The Ritual

-by-

Rogue Kzin

***

Bad days are fine. Everybody has them and they’re perfectly manageable. Bad weeks are a little rougher. The hits just keep coming, but if the end is near, it’s possible to power on through.

A bad month? That’s a whole other matter. Even if you know when the end is coming, it doesn’t help. It’s there on the calendar, taunting you, reminding you of just how far away it is. It doesn’t matter if you can see the finish line, because it’s not a 100-meter dash, it’s a marathon, and not one you ever wanted to sign up for.

This was precisely the situation Jon found himself in on a cold morning early in February. He’d just gotten off work and made it home, exhausted, in need of rest, but knowing he was so wiped out that sleep alone wasn’t going to be enough.

Unfortunately, it would have to be.

In January, Jon had been promoted at work. He’d gone from a team lead to a shift supervisor, a position he’d worked hard to get, and was rightfully promoted into. The pay bump was great, but there had been numerous downsides.

First off, he’d had to move from the 9-6 day shift to the 10-7 night shift. The position required it, and the choice was to take the open slot, or wait for another chance in the future. While it wouldn’t have been career suicide to hold off, hoping for a better shift, upper management would remember that he’d chosen personal comfort over the needs of the company. The better move was to take the night job and try to move from there to a day shift supervisor’s position, should one open up.

Secondly, he was now management. In his old role as a team lead, he had still been one of his crew, pitching in and helping with all their tasks, ensuring that everything got done. Now, he was more of a boss. Not “the” boss, of course, but definitely no longer “one of the guys.” He now oversaw multiple teams, and there was so much going on that he couldn’t help out with every level of work like he used to. Jon was used to being down in the trenches with his guys, and missed the camaraderie that came from getting stuff done together. Thankfully, most of the team leads and crews under him knew his reputation, and respected him for what he’d done, not just the title he now held.

Most of them.

The third downside was probably the biggest of all, at least in terms of the amount of stress it gave him at work. This downside had a name - Brooks. Like Jon, Brooks was ex-military. Unlike Jon, Brooks made sure everybody knew it. It’s part of the reason he went by his last name. So much so that he refused to even tell anybody his first name, and insisted that his work shirts all had “Brooks” on the name patch. He was a loudmouth who talked a big talk, but didn’t really work hard enough to back it up. He was big, noisy, and bull-headed - fitting, since he was a bull. Brooks thought the night shift supervisor’s role should have gone to him “after all he’d done for his country.” He hated that Jon got the position, and always made it a point to call him “boss man” whenever they had to interact.

As if all three of those combined weren’t bad enough, Jenna’s life had also taken a busy turn this winter.

In January she finally got her dream assignment at the university. She was now working under the professor whose research had motivated her to pursue her graduate degree in Seattle. She was helping him by doing research, assisting in the lab, grading papers, and advising students. It was a massive workload increase for her, but one she dove into wholeheartedly.

She was also finding herself more than a bit frazzled. As much as she loved what she was doing, it was a lot. She had her own classes during the day, lab work or research in the afternoons, then grading papers and studying in the evenings. By the time her day was over, it was all she could do to clean herself up and crawl into bed.

Alone.

Jenna’s new workload and Jon’s new schedule had put their lives at odds with each other. He was starting work around the time she was going to sleep, and when she was waking up, he was on his way home to crash. While he still technically worked Monday through Friday, being on the night shift meant his week started on Sunday night and ended on Friday morning. Fridays were spent sleeping, and Saturdays were the one day he could get stuff done. He’d hoped they could get together on his one, good day, but Jenna’s professor was a big fan of doing lab work on Saturdays. Fewer students, less noise, and better access to all the equipment.

They’d been able to keep in touch, even if they couldn’t get together in person. Texting, phone calls, and video chats made the separation slightly more bearable, but they were both craving each other’s company something bad.

Thankfully, there was some light at the end of the tunnel for both of them. Presidents’ Day was coming up soon, and both Jon’s company and Jenna’s university were shutting down for all four days of the long weekend.

The Friday evening one week before their reunion, they were having what Jon had started calling their “Friday Face to Face,” a scheduled video chat they did every Friday evening. Jenna groaned every time he said it, teasing him that corporate life was taking over his brain, but she secretly found it endearing, and looked forward to the video call every week.

She was just out of the shower when her phone started to ring. Jenna picked up her phone, stuck it to the mount on her vanity mirror and answered the call.

”Hey you,” she said while starting to dry her hair.

”Hey yours- Oh!” Jon paused with a start, realizing that Jenna was in nothing but her fur. Her upper half at least, as that’s what her phone was showing him. “This is an unexpected surprise.”

“You don’t mind do you?” Jenna asked with a toothy grin, knowing he wouldn’t. “My undergrad tutoring session ran long today. I barely had time to get dinner and shower. The phone rang right after I got out, and I didn’t want to answer it just to tell you I’d call you back. I hope it's okay if I take care of myself while we chat. And before, you ask - no, you may not ‘take care of yourself’ while we do.”

Jon feigned disappointment and looked down. “Sorry, fella.”

Jenna laughed and started towel drying her hair, happy to see Jon in a good mood. “If a boob show is all it takes to get your spirits up, maybe I should give you one more often.”

”My ‘spirits’ are definitely up,” he said with another quick downward look, “but you’re not the only thing that’s got me feeling happy today.”

“I know today’s the start of your weekend, but we’ve still got one more week until we can see each other in person. This feels like there’s something else going on,” Jenna said.

”I did something naughty at work today,” Jon started. The look on his face was beyond mischievous.

”This sounds good, and you look way too eager to spill whatever it is, so I’m not even going to guess. Out with it.”

”Okay, I’ll tell,” Jon laughed. “You remember me telling you about Sandra, the mole who works in Payroll?”

”Yeah, you said she always cracks jokes about having ‘a nose so good for numbers that she doesn’t have to see them,’” Jenna recalled.

”That’s her! It turns out she’s also got a nose for coffee, and you won’t believe what you can get out of her with a $20 gift card to Beans ‘n’ Brews.”

”Jon, you’re not going to get yourself in trouble are you?” Jenna worried. “You only just got promoted last month.”

”Nonono. Nothing bad I swear,” Jon reassured her. After pausing for a beat, he dropped the bomb. “I got her to tell me Brooks’ first name.”

Jenna had heard all about Brooks, his “thank me for my service” attitude, the “boss man” cracks, and everything else he was doing to make Jon’s life miserable. She’d never met the man, and even if she never did, she’d still dislike him immensely.

