# Love's Shadow Part 3

Author: Korrado-Xan
Tags: Feline, Gay, M/M, School, Skunk, Tiger, romanc, slice of life

#3 of Love's Shadow

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Love's Shadow prt.3 - c. Grey K. 1997

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- Love's Shadow part III,

 

* * *
\> Patrick looked almost frightened again, toying restlessly

with his walking-stick. Jace girded himself against rejection quickly,

"It's all right, no big thing. If you're not ready for that yet I

understand., You and I just met, I'll survive if you say no." Patrick

regarded Jace earnestly, looking into the skunk's emerald eyes as he

thought. Jace felt a thrill as Patrick's golden gaze surveyed his face

ardently. The young feline bit his lip slightly, then stood and smiled

at the skunk, "No. I think I would like to go somewhere else and talk.

Yes, I would like to."

 

      Jace stood beside his new friend, ready to catch him again if

need arose, "You're OK to walk now?, You think you can make it down

the stairs?" Patrick moved experimentally, "I guess we'll find out

won't we?" Jace nodded motioning for Patrick to walk alongside him,

"Can you manage your pack or would you like me to carry it?" The

feline's eyes widened a little and he smiled, "Oh, I think I can

manage all right by myself for now, Thank-you., Besides I think I

should get to know you better before I let you carry my books for me,

people might get to talking."

 

      Jace etiolated a little. He felt slightly dizzy at the dip in

blood-pressure to his face, hoping the feline hadn't seen how pale his

ears had gone. He chuckled politely at the joke and saw Patrick grin

slightly as he adjusted the straps of his bag over one shoulder, then

the other. "Got it?" Jace inquired seeing Patrick nod.

 

      With help from Jace the two made it down to the third floor

where the skunk's pack and coat still sat along side the forgotten

book. Jace started to pull on his coat and pack, stopping and

regarding Patrick sharply, "I just realized, I didn't see whether or

not you had a coat or jacket with you. It's cold out." Patrick looked

 embarrassed, "It, uh, wasn't too bad out when I left the dorms this

morning. I didn't think I'd need one. Jace straightened, "Oh, OK. Well,

we can always stop by your dorm room on the way to where-ever we

decide to go."

 

      Patrick spoke a little louder than he intended to, "NO!, Uh,

oh, n-n-no. That's all right I'm fine, really. It's just my dorm-mate

will be in this time of day, I try not to be around when he's there.

He's some sports god around here, some jock, doesn't really care for

those of us that are, uh, athletics impaired." Jace steadied Patrick

with a hand, "I know the type, real pricks." Under his breath the

skunk added, "Probably some bigoted, scum-ball, ass-hole no doubt."

"What?" Jace looked at Patrick, gods, the feline morph had good ears.

"Hmm?, Nothing, that's fine. We don't have to stop by your place at

all, what-ever you say." His new feline friend nodded gratefully,

"Thank-you."     

 

      Jace finished collecting his things, slinging his pack over

one shoulder and hefting his book in his free hand. Patrick squinted,

trying to make out the title, "What does that say?" Jace angled the

book out to Patrick, who read the title aloud, "The Mechanics of

Inter-Tidal Saline Pool Eco-Systems'., Biology?" Jace nodded at his

friend, "Uh-Huh, verging on Zoology and Marine Biology." The feline

nodded nonchalantly, trying not to look too skeptical, "Interesting."

Jace laughed, seeing Patrick's ears dip slightly, "You don't sound

convinced of that. What's your idea of a good time?"

     

      He was regarded by the glowing yellow eyes once more, "Me?,

Shakespeare, a warm fire and something by Handel playing on the

stereo. Bad huh?" Jace saw that the feline had seemed half ready for

him to laugh and the grey morph seemed genuinely surprised that he

hadn't. He raised an eyebrow at Patrick, "Handel is OK, I prefer

Bach or Vivaldi myself. What's your favorite play?" Patrick shrugged,

"I'm somewhat torn between 2, I love MacBeth as one of his best

tragedies but I like Much Ado About Nothing if I need a comedy." The

skunk smiled at him evidently agreeing.

