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Chapter 25: Bake Me a Cake

Geoff and Nathanial stood in the shower, scrubbing each other's fur. "How'd you like your first workout session, pup?" Geoff gave Nathanial a quick lick on the nose.

Nathanial smiled, "It was tough, I may come to like it, though. It makes my body feel a 'good tired', the way my brain does after studying a magic problem. Almost addictive." He frowned, "Are you jealous? Of the way the others make jokes, sexual jokes, about me, or around me? Or compliment me? You seem... testy, at times."

Geoff scowled a little and folded his ears back in shame. He scuffed the floor with his hindpaw, pushing some of the suds around, "Yeah. A little. I know you promised to not to play around, unless I'm there or give permission, like with Da, but..."

Nathanial kissed him, "I'm yours, Geoff. You feel like they're trying to poach on your territory. But stop it." He hugged Geoff, kissing him, again, "They know I'm with you, they know our rules, and they know it won't happen unless it's on our terms. Not mine, not yours, not theirs. Ours. Relax, Geoff. When you feel jealous, just remind yourself that I love you, not them. I choose you, not them. And that you trust me. I hope you also trust them. I know you don't enjoy sharing me, so, unless it's another Chi thing, I won't suggest it, or ask. However, with you and Faelen having sex with non-Spirits, we're likely going to have to play together on occasion."

Geoff tensed up at that. He knew Nathanial was right, about all of it, he still didn't like it. "Let's hurry up. Faelen and Liam need to get cleaned up, too. But while we're talking about this, what was with you lighting into Dirk and Nicholas?"

Nathanial looked away, "Nick is changing, a lot, and quickly. I'm... worried."

Geoff couldn't stifle a snort. Nathanial glared at him. "Sorry, Mr. Pot." Nathanial cocked his head to one side, "Pot calling the kettle black. Old saying."

"I'm familiar with the saying, not the Mr. Pot thing. You think I'm changing a lot, too? Yeah, I guess I am. But, the potential source of the change is different. It may just be puberty for him, the whole rebellious teenager phase, but the bone choker scared me. He's been kidnapped by a Succubus, and for him to suddenly start to enjoy being dominated, and possibly seeking it out... Well, I guess I should hope he plays with Dirk and not anyone else. Kind of like Micah playing with Nick. I'm still scared."

"Dirk won't hurt him. Don't worry about that. I doubt they are playing together, though. Da would kill him." They started rinsing off.

"That's not what I'm scared of." Geoff looked at him and indicated he should continue, Nathanial just shook his head. "How are we going to all work out during the week? Sensei has a gym at home, so he's fine. I guess, with permission, Nick and I could come over here. We'd have to bring Micah, but that'd make for some very early mornings."

Geoff grabbed Nathanial and swung him into a big 'movie style' kiss, holding his pup so Nathanial's back was parallel to the floor. He broke the kiss and stared down into Nathanial's eyes, "Hopefully early enough that we have a little time before or after the workout. For us."

Nathanial smiled as he blushed. He reached up placing his paw against Geoff's cheek, "Always. I will always try to make sure there's time for you." Geoff kissed him again and shut off the water. They climbed out of the shower and started to dry off. Nathanial opened the door and called out, "Sensei, Faelen, the shower is free." They got up from the homework table and walked over.

Liam placed his paw over Nathanial's heart, "Hmm. I will need to examine you, once I am clean." His brow suddenly furrowed, "Or not. Stand still, spread you arms and legs." He placed his paws over Nathanial's ears and slowly ran them down his body, moving side to side so he covered almost every inch of the fluffy fur. "You are still very tense. You also had a large amount of sex with Geoff-san, which I would imagine relieved some of the tension, but imbalanced your Chi a bit further. I am more Yin than I care for, and my Chi is at a tolerable level, so I can help in one of two ways. We can either swap partners this afternoon, to allow them time to stockpile a little more semen; or, I can try to infuse you with some of my Chi. I would much prefer the first option, despite my new preference to keep Faelen to myself, and my desire to limit my sexual encounters with other Spirits. I am still not producing Chi on my own, thanks to the side effects of my medicine. The imbalance is a small concern, at the moment; it could even wait for a few days, if you limit your intake of Geoff's semen. I want you to dry, and then go have a cup or two of the tisane I brought over. I also want you to try to relax for the morning. Put aside any stressful thoughts, do not engage in any aggravating activities, and just allow yourself to unwind. Please, listen to my advice on this. I will massage you an hour after you finish your drink, to allow it to calm you some. It will make the massage more effective." His face was conspicuously impassive.

