Transcendence Chapter 5
#5 of Jason Wolfe: Transcendence
Chapter 5: Rags and Riches
Newroads, Wolfe Residence
Jason felt the morning sun brush against his fur and he slowly opened his eyes, stifling the yawn building in his throat. His nose brushed against something hard and wet. It was Brett's nose. He smiled and snuggled in next to his mate but became aware that tight arms were wrapped around his chest. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Dan snoring peacefully behind him.
Then he remembered the previous night.
It had been fun and the first time he, his dad and his mate had really connected. While, in essence, it was the same as all those time the three of them had slept together, it no longer felt like Dan was a barrier between himself and Brett.
They were equals and they all loved one another in their own ways.
Dan had even started called Brett 'son'.
And that was so arousing.
He rolled his shoulders slightly and just let the warmth from both his father and his mate enclose him.
Then an idea hit him.
Slowly, he eased himself away from the two men he loved in the world and slipped off the large bed that occupied his room. Brett and Jason had resolved to stay with Dan on the weekends for some 'father-son-son-in-law' time. He knew Dan needed the company and Chris was just getting more and more obsessed with Maximillian Devries.
So much so that he hadn't come home last night.
Jason really worried about Chris... He didn't know the Blue Wolf that well but it was clear Dan held feelings for him. The last thing he wanted to see was his father torn up because Chris couldn't be what Brett was to Jason.
He slipped on his underwear on and a shirt, turning to the door and quietly sneaking down into the kitchen. Quickly, he grabbed some eggs from the refrigerator, some bacon from the freezer, grated cheese, some onions, tomatoes and herbs.
As he grabbed a knife from the shelf -
"You have really reconnected with your father."
"GAH!"
Jason almost dropped the knife on his foot as he spied V10 the Valiant, the No One that controlled the Mind. She was basically a hovering, metallic woman with a body made of pulsing 'organic metal' that was decorated by glowing circuitry. Her face was completely featureless save for her electric-yellow eyes.
"I will admit while seeing three, enormous, muscular men having passionate sex is arousing, you have to see that your father has a hole in his heart in the shape of Chris Thornton."
"Yeah... I can see that," Jason said, clutching the knife and beginning to chop the onions. "And cum doesn't make a very good bandage."
"No it doesn't." V10 slipped through the air and hovered in front of him across from the kitchen counter. "On that note, perhaps you should take your own advice. Life isn't about just sex. I think what your father needs is someone to fill that gap."
He regarded her curiously. "You think? You're not sure?"
"I govern mortal minds, Jason," V10 answered, tapping the side of her head. "Not mortal hearts. The mind only reflects what the heart desires and even filters it slightly. For instance, I know right now that you're thinking about if both you and Brett's semen would be enough to fill that hole in your father's heart predominantly because you want that feeling of double-knotting with your mate again."
Was there really any point trying to lie to her?
Jason just coughed, blushed and moved on to the tomatoes.
"You should do something with your father that doesn't revolve around just sexual relations," V10 advised.
"What do you suggest then?" he said, moving onto the herbs and quickly putting the bacon onto a hot pan.
"Something nice," V10 answered. "Your father has always enjoyed the beach. Even when he was just a normal wolf humanoid. His own reality, Guidance, is a massive beach with a lighthouse."
Jason stopped short of cracking the eggs. He had never been to Dan's personal reality before. The only No One reality he had ever entered was R3's and that was just briefly. Naught - R3's reality - was just a plane of endless white with bookshelves littered about. He guessed R3 could make it anything he wanted but to live in that plane of endless white...
He had always assumed the No Ones' home realities would just reflective of a single aspect of their lives. Hearing that his dad's personal reality was actually a beach was a little romantic... and he wanted to go there.
To see a little bit more into his dad's story.
"You've been there?"
"I have," V10 chuckled. "I suppose your father has never told you that during his stint of 'chastity' I was one of his many suitors?"
Jason staggered for a moment and flung around to face the No One. "You where!?"
She chuckled. "The relationship between No Ones is a little difficult and multi-layered. When in our Avatars, we have the choice to fully integrate ourselves within the reality of our choosing or not. I was many of those that preferred that course of action so the emotions I felt were genuine but not necessarily my own."
R3 decreed long ago that in order for the No Ones to rightfully judge a reality, they had to experience that reality first hand. So, the only way a No One can truly interfere in a reality was to become one with it.
That was where the Avatars came in.
Avatars were basically shells that the No Ones used to enter the reality. These weren't just dolls that appeared out of nowhere. Each Avatar had a story, an origin and were actually people... just they had the souls of No Ones. Sometimes, as V10 said, No Ones could fully integrate themselves into the reality and while they still possessed much of their powers, they were not necessarily of their own mind. When the Avatar was destroyed through whatever cause, the No One would return to their state of mind and would be able to judge the reality impartially through their own experiences and their eyes as a No One.
But for some No Ones, that wasn't necessary.
Dan, for instance, didn't need to think like a person in the reality he was in. As the Patriarch and ruler of the body, he just had to see the physical state of the world and make his judgements according to what he saw. While he still needed an Avatar to see the evidence, he didn't need to integrate himself fully.
"However," V10 continued, her eyes filled with a degree of mirth as Jason added the onions, tomatoes, cheese and herbs to the omelette he was making, "I respected your father a great deal. Perhaps more than I should have. He was unattainable. There is a joy in desiring the unattainable."
Jason sniggered. "Guess we know the reason for that now, huh?"
"Indeed we do," she chuckled. "Though, I suspect he didn't know it himself at the time. His relationship with 'Andy' or R3 is very complex. On one level, R3 is Andy but on another, he isn't."
"Ever tried hitting on R3?" Jason asked, grinning over his shoulder and flipping the omelette as the bacon began sizzling loudly.
V10 didn't answer.
Uh... Did I hit a nerve...?
"R3 is... difficult," V10 answered thoughtfully. "He controls reality itself, controls us. At a whim, he can make us love him or hate him as if we always did. He can cause us to cease to exist with a single swipe of his pen or alter us as if we had always been that way. You don't toy with someone like that, Jason.
