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_ Blessing Day _

_ Part 1 _

(Sam)

The smile stretching towards my ears said it all. Saturday morning at Marek's, snugged up tight in the warmth of his thick duvet, half-hiding from the beams of light stabbing between the blinds. We had a whole weekend to look forward to, and while I didn't have much by way of a plan for it, I intended on enjoying every moment.

A hefty thump rattled the floorboards, sending a mild but notable shudder through the bed. Another followed, fiercer, trembling and soothing, pulling my smile even wider. A plan? Honestly, who needed a plan for 'enjoying' themselves when they had what I did?

I pushed down the corner of the covers that I had for myself, exposing myself to the stabbing light, sure, but also to the heart-fluttering sight of my big red panda beyond the foot of his vast, Visoka-sized double bed. Gods, think up any everyday activity, no matter how vanilla or basic, and I swear Marek could find a way to show himself throughout.

Wide enough to hide the TV on the dresser opposite, his bare belly bounced with his next weighty, floor-shuddering step towards the bed, soft orange lovehandles dancing either side of the gentle brown of his considerable paunch.

I think I groaned. I couldn't tell; far too busy experiencing his every powerful move. He started to bend over, reaching down for something on the carpet, forcing his bulk to press at his massive thighs and weighty bulge, pressing out those rolling, thickening hips. He had me tugging at the bedsheets, grunting from the ache of my stiffening morning wood.

“Fuck," I called out, half-muted from the breath his display had taken. “You do that on purpose."

“Do what?" He stayed bent over, tail flagging up from the top of that big, curvy butt pushing his boxers to the maximum.

“What are you doing by the way?"

“Looking for a shirt." Those brown and orange rings quickened their waving, thwaping at the handles of his dresser. “You didn't tell me what I'd supposedly done on purpose by the way."

“Show yourself off," I shot back through my teeth-biting lip, only too aware of the bulging in his duvet above my crotch. “Picking something up off the floor… shouldn't be that hot."

Marek snerked hard, wearing a cheek-lifting grin to outmatch mine as he stood back up, crumpled white shirt in paw. “Don't tell me you're still horny after last night, little 'panda. And the night before."

“What can I say? I've enjoyed spending the last couple of nights with you." I saw his turquoise-tipped ears flick, mellowing my voice to sing out, “Looking forward a couple more, too."

“Uhuh." He crossed those huge arms, biceps bulging against his plump yet muscular, rounded pecs. “Is it the nights you've enjoyed, or is it just the mess you've been making in my fur?"

“Why not both?"

That quick-witted lash of my tongue won another laugh, full and hearty. Genuine. Seeing his glow, his boyishly delight, fuelled me with a contentment, a completeness, that outmatched any competing sense of arousal. My whole self eased. My Marek matched me, slipping on that shirt and strolling back towards his side of the bed. No matter how careful or steady he tried to be, his sheer size meant he could never fail to rattle the floorboards, along with everything else they supported. Just one of the countless comforting, reassuring, unmistakable traits of my big 'panda's presence.

“Did you sleep well?" Marek asked with a delicateness at odds with the final heavy thud of his feet upon the floor.

“I slept great. Thanks."

“Good." He scratched at his neck, ears losing the smallest shade of their perk. “I didn't move around too much?"

“No, hon." I rolled over, still needing to peer way up towards the ceiling to find the sparkle in those pretty green eyes. “Honestly, you're a real sound sleeper. I'd say you sleep like a log, but… It'd be fairer to say you're more like a mountain."

He rocked with a chuckle, stomach sloshing, jutting out and looming over a vast stretch of the mattress. “I'll take that as a compliment."

“Please do." My tail began to sweep beneath the weighty duvet. “If it helps… you're by far the sexiest mountain I've ever come across."

“I'm not sure if it does help..." Those full, chocolate-striped cheeks lifted, almost creasing his eyes closed. “...But I love the sentiment."

I freed my arms from the covers, spreading them wide, beckoning. I'd had enough of admiring my huge 'panda from afar. Much better to have him up close and personal, assaulting the whole of me with his heat, scent and softness.

He didn't need much persuading. Rumbling out a long, fur-tingling grunt, Marek pushed even more of himself over the helplessly creaking bed. Gravity took hold, forcing his shirt to shift and stretch, working overtime in the hopes of containing so much sweet 'panda gut. A taunting peek at the starts of his fuzzy underbelly soon had me grumbling, too.

His hands came down, pressing hard and deep into his side of the bed. The shudder he sent out was wild enough, but nowhere near the same league as the event that was the rest of him following.

Front first, Marek let the whole of his sprawling frame drop. Hard. A pounding thud came first, soon joined by a far more devastating rumble. As fast and as fierce as the whole mattress shook, his giant stomach and thick hips outmatched it, freeing even more of themselves from beneath that struggling white shirt, spilling out into growing hills of sexy orange and brown.

