A Late Night at the Firm
It was 12:45, a full hour and a half after lawyer John Stevens usually took his lunch. It had been a rough day, with clients coming in back to back starting at 8 A.M. John was very likeable and very talented, which meant he was almost always very busy. The middle aged lawyer sighed as he looked away from the clock and back down to the papers in front of him.
"So let me get this straight Mr. Agani," A male Red Fox in a grey suit began as he set his tan-framed reading glasses down in the middle of the stack of papers, "You will not accept a plea deal?"
The sloppily dressed human in front of the Fox nodded. He looked like something out of a suburban kid's wet rap dream. The faded red hoodie and dark, ripped jeans he wore were easily two sizes too big for him.
"Plea deal says I'm guilty Mr. S," He replied, "I'm innocent."
"I'll make this as clear as I can Mr. Agani," The Fox sighed, "You have prior convictions, solid evidence against you, and 13 people who said they saw you selling pussy in front of that high school. There is no way that a jury would side with you. You'd be found guilty and the judge would have a field day making an example of you."
The human scoffed and crossed his arms.
"Look a year in jail is the best we could possibly do," The Fox continued, "This is going to save you money and time in the long run."
"Bullshit," The human stood up and started to pace, "I'm sick of the system fucking over the little guy, the guy like me."
John cleared his throat and regarded the human's show of emotion dispassionately.
"You hired me for a reason," The Fox replied, "If you take this deal, it will be better for you. If we drag this out things will only get worse. Especially if one of those girls comes forward to testify against you. How did you treat them Sergei? Do they have no complaints whatsoever?"
The human looked around nervously and quickly sat back down, his slender fingers nervously rapping against John's dark wooden desk.
"So what's the maximum sentence?" Sergei sighed, "I mean what's the worst that would happen?"
"Well seeing as they're charging you with two felonies, for promoting prostitution in general and for promoting prostitution on school property," The Fox replied, "It looks like they could potentially give you 11 years."
Mr. Agani took a few moments to do the mental math and frowned.
"Plea deal it is," The human began, "If I go to jail, it won't be for 11 years right?"
"I can't officially say yes, but yes," The Fox leaned back in his chair, "So here's the next step. Get yourself a suit and look presentable for our court date in two months. Call me if you have any questions and stay out of trouble until then, alright? You don't want to dig yourself into an even deeper hole."
"Yes sir," The young male stood up and stretched, "I'll see you in a couple of months."
"Wait," Otto put up his paw, "Mr. Agani."
"Yeah?" The human asked, "What is it?"
"Tell your mother to send the check by the end of the month," The Fox began, "You've got one of the best lawyers in town, and I don't come cheap."
"I know that Mr. S," The human waved and started to walk out of the room, "I'll tell her for you."
The Fox waited for his client to leave the room before breathing a loud sigh of relief. He could finally go on his lunch break. He stood up and walked out of his office, turning off the light and shutting the door behind him. As he walked down the light-sienna hardwood floored hallway towards the break room, his keen ears picked up the sound of quiet sobbing. The Fox sighed, he knew the source of the sobs.
He knew better than to knock and let himself into the closed office. The source of the cries, a young male Squirrel looked up at the Fox with tears in his eyes.
"Hey John," The Squirrel wiped his eyes, "Was I really that loud?"
The Fox shook his head and sat down in the chair across from the Squirrel.
"How many times do I have to tell you Jamie?" The Fox chuckled, "Call me Otto. John is just my business name."
Jamie nodded and sighed.
"I lost another client Otto," Jamie took a deep breath, " A big client. It was another tough guy who didn't to be represented by a fag in court. How do you do it Otto? How can you be gay and still get all the work you do?"
"Look Jamie," The Fox replied, "Being a lawyer who works for a firm like we do, one that gets the clients with a lot of cash, requires a certain image. We've finally gotten to the point where Furs can be successful lawyers. The rest is just going to take a while."
"Aren't you tired of putting up that front?" Jamie asked, "Don't you want to be yourself?"
"I can be myself," Otto chuckled, "I can be myself when I'm not working. John is a professional, but Otto is the funnest fag in the county. Hell, probably the funnest fag in the entire state!"
