mind and judgement was blurred as a rush of emotions filled his mind.

Before either had spoken a word, a loud cellphone ringtone was heard throughout the living room. It was different from Jacob's ringtone so he assumed it came from Michael's phone. As the ringtone played, Michael's eyes brightened with worry as he sat up on the couch.

"Sorry Jacob, I need to take this call. It could be important," Michael said as he reached for his back pocket.

"It's okay, take your time," Jacob gave a warm smile as he sat up.

Michael nodded and answered the phone, "Yes, hello? This is Dr. Garcia speaking."

Jacob sat and watched as the rabbit nodded attentively. His face showed a mix of disappointment and seriousness as he continued the call. Jacob wasn't able to pick up on what the conversation was, but he assumed it was a medical emergency from his work.

Michael ended the conversation and looked over to Jacob, "I'm sorry but my work needs me. A patient of mine wants to go over some delicate medical decisions tonight. Sorry to cut the date so short."

Jacob nodded and held his paw, "It's quite alright, I understand. I just hope you enjoyed our little date tonight."

Michael's floppy rabbit ears perked up, "Of course, it was amazing. I'm already starting to really like you more."

Jacob nodded, "I feel the same. So, want to set up another date?"

Michael stood up and fixed his clothes, "Sure, would you like dinner and a movie at my place next weekend? The kids and nanny will be out for a sleep over that night so we'll have the house to ourselves. Does that sound alright with you?"

Jacob's fox tail wiggled happily, "That sounds great! Can I walk you to your car before you go?"

Michael nodded happily as the fox stood up. The two headed outside as they braced themselves from the cold chilly air. Jacob softly held Michael's paw as the two headed downstairs towards the parking lot. Jacob knew the neighborhood was safe enough to walk around alone but still wanted to see Michael off.

The two approached his silver sedan before Michael turned to him, "I'll text you later tonight, alright?"

"Okay, have a safe drive handsome."

"I will... goodnight Jacob."

"Goodnight, Michael."

Michael arched his head up slightly as the two softly embraced and kissed. Jacob held onto the kiss as long as reasonably possible, enjoying the unique taste and Michael's warm fluffy body. The two separated from the kiss as they both let out a heavy sigh of contentment. Once the two released their mutual hug, Michael climbed into his small family sedan and drove out onto the road. Jacob stood in the chilled air as he watched the silver sedan disappear into the sea of cars. Once the sedan was out of sight, Jacob headed back upstairs to clean up for the night. The two barely had anything to snack on as they were mainly focused on the movie and each other.

After he finished cleaning up for the night, Jacob climbed into the shower and scrubbed himself clean. As the fox showered, he couldn't help but reminisce about their date just a few hours ago. The thought of Michael passionately kissing him again had already made him aroused. It had been far too long since anyone had shown a genuine interest in him. Though as he reflected back on his life, there was still a semblance of pain that was embedded in the fox's heart. Jacob had intentionally left out important details when he recalled his story to Michael. The loss of his close friend, his original demons, and the painful memories of recovery had briefly resurfaced in Jacob's mind. His arousal state quickly diminished as memories of guilt filled his mind, causing him to sniffle. A few tears crawled down his muzzle as the hot shower water washed over his body.

Jacob panted heavily and tried to calm himself down from his anxious state. He remembered the advice his counselor gave him and started to count backwards from 30. As the fox mentally counted backwards, he intentionally slowed his breathing to calm his nerves. His mind slowly started to calm down once he got to 10. Once relaxed, Jacob stepped out of the shower and went to his medicine cabinet to take his anti-viral medication. Jacob crammed all the pills down he needed for the night with one swift gulp. He followed it up with a small glass of water as he lightly pounded his chest.

Jacob continued his nightly grooming routine before he headed toward his bedroom. He grabbed the cell phone that was charging on his dresser to look over the messages. The first creature to message him came from his coworker Mina. The first message sent was an emoticon sticker of a wolf giving him a thumbs up.

The message was later followed up with, "Hope the date is going well! Let me know how it goes next Monday at work!"

Jacob chuckled as he looked over to the next message that came from Michael, "Just wanted to let you know I'm safe and sound at the hospital. Thank you for an amazing night. I'll text you tomorrow evening."

Jacob smiled as he sent off a message before he went to bed. The final message read, "Thank you for letting me know. Goodnight, Michael!"

