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1. Ending

The first thing Keurin did after he had woken up was go straight to work. It was a few hours before his shift but he knew that if he waited, he'd lose his nerve. Toby hadn't come in yet, so Keurin waited, smoking like a chimney. His leg twitched in a maddening cadence, a consequence of his nerves aggravated by the smoke filling his lungs. His heart thrummed so quickly that it was almost impossible to distinguish individual beats.

About half an hour later, he began to second-guess himself. He kept looking over his shoulder to make sure the fox wasn't there, as if his absence kept everything in the world suspended, at bay, and prevented it from hurting again. He was parked out of the way, tucked into a side alley that ran parallel to the side of the bookstore; before him, if one were to turn the corner, was the alley he had paced through the day before...

That day... Keurin had lived many days - more than a quarter of his life had passed - but that day was certainly the worst. Taking all of his nightmares, stuffing in the day Marc had left him, and shoving the day of his thesis presentation for college right in there as well, and still yesterday would win the I Don't Fucking Want to Live That Day Ever Again contest.

He had called Aderrian on the drive over. The orca had been very supportive of everything, even Keurin's decision to quit his job, which the orca had actually encouraged. It was refreshing to hear a genuinely kind and understanding voice... but there had been something off about it, as if the orca's mind was elsewhere. It made sense, though: his friend had almost killed himself! Nonetheless, it still bothered Keurin, like he knew something bad was going to happen.

Finally after another half hour, Toby rolled up. He hopped right out and trotted inside, practically floating along. Sucking down the remaining half-inch of ash on the end of his smoke, Keurin got out of his car to meet the fox.

* * *

The orca knocked on the familiar door and an equally familiar woman answered. She was dressed in her usual morning attire: a powdery pink robe and harsh, yellow slippers. She looked like Easter wrapped up in a blanket. Before he could utter a single syllable, she was upon him, showering him with hugs.

"Aderrian!" she exclaimed, ushering him in and out of the cold. "It's good to see you! But I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Keurin isn't here; he's moved out."

The orca nodded and smiled. "I know, Ms. Nerim; he's let me know his new living arrangements. I'm actually here because I want to see Marc."

"Oh? Might I ask why?"

"I - uh - just to catch up, you know?"

She clasped her hands in front of her and laid them against her stomach. "Why not ask Keurin? He told me he was going to try and at least get back onto speaking terms with Marc. I figured he had succeeded because he hasn't told me otherwise... hasn't told me much of anything, really."

God, she has absolutely no idea, the orca thought, his eyes darkening as he thought of last night. He quickly said aloud, "I... I just want to visit him as a surprise... I didn't ask Keurin on the off chance they didn't make up. If I ask him where Marc is, then the boy will know I'm in town."

"That makes sense..." Anne said. She looked at him oddly, as though she suddenly knew everything. She crossed into the kitchen, and Aderrian followed without being told to do so.

"What," she began as she sat at the kitchen table, "has he done to my son?"

"What?" Aderrian said, suddenly going rigid. He forced a chuckle out, "N-nothing, Ms. Nerim; I just want to catch up with him..." the next few words came out thick and sour, like a wad of mucus he had just coughed up, "He's my friend."

She still gazed at him with that withering look that only mothers had; that kind of look that made you drop your shoulders and avert your eyes, as if you were in trouble and she was more disappointed than angry, and didn't have to speak a single word to let you know. Nevertheless, with a sigh, she gave up: "All right. I know something is going on, but obviously it's none of my business... even though it is actually my damn business, but I know I won't get it out of you, or Keurin. Or maybe you are telling the truth. Either way, I can tell you're going after Marc whether or not I tell you where he works. Cooke Carpentry, downtown." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Keurin loves you, you know that? And I can tell you care a great deal for him. So... don't do anything either of you will regret. Especially - especially - if it could get you in trouble. I will not see my son heartbroken again, do you hear me?"

Aderrian nodded and let himself out. The taxi was sitting there, sputtering loudly. Aderrian slid in, muttering his next destination. He watched as the houses drifted by, growing fewer in number until falling off completely, replaced by shops and apartments. It was a thirty minute drive but felt twice as long. The sweet smell of sawdust and the screeching whrrrrrrr of lathes and drills and saws announced his arrival.

As the orca got out, he turned his head and said to the driver, "Sorry to ask again, but would you wait for me? I'm sure it's a pain."

"I don't care," the wolf growled, "Money in my pocket."

Aderrian gave a grave smile and nodded. The door clicked shut behind him like a finality. The storefront before him loomed like the mouth of a beast; within, he could see dressers, tables, chairs, armoires, stools, cabinets - all manner of wooden furniture - all stained different shades of brown, yellow, white, red, like malformed teeth gone too long since a good brushing. The orca stepped inside. The odor of turpentine and wood glue wracked his nostrils.

