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Beneath the Surface

(Splicers)

Written by Leo_Todrius

Supported by my Patrons

**[November 1st, 2066]

[Chagos-Laccadive basin - Depth: 3,320 feet]**

Twin spears of light lanced through the dark abyss, illuminating the particulate in the seawater shortly before the wake of the launch split them around its oblong hourglass shaped hull. It was late afternoon on the surface, no doubt with a stunning sunset turning the ocean waves into liquid gold, but this deep into the aphotic zone it was eternally midnight - at least it would have been if left to nature. As the launch slipped along the basin it passed a perimeter line of illuminated hydropower turbines, then a second. As it advanced even further, an aura of teal light radiated out from the distance like a siren calling in sailors from the deep.

More lights winked into existence as the launch approached, guiding it along the seafloor towards the massive habitat in the distance: the famed Ravana. The colony was considered neutral ground between the Arabian and Montagnard Confederations, sprouting like a flower in a crack between contested territories.In many ways the Ravana looked like a flower as well. The central dome was vast, triple reinforced and the source for the ghostly aura of light that permeated the area but eight smaller tear drop shaped structures radiated out like flower petals, each housing different industries and purposes.

The launch slowed on its approach, the four cone shaped engines at the rear powering down as it maneuvered into place with smaller jets, nestling up to the docking collar extending outward from the space between two of the large petals. There was a shudder, a shake and then a reverberating clank as the docking clamps grabbed a hold of the launch and the seal was pressurized. Water drained from the space inside before the telltale hum came as the hatch split open, revealing everything the Ravana had to offer.

In a region as dark as the bathypelagic zone of the ocean, it seemed that the colonists had compensated as best they could. The docking collar opened up onto a promenade full of light, life and color. Store fronts were filled with rich shades of red, gold and orange. Even if the paint was chipped and worn in places from years of use and abuse, other colors peeked out from beneath. There was a bustle of a city in functioning order with people moving about their lives. To Ensign Declan Keller, it seemed like he'd stepped into a fantasy.

Declan still looked as if he was fresh out of High School despite having put in the time to graduate from the United Earth Oceans naval academy. His brownish-blond hair was well groomed, his eyebrows a supple arc, his chin smooth and his cheeks full. His crisp blue eyes were wide with wonder and his pert lips were slightly agape as if a gasp had caught in his lips. If it hadn't been for his uniform khakis or the red triangle patch on his arm indicating his rank, it could have been easy to mistake him for someone's son. Declan jumped a bit as a firm arm clapped across his shoulders as another ensign came up behind, grinning from ear to ear.

"You hear that, Deck? That's the sound of adventure, of opportunity, of possibilities." a jovial voice came from the satisfied smirk of Declan's bunkmate Kian Hall. Kian was the same age but a good four inches taller, his mocha complexion a contrast to Declan's peach. Despite months of work on a submarine, Kian's hair seemed to perpetually sunbleached, taking on a wheat-colored hue that nearly matched Declan's own. Kian hoisted up two sets of duffel bags.

"You sure you don't want help getting the stuff to our hotel?" Declan asked. Kian shook his head with an unearned wisdom.

"I don't want anything to distract us from our mission." Kian said. Declan blushed furiously, a rosy glow crossing his smooth cheeks.

"It's not a mission. I wish you'd stop calling that. It's not even a big deal." he muttered. Kian opened his mouth to speak but he stepped aside as the launch pilot stepped past them, having secured the vehicle already. Kian gave the officer a moment to move into the crowd before he looked back at his roommate.

"Not a big deal? Deck, what are we?" Kian asked. Declan shook his head.

"Don't say it Hall, please, don't-" Declan was interrupted.

"We're seamen!" Kian proclaimed, giving Declan's shoulder a squeeze, "More than that, you are perhaps the most eligible bachelor on our entire ship and yet you have to this date never partaken of the forbidden fruit." Kian said.

"I just never got around to it, it didn't seem appropriate." Declan said, still furiously blushing.