"I suppose you're right," The Squirrel straightened up his suit and tie, "Thank you for checking in on me."
"I've got to look after you kid," Otto smiled, "You need someone in your corner."
"Thanks Jo-, I mean Otto," Jamie chuckled, "I appreciate that."
"It's my pleasure," The Fox replied, "So do you have anything else on your plate for today? Any more clients?"
Jamie looked down at the floor and shook his head.
"I'm amazed the boss keeps me around," Jamie began, "I hardly ever get a defendant to myself. They all storm off and go to you."
"He keeps you around because you are an invaluable source of help," The Fox replied, "Everyone here knows that you know what you are doing. The fact that you aren't busy helps you out. Hell, don't you remember when the boss pulled you on to his gun trafficking case last year? Things would not have gone the way that they were supposed to if you weren't there."
"I wish that she would have just fired me," Jamie shrank into his red office chair, "They were so guilty Otto. Everyone knew that they were guilty and I got them off. I think that there's very few people that come here that are innocent."
"We're performing a vital service," Otto began, "Look, I know you're young and I know you're relatively new at this. If there weren't defense lawyers, guys and gals like you and I, our court system wouldn't be fair. Everyone, even the guilty, is entitled to a fair trial."
"Doesn't that bother you though?" Jamie sighed, "I mean, in law school, we talked about this and rationalized it in a way that made sense. Now that I'm here, that rationalization is gone."
Otto sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Look kid," Otto began, "That's something that you'll have to figure out for yourself."
"Yeah I guess," Jamie replied, "Maybe it's something I'll figure out once I get a steady supply of clients."
"Maybe," Otto chuckled, "Well hey, if you're looking for something to do for the rest of the day I've got some cases I could use some help with."
"Sure," Jamie got up from his desk, "It would do me good to stop moping."
"Okay," The Fox smiled, "Did you get lunch yet?"
"Yeah," Jamie began, "It's in the fridge. I brought a quiche from home. My mom sent it over."
"Well," Otto opened the Squirrel's office door, "I'm ordering takeout from that Korean place a couple blocks down the street, I'd get you something."
Otto chuckled.
"Hey," Otto winked and pointed at the Squirrel, "Consider it a retainer."
Jamie paused for a moment and started to laugh.
"I'll accept that," Jamie replied, "But I want to eat there. I spend too much time in this stuffy office."
"Fair enough," Otto began, "We'll make a date out of it."
Otto turned around and walked out the door.
"Meet me in the lobby in five minutes," The Fox began as he walked out into the hallway, "Make sure the whole office sees you're going with me."
Otto lingered long enough to watch the Squirrel break out into a furious blush and then walked down the hall to the lobby with a large smile on his face. The receptionist, a short female Corgi, rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.
"What is it now Otto?" The Corgi chuckled, "What's got you so happy?"
"I've got a date," The Fox smirked, "Life is good Dana, life is good."
"Does your husband know about this?" Dana sighed, "I can't believe you're cheating on him again."
Otto frowned. The Fox messed up, and he knew it. The week before Christmas, the Fox's husband caught Otto fucking a 19 year old intern on the sofa while the Arctic Fox was supposed to be away for the weekend with the couple's 12 year old son. The pair resolved the situation, but things were still tense in their household.
"Christian knows that I love him," Otto began, "Besides, I'm just taking Jamie out to lunch. It's not even that kind of a date. No one said I expected that out of it"
"Gay Jamie?" Dana sighed and shook her head, "If you keep this kind of shit up Christian is going to leave you."
"Since when do you care?" Otto asked, "How is it any of your business?"
Dana frowned.
"It's my business when your husband gets drunk at the firm's Christmas party and tells me everything," Shannon growled, "Why shouldn't I call him right now and tell him about this? He deserves so much better than you."
Otto stayed silent but calmly looked over the Corgi.
"I can't believe you're pulling Jamie into this," Dana continued, "Does he even know you're married?"
"I'm sure he does," Otto began, "He's been here long enough. It's bound to have circulated the gossip chain at least once in the time he's been here."
Dana sighed.
