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1. Ginger Ale

Jet rushed out of the club and into the rainy night, holding his duffel bag in front of his face as he passed by Asher, hoping the drake was too preoccupied with whatever was going on on stage to notice him. The rain was still falling in heavy sheets, but he paid it no mind (having forgotten he even brought an umbrella in his rush to leave) and hurried directly to Swampwater.

I can’t go back to the apartment. What if he follows me? Jet thought as he burst through the bar door and pushed his way into the bathroom, hunching over the counter. His eyes were wild and terrified and his entire body shook. He splashed some water into his face and shut his eyes, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself.

He didn’t see you. There’s no way! He was too busy watching the guys on stage, right?

“Right…?” Jet echoed aloud to his reflection.

The bathroom door swung open and a voice came from behind it, “Jet?”

The shark froze for a moment before realization hit him. Rakkarth entered the bathroom, eyes darting around until they landed on Jet. He relaxed and held the doorknob in his paw.

“Are you all right?”

Jet’s eyes itched and he felt the tears beginning to form, but he turned away and rubbed them, nodding his head.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“You don’t seem very okay. And you’re soaking wet.”

“I just,” The shark began with a sigh and turned back to face Rakkarth, “saw Asher, at the club; I don’t think he even noticed me, but I don’t know. It just messed with me, so I just got out of there as fast as I could without screwing around with my umbrella I guess.”

Rakkarth’s eyes narrowed and he squeezed the doorknob, his other paw clenching into a fist. “He’s next door, huh?”

Jet shook his head, raising his hands, “Rakk, no, please. I just got upset all of a sudden. I’ll be fine, promise. I’m just going to hang out here tonight if that’s okay. I don’t really want to go back to the apartment by myself. I’m sorry.”

The wolf sighed and relaxed. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for, Jet.” He stepped past the door and held it open. “Come on. I can take my break and we can go out back for a smoke and talk.”

Jet smiled and stepped towards Rakkarth. “Thanks, that sounds perfect.”

Rakkarth led Jet past the bar and into the kitchen, full of tables and shelves made of shining stainless steel, a large flat top grill, and a few deep fryers and coolers. A weird odor tickled Jet’s nose but he dismissed it as either weed or kitchen funk. They weaved their way around everything, past the walk-in cooler and freezer and out the back door into a small clearing in the alley behind the bar. It was fenced in to keep strangers out and had a few folding chairs set up for employees on their smoke breaks. A square marquee tent had been set up years ago for days when the weather was poor or the sun too hot, and while parts of it were torn and frayed, it still left them a nice, dry place to light one up. A lone bulb shone brightly above the back door, and raindrops danced in its orange glow.

They each lit up a cigarette and stood there, huddled over just a bit, hands and paws in pockets to stave off the chilly night air.

“See, you said fur sucks on rainy days,” Jet began, shivering and winking at Rakkarth, “But I bet its nice and warm right now! Though, I guess me being wet doesn’t help my case, any.”

The wolf chuckled and nodded. “I suppose that’s a fair trade off. How was work?”

Jet averted his gaze and blushed gently. Even with all of his poking and prodding, his open flirting and joking towards Rakkarth, for whatever reason, he still felt bashful discussing the exact details of his nights at work with the wolf; not that it was even a secret between the two of them anyway. Rakkarth wasn’t oblivious as to what went on at The Fairy Tail, but even still, Jet felt so shy about it when talking to him, unsure if it was shame, or perhaps in some weird way, he didn’t want to upset the wolf or hurt his feelings.

“It was all right,” Jet began, shifting from one footpaw to the other. “I mean, everything was fine until I went to leave, then as I’m walking out, of course I see his stupid ass face at his stupid ass table.”

Rakkarth looked intently at Jet, his eyes narrowing and a growl rumbling from within him. “Did he say anything to you?”

“No, no,” Jet waved a hand through the air, “Like I said, I don’t think he even noticed me. I hope he didn’t anyway.”

“Good.”

Jet gently prodded Rakkarth with his elbow. “Don’t worry, I know I got a big grumpy Wolf Daddy who’s got my back!”

“That you do,” Rakkarth said with a short nod.

The shark began to chuckle, but it faded away into the night air rapidly. Sure, Rakkarth was larger and stronger than Jet was - that was no contest even in the slightest - but Asher was a fucking giant and truth be told, the thought of Rakkarth going up against him if anything were to spiral out of control… well… It scared Jet.

I don’t want Rakk to get hurt for my stupid ass… I can’t - won’t let that happen. Jet thought, the intrusive images of the wolf getting beaten or torn to shreds by Asher’s claws… or worse flooded his mind and he sniffed, his eyes growing full.

Why do I keep crying so fucking much!? All I’ve done the past day is cry!

“You all right?” Rakkarth asked, placing a paw on Jet’s shoulder.

The shark bit his lip and stepped forward against Rakkarth, arms wrapping around the wolf’s waist. He kept his head low, his face turned away.