”Okay, that’s worth the risk. Out with it.”

Jon grinned, looking very much like a cat that had eaten a rather large number of canaries.

”Daisy.”

Jenna actually stopped breathing for a second. “Shut. Up.” was all she could get out when she spoke again.

Jon finally lost it and burst out laughing. Hearing such pure joy come out of her phone’s speaker, Jenna couldn’t help but join in. It was at least five or ten seconds before either of them stopped laughing and tried to talk.

Jenna was the first one to attempt speaking, but all she could get out was, “Daisy?!?” and they both lost it all over again.

That cycle repeated until they were both in tears and nearly gasping for air. The absolute mismatch of that name and Brooks’ demeanor was just too much. Jon had pulled up the front of his t-shirt and was using it to dry his eyes. Jenna’s towel was pulling double duty, trying to get her hair - and now her eyes - dry as well.

They both let out heavy sighs, finally back in control of themselves - mostly.

”I gotta tell you something,” Jenna began while setting her towel aside and picking up her hairbrush.

”Please don’t say it again,” Jon begged. “My ribs can’t handle much more.”

”Don’t worry, I still don’t have enough air in my lungs to laugh like that again. What I was gonna say, is that that information is worth way more than a $20 gift card. You owe that woman something more,” Jenna told him.

”True, Any ideas?”

”How about a big vase of…”

”Don’t!” Jon said, raising his hands towards the camera on his phone and turning away from the screen.

”I kid. I kid,” Jenna said reassuringly. “but you know you can’t do anything with that knowledge.”

”I know,” Jon agreed. “It was risky enough even asking for it, but Sandra knows I’d never let it get around at work. It has taken away some of his power, though. Whenever he tries giving me a hard time now, I just think, ‘I know.’”

The Brooks revelation behind them, their conversation continued. As they spoke, Jenna continued with her after-shower routine. She left her hair slightly damp as she brushed it out. She used her special nose balm from Japan, Hana Care. She cleaned her ears. She ruffled her neck fur and smoothed it out.

While Jon had been around her post-showering plenty of times, he was often on his tablet, reading, or otherwise somewhat engaged with another activity. This was the first time he’d really just sat and watched her do all this.

”I hope this isn’t a weird question,” he started, “but do you do all this stuff after every shower?”

”What? You mean the things I’ve been doing while we’ve been chatting? Sure. Unless I’m grabbing a quick shower then heading out right away, this is pretty standard end of day stuff for me,” she explained. “There are other things I do regularly, but not every day. Personal care is important, Jon, especially when dealing with stress.”

”I don’t know,” Jon said, unconvinced. “I’m usually so burned out after I get home in the morning that it’s all I can manage to just eat, shower, brush my teeth, and pass out.”

”Trust me, Jon. It’s worth the time. I’ll prove it to you next weekend.”

”Sounds like a date,” Jon grinned, still not fully convinced.

”Not a date, a promise.” Jenna winked. “Now, this girl’s gotta finish up and get to bed. She’s got a busy day at the lab tomorrow.”

”Okay. I’ll let you go. Sweet dreams,” Jon smiled.

”For you too, babe,” Jenna said while blowing a kiss at the camera.

Once they were off the call, they both settled into their solo evening habits. Jenna finished up her care routine, read a bit, then got into bed. Jon kept to his regular sleep schedule on the weekends, so for him the day was practically just beginning. He flopped onto his couch and looked up at the ceiling.

”Just one more week,” he said, happy feelings fluttering in his chest.

Across the city, Jenna rolled over and hugged the body pillow she’d gotten when it was clear she and Jon wouldn’t be spending as many nights together.

”Just one more week,” she echoed sleepily.

The next week didn’t pass nearly as slowly as they’d both feared it might. Jon, buoyed by the secret knowledge he’d acquired, found Brooks much less annoying, much to the bull’s displeasure. Jenna poured herself into her academic work, making sure to not just complete her current assignments and grading work, but to get as far ahead as possible. She knew her professor was really good about not contacting his assistants over planned breaks, but she wanted to give him no reason to even consider doing so.

Due to Jon’s work schedule, his extended weekend actually started when he finished work on Thursday morning. Instead of being bummed that Jenna was going to be busy all day, he focused on trying to get his sleep schedule readjusted so he could be in sync with her for their weekend together. Jenna was going to be free Friday through Monday, and he’d have to go back to work on Monday night. That gave them three whole days together before he’d have to start resting up during the day on Monday to be ready for work.

Their plan was to meet up near her place on Friday around lunchtime, and then just figure things out from there. This was the longest they’d gone without seeing each other since the “Burrito Forum Implosion” (as they’d taken to calling it) last February. They lived in very different parts of the city, which is what made connecting on their new schedules so difficult. Back when things were “normal,” it wasn’t a big deal to take a 30+ minute bus ride to get to each other’s places. With them living on opposite sides of the clock, it had been impossible to sort things out.

But on a four-day weekend, things were feeling like they used to.

As Jon rode the bus towards Jenna’s place, his mind was buzzing with ideas, and there was a bit of a nervous flutter in his stomach. Some hunger, too. He’d barely eaten at Burrito Barge in the last month. As much as he loved their burritos, they were a bit too heavy to eat right before staying up all night at work, or right before going to bed in the morning. Jenna’s bus stop being near Witchin’ Kitchen had his tummy feeling hopeful.

The weather was supposed to be good all weekend, and he was very grateful for that. Jon loved cool weather, and February in Seattle was definitely cool. Thanks to his thick fur, he never really needed to dress warmly. He was in his trademark cargo shorts (black) today, along with a charcoal grey polo, and his trusty denim chore coat. He’d brought a backpack with some extra clothes, his phone charger, tablet, and a few other odds and ends he might need for the weekend. They’d not discussed how long he’d be staying over, so it made sense to be prepared.

Jon spotted Jenna before the bus even reached her stop, her bright purple hair making her hard to miss. He gave her a wave as he got off the bus and headed her way.

He was excited to see her again after so long, and she looked really good. She’d settled into what she called “academic drag” these days and tended to stick to it on the weekends. She was wearing a tank dress almost exactly the same color as his polo, a green overshirt with the sleeves rolled up to just below her elbows, and her ever-present thin silver chain.

”Hey you,” Jon said as they got close enough to talk.

”You’re not getting away with just a wave after that much time. Give me a hug,” Jenna commanded.

