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What once Was... Chapter 11

*********WARNING!!! This story is intended for MATURE and RESPONSIBLE ADULTS ONLY*********

The introduction guitar work from December by Collective Soul fills the room and awakens the fox. It seems like every morning that song plays right at the same time on the local radio station. He gets up excitedly, does his usual stretching routine, grabs his clothes and heads down to grab a quick shower. He makes sure he's fully scrubbed clean during his shower experience. Afterwards, he grabs his breakfast. All seems routine, but the fox shows extra pep in his step lately knowing he has a date tonight. He cleans up his mess, grabs his things and heads out to school.

His commute to school was a bit cooler than normal, so he keeps his windows up and his music turned down. Still he keeps reminding himself to repair the malfunctioning radio system. R.C. eventually arrives at school and parks. As usual, he is the first to arrive and takes his usual spot as long as it stays around. The school he's attending has been changing shape constantly through renovations. It tends to make everyone confused.

R.C. goes throughout his day generally ignoring the usual quips and the like. One of which is Reggie who consistently attempt to torture R.C. every chance they meet at. R.C., as usual, keeps denying the charges that are brought up against him from Reggie. Unlike Jason and John, Reggie doesn't have much respect for R.C. considering the fox never goes to his parties at all.

After lunch, R.C. makes his way to his locker to exchange his morning supplies for his afternoon ones. He bends over to grab a book from the bottom pile.

*SMACK*

The fox jumps up and turns around ready to retaliate against whoever hit him in his rear. He turns around and notices that it is Valerie.

"Found you foxy!" She quips.

R.C. rubs his rear from the swat he received. "What the hell? Did you have to hit me like that?"

"Yes, and when are you going to ask me out? Homecoming is in a few weeks! I could use a fun night with my Lite Brite." She giggles.

"Not funny Val." R.C. thinks about Homecoming for a bit. "Perhaps I could be persuaded, but I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now. I need time to myself."

"Fine, suit yourself. So, I heard you're gay huh? It's been the new rumor the other day." She quips. "That's funny, I don't think you are. Wait are you?"

"No, that's been settled all day. Reggie keeps attacking me about the rumor. Just because I don't go this parties doesn't mean I'm gay or something." R.C. says defending himself. "Besides, maybe he is. They always say, those who deny it usually are to cover themselves."

"How would you know?" Valerie asks.

"I don't, I just guess. He seems so obsessed with me lately about asking." R.C. shrugs trying to cover up his little slip-up.

"You're blushing." She says poking the fox making him twitch and cringe from being ticklish. "Fine, talk to you tonight?"

"I won't be on; I have to uh drive my dad to work yeah." R.C. says struggling to find an excuse to cover up his date tonight at Pegasus. "I better go to class before I'm late. Byes" R.C. then packs up and rushes off.

Along the way to his next class, he thinks about Valerie and compares her to Joey. He knows he can easily escape the rumors and still be with someone. His mind starts to fill with doubts about having a gay relationship as opposed to a straight one. The rest of the day, the fox's mind continues to struggle trying to determine the best course: keep going out with Joey or switch back to go out with Valerie. This distracts him as he makes it his number one focus on his mind. The end of the day bell sounds which distracts the fox enough to realize he is free for the rest of the evening. He briskly walks to his car texting Joey the entire time seeing about plans to meet up ahead of time for dinner. He receives the acknowledgement from him which gives the fox the OK to go get him. He then makes his way down towards 837 to go pick up the Fennec.

Later on, he arrives outside his house. He knocks on the door and is greeted by his mother.

"Hi, um you're who again?" The older fennec female asks.

"I'm R.C. I'm one of Joey's friends?" R.C. replies.

"Oh, well hello. He's downstairs working on crafts." She says motioning the fox to come in.

"Thank you." He says. He then removes his shoes and walks down towards the basement level. He sees Joey down there creating bracelets of beads. "Hey Joey!" R.C. says waving and sneaking up behind to give him a hug. Joey jumps a bit from the surprise hug he gets. "Ready to go?"

"You silly fox! It's only 3:15 in the afternoon! The place doesn't open 'till later." The fennec replies. "We should make some bracelets?"

R.C. takes a seat next to the fennec and examines the area. He sees a organized box of colored beads, scissors, and stretch string. He watches as Joey finishes off a bracelet, tying the two ends in a couple knots to secure it. Joey then grabs R.C.'s paw and places the bracelet on his wrist. R.C. then looks at it. He notices it and smiles as it says, RC JOEY, using the circle letter beads. The rest of the bracelet is made up of R.C.'s fur colors mostly black and white beads with several blue and few pink beads. R.C. smiles and gives a hug to Joey. "Thank you, I like it!" he tells the fennec.