 

      The two were making some-what slow but steady progress down

the stairs, Patrick leaning on his cane, the railing and occasionally

Jace to help keep as much of his weight as possible off his knee as

he could. Jace slowed to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, allowing

them both a rest for a few moments. Patrick was breathing heavily from

the exertion, ears and nose looking slightly flushed. Jace noticed that

there was a little perspiration on the feline's face and forehead,

making the silvery hair limp and stick together in tufts against his

face and neck. The skunk withdrew a solid black kerchief from his coat

pocket, proffering it to the sweating cat, "Need this?"

 

      Patrick took the cloth nodding gratefully, "They really need to

put a general access elevator in this place, Damn." Jace noticed that

his feline friend had shifted away slightly as he swabbed at his

face with the handkerchief. He had turned the right side of his face

away from the skunk as he moved the hair away from his face to dry

his brow. As Jace watched Patrick finished drying his face and

readjusted his hair back to it's original position, once again

hiding his eye and cheek. The skunk glanced away quickly as Patrick

turned back, returning the kerchief. "Thank-you." He smiled warmly,

still not able to penetrate the curtain of hair once again over

Patrick's cheek, deciding not to pry just yet.

 

      Filing things away in his brain for later Jace pondered his

new friend to himself, 'Seems I'm not the only one with secrets

around here.' The skunk thought silently, continuing to keep pace

with Patrick into the library lobby. He caught the feline's eye,

"Just need to check this real quick. Come on." Jace struck out for

the front desk with Patrick in tow, knowing full well that his

librarian friend would be there. He was correct and the big woman

looked up at the approaching figures.

 

      Jace saw the librarian eyes brighten, her habitually present

smile widening even more, "Well, seems you beat me to things." Jace

smiled at Patrick's puzzled expression, "Hi, Mrs. Dewitt." Patrick

used his free hand to wave hesitantly at the librarian. Mrs. Dewitt

reached across the counter ruffling the hair on Patrick's head, the

left side of his head Jace noticed. The large woman's hand never

strayed near the tenaciously covered right side of Patrick's face.

The skunk's sensitive ears caught a faint purr emanating from his

feline friend's chest as the librarian scratched one of his grey

furred ears. "Hi honey. How is your day so far?"

 

      Patrick smiled, shooting a reticent glance at the skunk,

"Getting better I think." "Good, good." The stout woman turned to

regard Jace, "So did you...," "Find my book?, Yep, right here!"

Jace cut off the librarian in mid-sentence. He ignored the odd look

from Patrick and brandished the book at the big woman, holding her

gaze. Mrs. Dewitt nodded slowly and took the hard-cover book from

Jace's sable furred hand. The two of them stepped further down the

check desk, leaving Patrick to peruse a small shelf of new paper-back

novels.

 

      The librarian spoke in a low voice, "So, it looks like you've

met with Patrick." Jace nodded, "Uh-Huh, he seems nice." The

librarian nodded holding Jace's gaze stoically, "Good, I'm glad you

think so., But remember the boy has quirks, be patient, don't push

him., He's better when he's relaxed and comfortable." Jace looked

confused at the librarian's tone, "OK, I'll go easy on him, don't

worry." Mrs. Dewitt nodded, patting the skunk's furred cheek, "I know

you will., I think you could find a good friend here if you play your

cards right."

 

      "Mmm." Jace couldn't shake the feeling that the portly woman

knew more than she was saying as he turned to look at Patrick. He

saw the feline gazing austerely across the lobby and out the main

doors, "We'll see." "I know he's not like other people., But don't

be afraid of that, you're not like other people either, it may work

out for the better for the both of you."

 

      Jace turned back looking at the librarian, his ears pivoting

back slightly as a sudden thought struck him, "Wait a minute!?, You

make it sound like we're going on some sort of date....," He lowered

his voice an bit, "This isn't one of your set-ups is it?, I don't even

know him., He, he may not even be ga..AHHHHH!, Uh, .....mmm, INTERESTED

IN the same things as ME." Mrs. Dewitt cut Jace off with a wave of her

hand, "I know, here's your book, now go on he's waiting for you. Oh,

and Jace, be nice, don't hurt him, he's been through quite enough. Say

good-bye to him for me, I'll see you two later."

 

      The stocky woman walked away, leaving Jace to fume silently as

he gazed at the book in his hands and at the waiting feline. Sighing

in consternation and slipping the book into his pack Jace rejoined

Patrick, attempting to angle his path to come from the side of the

feline rather than from behind. It sort of worked. Patrick still

jumped at the motion in the periphery of his field of vision, but

relaxed seeing it was only Jace. "Ready?" Patrick nodded falling in

stride next to Jace.