"Look I'm sorry for snapping at you," The Corgi whined, "But Christian has become such a good friend to me and the girls. I just don't want to see him hurt again. He does love you, and he still thinks the world of you. Just try okay."
Otto took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay," Otto replied, "Can you let anyone who calls know that I'll be back in the office at 2?"
"I will," Dana smiled at Jamie as he walked into the lobby, "Have fun at lunch you two."
"Thanks," Jamie walked as confidently as he could muster to the Fox's side, "Let's go."
The pair walked out of the office and out onto the bustling city street. As the pair got out of sight of Dana, Otto put an arm around Jamie's shoulders.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
8 hours later
Otto and Jamie had a very filling lunch and a very productive day. Three other lawyers came in and asked the grey-furred Squirrel to look over some files and forms. Jamie agreed, like he always did, and resigned himself to another late night at the office. This time was different, Otto decided to stay and help as well.
"So let me get this straight," Jamie gestured with a slice of the large meat lover's pizza that Otto had ordered for the two of them, "This Sergei guy honestly thought he could pimp girls out to high school students and not get caught."
Otto set down his reading glasses and nodded.
"What about the girls?" The Squirrel asked, "Didn't the cops catch them?"
"Nope," Otto sighed and laid down on the sofa, "Just the pimp. It's weird right? Normally it's the other way around."
"Yeah," Jamie read over the paper clutched in his other hand one more time, "Are you finished yet?"
"Yep," Otto slid the pink piece of paper he had been checking over back into a fat yellow envelope, "Kaleb's fraud case is ready to go. What about you?"
Jamie shrugged and looked over at the two sealed yellow envelopes he had been going through.
"I've been done for a while," Jamie chuckled, 'I didn't want to make you feel rushed."
"You are really good at this," Otto threw his envelope onto the stack, "You're going to be a force to be reckoned with once you start getting cases."
"Thanks Otto," The Squirrel smiled and yawned, "I think it's time to head home, it's very late."
Otto looked over at the younger lawyer and chuckled. There was no way the Fox was going home yet.
"So what if it's late," Otto began, "I'm not going to be able to sleep without unwinding a little. Why don't we unwind here?"
"I appreciate the offer," Jamie replied, "Really I do, but I have to be at the office early tomorrow."
Otto scoffed.
"What for?" Otto asked, "Tomorrow is Saturday, and you have no cause to come in. People only go in on Saturday if they have a client."
"Or feel like they have something to prove," Jamie offered, "I don't get any cases Otto, I have to do something to make me seem like I'm worth keeping around."
Otto sighed.
"Look, I need this tonight," Otto began, "Tell you what, if you stay up with me for a little longer, I'll give you my next case."
"What?" Jamie blinked, "What good will that do? They'll get one look at me and then go right back to you."
"My professional opinion goes a long way Jamie," Otto chuckled, "If I tell a client that you can help them better than I can, they will believe me."
Jamie sighed and nodded.
"Okay," The Squirrel began, "I can stay up with you for a bit."
"Great," Otto beamed and wagged his tail, "I'll get the drinks."
Jamie blinked and tried to stammer out a response before the Fox briskly walked to his office. Otto came back a view moments later with two glasses filled with ice and a half-full bottle of expensive looking vodka. The Fox set the glasses down and poured two large helpings of vodka.
"Otto," Jamie put a paw up as Otto offered the glass, "I don't drink."
Otto chuckled.
"What kind of lawyer doesn't drink?" The Fox set the glass down in front of the Squirrel, "Come on. It's good Vodka. It's how I celebrate winning a case."
Jamie rolled his eyes.
"Isn't it better suited for when you lose cases?"Jamie raised the glass, "I figured you'd rather drink to forget it."
Otto clinked the rim of his glass against Jamie's and took a moderately sized gulp.
"I do," Otto replied after swallowing and exhaling appreciatively at the taste of the liquor, "I just drink a lot of cheap cocktails to forget."
Jamie shook his head and took a much smaller drink. He nearly spat it back up, but managed to swallow it down with a grimace. Otto chuckled and laughed.
"Keep at it," Otto began, "The first sip is always the hardest."
