FSE

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5.

"I did the right thing? Right?" I asked the jackal sitting on the bus seat next to me. "I mean, it wasn't fair of me to use my sexual wiles like that. He's been telling me all week he wants to wait 'til Friday. What kind of a boyfriend would I be if I don't respect his wishes?"

The jackal remained motionless, facing forward. Sure, he had earbuds in, and I could hear the vintage punk music over the noise of the bus's badly tuned diesel engine, but I always found my fellow bus riders to be great listeners.

"Shit. What if his wishes changed, and he really did want me to come over and give him a night of mind blowing sex, the likes of which he never in his wildest masturbatory fantasies imagined possible?" I turned around to the otter who was doing a poor job of hiding his eavesdropping, "I really am that good." And back to my new jackal friend while the otter sounded like he just swallowed his gum.

"Who am I to think I know what's best for us? My God, buddy, look at me! I don't even know what's best for myself." The jackal looked down at his MP3 player and turned up the volume. Not a problem for me, I can just talk louder. "All I know is that he's afraid I'm going to use him for a one night stand, and by me being the one to say 'let's wait,' maybe that will show him I'm not just in it for the physical pleasure," I told the jackal loudly. Turning to the now blushing otter, I said quieter, "but just wait, I am like a god of pleasure, and he is gonna totally love that part of our relationship, too."

Funny how the way the otter choked at my openness reminded me so much of Mick. My dragon had the same reactions to me sometimes. I leaned back thinking of him. Maybe I shouldn't have left him on his own today. I knew how much he over thought everything. He was probably making himself crazy over all of this.

But I have been wearing the same clothes for a couple of days now. I guess I did need to fix that. Would it be too forward to pack a bag with some of my things to keep at his place?

***

After a transfer and another long bus ride out to the suburbs I jogged the half mile into the gated community where my family's house was. By the time I reached the driveway my shirt was soaked. I loved summer, but it really was a time for chilling at a pool or late night clubbing, not for commuting or being taught lessons in responsibility.

I could hear the staccato smacks of a basketball dribbling in the driveway before getting around the towering privacy hedge. It could only be my brother. Well, one of my brothers anyways. I had a fairly large family, even by lupine standards. At the moment, three of my siblings were also rooming here at my parent's house.

There was Alex, my youngest brother, still in highschool. Quiet kind of kid, keeps mainly to himself. I'm always afraid I'm going to be saying that to an intrepid reporter in the future, digging into why the young wolf blew up a water tower to protest deforestation. He's not fanatical about his environmentalism, buy if any of my relatives were to send a three-hundred page manifesto to the media, and a list of demands and vague threats, it'd be Alex.

Then there is my older sister, Ursula, or Ursie if you like being cute about it. She moved back in, bringing her mate. I like them. If for nothing else, I can use them as a kind of nuclear option in the inevitable blow up I anticipate having with my parents. I even have three page speech memorized about how unfair it is to call me the irresponsible one, when Ursie's finances are even worse, and her mate is a mooch. Let us hope I never need to drop the bomb.

I rounded the last bush and saw my other brother. Wes. He was spending the summer here between semesters at Calidonia University, where the big dumbass scored a sports scholarship. I'm not bitter. It's great to know I had to beg my parents for the money, while mister I-can-throw-a-ball gets himself a free ride.

Ok. Maybe I'm a teensy bit bitter.

If it wasn't so damn hot, I'd have snuck around the back of the house rather than deal with his sense of humor. I hunched my shoulders and walked quickly.

Wes spotted me."Heads up, little bro!"

Did I mention he was a year and a half younger than me? He finds it hilarious that nature and steroids conspired to making him bigger than me. I threw my hand up, deflecting the ball that he rocketed at the side of my head. It stung, but I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of letting him know that.

"Wow," he said, "I guess your gaydar works on all sorts of balls!"