Never wanting to disappoint her, Jon happily obliged, taking her in his arms. They shared a long embrace on the sidewalk, happy to be in each other’s arms again. They would have held each other longer, but a couple of bumps made it clear they were starting to block traffic.

“We should-“ they said in unison as they started to separate.

”You first,” Jenna smiled.

”Lunch?” Jon asked.

”Sounds good. What’s on your mind?””

”How would you feel about Witchin’ Kitchen?” Jon asked hopefully.

Jenna looked down for a little too long before answering. “Can we go someplace else? I’ve been eating there way too much recently”

Jon was a little disappointed, having had burritos on the brain, but he tried not to let it show. “Sure! I’m up for just about anything. I saw a few places on the way up the hill that I didn’t recognize. Have you tried any of them yet?”

”Not really,” Jenna admitted. “WK is so close and consistently good that it’s become my default ‘I don’t want to think about food’ option.”

”I hear you,” Jon said. “My food choices haven’t been the best this past month, either. What’s that ‘Bangkok Masala’ place across the street? I don’t remember it being here before.”

”It just opened two weeks ago. It’s a Thai-Indian fusion diner. I’ve heard good things about it from students,” Jenna said.

”I’m game if you are. What do you think about giving it a shot?”

”Sounds good to me,” Jenna agreed. “I’ve been wanting to try it out.”

They only had to go half a block up the hill to reach the nearest crosswalk, and after a short wait for the light, they were able to make it to their destination.

Jon opened the door to Bangkok Masala and they were both hit with a wave of wildly disparate scents. Spicy curry, fresh lime, sweet mango, fresh basil and coriander, grilled vegetables, fried garlic and so many more. The aromas only got more intense once they stepped inside and let the door close behind them.

“This smells like-“ Jenna started.

”It reminds me of-“ Jon began.

”Grande Internationale Bazzare!” they exclaimed together.

Grande Internationale Bazzare was a favorite hangout of theirs. Located down near the stadium, it was a huge grocery store that specialized in everything. They carried food, spices, teas, and cooking supplies from all over the world. From so many countries, in fact, that they had a map at the entrance with pins in every country they had goods from. The countries with pins far outnumbered those without.

Jon and Jenna loved to come and browse, to revel in the scents, and to make new discoveries. They loved the name, too. “Grand” and “International” one could kind of get away with putting an extra “e” on, but “Bazzar?” Not so much. The owners did it anyway, and got a laugh out of those who tried to get them to spell it the “right” way. It became so much of a thing for them, that anybody who found their name spelled without all three extra “e’s” in any printed article could bring said article in for a discount. The offending article would then get pinned on the wall next to the map with “WRONG!” written on it.

Any place that smelled as good as G.I.B. couldn’t be bad, so they happily waited for a table. While they did, they looked over the menu and picked some potential items. The owners had gone out of their way to ensure that every dish had elements from both countries.

”Keema Bahn MI!” Jon exclaimed.

”Papaya Naan?” Jenna wasn’t so sure about that one.

”Coconut Tikka,” Jon said, pointing excitedly at the menu.

When they were finally seated, Jon went for the Keema Bahn Mi sandwich. Jenna settled on Curry Pad Thai, and insisted they share an order of Mango Naan.

Conceptually, the mixing of various sweet and spicy dishes ought to work. Even if the lunch didn’t live up to the restaurant’s wonderful aroma, they’d at least have something to talk about later.

They were not prepared for what came to their table.

The presentation wasn’t great. The lunch rush was obviously in full effect. This wasn’t fine dining by any means, but the food looked like it had been dropped on their plates or, more likely, poured onto them straight from the pan it was cooked in. The naan was quite lumpy, and didn’t look much like the picture in the menu.

”Ummmmm,” was all Jenna could say in response to what lay before them.

”I suggested we dine here, milady,” Jon joked. “Allow me to fall on my fork if only to save you.”

Jenna laughed as Jon tore off a chunk of the lumpy naan and popped it into his mouth. When he did, his eyes went wide. He didn’t move for a second, causing Jenna to wonder if he was choking.

”You okay, babe?”

Jon chewed twice, then swallowed.

”You’re not going to believe how good this tastes,” he told her.

”Seriously?”

”Remember what I told you last year outside Burrito Barge about books and covers? That definitely applies here. Seriously, try it,” Jon encouraged.

Jenna trusted Jon completely, but still tore off a smaller piece than he’d taken. After she ate it, she took a much larger one.

”Oh, wow! That really shouldn’t work, but somehow it totally does. No wonder this place is so busy.”

They both looked at their plates, then dug in without another word. They made quick work of everything, and left with satisfied tummies. On the walk back to Jenna’s apartment, they couldn’t stop talking about their lunch.

”None of it makes any sense,” said Jenna.

”You keep saying that, but it totally did,” Jon pointed out.

”Why would you put keema curry in a sandwich, though? That should’ve been so messy.”

”But the soft bread on the inside soaked up some of the moisture, and the crusty outside kept it from leaking. It’s genius, actually,” Jon couldn’t stop gushing about his lunch choice.

“I can see that,” Jenna said. “But even after eating it, I’m just amazed that somebody took the risk of opening a restaurant like that. The menu looked so odd that I imagine there are furs who take one look and keep on walking.”

”I’m glad we didn’t. Now that we know how good it is, we’ll have to try more,” Jon said, already thinking of what he’d get next time.

The remainder of the walk passed quickly. They caught each other up on the minor things that they’d been dealing with, having already hit the major ones in their big weekly calls. Jon asked if they needed to stop anywhere along the way, but Jenna said she had everything covered, at least for tonight and breakfast tomorrow. When they got to her building, Jenna unlocked the lobby door and Jon held it open for her. Going up the stairs, Jenna couldn’t help but tease Jon a little as he led the way.

“Lotta good memories in this stairwell…” she mused.

“Yeah,” Jon agreed. “Too bad they upgraded everything to motion-activated lights. Took all the fun out of it.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find other fun stuff to do.”

Jon didn’t have to turn around to know she was smiling.

Once inside her apartment it felt as though hardly any time had passed since they were last here together. They immediately fell into their old routines.

Jon hung his coat by the door on the hook Jenna always kept empty for him. She took his backpack and put it on the chair next to the small table in the living room. Jon always packed his charger in the same pocket, so Jenna had no trouble finding it and getting it set up for him to charge his phone later. She took off her overshirt and draped it across the back of the couch, then raised her arms towards the ceiling in a big stretch.