 

      As the two reached the doors another pair of students walked

in, both female, one a black rabbit, the other a tawny colored vixen.

Jace looked up at the pair, greeting them with a nod of his head as

they passed, seeing both of them smile back at he and Patrick. The

fox lingered at the door, holding it open for Jace's outstretched

arm. "Thank-you." Jace looked at the vixen, smiling warmly as Patrick

shot past him out the door, head down, nearly stepping on the skunk's

bushy tail. Jace jerked it out of the way just in time, grinning a

little wider at the fox, hoping to smooth over the feline's hasty

exit. He felt the vixen's tail brush across his thigh as he stepped

outside, hearing a light giggle from the fox's lapin companion as

the door whispered shut.

 

      Jace blinked at the grey haze that still hung thickly over-

head. He spotted Patrick standing at the edge of the covered con-

course. "You OK?" Jace saw Patrick nod tensely shifting his gaze up

from the damp concrete, "Yeah, I guess so, sorry. You must get that a

lot, huh?" Jace felt puzzled as to what his feline friend was talking

about, "What?, Oh!, The two females?, Sometimes, but not often.

Usually only if they're new or don't know me from around."

 

      Jace knew he got looks from both sexes and most species now

and again. He tried not to dress too suggestively when he was on

campus, trying to discourage blatant stares and whispered comments as

much as was possible. He usually settled on plain clothes, generally

jeans and unobtrusive shirts most of the time. Jace really didn't see

what turned people on so much about him, he was pretty much average

for his breed. He had seen larger, more muscular and more engaging

members of his species right there on campus.

 

      Jace was an average height, but slightly under weight for his

five foot eleven inches, Jace had always been that way for some reason.

Not that he was close to having ribs showing. Under the ministrations

of his mother and then Thomas, Jace had always tried to eat well. Thin

wasn't quite the right word, more like slender, lithe. Jace had a

runner's or gymnast's physique, compact and lean with tight muscles

visible under his ebon fur.

 

      He regarded the soft drizzle falling once again as he stood

next to Patrick, "My car is in the south parking lot. This way."

Patrick nodded, following the skunk under the walkway. The covered

path allowed the two to stay dry for most of their journey but

stopped as the buildings gave way to the lawns and open paths

surrounding the main parking lot on the south side of campus. Jace

saw the mist settling on Patrick's hair and fur, making it glisten

as it hung limply around the feline's face, neck and arms, "It's not

too much farther."

 

      The two were crossing into the periphery of the large parking

lot, Jace's car was on the edge of the lot near the main street. Jace

was focused mainly on helping Patrick reach the car before he was

totally soaked or tired out from the walk. He was keeping a careful

eye on his feline companion, helping him over the rough or slick

areas to keep him from slipping and falling. Jace helped Patrick to

skirt the center of the parking lot where a large puddle dominated

the scene.

 

      Gradually, over the years, the asphalt of the parking lot had

settled slightly, creating a shallow basin where rain-water could

collect, forming a miniature lake of sorts. Nearly ten feet across at

the widest and the better part of two inches at it's deepest the water

posed something of an obstacle in the two new friend's path. Jace had

a peculiar feeling as he helped Patrick traverse the massive puddle.

He didn't hear the truck's engine till it was too late. Jace gasped,

trying to shield Patrick as best he could as the small electric blue

pick-up truck sped through the rain filled depression as fast as it

could.     

 

      The rapid spin of the truck's tires threw an icy sheet of

water up over the two of them. Jace regained some of his senses after

the polar deluge, hearing shouts of laughter coming from the cab of

the truck as it sped by. One of the unknown assailants could be heard

as he shouted at the soaked figures. Jace could barely make out what

the person was yelling but it didn't take much imagination to realize

the context, "Fucking Freaks!, Some gimp feline and that fucking

faggot skunk!" Jace shook his head, feeling a seething heat rushing

through his face and ears. He drooped a little as he, moved to help

Patrick.

 

      The feline had fallen hard, jarring his hip, and was struggling

to get to his feet from the wet concrete. Jace pulled Patrick upright,

hearing him cough and spit, panting from the shock of the icy deluge

and the fall. Jace felt Patrick tremble, his clothes and fur were

soaked and clung wetly to the feline's unprotected body. Jace's coat

was positively dripping but had saved the skunk from the brunt of the

freezing splash. Jace felt rage building in his chest at seeing his

soaked friend gasping and trembling from the cold and wind.