Geoff swallowed, uncomfortable, "Sensei. Um, I know Nathanial wouldn't like you to put yourself in danger, or anything, so, um, we should probably do the partner swap thing. I'd kinda prefer to, um, be there, for when Faelen does it. To him."

Faelen chuckled, "I thought you were over your crush on me, Geoff. You still want to see me in action? Sure, I get to watch you play with my boyfriend that way. Should be hot." Geoff blushed, but felt really happy when Nathanial smiled at him and kissed him, mouthing 'thank you'. He wasn't entirely sure for what, for letting him get ploughed by Faelen, for considering his feelings on making Liam use his Chi, or for trying to get over his jealousy.

Nathanial bowed to Liam before pushing Geoff under the blow dryer and beginning to brush him. Liam and Faelen stepped into the shower stall, setting the water temperature. Geoff kept an eye on Faelen and Liam; he felt warm and fuzzy inside as he saw them stare into each other's eyes before kissing. He wondered if they felt the same when he was with Nathanial like that. He didn't notice he sighed until he heard Nathanial chuckle. "They do make a romantic picture. I'm really glad for them." Nathanial sighed and placed his paw on Geoff's thigh as he knelt to brush the Wolf's legs, "Well, for us, too." He looked up to meet Geoff's eyes.

Faelen laughed in the shower, "Sorry, guys. Are we bothering you?"

Geoff smiled, his eyes felt a little moist, "No, not at all. I'm just really happy one of my wishes have been granted. I wanted you to find someone that'd make you as happy as Nathanial makes me. You have. I feel... free, I can enjoy my happiness with Nathanial without any guilt, thinking that your duty will always keep you alone. I'm..." He shook his head, feeling like a dope, and turned to let Nathanial brush his back.

He was surprised to be enveloped from behind in a big, wet hug, "Thanks, Geoff. I remember that. I wasn't looking for love, I was never expecting it, but I'm glad I've found it. I just don't want you to ever feel guilty for a choice I make, okay? I choose to serve you, your family, and all that goes with it. It's my duty and my honour."

Geoff sniffled and cleared his throat, "Yeah, I know. Now, let me go, you big lug, I was almost dry."

Nathanial poked Faelen's thigh with the brush, "Hey, that's my boyfriend you're hugging and poking. Just because Sensei got you a little riled doesn't mean you can start poking that thick piece of meat around his tail. Try the tail in the shower." The Wolves jumped, and looked at Nathanial and then down at Faelen's groin. Faelen was partially erect, and Nathanial was grinning evilly.

"Oops. Sorry, I didn't notice."

Nathanial chuckled and shook his head, "Don't bother me none. I just thought the mood could stand to be a little lighter. Cut down on the stress and all. Besides, if Geoff had a crush on you at some point, it may be fulfilling one of his fantasies. That's not a bad thing."

Geoff blushed, "Yeah, I've dreamt about it, but I'm usually on top in those. I'm not keen on the thought of receiving." He still eyed Faelen's dick, it was a really nice looking one. He might make an exception for that.

The other three laughed, Liam said teasingly, "I can assure you, Geoff-san, that Faelen knows how to use it, and it feels much better than it looks. His ass is also very enjoyable, but since you have Nathanial's to play with, I cannot blame you for topping whenever possible." Geoff squelched a growl, Liam was right, Nathanial had a great ass. He had to squelch a second growl when he saw Nathanial eyeing Faelen, too. He couldn't blame him, since he was just doing that. He turned around and pulled Nathanial up into a passionate kiss. Liam cleared his throat after a bit, "A reminder, if we are alleviating our imbalanced Chi this afternoon, you need to forgo ejaculating till then. Nathanial and I may, as we choose, but you Wolves should not." Geoff let Nathanial go, reluctantly, and turned back to the wall. Nathanial resumed brushing.