”You too?” Jon asked.

Jenna turned around and saw him in exactly the same pose.

”Yeah,” she laughed. “Lots of time spent hunched over a keyboard or peering into a microscope this week. How about you?”

”Definitely lots of computer time this week,” he said. “I have to submit way more reports now than I used to, plus coordinate things with the day and evening shift supervisors. They’re lucky in that their shifts have a huge overlap and they can talk over most things in person. I’m doing way more through email, work chat, and following up on random post-it messages left on my desk.”

”That sounds busy, but at least it’s quiet, right?”

”Too quiet. I’m used to being out on the floor, working with my team, helping to get stuff done. Now I’ve got to handle all the coordinating between the incoming and outgoing shipping teams, plus the warehouse crew.”

”How’s that going? You used to be the daytime team lead in the warehouse. Any friction with those guys?” Jenna asked.

”They’re cool,” Jon said. “They still treat me like one of them, which feels good…”

”I feel a ‘but’ coming on,” Jenna prodded.

”But they’ve got their own issues with Brooks,” Jon continued. “He’s the night shift lead for the incoming shipping team, and he acts like his team’s needs take priority over everything else. Anything that comes in gets dumped on the warehouse guys as quickly as possible. Once it’s off the loading dock, it’s not his issue, as far as he’s concerned. And he’s always barking at the outgoing shipping team to get their trucks off the dock right away, even when there aren’t any deliveries coming in.”

Jenna didn’t say anything, giving Jon a chance to get out what he needed to say.

”I’m constantly having to smooth things over, on top of all my regular duties. It’s a lot to handle. Not that I can’t, but it is more than I expected. I figured things would be more complicated than my old role, but not this much, and not this soon.”

Jon’s shoulders slumped as he finished talking. Jenna knew just what he needed, and walked over, taking him in her arms. Jon returned the embrace, but not as tightly, suddenly feeling a bit weary.

Jenna leaned into him as he sighed, and started gently poking her way around his back, as if looking for something.

”Um…what are you doing?” Jon wanted to know.

”Confirming my suspicions.”

”You’re suspicious about my back?” Jon was confused.

”When we hugged after you got off the bus I thought your back might be a little tight,” she explained. “Now I know it’s well past that.”

Jenna pulled back from the hug, then pointed towards the blanket pile in front of the couch.

”You’re in desperate need of a backrub. Shirt off. Lie down. No objections,” she ordered.

Jon knew better than to resist her instructions when they came out like that, and quickly complied. His polo joined her shirt on the couch, then he smoothed out a section of the blanket pile and lay on his stomach.

Backrubs were a pretty regular thing between them, and Jenna knew that she’d be able to hit all Jon’s tight spots if she sat on his hips. Her dress would bunch up and get in the way when she straddled him, so it joined the growing pile of clothes on the couch.

Jon glanced over his shoulder when he heard the rustling of fabric and was treated to a sight of Jenna in her bra and panties, the black cotton a striking contrast against her white fur.

”Those look nice,” Jon said with a grin.

”Not that kind of backrub,” she reminded him.

Jon folded his arms under his chin and let out a little grumble.

”Believe me,” Jenna started, “I want that too, but you need some therapeutic touch before we can get to the fun kind.”

Jon resigned himself to his fate, but still gave his rump a playful wiggle when Jenna settled on top of him.

She ignored that and got right to work. Beginning at Jon’s shoulders and working down his back, she poked and prodded, trying to map out where the worst of the tension was. She only got about halfway down before she had to stop. The fur on his back was filled with little mats and there were even a few small knots starting to take shape.

”Oh, Jon,” she sighed, realizing the full extent of the shape he’d let himself get into.

“What’s up?” he asked, completely missing her tone.

”You’ve got to take better care of yourself,” she told him.

”What do you mean? I shower every day.”

“Your back is in quite the state. You’ve got mats everywhere, and I can see some knotting starting as well. You brush your fur, right?”

“Well, yeah,” he said, feeling a little like a cub being chastised by its mother. “I mean, everywhere I can reach.”

Jenna let out a little growl. “Work, stress, and a new sleep schedule are going to affect you no matter what, so you’ve got to do what you can to counter them,” she explained. “‘Everywhere you can reach’ isn’t going to cut it.”

Jon didn’t have a response. Even though he was still laying on his stomach, he found a way to let his shoulders droop.

Jenna stood up, giving his rump a playful slap as she did. “Get up. Get naked. Get in the shower. And don’t get any frisky ideas. It’s not going to be that kind of a shower.”

Jenna’s tone had definitely shifted. She wasn’t being bossy, but she was definitely in charge of the situation. By the time Jon was on his feet, Jenna had the rest of her clothes off and was heading for the bathroom. Jon quickly added his shorts and boxers to the pile on the couch and followed after her.

Jon remembered that Jenna kept her shower equipped with all the basics, but when he got to the bathroom he found her grabbing extra items from the cabinet under the sink. The shower was already running, and steam was slowly drifting across the ceiling.

“This isn’t going to be just a shower, is it?” he asked.

”Not remotely. I know you shower every day, but a shower isn’t what you need right now. This is care. You hop in and get wet. I’ll join you in a sec.”

Jon did as he was told, stepping into the shower and taking his assigned place under the water. It was the perfect temperature, and the warmth slowly soaked his fur, making its way to his skin. It was clear to him that Jenna was going to focus on his back, so he turned to face the wall and let the water run over his head and down his back.

He heard the shower door slide open then closed, followed by the sounds of unknown things being set up on the shelf at the back of the shower.

“Good boy,” Jenna said while patting his back.

”Now,” she began, “I know you showered this morning because you smell nice and clean, so we’re not going to shampoo you. Any extra washing is going to take away even more of your fur’s oils, and I can tell from the mats that you’re already running low.”

”You’re giving me an oil change?” Jon joked.

”More like topping you up,” she said, using his metaphor. “Your fur’s good and wet now. Let me get my hands wet, then turn off the shower.”

Jon turned to the side to let her get at the water, then shut it off after she gave him a nod. He was about to ask where she wanted him, but she knew what was coming and pointed at the wall.

”Yes, ma’am,” he said, facing the wall and planting his hands on either side of the showerhead.

”I do like a man who can take direction,” she teased.

Jenna wanted to keep things focused, so she got right to business before Jon could quip back. She squeezed a healthy amount of conditioner into her palm, rubbed her hands together, then started working it into his fur. She wasn’t scrubbing, like she’d done in the past when washing him. This was slower, more methodical, more deliberate.