Otto was right, and after two more sips the Squirrel was able to drink without a problem. The pair made short work of the bottle and had let the empty blue bottle fall to the white carpeted floor. Otto had reclined back on the sofa and looked over at the tipsy Squirrel sitting at the desk.
"Come over here," Otto chuckled, "I want to talk to you."
Jamie nearly fell out of his chair as he turned his chair around to look at the Fox.
"We are talking," Jamie meeped as he turned too far and fell out, "God why am I so drunk?"
Otto smirked and walked over to help the Squirrel back on his feet. He took him over to the couch and laid him down.
"There's nothing wrong with being a lightweight," The Fox chuckled and sat down on the end of the couch, "Especially if this is your first time drinking."
"This isn't my first time," Jamie chuckled and kicked off his shoes, "I've done lots of things Otto."
Otto chuckled and moved closer to Jamie. He had him right where he wanted him.
"Oh yeah?' The Fox rubbed his paw up the Squirrel's side, "What else have you done?"
Otto's paw moved up to the front of the Squirrel's suit and loosened the other male's tie. Jamie chuckled and sat up, his eyes meeting the Fox's.
"This, for example," Jamie began as Otto leaned closer, "Just not with a guy like you."
The Fox leaned in and kissed the Squirrel on the lips. It was short and sweet, but Jamie pulled away with a fresh bulge in the front of his jeans. Otto chuckled and moved his other paw down to it and gave it an exploratory squeeze. Jamie blushed and moaned, his legs spreading to give Otto more access.
"I think you're less drunk than you're letting on," Otto loosened the Squirrels belt and slid his paw into his pants, "It's okay. You can tell me the truth."
"Y-you're right," Jamie shuddered and huffed as the Fox stroked the Squirrel's length through his underwear, "I just wanted to have an excuse to not drink any more of that vodka."
Otto smirked and kissed the Squirrel again, this time more insistently. Jamie returned the kiss, his arms draping over the Fox's shoulders. Otto shifted so he was all the way on top of the Squirrel, his hips in between the other male's legs, without breaking the kiss. The Fox murred and broke the kiss to move down and suckle on the Squirrel's neck.
"Get your clothes off," Otto growled, "Let's take this to the next level."
"I-in the office," Jamie panted and moaned as the Fox groped him again, "O-on the break room couch?"
"Yes and yes," Otto sat up and stripped off his shirt, "Now come on, we don't have all night."
If Jamie was going to say anything, the strong paws that shed the Squirrel's belt and pants stopped him. Otto looked down over Jamie's taut young body and licked his lips. Jamie was already hard and tenting his dark blue boxers. From what Otto knew of Squirrels, Jamie was average. It didn't matter much to John, he was far more interested in Jamie's perky little ass.
"Mmm, good boy," Otto began as he reached a paw into the Squirrel's underwear and started to slowly stroke over the hard flesh, "How far can I go tonight?"
Jamie moaned and closed his eyes.
"H-how far do you want to go?" Jamie shivered as the Fox's other paw moved under his back, "Are you gonna fuck me?"
Otto pulled off his pants and underwear with a predatory growl, showing off his rock hard cock. Jamie's eyes went wide as the Fox stood up and stroked some of his pre over his cock. The Squirrel pulled down his underwear and rolled onto his hands and knees.
"I'm glad you're so eager," Otto knelt down behind the Squirrel, "I hope you're ready for me."
Otto leaned forward and gave Jamie's hole a couple of exploratory licks before he started to eat the Squirrel out. Jamie gasped and moaned, his hands moving to the arm of the couch to steady himself and give him leverage to push back into the Fox's skilled tongue.
"Oh god," Jamie moaned loudly, "No one's ever done this for me before."
Otto withdrew his tongue and licked his lips.
"That's a shame," Otto murred, "Cause you've got such a perfect ass."
"You aren't going to stop are you?" Jamie wiggled his hips, "I really liked that."
"We'll have to do it some other time my dear," Otto mounted the Squirrel and rubbed the length of his cock between the smaller male's firm buttocks, "It's getting late, and I want to take this tight little ass of yours before I have to go home."
"Okay," Jamie blushed and grunted as Otto entered him, "H-how'd you know I was ready?"
Otto smirked and leaned forward, hilting himself all the way.