"Well... No one has tried. If you want to, however, go ahead. Just remind me to keep away from you. Perhaps several realities away."
Jason chuckled and flipped the long bacon bits. "Nah. I'm good." A thought occurred to him. "So... I'm guessing R3 knew all along that my dad was gay, right?"
"Undoubtedly. One could say he used that very same knowledge to recruit your father into being a No One."
"Huh?"
"If you saw the way your father looks at R3, you will understand that there is more there than simply respect."
My dad has the hots for R3...?
Thinking back at that smoking wolf-hybrid at the bar, there was a perfectly good reason.
There was also a problem with that...
"But he's too afraid to act on it, isn't he?" Jason began softly.
V10 nodded slowly. "Regardless of what you may think, we No Ones are still mortal... but R3... Despite the fact he insists he is mortal, he is the closest to being a true god than anyone else. Do you know why his eyes are so oddly shaped?"
I had wondered...
"They are called the 'Realist's Gaze' or the 'Eyes of the Watcher'. Every time a person makes a choice, that person creates multiple realities; the reality where they took one road and another reality where they took the other road. Mix that with the choices others make and there are countless realities being made every second.
"R3 can see all those realities at the one time. That is what his eyes allow him to see."
Jason pulled the large omelette from the stove and set it on the bench as he let the bacon get nice and crisp. "All of them...?"
"All possibilities, all choices and all endings. Yes."
"But isn't T13 omniscient? Can't he do the same?"
V10 shook her head. "No. Time is very much linear, Jason. T13 can only see where the current choices lead but he cannot see all possibilities. If you dropped a coin, T13 will see what face it will fall upon. He will not see the possibility of what would have occurred had I dropped the coin instead or if the coin was actually rigged or something else like that. R3 can.
"Couples with R3's ability to traverse all realities at all times, he can steer the course of all our destinies, all our fates, at his whim. You should just be grateful that he allows us to navigate these waters ourselves because if he wanted, he could rule us all and we would be willing without even knowing it.
"On that note," V10 lounged about in the air a little. "You cannot risk a relationship with a man with that sort of power... At least... I think R3 is a man..."
"He might not be?" Jason asked, turning off the stove and taking off the bacon from the pan.
V10 shrugged. "Who knows? No one has ever seen his true face."
I suppose that's true...
Though that face he wore the other day was pretty damn hot... Nice package too...
Footsteps echoed down the stairs and he glanced in the direction of the kitchen entrance. Dan came shuffling down, rubbing the sleep from his eyes wearing nothing but that chocolate-stained bathrobe.
"Jason...? You cooked breakfast?"
Jason smiled in return. "Just like old times, huh?"
Dan chuckled and nodded, sitting himself beside Jason on the bench. "Yeah... I missed this."
V10 was long gone when Jason looked back so he just took a seat right beside his father, serving them both some bacon and taking a slice of the omelette. There was enough for Brett too.
"Did Chris come home?" Dan asked a little worriedly.
"I don't think so," Jason answered. "His car isn't outside."
"Oh..."
"You're really worried about him, huh?"
"Of course he's worried," Pessimist muttered. "He can't have R3 and he can't have you but he can have Chris... But Chris isn't even around anymore!"
"He can so have Jason!" Optimist snarled, pulling out his Frozen Tuna.
"No he can't!" Pessimist snarled back, drawing his Flaming Frying Pan. "Remember the deal he made with R3? He can spend one lifetime with his son but when they die, he goes back to being a No One but he can't take Jason with him!"
Jason felt his heart sink with guilt as he realised that he had been squandering the limited time he had with his father. This wasn't going to end with him living happily ever after with his family in some reality of their own creation. He had given up that option when he gave back Legacy - a book that represented his reality - to R3 so that the No One could rebuild Connor.
He realised that this was really the only time he would have with his dad...
And he was starting to get angry that his father was wasting that time with someone like Chris!
Couldn't Chris see how much Dan cared for him? Did he think he was somehow inadvertently protecting Dan from the mob by going out every night and trying to stop them?
He wasn't supposed to be a superhero anymore!
They were meant to be a family!
Chris, Dan, Brett and Jason... Just one family...
Is that too much to ask for...?
"Jason?" Dan asked softly, regarding him with worry. "Are you alright?"
Jason realised he had his fists clenched so tightly that his claws were starting to draw blood.
Thankfully, the phone chose to ring at that moment.
"I'll get it," he reported, rising from his seat and leaving his food untouched. He snatched the phone from the hook on the wall, trying hard not to crush it. "Hello...?" he asked a little hotly.
"Jason?" It was Robin.
"Yeah," he answered, curbing his anger. There was a pause on the other end and Jason regarded the phone curiously before placing it back against his ear. "Robin? You there?"
"Ahem..." she replied, clearing her throat dramatically. "Jason Wolfe... We would like to cordially invite you to a..." She began muttering with someone - a man - on the other end. "... a 'double-date' at the Pinnacle Peak Restaurant tonight at 7 PM sharp."
Three things stuck out in Jason's mind.
The first was 'double-date'.
The second worked well with the first and that was 'We'.
And the last was the name of the restaurant.
Pinnacle Peak was a three hat restaurant had a world reputation as one of the most delicious places to eat. Apparently, they had an incredible dessert that cost upwards from a hundred thousand credits consisting of edible gold and diamonds, rare chocolates, ice cream and served in a cup worth more than Jason's entire college loan.
How can we afford that!?
"Umm... first off... 'We'?" he repeated.
"Yes... Myself and Dominic."
Jason could almost feel her blushing on the other end. "Really?" He asked incredulously. "You and Dom are going out on a date at the most expensive restaurant in Newroads?"
"Not alone. We are inviting you and Brett."
Right...
"You should be honoured," Optimist said, giving him the green flag. "Think of it this way, this double-date is a way for her to pass Dominic by you two. She wants your approval!"
"Or she's testing if Dominic will turn out to be just like David and end up sleeping with both Jason and Brett behind her back," Pessimist muttered bitterly.
"Oh please. Robin is not that shallow."