I know what you're thinking. What a fucking asshole, I certainly hope he gets run over by an out of control riding lawnmower. And you'd be well within your rights holding that wish, but in the interest of fairness, Wes is the only fur allowed to tease me like that. For the two years we were in the same school, he left a trail of beaten and bloody furs who thought they could be funny too.

"Judging from the blank spot on my magical ball-sensing gaydar, can I assume you've finally taken enough steroids to shrink yours out of existence?"

Wes laughed and jogged after his basketball. "Play some one on one with me."

"Nah. I'm still wearing my work clothes." And I'd have more fun fucking a plugged in toaster.

"Go change. I'll wait."

Persistence is a Adlin family trait. With a sigh, I pulled off my clip on tie. Wes was hard headed enough to wear me down. Might as well humor him. "Ok. Ten minutes. It's hot as hell out here."

Wes threw the ball to me, softer this time, and we squared off. Did I mention he's in college on a basketball scholarship? Well, that should tell you how the game was going. About two minutes in I was drenched with sweat and was pretty sure I was going to have to burn my shirt.

Wes was giving me a chance to catch my breath. "You know, it didn't go unnoticed that you didn't come home last night."

"So? I'm an adult."

Wes sunk a basket from where he stood. "I know. Just, no one wants to see you go down that self destructive road again."

"It's nothing like that!" I might have had a history of slightly reckless partying, but I assure you, tales of my exploits have been severely exaggerated. "I spent the night at... a friend's place." I loved my brother, but there were some things he just couldn't understand.

Wes eyed me skeptically. He could tell I was lying, or at least leaving something out. Family were always the most difficult to twist the truth for. I summoned up some fake indignation. "I don't need to explain myself to you or to anyone!"

"Where are you going?" Wes called after me as I made a dramatic exit. "What about the game?"

I turned my head, adding a snarl to my performance. "I have to pee."

I made it three more steps before I realized I just killed the tension and my indignant walk off transformed into a petulant tantrum. Two more steps and I had a hundred alternatives that would have been so much more epic than what I had just said. One more step and I decided that while my improv skills need some work, I was accurate, and dashed for the nearest bathroom the second I was in the pleasant air conditioned house.

***

I pushed a half empty pizza box off my bed. It had been there for a couple of days and was probably past being edible. My fur was dripping from the shower I'd just taken. I needed to get my mind off Mick before I went crazy.

Although... I had enough money for a cab. If I called now, I could be at his place in forty minutes... No, I scolded myself. Don't be needy. I sighed loudly. "But I am needy," I whined at the ceiling as I flopped into my newly cleaned bed.

I picked up my phone and concentrating hard, willed Mick to call. It didn't work. I remembered spending most of last weekend trying to telepathically get that dragon to call and all I had to show for it was a headache. I closed my eyes, wondering if I should get my bike out of the garage and burn off some of this excess energy when my phone chimed. I was so startled, my grip slipped and the phone dropped onto my face.

I yelped at the sharp pain in my nose, swearing and lifting the phone back over my face. Damn it. A text from Jody, with an attachment. I thumbed it open. A picture of a familiar dick with three piercings running along the underside. The text read , "bored stiff." Obviously.

Jody was an old friend. His family and mine both bought homes here when they were still being built. And like me, he was a black sheep... not literally, he was a fennec, but you get the point. We hung out with the same crowds and had similar penchants for hedonistic excess.

I typed back, "bored too. But I'm on a bit of a dragon kick lately." I was a lot of things, but I was never a fur who'd fuck with someone's heart. Casual sex was off limits for the foreseeable future.

Jody shot back another pic. He was in front of a mirror holding a latex dragon dildo the length of his forearm, his eyebrow raised suggestively.

Once I finished laughing my ass off, I decided it would be easier to just tell him what my situation was. "I'm in a relationship."

Another text, "seriously?"

"Yep," with an added smiley face.

"Seriously?"

"Yes." No smiley face this time.

"Seriously, serious, for real?"

Ok. Starting to feel a little insulted. "Yes. Spread the word: Trent's ass is off the market."