"My poor sweet naive boy, it's not supposed to feel appropriate. It's supposed to feel forbidden, naughty, dangerous and amazing. Our mission is to make sure that one way or another, you get laid." Kian reached into his pocket and pulled out a translucent milky white ident card with an inlay of copper circuit paths running through it. He slipped the card over Declan's shoulder and slid it into his pocket. "That's your key into the best night of your life and I don't want you coming back to the hotel room until you've either accomplished the mission or at least gone on a first date. Is that understood?" Kian asked.

"We're the same rank." Declan reminded his bunkmate.

"Is that understood, Ensign?" he repeated with more firmness in his voice. Declan's shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Understood." he muttered. There was no point fighting it. Kian was an unstoppable force once he set his mind to something and the only reason Kian had ceased trying to pair Declan up with everyone on the ship was that they'd finally been granted shore leave. Besides, as awkward as it was, at least Kian had his well being in mind. Declan gave his bunk mate a nod of assurance before he stepped off the launch and into Ravana.

****

It had been nearly two generations that called the ocean home since the great colony rush that had founded the oceanic confederations. It was enough time for some colonies to experience steady and perpetual upgrades and improvements while others lost their pristine luster and took on a well used look. Ravana had taken the path in-between. Nothing was broken or damaged, just lived in. There was also a comfort to it all as people didn't take things so seriously. Without Kian's ever present encouragement, Declan had to admit he was having a great time. He'd wandered past henna tattoo stalls, jewelry shops, restaurants, cafes and bistros. There seemed to be something for everyone. In a way it was a necessary part of living in an undersea colony. While there were some travelers constantly coming and going, for the most part the entire structure had to operate as one self-sufficient city. It was a macrocosm to life on a submarine.

Despite Kian's mission parameters, he had allowed Declan to accompany him to the hotel room long enough to change out of his uniform and into some civilian clothes. The Ensign wore a navy blue heathered shirt with shoulder stripes in lime, orange and magenta. It was the closest he came to wearing a rainbow, an attempt to signal to others that he might be of an alternate persuasion. Kian had given his bunkmate one last flourish, messing up his hair so the brownish-blond waves came up in a bit of a messy crest in the front to give him some personality. Still, as Declan took in the local population he was starting to wish that the UEO's personal grooming code wasn't as strict. There were a lot of handsome twenty somethings with some pretty wild hair and tattoos moving around the colony. Declan had been so distracted by the slice of life around him that he hadn't paid any attention to his own trajectory until he impacted a rather solid stack of muscle.

The sudden stop was enough to knock Declan off his feet, though as he started to topple an arm reached out and caught him, hoisting him back upright. Declan looked at the thick, strong arm that had saved him. The skin glistened with the ambient moisture of the colony's air, emblazoned with a distinct black line segmenting out different splotches of every human skin tone. It was no costume and no tattoo. It was the pigmentation of a genetically engineered life form. They had once been called Gelfs in polite company and Daggers by those that took a less respectful stance on their existence until they had taken the name back and made it their own. Now Declan was standing face to pectoral with a three hundred pound, incredibly muscled Dagger whose black hair was shaved on the sides and swept back into a top knot. One of his hazel eyes was surrounded by cinnamon hued flesh, the other taking on a pale complexion.

"When they hired me to be a bouncer, I never thought it'd be so literal." the man said, looking down at Declan as if to check to see if he'd broken the waifish boy. Declan looked back up at the bouncer before turning his attention to the establishment he was guarding, spotting the turquoise broken helix recessed into the milky white pane of glass that made up the front of the storefront. While it was almost impossible to see anything inside, the faint silhouettes hitting the window clearly had pointed ears and a few had tails of some sort.

"Is this Splicers?" Declan asked.

"That depends." the bouncer replied. Declan suddenly looked confused.

"Depends on what?" he asked.

"If you've got a valid ID and credits." the bouncer said. Declan reached into the pocket of his shirt, withdrawing both his UEO military identification card and the access pass Kian had slipped him. The bouncer's eyebrows lifted in disbelief at both items, though he did examine them a bit closer.

"My apologies... Ensign." the bouncer said, though he did seem to take an extra moment checking the ID to ensure that it was in fact legitimate. The bouncer returned them, looking around a bit before looking back down at the boy, "Although I'm not sure that this is the kind of party you might be looking for. There's an officer's bar on level three that's pretty popular with the soldier types." the bouncer said. Declan wasn't sure what it was about the suggestion that rubbed him the wrong way. Was it that everyone always thought he was still eighteen? Had Kian rubbed off on him more than he thought? Was it the fact that he'd come looking for an adventure and had found something that stirred in him far more than should have been right or proper?