Chapter 2

Jacob sat alone inside the small waiting room. The only other creature that was inside was the receptionist near the front counter. The constant humming of the air conditioner and the TV were the only sounds heard inside the room. Jacob nervously waited for his name to be called as his paws rested on a small notebook. He brought his notebook to show his counselor the latest updates over the past few weeks. Eventually, the black striped Arabian Mau cat opened the main door and with a tablet in her paw. She wore a pristine white blouse with long black slacks and flats. The feline's light purple hijab concealed her long pointed cat ears as she looked directly at the fox.

"Jacob Hayashi?" She smiled warmly.

The silver fox nodded as he stood up to greet her, "Hello Mrs. Aishah!"

Aishah nodded as the feline held the door open so that Jacob could walk with her. They traveled down a few narrow hallways before they reached their office. Jacob sat down on the soft brown couch as Aishah sat across from him with her own chair. Jacob let out a soft sigh as he handed Aishah his journal, and the feline gently looked over the pages before they started their session.

"So, how is everything with you? I see in your journal that you've started dating someone!" Aishah smiled warmly.

Jacob nodded, "Yeah, I took your advice from our last session and put myself out there again. Not all of my dates were great, but there is one creature that seems very promising."

The feline glanced over his journal, "So, what makes this Michael Garcia special to you?"

"I feel like he's very genuine with his feelings. Plus he's the only man so far that hasn't treated me any differently because of my illness. He's nice but..."

"But?"

"I'm worried about a few things. Well, many things in fact."

Aishah took out her tablet "Let's talk about these issues one at a time. What would you like to discuss first?"

Jacob took another deep breath, "It's about his children. He's a father of two, a daughter named Madeline and a son named Alejandro. I don't personally mind that he has children from a previous marriage. It's just... I'm scared to meet them one day if the relationship becomes serious."

"It's a fair concern. What exactly are you scared of? Is it how they might react to you as a new potential partner for their father?"

"Yeah, I've never really interacted with kids before. I don't want to come across as creepy or that I'm there to replace their mother. She died from a car accident years ago and I don't want them to feel as though I'm there to disrupt their family life."

Aishah attentively nodded, "I see, have you talked about your concerns with Michael yet?"

"Not yet, I kind of want your advice. You've dated and married a man from a previous marriage before, how did you handle it?"

Aishah sat back in her chair, "It wasn't easy I'll tell you. He came from a Catholic background and his kids also lost their mother. What I personally found helpful was to remember these few important things. Firstly, be authentic and don't put on a performance. Children will know when you're acting too nice so they'll naturally distrust you if do that. And secondly, understand that they might not accept you right away. You have to be comfortable with the idea that Michael will always have his kids be the first priority for a while. What's mainly important is that you eventually talk with Michael about it before you deepen this relationship. That would be my advice."

Jacob nodded softly, "I'll take your advice to heart. What would be the best way for me to meet them?"

Aishah thought about it for a few seconds, "What I did personally was have my partner bring them over to meet me at a public place like a park or a mall. I found that after I established a certain amount of trust with them, his children felt more comfortable around me when I visited their home."

"That's a pretty great idea! I'll run that idea by Michael when I visit him tonight."

"So, how has your overall recovery been? Have you been getting enough sleep and eating well?"

"Yes, I'm still getting enough sleep and sticking to my diet thankfully. But sometimes when I recount parts of my past like I did with Michael last week, I would get these intense panic attacks."

"Do you eventually calm down or are you still struggling with them?"

"I do calm down by taking deep breaths and counting backwards like you suggested. But I would hate it if I had these panic attacks every time I recount my past."

Aishah nodded and handed him back his journal with a pen, "Well there are other ways to prevent a panic attack from happening."

Jacob nodded as he opened up a new page in his journal, "Like what?"

"The first is to calm and control your breathing. Then once you do, try to distract your mind with something positive. Think of something like a funny scene from a movie, a favorite part of a song, or a happy nostalgic memory you can pull up. I would like for you to try using those techniques when you feel yourself about to have a panic attack."

Jacob smiled and wrote down her suggestions in his journal. After he finished, the fox looked up to her, "Alright, thank you so much for the advice. I think that's all I have for today."

"Are you sure? You don't need to leave right away if there's something else that's bothering you." Aishah smiled warmly as Jacob sat up.

"I'm sure, those were my main issues honestly. Plus, I need to catch the bus so that I'm not late for my date." Jacob stood up and stretched out.

"Alright, thank you for stopping by. Just remember to continue with your journal and to use the techniques I gave you today!" Aishah smiled and stood up to shake his paw.

"Will do, I'll see you in a few weeks like always!"