---

Liam walked into his house, Faelen close behind. He had just finished showing Faelen and Geoff how to give a basic pleasure massage, using Nathanial as the 'dummy'. They had all enjoyed it, and it helped relax Nathanial. Now, his schedule dictated that he needed to spend time on his art, he'd done enough painting, so he was going to bring his violin back to Faelen's and practice there. He also needed to talk to his dad. They wiped their hindpaws clean, it was drizzling out, so it was a little muddy. Faelen loved it in this weather. He wanted take a long walk, Liam was considering it, he actually enjoyed the weather more than normal. He wasn't sure if it was because he was with Faelen, Faelen's delight with the weather made him happy, or if he was influenced by the bond they now had. "I would like to, Faelen, but I need to talk to Dad, and then practice my violin." He flipped his ears around, "Kitchen." He heard Faelen's stomach growl, very loudly. "He's baking a cake to bring by. He's very good at baking. Come on, there'll probably be some cuttings to snack on. I should also see if I have something to give to Geoff. I haven't really had an opportunity to find anything."

"You don't need to. You've done a lot for all of us already. Geoff isn't one for accumulating possessions, anyway. Most gifts tend to get 'lost' or donated."

Liam nodded and led Faelen into the kitchen. Walter had some Swing music on, and was swishing his rump and tail around as he put the icing on the cake. He was naked, like usual, and he could tell Faelen's eyes widened and a grin broke out on his face. His father was a little soft around the edges, but the Rottie breeding ensured he had a broad enough frame to carry it well. Faelen's jaw dropped when Walter spun around. His father's sheath was five inches long, as long as Faelen's, and it was a little thicker. His sac wasn't as large, but still impressive. Walter saw them and stopped dead before grabbing an apron. Liam chuckled, "Relax, Dad. He is family, now. We have also seen most of what you have to offer, so there is no need to hide it. Furthermore, his father is also a nudist, as are the rest of my friends, nudity is not an issue. Well, unless Conor-san or Mrs. McDougal is there."

Walter was still blushing a little, but put the apron down, "Ah, sorry, Faelen. I would've expected Liam to have the courtesy to warn me, but since he didn't when he brought Nathanial over, I should have known better. What do you mean, 'he's family'? You didn't elope, did you?"

"No, Dad. I would let you know if I got engaged or planned on marrying. I will graduate before we marry. It is much more permanent than marriage. Death shall not part, in this case."

"If you could clarify that, please?" Liam quickly filled him in. Walter looked stunned, as if he was having trouble processing this. "Hmm. That would have a lot of potential benefits and drawbacks. I don't know if congratulations or condolences are in order. I do know Liam has been very lonely, so I'm happy for him." He hugged Faelen, forgetting he was naked, "Whatever the reason, I guess a welcome to the family is in order. I was planning on visiting this afternoon, but I guess I have to, now. Got to meet the in-laws. Liam, I'll invite Mary over tomorrow or tonight. You'll need to tell her. I'll let her know that she should come alone, and leave Gary at home. She'll want to meet you, Faelen, but I'll warn you now, she's a little religious. She accepts Liam, but it was a bit hard for her. Her boyfriend is... nice. I think he's a serious homophobe, but he hasn't said anything to me. I'm pretty sure Mary's told him why we divorced."

Faelen looked confused, so Liam said, "Dad is gay. He realized it two years ago, the divorce just finalized at the beginning of summer break. It was amicable."

Walter handed over a bowl of cake trimmings, "So if there's a bunch of boys there, I was planning on making a second cake. What does Geoff like?"

"All of them, sir." Faelen smiled as he ate, "He always gets a lemon torte from Avery, his mother. He likes chocolate and oranges, if you can figure out how to do that."

"Easy. Chocolate cake, an orange curd filling, and whipped cream outside. Is your mother around, Faelen? Liam seemed to indicate I may like to meet your father, but didn't say if he was divorced or what."

"Um, she's not around. She's... dead." Walter's face dropped, "Don't worry. It's all right. I was less than a week old when she died." Faelen suddenly looked mischievous, "Sir, if I may pry, do you have any leather? Like a harness, or something?"

Walter gave him an odd look, "That's hardly something to wear when meeting an in-law for the first time."

"I know, but you could wear it under your clothes. Liam will probably try to arrange things so you end up undressed anyway. Dad's been very work oriented and hasn't been on a date since I was born. Hells, he hasn't been to a bar in years. He likes leather bars, and if you have any..."