"And what if I want to enjoy this party?" Declan asked with his best imitation of Kian's confidence. The bouncer seemed even more uncomfortable and unnerved, almost as if he was straining at how to answer Declan's question.

"They can get a bit rowdy, this isn't an ordinary social club... And the clientele is pretty specific, might not be the sort of thing that you want to risk taking back to your ship." the bouncer said. Declan had started to worry that it might have been a club for Daggers or something, but the mention of taking anything back to his ship made him pause. Kian had sent him specifically to find this sort of establishment, but it was hard not to feel a bit intimidated by the situation. Still, it was a matter of honor - or rather dishonor - at this point. Declan dug in his heels and looked up at the bouncer, standing as tall as he could.

"I'd like to enjoy this establishment unless there's some reason I can't enter." Declan said clearly. The bouncer took one last look at him, almost as if burning the young welp into his memory before he reached over, grasped the door handle firmly and opened it up wide for the newest patron.

****

It was an old adage that those who worked hard partied hard, and there were few jobs harder than undersea mining. Declan had gotten used to bars and clubs being lively in the colonies he'd visited, but as he crossed the threshold into Splicers, it was hard not to feel as though he'd tumbled through the looking glass into one of his childhood holos. The club had all the hallmarks of any other social scene, from the frenzy of colorful lights and the music loud enough that you could feel, but there were many things that set it apart. The booths and the bar were made of wood, something of a rarity underwater. The patrons were nearly exclusively all male, but the most distinct feature of all was that the wait staff all seemed to have animal ears, tails, and in many cases claws.

At first Declan was amused by it, seeing wolf boys and lion boys and a donkey. It seemed cute. Maybe it was some left over from Halloween the night before and they had gotten such a kick out of their costumes they had kept them on, but the longer Declan watched, the more he realized it wasn't just for show. One waiter was complemented by his patrons and his ears twitched in excitement, whereas another's tail fluffed up when he realized he hadn't received a tip. It was all real and Declan stood like a deer in the headlights. Kian had specifically chosen this as the place to send him to lose his virginity. Maybe his bunk mate had just looked up the nearest gay bar and called it good, but there was a nagging suspicion that Kian might have done a little digging and found out another layer of his innermost secrets.

"First time?" A cool, calm voice asked. Declan turned, involuntarily gasping as he beheld one of the most handsome men he'd ever laid eyes on. He was a man of contrasts with his pale ivory skin clashing with his dark black and copper red hair. His face was elfin, approaching a degree of androgyny if it hadn't been for the dark stubble lining his chin. He had no human ears, but the tall pointed ears rising from his head were covered in red fur on the outside and white inside, the lobes pierced with several rings of metal. A thick red tail as big around as the man descended behind him, almost drawing attention to how thin and lithe he was otherwise. A smile crossed plump lips, but Declan was drawn into the man's richly crimson eyes.

"Yes..." Declan responded in barely more than a whisper. It wasn't just a response to the question, it was an affirmation about it all. His first time in the club? Yes. Did he want to finally have his first time with another man? Yes. Did he want that man to be this man? Yes. Declan swallowed, reaching into his pocket to pull out the key card, not sure if it was even needed in the club. The fox man's eyebrow arched as his grin grew even wider.

"I see, you must be Declan."I am Atlas." the fox replied, offering a clawed hand. Declan reached out to shake it but Atlas entwined his fingers in Declan's, bringing them palm to palm, smiling warmly. Even that made Declan shiver.

"I've never been in a place like this." Declan said, using his free hand to slide the card back into his pocket. Atlas turned and led Declan toward one of the booths, not letting go of his hand. There was something enticing about the way the claws drug against the back of his wrist.