"Of course and remember you always have the office phone number if you need to reach me right away! Take care!" Aishah opened the door for him.

Jacob waved goodbye as he walked out the front door and headed towards the main lobby. Once he was outside, the fox looked around and headed toward the nearest bus stop. Before Jacob could reach his bus stop, the fox saw a large group of protesters formed in the middle of the street. They were blocking traffic, their banners held high with police circling around them. Jacob turned around and took out his cell phone to find a different public transit route as he wanted to avoid whatever clash was about to happen. With a cell phone in his right paw, he tracked all the bus routes and estimated how long it would take to reach Michael's house. Michael lived in Redlands which would normally take about an hour by public transportation. Though Jacob didn't mind the long wait as Michael wanted him to show up an hour late; the rabbit wanted to make sure his kids were gone for the entire night before the two could relax and enjoy their date alone.

Jacob only needed to take three bus rides before he reached the nearest bus stop to Michael's neighborhood. The public transportation system was easily more convenient in recent years due to massive upgrades to the system, which allowed Jacob even more freedom and mobility. He mainly reserved the ride sharing apps for extremely important appointments or emergencies since they tend to cost more. Plus, Jacob didn't mind walking as he would be able to keep a better mental map of his surroundings.

The sun was setting over the horizon by the time Jacob entered Michael's neighborhood. The houses Jacob passed by seemed to be maintained almost to perfection. Each yard was mowed and edged perfectly with some houses having small sculptures on display in the front yard. With the temperature having gone down, many joggers had passed by Jacob to take advantage of the cooling climate. Jacob checked over his phone again to make sure he arrived exactly on time to Michael's instructions. The rest of the text message showed a high quality photo of the outside of the rabbit's house. Michael's house had a small stone wall with a metal fence and gate that bordered around his yard. The house itself was two stories tall with a brown exterior and an outdoor bench near the front door.

Once Jacob had spotted the house he sent a quick text message, "Hey, I'm here. Is it alright if I come to the front door?"

After a few seconds, Michael read the message and sent a response, "Sure, just park out near the street and come right in. The door is unlocked."

Jacob chuckled from the message as he started to walk towards the front door. With a gentle turn of the door knob, Jacob walked inside to see a large living room with a staircase off to the left side. The room had an exquisite layout with fancy furniture along the nearby walls and a glass table near the center. A large painting of the Virgin Mary hung near the center of the wall above the main couch. To his left side near the staircase was a long hallway to another room that was out of his line of sight. Above the hallway was a small catholic crucifix that hung on the staircase. Beyond the fancy living room in front of him was separated by another wall that lead to a different living room.

On the tables and walls were framed pictures of the various family members. Some included just the kids themselves when they were much younger, a few pictures with a female blue jay, and others that had Michael's wife. The largest picture was also framed near the staircase which showed a family portrait of all the rabbits in one photo. Though before the silver fox could investigate further, Michael walked around a nearby corner and was in the center of Jacob's view.

Michael smiled as he walked towards the fox to give him a small kiss, "Glad you were able to make it. So, did you park near the street like I ask?"

Jacob chuckled, "I don't have a car. I take public transportation or use ride sharing app if I need to go places."

Michael gave a questionable look, "I always thought you did. Sorry to make you come over here by public transportation. If you had told me I could've picked you up."

Jacob's nose twitched as he smelled food, "It's alright. I'm used to taking public transportation. It's cheaper for me. Anyway, what are you cooking tonight?"

"I'm making Elotes with fish tacos and rice. Trust me, my mother's recipe for Elotes will beat anything you've ever tasted before!" Michael softly held Jacob's paw as he led them toward the kitchen.

"What are Elotes?" Jacob said innocently as they passed by the other living room with a TV nearby.

Once they arrived at the kitchen Michael turned to him and spoke with a teasing tone, "It's a dish that primarily uses corn. You never had Elotes before? How can you call yourself a Californian if you never even heard of it? Didn't you ever have an Elote man where you grew up?"

Jacob shrugged, "I lived in Irvine for most of my life. I didn't grow up eating too much Mexican food. I only started exploring some Mexican food after I moved to Riverside a few years ago."

"Well, thankfully you're in luck. I'll be your food guide for authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant you took us was pretty good, but nothing will beat my home cooking!" Michael smiled as he offered Jacob a seat.