The whole bed sank, legs chattering over the carpet as the bed frame itself came to terms with the sheer force thrust upon it. The springs below screamed out loud, fighting to support whatever they could of Marek's weight. I doubted much would have fared better against him smashing down atop it. In fact, I imagined almost anything would've given out in seconds, surrendering unconditionally to my mighty, groundshaking mountain of a 'panda.

I closed my eyes. Took in the whole experience. The harsh shuddering, the collapsing mattress threatening to pull me down along with it, and of course, the nursing touch of Marek's fingerpads settling and stroking over my cheek and chest. The whole building, if not the whole street, must've jumped from his impact. Fuck. My 'panda had me moaning so loud that I trembled.

“That's quite the grin you've got there," he quipped, keeping his own on show for when I finally pulled myself from my excited imagination.

“Guess so." All that shaking eased. The dull roar from his landing faded. By the end, there was peace at the base of the tall, curvy hillside I'd been left to bask in the beauty of. A hillside that caught so much of the light creeping into the bedroom. “Quite the 'panda I've got here, too."

“Aww." He shone bright enough to rival the morning, warming me from the giant pillow beside my own. That sweet, smiling muzzle rested within easy reach, caressing me with a breeze as gentle as the fingers exploring my fur. The first chance of the day to share myself with him. No way would I miss it.

Sliding over the sheets, guided out from under the duvet by his helpful paw, I wrapped the whole of myself around the end of his muzzle. My own fit neatly between Marek's delicate lips, chest and stomach conforming to the curve of his chin, bare legs happy for the brush of his creamy neck fur against their own. Perfect.

We kissed. Then again, deeper, longer. Holding me close, not tight, my 'panda eased me onto the top of his pillow, positioning me for our third. His blunt claw explored my hip, then my thigh. My tongue found the tip of his. A rush of heat struck. Emotion. We dove as deep as two 'pandas could, kissing with so much force, so much energy that… I'm sure I felt his spirit meld to mine, and mine to his.

“Would you like to moan any louder?" he asked, his taunting well and truly overtaken by the wavering in his breathless words.

“Mmf." We parted our lips but stayed locked to one another. My tail thrashed, hitting overdrive. I could hear and feel Marek's doing the same down the bed. “If that doesn't wake me up… I doubt much will. Damn."

“Good?"

“Great."

“Heh." He looked to the headrest, rolling out a long, cheerful sigh before bringing his handsome smile back to me. “That's about how I saw it, too."

“Only about?"

“Yeah." A quick lick tickled my chin. “I was thinking great, going on fantastic."

“Better."

His chocolate-striped cheeks rounded. I couldn't resist rubbing a paw through the white of one of them. “Joking aside…"

“Joking?"

“Not about the kissing." He licked again, harder, as much playful as affectionate. “I've really loved having you over again these last couple of days. These longer stays… They're great. I'm glad we're doing more of them."

“Me too." I bumped my nose to the very tip of his. “And… yeah, the last two days at work have been amazing, knowing that I've got a bus ride back here to you to look forward to."

“Same." His paw pads pressed into my back and butt. “Having you here to welcome me home after a busy day has been wonderful… Even better now that we've got the weekend free to spend together."

“You read my mind." I let him squeeze me tighter to his muzzle, stroking his fur, playing with his whiskers while we shared ourselves all over again.

Time soon lost all meaning. It had a habit of doing that whenever I let Marek have his way with me, in whatever form he decided on.

I eventually found myself in one of his favourite positions for me; sprawled out on his back, idly petting and massaging deep beneath the comfortable fur between those broad shoulders. Actually, it'd fast become one of my favourites, too. There weren't many others from which I could tease no shortage of pleasingly long grumbles from my otherwise silent 'panda.

On the subject of teasing, I figured I must've been doing a good job with my paws. All those happy sounds aside, I could've easily mistaken him for being sound asleep. Was he just that relaxed? Thinking about something? Maybe. And while it probably wasn't anything major, likely just me overthinking about him thinking, curiosity got the better of me. I figured I should ask--

“So," he muttered half into his pillow, beating me to the punch.

“What's up?" I glanced up towards his ears. They were close to as flat as he was. “Something on your mind?"

Marek took a moment, rising and falling with a drawn-out yawn. Another moment followed, but again, he piped up first. “Uh… Did you have anything in mind for what you'd like to do today?"

“Oh…" Was that it? “No, not really." Was that all he'd been pondering in silence? Heh… I guess he really was that relaxed. All the more motivation for me to keep up my paw work and breathe in his sweet, strong scent. “How about you?"

No answer right away. Between the next trembling groan and the steady sweeping of his tail, I wondered if I'd helped him to forget the question. “One or two ideas."

“Like?"

“They've finished putting up the New Year's decorations downtown. Lights, streamers. Lots of paper clocks ready for the bonfire at the park."