“Is that conditioner?” Jon asked, catching the scent

”Oh, so you do know what it is,” Jenna teased, not really asking it as a question.

”Sure, I have some I use on my head and neck fluff.”

”That’s really good, but believe it or not, those are the areas that probably need it the least.”

”What? But the commercials only ever show furs using it on their heads. I thought getting down to my neck was already adding enough to the process.”

”Jon, your fur needs its natural oils to stay soft and to keep from getting matted and knotty. Using the conditioner on your head and neck is good, but those areas aren’t covered by your clothing. Even when you wear a hardhat on the dock, there's still good airflow.”

While she was explaining everything, Jenna kept working the conditioner into the fur on Jon’s back, softening up the mats and coaxing the knots to stop forming.

”Where you’ve run into trouble is with the parts that are covered up. The clothing you wear is going to absorb oils from your fur. So with the shampoo washing some of your oils off, and your clothing absorbing a little more, you’ve got to find a way to get it back. If not, your fur gets dry and matted.”

”I really didn’t think it had gotten that bad,” Jon said.

”Probably because the parts you can see - and brush - like your arms, legs, and the front of your body, aren’t that bad. Have you had any itchiness on your back?”

Jon hesitated, not because he had to think about it, but because she was right, and he hated to admit it too quickly.

”Yeah, a little,” he said.

”Uh-huh. And what do you scratch it with?” she asked, almost dreading the answer.

”Usually whatever’s handy. If I’m at the office I’ll grab a ruler or roll up a clear file. Lots of guys do it.”

”You absolute cave-dwellers!” Jenna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Do you see the women doing the same thing?”

”Can’t say that I have,” Jon said, not realizing how badly he’d just set himself up.

”And why do you think that might be?” she asked.

“Because women are just better at this care stuff,” he said.

”Most of us, yes. But it’s not because we’re born with the knowledge. We were taught how to do it, and we do it regularly, to keep these kinds of things part of our normal routine.”

Jenna stopped working on his fur and put her hands on his shoulders. “Okay, turn and rinse,” she instructed.

Jon did as he was told, turning the shower on again and putting his back under it. The water felt different as it washed over his slick fur. “That’s nice!”

”It’s about to get a whole lot nicer. Let me rinse my hands and we’ll move on to phase two.”

Jon turned his back to the wall to give Jenna access to the water. She squeezed next to him to get the conditioner off her hands.

”That’s better,” she said, giving them a flick, and turning the water back off. “Now, before we get to phase two, somebody gets a little appreciation for being a good - if somewhat clueless in matters of personal care - boy.”

Jenna took Jon’s cheek fluff in her hands and pulled his face down to meet hers, giving him a long, passionate kiss. When she finally let him go, Jon’s cheeks were quite red, and it wasn’t the heat of the water that had gotten them that way.

”I thought you said it wasn’t that kind of a shower.”

“It wasn’t. It still isn’t, but good boys who listen get treats, and I know how much kitties like treats,” she said with a grin.

Jon smiled back at her. “‘Phase two,’ then. But what’s ‘phase two?’”

”This is phase two.”

Jenna reached to the back shelf and grabbed an odd-looking mitten. The shape was kind of blobby, without even a spot for a thumb, meaning it could accept all sorts of hands and paws. The back side was mesh, to keep it breathable and to help it dry faster. The front side was covered in rubber, bumpy nubbins about one centimeter long.

“Is that a Nubby Buddy?”Jon asked as Jenna slipped her right hand into the mitten.

”Wait. You know what this is?”

“I mean, I don’t own one, but I saw it on ‘The Vultures’ Roost,’” Jon explained.

”Ugh,” Jenna groaned. “I hate that show.”

”The Vultures’ Roost” was a reality TV show that many furs swore they hated, but still watched. It was the horrifying evolution of those shows where entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to venture capitalists in the hopes of securing funding to grow their businesses. “Roost” was far more sinister. Instead of new business owners, they had on furs with already-established businesses that had fallen on hard times. They came on to try and get funding to keep their floundering businesses alive. Without funding they were likely going to fail. Even with funding they might not make it, but in the event that a funded business failed, the “Vulture” who backed it got first dibs on its assets. The owners of those failures rarely got anything at the end.

Jon wasn’t a huge fan or anything, but the show was talked about enough that what made it and what failed was pretty common knowledge. The “Nubby Buddy” makers were one of the successes.

”It can get really dark,” Jon admitted. “The ‘vultures’ are pretty brutal in their assessments. Plus, they always call the struggling companies ‘runts’ and openly discuss if they’re worthy of survival.”

”Go ahead and trade places with me and you’ll see why this one made it,” Jenna said.

It was originally meant as a basic massage mitten, and there were many species-specific versions. The “vulture” who backed the company (“swooped in to save it” as they said on the show) got them to re-do the design so that there was only one model, able to fit nearly every fur out there. The simplified production line cut costs significantly, but didn’t do much for sales.

It was one influencer who gave the company its real rescue. Ophelia - or “Ooohhhphelia” as she often said her name with a moan - was a very cute otter who did chat streams from her bathtub. She pushed the boundaries of what she could get away with. Streaming in one’s fur was perfectly fine on most platforms, but not actual sexual content. She’d tease her viewers and moan a lot, but never went far enough to get banned. She was always flirty and sexy, and never broke character.

Until a fan sent her a Nubby Buddy.

The product was originally meant to be used dry, but its effect on wet fur, especially with shampoo or conditioner was both unexpected and unbelievable. It produced huge amounts of lather, and was one of the best de-tanglers ever made - even though it wasn’t made for that purpose.

Ophelia started playing with hers in the tub on stream, and added shampoo just as a gag. She went completely off script when she saw how bubbly things got, and felt it working through her fur. What she’d intended to be one-minute bit stretched into a nearly 30-minute unsponsored infomercial. She couldn’t stop talking about how good it felt on her fur, or how light and foamy the bubbles it made were. She helped that company more in 30 minutes from her bathtub than the “Vulture” on the show did with his $300,000.

In the two years since that stream, they’d sold millions of them. They redirected their marketing to focus on shower and bathtub use, and even did a limited edition version with Ophelia on the package.

Jenna had opted for a plain pink one when she got hers, but they all worked equally well, as Jon was about to find out.

Jon moved to the back of the shower, letting Jenna take his spot near the showerhead. Without waiting, he assumed the same position he’d been in earlier. He braced his feet against the edges of the shower and put his hands on the back wall.

