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Chapter 4 - Family Far and Near

A couple of weeks into my move to the Pacific coast, I found that San Francisco was starting to grow on me. I couldn't exactly explain why, either, but there was something about the city that really made me enjoy it. I had grown up in an ancient city, and even New York, by comparison, was old compared to San Francisco. I liked how everything felt new but also aged, how people were from all over but nothing felt settled enough that change couldn't happen, that here we had a chance to make something of ourselves far easier than anywhere else in the country. It was a good feeling.

Don't get me wrong, I missed my friends. I missed my tenement, the bridge, the cold. But I felt more alive here than I had in years. And I was definitely going to enjoy it while I hunted down Mordecai.

Speaking of that insane caracal, I couldn't find more information about him. My only clue was St. Andrews and I didn't have anyone there I could really press too hard. When I had brushed up against the subject with Tristan, he got defensive. I knew he wouldn't be forthcoming until he relaxed around me and trusted me. The only thing I couldn't figure out was if he was being cagey because he knew what Mordecai was like, or if it was odd that some random fox was asking about a lot of money being given to the church. Based upon what I had seen I believed it to be the latter -- he was just protective of his community.

Siro had specialists inside the Arc all week, working in the back room where his office was. I didn't have much reason to go back there, but the electricians and wiring being laid made me pause. The building was already electric, what could he be possibly doing in there?

The answer came a couple days later when I was helping Tin clean some cups at the bar. The tiger was glad for the help and I enjoyed being near him. I kept brushing our arms together and leaning into him. At first the man had been so nervous to show any outward signs of affection but now he was brushing his tail against my leg and everything. I think being in the Arc, surrounded by men who were clearly open and homosexual (as open as you can be anyway) was good for him; he saw that you could be affectionate and still masculine.

I saw Siro poke his head out of the hallway and grin at me. "Simon, do you mind joining me? I want you to see something."

"Sure," I said and put the rag and glass down on the counter, looking up at Tin. "I'll be back in a second."

"Don't worry, we're almost done here. Miro and Oro are out buying food so I can have a break."

"Like that's suffering," I flicked my tail to show I was teasing and headed to the back with Siro.

In his office was, of all the things I had never expected to see, a telephone. I had never seen one close up before, nor used one, but I knew about them. Everyone knew about them. They were taking off in popularity. They were the future and as expensive as you could get. I was almost afraid to be near the wooden box, worried that my mere mortal presence would break it into a million pieces.

Siro smiled and ran his hand along the wooden frame. The mouthpiece was polished gold as was the earpiece. The bells were the same. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. "What do you think?" the wolf asked.

My mouth was agape for a moment, then I cleared my throat. "I think you... you're far richer than you let on."

"Quite." The white wolf beamed at me and picked up the resting earpiece, holding it out to me.

Confused, I took it and held it to my ear. I didn't know how this thing worked, but Siro seemed pleased I had gotten this far on my own. He cleared his throat and leaned his white muzzle toward the tube jutting out of the wooden box. "He's got the earpiece on. Go ahead."

"Simon," a voice said through the ear piece. So familiar but also so different. It took me a moment to realize who it was.

"RUT!" I screamed and pushed myself forward, almost kissing the telephone and wagging my tail happily. I couldn't believe I was actually TALKING to my friend. I was beaming from ear to ear. "Is it you? Is it really you?"

There was a quiet chuckle on the other end. "Yes, it's me. Firo told us about the telephone being installed in the Arc, and he said we could talk for a little while."

I looked at Siro who seemed to understand why. "I figure that my clubs need to be able to talk to one another quickly, and I hate getting telegrams. This felt like the wisest investment. It's expensive, and it may go out, but it is the future."

"So how's life on the west coast?" Rut asked me.

I went into as much detail as I could, still smiling. I told him about the train ride, about how I was getting closer to Tin, about Lucas and the Chinese, not much luck with Mordecai. I didn't mention Tristan, since it didn't feel important. But I was enjoying listening to him comment on some things in that quiet, calculating voice of his.

"What about you? How are you feeling?"

"My ribs are almost healed. Renaldo got a really good doctor to look at me and said I was lucky I didn't puncture a lung. I can walk about with only mild pain, but Fizinklestein, the pharmacist, got me some pain killers. I don't know how and I don't ask why, but he did."

"Oh lord," I chuckled. "I didn't know he could also be a pharmacist."

"The best course of action when dealing with Fiz is to never assume anything. He can surprise you. I thought you learned this by now, Simon." I heard the jovial, teasing tone in Rut's voice.

"You've seen how quickly I pick up on things, you're lucky I've got this far."

"That's true, and I--Hey, wait! Stop it! NO!" There were struggling sounds, followed by a soft yelp in pain. The sound of broken glass and, for some reason, the sound of a chicken fleeing.

"Simon!" The voice was happy, excited. Another familiar voice, different from Rut's.

"Fiz!" I laughed again and smiled brightly. "Did you kick Rut off the telephone?"

"Too long!"

"Was he talking too long or I've been gone too long?"

"Yes! Home?"

"Soon," I said, not sure how true that was. "I still have to catch Mordecai. I miss you though. A lot."