“Hmm."

“They've got an ice rink set up in Liska Square, too. Could be worth a visit."

Now, my massaging had a second benefit: time to think on how best not to commit. “Maybe."

“If not." Marek didn't miss a beat. “We can head there for a coffee and something to eat. Figure out where to go from there."

“...It's an idea."

“Okay." He lifted from his pillow, forcing me to grab two steadying clumps of fur as he peered up over his shoulder. “You don't sound very keen."

“It's not that…"

“Then what?"

“It's…" I sighed and nosed down into the side of his neck. “I'm just happy to lay here with you, in the warm."

“You know I'm happy to do it, too," he chimed. “But we can't do it all day."

“We can't?"

“Heh." He bent an arm around, rubbing the small of my own back with a finger. “How about we have a little bit longer petting each other, then maybe we can go out and grab something nice for lunch."

“Okay. Sounds good," I conceded. “But…"

“What?"

“Part of the reason I'm happy to chill inside is because of the holiday. It's the last Saturday before New Year. Everything's gonna be rammed solid downtown. That's why I made sure to get all my gift shopping done by now, so I could swerve that mess."

“Same here." A rub at his chin had me waiting for his next idea. “Which is why we'll head down the road to the Oak Tree. Good food and too far out from the centre to get hit by the crowds."

“Tsk. If you say so."

“I do say so." He rolled his shoulders with enough force to bounce me. “How about this? If I'm wrong, we can just walk back here to eat and chill… and maybe torment some little 'pandas in the process, too."

“Torment?"

“Mhmm." The swaying of his tail became a lash, fanning the fur of my back. “Wait for you to settle down on the sofa, unsuspecting… Then come along to bury you under so much 'panda for so long that when I'm done, and when you're done_,_ sweetheart, you won't know which way is up."

“Damn." I huffed, ears going as hot as my flushing cheeks. “In case, I really hope it's crowded down there."

For a moment, I had plans to help him along with his teasing. I'd never not be up for talking in detail about having my big, heavy 'panda thumping down atop me. An activity almost as hot and exciting as having him do it in the flesh and fur. Marek however, he had plans of his own…

“Oh!" He jolted. Same here, by extension. “Speaking of New Year's…"

“What about it?"

That's when we really started to move. Marek shifted his whole huge self upwards, rising onto all fours high above the bed, tossing a pillow against the headboard. Riding this high atop my big 'panda, instinct told me to grab his fur and cling on tight. No matter. He had me in mind the whole time. Up came his hand, fingers slipping effortlessly under my chest, legs and stomach. Safe in his grasp, I went for a ride I had no reason to be anxious about, soon finding myself held firm yet cautiously into Marek's thick chest. A front row seat to watch him roll and drop, crashing down onto his back with a bed-creaking, furniture-rocking, belly-shaking boom.

“My parents finally booked their flights for their visit next weekend." He eased his hold, leaving a finger behind to stroke from my chest to my belly. “They're looking forward to meeting you."

It took a second or two to get my head clear from the force of my big 'panda's impact. Sometimes, I wondered if he really did get how damn powerful he was from a Maleni point of view.

“Little 'panda?"

“I, uh… that's good. I'm glad. Looking forward to meeting 'em, too."

He looked at me kinda sideways. “You don't sound so sure."

“I am!" I crawled an arm's length, reaching to rub at his chin. “Just waiting for the floor to stop moving from how hard you hit it."

“Oh, stop."

I put my teeth firmly on display along with him. All taunting aside, Marek wasn't totally wrong. Meeting his parents would be nice, sure… but nerve-wracking all the same. Not just because… y'know, parents, but also because we were talking about another pair of Visoka-sized red pandas, stomping around the apartment, looming up high above. Dude, how could I not be nervous?

“How about your parents?" He ran a careful finger over my tail, drawing an easy flick against his pad. “They're still dropping in, right?"

“They will. Next Friday." Phew. I wasn't upset to move on from talk of his parents, even if it meant jumping to mine. “They're excited about it too."

“Same here, for sure."

I couldn't resist a stroke through the thick, creamy-coloured fur of his chestruff, poking out over his shirt collar. The scent tickled my nose nicely. “They feel bad for not meeting you until now. Glimpses of you dropping me off back home not included."

“Honestly, I do too." He grinned wider. “I'd love to sit down with you all at your house, but… You might need a slightly bigger one for that."

Snorting at that got me a feather touch of his claw to my chin. “Maybe slightly."

The flow of conversation ran dry awful fast. Marek's petting over me slowed. His grin faded. “Wait."

My ears lifted. “What's up?"

“You said they're arriving Friday. Blessing Day."

“Yeah."

“Mine are, too."

The comfortable warmth our talking and affection had stirred faded from my chest. Still, I asked, “Is that a problem?"

“It is if your parents are going to be here."

“What's wrong with my parents?" I spat back.