For the next hour, Joey shows R.C. how to make some bracelets and then the two make a few for each other to wear tonight and at the next event. Joey then makes R.C. a necklace of R.C.'s colors and places it on the bigger fox. R.C. smiles more and attempts to make Joey one. He does so, but forgets to properly stretch it before tying. Joey laughs hard. R.C. blushes and realizes his mistake. The two complete off a few more pieces and then begin to discuss food plans realizing that they should probably head out.

R.C. stands up, "What do you think about heading out to eat? I know just a place!" He then motions for Joey to come with as he starts to make his way upstairs. Joey finishes cleaning up and comes right up. They get their shoes on and walk out the door as Joey says goodbye to his mother. They make their way to the car and hop in. Once inside, Joey asks, "Where we heading?"

"We're heading to Tom's in the Southside; it's cheap and really good!" R.C. excitedly says.

"Ah cool, I never have been there." Joey replies.

R.C. then takes off towards the main drag of McKeesport towards the McKeesport Bridge making his way towards the Southside flats. The two hold paws most of the trip as long as R.C. doesn't have to shift giving each other glances. Not too much long after, they pull up into the traffic lines that make up the afternoon rush of the Southside. He looks over at Joey and starts to talk, "So, um yeah. I kind of was thinking about stuff."

"Like what foxy?" Joey says

"Well, I kind of was wondering how we could go out in public more often and stuff." R.C. hesitates as he asks the fennec.

"Well, a lot of areas in the city are quite tolerant of us. There's Squirrel Hill and most of Liberty Ave places are." Joey replies back.

"Ah ok, well uh well um so I was..." R.C. stutters more, "I thought about asking you to my homecoming dance." He then blushes then looks down. "But I don't think they'd let me and I'd be afraid to...be with you...in front of them all and I just don't know what they'd do."

"Aww. It's ok. I admire the thought, but I would be in the same boat as you. I would also be scared even if it wasn't my own school." Joey says. "McKeesport isn't as classy as you guys are."

"Heh, we aren't classy either."

Few moments later, R.C. spots a parking space nearby and parks the car. They walk along the sidewalk past the post office. R.C. thinks about holding Joey's paw, but hesitates only because of his fear inside of being labeled as gay. He keeps close and looks ahead keeping slightly in front of Joey so he can follow. They approach Tom's Diner just ahead on the right. R.C. then opens and holds the door for the fennec. "Well thank you, heh." Joey replies. The two go grab a booth and sit across from each other and look to the menu to see what they have to offer.

"So, Joey, I never been to this place, what am I expecting?" R.C. asks.

"It's a gay club." Joey says.

"Oh? Well I never heard of it before, and it's on Liberty Ave, right?" R.C. asks more.

"Yep! Well, It's 18 and over, but I some who can let us in without problems." Joey replies smiling back.

The two then order and await their dinners. They continue to discuss more about the club and what normally goes on there. While Joey continues to discuss the place, R.C. randomly looks around and wonders what the other patrons are thinking. The fox becomes a bit nervous as he continues to look around.

"R.C.?" Joey asks trying to break his trance. "Are you ok?"

R.C. snaps out of his trance and then responds, "Huh, what? Oh yeah, sorry. I've been tired most of the day."

"Oh ok, you just seemed a bit lost." Joey said. "Is there something on your mind?"

"No...not really. Just hungry." R.C. covers up the truth again. He becomes a bit nervous realizing how busy it is. Call it paranoid perhaps, then he looks down at his phone as it beeps. "Oh, Joey 3 texted me."

"Oh what did he say?" Joey asks.

"Looks like he is not coming tonight, I asked him if he would just to invite." R.C. said.

"Ah that's nice. I like him, he's very nice." Joey replied back.

The food arrives which the two readily accept and spend the next few moments enjoying their dinner. R.C. being distracted calms down from his bout of paranoia and starts to regain his feelings for Joey once again. R.C. continues to look at him warmly in between eating sessions. Joey takes notice and smiles back. He then extends his left paw across the table closest to the wall towards R.C. The fox notices and then moves his paw to grab it. The two then share the mutual paw grab as the finish their dinners. The check eventually comes. R.C. immediately grabs it and pays the bill.

The two foxes get up and make their way out the door. R.C. looks down again at Joey's free paw, he then takes a deep breath and attempts to grab Joey's paw. As he does, Joey moves his paw in his pocket to grab his phone. R.C. immediately pretends to hide his paw back as Joey checks his messages. The two get to the car and R.C. let's Joey in first, then makes his way around to get in himself.

"OK, here we go. Let's see if I can remember how to get there." R.C. jokes.

He pulls out and takes off towards the next bridge in line to head down to the city. Moments later, he pulls onto Liberty Ave approaching the convention center. "It's here up ahead, you can park on the other side." R.C. then makes a u-turn at the next intersection and takes the last spot at the bank across from the 818 entrance. Shutting the car off, he looks over at Joey and takes a deep breath not sure of what to expect next at this club.