“Jet?”

“I’m okay. Just…” Jet paused, sighing, “had a moment there.” He stepped back and sniffed. “Sorry.”

“It’s all right. It’s been a rough couple of days for you, I know you’re on edge.”

“Yeah I really gotta snap out of this shit, huh?”

“It’s just going to take time.”

“I guess so.”

“Anyway, my bones are starting to ache. Guess my fur isn’t that good at keeping the cold out, and I’m sure you’re freezing. Let’s head back inside.”

They ashed their cigarettes into a bucket full of sand and headed back through the kitchen.

“Can I hang out here ‘til you get off work?”

“Sure, one second,” Rakkarth replied as he lifted up a step stool and started carrying it. “Here, I’ll put this behind the bar for you. It’s not particularly comfortable, but you’ll be away from everyone.”

Jet smiled. “Small price to pay for VIP access!”

As usual, the bar was hopping and full of loud, vulgar patrons, and honestly that felt like home to the shark. He sat in the corner behind the bar and watched as Rakkarth worked. The stool was one of those made to look like a two-step staircase. It wobbled a little and was indeed not particularly comfortable, but Jet didn’t mind - it kept him out of sight just in case.

“Here,” Rakkarth began, holding out a glass of ginger ale to the shark. “I’m sure you’re thirsty. Unless you’d like something else to drink.”

Jet took the glass gratefully. “No, this is perfect, thanks. I don’t want to give my liver any more trouble after what it went through last night. I might have a beer or two with you after work, though.”

The wolf smiled and nodded. “Sure.”

The shark sat there, content, and watched Rakkarth work, sipping his ginger ale. He enjoyed just… being there, chin resting on his hand, observing Rakkarth going through the motions of his shift. It was just so simple and yet gratifying to Jet. It was as though for the past eight months, he’d had this chain wrapped around his body - not strangling him but always just tight enough - the threat always there, looming over him, persistent and dreadful. And now, it was just… gone. His spirits felt lifted, and it wasn’t hard to discern the reason; he no longer felt constantly on edge or anxious about Asher’s next phone call, next extravagant display of whatever Asher considered ‘love’… and his next outburst. But now, Asher could go fuck himself for all Jet cared. The shark rocked back and forth to the music, tapping his footpaw and humming along.

“Enjoying yourself?” Rakkarth asked between filling mugs.

Jet nodded and smiled. “Hell yeah, I’d take this over a shitty date at Amber Wings any day…” He sipped his ginger ale. “Are you usually here alone?”

Rakkarth shook his head. “No, I’m just the only one here up front. Simberlyn is in the back.”

“Oh wow, I didn’t even notice anyone back there, honestly.”

“Yeah. He has trouble with social anxiety so he usually stays back in the kitchen and cooks if someone orders something, or restocks for me if I run out up here.”

“Oh, right, okay.”

“That being said he was probably in the god damn walk-in getting stoned when you and I went out back earlier,” Rakkarth spat, turning his head towards the door to the kitchen as he spoke as though he was doing so directly to his coworker.

“Oh that’s what I smelled,” Jet burst out laughing. “Sounds like a good way to pass the time at work at least… Is it hard doing all of this by yourself?”

Rakkarth smiled and shook his head. “It might look like a lot, but the orders are simple and easy to fill. I’ve been here long enough and the regulars know me well enough, that if I’m not up here, they know I’ll be back and they can wait until I am. If someone has an issue with speed, they know where the door is. The only ones who get bitchy about it are the ones who get really shit faced.”

“You sure you don’t need any help? I could try.”

Rakkarth shook his head. “I’m good, Jet.”

“Oh… all right, then…” Jet’s voice trailed off.

The wolf squatted down and placed his paw on Jet’s shoulder, “Your company is enough, Jet. You don’t have to justify your being here. Don’t worry about it.”

Jet fidgeted with his hands, feeling his cheeks start to burn. He nodded and took another sip of his ginger ale.

* * *

As the final few patrons left, hanging onto one another and stumbling out the door, Jet stood up. He arched his back and stretched. The wolf was walking around the room with a tray in one hand, picking up spent mugs and placing them on it as he went. Jet looked around and then picked up a broom and dustpan and started sweeping.

“Jet. You don’t have to do anything,” Rakkarth protested as he slid the full tray onto the bar, the mugs gently clinking together.

“I know!” Jet replied cheerfully as he continued to sweep. He turned to the wolf and squeezed the broom handle. “I just… I don’t know. I feel better. Happier now that, you know, it’s over I guess.”

The wolf smiled and disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes. Jet could hear the sounds of mugs and glasses jangling around and water running. He continued sweeping and dumped the dustpan into the bin, and then sat down at the bar and waited for Rakkarth.

“Well,” Rakkarth began, reappearing through the kitchen door and tossing a wet washcloth towards Jet, “If you insist, help me bus the tables.”