“Nothing, nothing. Sorry, just…" He started to get twitchy. Eyes darting, muzzle stiffening. His heart beat harder and faster beneath me.

“Just, what?"

A sigh brushed over my headfur. “I was hoping to have two gatherings. Keep it simpler for space and for cooking and all."

Was that it? I buried the scoff and the sarcastic tone that would've been my first response. “We're Maleni, hon. We're not gonna take up all the room or eat you outta house and home."

“Of course not," he said with more force than I'd expected. “It's… argh…"

I pushed myself up, throwing my legs under me to take a seat in front of his twisting mouth. “Marek, what is the problem?"

“I told you they were coming over the weekend, Sam," he complained. “Friday morning until Sunday. They've booked up and everything now."

“Hold on." Up went my finger. “That's why I offered Friday to my parents. Friday isn't 'the weekend', last I checked."

“It is at festival time."

“It's definitely not." His sniping put the fur on my back and neck on end. “Anyway, Friday to Sunday's basically most of the holiday period." My jaw set. I had to really force and snap out, “When else were they supposed to come over?"

That darkening frown, super-tense muzzle and those piercing green eyes: they broke, eased and diverted away. My 'panda went from fiery to timid in a heavy beat of his heart. “Okay, okay… I screwed up." His gaze came back to me, asking for help. “What about Thursday? New Year's Day might be more special."

“Can't," I muttered back, sorry to disappoint him. “We always do New Year's Day at home. No way that they'll break from tradition."

“Monday?"

“My Dad's first day back at work. He couldn't get the whole period off."

He sighed so hard that I almost tipped backwards into the deepest part of his valley-like chest. “Is it honestly that much of a problem?"

Marek scanned around, searching for… something. The turquoise tips of his ears were tucked right down to the matching highlights in his light orange headfur. “It's a lot of people to keep happy in a small apartment, even if half of them will be Maleni."

“It--"

“Plus… I've never cooked for that many people before." His eyes hid themselves away. “If I mess up a Blessing Day dinner, and it's just my parents, it's only them that I'm at risk of disappointing… And you, of course."

“Glad that I'm worth the worry," I tossed out with a smile he'd not see, offering a nuzzle to his chin that he'd at least feel. “I'll be there to help as much as I can do. It'll work out fine."

We stayed like that for a minute longer, Marek half-hiding in his pillow while I toured the side of his muzzle with a paw. There was more to this. Something deeper was hurting or worrying my 'panda, and by extension, me too. I had to get to the bottom of it.

“So what have I gotta do to convince you?" I scooted right up to the warm fuzz and soft bulk of his neck, offering a gentle peck at his lip as a partner to my prodding. “How can I make you feel better?"

It took some time, but time was something I'd always have for my big 'panda. Besides, wrapping myself around him, cuddling with all my love, tasting him again and again, was hardly the worst use of my time.

His eyes crept open. I welcomed the first hints of green, chuckled at the tickle of his heavy snort washing over my face. No jokes, no complaint. I waited those last few seconds. Giving him all the time and space to finally answer, “It's not just that."

“Okay." A hard, fast rub at the fur around his twitching whiskers was his reward for opening up. His quiet, deep-throated groan was mine in return.

“I'm also conscious of the fact that my parents are… Kind of outspoken. My dad, especially."

Some explanation... That just raised more questions. I let it slide, though. Kept up the petting and waited for him to piece together the rest of what he had to say.

“They're fine. Not viciously sizeist or anything like that, so don't worry."

“I wasn't worrying." I deserved a medal for saying that with a straight face.

“But… they like to voice their opinions. Even if nobody actually asked for them. I… ugh." He put a big paw to his forehead and rubbed hard. “I suppose you could say they can be a little coarse. Can rub people up the wrong way without meaning it."

“I get you." Hiding the chill running through me got easier. I didn't want him to stress anymore, and honestly, I wanted to believe he was overplaying this. After all, people often accused me of the same whenever I moaned about mine. “My folks can be a little uptight sometimes… Closed off… But they like to talk and mingle once they do open up, y'know?"

“Ma and Dad are good at talking, heh, so… If anyone can break the ice, I'd wager it'd be them."

I smiled. No force needed. Marek came along with me. “Oh, also. My parents, uh… they're not ones for getting carried around places or helped up onto things."

“Oh." His head tilted just a little. “Not ever?"

“Only when necessary." I shrugged. “Iunno… They're proud, I guess? Or old fashioned, or something."

“Well, if that's the case, then I'll be sure to bear it in mind…" He fell silent again, eyes searching but unfocused.

As good as my 'panda usually was at keeping his emotions in check, I could tell he was still worrying. So, as much as I had my doubts over how well my folks would get on with his, judging by how they sounded, what use would there be in bringing it up now? Things were how they were gonna be.

Bumping my nose to his, I made sure to keep my tail sweeping, my face lifted and my voice cheerful. “It'll go great, big 'panda. I know it."