“Ooooh,” Jenna cooed. “Kitty does want a treat.”

”Kitty wants many treats,” Jon said with a backwards wink and a swish of his tail.

Jenna had started to worry she was being too hard on him about his grooming, but he was clearly taking the criticism well if he was still feeling this playful.

She stepped closer to him and put the Nubby Buddy to work on his back.

Jenna braced her left hand on Jon’s shoulder and placed the palm of the mitten in the small of his back, just above his tail. She pushed it against him, working the mitten outwards in ever-widening circles. The nubs reached through his slick fur and massaged his skin while at the same time gliding along his body, separating his fur and breaking up the mats.

Jon immediately let out a very enthusiastic “Ooohhh…”

”You sound just like her,” Jenna laughed.

”I have no idea who you’re - mmmmmmm! - talking about.”

Jenna let that slide and kept working on his fur. Long, slow circles growing out, then contracting back in. A few rounds of that and she switched to up and down strokes, then side to side. Once that pattern was completed, she started all over again.

As Jon adjusted to the rhythm of Jenna’s massaging, he didn’t let out any more unexpected moans, but did settle into a low, steady purr that Jenna could feel through his back.

”I can tell how much you’re enjoying this, but it’s time to move on to phase three”

”Is phase three a nap,” Jon asked. “Because I am so completely blissed out right now that much more than that is going to be tricky.”

”Almost that easy,” Jenna assured him. “I need to dry you off.”

Jon was about to say he could do that himself, but everything had been so nice thus far that he was content to continue following Jenna’s lead.

Jenna turned the water on again to rinse herself off first, then stepped out of the shower to dry off while Jon made sure all the conditioner was out of his fur. As he exited the shower, Jenna wrapped him in a thick towel and started to blot his fur - a much different technique than he used on himself.

”Let me guess, rubbing with the towel is bad?”

”It will get you dry, but it’s not the best thing for your fur,” she explained. “Your fur is most fragile when it’s wet, and friction is bad for fragile things.”

Jenna kept dabbing and pressing his fur with the towel until it was mostly dry. Satisfied with her handiwork, she wrapped up her hair in a microfiber towel.

Jenna smiled at the naked, slightly damp tiger in front of her. ”Phase three complete,” she announced. “Now for the best part - phase four.”

Jenna pointed Jon towards the living room, grabbed one of her oversized towels, and picked up a small assortment of brushes. After joining him, she passed him the towel and instructed him to spread it out on the blanket pile, then lay on it, face down.

”Is it okay if I lie like this?” Jon asked, folding his hands under his chin.

”Yup. Just keep your head straight. I want your fur even on both sides,” she explained.

Jenna kept one brush in her hand and set the other tools down close by. She straddled Jon’s thighs instead of his hips like she’d done for the failed backrub. She wanted to make sure she could get at every bit of his back, in order to do all she could to make up for the lack of care it had been getting lately. Once in position, she got to work.

She started with a slicker brush, making long, gentle strokes down his back. She was pretty sure she’d gotten out all of the mats and knots in the shower, but didn’t want to go too fast in case she’d missed one. The bulk of them had been taken care of by the Nubby Buddy, but not all of them. There were a few stubborn ones that needed a bit of coaxing with the brush before finally giving up and untangling.

Even with the snags gone, Jenna didn’t swap brushes yet. Now that Jon’s fur was clear of anything that could catch the brush, she was able to use it more freely. She stuck with long strokes from his neck to his hips, but she could vary the speed. Some were quick and some were slow. but they all had Jon purring.

”I love phase four,” he said dreamily.

“We’re just getting started,” said Jenna. “Now that I know your fur doesn’t have any mats or knots, we can get down to business.”

With that, Jenna traded her slicker brush for a metal comb.

“I”ve seen one of these in your bathroom, so I know you’ve used it on your face and neck, but I bet you’ve never felt it on your back.”

Jenna drew the comb softly through his fur, focusing on his sides first. Jon couldn’t believe the sensations he was feeling. The cool metal reached through his fur to his skin. The air got under his fur, keeping it light and fluffy after the comb passed. This was magic!

”There’s no way that’s the same comb,” Jon protested.

Jenna paused to lean forward a stretch out her hand, holding the comb where he could see it.

”Not only is it the exact same comb, I’ve only been using it on places you can reach yourself,” she pointed out. “You could be making yourself feel this good after every shower if you wanted to.”

Jon almost spoke up in protest, but she did have a point. He’d been letting stress get the better of him, and had barely even been taking care of himself.

”I’m starting to realize my bare minimum is a bit too minimal,” he admitted with a tone Jenna recognized as the one he fell into when he was disappointed with himself.

”Don’t beat yourself up over it. We can’t always be the best judges of how well we’re doing,” she said reassuringly as she started combing the back of his neck. “You’ve kept yourself going. You haven’t missed any work. You’re still eating regularly. This is just an adjustment period. It’s not forever. It’s just until you hit your groove.”

”I know, but I’m tired of my groove hitting me so hard”

”Consider this weekend your reset. We’re going to fill your tummy with all sorts of good stuff, watch terrible TV shows, and spend way too much time in nothing but our fur. How’s that sound?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

”Sounds like the best thing I’ve heard in a month,” Jon said, his voice sounding happier already.

”Great! Let me move on to the last brush and then we can decide which of those to do first.”

”Another brush?”

“Yup! Don’t worry, though, this one’s the finishing touch. I think you’re really going to like it.”

Jenna dropped the comb next to the slicker brush and picked up her final tool. This one was covered in dozens of small metal pins, each capped with a tiny plastic ball. She used it much like she had the first two tools, stroking down his back, letting the cool metal bristles glide through his fur, the little balls protecting his skin.

Jon didn’t react much at first, so Jenna continued her brushing in silence, giving Jon time to re-center himself. His breathing slowed. His purring got louder. His fur got smoother. It wasn’t until one of his purrs came out sounding like a snore than Jenna realized Jon had fallen asleep under her care.

As softly as she could, Jenna rose from the kneeling position she’d taken over his thighs. She set the brushes and comb aside, then covered Jon with one of the spare blankets so he wouldn’t get cold as his fur finished drying. Once she was sure he’d be okay, she removed the towel from her hair and got ready to start on a bit of her own care. As she began ruffling her hair with the towel, she leaned on the doorway to the living room and took a long look at the sleeping tiger in front of her.