"You think so? It's only been a week and they're already going to the top. She's probably hoping that all the wealth and class of the place will stop Jason and Brett from bouncing her boyfriend under the table or in the toilets!"
Optimist drew his Flying Frozen Tuna of Death. "I say she's looking for his approval!"
"And I say" - Pessimist drew his Flaming Frying Pan of Doom - "she's testing both Dominic and Jason!"
As the two went to war, Jason turned to Horndog who merely shrugged. "Personally, I'd love to get a piece of that venison. Rawr! But I don't want to hurt Robin's feelings. You should give her the benefit of the doubt. She is your friend, after all."
He turned back to the phone, finding it a little scary that his hormonal side was making more sense than his optimistic and pessimistic sides combined.
"Umm... Okay..." he began. "But that place is expensive."
"I have it covered, Jason. Just be at the restaurant at 7 PM sharp and dress fashionably and warmly."
"Alright... Thanks. See you there."
He hung up, regarding the phone with a mix of shock and curiosity.
"Who was it?" Dan asked, biting into the omelette.
"Robin," he answered, returning to the kitchen table. "She's inviting Brett and I to the Pinnacle Peak Restaurant tonight."
That caught his dad's attention. "Really? Jason... That place is expensive! I'm not saying you shouldn't go but -"
"Robin has it 'covered' apparently."
Dan winced.
Uh-oh...
"What?"
"Jason... A meal there for a single person is about five hundred buck. A meal of four would be two thousand. And that's not including drinks and whatever else. Are you sure you want to put that kind of strain on Robin?"
I'm not really sure...
Since they were living in the same apartment and trying to save money to buy their own homes, Jason guessed that the state of Robin's finances weren't much better than his own.
I should really consider getting a job...
Money is getting a little tight and I'd rather not sponge off dad every time I need to go out...
"Well... Maybe it isn't Robin," he offered. "Maybe it's Dominic. I mean, porn stars get paid a lot..."
"And with good reason," Dan chuckled, standing up and brewing some coffee.
Jason scowled playfully. "Hey..."
His dad chuckled just the front door opened. All conversation died as a weary Chris stepped through the door and shuffled past them.
"Hi, hun..." Dan began.
"Morning..." Chris muttered, heading up the stairs.
"How was your evening?"
"Don't want to talk about it... Just... tried..." the Blue Wolf yawned. "Had a long night..."
Dan sighed heavily and sank into his seat, just continuing to shovel food into his mouth.
Exasperation filled Jason as he watched his father attempt to eat away his depression.
Okay, there's only one way to solve this.
I've got to talk to Chris.
"I'm going to wake up Brett," he said. "Breakfast is getting cold." Dan gave him a grunt of consent as he hurried up the stairs and made a right instead of a left towards his room.
Chris was sitting on the empty bed in Dan's room, looking glumly at his feet.
Jason threw out all formalities and civility out the window and just barged into the room, taking care not to slam the door. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he snarled.
"What...?" Chris asked, glancing up with tired eyes. They were bloodshot and heavy bags sat beneath his eyes.
"That man down there is crazy about you!" Jason growled, grabbing Chris by the collar and slamming him onto the bed. "And the first thing you do when you get home is just grunt and ignore him!? You don't even kiss him or hug him!"
"J - Jason! You - You don't understand!"
He didn't let Chris go. "Then explain!"
"I'm just trying to make Newroads a better place for my family..."
"That's bull," Pessimist snarled. "I bet he's just sick of Dan. He seems like a player to me."
"Your parents aren't your only family!"
Chris gave him a sharp, penetrating look. "I'm not talking about my parents."
... What...?
Jason released Chris and took a step back. The Blue Wolf gagged slightly and sat up, rubbing his throat. "Jason... I consider you, Dan and even Brett my family... I never really had a family..."
Never had a...?
"What happened to your parents?"
"You really don't want to know," Chris muttered, rolling his shoulders. "All you really need to know is that, right now, you guys are the most important people in my life right now and all I want to do is make sure you're all safe. You're my family now, Jason."
"Don't you think that's he's being little naive?" Pessimist asked. "You, Dan and Brett are the most important people in his life and he's out there risking that same life needlessly. He doesn't even considering how much he matters to us!"
"Chris is part of the family whether you like it or not, Pessimist," Optimist answered. "We should be grateful and supportive of his endeavours."
"Personally, I don't really consider him part of the family yet," Horndog answered. "He has to go through the Three Trials first before he's one of the Wolfes."
Jason glanced at Horndog curiously. Three Trials?
"Yep!" his hormonal subconscious exclaimed cheerily, wagging his tail. "Oral, Anal and Knot!"
CLANG! WHAM!
Horndog just kept laughing as he was beaten by a Flying Frozen Tuna of Death and a Flaming Frying Pan of Doom.
One of these days, I have got to learn to stop asking him follow-up questions...
"Look," Jason said, "I appreciate that you're out there risking your neck for all of us. But you've got to know that your 'family' need you too, right? Maybe you should spend some time with my dad, just the two of you. Saving the world can wait. I don't think my dad can. Besides, there's a lot of supers out there, right?"
Chris winced and shook his head. "Not as much as there used to be. A lot of supers are retiring now. There's a growing imbalance in the state of power. More bad guys and less heroes. It's why my hours have been getting longer and longer. There's more work to be done."
"Bet the pay sucks too..."
Standing up, Chris brushed himself off slightly and nodded. "Not as grand as I would have liked it to be but it will do. But... You are right." The Blue Wolf glanced out the window. "I've been letting my 'duty' get the better of me. But my 'duty' is to your father..."
Jason stepped aside with a grin as Chris strode by. As the Blue Wolf brushed past him, however, a small, dark blue box no bigger than his thumb dropped from Chris' pocket.
"Oh hey, you dropped something," Jason said, swiping up the box. He saw Chris' wide, horrified eyes and regarded the box again. "What is this?"
"Nothing!" Chris exclaimed. "It's nothing, Jason! Just -"
But it definitely wasn't 'nothing'.
He had seen a box like this before...
... it was like that box that Brett pulled out on the day he -
Jason's eyes widened as he quickly pulled the box open...
... inside was a gold ring with about five diamonds in it.