 

      He punched his pack fiercely, "GODDAMN IT!!!!, FUCKING, NO

GOOD ASS-HOLES!!!, Why can't they just leave people alone?!, Fucking

shit-heads, I hope they burn in Hell!!!" The skunk calmed slightly

at feeling Patrick's shaking hand on his arm, "It's OK, I'll be fine,

really. I-I'm used to things like that." Jace looked at the feline

still slightly angry, "No, it's not OK!, They weren't aiming for you,

they were gunning for me."

 

      "W-w-why?" Patrick was shaking earnestly, teeth chattering,

slightly interrupting his speech. The skunk pressed a finger to the

feline's lips, quieting him, "Don't talk, if you keep talking while

your teeth are chattering you could shred your tongue or lips." Jace

had once seen a leopard bite his own lip when he had been talking

while eating, even such a little thing had required a few stitches.

Any morph with carnivorous anatomy of the mouth was in danger should

they bite their lips or tongue.    

     

      Patrick nodded falling silent as Jace opened the passenger

side door of his older model mustang, the skunk helped him to sit and

closed the door. This provided some relief, but little more than

shelter from further moisture and the biting breeze. Jace pulled off

his drenched coat, tossing it into the back seat as he lowered himself

into the driver's seat. He looked over at Patrick, seeing the feline's

head resting back against the head-rest, eyes closed. He was still

shaking slightly, breathing in shuddery pants.

 

      Jace was worried at the pale color seeping into Patrick's nose

and ears, both were freezing cold to the touch. Jace patted the

feline on the cheek, "Hey, Pat, stay awake..., No napping, it's not

good for you." He was worried that the feline was slipping into some

hypothermic slumber from the dousing. Gritting his teeth Jace started

the car, cranking the heater up as high as it could go and aiming the

vents at Patrick. This seemed to rouse the feline slightly after a

few moments.

 

      Jace was still worried at the poor state of Patrick's being,

he was afraid perhaps hitting his head earlier paired with his double

falls and the icy inundation had caused some type of black-out,

"Change of plans. Let's go, come on, stay with me." Patrick's eyes

fluttered slightly at Jace's words and he looked at the skunk,

"Anywhere w-w-warm and dry will d-do." Jace nodded, "We'll go to

my place. Hang tight for a minute, it's not far." Patrick's voice

quavered as he sat shaking in the passengers seat, "F-fine by m-me."

 

      Jace's apartment complex was only about a mile and a half from

campus. A small complex compared to some, only about 40 units on two

levels, arranged in a U shape around a central court, huge brick

grill and pool. Jace liked the complex, it was secure and he was

familiar with most of his neighbors, knowing a lot of them on a first

name basis. He often had coffee or a conversation with his next door

neighbors or the couple below him. Most of the complexes residents

were a little older than he was but only one or two individuals he

knew of topped 40. It seemed the older individuals avoided him more

than the people nearer his own age.

 

      His next door neighbor did know of a few of the people on the

opposite side of the complex that had some strong opinions about him

and the company he kept. He knew the individual on his other side as

well, a 28-ish female feline that had something of a habit of touching

(nearly groping) him constantly while they talked. But lascivious

advances aside Jace liked her well enough. It was fairly obvious she

liked him, or at least parts of him. A lot. She had gotten in a good

goose to his crotch as they had passed on the stairs the day before.

Despite all her earnest but misplaced carnal overtures, she kept him

appraised of any rampant rumors.

 

      For a laugh one day the skunk had taken his shirt off while she

was over for coffee. Just to see how the feline would react. Jace was

amazed that she hadn't shut up for over an hour. It seemed to the

skunk that the more aroused she got the faster she talked. He had to

admit the feline would make an interesting, if not distracting, bed

partner. When he had finally buttoned his shirt back up the skunk

knew more about his neighbors than he really wanted to. As for the

rumors, Jace really didn't care one way or the other what a few

pin-heads had to say, but it's best to stay informed.

 

       His apartment had originally been Thomas' before he had

moved, Jace had lived there with his brother for several years

before assuming it from Thomas. His brother had offered the free

bedroom in the apartment after things at home had taken a southern

turn. Jace still saw his mother often, she and his genial human step-

father lived about twenty minutes away and his mother's medical

practice was on the far side of town. His father now lived on the

east coast somewhere near Washington DC, he thought.