Jacob nodded as he sat down at the large rectangular table. There were other chairs aligned near the table that could fit up to six creatures. Off to the right side of the kitchen was a glass sliding door that lead to a large grassy backyard. Jacob looked around to see various glass bottles on top of kitchen cabinets along with a picture of The Last Supper. In the center of the table was a small romantic lite candle as Michael prepared Jacob's plate. The surrounding white tile floor was still slightly wet which made it glimmer under the kitchen light. Out of the corner of Jacob's amber eyes, he spotted a wet mop and bucket pushed to the corner behind the large fridge. Michael walked over with a plate in paw and gently placed it in front of the fox. Michael gave Jacob a soft sweet kiss on the cheek before he returned to the kitchen to prepare their drinks.

Jacob looked down and saw a two large slightly charred sweet corn cobs covered in butter, smothered in mayonnaise, rolled in crumbled cotija cheese, sprinkled with chili powder, spritzed with lime juice, and garnished with cilantro. Next to the corn was a fish taco, lightly battered with a golden crispy shell on the outside. The fish was surrounded in crisp shredded lettuce and wrapped in a warm corn tortilla. Next to the fish taco was a large pile of Mexican rice, with steam rising up from the plate. The sight and smell of the food made the fox's stomach growl as the alluring smell captured his attention.

Michael softly spoke across the kitchen, "Would you like some nonalcoholic sparkling cider?"

Jacob nodded as Michael brought out two champagne glasses and filled them with apple cider. Michael then placed fox's drink near Jacob's plate before the rabbit sat down across the table with his plate of food.

Once settled Jacob picked up the corn and started to munch on the cob. The first few bites into the corn had made the fox's tail wiggle rapidly as the interesting tastes and flavors of the meal was something he had hardly ever experienced before. Jacob eagerly licked his lips as he continued to eat. Michael chuckled as he watched from across the table, amused by the fox's joyful expression.

"You're the first creature I've known that's never had this. It's a quick and easy dish I love making for my family." Michael smiled as he took a drink of his cider.

Jacob wiped his face with a nearby napkin before he spoke, "I can see why, it's so fucking good! It's basically what I consider to be a food orgasm."

Michael chuckled, "An interesting way to frame it. So what did you normally eat growing up?"

"My parents always made sushi and yakisoba for lunch or dinner. Though once a week they would make curry or ramen."

"How neat, I've never tried curry before. Maybe you should cook me some next time."

"I sadly don't know my family's recipes, I would have to ask my parents some time."

"You should, I think the kids and I would love to try some of your family cuisines."

Jacob's ears flatten, "You think so?"

"I know so! My kids would love you if you feed them something tasty and new. They'll fall head over heels for you. The best way to win the hearts and minds of my family is through their stomachs!"

Jacob laughed, "Yeah, I can definitely see that! Though do your kids know about me yet?"

Michael shook his head, "Not yet, though I figure if this third date goes well I can mention you to them. I'm not ashamed about dating a male or anything, I'm just trying to figure out the best way I can introduce you to them."

Jacob drank some of his cider before he spoke, "Why not at a place like a park or a public event? That way I can meet them in a neutral space where they can feel more comfortable."

Michael's rabbits ears stood up, "Hey that isn't a bad idea. You know, Mina has always tried to get me to attend a Renaissance Faire coming up this April. If you were able to make it this next weekend, I would definitely love to set up our next date there with my family along!"

Jacob thought about it for a minute, "Sure, I'll check with my work and make sure I can spend the entire day with everyone!"

"Awesome, I'll do the same!"

They both smiled at each other before they continued with their meals. Jacob couldn't help but savor the many flavors from his meal. It only took a few minutes before the fox cleaned his entire plate leaving only the left over cobs behind. There was enough food to fill his entire stomach which left Jacob fully satisfied. He looked over to the nearby kitchen counter to see the cider bottle left as the fox stood up.

"Mind if I have some more cider?" Jacob headed toward the kitchen counter.

"Go ahead, can you also bring the bottle over to the table? I'm sorry for forgetting it," Michael chuckled nervously.

"It's alright, once I get it I'll pour you another glass," Jacob nodded as he walked over with his champagne glass in his left paw.

Unaware for Jacob, his right foot paw accidentally stepped in a small puddle of soapy water which caused the fox to lose his footing. Jacob tried to regain his balance but was unable too as his body slipped backwards. Jacob gasped in shocked as he tried to reposition his body so that his back and head didn't break the fall. The fox slammed both paws on the floor and gently rolled onto his back, and he laid momentarily dazed. The champagne glass in Jacob's paw had shattered into a thousand pieces as some shards were embedded into the palm of his paw. Jacob's face became warm with embarrassment after such a drastic fall. Michael immediately stood up and rushed over to him.