"I miss you too," Fiz said softly.

It was rare to hear a full sentence from Fiz. It made my heart long for the twins. They were family as far as I was concerned. I decided to switch the subject before I started crying.

"You keeping busy?"

"Yes! Gideon fun!"

"Oh yeah, how is Gideon doing?"

"Good!"

"Have you put the city back in order yet?"

"Better! Need Tin! Carpet!"

I had no idea what the last word meant, but I answered, "Tin's here in San Francisco with me. He's working the bar. You should see him, he's wearing a bowtie."

There was, of all things, a devious laughter from the other side of the phone. I heard the receiver picked up and it was Rut again.

"Fiz has been bouncing on his feet since we started talking. I guess he couldn't hold it back anymore."

"Do I even want to ask about why I heard a chicken in the background?"

"No," Rut said flatly. "But we do need to go. I should be in bed and Fiz has rounds with Renaldo. But we're going to talk again, I promise."

"We better!" I exclaimed with more energy than I expected. "Just be safe, heal up. I can't wait to see you both again. Oh! And say hi to Gideon for me. And Renaldo. And--"

"We'll say hi for you to everyone, including Palmer. We miss you too, be safe, Simon." The voice on the other side sounded amused. I think Rut knew how much I missed everyone. Then a click and the line was dead.

I put the receiver in the small holder on the side of the wooden box and looked at Siro. "Thank you...that was...quite a gift."

Siro beamed at me and put his arms behind his back. "You are one of the few people I look out for in this world, Simon, of course I'll go above and beyond for you."

"That...is something I wanted to talk to you about."

Siro's eye ridge quirked and I continued quickly before he could try to slip out or change the subject. "You and I, we're friends, close, but like...I never understood why you've gone so far out of your way for me. You've spent a lot of money just getting me here to San Francisco, let alone all the risks you took in New York City."

"Getting you here was--"

"Siro! Please. Just be honest with me. Or at least not so cagey. I need to know why you do so much for me."

The white wolf frowned a little bit and perched himself on the edge of the desk in his office, his hands folding into his lap. "I don't know, I wish I had more information to give you, but I will do my best to explain my actions."

Siro took a slow breath. "Do you remember the first time we met? Outside near Kinnick's Bakery in the winter?"

"Yeah, I had just come out of the alley--"

"And had been fucking someone," Siro quickly added. "Risky for being the middle of the day, even more so since it was near a very dense place where families live. Places where a father wouldn't hesitate to hurt you, or a mother to call a police officer if they saw what you had been doing."

I grimaced. "I was being careful."

The white wolf shook his head. The colorful beads in his headfur glittered as they reflected the sunlight.

"No, Simon, you weren't. You were as obvious as the sunrise on a clear day. You smelled like it and you looked dead inside. But I could also tell you weren't on any drugs, which honestly surprised me given how you looked at the time.

"You looked like a man who had nothing and nobody. I think this was before you even met those twins. You didn't have anyone in that big city and you were going to die there. You were already dead inside."

Siro looked down at his hands and rubbed them together slightly, looking up at him. "My brothers and I, we are very close... as you probably realize. But we came from a family that taught us to look outwards and see those around us, to try and help if we can. This doesn't mean give everything we have away, but... when we see someone truly in pain, we act."

"And you saw that in me?"

"Yes, I did. I knew you were a homosexual and you were going to get yourself beaten, arrested, or killed. You were sleeping with anyone who helped you feel alive and that was only going to hurt you down the line. I knew that I had to do something, so I did."

"So that's why you let me work at the Arc? And why you always had a room for me, food, the works?"

"Exactly. I never gave you the complete answer to your problems but enough to keep you alive and growing. You found your own way and you broke out of that painful cloud you were wrapped up in. I never felt I was supposed to help you solve that problem. I knew you just needed a handhold."

"And what about now?" I looked around the office. "Technically you did everything you needed to do. I'm not...so sad anymore, and I found myself again. I also don't see ghosts anymore."

"Because the job isn't done, Simon. Mordecai is still out there and he will hurt anyone and everyone to get to you. With him alive and free, you are also still bound to whatever his fate is. You cannot enjoy your life with him still at large and coming for you, whenever that may be."

"But that's--"

"And he knows the names and faces of who helped you in Crossbell Tower, Simon. He has more than enough information to link you to the Arc-en-ciel, and that puts myself and my family at a grave risk, too. I have to look out for them as well, and the best method I can see for that is to help you bring him down."

I wasn't sure what else to say. My muzzle hung open. I saw Siro grin and stand up, touching me on the shoulder and leading me out of his office.

"So don't worry about it," he said kindly. "You're family as far as I'm concerned. Now come on, I want you to meet some of the boys I have working here."

Siro led me through the hallway to the back area for staff only. There were strict rules here about bringing customers, and honestly since I didn't work for Siro I didn't come back here all that much, either. I liked to give the workers their peace if possible. Still, it was comfortable looking with some tables and soft chairs, plants hanging from the walls and exposed red brick.

Sitting at one of the tables were three cats I had seen now and then but never paid much attention to. One was reading a book, the other was filing his claws, and the third seemed to be snoozing. When Siro walked up their heads snapped up. Two smiled, one scowled.