 

      The two of them hadn't spoken since Jace had staggered out of

the house and made his way to Thomas' apartment. His father still

hadn't apologized for the round-house blow that had sent Jace to the

floor, seeing stars and choking on blood from his nose. That had been

over four years past. Jace still to this day didn't know why his

father had hit him, he hadn't shouted or intentionally started the

fight. His father was the one who had started the topic and who had

struck his own son.

 

      It wasn't Jace's fault, he was who he was, there wasn't much he

could do about it. His mother had been much more accepting of her son

and his brother had gone ballistic. The normally affable older skunk

had raged and shouted at the top of his voice on the phone with their

father at seeing the drying blood and swelling on his younger

brother's face. Jace had never seen Thomas like that before, his

normally even-tempered and controlled older brother had yelled and

ranted at their father.

 

      He had used every florid word and vulgar description Jace

had ever heard and then some. Finally slamming the phone down and

tending to his younger brother's wounds as best he could with help

from a neighbor who happened to be a nurse. Jace had always felt

close to Thomas as brothers should but that day he had seen first

hand how much his brother loved and wanted to protect him. The

separation and divorce hadn't been long in coming after the hitting

incident. After seeing and tending to his injuries Jace's mother

had said she didn't want to live married to someone who could send

his own son crashing to the floor broken and bleeding for telling

the truth.

 

      Jace had taken the apartment over when his brother had moved

a little over a year ago, letting out the spare room to Gary, his

human friend. Jace knew the super very well, the complex actually

belonged to one of his aunts, so rent and repairs had never been a

problem for either he or Thomas. Jace pulled into his spot in the

parking area and got out of the car, trying to heft Patrick's

shivering form from the passengers seat. Jace's worry was renewed

at Patrick's state, the feline was still wet, shivering profusely in

his clothes.

 

      The grey feline was barely awake, struggling to regain his

senses against the numbing cold that permeated his body. Jace could

barely hear Patrick, "I'm alright, just give me a minute." Jace looked

around anxiously, finally spotting what he was looking for and looked

back down at Patrick, pushing the feline back down into the seat,

"Hold still, I'll be right back." Jace shut the door once again, then

dashed across the parking lot to the main gate near the mail-boxes,

"William!!!, Wil!, Yo, Stripes!!!" Jace shouted as he ran, seeing

the familiar shape hesitate and turn back from the gate.

 

      William, the complex manager and super/handyman paused and

watched as Jace skidded to a halt in front of him panting. Jace

looked up into William's face, he had to. William was a tiger morph,

huge and heavily muscled, standing a full head and then some taller

than his own near 6 foot. Jace had known the older morph since

Thomas had introduced them shortly after he had moved in with his

brother. Despite the age difference, he was 19 and William nearly

26, Jace still considered the tiger one of his closest friends and

confidantes.

 

      The two of them had even been involved with each other briefly,

but Jace had found William to be too physically rough for his tastes.

More than once Jace had been forced to go to see his doctor after

spending the night with the massive tiger. The bites, scratches,

sprains and pulled muscles, some often in awkward places, were

painful (not to mention slightly embarrassing) and had worn quickly

on the young skunk. So the two of them had parted ways amiably,

William to find someone more his size and resilience, and Jace

someone less ferocious in bed than a full grown tiger. Jace had to

admit the sex had been astounding, but his insurance premiums had

suffered from the frequent medical visits.

 

      William grinned at Jace, "What's up Little Brother?" Jace

regained his breath slightly, "Hey William ., Would you mind lending

me a hand for a sec?" The tiger's ears twitched a little, "What?,

Now you want me and my body for something., I thought all I was

good for was roughing you up in bed..." Jace sighed, rolling his

eyes, the huge tiger teased him now and then on the terms of their

break-up, "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm a wimp compared to you, the striped

brick wall., This is serious, I need your help." The striped feline

draped a huge arm across Jace's shoulders, pulling the skunk close

to his chest and gesturing, "Lead the way Little Brother." He

paused, holding Jace back a moment, "By the way, Why are you wet?,

Do I even want to know..?"

 

      Jace laughed bitterly, "Ha, ha., It's a long story, come on."