"Oh shit, are you okay?" Michael asked, a concerned look on his face.

"Yeah, I think so," Jacob looked down and saw that his left paw profusely bled.

"You've been cut pretty badly, here let me take a quick look," Michael tried to reach out for Jacob's paw.

Vast amounts of blood dripped down Jacob's arm as it pooled around the kitchen floor. When Jacob saw Michael reach over to try and grab his paw, the fox rushed backwards frantically.

"DON'T! I mean... you shouldn't. I'll clean all of this up, I promise!" Jacob said in a shaky tone as he hid his left paw from Michael.

Michael was taken a back, his face shown that he was hurt from Jacob's response. Jacob's heart raced frantically as he instantly regretted his outburst, he knew his response had hurt Michael's feelings. Though the rabbit let out a calm sigh and gently place his paw on Jacob's leg, "I'm going to have to see your paw first before we clean this up. You trust me, don't you?"

Jacob's amber eyes made direct contact with Michael's as he slowly nodded his head, "I'm... I'm so sorry for the mess."

"Don't worry, let's get you cleaned up," Michael said in a calm warm voice as he helped the fox onto his feetpaws.

Michael gently grabbed Jacob's uninjured right paw as they headed towards the nearest bathroom. Small amount of blood droplets lead a trail from the kitchen to the nearby downstairs bathroom. Jacob felt embarrassed and ashamed as his he kept his head down by the time they arrived at the bathroom. The fox let cold water wash over his left paw pad as Michael reached under the cupboards to retrieve a first aid kit. The rabbit pulled out all the necessary materials needed to extract the shards of glass and bandage his wound. Michael had brought over two medium size wooden stools so that they could sit near the sink. Though before he began his procedure to remove some of the glass shards, he took out a bottle of pills and handed it to Jacob.

"Take two of those, it will numb the pain. They'll come in handy," Michael smiled as he started to disinfect his tools.

"Are they opioids? I really can't take them if they are,"

"Oh right... sorry. Let's see," Michael rummaged through his medicine cabinet nearby.

Michael brought out a different pill bottle, "Here take this. This one is ibuprofen, it's a non-opioid," Michael handed him a different pill bottle.

"Okay," Jacob took two pills of the ibuprofen before he lent his left paw to Michael.

Michael looked over and spotted a large piece of glass embedded in his palm, "Alright, seems one large piece deeply inserted itself in your palm along with a few other small pieces. You also have a long laceration right next to it here. I'm going to pull out the glass shards first and apply pressure to the rest of the wound to stop the bleeding. Then I'll stitch up the wound before I bandage you up. So just take a deep breath and I'll take care of it."

Jacob sat on the stool and took deep breaths as Michael removed the glass with a pair of tweezers. Michael's blue eyes were hyper focused as the rabbit was able to get a firm grip on the glass shard. With such precision, the rabbit effortlessly pulled out the glass to reveal a deep gaping wound as a few more droplets of blood dripped from the entrance. Jacob grunted deeply as he felt a sharp pain from the removal along with an intense burning sensation. Michael removed the other small glass shard pieces before he grabbed a clean wash cloth and gently pressed it over the wound to stop the bleeding.

The two sat silently for a few minutes as they waited for the bleeding to stop. Jacob saw how the blood had already started to soak through the wash cloth as Michael continued to apply pressure. The fox looked up to Michael, the rabbit had a genuine expression of concern over the condition of his partner. In fact, Jacob's stomach fluttered with butterflies as he enjoyed the warm sensation of Michael's paw as it gently rubbed and held his.

After a few minutes Jacob broke the silence, "I'm so sorry for all of this trouble."

Michael laughed, "Damn it foxy boy stop apologizing. I'm the one who screwed up. The nanny was sick today and I had to do lots of outpatient medical charts last minute. Then I had to clean the house before I dropped the kids off. I thought the floor would dry by the time you showed up. I've should've been more careful."

Jacob chuckled, "Still, I need to watch where I'm going next time. I'm just really embarrassed that it happened in the first place."

"Not to worry, it was an accident after all. I can always replace the glass. But, I'll be honest I don't think I'll be able to replace your entire paw so easily if it was damaged beyond repair. We would have to go to the hospital for that and use their 3D printer to get you a new one."

Jacob laughed, "Oh stop. You're terrible!"

"I know, but don't worry I'll get you bandaged up in no time!" Michael lifted his paw up and gave it a soft kiss.