...
"Oh my god..." HOP gasped in unison.
"Jason..." Chris began softly. "Look, I know what this looks like..."
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Jason managed to stammer, "Y - You're going to propose?"
The Blue Wolf winced and pressed his back against the closed door to make sure no one interrupted them. "I told myself that was Devries was convicted and put in jail, I'd propose. When I threw him in the slammer, I bought the ring... Then he got out..."
"So that's why he's been so obsessed with getting Devries back into jail!" Optimist exclaimed. "He's desperate to propose!"
"Why are you waiting until then?" Jason asked. "Why not now?"
"Because if Devries ever found out I proposed to your father, you, him and everyone else that's connected to us will be targeted."
Think fast!
There's a way around this!
"But you're already living with my dad. We're already in danger."
CLANG!
Pessimist hit him with the Flaming Frying Pan of Doom. "Idiot! That's not helping!"
"I mean you gotta take life by the horns and seize the day!"
Horndog squealed. "Yeah! Let's take all those horns!"
GAH!
Jason whimpered and shut the box. "Just... What's stopping you Chris?" he asked. "I mean, you obviously care about my dad very much and I know he cares about you. Are you that worried about the way things are going at work that you can't propose?"
The Blue Wolf took the ring from him and tucked it back in his pocket. "I am, Jason. If you knew the things these people would do to those I care about..." He shook his head. "Just... please, Jason. Don't tell your father about this. I don't want to get his hopes up. I'm just looking for the right time."
That might be never...
... Your job will always put you in danger...
... The only time you'll ever stop being the Blue Wolf is if you lost your powers... or, by some miracle, ever shred of evil in the world vanished...
"I promise," Jason said with a nod. "But can you at least try? My dad is really hurting..."
Chris gave him a shaky smile and nodded slightly. "Sure, kid... I suppose he deserves that much at least..."
With sigh, Jason watched Chris go and vaguely wondered what it would be like to have the Blue Wolf as a stepfather. Amongst the constant raids by vengeful supervillains and criminals, it would probably work out fairly well. Chris was a nice guy even if he worried too much about everyone else to see the problems he was causing at home.
I guess that's the thing about having a superhero for a relative...
... They live for the people... and you just tend to be one person in a massive crowd that they see more often than not...
"You know..." Optimist began. "There is a solution to that..."
What?
"You become supers again. Pick up the cape and spandex, so to speak."
Jason shuddered at the word 'spandex'. He hated spandex. Even in his brief stint as a superhero, he never wore spandex.
"Or, at the very least, you can get your dad to do the same. They'll spend more time together and Chris won't have to worry about Dan's safety."
That was true.
Chris seemed to overlook that Dan was a super as well. He didn't know Dan was a No One.
It was a well-kept secret and probably another barrier between the couple.
Jason left Dan's room and heard Chris and his father conversing in the kitchen. Giving them time to work things out even for a brief moment was prudent so he went to his room to wake up Brett. Interestingly, Brett was already awake and hunched over the edge of the bed, a small, red, velvet box in his hand.
Wait a second...
His brain went into overtime.
WHAM!
He slammed the door shut, cracking the doorframe due to his supernatural strength and Brett jumped, shoving the box down his boxers and increasing the bulge already there.
"What are you doing!?" Jason exclaimed in a sharp whisper.
"Nothing!" Brett hissed back, reaching down his boxers to retrieve the box. "I found this in your dad's clothing..."
Oh no...
Jason quickly scrambled over to his mate and took the box, opening it gingerly.
Inside was another engagement ring.
"Oh crap..."
"I know..." Brett winced. "Your dad is ready to propose to Chris..."
"It's worse than that... Chris is ready to propose as well..."
He got a look of pure canine confusion from Brett. "Wait... How is that bad?"
"I just spoke to Chris," Jason said, taking the ring out of the box and holding it up. It was gold, just like the other ring but had one large diamond instead of five smaller ones. "He's not ready to propose yet. He bought the ring when he heard Devries was imprisoned thinking that Newroads was safe but when Devries got out, he held back! If dad proposes now..."
Three scenarios popped into Jason's head.
All started with Dan bending on one knee and asking, "Will you marry by Chris?"
First scenario... Chris replies with, "Dan... No... I can't. Not now. I'm not ready."
That resulted in Dan's heart breaking, pretending it was nothing and then burying his sorrows in bucket after bucket of chocolate ice cream and becoming a couch slob which never moved as he watched daytime drama after daytime drama.
Not a good outcome.
Second scenario... Chris says, "Dan, you mean the world to me... But I can't. My career comes first."
That resulted in Dan forcing himself to become part of Chris' career, once again becoming the superhero Materialist and the two fighting crime for a long while. And then, after a few months, they finally get married and become the first every high-profile gay-superhero couple that becomes ridiculed and terrorised from all angles. Both lose their jobs because of the negative publicity they keep getting - despite anti-discrimination laws - and they end up dying in each other's arms against some supervillain that attacks them in their weakened state.
Yeah... even worse.
Third and final scenario... Chris says, "Dan... Of course I will!" and proceeds to squeal like a little girl and they kiss... Only to have every supervillain the Blue Wolf ever put to jail jump in at that moment and slaughter them both at the happiest moment of their life.
Irony hurt the most, strangely...
"Jason?" Brett asked, looking at him worriedly. "Were you thinking crazy thoughts again?"
"No..." he lied.
"Horny thoughts?"
"NO!" Jason cried incredulously. "Just..." He regarded the ring and winced. "Damnit... I don't want my dad's heart broken..."
A knock came to the door.
"Jason?" Chris asked from the other side. "Are you alright?"
Crap!
The one person who could not see the ring just happens to come up and check on him!
Brett immediately threw the velvet case out the window.
"Hide the ring!" Optimist cried. "Down your pants!"
Pessimist slammed him hard with the Flaming Frying Pan of Doom. "No! You'll never get the stench of wolf and sex out of it! Tuck it behind your back!"
Horndog knocked him away under a barrage of dildos. "That's stupid! Then Chris will just ask what he's hiding! Throw it away!"