He led the massive tiger to his car, opening the side door. A low

rumbling purr that had been resonating in the tiger's chest stopped

cold as he spoke, "Jace, what happened?" Patrick stirred a bit,

weakly at the new voice, letting his head sink back down to the head

rest after a moment. "There was an 'circumstance' at the campus

parking lot., Some ass-holes drenched us peeling through a puddle."

The tiger turned his head to regard Jace, "I assume you two know

each other?" Jace nodded, "Yeah, this is Patrick Lauren., Would you

mind at all Wil, I don't think he can make it up the stairs in the

shape he's in."  

 

      William patted Jace's shoulder as he leaned down, "No problem

Little Bro." Jace watched William reach into the car, withdrawing

Patrick's slack form and holding the feline in his arms surprisingly

gently despite his bulk. The skunk looked up into William's face,

"You've got him?" The tiger's sleek head nodded, "Yeah, quickest and

easiest this way." he paused, "Light, Little One here needs to eat.,

Skinny for his size, like you. Need to put something under his fur,

fill him out a little." Jace hadn't noticed it earlier but he saw

that William was right, lying there in the huge tiger's arms Patrick

looked like a kitten.

 

      The smaller feline was lean, and looked ill-fed, his slender

body was rangy, verging on skinny. Patrick was semi-alert in

William's arms, struggling slightly in protest against the tiger's

unfamiliar touch. "Peace Little One, I won't hurt you... Just relax."

William started toward the gate as Jace fetched the packs and

Patrick's cane from the car. The two of them passed through the court-

yard as more cold rain began to fall from the leaden sky.

 

      Jace dug his keys from his pocket, opening the apartment door

for William. "I put him down on the sofa, OK?" Jace nodded at the

tiger's question, putting down the packs next to the front door and

keeping Patrick's cane in his hand. William looked over his shoulder,

spying the walking-stick in Jace's grasp, "That his?" The skunk

nodded at William, seeing the massive tiger turn back to Patrick,

smoothing the smaller feline's hair over his head, "Little One here

isn't\_ healthy....."

 

      Jace wondered why his tiger friend had trailed off. Looking

up he saw that William, not knowing, had pushed the hair up and

away from Patrick's face, fully exposing it. Jace heard William

breathe something in his native language. Being part Siberian Tiger

and having been brought here to the states with his parents when he

was only ten, William spoke an off-shoot Russian dialect. Jace knew

that although the massive tiger spoke near perfect, albeight slightly

accented English he also spoke Russian and several other minor

dialects fluently. From the tone and inflection in his voice Jace

assumed what-ever William had said had probably been a rather ornate

curse.

 

      The tiger hissed softly, "The Little One here has had a rough

life., What makes a mark like that?" Jace sighed as he leaned on

William's broad shoulders looking at Patrick's now exposed face,

"Looks like scarring from a burn most likely, maybe a heavy scalding,

near or boiling water perhaps." What looked like a slightly odd colored

patch of fur against Patrick's cheek and face was on closer inspection

actually scar tissue that showed through his silky coat.

 

      Jace now understood why Patrick had been so adamant about

keeping his face covered, the scarring covered a moderate portion

of the feline's upper face and cheek, where the dark keloided tissue

showed through his fur. In respect for Patrick's feelings Jace

restored the silvery hair back to it's original position, over the

feline's face. Patrick was stirring gently, the color creeping back

into his ears and lips as his body temperature rose again. Jace was

glad he had left the heat on when he had left for classes that

morning.

 

      The massive tiger shook his head, "Ill-fed, battered, scarred.,

What more can God to to this young-one?" Jace spoke bitterly, "I

somehow doubt it was God that did that." William rose slowly putting

a huge hand on Jace's shoulder, "Let me know how the little one does.,

Get him dried out and keep him warm., You don't want to mess with

hypothermia in weather like this., It can be a real bitch., Trust me,

where I come from this is beach weather, but still not to be toyed

with."

 

      Jace nodded at the tiger, sidling up close and putting his arms

around William embracing him warmly. "Thanks." Jace felt the silky

striped fur under his hands, smelling the tiger's familiar scent, and

couldn't resist himself. As he embraced William, Jace allowed a hand

to stray down the tiger's back, seeking out his tail and rubbing it's

base as he had done when they were curled in bed together. William

stiffened, looking down at Jace, "Hey!, Careful how far you take this

hug, I might hold you to it." Jace grinned, knowing that William wasn't

kidding. He hesitantly released the tiger's tail, noticing with an even

wider smile that William was forced to re-adjust the front of his jeans

before ambling out the door.