Jet picked up the washcloth that had smacked him in his snout and rolled up his sleeves, going about wiping down the tables and bar. There weren’t too many to begin with and between the two of them it took no time at all. As they stood in the front door and prepared to leave - Jet having brought out the umbrella again - Rakkarth turned his head towards the kitchen and called out:

“Good night, Simberlyn! See you Sunday night!”

There was no answer but Rakkarth seemed pleased and so he and Jet left. They walked along slowly in the early morning hours under the umbrella. The rain had finally eased up into a drizzle that fogged up the street and cast everything in a soothing but eerie mist. They walked along in silence, their breaths puffing out in front of them, and it wasn’t long until they were ascending the stairs in the complex and entering their apartment.

Jet folded up the umbrella and set it down propped up against the wall next to the door. He slipped his jacket off and tossed it and his duffel bag onto the catch-all dining table. Rakkarth took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, stepping over to the couch and plopping down.

“Beer?” Jet asked as he opened the fridge.

“A few, please.”

The shark gathered up the beers and held them between his forearm and his chest, sitting down on the couch next to Rakkarth. He set three out in front of the wolf, who as per his nightly ritual, cracked one open and downed half of it. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

Jet crossed his legs and sat facing Rakkarth as he sipped his own.

“So,” the shark began, setting his beer down on the coffee table, “Before we went to work, you said it was difficult for you to play around with or joke with people. Is there anything I could do to make it easier for you?”

The wolf sighed out his nose and replied without opening his eyes, “I don’t think so, Jet. When I was in prison I just kept to myself, so for six years I just didn’t really engage with anyone past…” he waved his paw trying to find the right words.

“Like surface level bullshit?”

Rakkarth snapped his fingers and nodded. “Bingo.”

“I see,” Jet sipped at his beer again. “I guess we both have things that’ll just take time to overcome. But that’s okay,” Jet shrugged and smiled, “there’s no rush anyway. And for what it’s worth, I think you made a lot of progress all at once last night.”

“What do you mean?”

Jet looked down and his ears lowered. “When you said I mattered to you, when you spent all last evening with me, comforting me, and helping me be strong, and just being there. Despite the fact that it’s difficult for you, or doesn’t come naturally to you anymore - when I needed it most, when I was terrified and ashamed, and I felt like I didn’t matter to anyone, you showed me that you care for me, and that, to you, I do matter.”

The shark looked down at his lap for a moment and started sniffing, twin rivulets running down the sides of his face. He looked up at the wolf and smiled. “And that means a lot to me. It means a lot to me because I know it’s hard for you to show it or say it, but you did. Thank you.”

Jet laughed nervously and wiped his eyes and cheeks. “There I go again, sorry, Rakk.”

The wolf chuckled softly but Jet could see that his eyes were glossy, too. They decided to leave it there and let the silence of the room ease the conversation to an end. After a while, Jet stood up suddenly and rushed over to the fridge. He yanked off a sheet of paper that had been attached to it with a magnet. He groped around blindly for something on top of the fridge and, after a few moments, found it, bringing down a pen.

“It’s grocery day, so I’ll be doing that later on, Rakk. Did you write down everything you wanted?” Jet said, walking back to the couch and sitting down. He scanned over the list, his pen drifting across each listed item as he did.

“Beer and smokes on there?”

“Yes,” Jet said with a chuckle. “They always are.”

“Then yes.”

“What about any dinners, Rakk?”

“Nah, since I just eat at work. Coffee.”

“Coffee stays on the list. Fuck, I grab coffee even if I’m not grocery shopping,” Jet chuckled again.

Rakkarth nodded. He scratched his chin and finished his beer. “I can’t think of anything else.”

Jet absently tapped the pen against his temple as he looked over the list. Instant noodles, beer, smokes, coffee, creamer, paper towels, loaf of bread… his eyes drifted upwards as he read the list off in his mind, his gaze landing on Rakkarth. He looked at the wolf intently and then back at the grocery list, his cheeks turning a faint pink as he wrote down: Get stuff to make a nice dinner for Rakk to say thanks.

“I guess that’s everything we can think of, then,” Jet said, tossing the pen onto the coffee table. “But if you think of anything else while I’m out, I’ll have my phone so you can call me, okay?”

The wolf didn’t respond and instead Jet heard a soft, low rhythmic rumbling with each of his breaths. Rakkarth lay there, head tilted back and eyes shut, dozing.

Jet smiled and folded up the piece of paper, slipping it into his pocket. He stood up and stretched, downing the last of his beer, then he gathered all of the open cans and brought them over to the sink, rinsing them and tossing them into the bin. He flipped the switch next to the front door, turning off the lights, and then picked up his jacket off of the dining table.

“I guess I’m going to head to bed, too, then,” Jet said softly to the snoozing wolf as he walked up to the couch. He draped his jacket over Rakkarth and smiled. He turned and began walking towards the hallway.

“Night, Rakk, thanks again.”