"Simon," Siro stepped away so I could see the three looking at me now. "Let me introduce you to Ethan, Ciel, and Bas, the cream of the crop and jewels of the Arc."

"We're also brothers," the small dark furred cat with golden eyes said. He smiled a little wider and stood up. I moved to shake his hand but he threw his arms around me. He was small, coming up to about my pectorals. I blinked down at him. "I'm Bas, the youngest."

"And I'm Ethan, the oldest," said the one with gray fur with sky-blue eyes. "We've heard a lot about you, Simon." Ethan stood up and shook my hand politely, even taking my hand in both of his as we shook. It was very warm and friendly while also being professional.

"Are you going to say hello to Simon?" Bas inquired, looking over at the final cat, the one with snow-white fur, sitting there at the table. He was still filing his claws.

"Ugh, I'm tired of hearing about Simon. Simon Simon Simon. Siro is coming to San Francisco to bring Simon, Simon is one of his best workers in New York City, Simon and that godly ass of his, Simon--"

"I don't work for Siro anymore," I countered, quirking a brow at the last brother who must have been Ciel.

Ciel was one of those men who knew he looked good. He took care of himself and clearly used expensive products in his spotless white fur. He also let it grow out just long enough to be elegant but kept it short so it had a kind of wave to it. He must have been as soft as a cloud. I also saw that gold bell on the end of his tail tied with an expensive-looking ribbon. The impressive part was he was moving his tail about and the bell hardly made a sound.

"Ciel!" Ethan hissed. "That's not how you react to someone here."

"But he said he doesn't work for Siro anymore, so he isn't an employee." Ciel looked bored now and rested his chin in his open palm with a smirk. "Which means I don't have to watch my attitude around him."

"It's still better to be nice..." Bas added and frowned. He still had his arms around me. "Simon didn't do anything wrong."

"No, he didn't do anything," Ciel got up from his chair and stepped over to me. We were eye level and his emerald eyes stared at me intently and looked me up and down. "You're just a black fox. You aren't even elegant." Ciel reached and ran his fingers through my tail fur. It made me shiver but glare. "And your tail fur needs to be brushed."

"Hey!" I growled at him. "I don't walk up and judge your looks, why not do me the courtesy back?"

Ciel smiled and put a hand on his hip. "Because, Simon, if you have such a reputation, I need to show the world just how plain you are and then outdo you threefold."

"Ciel..." Ethan said warningly. "This isn't the time, or the place, we're just saying--"

"Ethan!" Ciel growled back. "This Simon, the one that handsome tiger won't stop talking about, the one whose ass is supposed to be so good it can stop traffic, who has beautiful eyes you can get lost in, it's just...just...hyperbole! He doesn't even wear nice clothes to show off his body."

I smiled. "Ciel, if you want to see me naked all you had to do was ask, kitten."

The white cat's eyes widened and Bas broke out into a small fit of giggles. The surprise on Ciel's face turned quickly to a scowl. "I don't want to see you naked--"

"Are you sure?" I pulled my arms free of Bas and started to open my shirt. I also knew I looked good--better than most, at least--but unlike this cat, I didn't have much of a reason to flaunt it anymore. After some unbuttoning I had my upper body exposed. "I mean, I used to be a whore, too. I'm just as comfortable being naked."

Bas whistled and ran his hand over my taut stomach. It made me shiver and I looked down at the youngest cat. "You look like this without much work?"

"I still work hard...I'm used to it, but I don't--"

"Liar!" Ciel hissed in anger. "You do exercises to look like that. No one looks like that without work."

"I mean, maybe if you ate better and did some hard work..."

Ethan's eyes widened and he grabbed Ciel before I got a facefull of claws. I was laughing and Bas was trying to hold back his laughter.

"Simon," Siro said and grinned, holding a hand over his muzzle. "Don't antagonize Ciel. He is the crown jewel of the Arc here and his attitude isn't entirely unearned."

"I'll behave," I said with a shrug.

"And Ciel," the white wolf turned with a firmer voice. "Simon is a friend of mine and is living here to help out when I need him. You will show him as much respect as you would show myself or my brothers. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," the white cat said, pulling away and fixing his shirt. He looked at me and huffed before heading out of the room. "I need to get ready for tonight anyway."

When Ciel left, Ethan frowned a little bit. "I'm sorry, Simon. He's very...unique in how he sees the world. He's a good guy though, I promise."

"It's okay, Ethan." I smiled and kept buttoning up my shirt. Was Bas frowning? "Family is supposed to be a little crazy."

"I think ours is a lot of crazy," Bas said, "but Ethan is right, he's very nice when he doesn't think you're out to show him up."

"But I'm not!" I complained.

The black cat giggled a little. "Ciel has to figure that out on his own. He never thinks what someone else says he should. He's very stubborn."

"But he's harmless...almost," Ethan added after a slight pause. "He did almost try to take your eyes out a moment ago."

And that was how another set of brothers came into my life. I swear I'm not actively hunting for them.

Well, the three tigers maybe. You know what they say: good things come in threes.