"If there's one thing I know," Otto panted and kissed over the top of Jamie's head, "It's when a guy is ready to get fucked. You should have seen how much you were trying to pull me in. You wanted this dick."
Jamie moaned quietly as the Fox gave a few exploratory thrusts. The Squirrel gasped and squeezed the Fox's arm.
"E-easy," Jamie held onto Otto's arm, "It's been a while."
"I can tell," Otto took a deep breath and stayed still, "Just take deep breaths."
"It's not my first time doing this," Jamie looked back at the Fox, "You just take some getting used to."
"Thank you for the compliment," Otto reached down and started to stroke the Squirrel's still erect cock, "This is a good sign."
Jamie shuddered and moaned as he leaked pre over the Fox's paw.
"I should be okay now," Jamie shuddered, "Just go slow."
The Fox panted and started to slowly thrust into the Squirrel's tight love tunnel. Jamie whimpered and moaned, pressing his hips back into the Fox's crotch. As Otto moved faster he smirked and sat back against the arm of the couch. Jamie yelped in surprise as Otto's strong arm's took the Squirrel along for the ride.
"W-what?" Jamie began, only to cut himself off with a loud moan, "Oh fuck, right there."
Otto murred and started to thrust faster, holding the Squirrel tight against his chest as their balls slapped together. The Fox bent his head down and bit onto the Squirrel's shoulder, Jamie moaned and came, hard, blowing his load across the length of the couch. Otto relinquished his hold on his coworker's shoulder and murred.
"Just like a teenager," Otto kissed over the spot he had bitten, "I'm nowhere close to done. I hope you're ready for that."
Jamie moaned and gasped as the Fox kept up his fast pace. The Squirrel leaned back into Otto, and with an unsteady paw, brought the older lawyer's lips to his in a passionate kiss. Otto growled and went faster, pounding his growing knot into Jamie's willing body.
"Fuck you're a good kisser," Otto panted, "I bet you're even better at sucking dick."
"I'll have to show you next time," Jamie chuckled and moaned again, "Fuck you're amazing at this. How are you still single?"
Otto stopped thrusting and fought the urge to pull out of the Squirrel and run home. The Fox's marriage had to be the worst kept secret in the office. How could Jamie possibly not know? Jamie looked back at Otto and planted a kiss on the side of the Fox's muzzle.
"You okay stud?" Jamie worked his hips a couple of times against the Fox's crotch, "I didn't strike a nerve did I?"
Otto chuckled and rubbed over the Squirrel's young and fit body. There was no reason Jamie had to know about this.
"I just didn't want to cum too quick," Otto licked Jamie's cheek, "You're too hot for your own good baby."
Jamie blushed and smiled. The poor Squirrel probably hadn't heard anything like that in way too long.
"Come on," Jamie murred, "Finish in me."
Otto didn't need to be told twice. He thrusted forward, hard and fast, pounding the Squirrel's hole with all the force his hips could muster. Jamie moaned and let his tongue loll out as his body was rocked with each of the Fox's earnest thrusts.
"Come on baby," Jamie gasped, "Don't make me wait any longer."
Otto growled and thrust forward, hard, tying the Squirrel and spilling his hot seed into his desperate partner. Jamie cried out and slumped back against the Fox, his body trembling as he had another powerful orgasm. Otto closed his eyes and held the Squirrel tight, taking the opportunity to hold a male close in mutual afterglow, something the Fox hadn't had in way too long.
"F-fuck," Jamie began, "Who's going to clean up the couch?"
Otto shrugged and laughed.
"Who cares? This couch has seen much worse than a couple of cumstains," Otto replied, "Now come on, get comfortable. We're going to be here for a while."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The drive to take Otto home was quiet and uncomfortable. The weather was nice, and if the pair weren't driving through the city, the stars would have been out. The Fox didn't turn the radio on, there were no DJ's that he liked this late at night. Jamie, twenty minutes after leaving the office, was the first to break the silence.
"So Otto," Jamie cleared his throat, "We didn't use a condom."
"Yeah," Otto replied, "Is that a problem?"
Jamie shrugged.
"Well no," Jamie began, "Unless it is a problem."