 

      Jace missed his older lover but he knew that an on and off

relationship wouldn't really fly with the tiger, normally it was all

or nothing with William. The skunk knew he likely wouldn't survive all

so he had settled on being intimate friends with the massive feline.

Jace looked out the door after William for a few moments then turned

back to see Patrick blinking groggily at him from the sofa. He helped

the feline to sit up slowly against the cushions.

 

      "Where are we ?, I guess I must have blacked out for a few

minutes." Patrick looked confused, Jace guessed he probably didn't

remember much after being hit by the freezing wave of water in the

parking lot, "We're at my place, I brought you back here after you

started to space in and out from the cold." Jace settled himself in

the arm-chair next to the coffee table, giving Patrick his space on the

sofa to recover. The grey furred feline relaxed back on the sofa, "It's

nice in here." The temperature in the apartment was pleasant and mild,

not hot but not cold enough to chill one.

 

      Patrick gazed about at his surroundings, brilliant eyes soaking

things up as he looked around, "Nice." "Thank-you, I try." Jace gave a

limited tour from his seat in the living room area, "Living-room here.,

Kitchen there behind that little dividing wall., The bedrooms and

bathrooms are down that way." Jace pointed to the small hall-way that

opened off between the living-room and kitchen. Patrick was nodding as

Jace ticked off the rooms and features, "Must be expensive." Jace

looked slightly embarrassed, "Uh, not really., My aunt owns the complex,

my rent is pretty much controlled and fairly low."

 

      "Oh!" Jace felt a familiar weight land on the back of the

arm-chair, seeing Patrick jump slightly, "Sorry, I should have warned

you about Cherokee." The skunk felt a long tail whip against his neck

and small paws rest on his shoulder. Reaching around he seized the

Siamese house-cat perched on the back of the chair. Holding Cherokee

in his lap Jace looked at Patrick, "You don't mind house-cats do you?"

He felt a little foolish asking but felt better seeing the feline morph

shake his head, "No, that would be kind of prejudiced of me wouldn't

it?, I'd feel like I were rejecting some ancient ancestor of mine if

I did."

 

      Jace laughed, nodding and releasing the cat to wander toward

Patrick. "Where did you come up with Cherokee?" Patrick stroked the

cat tentatively, making the Siamese settle down on the cushions to be

petted. Jace looked at the cat, "Kind of a long story, actually. The

mask colouring around her face and eyes there looks something

like a common ceremonial paint pattern used by some of the Cherokee

and Cheyenne tribes., They would put paint around their eyes and faces

like that before dance ceremonies or battles., It was actually my

brother that suggested the name, it kind of stuck."

 

      Patrick gazed toward the hallway, "Is that who lives here

besides you?, Your brother?, I heard you say bedrooms." "Oh, no.,

My brother moved out about a year ago., He lives and goes to school

in Washington state now., I did have a roommate up until last semester,

but he moved back home and I'm alone now., Actually I'm looking for a

new mate, ROOM-mate, ROOMMATE, ahem, roommate ." Jace grinned way too

broadly, wanting nothing more than to find a wall to beat his head

against at that exact moment, "Haven't found any takers though!"

 

      Patrick looked thoughtfully at Jace as the skunk calmed down

again. "My brother's name is Thomas, there's a picture right there on

the table next to the lamp." Jace watched as the gold eyed feline peered

at the photo, "That's your brother?, I thought it was you, the two of you

could be twins." Jace smiled, "We get that a lot., There are some

differences though, his hair is longer and has more black in it than mine

does., His eyes are a lighter green, oh, and he has that little white

mark on his fore-head above his muzzle, I don't."

 

      The grey feline nodded, looking back and forth between Jace and

the photo, "Mmm, I see now, subtle differences., Handsome though, uhm,

that is, you're both handsome, I mean." "Thank-you." Jace heard a soft

rasping noise, looking down to see Cherokee slowly grooming the fur on

Patrick's hand. Jace laughed, seeing the feline morph's ears flush

slightly, "She does have a point, would you like to take a shower?,

Get some of the dirt and wet off you...?"

 

* * *
\>end part III    

 

                                                                                                                           

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/Rm0QOdvn
Part of the series Love\'s Shadow
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