Walter frowned, "That's something his son shouldn't be advertising, it's personal. Having your sons try to set their dads up is a little unusual. And that'd be very forward."

Liam shrugged, "A play date. I do not overly care if you just play together or do not play and start dating and take it slow. Having common interests is a good way to start off either avenue. I do not think you've had sex in some time, either. Both of you would be well served in releasing some sexual tension."

"This is seriously wrong, boys. Back off. I thank you for your concern, but your dads' sex life isn't something you should be worried about."

Liam gave him a small smile, "Why? I love you. I want you to be happy and healthy, and a good sex life goes a long way to helping both. I am also much older than you, and have had sons older than you, so I fail to see what is wrong, here. But I will drop the topic, as it appears to be making you uncomfortable. I am grabbing my violin and heading back to Faelen's. I will see you later. If you need help carrying anything, just call."

'See you, sir." Faelen followed Liam around the corner at the back of the kitchen and into the art room. Liam could tell Faelen noticed some more canvases by the easel. Liam packed up the violin and ignored Faelen as he walked over and picked up the first one. It was 'Pain'. He heard Faelen's breath catch in his throat. "Liam." The pain in Faelen's voice cut deeply, "I'm sorry."

"It is I who should apologize. I was the one who caused you that pain." Liam dabbed his eyes before standing and picking up the case. Faelen looked at 'Laughter' next, smiling in delight. His breath caught again at the finished 'Love'.

"Liam. It's even better than I thought it would be. It's..." A tear ran down his cheek, "It's me, but I..." He stopped, unable to continue. He put it down and hugged Liam. He just held Liam for several minutes. "I love you, Liam. I truly do." He held Liam at arms length and looked into his eyes as he said that.

Liam pointed at the painting, "I noticed." He gave a very genuine and loving smile, with no emotional shields or defences, "I love you, too. More than I have ever loved anyone across eight lifetimes." He pulled Faelen into a gentle and loving kiss.

They broke apart when Walter coughed at the stairs, "I thought you were heading out. Ten minutes ago."

"Sorry, sir. Yes, sir."

Walter smiled and shook his head, "Am I allowed to look at those, Liam?"

"Yes, Dad. If you want."

Walter walked over quickly, "I thought you never did portraits. These are amazing! No wonder you were so torn up inside." Faelen picked up 'Sleep' and blushed. Walter looked at it, "Wow. It's really erotic and still very tasteful. You have an incredible body, Faelen. That's incredibly well done."

"Thank you, Dad. I will probably get these framed and hang them in my room. It will be a little crowded, but I do not know a better spot to hang them. 'Sleep' probably should not hang publicly."

"Why? It's a nude, but it isn't offensive or sexual. Gary may object, but I don't really give a damn. Mary may not entirely approve, but she always has encouraged your art, and it's your best piece. I think she'd really like it. She just doesn't want me hanging pictures of naked men around the house. Hang them in here."

"Okay, thank you. I am actually very proud of them." He scratched the back of his neck as he stared at the floor.

Faelen pulled him close and licked his ear, "You should be."

Liam and Faelen left and ran back to Faelen's. Liam spent the next hour and a half practicing the violin. Everyone gathered into the basement and listened. Liam felt a little uncomfortable, but they kept quiet while doing other things. Liam had thought about it for a while and decided to start basic lessons of Kung Fu that morning. A single lesson would do no harm, and would give the prospective students an opportunity to see if they wanted to train under him. All of the pups were there, including Micah, and they followed instructions quite well. He kept it to basic stances, punches, and kicks. He also showed them a very simple form and walked them through it a few times. They seemed to have fun. He then finished this weekends homework, most of his time was spent helping Faelen get up to speed. Nathanial helped, too, he seemed very proficient as a tutor, probably from helping his brothers. It appeared Micah had achieved top marks in his grade for the last three years in a row. Nicholas had always made the honour roll, too. Nathanial was extremely proud, it made Nicholas blush when Nathanial talked about their grades. Liam could tell he was extremely pleased that Nathanial was so proud of him.

It was now lunch time. Dirk had gone upstairs once Liam finished practicing his violin and made some home made split pea soup and fresh bread. Nathanial sat up, looking out toward the front of the house, "Sensei, your father is here." His voice was quiet, only Faelen and Liam heard it.