"It's not," Otto chuckled, "Now which of these houses is yours?"
Jamie pointed at a large apartment complex a few houses down the street.
"That's me up there," Jamie replied, "You don't have to pull into the parking lot. I can walk from the curb."
"You're a lawyer and you live in a dump like that?" Otto asked, "I'm sorry, but you should have been able to get into a very reasonable mortgage by now. Why aren't you in some nice house in the hills?"
Jamie sighed.
"I know," Jamie began, "Renting is easy though. I don't think I'm ready to tackle getting a house."
"Look," Otto replied as he pulled into the parking lot, "I'll help you get a house okay. I'll walk you through everything you need to do. You shouldn't be living in a trashy place like this."
"Thank you Otto," Jamie began as the Fox rolled to a stop, "Can we do this again?"
Otto hesitated. He knew that it was a bad idea, but he desperately wanted to get closer to the younger male, even if hot sex was all he got from it.
"Of course," The Fox smiled, "I'll talk to you later okay."
"Okay," Jamie jumped out of the car, "Thank you Otto. I feel much better."
"You're welcome," Otto replied, "Get some sleep okay."
Jamie closed the door and walked into his apartment complex with an uncharacteristic spring in his step. Otto chuckled and yawned. It was 4 in the morning according to the green LED numbers in the dash of the Fox's slate grey Buick. It was time to go home.
"Oh God," Otto began as he started on the short drive home, " I know I haven't asked you for much, but please let Christian be asleep."
The roads were totally empty, which meant that Otto was able to make the drive home in record time. The Fox pulled into his two car garage and breathed a sigh of relief, his husband's red Volkswagen wasn't there. Otto parked his car and ran into his bedroom as fast as he could. The last thing he wanted was to be caught coming home this late. He skipped his normal bedtime ritual of brushing his teeth and reading and jumped, naked, into bed.
"Thank you," Otto said to the ceiling, before closing his eyes and going to sleep.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hey hon," Christian began, "How'd you sleep?"
Otto sat up and looked at the clock before looking over to his white-furred husband. It was 8 in the morning, and Otto still didn't feel awake.
"Not too good," Otto yawned and rubbed the crust from his eyes, "I had a late night at the office."
Christian whined.
"I'm sorry for waking you," Christian crawled in next to his husband, "I just need my man right now. Luke got worse."
Otto's eyes went wide.
"Oh my god," Otto immediately woke up, "What happened?"
"Well," Christian took a deep breath, "I got a call at the clinic yesterday morning. Luke passed out in class, and the doctors found that he had some strange infection in the fracture. It's bad."
"Is he going to be okay?" The Red Fox put his arms around Christian, "How's he doing?"
Christian breathed deeply.
"They had been operating all night," The Arctic Fox began, "I just got home. They're going to call when we can go and see him."
"Fuck," Otto sighed and shook his head, "What are we supposed to do until then?"
"Wait I suppose," Christian replied, "Can you take today off?"
"I don't see why not," Otto replied, "I don't have any appointments today."
"Good," The Arctic Fox nuzzled into his husband's side, "I don't want to be alone today."
Otto kissed the top of Christian's head and sighed. The Red Fox knew he had to tell Christian about what happened with Jamie, but there was no way in hell that we would do it now.
"Can we go out for breakfast?" Christian asked, "I just want to pound crappy diner coffee and gorge myself on Eggs Benedict."
Otto chuckled.
"Sure," Otto began, "I think we need to shower though. What do you say? Want to hop in there with me?"
Christian sighed.
"Otto come on," The Arctic Fox began, "I'm not in the mood for that."
Otto leaned back against the wall and sighed.
"Fine," Otto replied, "I'll go in after you."
Christian looked down at the floor and slunk into the bathroom shower. Otto's cell phone started to vibrate intensely on the lawyer's bedside table. The Fox sighed and answered.
"This is John Stevens speaking," Otto began, "How can I help you today?"
"Hey Otto," Dana began, "I got a defendant asking for you. A carjacking case."
Otto sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"Is Jamie in?" Otto asked, "I can't make it into the office today."
"Yeah he's in," Dana replied through grit teeth, "Why do you ask?"