My phone rang. I didn't need to check who it was. "Hey, Jody." I held the phone away from my ear while Jody shrieked excitedly.

When he finally calmed down he asked, "who is it? Anyone I know?"

"No. He's a co-worker."

"Oh yeah? You're still doing that job thing, huh?"

"It's not really an option if I don't want to spend the rest of my life in suburban hell."

"Then I take it you're still in exile at your folks house?"

"For now."

"Great, I'll be right over," Jody said.

"Wait, where are you?" Too late. The line was dead. I jumped out of bed and threw on some clothes just in time to hear the chimes of the doorbell. Jody must have been visiting his parents. Kind of disturbing that he still keeps such an assortment of sex toys at their house, but that's Jody for you.

Like a ninja cat, I crept my way down the hall to the top of the stairs, listening from around the corner as my mom got to the door first.

"Oh. Jody. Hello," she said with absolutely no enthusiasm.

"Hello, Mrs Adlin," Jody hummed. "My, you are looking simply ravishing this evening."

I gagged a little at the fennec's smarminess and I could almost feel the massive eye roll he was getting. "I assume you're here to see Trent?"

"Indeed I am, ma'am."

An exasperated sigh. "Jody, you do remember the walls are not nearly as thick as you think, and there are pups in the house..."

I choked back rising vomit. The insinuations were stomach churning to hear from my mom. But Jody chose to come here, and I was only starting to get back on speaking terms with my parents, so he was on his own.

"Nothing of the sort, ma'am! I would never think of committing such vulgarness under your roof. Especially not in front of children. And especially, especially not when your son is in a committed relationship."

Oh God, Jody! I bit my lip to keep from shouting for him to shut the fuck up. But it was too late. There was that moment of silence - that insufferable void - where I knew the words were sinking in.

"He's seeing someone?"

"Uh, um, maybe." I shook my head from around the corner, picturing my thick skulled friend catching on to his faux pas and attempting to undo the damage. "The truth is, I'm here on a fact finding expedition. But if you're up for it later tonight, maybe over cup of tea, we can discuss my findings."

A sigh that contained the barest hint of the disgust I'm sure my mom was feeling filled the air. "No, Jody. I'm busy. I'm sure you can find your way?" Without waiting for an answer, I heard her footsteps fading away.

Jody bounded up the stairs. I stood still, thinking I might repay some of the fright he put me through, but I forgot how sensitive a fennec's ears were.

"She wants me," Jody said before laying eyes on me.

"Dead, Jody. She wants you dead. You always leave off that last part."

He snickered and wrapped his arms around me. "It's been too long. You've got to move back downtown."

It had been a few weeks since I'd seen him. He added a few new ear studs to the impressive set of piercings that were slowly threatening to replace his sandy fur with a chrome finish. Jody started down the hall to my room, but I didn't want him getting the wrong impression.

"Hey, let's go to to the kitchen. I could use a drink."

***

We sat at the big kitchen table and sipped our wine coolers. I told Jody all about Mick and realized I knew far less about my enigmatic dragon than I wanted too.

"So, you slept with him... but didn't have sex?" he asked.

Hearing it out loud, it did seem a little uncharacteristic of me. "He's not that kind of scaly. He needs to be romanced. And I really was tired. And it was the best night sleep I ever had." I looked at my icy beverage, "anyways, tomorrow is going to be our first official date. I think he's ready to consummate our relationship."

"Where are you going?"

"You're not invited," I said with a smile.

"Hah. Seriously. If he's as big of a prude as you make him out to be, you might want to steer clear of your usual haunts."

Obviously. "Mick's picking where we go. We'll go right after work and make a day of it."

"You better bring a change of clothes if you're not stopping by here."

"Oh. Good idea." I knew there was a reason I kept Jody in my life. I was about to ask if he'd help me pick something out when the back door clicked open.

"Hiya, Alex," Jody chirped before I could spin around.