"I'm not sure there are many places like this, but even if there were, maybe it's good. Makes it more special, don't you think?" he asked, sitting down on a U-shaped bench tucked into a nook of a serpentine shaped divider that ran down one end of the room. There was a small table to hold food or drinks but it seemed that there was more legroom than most clubs would have provided. Declan sat down and Atlas snuggled up close, hip to hip. Declan was used to most men being bigger than him. While it was true that Atlas was a few inches taller, Declan had him beat on shoulder width and muscle. Declan's eyes drifted down to the fluffy copper colored tail that occupied a good half of the booth on the other side of the two. After a moment Atlas grinned again.

"You can ask." he said. Declan started to worry his cheeks might stain a perpetual shade of red with how often he was blushing.

"Is it real?" he asked finally. Atlas nodded, hefting it up and draping it across both of their laps. Declan gasped a bit.

"It is. You can pet it if you like." Atlas offered. Declan hesitantly brushed the fur, though his eyes widened as he realized how soft and thick and warm it was. He started to pet it more, sinking his fingers in. Atlas appraised Declan for a moment to try and judge if he seemed to be the kind of man that didn't mind knowing how the sausage was made. "When the UN repealed resolution G-932, it had originally been intended to allow Daggers to regulate their own genes and health, but it also removed some of the stigma over human modification."

"But that ban was just repealed a few years ago... Forgive me if I'm wrong, but you clearly seem to be of legal age." Declan said. Atlas grinned more at that.

"Oh I am, have no worries there." he grinned, "It's true that the first generation of GELFs were engineered at the embryonic state, but splicing is a much more modern technology. It can be done at any age, both short and long term, to anyone that's willing." Atlas said, making his last few words sound even more appealing. Declan loved every second of it, but it all seemed like so much that he turned away. Atlas reached up, his clawed hand turning Declan back to face him. Rather than try to ease him with words, the fox boy leaned in, bringing his lips to Declan's, closing his red eyes. Declan wanted to gasp but instead he let his lips part, playing around with the other man's, moving in a sort of gyration for a few moments before he broke the kiss and chuckled nervously.

"I'm sorry, I wish I was better at that." Declan said. Again Atlas grinned.

"I have found that the harder you try, the less good it is. I think that's the best kiss I've had in months." Atlas admitted. Declan wanted to believe him, the words were beautiful, as was Atlas. Declan looked back up with sudden resolution, looking into those rich red eyes.

"We should have a drink, something to eat, get to know each other." Declan said. Atlas smiled at that and bowed his head to the donkey waiter, signalling for a selection to be brought over. Atlas turned his full attention back on Declan, intent on giving the ensign exactly what he desired.

****

The tempo of the music had changed as the evening had become night. Plates of sushi had been devoured and Declan was finding the house brewed beer irresistible. Two of the rich blue glass bottles already sat emptied while he tipped back a third, gulping the amber liquid down before he cracked another grin and an unbridled laugh at Atlas' latest story, tears forming in the corner of his eyes from how much he'd been laughing for the last two hours.

"You didn't..." Declan said in disbelief, setting his beer down. Atlas shook his head as he closed his eyes.

"I swear, the cop thought I was an errant mascot from some pharmaceutical company that still tested on animals. Fox's honor." Atlas said, holding up two claw tipped fingers. Declan found the image so cute that he leaned over and kissed Atlas again, though this time the fox reached up to hold the ensign in the kiss, invading his mouth with a tongue. Declan returned the favor, feeling as if his heart had been replaced with a drum. Each beat sent a percussive blast into his loins where his cock swelled harder and thicker, growing quite aroused. Never before in his life had he spent that much time shoulder to shoulder with another man, let alone kissed anyone that much. Their kiss lasted for the remainder of the current song and as the stereo system switched to another, Declan felt a hand suddenly rest on the bulge in his pants. His eyes snapped open, inches away from Atlas' red eyes.

"Well now, I'm glad you're both enjoying yourselves." Atlas whispered. Declan gave a grin and leaned in to kiss the fox again. The hand holding the back of his head slid around over Declan's tingling, warm ears before brushing his cheeks, feeling the silky soft hairs that had started to grow out along his jawline. The sensation sent more shivers down Declan's spine, supercharging his cock even further until his alcohol-addled brain realized that the sensation shouldn't have been possible. He pulled back from the kiss and reached up, eyes widening as he felt a clear and distinct layer of fuzz on his cheeks.