His eyes found me, pretty ears lifting a shade from his headfur. “Thanks, little 'panda."

---

(Marek)

Friday. Blessing Day: the day after New Year's Day. The A7 highway north out of Koprovice was a whole lot busier than I expected it to be during the festival period. An easy thirty minute drive to the airport proved to be an hour-long headache under heavy, relentless rain. Around about the time I did battle with a temperamental ticket machine at the south terminal parking garage, I figured it must have been down to the roadworks underway, or a closure someplace that I wasn't aware about. Whatever the case, I wasn't about to lose my holiday cheer. I wanted to make this a success. A happy success. I'd had Sam's sweet words signing in my ear ever since last Saturday morning, when he told me that 'it'll go great'. I was adamant in my insistence not to prove him a liar.

Leaving the parking area, walking to the airport proper, the crowded highway started to make a whole lot more sense. The hammering rain on the skybridge roof almost rivalled the footsteps and the voices belonging to all those coming and going. It seemed like travelling to spend the long festival weekend elsewhere had been a popular idea. Exactly how popular, I didn't fully realise until I got to the terminal itself.

If the skybridge had been busy, then the arrivals area at the terminal was jam packed. Dozens, maybe hundreds of people were criss-crossing one another's paths, towing their clattering baggage and rounding up rowdy, screaming kids. A fair few Visoka walked close to the moving Maleni paths running off to the side, talking with their smaller-sized friends and family there. More still carried them around in their paws or shirt pockets, taking extra care amid the chaos. All this took place under the colourful lights and traditional silver and gold decorations hanging beneath the high ceiling. They were almost pretty enough to stop and admire. Almost.

I didn't have time to dawdle, half-an-hour late as I was. Squeezing through the crowds, trying my hardest not to barge into some barely shoulder-tall bear cutting right in front of me, nor kick both the tail and trolley bag belonging to a smaller, equally careless fox. Both turned to face me. Neither had much to say once they peered up and found me.

Rushing into the heart of the arrivals section, the thickest crowd yet greeted me beneath the flight status boards. Being on the larger side might've made for a less comfortable drive in my smaller-than-I'd-like-it-to-be two-door car, and it might've made the walk here a saga in itself, but it did make checking that I'd made it to the right terminal nice and easy.

Ma had insisted, repeated, left little doubt in my mind that she and Dad would be arriving in the south terminal. Of course, I'd received those same assurances around this time last year… only for them to arrive a whole skytrain trip away in the north terminal. A last-minute, unforeseen change was the culprit, apparently. Whatever the case, I remember taking an awful lot of the blame for leaving them waiting…

But, I wouldn't suffer that same fate this year, thank the gods. Two reasons for that. Firstly, I could see that Zolnian Airways flight 864 from Pozrun-Karnik airport was due to arrive at Gate S12. Secondly, I could also see 'Delayed Until 11:45' in bright orange text beside it.

After all that rushing, all that worrying and pushing past people… I still had almost twenty minutes to wait in this loud, stuffy, manic airport. Still, I would prefer that to getting complained at for leaving my parents to do the same. In fact, spotting a big yellow Coffee-Go kiosk a short walk away, I figured things would work out nicely. Yeah, it might've been as overcrowded as the rest of the hall, both at the main serving area, and the Maleni section in its little knee-high, balconied alcove, but whatever. As long as I could grab a nice snack and a hot Charkava, along with a couple more to welcome my parents with, I'd be more than willing to fight with another crowd.

Sitting down at one of the few empty tables I could find alongside the kiosk, one with an annoyingly rickety leg and creaky, surely smaller-than-average seats, I did manage to drown out all the noise and a good share of my stresses. Firing off a message to my parents with instructions on where to find me, the other side of the car rental desk from where they'd arrive, did a lot to relax me. A nice, strong Charkava accompanied by a surprisingly fresh slice of pudding cake did the rest. Finally, I could breathe. Take some time to think about the day ahead. Get excited about seeing Sam again…Heh. Not even the odd step on my tail from others coming and going could bring my mood down at that point. Not once I had thoughts of my carry-sized 'panda to distract me.

Sure, his last visit might've only ended on Sunday, and I might've seen him at the gym for our usual midweek training session, but the longer we spent together, the longer we were together, made it tougher and tougher to be apart.

I had to fight against squeezing my coffee cup too hard, letting all that positive energy lift my cheeks and close my eyes instead. Man… Just a few hours to go until I'd have him to stay again, right the way through until next Tuesday. Four whole days. They'd race by fast, sure, but from here, at this little table in an overcrowded airport terminal, there was only sunshine and rainbows, inspiring wonderful thoughts about how we'd have so much time to spend chilling, chatting and cuddling… Perfect--

Something knocked the table and everything on it. Formed shadows. Sank the mood enough to put those stamping my grubbying tail tip to shame.