“Okay, kitten,” she smiled. “Phase five can be a nap. I think you’ve earned it.”

Jenna hadn’t taken a full shower, and really only got conditioner on her hands and forearms, so she didn’t need her usual post-shower routine. Still, she wanted to dry her hair properly and smooth out her fur. She also took the time to give her teeth a good brushing, realizing neither of them had stopped to do that after they got back to her place.

It took her about half an hour to do everything she needed to do. When she checked on Jon, he was still fast asleep. She wasn’t surprised. One day isn’t nearly enough time to adjust one’s sleeping patterns from day to night, but he’d given it an admirable try. Knowing Jon as well as she did, she knew he’d want to be awake for as much of their time together as possible, so she got busy making coffee. The scent of brewing coffee wasn’t enough to rouse Jon, so Jenna made herself a mug and sat next to him to watch him sleep.

Leaning back against the couch, she sipped her coffee, watching the blanket covering his back rise and fall with his breathing. He wasn’t really an active sleeper, but she could always tell when he was dreaming by the way his whiskers twitched. In his busier dreams the end of his tail would flick around, but for now, both it and his whiskers lay still. So far, the only move he’d made since she’d first left the room was to turn his head to the side. She’d sat with Jon and watched him for about 15 minutes and he hadn’t really stirred at all. It wouldn’t be nice to shake him awake after he’d fallen asleep so easily, so instead she held her coffee near his nose.

It took less than a minute before he started to sniff in his sleep. His whiskers woke up before the rest of him, twitching in response to his nose’s sniffing. Without even opening his eyes, he spoke.

“Yes, please.”

Jenna smiled and stood up. They were very familiar with each other’s tastes in hot beverages. Jon was positively addicted to anything with caffeine, caramel, and oat-silk. He could have his coffee with just oat-silk, but if caramel were an option, he’d be taking it. She made him a cup, topped hers off, and joined him back in the living room.

“Just the way you like it,” she said as he rolled over and sat up, the blanket she’d covered him with falling down to barely cover his lap.

Jon smiled and took the mug from her. He took a deep sniff before having his first taste. Not because he needed to check it or anything, but because he loved the mixture of scents that much. He and Jenna were both big on aromas, so this “sniff before you taste” move was something they’d come to expect from each other.

His nostrils filled with the knowledge of what his tastebuds were about to enjoy, Jon took a long sip of his coffee, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes as he swallowed.

“Perfection,” he declared when he finally opened his eyes.

”Welcome back, kitten,” Jenna said as she ruffled his hair with her free hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Pretty amazing, actually. How long was I out?”

”About an hour. You drifted off when I was using the pin brush on your back,” she told him.

”That thing felt really good. I’ve got to get one of those.”

”I think we can arrange that. We haven’t laid out much of a plan for this weekend, but how would you feel about a little shopping tomorrow?” Jenna suggested.

“That works for me. Is it okay if we just take it easy for the rest of today? I recall you saying something about spending a lot of time in nothing but our fur this weekend…” Jon said with a wink.

“I like how that sounds,” Jenna said. She patted the floor next to her. “Join me over here?”

Jon scooted over to sit next to her, bringing a blanket with him and draping it across both their laps. She leaned into him and slid an arm behind his back, resting it on the sofa. He returned the gesture, draping one of his around her shoulders. They sat together for a bit, sharing warmth and sipping coffee.

Jenna had gotten used to the rhythm of Jon’s breathing against her arm, so when she felt Jon’s back swell as he took a deep breath, then held it, she knew something was up. This was one of her tells that he’d somehow picked up from her during their time together this past year. In her case, it meant she wanted to say something she wasn’t completely sure about. For Jon, it was similar, but instead of just a lack of confidence, there was something deeper to it. Something like a mixture of vulnerability and fear.

When Jon let the breath out, but didn’t speak right away, Jenna knew something big was on his mind. It wouldn’t help to push him, but she could nudge.

”Whenever you’re ready…”

Jon set his mug on one of the coasters on the table beside the couch. He remained seated but turned to face Jenna, putting his hands in his lap. He couldn’t bring his eyes up to meet hers. Jenna could tell this was big. She set her mug down as well, and shifted her posture to mirror his new position. She took his hands in hers and waited until he was ready to speak.

It took a bit longer, but finally, he did.

”All the stuff you did for me today felt really good. Not just because it was you touching me, or because we were in our fur, or even when you kissed me in the shower. That was all amazing. But more than any of that, it’s not that you were doing it ‘to’ me, you were doing it ‘for’ me. After the month I’ve had, I needed that so much more than I realized.”

”You needed care, Jon,” Jenna began. “Not just a backrub, not just brushing, and more than just a kiss. You needed somebody to be there for you, especially after everything you’ve had to deal with since getting your promotion. We all need care, and there’s nothing wrong with needing it. There’s nothing wrong with asking for it or wanting it, either.”

”I definitely did need it, and didn’t realize how much I wanted it. You knew what I wanted without me saying it, and gave me exactly that. As good as you’ve made me feel, it’s helped me to realize something else I’ve been wanting, and I think I’m ready to say it.”

Jenna let him take the time he needed. No more nudges. Clearly this was big, but Jon needed to say it on his own. She gave his hands a squeeze, reminding him she was here for him, no matter what he was about to say.

Jon looked up, finally meeting her eyes.

”I want to feel pretty.”

Jenna’s initial response was to smile at Jon, happy with what he’d said and immensely proud of him for saying it. As she thought more about what he’d said, and what it implied, a hint of wickedness crept into her expression, transforming her smile into a grin.

”What?” Jon couldn’t figure out her expression. “You didn’t know. You can’t tell me you possibly knew.”

”No, I didn’t know. But I did suspect. And If I’m being honest…?”

”Yeah…?” Jon replied, wondering why he was seeing a blush creep into Jenna’s cheeks.

”I’d also hoped.”

All the worry and uncertainty Jon had been feeling vanished in an instant, replaced by confusion, with a healthy dose of curiosity.

”Wait. Why ’hoped?’”

”Okay. When I got you to try my skirt on last fall, it was initially for a bit of fun. I’d thought it would look good on you - and it did. But I hadn’t expected you to look so hot in it, or to take to wearing it so easily. After that night, we used it a few times during sex, but then it just became something you wore when you came over. It was too cold to wear it outside again, but you’d put it on just to hang out while we watched TV or whatever. You looked more than comfortable in it. You looked happy.”