Liam grabbed his pants and pulled them on, "He will probably want me to help him bring something in for him. You need not dress, if you do not want to. He is a nudist, too. He made some cakes, so do not let them know he is here." Liam ran upstairs and let his dad in before he rang the bell. "Shh. I do not want them to know you brought cakes. Micah, Nathanial's little brother, is liable to get very excited and not eat lunch." They grabbed the cakes and brought them into the kitchen. Dirk was there slicing up the bread and putting it into a basket. He was naked, except for his bone choker, bracers, and greaves. Walter stopped dead in his tracks, staring in awe. Dirk's dark gray fur clung to his muscles as they rippled across his back as he moved around the counter, finishing the lunch preparations. The ivory colour of the bone complimented the fur very well, while giving Dirk a very menacing appearance. Liam smiled inwardly and walked over to a empty spot on the counter, putting the cake tray down.

Dirk looked over, "Oh, hi, Sensei. Where'd you get the cake? It looks great."

"It is. It is for Geoff-san's birthday. I asked my father to make it, and bring it for lunch. That way you would not have to make one. I figured if you were going to bake it would be during the afternoon. My father is very good at baking."

Dirk looked over and saw Walter standing there with a second cake. Walter had managed to compose himself and smiled, "Where should I put this? I assume you are Mr. O'Conall, Faelen's father. I came in, as I thought we should meet and talk. Don't feel bad about being caught by surprise, Liam and Faelen did that to me earlier this morning. I must say, I can see where Faelen get's his good looks from. And his dedication to fitness." Dirk glared at Liam before walking over to take the cake, when he stepped from behind the island, Liam saw his father's eyes drop and widen, as did his smile. "This cake is chocolate with an orange curd filling, Faelen said Geoff liked that combination." When Dirk took the cake tray from him, Walter reached out toward Dirk's choker. "I love this. May I?" Dirk stopped and nodded. Walter ran his fingers along it and around the edges, "Incredible craftsmanship. Where'd you get it?"

Dirk cast a glance at Liam, "He is aware of the Hidden World, Mr. O'Conall. I have not told him anything about this household. It was not my place to say. He is not part of the Hidden World, and I do not wish for him to be placed in jeopardy from it. The situation has changed, it appears, now that I am bound to your son. Tell him as you wish."

Walter looked from Liam to Dirk, "Have I stepped into a hornet's nest, unwittingly?"

Dirk shook his head, "No." He then tipped his head, "Well, maybe. But that's for my employer to say. While you are here, you're under my protection, so relax."

Walter turned to Liam and raised his eyebrow. Liam merely said, "He is one I would be proud to have at my back in times of trouble."

Dirk looked shocked, "I-I'm honoured, Ancient One. Sensei. Sorry."

Liam smiled, "Since you are or will be my father-in-law, please address me by first name, as Conor-san does."

Dirk looked a little ill at being called father-in-law, but nodded, "Mr. Smith, I made this, as well as the bracers and greaves." He showed Walter the bracers, and let Walter kneel to examine the greaves, "And, please, both of you, call me Dirk. I can't say I like how we've been roped into being family, but it is fait accompli. It's done."

"I am sorry, sir."

"I know, Sensei. It's probably hurt you more than anyone else, though I'm probably a close second." Walter stood up, his eyes travelled slowly up the lighter fur of Dirk's front. Dirk smiled, "It looks like some people are hungry, we should let them eat. Call them up, Sensei. Walter, if you could grab my basket and follow me." He nodded at the basket of bread on the counter, as he grabbed the pot of soup. Walter gulped and picked it up. Liam went to stairs and called everyone up, and then dropped his hastily fastened pants, and folded them up. He walked into the dining room and stood by the seat Dirk directed him to. Dirk stood at the foot of the table, and directed Geoff to the head. Everyone stopped and blushed when they saw Walter, but came in with their towels to sit on when they saw Liam was naked. Geoff indicated everyone should sit.

Walter seemed to note with amusement that he was the only clothed person there. "I feel horribly overdressed. Is this a common thing? Oh, and for those who don't know, I'm Walter, Liam's father."

Nicholas and Micah both said, "Hello, sir."