"What's going on?" Declan asked, looking around before he grabbed one of the plates that hadn't been cleared yet. He lifted it up, spotting his reflection. Not only did it look like he had at least two weeks of growth on his cheeks, his ears seemed fuller and rounder somehow, not to mention his nose looked a bit different. For the first time in their conversation, it was Atlas' turn to blush.

"Your friend paid for the whole experience, for you to live out your dreams... Usually that package includes a temporary splice so you can let out the animal inside." Atlas said. Declan's heart beat even harder. He knew he was being a fool, that this had all been specifically leading to one thing, that he had been an idiot to open up like that. Declan looked down, seeing that his fingernails had turned a dark brownish black.

"Did he pick out what I was going to turn into too? Pick out the food?" Declan asked. Atlas shook his head quickly, brushing Declan's cheek again.

"No, no, no... I promise you what we're sharing is unique, just you and me." Atlas said softly, "It took me a while to pick out what you might have fun with. I just hope I got it right." Atlas said. Declan's frustration ebbed slightly as he looked back at the fox, finding it awfully hard to be mad at someone so beautiful.

"What... did I strike you as?" Declan asked hesitantly. Atlas grinned at that and moved, sliding one leg over the far side of the ensign's lap, bringing them groin to groin. Despite being so thin, the position lifted Atlas a fair few inches up over Declan. He looked down into Declan's blue eyes, using his fingers to pet and stroke the dusty blond hair growing out of the young man's cheeks, coaxing it to grow thicker.

"Someone that's grown into their own and gotten some pride, someone ready to lay claim to new territory, once a cub and soon a king." Atlas said, grinding against Declan, moving to kiss his neck, his throat, then his chest. He tugged at the other man's collar, seeing a golden tuft of hair springing free. Declan moaned, unable to resist pressing up against Atlas, feeling their erections press and squeeze despite the material between them. Declan growled softly, his eyes squeezing shut, groaning as he clenched and relaxed his hand, his nails breaking off as thicker, darker claws broke through the fingers beneath. They stretched out, curving to wicked points. His fingertips felt oddly numb as parts of them swelled up into little pads of calloused flesh.

Declan gasped as Atlas lifted up his shirt and dipped down, finding his way to trace kisses across the ensign's fuzzy stomach, finding his meaty pec before he leaned in and bit his nipple. A roar escaped Declan's lips even as his upper lip started to split and round, his nose popping and broadening, becoming far more feline. His teeth felt soft and hot as they stretched out sharper before gradually hardening again. Declan couldn't tell what was going on, especially as his ears burned, thousands of tiny golden hairs emerging from the skin. Somewhere in the back of his mind he felt a klaxon, a warning, some semblance of reason trying to break the surface.

"We can't do it here... can we?" Declan asked. Atlas grunted and groaned in frustration, leaving Declan's swelling nipple alone to nuzzle up under his arm and give the thick forest of golden fur growing there a deep whiff, his pale cheeks blushing fiercely again before he gave the pit a lick and then another nuzzle.

"I guess not, even though I need you to fill my tail hole with your huge rod... I need you so bad, my king!" Atlas said, reluctantly pulling himself off of Declan like velcro, nearly groaning as they were torn apart. Atlas' pants were painfully tented and more than a little wet. He panted a few times before he took Declan's clawed hand in his and led him across the club, heading toward a discreet hallway in the back.

****

The door to the bedroom shuddered as it was kicked open, leaving Declan standing in the doorway with Atlas straddling his waist, holding himself up on the Ensign's broader, fuller shoulders. The fox lifted himself up and down, applying and removing his body weight to the transforming man's ample bulge with each movement. Declan snarled, saliva dripping from his fangs as the golden hair continued to grow out further and further from his jaw. His nose had gone completely feline and whiskers had pricked through his otherwise youthful cheeks. His ears were furry and patches of golden fuzz were spreading across his arms and legs even as the bulged and grew with muscle.

"I knew you were a beast..." Atlas whispered, grabbing a gold of Declan's shirt and tearing it apart, allowing two thick pecs to pop free, his nipples poking out from a forest of fur that was spreading. Atlas ran his claws down his partner's chest, then his stomach, "Ready to show me that you're the king of the jungle?" he asked. Declan gave a proud grin before he picked up the fox boy and tossed him onto the bed in front of them. Atlas laughed as he bounced, turning back to see Declan slice through his belt with one of his feline claws, pushing his pants down to the floor.