Alex, my youngest brother, was standing in the doorway, looking like the proverbial feral deer in the headlights. I don't know what kept him on edge all the time, but we'd gotten used to it. After a time Alex stepped in and closed the door.

"Hello, Jody. Trent." He walked hesitantly over to the table. His midnight fur almost a deep blue under the kitchen lights, he wore a thrift store flannel shirt and patched jeans. The scary part was that his style wasn't an ironic nod to mid nineties grunge culture.

I looked out the window. The summer sun stayed late, but it was starting to get dark. As the default responsible one in the room, I had to give him the perfunctory finger wag, even if I sympathized with him. "Kind of late to be out on a school night."

Alex shrugged, looking at a chair like he wasn't sure if he should be sitting. "I was at North Bluff Mall. You know they're planning to pave over that field in back just to expand the parking lot?"

"Oh." My first thoughts were, good, everyone tells me parking is a bitch out there. Of course, I didn't say that out loud.

"Yeah. Me and some friends are trying to get them to turn the field into a rain garden. Maybe it will bring back some of the song birds they drove off when they built that monstrosity." He pulled a chair out and sat with us. "C-could you guys sign this petition?"

He pulled a clipboard out of his backpack and slid it to me. "Sure," I mumbled, signing it. He only had about twelve names. Whether it was public apathy or Alex was too shy to approach a lot of furs, it was kind of sad.

I passed it to Jody. He always signed Alex's petitions but he usually had Alex sell him on whatever his latest cause was. I figured he was just fucking with my brother, but he swears it's to help Alex with his communication skills.

"You say the mall displaced some birds?"

"Yeah," Alex leaned closer, his spark of passion flaring to life. "When they built it two years ago they drained a swamp, and that was the natural habitat of-"

I tuned out his speech, downing the rest of my wine cooler and grabbed Jody's. I wondered what Mick was doing. I hoped he wasn't freaking out over tomorrow. It didn't matter where we went, as long as we were together...

"Now that's something I can get behind!" Jody declared, snapping me back to the now.

Alex looked incredibly pleased with himself, even if the signature was a guarantee from the start. "One more question," Jody passed back the clipboard, "you turned eighteen, right?"

I nearly choked on the drink, and kicked the fennec under the table.

Alex looked confused and missed Jody's start at my kick. "Yeah. Like a month ago. Why?"

"No reason," Jody smiled. "You're just very mature."

If his fur wasn't so dark, I'm sure Alex would be blushing. "Th-thanks," he said awkwardly before stuffing the clipboard back in his pack and making a hasty retreat.

Once I was sure he was gone, I stared daggers at Jody. "What the fuck, dude?"

"What?"

I shook my head. "He's not into males. Or females, now that I think of it. I think he might have a thing for trees. Either way, paws off."

Jody giggled. "I dunno, Trent. I think I felt a little something between us."

"You feel something for every fur you meet. Now stop hitting on my family, or I'll go seduce your dad." Jody laughed as I stood. "Come on. Help me find something to wear for tomorrow."

***

Another restless night of tossing and turning, punctuated by guilt ridden masturbation, justified by my thinking if I saw Mick tomorrow morning and was as horny as I felt, I'd be humping his leg the second we were alone. Yeah, a flimsy excuse, but I had to do something to pass the interminable sleepless night.

I grabbed three energy drinks from the fridge and tossed them in the satchel with the two changes of clothes I was optimistically bring with me to work. Jody recommended something conservative, given what I'd told him about Mick. I went with a dark red long sleeve shirt that was made of this really thin and soft material that Mick should be easily able to tear off me if things get heated, and a black pair of jeans that make my ass look good. I also brought a fresh set of work clothes... for a best case scenario outcome.

Mick was in the office. His back to the door and his head lost in his work. I looked at my phone. Work didn't start for another ten minutes. Indulging my inner creeper, I stood silently in the doorway, watching Mick's back. The subtle roll of his shoulders as he typed. The quick jerks of his head as he glanced between the screen and the stack of papers. And his tail. It curled around the base of his chair, thick and meaty like the rest of my dragon. I didn't realize just how prehensile a dragon's tail was. So many things I want him to wrap that tail around.