While Jacob was tempted to pull away, he resisted the urge and let the rabbit kiss the uninjured side of his paw. They continued to sit and waited a few more minutes before he replaced the washcloth for a newer one. This time the bleeding had slowed down as Michael continued to apply pressure.

"Michael, I've never asked you this yet but what made you want to be a doctor in the first place?" Jacob asked to pass the time.

Michael sat up, "I always had an interest in medicine when I was younger. My grandparents were always in a constant state of poor health due to the lack of health insurance. When I was little kid, I promised them that I would become a doctor one day and help them get better."

"Aw, how sweet."

"Yeah, looking back I know now they were only humoring me but I was serious in my endeavor. Though when I was growing up as a teenager, my grandparents had gotten so ill that they had to move in with my parents. It was extremely hard on my parents, especially my mother. We all had to watch them endure constant pain around the clock and there was little we could do to help," Michael looked down.

"It must've been heart breaking to see love ones suffer before they pass."

"It was. I knew they would eventually pass away but back then California didn't have the right to die law like we do today. It took two months before they passed away. I never want anyone to go through what my grandparent's experienced. I can't stand the sight of others suffering needlessly."

"So is that why you became a palliative doctor?"

"That's right," Michael continued to gently rub Jacob's hand paw.

Jacob nodded as Michael removed the wash cloth to see the bleeding had stopped and the swelling had gone down. He applied antiseptic to disinfect and clean the wound over the sink. As Jacob continued to rest his left paw over the sink, Michael finished disinfecting the curved needle and prepared the silk thread. He then gently placed Jacob's paw on the counter. Michael's left paw held the forceps while the other held the needle holder. Michael gripped the curved needle with the needle holder and slid it near the entrance of the wound. It was quite obvious the rabbit had done this a number of times as Michael seemly knew how deep the needle needed to travel before he pulled back up. He managed to tie off each stitch with a square knot as the rabbit continued his procedure stitch by stitch.

Due to the pain killers Jacob took earlier, there was little pain from the procedure. Though the fox kept his eyes away, he didn't want to scare himself into a panic attack. Instead, Jacob took deep breaths and tried to imagine positive thoughts as Michael continued to stitch him up. Jacob pulled up the memory of their second date, how Michael initiated their first make out session at his place. That thought had help Jacob calm down as he enjoyed his recollection of that memory. The process had only took a few short minutes before Michael was able to completely close up the entire wound. With a final stitch in place, he cut off the rest of the thread and examined the wound. The skin underneath the fur was approximately put in place as Michael made sure the skin wasn't puckering or rolling at stitch points. Once Michael checked the wound, he cleaned up the blood with a few cotton swabs before the rabbit applied antiseptic again. When finished, Michael then gently wrapped Jacob's paw with a bandage and smiled.

"Alright, you're done. You were extremely corporative, more so than my kids anyway," Michael chuckled.

"You've done this on your kids before?"

"Only for small medical emergencies like this! I still take them to a regular pediatrician for checkups," Michael stuck his tongue out.

Jacob looked over his bandaged paw and nodded, "You did amazing work, thank you so much for stitching me up doc."

"Don't mention it, I'll give you directions for how to clean the wound. I'll also pay you a visit at your place in a week or so to make sure it heals properly. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask cutie," Michael leaned forward to kiss Jacob.

Jacob stayed in place as he held the kiss, he enjoyed the soft touch of the rabbit's lips pressed against his. Michael caressed Jacob's muzzle as the two were lost in each other's kiss. Jacob kept his eyes open as his gaze lingered, the fox's breathing had slowed down and relaxed. Eventually, Jacob pulled away from the kiss as the pointy fox ears flopped over to the side.

"After we clean up, what movie did you plan for us to watch?" Jacob chuckled.

"It's a surprise, you'll just have to wait and see. If you could help put away the med kit while I clean up that would be great. I'll be right back," Michael stood up and headed for the door.

Jacob nodded as started to clean up the bathroom first and he made sure there was no trace of blood on the sink. After he cleaned, Jacob gathered all the supplies and put them back into the medicine kit in order. Though when the fox's eyes glanced over the opioid pill bottles, a familiar temptation formed in his gut. Jacob's lips watered with anticipation and his mind reminisced about the sweet familiar numbing sensation after an intense high. His paws shook with excitement as they playfully fumbled over the pill bottle; the desire to self-indulge had almost grown out of control. Jacob shook his head and he attempted to resist the urge to relapse into his drug addiction.

"What am I doing? After everything you've worked to achieve, will you just throw it all away?" Jacob mentally screamed.