Atlas looked up in appreciation at the growing lion man in his doorway. Declan had been a little power house to begin with, his modest frame packed on with muscles from military training, but the splicing was taking it to the next level. His skin was stretched tight over defined muscles in groupings that Declan had never even seen before. His body was nearly completely covered in a finy layer of golden fuzz and his black underwear looked ready to snap as it tried to hold on to a pouch full of ample lion cock. He'd even started growing a tail that was inching down lower and lower behind his legs.

"Like what you see?" Declan asked, turning one was as his longer hair started to brush his shoulders, his beard growing equally fast.

"I'd like a close up view more." Atlas grinned before he rolled over onto all fours. With a quick shimmy he tossed off his shirt and pants at the same time, revealing that he hadn't been wearing any underwear. His hefty fox tail was hiked up along his spine, revealing his perfect bubble butt and a quivering, rubbery black hold. It seemed to glisten with a natural lubrication, as if beckoning his partner. Declan didn't need to be asked twice. He moved over to the bed, slicing off his underwear, his turgid member springing free with purpose and drive. It was reddened from the blood that had filled it, the friction of the gratuitous frotting Declan and Atlas had exchanged, and from the faint irritation as tiny bumps formed on the mushroom shaped head.

Atlas squeezed his red eyes shut as Declan climbed behind him, powerful clawed hands grabbing onto his meaty hips. The fox let out a whimper of anticipation as the thick head began to push against his hole, then a moan of delight as it was finally spread. Declan slid in slowly, feeling the fox stretching around him... but he was stretching too. Whatever the fox had given him, it still wasn't done. The bed weighed down with his growing mass as cells divided and muscle tissue expanded. He felt like a bodybuilder even if his frame had remained the same size, but his cock... his cock was growing the most.

Even without thrusting, Declan's lionine member was inching its way deeper into the Fox's well used but still tight hole. The ensign gave a growl as he suddenly thrust in a few inches, pulled back, then thrust in even deeper. Atlas dug his claws into the mattress, anchoring himself. Declan's mouth watered as he thrust into the fox, then thrust again, and again, and again, and again. He picked up momentum and power, tempo and force. He rolled his head about his shoulders, feeling his beard tickle his collarbone even through the fur. His tail flicked around, tipped with a pom-pom of fur that matched the darker brown hair on his head. His feet flexed as his claws glinted in the dim light of the room, his feet warping and groaning as they stretched wider and longer and bigger in every direction.

While Atlas was delighted by just how his partner was turning out, he was a professional. He braced himself, using his knees and elbows to get into the right position. He took a few moments to understand Declan's natural stride and then he started to work with him. As the lion thrust forward, he slid back, allowing the fat, thick, long club of a cock to nestle deep inside his body before they slid apart again. In and out, forward and back, the two went at it with gusto until the bed started to thump against its restraints on the floor. Atlas let out a moan with each collision until he reached down under his stomach and fished out his long, achingly hard cock. With a few furtive squeezes it wasn't long until ropes of milky white cum started to shoot out across the red bed sheets.

Declan leaned down, sniffing the thick tail that covered Atlas' back, smelling his musk and his aroma. He smelled of sweat and sex and cinnamon and rust, an eclectic and wonderful combination. Declan buried his face in it, nipping playfully at the thick fur before his huge clawed lion hand slipped around Atlas' ribs, finding his own arm. Dangerous fingers coiled around the fox's plump meat before they were both beating him off, jerking up and down his cock. The fox threw his head back and whined with pleasure as his ropes of cum became a fire hose, sprang down his own bed and filled the air with the aroma of his sexual need.

Declan's furry back arched in the light from the hallway, not caring in the slightest if anyone walked by. His body was powerful, his feet huge, his tail flicking as he started to fill Atlas to the hilt. It would have been a lie if Atlas had said he had not been with many men, but of all the partners he'd had in his bed, he was taking particular pleasure in Declan's transformation. It felt as if Declan's manhood stretched from the fox's tailhole to his throat, and Atlas had never felt quite so literally fulfilled. The two of them milked the fox for every last drop of cum he had before Declan lifted his hand up and licked some of the semen from his claws. Seeing that sexual display forced Atlas to crumple into the bed in a messy heap, moaning as he dry-orgasmed all over again, his red eyes squeezing shut.