Optimist countered by hitting Horndog on the head with his Flying Frozen Tuna of Death. "That's stupid! You'll never be able to find it! Just -"
The door creaked open. "Jason...?"
Jason did the only thing he could think of.
He shoved the ring in his muzzle.
Brett's jaw dropped as he stared in horror at Jason.
Chris entered, looking puzzled. "Are you two alright?" the Blue Wolf asked. "Not having a fight are you?"
Brett was just too stunned to talk.
Jason shook his head and managed a vague mumbling, "Nope, we're alright."
"Are you choking on something?"
"No" - Jason swallowed, his heart sinking in tandem with the ring that slid down his gullet - "I'm good..."
Brett looked about ready to die at that point.
"Alright..." Chris said, regarding them warily. "Um... You two be careful... and Jason..."
"Yeah?" Jason answered in his high-pitched, 'I'm hiding something' tone.
"Watch your strength, okay? You're a super, remember. You might hurt someone if you're not careful."
"Okay!"
Chris left, the door shuddering in its frame as he shut it.
"Are you insane!?" Brett exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air. "You ate the ring!?"
"What else was I supposed to do!?" Jason retorted. "Throw it out the window!?"
"That's better than eating it! What's your father going to do when he proposes? Hand you over!?"
A fourth scenario appeared...
Dan says, "Chris, will you marry me?" and pushes Jason in front of him. "Um... Yeah... Jason sort of ate the ring so..."
"I get the wear Jason?" Chris asked curiously. "Nice. Always wanted a cockring." At that point, Chris would pull his hands down and -
GAH!
Brett seized his hand. "Come on. We're going to the hospital."
He pulled his hand immediately away. "What!? Why!?"
"We're going to get your stomach pumped and get that ring out of there!"
Just thinking of those doctors laughing at him for having swallowed an engagement ring made him feel sick. Not to mention having to explain to his father why there was last night's dinner wrapped around what had to be a thousand credit piece of jewellery...
"Isn't there another way? Like... Can't we wait for it to come out?"
Brett gave him an exasperated look. "You're not serious, right?"
Right... Scenario five... Chris asks why the ring smelled so funky and Dan explains -
I do not even what to go there!
"Maybe we can force it out?" he offered, turning his back to Brett. "You know, wrap your arms around my chest and pull hard to make me gag?"
"That only works when you're choking in something," Brett sighed but seized Jason around the chest anyway. "But it's worth a shot."
He gave one powerful pull across the chest and Jason felt the wind rush out of his lungs... but no ring.
Another pull and he gagged but still nothing.
"Jason?"
Both of them froze as Dan entered the room.
The big wolf paused.
Oh no... busted.
"Dad... I can explain," he began.
...
"Good god, are you two at it again?" Dan asked, scratching the back of his head with a hand. "I swear, you two are the most horny guys I know and that's saying something as a No One."
"Right... Horny..." Jason began softly.
"Anyway, have you seen my pants? I left something in there..."
Eeep!
"Um... Was it anything important?" Brett asked, grinning very shakily.
"A little..." Dan found his pants and rummaged through the pockets. Having not found anything, he sighed. "Well... If you guys find anything... um... Out of place, just give me a holler, okay?"
"Yeah... Okay..." Jason squeaked.
Dan quickly left with his pants over his shoulders, shutting the door behind him.
Brett released him and sighed heavily. "Great, Jase... This is just great! Now what are we going to do?"
Think... There must be something you can do...
"Dad can alter the shape of physical matter... Maybe he can just take out the ring from my stomach..."
"Are you going to tell him you found his ring and ate it?"
"You found the ring," Jason countered, crossing his arms across his chest. "I just ate it..."
Which really doesn't sound much better...
An idea hit him.
"Look, Robin invited us to have dinner with her and Dominic at the Pinnacle Peak Restaurant. Maybe we can look for something to replace the ring." Thinking about his own wardrobe which consisted mostly of jeans, cut-off shirts, short-sleeved jackets and hoodies, he decided to add, "I need to find something more suitable to wear anyway."
Brett nodded grimly. "Okay... That sounds good. Just please don't eat anything else expensive while we're there."
****
It had been easy to sneak out of the house under the premise of Jason needing to buy clothing for the evening's dinner. Chris and Dan had sat down for a nice breakfast unawares that a really expensive ring was somewhere in Jason's stomach or that the two young men had spent the better part of an hour looking for the velvet case Brett had thrown out the window.
Thankfully, they had found it and managed to head over to Century Street which was the spot for extremely expensive shopping. Brand names were flashed everywhere as were countless bits of jewellery that looked far too impractical to be of any actual use. All of them, of course, ranged within the thousands.
"Goddamn..." Jason moaned. "None of this stuff is anywhere near our price range!"
"I think that stomach pump is sounding better and better with every store we pass," Brett murmured, looking into a jewellery store. "Geez... Look at this stuff! Just one of these could pay for an entire semester!"
We're never going to replace that ring...
"Maybe you should just wrap some tinfoil in a ring, paint it gold and put a piece of glass on it?" Optimist suggested. "It's the thought that counts, right?"
"Yeah. The 'I Wonder How Much It Cost' thought," Pessimist muttered. "Dude, just get the stomach pump!"
The two of them had been wandering Century Street for over two hours and - being male - neither of them particularly enjoyed clothes or accessory shopping. Desperation had faded and now Jason was just starting to feel that this was a pointless exercise and he could see Brett was starting to feel the same as well.
His stomach rumbled slightly. "Why don't we grab some lunch?" he suggested. "Start again after we've had a bite to eat?"
"Don't you think you've eaten enough?" Pessimist muttered.
Jason ignored him as Brett nodded.
"Sounds good. Though judging from the place, we'll probably have to donate a kidney to get anything decent."
Century Street was located near the shore and, as such, was constantly barraged by the freezing winds of the coast. The perpetual overcast of Newroads didn't help brighten the mood as Jason found them a nice little cafe with reasonable prices. A waiter approached to lead them to their tables.
Jason froze.
The waiter was a tall, wolf-hybrid with a squarish muzzle, golden-blonde hair a perfectly sculpted build that showed past his uniform.
