"The Gift", Daniel's Chapter 6, Part 1
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
Hello readers, and welcome back to the long awaited continuation of Daniel's storyline. This is part one of Chapter 6.
We left off with Daniel having had time alone with both Herne and Talapus. Unlike the prior two spirits Aiden wanted to get out of the apartment and spend some time alone with Daniel on a more casual 'date'. This takes them out on the road where they get in some good discussion and leads them to a chance encounter on the road. It is up to readers on how to resolve this issue.
Here is the winning vote:
4) -- sighed, shaking my head as I spoke to Kon. "Listen... I know all about making stupid decisions. I'm out on a date with Aiden, but you can go back to my apartment and wait there if you want."
The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 6.1
copyright comidacomida 2018
In all of my impressions of a 'date night' the usual expectation was that there was usual food involved, some kind of event like a movie or something, and then, if everything went 'just right' the night would end in sex. My 'date' with Aiden was not anything close to what I had expected because, for one, I'd had jaw-aching and ass-pounding sex BEFORE going out. Starting off on that foot meant that I was expecting things to deviate even more from what I thought was the norm. I wasn't too far off in that.
Aiden took his cues from what I figured was the 'gentleman' out of a romantic comedy script. He made sure that I grab a coat on our way out and, despite how hard it was for a Spirit, he even managed to open the front door for me as we left. The two other Spirits watched us go out with attentive eyes and erect ears but they played fair and neither moved to follow. Based on the difficulty the poor Bat had in opening the front door I figured he could use some relief and I closed it after us.
He didn't provide much in the way of details when it came to his plans but he did speak up to object when I headed to my car. "Daniel... I thought we would walk tonight. We don't have very far to go and I was hoping we could talk without you being distracted by traffic."
It was a fair enough request and, truth be told, I probably didn't get enough exercise; if that was how Aiden wanted to spend our time together I figured I could at least humor him. "Okay... walking it is. And, just so you know, if I walk too far I get kinda sweaty."
He offered a needle-toothed grin. "That's alright. I like the way you smell."
As if to support his statement he stepped closer and pressed his broad, black nose to my shoulder. I laughed at the silly action. "You're probably smelling a mixture of Herne and Talapus and me."
The Bat didn't seem the least bit upset by the reminder that he was third in line for my time. Instead, he shrugged, using the umbrella he was carrying like a walking cane. "You never know-- maybe I invited you for a walk to give you a chance to air out."
I had to admit, he was pretty witty when he wanted to be and judging from his quick answer I had no option but to smile; sure, he was quiet and reserved most of the time but I was rapidly learning that he wasn't the least bit shy when it came to interacting with others. Maybe that was what guided my questions. "So... why is it we never talk, Aiden? You don't seem like you're an introvert-- at least, not when Herne and Talapus aren't around."
The Bat took several steps before speaking, eyes on the sidewalk as he asked me a question of his own. "You ever spent time trying to get to know someone in a club, Dan?"
I shook my head. "Not really... never did well in clubs without being on stage and I haven't had the kind of success to get me a gig."
Aiden looked my way, his purple eyes gleaming in the street light as we passed beneath it. "You can't-- there's no good way to get to know someone when you're having to fight to get them to hear you over the noise of everything going on around you."
Although I figured I was able to connect the dots I paraphrased just to make sure I understood his meaning. "So... you choose to save your breath until there aren't tons of other loud spirits beating their chests around us?"
He nodded, his fangs evident in his wide-muzzled smile. The Bat spoke with his words coming out combined with a laugh. "I like being heard when I talk, and shouting ruins the effect... ya know?"
I remembered hearing something similar in a movie I'd caught part of while I was working at the theater. It was an interesting enough line that it'd stuck with me, and it seemed all the more relevant as I walked beside Aiden down the street. Truth be told, the quiet companionship was actually pretty nice. In the end, I had to agree. "Yeah... me too."
We walked along until we came to the end of the block and the Bat motioned to the button on the light pole. I reached out and touched it while Aiden unbuttoned his umbrella and shook it out before opening it up. No sooner had he raised it above our heads than I heard the distant sound of rain hitting pavement; a moment later the heavy drizzle was upon us and, to my surprise, the spirit umbrella did a fine job of stopping it from hitting not just him, but me as well. "Wait-- what? But, I thought--"
The crosswalk indicator turned green and Aiden continued onward; I caught up with him as he explained. "Rain is a lot easier to deal with than a door, Dan. We're supposed to have a nice time together and I can't imagine we'd do that if you were soaking wet."
It was a simple statement, but it didn't really get into the details that left me so curious. "But... it's summer! How'd you know it was gonna rain?"
He rolled his eyes theatrically. "Oh come on, Dan-- haven't you ever heard of the Weather Channel?"
Of course I had. "Yeah... but I didn't figure you'd spend your time watching weather when you could have been watching a movie or something."
He fluffed out the fur around his neck as he gave his wings a shake. "Well, yeah-- I DO love movies, but they don't run my life, you know? Everything in moderation and all that... kinda like why we're out here on the street instead of back in your apartment making you even more sore."
He made his statement casually despite how suggestive it was, and I didn't miss it. "Well... you WERE the one who suggested going out and getting air."
The Bat glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, the edge of his lips pulling up into a smirk. "And for more reasons than to just air you out."
I laughed at the stupid reference to earlier in our discussion, but, despite that humor the statement did bring up a good question. "So... where ARE we going?"
Until the Bat lowered his umbrella I hadn't realized that the short rain shower had halted. He closed it and gave it a good shake before folding it back up. "I'm not sure yet."
I honestly hadn't expected that kind of answer from him. "You're not sure? Then how do you know we were going somewhere close by?"
Aiden came to a stop at the next crosswalk and I didn't need his gesture to remind me that I was the one pressing the button. He waited for me to do so before saying "Well... I figured we'd decide on that together."
His plan was slowly starting to come into focus. "Did you have a few ideas?"
He smiled, nodding, and started crossing the street when we had the right signal. "Yeah. I was thinking the diner a few streets up, or maybe the all-night theater two blocks over. If you were up for it, I was also gonna suggest the park... been awhile since we've been there. But, if you'd rather--"
A soft, broken-sounding whisper called my name. "Daniel?"
I turned to the right and gazed into a poorly lit alley; staring out of it, just barely silhouetted by the half-light was an emaciated, soaked Fox spirit. His tail hung limply and the fur of his body clung to his skeletal form thanks to the recent rain but the fur on his cheeks was even wetter and his purple eyes were filled with tears. "...Kon?"
The Yokai's shoulders gave a faint shudder and I wasn't sure whether he coughed or cried, but his voice was hoarse and meek as he whimpered. "I... made a mistake. I.. I shouldn't have left."
Standing there on the sidewalk, Aiden beside me and Kon in front of me, I--