Feeling the fox's ass quiver around him like a milking machine, Declan's eyes rolled into the back of his head before he let out a triumphant roar that rattled the photo prints framed on the wall. His pendulous furry balls throbbed and ached before his immense cock unleashed thick frothy lion sperm. Spurt after spurt pumped into Atlas, eliciting even more moans from his already spent face. He drooled into the blanket, his ass the only thing still strong enough to stick up in the air. He lay in a pool of his own cum and he'd never been quite so happy about it. His eyes were glazed with lust and afterglow even as Declan eventually collapsed atop him.

The two remained embraced, Declan so deep in Atlas' ass that he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to pull out. The young men panted, chests rising and falling with exertion. Sweat soaked their hair and their fur. With what limited cognitive power Atlas had left, he decided that pushing Declan past being a mere cat boy and into full fledged lion man had been the right move for the best sex of his life, although now he was starting to fear the ache that would come when Declan returned to his original life, to being a man again. There was a bittersweet ache in Atlas' heart as he pushed that thought away and instead imagined Declan joining him in the club, each of them entertaining guests during the day before settling back in each other's embrace at night. The sensation became an even sharper pang as a furry muscled arm slid under Atlas, holding him by the stomach, pinning them together. Whatever happened, at least this moment was perfect.

****

There were some forms of pain that paired nicely with pleasure like a fine wine, but the first sensations to pierce Declan's brain were the farthest thing from pleasure he'd ever experienced. It felt like tiny shards of glass had nestled in the nerves behind his eyes and his brain had been briefly dipped in turpentine. A groan escaped his parched mouth as he opened his eyes and then promptly closed them again. A dry groan escaped his lips as he covered his face with his arm, slumping down on the table in the middle of the booth. A low whistle came from Kian's lips as he shook his head.

"Damn, son, that's about the worst hangover I've seen anyone have in my life. I hope the story behind it is worth it." the other ensign smirked.

"Trust me, it was." Atlas said from behind the bar where he was cleaning up. A machine started whirring as the blue glass bottles were sealed inside for sterilization and re-use. Kian grinned a bit at that.

"I know you're not the type to kiss and tell, but was the mission a success?" Kian asked hopefully, "Is our little seaman a real man now?"

"I'd say he's more of a sea-lion, if you ask me... And yes, he is most distinctly a man." Atlas replied, though it was a little harder to keep his false smile up. He was as tired as Declan was and the last thing he wanted to be doing was cleaning up. Still, a job was a job. Kian looked at Declan and then at Atlas, his eyes narrowing a bit before he put on a small show smile of his own. Kian moved over to the bar, leaning on it.

"You know, UEO tours of duty are only a year at a time once you're a commissioned officer. Between that and the ample leave for sake of mental health, I think Declan could afford a few more visits here." Kian said. Atlas' pointed ears flattened a bit against his head.

"You're a real meddler, you know that?" he asked.

"One of the worst, I know... But I'm serious." Kian said. Atlas frowned.

"I should charge you double, you got under my armor with that sweet kid." Atlas said. Kian looked surprised.

"Didn't I tell you that you couldn't resist him?" he asked. Atlas poked Kian's chest with a clawed finger.

"Just make sure you bring him back in one piece, safe and sound, okay? And I expect to see him every time you're in the neighborhood." Atlas asserted.

"After a night with you, who could resist? I'd be surprised if he didn't start writing you letters about how his assignments are going." Kian said. Atlas' face quirked a bit at that before he turned, reaching for any glass to wipe dry even if it wasn't wet. He took a moment wrestling with his feelings before he turned back.

"Do any of those UEO postings have room for civilians?" he asked half-heartedly. Kian looked even more surprised at that before nodding a little dumbly.

"Yeah, a fiew, I mean, especially if someone's... attached." Kian said. Atlas looked over at the ensign slumped over the table, still sporting patches of golden fur on his elbows that hadn't yet shed off. This was the exact sort of thing that men like him weren't supposed to do. You never fell for a client, but it had been the perfect blend. They had hours of conversation and laughs and connection, and then the best sex Atlas knew either of them had ever felt before. Sure, part of that had been the Splicers, but he knew there was something else beneath as well.