"Table for two?" the waiter asked.
"R3?" Jason blurted.
The wolf blinked... Jason noticed the young man's eyes were perfectly normal. Sapphire-blue to be sure but they didn't possess the alien eight-pointed stars for pupils R3 did. This wolf's voice was also lighter, brighter and definitely not the cool, calm, collected drawl of R3.
"Um... So that's a table for three then?" the young man - for he seemed no older than fifteen - asked.
"N - No," Jason stammered. "Um... Two, please. Just two."
The wolf beamed, showing perfectly straight fangs that were so white Jason could've sworn they were made of perfect pearls. "Great! Right this way then!"
Jason followed the teenager to a table right by the window of the cafe. The smell of brewing coffee and delectable meals wafted through the air, making him even hungrier.
"My name's Sam," the wolf said, handing them their menus. "I'll be your waiter today. Would you like anything to drink first off?"
Exchanging glances with Brett, he said, "Erm... I'll get a Lemon and Lime Bitters please."
"Same here," Brett said.
"So two Lemon and Lime Bitters," Sam reported, still wearing that bright grin. "Might I suggest the chef's specials today? We have a creamy seafood risotto or a double-battered chicken breast with vegetables or fries. And don't forget the dessert menu! We have an amazing triple chocolate mousse cake."
Brett instant sat up, completely attentive. "Chocolate?"
Oh no...
If there was one thing about Brett it's that he loved chocolate. He craved it non-stop. Just the mere mention of it had him salivating. Jason once thought about lathering himself in chocolate as part of a sexy turn on but seeing his mate tear into chocolate cakes made him rethink that.
"I'll get the risotto," Jason said, handing the menu back. Since Robin was allergic to seafood, he guessed they wouldn't be eating anything from the sea that evening so he decided to stuff himself now. "Brett?"
"The cake," Brett replied simply, already starting to drool.
"Um... He'll get the chicken."
"Cake."
"He likes his chocolate cake, huh?" Sam chuckled, taking Brett's menu. "Okay, so that's a risotto special and a chicken special. Plus a slice of our special triple chocolate mousse cake." He beamed. "I'll be right back with your drinks!"
With that, Sam turned, waving an odd, jet-black tail with a golden tip like someone had dipped a paintbrush in some gold-coloured paint. He also noted that Sam had golden 'gloves and socks'.
I wonder if he's part fox...
Part... gold fox...
"What species do you think our waiter is?" he asked.
"Cake..."
Jason sighed and shook his head in defeat. Brett was in a 'chocolate coma' and the only thing that would get him out of it would be something chocolate.
Oh god... and here I told R3 I wanted chocolate cake for the wedding...
He could just see it now...
The instant they hit the reception, Brett would dive at the multi-tiered cake, growling and snapping at anyone who would get near him as he tore through the mass with his bare hands.
Maybe it's not too late to change it to a sponge cake...
"Here you go guys!" Sam exclaimed, returning with two glasses of their chosen drink.
"Wow, that was fast," Jason commented.
Sam winked at him. "I aim to please."
Grinning, Jason said, "Hey, if you don't mind me asking, what species are you?"
Striking a casual pose, the black and gold wolf said, "Part wolf, part Rottweiler."
"Really?"
Chuckling, Sam ran a hand through his short, spiky, golden-blonde hair. "Yeah, I'm a freak, I know. Rottweilers have brown tinges to their fur, not gold. Then again, you don't see any golden wolves either, huh?" He turned away, grinning over his shoulder. "Be right back with your meals guys."
"Cake!" Brett demanded.
I wish I had a real Flaming Frying Pan of Doom right now...
Sam went off to serve other customers but Jason couldn't help but stare at that fine piece of ass. The wolf was hot. A little skinnier than how R3 had appeared back at the club but definitely smoking. He wondered if Sam was just R3's Avatar here on Enria... but then he also remembered that the wolf-hybrid he had seen in the club was a lot older looking. Just something about the facial structure like the puppy fat had gone to be replaced with the defined features of an adult.
Sam just seemed too innocent and puppy-like to be R3.
"Jason?"
He glanced up towards the door.
A big red dragon stood at the entrance to the cafe with a slightly plump human woman beside him.
"Warren! Jen!" he cried, waving at them cheerily. "Hey!"
His two childhood friends came over, grinning broadly but there was a slight dark edge of Jen's smile... Perhaps he was imagining that edge considering what he knew about Jen's family but it just seemed that smile was terribly forced...
"What are you two doing here?" Warren asked.
"Cake!" Brett exclaimed. "Chocolate cake!"
"Huh?"
"Brett likes chocolate... a lot," Jason explained with a sigh. "He gets like this whenever there's mention of chocolate."
"That's cute!" Jen laughed. "It's a good thing I didn't pull out the brownies when you last came over."
Brett's head snapped towards her. "Brownies?"
Sam sauntered over, smiling brightly. "Hey guys! Are you together?"
Warren leaned over and grabbed Jason by the shoulder with one hand while wrapping another around Jen's shoulder. "Definitely!"
"Cool! Let me just grab you guys some extra chairs."
After two more chairs were set up, Warren and Jen sat down. Sam took their orders and bolted away to serve someone else.
"So what brings you to the most expensive part of town?" Jason asked, sipping his drink.
"Just wanted to treat Jen to something classy," Warren replied. When he smiled at Jen, it looked like he was encouraging her to smile back... Even when she did however, it seemed forced and Warren lost a bit of the brightness in his grin.
"You really didn't have to do this, Warren..." she said, rolling her eyes. "All this is so expensive..."
"You deserve it!" the dragon answered, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her comfortingly. "I mean, you put up with me all the time so the least I could do is pay you back."
"We're friends, Warren... There's no need for thanks."
Or... no need to worry, Jason added mentally. Is Warren just getting Jen out of the house away from her drug-addicted brother?
What's really going on back there...?
"What about you guys?" Jen asked, turning her gaze towards Jason. "Why are you here?"
"Ca -"
Before Brett could finish Jason quickly dove towards him, pressing their lips together and holding his mate in a tight, passionate kiss. Brett's eyes boggled and his cock poked Jason's leg. Taking that as a sign, Jason pulled away and cleared his throat.