"You ok there"? Joey asks.

"I guess so. I'm not sure what I'd encounter at this club. I feel like this is my first time ever going to any club." R.C. expresses his concerns.

"Well it is different in a lot of ways, but also it's similar to the raves we go to. There's a lot of dancing and a bar, but we don't do the bar" Joey says describing the place. "I think we might get in trouble being under 21 let alone being under 18 hehehehe." Joey then gets out of the car, "Well, ready?"

R.C. gets out of the car and looks both ways before crossing Liberty Ave. Once across R.C. looks to his right and sees a gang of furs hanging out a block away not too far from the subway station on Wood St. R.C. ignores them and follows Joey into the 818 complex to head down the stairs to the club. Joey greets the door bouncer and pays the fee for both to enter. R.C. starts to become nervous as he enters the facility. He looks around at the room noticing a lot of other furs dancing. He notices a few along the walls talking and flirting. Then he notices a couple making out, not realizing that they're male. The fox takes in the sight and sounds feeling a bit overwhelmed and nervous as Joey leads him towards the near front where the music is playing. R.C. nervously rubs his paws together looking around with the feeling of being watched looming over his head.

Joey notices the fox standing there in shock and goes over to comfort him. "Here, sit here with me." He motions the fox to join him at the bench on the end of the room. R.C. awkwardly sits down on his paws not sure what to do next. "You doing OK there?" Joey asks.

"Um, I don't know I feel a bit uncomfortable." R.C. says as he notices a big older bear over by the bar look at the younger fox. The bear winks and smiles at the fox. R.C. then turns back and looks at Joey. "I think that bear wants me!" He whispers to Joey.

"Hehe cute. They'll do that here, but as long as they know you're mine, they'll keep their paws off most of the time." Joey says sliding over and wrapping his right paw around the bigger fox. R.C. looks at the fennec next to him then notices the bear nodding and moving back to the bar. "See, he knows you're mine. He won't bother you anymore."

Joey leans in and plants a kiss on R.C.'s cheek. He blushes in response and looks over. He then looks back as a younger leopard comes over waving.

"Hi Joey! Who's this cute fox?" The leopard says causing R.C. to shy away slightly.

"Hey Shane!" Joey says. "This is R.C., he's my special fox!

The comments continue to make R.C. blush and a bit embarrassed. "Hi R.C., I'm Shane, one of Joey's friends here." The leopard speaks to R.C. waving. He then extends a paw to shake. R.C. slowly hands a paw out to receive. As soon as the two connect and shake, the leopard pulls in to hug R.C. He panics lightly and moves back. "Aww, I'm sorry." Shane says seeing the fox retreat.

"He's new to here and the whole experience." Joey informs Shane as he comforts R.C.

R.C. looks over at Joey and back at Shane. "I'm sorry, I just need a little time to warm up I guess. I'm normally not like this." R.C. then hugs Shane.

"It's OK fox, I take you're just coming out and realizing you're gay?" Shane asks the fox in the hug.

"Well, I guess you could say that, I mean I think I'm bi to be honest. I don't find girls icky yet." R.C. laughs a little as he replies back. The other two join in the little giggle session from R.C.s last comment. "Well, I'm afraid of realizing it because others will find out and I don't want to get hurt."

"Hey, no one's going to hurt you or tell anyone else. We are all here for the same reason, and we support each other strongly in our fight to be accepted. We are all the same no matter who we love." Shane explains to the fox. R.C. nods appearing to understand the concept.

"Oh well that makes sense." R.C. replies back.

"Say, are you that one guy who DJs and does the raves?" Shane asks.

"Yes, I am. I take you have been to our events?" R. C. asks.

"Dude I go all the time! Groove and the other events on Saturdays." The Leopard says excitedly. "I'm glad to actually meet you for once."

"Well thanks, heh." R.C. warms up as he speaks more to the leopard. Joey then gives R.C. a hug.

"Wow, you two make a great couple, when did you two start going out?" Shane asks excitedly.

"Just Monday this week." Joey proudly says.

"Awesome you two!" Shane gives Joey a hug. "Hey, I'm going to meet some others here, I'll see you around and nice to meet you R.C.!" He then walks away towards the back.

"R.C., want to go dance a bit? It will loosen you up and maybe we can mingle a little?" The fennec suggests.

"I guess so." R.C. gets up hearing a standard house set being performed. He grabs Joey's paw and head out to the dance floor. The foxes start to move to the rhythm provided matching the moves the other dancers make on the floor. R.C. starts to find his groove and changes his attention from the other dancers to his own dancing. R.C. starts to get a few glances from outside the dance floor as he lays down a few moves. After about a few minutes, the current track enters a breakdown and R.C. comes back to reality. He looks around and sees Joey still dancing, but then notices a little fan club that has been cheering him on. One of them shouts out to the fox, "Can I take you home?" which makes him blush.