"One step at a time I guess. I'll fix you up with a special coffee blend. It'll help clear his head when you drag him back to the launch." Atlas said. Kian smiled a bit.

"Aren't you going to see him off, say goodbye?" Kian asked. Atlas shook his head.

"Goodbyes aren't really my style. I prefer hellos." The fox said simply.

****

The sound of clippers filled the hotel bathroom as Declan made another pass. It felt like a crime to trim his beard, but regulations were regulations. The fact that he had a beard in the first place was impressive. Even though it was painful to trim it, he had to smile that his baby face was framed with a nice, dense golden beard. He'd shed the last of his fur and his hair had been shorn back as well. Considering the mess he'd made, he knew he was going to have to leave a pretty generous tip. Declan brushed himself off with a warm, wet towel before he came back to the doorway.

"How do I look?" Declan asked, looking out at Kian. Kian looked up from the bed and grinned, running a hand down his own chest.

"Not bad if I do say so myself. You dirty up real nice." he grinned. Declan rolled his eyes at that before he got a little more serious.

"I know I was pretty resistant to this idea at first, but... I really want to thank you. It was pretty amazing." Declan said. Kian nodded gently.

"Well, you deserve amazing things. That's part of what this time of life is about, man. Getting out there, seeing the world, having experiences. You gotta know what we work to protect, have a stake in it." Kian said. Declan's slightly bushier eyebrow lifted.

"So all this was a roundabout way of showing your duty and loyalty?" Declan asked. Kian grinned, popping the mint from the pillow into his mouth before chewing it dramatically. Declan smirked and turned to finish washing up when a chirp came from the orange and silver Personal Audio Link on the counter. In some ways it resembled a cordless phone from half a century earlier, though a fair bit flatter. What bulk it did have allowed it to send and receive transmissions even under water for quite a range. Declan lifted the PAL and clicked it on.

"This is Ensign Keller." Declan answered with a bit of rigidity in his voice.

"How formal... Not that I mind." Atlas replied. Declan's eyebrows went back up in surprise. Kian grinned, lying back on the hotel bed with his arms beneath his head as if all was right with the world. Declan stepped into the bathroom and eased the door shut, looking back at his reflection in the mirror. Thanks to the clipper his hair and beard were all one uniform length which just made his beard seem that much thicker.

"I'm sorry I was such a mess when Kian dragged me out of there." Declan apologized, "I hope I wasn't too much trouble." he added. Even though he couldn't see Atlas smile, he could feel it on the other side.

"Maybe a little trouble, but I like trouble... and I really liked our date." Atlas said. Declan smiled a bit, his beard covering his blush.

"So you considered it a real date?" Declan asked hopefully.

"Oh yes, and I expect a second date as soon as you're back. In the meantime I'm sending you my Internex link and you've got my number now so we can stay in contact." Atlas said decisively. Declan leaned his back against the wall, speechless for a moment until he realized Atlas might think the connection cut out.

"It's a date, for our date." Declan said, "I just am really glad we struck such a strong connection." he admitted. This time it was Atlas' chance to pause.

"We did, more than I ever would have expected. Never let it be said that good dinner conversation can't get you anywhere." Atlas smirked, "How are you feeling, any after effects?"

"I'm mostly back to normal. I still have the beard." Declan said. Atlas purred.

"That did look mighty handsome on you." he purred.

"And my toenails are still claw colored, but I think they are fading." Declan added.

"I know that your job means that we should probably stick to the temporary splices when you're around, but if you want anything more permanent when your tour of duty is over, I'm here for you." Atlas said. Declan smiled a bit more.

"I'll take you up on that... maybe even the splices too." Declan added with a little more innuendo. There was one more silent grin on the call.

"Until then, my king." Atlas replied before the call ended. Declan held the PAL to his chest, closing his eyes, letting out an incredibly satisfied sigh. He knew a lot of sailors had someone in every port. Honestly, Atlas did too, but as far as Declan was considered, he'd found his one true Fox to call his own.