"We're here to shop around for clothes for tonight," he answered. "Robin invited us over to Pinnacle Peak and we don't have anything to wear."
Dizzy and seemingly having had his senses knocked back into him Brett said, "Y - Yeah... what he said..."
People were staring but he didn't care.
Sam came back with drinks for Jen and Warren. "Your meals are on their way!" he said just as cheerily as before. "Oh and..." He winked at Jason. "That was hot."
He headed back to another couple, his tail flicking Jason's arm playfully.
"You've got a fan," Warren sniggered.
"I'm also engaged," Jason answered, showing Warren his ring.
Speaking of rings...
"You guys don't know where we can find some place with cheap engagement rings, do you?" he asked.
Both Warren and Jen looked mortified.
"Y - You're not a polygamist too, are you Jason?" Jen stammered.
"What!? No! I'm a wolf! I only have one mate!"
Okay... So sometimes I sleep with my dad too but that's different!
"It's worse," Pessimist said.
His heart sank.
Yeah... better not mention that...
He thought of some excuse. "Just..."
"Someone really close to us is planning on proposing soon," Brett supplied. "He asked us if we knew any place where he could get affordable rings."
"Engagement rings are hardly affordable," Warren snickered.
"Yeah. Just looking at the prices made my stomach churn."
Jason felt like he had been punched in the gut.
Jen giggled. "Aw, you two must be so honoured that he confided in you!"
Brett smirked and gave Jason a sideways glance. "Oh yeah. The news blew us away. Jason just ate it up."
He narrowed his gaze at his Rottweiler.
He's enjoying this...
"Were you two surprised?"
"Got to admit, it was a little hard to digest but we were just really happy for the guy."
Optimist, Pessimist and Horndog had joined Jason in glaring at Brett.
"Hit him, hit him hard," Optimist growled.
"Mention 'chocolate' again," Pessimist offered.
"Just screw him hard tonight," Horndog said.
"Speaking of which," Warren began. "When's the big day for you two?"
That that... both of them froze and exchanged glances.
"Uh..."
"Erm..."
"Don't tell me you guys haven't decided yet!" Jen cried, looking crestfallen. "I want to be a flower girl sometime in this life!"
"I call dibs as Jason's best man!" Warren laughed.
Jason had to hide his wince. He had that spot reserved for someone else but he wasn't even sure if that someone would be around for the wedding. Truth was, he was getting anxious for a ceremony himself. He loved Brett too much to just keep them in a permanent state of engagement...
It's been two and a half months since he proposed... and we've been together three years...
... maybe... Maybe it's time...?
He shook his head slightly.
No... We've still got a few issues to work out... and that list to make.
Sam returned with their meals. "Here you go folks! Two seafood risottos and two double-battered chicken breasts with fries. Enjoy your meal!"
Jason made a note to give Sam a nice, big tip just for that interruption.
They ate while chatting, just idly talking about what had occurred since the last time they had seen each other. Warren was frequenting Club Sea4 now and it was evident that he was gay. He reminded Jason and Brett on their offer for him to 'stay over' at their play. Jen complained she was living in a world of testosterone but did so jokingly.
"How's your brother?" Jason asked tentatively as they finished their meal and Sam took away their plates.
Jen fell silent for a long moment and Warren hid a wince.
"He's... fine," Jen answered softly. "Or... at least he will be..."
What's that mean...?
"We got Kyle to a rehab centre a few days ago," Warren said grimly. "Had to tie him up and drag his ass all the way there."
Wait... Is that why they're here?
"It must've been hard to force her brother into rehabilitation," Optimist mused. "Poor girl... I can see why Warren wanted to treat her to something nice. She needs a little light in her world."
"Sorry I brought it up..." Jason whispered.
"It's alright, Jason," Jen said, forcing another smile. "I know Kyle will come out of this stronger."
"How'd he lose his job anyway?"
"Idiot!" Pessimist shouted, hitting him hard with the Flaming Frying Pan of Doom. "Can't you see she doesn't want to talk about it!?"
Jen turned away, her red hair falling over her features and hiding them from view. "There was an investigation at his workplace. Mob-related apparently. The Blue Wolf came personally and defended Kyle but despite that... there were allegations made and that just made working there unbearable. There was a lot of bullying... and Kyle snapped. He was fired for assaulting someone..."
Damn...
"Who wants chocolate cake!?" Sam announced swooping in with four plates with delectable slices of chocolate on it with a nice, scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side and strawberry syrup drizzled around the edges with caster sugar lightly sprinkled over the top.
"Chocolate!" Brett exclaimed, sweeping up a fork.
"Erm... I didn't order a cake..." Jason began.
Sam winked at him again. "It's on the house. Enjoy, folks!"
With that, the black and gold wolf turned and took another table's order.
"You have a big fan," Warren said.
"Apparently so..." Jason answered, marvelling at the friendliness of their waiter. "I think I might come here more often." He made to scoop up some of his cake but his spoon only bit into thin air. When he glanced down, his cake was gone. "Hey!"
Brett had already finished his cake and was shovelling through Jason's.
Warren and Jen pulled theirs away slightly, their hands over their cakes defensively.
"I hope the cake at the wedding isn't chocolate, Jason..." Jen began.
That image again of Brett attacking the cake like a superhero against a supervillain about to destroy the world...
I think that adds a new definition to 'Death by Chocolate'...
****
Jason and Brett returned home at five thirty after having spent the rest of the day in Jen and Warren's company. They enjoyed a vast majority of the afternoon just talking about old times and sharing stories. Brett even regaled Jason's childhood friends about the first time they did it in the school's shower stalls. That had brought a blush to Jason's cheeks which was thankfully hidden by his black fur.
Eventually, it was time to return home and they parted ways.
"Your friends are very nice, Jason," Brett said as they walked up to the front door of the Wolfe Residence.
"I just feel sorry for Jen. I wish there was more we could do."
"The ball is in Kyle's court now. We can hardly do anything until he pulls out of his addiction."