"Send the guy to Jamie," Otto began, "And tell the defendant that I personally recommend Jamie and that he is the best possible lawyer for this case."
Dana paused for a moment.
"Oh," Dana began, "I will do that. That's very nice of you."
"He's earned it," Otto replied, barely stifling a sigh as he heard the shower turn on without him in it, "Be sure to play down my role in this."
"Of course," Dana chuckled, "Sounds like you guys had a productive evening."
"Yeah," Otto sat up and threw the covers off of his naked body, "He's been having a tough time at work lately. I just wanted to help out."
"Okay," Dana replied, "How's Christian doing?"
Otto sighed and got out of bed.
"You know, you should ask him that," Otto paced around the room, "You're probably better at cheering him up than I am anyways."
"Oh my god," Dana quieted down, "Can I call you at lunch?"
"No," Otto sighed, "Because I'm taking Christian to brunch. It's going to mushroom cloud, like everything I've tried to do to make him feel better."
Otto snarled and punched the wall.
"What the fuck is wrong with me?" Otto started to cry, "Why can't I do right by him?"
"Otto," Dana talked faster and even quieter than before, "Can'tTalkRightNowWillCallYouBackBye."
The Corgi hung up the phone, and Otto numbly threw his cell phone back on the bed. The full emotional weight of the past couple weeks crashed down on him. All the tears and anger he held back after Luke got hurt and the subsequent bad feelings between the two came to him now, bolstered by the shame he felt after cheating on his husband yet again. Otto punched the wall again, leaving a hole in the drywall.
"Otto?" Christian quietly began from behind his husband, "Are you okay?"
The Red Fox didn't turn around to look at the other male.
"No," Otto replied, "I'm a fucking mess. Why do you stay with me?"
"Otto," Christian began sternly, "Look at me."
Otto sheepishly lifted his head to made eye contact with the Arctic Fox. Christian was naked and still wet from his aborted shower. Otto looked him over and mentally kicked himself. There was no way he deserved such a sweet guy with a body that looked just as beautiful as the day they met. Christian sighed and walked up to kiss his husband softly on the lips.
"What is bothering you?" Christian asked, "I've never seen you like this."
Otto looked away from his husband and looked back up again.
"I cheated on you."
Christian recoiled like he had been slapped, but stood his ground and maintained eye contact. The smaller Fox took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I love you Otto," Christian began, "I understand things are tough right now, and I'm sorry I haven't been able to give you all that you need."
"That's not it," Otto replied, "It's well."
Christian frowned.
"What is it then?" Christian asked, "Do you not love me? Do you want a divorce?"
It always unsettled Otto when his mate took this position in their relationship. He was always glad when he did, but losing his role as the dominate male took some adjustment, even if it was only for a little while.
"You're right," Otto began, "It is what you thought it was at first. I just, I don't know anymore. This stuff never happened when I drank."
Christian's face softened as he went in to embrace his husband.
"Have you ever thought of talking to someone?" Christian asked, "You have a stressful job, things at home aren't doing too well, those things are enough to make a good man, a good man like the one I married, do things they normally wouldn't do."
Otto nodded and nuzzled into Christian's embrace.
"Why don't you hate me?" Otto's voice broke, "Why aren't you mad at me?"
Christian sighed and held his mate close.
"I don't know," Christian began, "Let's just take our shower and go to breakfast. We can deal with this later."
The Arctic Fox sighed.
"I just want you to promise me that this won't happen again," Christian continued, "I want you to talk to a therapist, get your head right, and be my Otto again. Can you do that for me?"
Otto nodded.
"I love you baby," Otto wrapped his arms around his mate, "I know I've done a shitty job of showing it lately, but I do, so much."
Christian broke a smile and returned the embrace.
"I love you too," Christian replied, "Come on. Let's get in that shower."
The Arctic Fox broke the embrace and led Otto by the paw to the still running shower. Otto smiled and embraced his mate from behind, his tail wagging slightly as the smaller male blushed and giggled quietly beneath him. It had been awhile since he had been touched like this.
Otto didn't know how it happened, but it looked like things were going to be okay. He knew better than anyone that sometimes people who don't deserve a lucky break wind up getting one.