Jacob set the pill bottle down, and the fox took deep breaths to calm himself down. Jacob looked over the bottle again as he thought, "I can't risk it! I need to destroy any chance of relapsing!"

Jacob opened the bottle and looked away as he drained the pills down the toilet. Once they were fully submerged, he cranked the handle and let the drugs flush down in the toilet bowl. Jacob sighed deeply as a small part of him regretted his rightful decision. Jacob hid the empty pill bottle in his pocket and planned to throw it away once he was outside. Though before Michael returned, Jacob replaced the empty pill bottle with the ibuprofen before he stored away the med kit. When Jacob bent over to place the med kit away he heard a loud playful whistle come from behind. The fox turned around to see that Michael was standing near the doorway, his sly grin spread across his muzzle.

"Looking good foxy boy!" Michael winked as he walked into the bathroom.

Jacob rolled his eyes playfully as he approached the rabbit, "Should've taken a picture if you really want a longer look."

"Oh I did already."

"Wait... what?"

Michael licked his nose, "I didn't you silly fox. Come, let's go upstairs."

Jacob gave a curious look as he followed, "Aren't we going to watch TV downstairs in one of your living rooms?"

Michael looked back, "I thought we would be more comfortable if we watched a movie in my bed. If that's alright with you."

Jacob's muzzle became warm as he replied in a shaky voice, "Oh, I mean it's no big deal. I think that's an okay idea."

"Great, just follow me." Michael motioned him over towards the stairs.

After the two climbed up the stair case, Jacob saw a short hallway followed with five doors. Two doors were on opposite sides of the hallway with one directly in the center. Jacob followed Michael as the two walked toward the center of the door and entered the master bedroom. Inside the spacious bedroom was a large king size bed near the center. Across the bed was a large flat screen TV in front of a narrow arch. From across the bedroom was the master bathroom with a clear glass shower, tub, sink, and toilet nearby. Off to the left side of the room was a walk-in closet that carried all of Michael's clothing. Most of the furniture comprised of dressers and drawers as the two walked inside.

Jacob sat at the edge of the bed as Michael got more comfortable. Jacob's muzzle was still warm as the fox watched Michael strip down to his underwear before slipping on his pajama pants.

Michael smiled, "I hope it's okay if I get comfortable."

Jacob twiddled his thumbs, "It's alright, and I will admit you look very nice tonight."

"I can say the same for you. You can get more comfortable if you want," Michael offered as he sat close to the fox.

"Oh, it's alright, I'm fine. I'm still a little nervous about these types of things."

Michael gave a slight concerned look, "It's quite alright, though I don't plan on having sex with you yet if that's what you're thinking."

Jacob nodded, "Yeah, I mean I do like you but I still want to hold off on it for a little bit."

"I understand, what I really wanted tonight was just to cuddle you as we watched a movie."

"Cuddle me? "

Michael gave an embarrassed look, "I know it's a silly thing to say, but it's true. I miss the feeling of another creature's warmth. It's been hard to sleep alone these last few years, but I wouldn't mind only cuddling you if you're comfortable with that."

Jacob's ears stood tall, "That's more than fine. I love cuddling!"

Michael's little rabbit tail wiggled, "Awesome! Well, let's just lay back and enjoy the movie."

Jacob agreed as the two climbed on top of the bed and pulled themselves under the covers. Michael started the movie as the rabbit scooted closer towards the soft fluffy fox. Michael began playing the movie, A Silent Voice; it was an anime movie that centered on a boy and a deaf girl. The movie told the story on how the two grew up with their own personal struggles and hardships. Jacob hadn't seen the movie before and was captivated by the subject material and themes of the story. As the movie played, Michael pressed himself against Jacob. The rabbit's fluffy head nuzzled and rested on top of Jacob's pecs as they watched the movie. Jacob gently caressed and stroked the rabbit's head with his right paw and he enjoyed the presence of Michael's body.

Occasionally, Jacob would gently nudge and scratch behind Michael's rabbit ears. This caused Michael to shake and quiver his right leg as he obviously enjoyed the light scratches. Michael's muzzle deeply pressed and nuzzled into Jacob's fluffy chest. The rabbit enjoyed the smooth sound of the fox's heartbeat. With the movie being over two hours long, Michael decided to break up the long parts of the movie with a small conversation.

"You know Jacob, I want to confess something," Michael said softly.

"What's that?" Jacob asked as he continued to watch the movie.

"A big part of me does feels conflicted when I'm around you. I still love my wife very much to this day. But... I also feel very fortunate that I met you Jacob. I'm willing to open my heart up a little piece at a time." Michael softly spoke.