"I'll be right with you," came a familiar voice a few moments before the huskywolf emerged from the doorway behind the counter. He looked up, and his face grew white.

Aderrian stood before him, hovering like a shadow, one hand tucked into the pocket of his jeans, the other dangling so carelessly by his side, almost flexing; his eyes burning with open hatred, looking down at the huskywolf.

"Marc." The word came out with such severity, such disgust that Aderrian almost retched. He cleared his throat and continued, "We need to talk."

"What makes you think I'm going to talk with you?"

"Look," Aderrian said through clenched teeth, his hand balled up into a fist at the sheer audacity of the younger man. "We can either talk outside and have some privacy, or we can talk in here with all your little friends listening in. Do they know that the person you're stickin' it to is a ma-"

"Okay!" Marc said in a half-whisper, waving his hands to try and silence the orca. He crossed his arms and stuck his nose forward, "After you."

"Fine." Aderrian moved to the door, stepping outside. He held it open until Marc got close, and then let it slam in his face.

Marc barreled through and growled at him. "Very mature, dick."

The orca smirked smugly and, with a finger, motioned Marc to the alley sitting astride the building. Pushed on by either grief or anger, Marc followed. There were no windows out there.

* * *

"Hi, Toby," Keurin said as he pushed through the door.

The fox yelped and looked up at the dragon, stuffing something under the counter. "Keurin!" he said, his voice full of artificial joy. "You're not scheduled to work now! Hittin' the bricks early, huh? Don't expect any overtime!" he giggled, flashing his perfectly white teeth.

God damn it I hate him so much... Keurin thought with a groan. He frowned and turned to leave, but shook his head. No, it had to be done. He stepped up to the counter.

"I quit," he said.

"W-what?"

"I said..." Keurin took a deep breath to remain calm. "I... quit. I can't work here anymore... Not after what you did to Marc and I; not after the lies you told him that cost me his friendship. I can't work for the person who almost ruined my fuckin' life."

"Keurin, I apologized for th-"

"You think that matters?" Keurin screamed, his voice breaking into a high pitched whine. "You think it means a fucking shit to me that you apologized for lying to Marc? No, no, Toby, you don't get how this works. You don't tell someone that his ex - who he already doesn't like - that he wants to muscle in on his new relationship! You live in your little bubble of rainbows and happiness and think you can make remarks like that, thinking," Keurin's voice became a dead ringer for Toby's, right down to the fox's annoying sing-song inflection, "'Oh, let me just tell Marc that Keurin wants to slide right in between he and I and fuck us both because that is totally what Keurin said!' even though it wasn't! I never said I wanted to have a threesome with you and him! The thought disgusts me!"

"Whatever keeps you and Marc apart, I don't give a damn, Keurin."

Keurin was so taken aback by the fox's complete 180 in his demeanor that he actually stepped back with a look of horror dawning on his face. "W-what?"

"I said, whatever keeps you away from him. You think you're so fuckin' perfect that you can come back after however long you were gone and slip right into being best buddies with Marc? You're pretty god damn stupid for being a college graduate and published author. Marc's mine. I'm not sharing him with you."

"I don't want to share him with you, you paranoid little freak!" Keurin screamed, angry tears falling down his face. "I just wanted to talk to him again! Who are you to dictate who it is that he is allowed to talk to! Who do you think you are!"

The fox shoved his left hand forward, the engagement ring glittering in the fluorescent lights. "I'm his fiancé, you know, what you used to be."

"I'm glad you're his fiancé! I'm glad he's happy now! I don't understand what the fuck it is with you two that you just can't believe that I'm happy for you and just want to be his friend and nothing more!"

"Oh, sure, you become friends again. You start hanging out. You laugh and joke. Pretty soon you're hugging; maybe once in a while; maybe, for old time's sake, you give him a peck on the cheek; he likes it, gives you one; then you move onto different things. Then, like that," Toby snapped his fingers, "He's fuckin' you. I'm not going to be cheated on, especially not when it's with a washed up faggot like you."

"You're..." Keurin found it odd and hilarious that he was laughing. He must have looked like an asylum escapee, tears streaming down his eyes but laughter pouring out of his mouth in great torrents. "You're... you're so paranoid! I actually feel sorry for you!"

"Don't you condescend to think you can feel pity for me!" Toby reached forward and grabbed Keurin's collar, intending to pull him forward. He made a grave mistake, however: Keurin was much larger than he was. Instead of pulling the dragon forward, Toby jerked with such ferocity that he actually pulled himself halfway over the counter. He went sprawling forward, landing face first on the ground.

Keurin laughed harder, holding his gut after he had swiped Toby's hand away. The fox clawed at his ankles, but Keurin back stepped out of the way.

"Oh my god!" Keurin laughed harder, the tears that had once been full of anger and pain now full of humor and pity, "I feel so sorry for you!"