“I can't believe how long that took!" Dad boomed, filling the seating area way more than he and his tubby stomach ever could. The snarl on his grey-flushed muzzle and the ripple of his double chin and cheeks had me steeling myself for more.

He crashed onto the seat opposite, throwing his case under the table so hard that it smacked my shin. My sucking of air through teeth didn't derail him. “Never flying ZA again."

“Hi, Dad."

That fell on deaf, angry ears. Aimless paws jabbed at his phone, only to then toss that, too. Straight onto the table alongside the three cups of coffee. “Have you ever known anything like that!?"

He'd turned to Ma, bringing up the rear with her own carry case. While not as… passionate as Dad, the visibly bad taste in her mouth suggested she had plenty to vent about herself. “That was a nightmare from start to finish."

Damn, I hoped that wasn't a prelude. Sipping down more than a mouthful of my coffee, I watched Ma sit beside Dad, straighten up the imperfections in her otherwise flowing pastel orange headfur, before launching into a tirade with him about something I fast lost track of. My hackles rose at speed. Sunday… They'd be here until Sunday. That cuddling and such with Sam might have to be spaced out. “Hey Ma, Dad. Great to see you. I'm good thanks, how are you?"

Ma's focus flashed to me. With a tut and a dip of her muzzle, she reached out to pat the top of my hand, moving to squeeze what her smaller paw could of my forearm. “Sorry, sweetie. It's been a morning and then some."

“More than some," Dad growled, grabbing his phone again. “Where's that complaint number?"

“What happened?"

His fuzzy ears perked to me, snout still buried in his screen. “That flight was hell from start to finish."

No luck there. I turned to Ma instead. “Hell?"

“There were all kinds of delays. Something to do with boarding issues in the Maleni section."

“Right." I took the spare coffees in both paws, sliding them towards the two of them. “For you."

“Oh, thank you!" Ma brightened tenfold.

Dad less so. “Thanks…"

“Charkavas," I explained. “A little bit of Zolnia in Vodaskal."

He left that to hang. At least Ma offered me another pleasing squeeze at my hand. I was missing the sunshine and rainbows.

“Anyway." My paws slapped the table. Moods be damned, I was gonna make this into a, “Happy New Year," even if it killed me.

“Happy New Year," Ma sang back, her neatly brushed, white-tipped tail swaying beside our table.

“Yeah," Dad grunted, still jabbing his phone. “Happy New Year… damned Maleni."

“Tsk, Viktor!"

“What!?"

Oof. That hit hard. Like that badger who smashed my ribs playing rushball a couple of months previous, but even deeper. 'Let it slide' was the first thought to cross my mind. The second was of Sam. No contest.

“You do know Sam and his family are Maleni?" I leaned forward, poking my snout into the gap between Dad and his screen. “Right?"

“I know."

“So less of the 'damned Maleni' stuff, please."

Up went his paws, and his own snout along with it. His phone dropped and clattered to the table. Another tut of disapproval from Ma. “Hey, I don't have anything against Maleni."

“Good."

“I just wish they hadn't delayed our damned flight today."

“Right, because it was every Maleni everywhere responsible for that."

“Might as well have been."

“Boys," Ma pleaded. “Think about where we are."

Be it the airport she meant, or a stone's throw from the Maleni section beside the kiosk here, I wasn't about to stand down. The jab of Dad's finger right up close to my nose sealed that deal.

“Tell me how you'd feel after driving halfway to Pozrun before dawn," he snapped, switching it up from Velikan to Zolnian, our second and Dad's preferred native tongue. His way of thinking about where we were, I suppose. “Waiting around for hours at the airport, just for the pleasure of sitting around on the tarmac for who knows how much longer. All that, just to fly for less than an hour down here, because of some Maleni who couldn't work out how to board their tiny cabin."

Another big hit. My ears folded and my lip curled. It pulled me away from suggesting that the six-hour drive here from home would've been even worse. “Well…" I needed a moment. For me, clicking over from Velikan to Zolnian wasn't as smooth as it once was. “I, uh, hope you can keep it together for another half hour for the drive back to Koprovice."

“We'll be fine," Ma replied, shining bright.

“And please, Dad. Don't use that word when we're back at my place."

“What word?"

“Tiny."

His mouth twisted, head tilted. “What's wrong with it?"

“Sam… He doesn't like it."

“Sensitive, is he?"

“Just. Don't. Use it." My turn to jab out a finger. “Okay?"

“Okay!" Dad huffed hard. “Fine. You've got it."

“Thank you!"

What a start. It was barely past noon and already my mood stank. Why did my Dad always insist on being so insufferable? Looking up complaints numbers over a thirty minute delay, talking my boyfriend down by proxy five seconds after landing here. I needed a change of scenery. Plus, no sense being cramped up between gods knew how many people dashing here, there and everywhere.