Nathanial smiled, very pleased his brothers remembered their manners, "Walter, these are my brothers, Nicholas and Micah." He indicated each in turn. "It is a pleasure to see you again, under, well, generally better circumstances. As you may remember, I am Nathanial Marks. You have already met Faelen and his father, Dirk. So, please allow me to introduce your host, Geoff McDougal. My boyfriend. I suppose that would make me the hostess. I believe you are in my seat, Dirk." Dirk looked surprised and went to jump up, making Nathanial smile, "I was joking. While I know the formal dining rules, I'm not all that picky about them."

Walter smiled, and inclined his head, "A pleasure to meet you all."

Geoff bowed his head in return, "You are most welcome here. And, no, Da doesn't like us eating while naked when he's around. As long as we have a towel on, at least, he's fine. Shorts are far more preferable. Mom would have fits if we didn't have shorts and a shirt on. But, neither are here. If it makes you uncomfortable, we can go dress." He glared at Liam, "We weren't aware we were having company." Liam merely shrugged.

Walter laughed softly, "I doubt he really cares. We almost never wear clothes at home, since I divorced. It just took me by surprise and makes me feel really out of shape. Something he gets after me for, already."

Geoff smiled, "We're very keen on exercise, we're even getting the Marks' to start. If you feel more comfortable naked, please do not hesitate to strip down. Sensei can run and grab you a towel from our gym to sit on."

"Perhaps after lunch. It is... an unusual situation. Fathers are usually encouraged not to strip naked around their son, their son's underage date, and their son's underage friends. Encouraged with threats of jail time involved."

Geoff tipped his head to the side, "Must be a Canadian thing. Sure, there are ways it could become seriously wrong, but it's just fur. What's the problem with that?"

Nathanial shook his head, "More an American thing, adopted by Canada. You should know that a lot of the original immigrants from the British Isles came over because the British Empire was too liberal and sexually permissive. That's an attitude still pervasive in the States. Canada is essentially half way between the two mindsets, maybe a bit closer to the States."

Liam changed the topics, "Dad, as Dirk-san mentioned he is under the employ of Mr. Conor McDougal, Geoff-san's father. He acts as bodyguard and general help, the same position held by Faelen for Geoff-san. Conor-san is in Ireland for the weekend, dealing with some issues back home. I will be teaching Faelen, and possibly some of the other pups, Kung Fu, as such we may be using the basement work out area during some evenings. Would that be all right?"

"Um, sure. But you said that Faelen is a bodyguard, too? He's only, what, sixteen? And, hang on, you said that if you die, Faelen dies. What about the other way around, what if Faelen dies? What happens to you? A bodyguard sounds like a very dangerous profession."

Liam looked uncomfortable, "It may very well be. Less dangerous than being an Ancient One, I would imagine. But, I expect this bond would work both ways, should he die, I will likely die. Thus, it is most assuredly in our best interests to make sure he is best equipped to deal with any potential threats. I have considered resuming some of Lowell's career choices, to ensure his safety."

Faelen's eyes widened, "Whoa, hey! No! No way! Not unless they're directly after us! No assassinations!"

The people at the table reacted in shock, some of them choking on the soup. Liam's voice was very dry, "It appears that you are on a good start in learning the trade. You have nearly killed half the table with one comment. Well done. I also said I considered it, not that I seriously considered it. Lastly, they started it, they are directly after us. Or, at least, after Nathanial-san, which jeopardizes Geoff-san, which jeopardizes you, which jeopardizes me. Which amounts to the same thing."

Nathanial looked interested, "How'd you go about tracking them down?"

"Ask." Nathanial gave him a dirty look, Liam smiled, "I would ask Gary Harper, who is my mother's boyfriend, or Mr. Harper, who is the teacher from school, or go to Mrs. Marks former church and ask there. With your assistance, discreet assistance, I could ascertain who is wearing a Hunter's or Knight's medallion, and once that is done I would merely need to get them alone for a few hours to get all the information I require."

Walter looked furious, "You're talking about stalking, torture, and murder! I can't believe you're even contemplating something like this! And what does Gary have to do with any of this?"