"What if the mob comes after him?"
Brett winced. "Well... We'll just have to hope that Chris has something in store for them."
Huh... Chris...
Why do I get the eerie feeling I'm forgetting something?
He pushed open the door.
"Jason! There you are!" Dan came charging down the stairs. "Where have you been? It's five thirty! You'll be late for your dinner with Robin and Dominic!"
CRAP!
That's what I forgot!
"There's something more you forgot, bud..." Pessimist murmured.
"Where's that suit you were supposed to buy?" Dan demanded.
DOUBLE CRAP!
"And one more..."
The ring...
CRAP TO INFINITY!
In his endeavours to enjoy himself with Warren and Jen, he had completely forgotten about the reason he had been in Century Street in the first place! He hadn't found a suitable replacement for Dan's engagement ring and he hadn't bought anything to wear to Robin's dinner!
I am so dead...
Not only was Robin going to kill him for heading to Pinnacle Peak in sneakers and jeans but Dan was probably going to turn him into the replacement ring when he found out...
"What happened?" Dan asked. "How could you get so distracted?"
"Jen and Warren were at Century Street..." he began numbly.
"Jen just sent her brother to rehab," Brett explained. "Warren was taking her out to clear her head. We figured that comforting someone who has been through so much was a better way to spend our time than shopping for our leisure."
Yeah... what he said...
Dan's panic eased. "Well... I suppose that's alright." He appraised Jason and Brett. "Hmmm... You two are about my size anyway... Maybe you can wear one of my suits."
Hang on...
The cogs began ticking away in Jason's head, formulating a plan.
"What are you thinking?" Optimist asked. "This better not be harebrained scheme..."
"Oh god... He's not listening to us!" Pessimist cried. "That can only mean he's listening to..."
The two of them turned to Horndog who shook his head desperately. "Hey! Don't look at me! He's not listening to me either!"
"Hey dad," he began as Dan began heading back up the stairs.
"Yeah, Jase?"
"Is Chris still here?"
****
Pinnacle Peak Restaurant was one of the most expensive and lavished restaurants in the world. It was world-renowned, its chefs were critically acclaimed and the rich and famous often dined there. Diplomats, royalty, movie stars and multi-billionaires spent their money there for an evening of splendour, dancing tastebuds and the company of the famous.
Jason was eager to immerse all his senses in the experience...
... but not this evening.
He sat down on the couch in front of the TV, lounging about as Brett entered the lounge with popcorn and movie in hand.
"I hope Dan and Chris have a nice time at Pinnacle Peak," his Rottweiler said, setting the popcorn down on the tea table as he slipped the disc into the reader.
"I hope Chris gets the hint and proposes," Jason answered.
"You mean so Dan won't get mad when you tell him you ate his engagement ring?"
Jason grinned sheepishly. "That... and he'll be happier this way. He really wants Chris to propose."
Brett settled in beside him, bringing up the popcorn onto his lap. "They deserve happiness."
He leaned in and nuzzled Brett's neck. "You mean they deserve what we have?"
Chuckling, Brett pushed him back slightly and shoved the popcorn into his face. "Come on. None of that now. It's movie time."
"Please not another chick-flick," Jason groaned, taking a handful of popcorn. The butter was all sticky and gooey. He ate the handful and was a little put off by the taste. It tasted oddly like well-seasoned beef. A hint of lavender, rosemary and kind of peppery. "Gah... I think you overcooked the popcorn..."
"No I didn't," Brett answered with a smirk. "And no, it's not a chick-flick. There's plenty of action in this movie."
Grinning and turning towards the screen, Jason said, "Great. I was hoping for some testosterone tonight!"
"Your wish is my command..."
Wait...
... Okay... Something's up...
The movie started and the studio logo appeared.
"Never heard of Cherry Productions before..."
"I have," Brett said, his grin broadening as the movie began.
A simple park and someone was running down the path, the camera slowly zooming towards the figure.
"Have they made anything decent?"
"Nope."
Jason frowned at Brett. "Then why'd you pick this movie?"
"Because they make a lot of indecent movies."
...
His heart skipped a beat.
Oh no...
... he didn't...
Jason glanced back at the screen in horror.
The figure running down the park path was a Rottweiler... his Rottweiler.
Optimist and Pessimist were about to say something until Horndog buried them in a pile of rubber phalluses.
"How's the popcorn?" Brett asked, shovelling a bit of the snack into his muzzle.
Jason just kept staring at the screen as he watched his mate meet up with a hot, muscular cougar. He barely registered that they were talking. His cock was slowly starting tent in his jeans and his mouth had gone dry.
"F - F - Fine..." he stammered. "Tastes a little weird though..."
Brett leaned in to him, licking his neck. "Like what?"
"I - I - I don't know... A little peppery... too salty... Kinda like... like..."
"Yeah?"
His heart skipped a beat for a second time that night just as his cock became fully erect. He stared in horror at his grinning mate.
"... Like you..."
Brett winked at him, set aside the popcorn. "My own special seasoning."
Oh crap...
"B - B - Brett..." he began softy.
"Yeah, Jase?"
What...?
What's wrong?
This is totally hot! You're about to do it with your mate while a porn movie of him is going off in the background!
What is not hot about this!?
Why are you hesitating!?
Then it hit him.
"The phone is ringing," he said, getting up.
Brett groaned in defeat and switched off the movie. "There goes the mood."
Jason chuckled apologetically. "Sorry..." He thought fast. "Hey, that might be my dad calling to tell us Chris finally proposed!"
At that, Brett's mood brightened. "Yeah... That would make up for the murdered libido."
Smiling a little shakily, Jason entered the kitchen, leaving his mate in the lounge and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
The voice on the other side was not Dan's.
"Mr. Jason Wolfe?"
It was man's... but deeper... more serious.
"Yeah..."
"My name is Sergeant Walker. I'm with the Newroads Police. There's been an incident."
His heart skipped a beat... for the third time that night.
"What kind of 'incident'?" he asked, panic rising in his voice.
"Your friend Jennifer Rose..."
"Yeah...?" he urged, leaning forward inadvertently.
"She's been kidnapped."