Jacob's heart began to pump faster, "Thank you Michael, that's very sweet of you to say. I do like you more than just your warmth."

"You know, you're also the first male that I've ever dated," Michael's ears folded in embarrassment.

"Really? Did your wife know you were bisexual?"

"Of course, in fact for the longest time I thought I was gay," Michael chuckled.

Jacob giggled, "Oh? And how did she handle it?"

"Pretty well actually. Growing up, I always found males more physically attractive than females. But when I met Anna in high school... there was just something about her that clicked with me. I just always wanted to be around her. And when I told her what my true sexuality was, she accepted me for who I am. Eventually, I fell in love with that woman."

"That's amazing. I guess she wasn't worried that you wouldn't fall for a male behind her back?" Jacob chuckled.

Michael shook his head, "No, she knew I would never do something like that. Though, she would openly tease me about it from time to time. Like if we both spotted a very handsome creature in public, she would playfully suggest we have a three way with them."

"Oh my God!" Jacob laughed.

Michael nodded, "Yeah, but throughout my life I never had the chance to explore these feelings with another male before. I'm still a novice when it comes to these things."

Jacob leaned down to gently plant a kiss on Michael's face, "There's nothing wrong with that. We're both pretty new to this."

Michael sighed softly as he turned his attention back to the movie. Jacob felt that the movie emotionally resonated with him as the film neared its end. After the end of the movie, the two continued to cuddle and relax as the credits rolled by. Once the movie was over, Michael turned off the TV and lights as they were only able to make out each other's shadows in the darkness. Michael gently climbed on top of Jacob as their muzzles were only a few inches from one another. Jacob's body shivered with excitement and his soft fox paws slowly rubbed and crawled up Michael's hips. Michael's paws gently embraced around Jacob's hips as their bodies lightly grind and pressed into one another. Michael slide his short rabbit tongue into Jacob's muzzle again; he wanted to have another taste of his fox. Jacob accepted the tongue and submitted to Michael as they made out under the covers.

After the kiss, Michael wedged his muzzle between Jacob's shoulders and planted soft kisses all over the fox's neck. Jacob's lips quivered as a loud gasp could be heard with his feet paws squirmed tightly. Michael continued to kiss his neck which caused the fox underneath him to struggle wildly. Jacob's entire face became extremely warm as his arousal was unavoidable. Small tears formed in the fox's eyelids, not from pain but from the overpowering sensation he experienced. He lightly clawed down Michael's backside as the rabbit continued teased one of his weak spots. Jacob's moans became louder as his paws tightly hung onto the fluffy white rabbit's body. Michael ignored Jacob's arousal as he only intended to snuggle and tease his fox companion like he promised. Though when Michael's slightly sharp teeth brushed up against Jacob's exposed skin, the fox's entire body shook. Jacob panted heavily as he tapped on Michael's hips to get the rabbit's attention.

"Ah Michael... stop!" Jacob gasp deeply.

Michael stayed motionless, "Are you alright? Was I too rough?"

"It's not that. It's just too overwhelming for me. I need to catch my breath," Jacob panted heavily.

"My apologies," The rabbit lifted his muzzle and kissed Jacob's forehead.

"It's okay, but thank you for stopping when I needed you to," Jacob reassured him with a warm embrace.

"I'll always listen cutie, you have my word. Now then, would you like to spoon me tonight?" Michael whispered as he returned the hug.

Jacob agreed as the rabbit gently laid on his side and faced away from the silver fox. Michael allowed the slightly tall fox to spoon the rabbit from behind as the two got comfortable. Jacob adjusted the covers as his muzzle kissed and nuzzled behind Michael's head. It only took a few minutes before Michael had already drifted off into sleep. Jacob laid for a few minutes as his mind raced with thought. The warm sensation of Michael's fluffy fur coat had sent a rush throughout his body which quelled his normal butterflies. Jacob leaned forward and he deeply breathed in Michael's natural scent.

Jacob sighed deeply with his arms still wrapped around the strong rabbit's waist. The warm sensation of another body against him turned his mind into a daze. A certain euphoria traveled in his veins, one that was different from what he'd experienced before. Instead of a high intensity head rush like he used to experience when high, this sensation had gradually settled into his senses. The fox's heart had slowed down to a relaxed pulse with his arms tightly hung on to Michael. Jacob yawned deeply before the fox eventually fell asleep. There was no nightmare or a panic attack to disturb his sleep; instead there was only a peaceful slumber.