"First, this is why I do not want you even partially involved in the Hidden World; it is dangerous and constantly on the brink of open conflict. The Hunters of the Damned are dedicated to the elimination of all magical beings. They routinely engage in the activities you have just mentioned. Second, these are the people that tried to carjack a car with Mei Lin driving, and Nathanial-san and me in it. Pups! They did not know who I was, and they still tried, merely to get at Nathanial-san. An untrained Mage pup. They started a firefight with the police on a busy street in the middle of rush hour, and shot at us, too. This is merely carrying the fight back to them, where we have control of the timing and battlefield. Third, I suspect Gary and Mr. Harper are somehow associated with the Hunters. I saw Gary lurking in the coffee shop across the street as school let out a few times. He was watching Nathanial-san. I thought he may be looking for me, but when I let him see me, he still spent more time watching Nathanial-san, and then Geoff-san and Faelen. Mr. Harper's suspicious behaviour was in how he reacted to the rumours that Chan... female started. A teacher, no matter how self-righteous or bigoted, is very unlikely to react the way he did. It was as if he had a personal grudge against Nathanial-san, yet he had never met him before, as far as I am aware. He has also developed a singular hatred for anyone associated with him. I am hoping he does not work at the school for much longer, I exerted a fair amount of my influence in an attempt to subtly put pressure on the board of governors to fire him after Conor-san made his complaint. I do not like doing such things, but I like him less."

Faelen looked almost as troubled as Walter, "This really leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and you're as scary as Nathanial gets when he's angry."

Liam felt a little surprised, both at the comparison and that he forgot that he had planned on keeping the conversation far away from such troublesome topics, so Nathanial could relax, "I am sorry for bringing such an unpleasant topic up during lunch. I also apologize to you, Nathanial-san, I am likely creating more tension in you, when I have frequently stressed that you should be relaxing. Please, let us move onto more pleasant subjects. When is your first soccer practice, Geoff-san? Do you have a schedule of matches, yet?" The talk remained light until the end of lunch. Nathanial quickly cleared the table and washed the dishes while Dirk cut the cakes and brought them out. Dirk knew Geoff hated people singing happy birthday, so he left the candles off and just brought out the cakes and plates. Everyone was really impressed by Nathanial's magic and how quickly he cleaned everything up. They were also really impressed by the cakes Walter made.

Once everyone had a piece of cake, Nathanial cleared the table, and people stood up to leave the dining room. Liam addressed his father, "Dad, what are your plans for the afternoon?"

"I don't know, I was expecting to get to meet Faelen's family and get to know them better. I hadn't put much more thought into it than that." The younger Marks wandered out, heading back downstairs.

Dirk smiled, "You must've put some thought into it. You put on a nice cologne and you're wearing a lot of leather underneath your clothes."

Walter was shocked and then glared at Faelen and Liam, "You suggested I wear leather, and then you told him I was going to?"

Faelen smiled, undeterred, "Nope. We just have a much better sense of smell than normal Furs. Mine is a lot better than Da's, but if you got close to him, the leather would really be obvious. I didn't actually think you would have a leather harness." Dirk was looking a little annoyed at Faelen. Walter was furious and embarrassed.

Liam shook his head in amusement, "Relax, Dads. So you both like leather and men. Is it something to be ashamed of? I hope not. I was thinking Faelen would look very good in some." Dirk and Walter looked at Faelen, and they were obviously dressing him in their minds. It was equally obvious they liked what they imagined. "I merely asked what your plans were because I was going to go have sex, soon. I am still not producing Chi, and what I get from Faelen is very Yin. I need to get some Yang-heavy Chi from Geoff-san, and Nathanial-san needs to do the reverse." Walter had no idea what Liam was talking about, so he quickly explained. "It is slightly problematic, but as long as no jealousy develops, it is easily handled. The only potential problem is that Nathanial-san deals with excess Yang far better than I do with excess Yin. But, that can be addressed at a later time. I just did not want to abandon you, Dad."

Dirk clapped Walter on the shoulder, "Don't worry, Sensei. We're grown men, we can figure out something to do. If he's interested in my bone work, I can bring him up to my bedroom, so he can see it. I have quite a collection of bone gear, like my choker." Dirk added the last bit to clarify his intentional double-entendre.

"Ah, yes. I imagine we could occupy ourselves quite well in your bedroom, then. I'm very interested in your bone work. Perhaps we could even see how well it fits and how it looks on me."

Liam smiled and nodded, "Very well, enjoy yourselves." He turned to his friends, "Well, shall we go have sex?" They seemed to find his utter candour about sex to be a little uncomfortable. It was very amusing.