I took a step forward, but remembered how easily startled Mick could be. I coughed, to announce my presence. He still jumped, but when he spun around he wasn't as annoyed as he usually looked when spooked.

"Good morning, Trent," he said.

"Hey, Mick. Did you decide where we're going tonight?"

"Yes," he turned away. "Do me favor. Set your expectations really low. I... This isn't something I do a lot of."

"Mick..." I wanted to tell him everything would be fine, that he didn't need to impress me... Then it struck me, we were dating. That's exactly what I could tell him. "It's going to be great. We could eat roadkill with a clan of hobos and I'd still be having a great time as long as I'm sharing it with you."

"That's a relief. Do you know that old quarry, outside of town?"

My head tilted, causing Mick to erupt with laughter.

"Just kidding, Trent."

I threw my satchel under my desk across from him and peeked around the monitors. "I like seeing you laugh. You should relax more often."

***

I made it through the day, partly by sneaking in a nap or two to compensate for the sleepless night. Zero hour was finally almost here. We drove to his apartment where I slipped into the clothes I brought along and waited on the couch for Mick to finish changing. I'd never seen him in anything but his work clothes. I wondered what sort of style he had.

I could see him in a preppy collared shirt, even if he was a little nerdy for the accompanying personality. Or maybe he liked those ironic hipster clothes. Tight purple pants and a tee with a brand logo from a company that's been out of business for fifty years. Or... Black leather. A vest and hot pants. And a whip. I'd give anything to see him walk out in that!

The door opened a Mick shuffled out, wearing tan cargo shorts and a button down short sleeve pale blue shirt that matched his eyes, and looking as uncomfortable as I'd ever seen him. He was staring back at me.

"You look great," we said in unison.

"Are you going to be warm in that?" he asked pointing. "Th-the shirt," he added hastily, "I don't mean your fur. Not that I haven't noticed how that too might be warm in summ- We should go before I say something stupid... -er." He blushed.

I got off the couch. "Feel this," I took his hand and put it on my arm. "It breaths. But if I get hot, I can just take it off."

"Oh. That's good." Thoroughly flustered, Mick took back his hand. "Shall we?"

It occurred to me that I was really hungry. "So, where are you taking me?"

Mick led the way to his car again. "Remember you promised to keep your expectations low, and to keep in mind that this is outside my comfort zone," he took his keys out and put them back at least four times, but otherwise doing a good job of hiding his nerves. "I searched for the most popular first date locations, and for East Coast metro regions, The Waffle Shack was host to the most per capita first dates..."

"Really?" I've never had a date research anything for me. One had to look up the number for a locksmith once, but that wasn't really the same thing.

"Yes. I was a little surprised, though I'm not sure why. But I checked out the place, and they offer a wide selection of dishes - not just waffles - and they're open twenty-four hours."

"I've been to one."

"Oh." Mick stopped. "Did you like like? Because we could-"

"I loved it. It's one of the few places that has decent food at three in the morning. And they're pretty cool if you're a little drunk as long as you don't start stripping."

We got into his car, Mick cranking it a few times before the engine caught. "Is that something I need to be concerned about?"

"Heh. No. Well, maybe later, but we'd be in private by then." It was too dark to see that cute blush of his, but I could sense it. "So. Did you use your app to get all these date statistics?"

Mick was quiet for a moment. "Not exactly. Me and my app aren't on speaking terms at the moment."

***

Ah, yes. The Waffle Shack. A delightful chain of restaurants, a step above fast food and a step below cloth napkins. I'd never given the matter much thought, but it really was a good place for a date. Yet, just because I didn't give it much thought, didn't mean millions other furs didn't have that idea. The place was packed.