"Hey, he's mine!" Joey replies and grabs the fox and gives him a tight hug. R.C. smiles knowing that he feels loved. He then starts to think a little bit feeling that this place may be more of a hook-up joint rather than a social club. None-the-less, R.C. hugs back and starts feeling a bit of pride knowing there are others who want him. This also gives the fox a bit of confidence as well and he gives the fennec a kiss to Joey's surprise. The two move off the dance floor towards a darker area to become more intimate. Fortunately, the club does allow for intimacy as they can freely express their love without fear.

Over to the side, Joey pulls R.C. closer to him looking up into his eyes. The fox looks back and smiles. He then hugs Joey pulling them to touch noses as they continue to look into each other's eyes. Joey closes his as he lightly nuzzles the bigger fox. R.C. looks down and moves his paw to Joey's cheek stroking it lightly. He lightly nods and goes to kiss the fennec. The two begin to kiss again wrapping each other up tightly in a strong embrace. They spend the next several minutes engaged to each other exchanging between simple nuzzles to kissing.

After a while, they break up and start to walk around meeting others. R.C. runs into a few others who also go to events. The rest of the night is spent talking to others and Joey introducing R.C. to all his friends and others interested. R.C. does get a few requests from others standing around that notice the specially marked fox. R.C. keeps smiling as Joey fends them off as always.

Later on, the two decide to leave as it is only a Thursday night and R.C. is restricted on when he can drive being 16.

"Joey, thanks for sticking with me. It was a bit scary there." R.C. says while they exit holding paws.

"Your first time hun, it is a bit scary. Good thing it's only 9 PM, you'd be in a little trouble?" Joey says.

"My mom knows I'm out late tonight." R.C. replies. "I have to get home before 11 because of the driving laws and stuff."

The two cross Liberty Ave and enter the car. Joey looks over a the fox who is fumbling to find the key slot on the steering column. Joey places a paw on R.C.'s shoulder. "Did you have a good time at least?"

"Yes mostly, it was a bit overwhelming though." R.C. replies still fumbling to locate the hole in the dark.

Joey then moves his paw to R.C.'s arm. The bigger fox stops and slowly looks over at the fennec who has his eyes closed and his head moved closer to R.C. The fox then takes the opportunity and kisses the fennec. Then the two embrace in the car for a moment exchanging kisses while rubbing their paws over each other. Joey breaks the kiss and looks up at the fox. "R.C., you really are someone special."

The fox blushes at the statement, "Thank you, heh. I try to. I never realized that I could feel this way with another." R.C. begins to blush more as he realizes he may be in love. "Um, Joey? Heh I uh..." He stutters as he looks away a little. "I know...it's early and stuff, but could you...maybe be my...um uh boyfriend?" He looks down blushes hard after he speaks. He then hides his face in his paws. Joey blushes as well, but then tugs on R.C.'s right arm a bit.

"Hey you? You're cute when you blush." Joey says forcing the fox to further hide himself. "To answer your question, yes of course silly."

R.C. perks up from his shyness. He feels a sudden urge inside him and immediately grabs the fennec. "You just made my night." He then resumes making out with the fennec. The two stay locked together for a good 5-10 minutes more. Joey feels strongly for the fox knowing that they could possibly be together for a long time. R.C. is still having slight hesitations about the whole relationship, but he desires to make it work and eventually gain acceptance for who he is.

"Joey, it's time to go home, I am so going to sleep well tonight." R.C. tells the older fennec.

"Yeah, maybe one night we should...you know sleep together?" Joey asks.

"Maybe, I might be able to do that soon!" the fox replies.

R.C. starts the car and takes off down the road back to the Parkway East so he can take his new boyfriend home. He has a strong feeling this could be a great relationship and holds the fennec's paws as they speed down the highway towards the tunnels. Joey looks over at R.C. As the car enters the tunnel, he gives the fox a kiss on his cheek. R.C. yelps a little. "Hey! I'm driving!"

"Yes you are, I figure we should do this tunnel of love thing." Joey says giggling and giving another kiss.

"If I wasn't driving, I'd kiss you back." R.C. sternly replies.

"I know, pay attention so we don't wreck. Hehe, I like my fox in one piece." Joey says.

"Same here."

Moments, later, R.C. exits off with Rt 30 and makes his way down the smaller highway to the back end of McKeesport. Later, he reaches Joey's house and the two once again make out. Joey then exits the car waving. R.C. waits for the fennec to get in his house and then turns around and goes home.

"I am so going to sleep very well tonight." R.C. says out loud to himself as he makes his way home.

END