“Let's go." I stood up quick, taking care not to thrust my tail or barge my chair back into the table so perilously close to ours. Getting off of that small seat in an even smaller space felt good. “I've got cupholders in the car, so no sense in waiting around here all day."

Ma made a small, shrill squeak of surprise. I looked once, then again, waiting for her to lift her attention from my midsection to my face.

“What's wrong?"

“Nothing." She smiled, grabbing her case. “Have you lost weight?"

“Uh… a bit." I had, but with my butt one false move from bowling over the possum at the table behind me, it felt like a lie. “I wanted to trim down a little before rushball season kicked off. Sam's helped me out a lot at the gym."

“Well it's certainly a change since we saw you in the summer. You're looking slim."

Okay, slim? That was a lie. Not that it prevented a quick flick of my ears. “Thanks."

“Heh." Even Dad smiled up from level with my chest. Wow. I almost grabbed my phone for a photo. “Just naturally big is our Marek. Like Jerzy and my Dad."

“I never said otherwise!"

“Okay, calm down. Just saying, he looks like his uncle and--"

“No, you calm down, Viktor."

I leaned forward over our table, trying to get between them to both offer thanks, and to diffuse this building row. Stars above. The drive back home was looking like being a whole lot less peaceful than the one here...

The thirty minute drive I'd promised my parents ended up closer to forty, what with the traffic we hit just outside Koprovice. Damn it if I wasn't going to consider it a success, though. A bright spot on my day so far, even. Compared to the manic drive to the airport, and with the added bonus of my parents keeping their moaning to a minimum, the journey home was nothing but smooth going.

Parked up around the back of my apartment building, turning off the ignition for what I hoped would be the last time in a good while, I wasted little time in rushing around to the boot and snatching both my parents' bags into each hand.

They insisted they could help, and insisted they were heavy, but I was happy to help and happier still to rush out of the cold, wind and rain as fast as physically possible. Almost home. Almost time to relax and get comfortable again… I hoped.

“Oh!" Ma called out loud, her swaying tail swiping both sides of my front door's frame on her way across the threshold. “This seems nice."

“You've not really seen it yet," I replied, leaving her to shift past me on her way into my living room proper.

“I can tell already that it's so much lighter." Her steps carried on away from the hall, out of sight. “Neater. More spacious, too. Compared to your last place."

“But you never came to my last place?"

“Your last place in Koprovice," Dad explained, closing the door behind him. “Summer? Three years ago?"

“Ah."

“When you took us into that… Old Town, was it?"

“Yeah--"

“We went to that Imolian restaurant and I got that awful stomach bug--"

“Gods!" I set their bags down, if only to have a paw free to throw to my face. “Yes, yes. I remember."

“Good, because if I have to remember, so do you."

I whipped around to snarl down and snap back, but the smirk he had waiting disarmed me completely. “Damn it, Dad."

He brushed past to join Ma in the living room. I followed around the corner, trailing that smug, contented tail sweeping over my wood floor. We found her reappearing from my kitchen, almost bouncing back to my couch in the centre of the room. “It's a really cute place."

“Thanks." I wanted to add a 'glad you like it'. Obviously, Dad had to put his two pennies in.

“Seems expensive."

“It's affordable," I rallied back. “What I'm paying per month is decent for this part of the city."

“And what's 'decent'?"

“Affordable." I tried not to grin at his grumble, striding on to join Ma next to my coffee table. “Make yourselves comfortable."

She didn't skip a beat. Peering around from my TV to my cabinet filled with books and games, then over to the wide windows overlooking the nearby park, surrounding apartments and the small Maleni housing complex between them. “What a lovely view."

“Yeah." My cheeks lifted up high. “That's a big reason why I chose this place."

“You need more, though."

“Hmm?"

“Some plants in that corner for example, to give the room more life."

My cheeks dropped. Jaw, too. “Hold--"

“Pictures on the walls." I chased after her, rounding the armchair next to my couch, heading towards my small table in the far corner. “Contrast these blank white walls. Really put your mark on the place."

“I… I like this fine. It's… simple."

She spotted the strip of gold and silver paper clocks hanging on my wall. “Ooh, those are pretty."

Gods, she was like a whirlwind. I was getting more of a workout here than on a treadmill at the gym. “Thanks--?"

She turned fast, peered up from chest-height with a distinct drop in her enthusiasm. “Oh, sweetie…"

“What!?"

“Your natural fur patterns are so pretty." She rubbed at my arm, gazing higher still. “You really don't need all that stuff on your head and your ears."

“My highlights?"

“Mmm." Her head tilted. “Your honey and ginger tones are too nice to cover up with all that blue and green."

“It's turquoise, Ma." I couldn't fight rubbing at my headfur and eartips. “And I like it, just like how I like how I've got my apartment."

“Alright," she snipped, holding up her paws. “I'm just offering my advice."