"Get out!" the fox screamed, his voice a child's. "Get the fuck out of here before I call the police!"

"Sure thing," Keurin said, bending down and winking, "But one thing first..." he bent over the counter, found the familiar book and opened it. There on the first page was his autograph. He tore it out and crumpled it up, stuffing it into his pocket.

"See ya later, Toby. You and Marc have a good life, you hear? Send me an invitation to the wedding, yeah? I like wedding cake."

Keurin left, hopping in his car. He had backed up when Toby came storming out of the store. He threw Keurin's book at the car. By some miracle, the dragon managed to stick his hand out of the window and catch it. He laughed and flipped Toby off before peeling out of there like a bat - dragon - outta hell, his wheels screeching and kicking up smoke.

"Hey," he said to no one in particular, gazing upwards, "You know when I called you an asshole yesterday? I changed my mind. You're pretty fuckin' awesome."

* * *

"Okay," Marc began, crossing his arms and leaning against the side of the building. "What the fuck do you want to talk to me about?"

Aderrian kept his back to the huskywolf. "Hmm... now what was it..." He stuck his forefinger upwards, as if he had just had the greatest idea, "Oh, yes!" he wheeled on Marc, grabbing him by the front of his collar and shoving him into the wall. His eyes burned at the huskywolf. His mouth barely opened as he spoke, "You remember when you came to Keurin's apartment and threatened him?"

"I just wanted him to leave us alone! Let go of me, asshole!"

The orca pulled the huskywolf off of the wall just enough so that he could shove him back against it. "Listen here you little fucker. If I ever - if I ever - hear that you threatened Keurin again or hurt him, I will come after you. I will find you. I will kill you. Do you hear me?"

"Oh, so you're-" Marc wrenched himself free of Aderrian's grasp. "You're threatening me now?"

"I'm not dealing with threats. I'm dealing with facts. I will kill you, Marc. If you so much as lift a finger to that dragon, you better make peace with it because I'm snapping it the fuck off and shoving it up your ass. If you speak a cross word or make a little bitch ass remark to him, I'm yanking your jaw right out of your skull. I will destroy you."

"I'll leave him alone if he leaves me alone!"

"You're not understanding me here, bucko." Aderrian pressed his palms against the wall on either sides of Marc's head, trapping him against it. "If you see Keurin, you pass him by without so much as a fucking syllable uttered. If he speaks to you, you kindly let him know you're late for some engagement - make some shit up - and you pass on."

"What are you going to do if I don't!"

"Do you want to know what he almost did last night, Marc! He almost threw himself off of his apartment balcony because of you! He almost killed himself because of you and that little fucker of a fiancé!"

Marc spit in Aderrian's face. The orca snarled and reared back, his fist almost cracking the huskywolf's jaw as his punch connected with the man's face. Painful stars bloomed and then swam in Marc's vision. He saw two of everything, but only one of the orca, looming over him, so angry that his face was almost red.

"He almost killed himself because of you! That would have been on your conscience, you little prick! He's so lucky he didn't fall that I almost believe he has some kind of guardian angel watching over him - all no thanks to you and your cruelty! I can't believe he fell in love with you; what the fuck happened to you these past six years, Marc? Are you that resentful that you can't even be friends with him?"

"Toby... told me... he..."

"Doesn't matter whatever the fuck someone else told you, dumbass!" Aderrian thundered, grabbing Marc's collar again. "You know Keurin; you should have known him. You should have known better than to listen to someone else... But now you blew it, kid. He wants nothing else to do with you, which I guess is what you wanted anyway, ain't it?" "No... I just..." Marc's head still swirled in agony as his cheek began to swell from Aderrian's punch.

"It's too late, bucko. You fucked up. I'll say it again: you leave Keurin alone, or I will kick your ass, and let that little love tap I just gave you serve as warning of what's to come if I catch wind you've been harassing him." Aderrian dropped Marc on the ground.

"W-wait...!" Marc called out as the orca turned to leave. "W-what if I... he and I..."

"If you want to patch things up with him, you better hope you don't fuck up again, boy. For your sake, and his."

With that, Aderrian strode away, flexing his fist. It hurt. He hopped in the cab and after a much shorter ride, arrived at Keurin's apartment. When he went inside the lobby, he had a sudden realization: he didn't know what room Keurin was staying in, or if the dragon was even home. He chuckled, covering his brow with his sore hand.

"A-Aderrian...?"

The orca spun around quickly, half-expecting Marc to have followed him there. Instead, it was the dragon, looking ragged but happy overall, the smile on his face growing wider as he realized that it truly was Aderrian standing before him. He rushed forward, right into the orca's arms.

"Aderrian, I'm so glad to-"

"Shut up..." Aderrian whispered, grinning as he pushed his lips against Keurin's.