We ended up parking on the street. Mick began overthinking things again as we waited in the lobby for a table to open up. His eyes wandered over the other furs and scalies sitting on the courtesy bench or leaning against the walls. He wasn't checking them out - I knew what that looked like - he was comparing himself to them. It was in the subtle frown at the way a fox showered a vixen in public displays of affection Mick was too timid for. The way he adjusted his posture, trying to look taller after glancing at a hulking bull that towered over an equally buff lion that had his hand on the other's ass. The way he sucked in his gut after peeking at a raptor that was doing his best to bring back heroin-chic. I couldn't take seeing him like this.

I leaned over. "Let's make out."

Mick's attention fled from his self doubt. "W-what?"

"Kiss me."

"Right now? In front of everyone?"

"Fuck everyone. It's just you and me tonight." I grabbed one of his horns pulling his lips to mine. I kept my mouth open, willing him to push his tongue into me. Willing him to see I was his, and when I gave myself to someone, there wasn't a goddamn thing these other furs could do to draw me away.

His soft moan vibrated my lips, sending a shiver through me. Before I was able to coax more than that out of Mick, the skunk who was seating furs shattered the private universe we were in.

"Fosttorn. Table for two."

Worst fucking timing. Reluctantly - oh so reluctantly - I pulled away. "That's us, hun." Mick's eyes fluttered open and he gave me a confused look, like he'd forgotten his name suddenly. I stroked his cheek. "Remember where we left off and we can pick this up after supper."

Mick nodded. "Uh. Right." He whispered to me, "go ahead. I just need a second."

I chuckled softly. "Don't be too long."

***

We were taken to a booth in front of one of the floor to ceiling windows that would have offered us a panoramic view of the parking lot and laundromat across the street at earlier hours, but in the fading light it turned into a dark one way mirror. I looked at the dim reflection of a wolf. He was smiling. Mick's reflection sat across from him.

I looked away from the window, the smile still etched across my face.

"What?" Mick asked.

"I'm happy."

Mick smiled too. We were both happy, just sitting there looking at each other. This could have been the entirety of our date and I still would have put it in my top ten.

Again, our private universe was invaded. This time, by our waiter.

"'Ello, I'm Fitz, and I'll be your server tonight," he was a wolf, with an accent I couldn't quite place. He dropped a menu in front of Mick and place one in my hands. "Take a moment to look this over, and I will do my best to get you anything on, or off, the menu."

Was he really hitting on me?

Fitz leaned over me, putting a hand on my arm and pointing at the menu, so close I could smell his breath as he told me in a deep husky rumble, "these are our specials today. Like me, they're filling and available."

Son of a bitch. "What do you recommend for a date?" Take the hint.

"My number," he laughed, "but seriously, the fish is to die for. Can I get you and your... friend, some drinks to start with?"

I flashed a look to Mick, who was looking as taken aback as I felt. Pointedly, I closed the menu. "My boyfriend will be ordering for the two of us."

Now Fitz joined our three-way triangle of confusion. "Oh..." he looked at Mick, working for tips had him trained enough to keep from expressing any thoughts that would earn him an ass kicking, but the night was still young.

"You're on a date?" Fitz asked Mick.

"Yeah... It's our first date," Mick said.

The waiter nodded like he must have missed something.

I took a drink of the complimentary water, wishing it was something stronger. "He's being modest. This is technically our third date. The first two didn't make it out of his apartment, what with the porn movies and that big soft bed of his. But that's probably too much information. Now be a dear and fetch us two wine coolers, or your closest equivalents. Something citrusy."

Fritz left and I was afraid to look up from the menu I was pretending to read. If Mick was hurt, I was going to be spending our first - or third, depending on who's counting - date in jail, and the next six months as a viral video after I beat the living shit out of our clueless waiter. I chewed my lip until I couldn't bear the suspense any longer.

Of all the expressions I could have guessed would be on Mick's expressive face, I never would have picked one of barely contained laughter. Yet, there my dragon was, trying cover up a fit of giggling with an unconvincing cough.