I huffed, smiled. “You're far more into the decor thing than I'll ever be, Ma. Let it go."

We shared a chuckle with each other. For a moment, I was back home in Karnik again, sixteen and catching heat for the purple and black tints I'd thrown into the entirety of my headfur. As much as it sucked then, it warmed my heart to have that as a memory.

“Hey, Marek." Dad pulled me back to the present, over towards the hallway. He rounded the corner into the living room, returning from… wherever he'd been poking his snout into. “Where's Sam anyway?"

“Sam?" My stomach jarred. Like the whole room had shifted. I looked at Ma, then back to him. Neither understood my confusion. “He'll be over with his parents soon."

“Ah…" He scratched at his headfur, brow furrowing. “I thought he lived with you?"

“I never said that."

“Hmm."

“What?"

“Nothing… Suppose I just assumed."

“Not sure why."

“With how much you talk about him, why not?"

“Because!" My arm got itchy. A big scratch of my own helped, though not as much as turning away to peer out over the rainy park. “It's only been three months or so, you know?"

“I thought you met each other back in the summer?"

“We've been together for three months. Since October."

“I didn't know."

My tail lashed and clamped around my legs. “You blatantly did!"

“I didn't know you meant in a relationship when you said three months--"

“What else would I mean!?"

I spun fast, chest so tight that breathing alone became a challenge. Dad rolled his eyes. That just made it worse. I had Ma to thank for grabbing my paw and squeezing.

“Calm down," she said softly before glaring at Dad. “Leave it now."

“Alright!" He shook his head, reaching out of sight to grab his carry case from the hall. “I just thought he meant--"

“You thought wrong."

“Fine."

“Three months," I spat through a pissed off whine. “There's no need to rush things, is there?"

“Not at all." She squeezed again, then let go with a smile that helped ease my chest. “Things move at the speed they're meant to. No more, no less."

Rubbing my head helped clear it. A big sigh carried all the tightness away. I had space to think and to breathe again. The perfect time for my parents to jump to yet another topic.

“Where are we sleeping?" Dad lifted his case with both arms. “It'd be good to get our things away before we settle in."

“Yeah." I gestured towards him and the hall, glad for the prospect of a moment away from my, usually, comfy living room. “Along there. Second door on the right."

I followed them to my spare room at the end of the hall, wondering where next for their uninvited comments and unfair criticisms. As it turned out, the next word would belong to me, spotting Dad bumping the wall with his case, awfully close to the shin-high double doors tucked away in the corner. “Careful!"

“Damn, did I scuff the wall?" He stopped to look down, finding what I'd actually called him out over. “What's that for?"

“It's a sleeping area. For Maleni."

“Oh, that's sweet," sang Ma.

“Not seen many like that before," Dad grunted. “Pretty easy to miss if you ask me."

“Well, now you won't." I pointed towards their temporary bedroom on the opposite side of the hall. “Shall we go in?"

The room itself wasn't much; space enough to fit a double bed beneath the window with side tables in each corner. The built-in wardrobes saved some room at least, and gave them somewhere to store their bags and belongings without fear of stumbling over them. Too bad about the bright cherry pink wallpaper that the previous tenants had left.

“I keep meaning to decorate in here…" I slipped inside the room behind them, resting my back to the wall, waiting for Ma to find me once she'd set her bag down. “But I think it accentuates my turquoise very well, don't you?"

She scoffed, stretching and reaching to bat me on the arm. “Don't be cheeky."

I chuckled. Even Dad found time to snort back with folded arms from beside the bed.

“It's fine," he said, admiring the striped duvet I'd thrown on right before I'd left for the airport that morning. “A step up from the parking lot at least."

“You're welcome to go sleep in it if you like?" I put a paw to my hip, nodding past him to the window. “The backseat of my car is nice and comfy."

“Debatable."

“Stop it you two," Ma called with a half-laugh, getting herself between us. “Can you stop going for each other's throats every two minutes?"

From up here, I still had a perfect view of Dad's widening smirk. It had me responding in kind.

“It's nice to see you," he told me, warming in both his voice and his face. “That video chat, it's not quite the same."

“No… it's not." I dropped my guard. Stopped searching for comebacks every other second. “It's really nice to see you, too."

Ma turned, smile twitching and faltering. She spread her arms and stepped into a hug, rubbing the sides of my hips. I bent down, snout between her ears, one arm hugging her while the other waited for Dad to arrive. Beaming, he wrapped an arm of his own around my waist, head against my chest, just like Ma's.

There we stood in my small spare room, the subtle beat of our three tails sweeping the carpet. I tightened my hug, holding them close with an arm apiece for the first time since my summer visit home. The crashing moods and bitter annoyances that'd struck during my trip to the airport, lingered like a bad taste in my mouth, were well and truly gone. Gods, this was so nice… and I still had Sam to count on to arrive and make this all even better.