”I mean, it is really comfy, and once I got used to that ‘breezy’ feeling I started to like it,” Jon explained.

”You got so used to it that you’d forget you had it on,” Jenna told him.

”Oh, come on. I don’t think I ever got that comfortable in it,” Jon protested.

”No? Did you really forget about the time our SpeedyEats driver dropped our order?”

”I remember that! One of the fish buns fell out of the bag and rolled past me into the apartment,” Jon said. “Good thing they wrap those up so well.”

”Uh-huh. And do you remember how big his eyes were after you bent over to pick it up?”

”What do you mean? All lemurs have big eyes.”

”Jon, you had the skirt on,” Jenna insisted. “I’m not sure how much he saw, but you definitely made an impression.”

”Really? I hope I didn’t offend him,” Jon said, suddenly worried.

”I’m sure he was fine. He blushed almost as much as you do sometimes,” she kidded.

”Okay, I can admit that I really like the skirt,” Jon finally fessed up. “But you still haven’t explained why this turn of events was something you’d hoped for.”

”I’ll get there,” Jenna promised. “Even before your promotion took effect in January, I could see that work was starting to get to you. The pressure of the competition for the spot. The extra scrutiny you were under as part of the evaluation process. It was all weighing you down. But when you’d come over and put on the skirt, your mood got better rather quickly, and don’t think I didn’t see you checking yourself out in the hallway mirror every time you walked past it.”

”I was just checking the fit, that’s all.”

”You may have been looking at your hips, but I was looking at your face. You were happy, but I could also see a hint of wanting there,” she told him.

”What do you think I was wanting?” Jon asked.

”More.”

It was a single word, but it said a lot. Jon thought on it for a minute, and Jenna let him take his time.

”You’re right,” he finally said. “And not just ‘I think you’re right.’ I know you are. I wasn’t really sure what the ‘more’ I was after really was, not until I said it out loud. But now that I’ve said it, and now that we both know it - what do I, we, do about it? You do have a lot of cute outfits I’ve been curious about, but we’re not really the same size. The skirt fitting so well was a bit of a happy accident.”

”About that,” Jenna started. “You’re not the only one with something to share today. Wait here.”

Jenna finally released Jon’s hands as she stood up, certain he’d be okay on his own for a minute. It had taken a lot for him to open up as much as he had, but he’d come through it really well. He seemed relaxed and in really good spirits, so Jenna figured he was ready to take another step along the path he’d set himself on.

She went to the bedroom and opened her topmost dresser drawer. This was where she kept her panties and socks, and ‘that’ pair of boxers. She and Jon had known each other for a year, and been intimate for more than half that time, but he’d still never seen these. She took them from their hiding place at the back of the drawer, unfolded them, and held them up by the waistband. The azure silk still shimmered almost as much as it did when they were new. They hadn’t fit her in years, but she’d never been able to bring herself to let them go.

Not until today.

She laid them on top of her dresser, then neatly folded them in thirds, laying the waistband over itself. Taking care not to wrinkle them, she took the waistband and started rolling it downwards, turning them into a sleek little bundle. Jenna didn’t want them to unroll right away, so she grabbed a black and white hair tie from the cup on her dresser and wrapped it around her surprise.

When she returned to the living room, she found Jon finishing his coffee. He’d gone back to leaning against the sofa, but had discarded the blanket he’d been using for warmth. She kept her heat at a reasonable level in winter, and the coffee was probably helping as well.

She smiled at the sight of him. She couldn’t be sure, but he looked like he’d picked up a bit of a glow. Whether it was from her brushing, or her acceptance of his revelation, she couldn’t be sure. And it didn’t really matter. He looked happy.

”Well, we did say we’d be in our fur,” he smiled back at her.

“Yes, we did,” Jenna agreed. “And it feels wrong to ask you to cover any of that pretty fur, but I’ve got something for you.”

Jenna using “pretty” so freely with him brought a huge smile to Jon’s face, and he shifted forwards onto his knees, eager to see what she had for him.

“Not so fast, kitten. There’s something I have to tell you about first.”

She mirrored his posture for the second time that afternoon, kneeling in front of him on the blanket pile. She set the rolled-up boxers beside her and started to speak.

”I was a bit of a late bloomer when I started my undergrad studies back in Canada, I wasn’t fully grown, but I wasn’t a cub anymore, either. I knew I’d finish maturing at some point during university, but wasn’t sure when. It was also the first time I was away from home, and thus in total control of whatever I ate. You can probably see where I’m going with this.”

This time it was Jon’s turn to listen. They weren’t positioned so that he could hold her hand, but he gave her his full attention.

”I did start maturing that year, but I was also eating too much. I picked up my ‘freshman fifteen’ rather quickly.”

”Hey,” Jon started. “Fifteen pounds really isn’t that much, especially when you’re growing.”

”That’s sweet of you to say, Jon, but I’m a researcher. I measure in kilograms.”

”Oh…” was all Jon thought it would be safe to say.

”’Oh’ pretty much sums it up. Yes, I was growing into my adult self, but I was also outgrowing all of my clothes. Nothing fit anymore, and being a student on a smaller budget, I was limited to thrifting and sales at whatever shops catered to bigger furs. Because I was studying at a rather rural university, the selection wasn’t good for regular sizes, never mind the ones I actually needed. The nearest town with a mall was a good three hours away by car, and I didn’t have one. There was a bus that ran once a day each way, but with all the stops, the trip took over four hours. I couldn’t justify the cost or time.”

“I was feeling really down - both about the state I’d let myself get into, and about the options I had for presenting myself. One Friday after class I was sitting in the common room of my dorm, and I heard some other girls talking. They said the mall was finally getting an Ardent tomorrow, and it was going to be a big one.”

Even Jon had heard of Ardent, and knew this was a big deal. They were the first mid-range women’s boutique that treated customers like the ultra-bougie ones did - if not better. Not only was their customer service top of the line, their selections were unmatched. While Ardent did specialize in clothing for larger furs, they made sure they had something for everybody, and for every need. Casual clothes, business wear, formal attire, sports apparel, intimates - if you needed it, they had it. Even if you didn’t need it, they still probably had it.

“Going there would be an all-day thing. I looked at my account and saw I had enough to get the bus there and back, get lunch, and hopefully have enough left to get something from Ardent. Depending on what I found, I was willing to skip lunch if I had to.”

“I got up early on Saturday to catch the bus. The whole ride there, I kept thinking I’d made a mistake. I was using time I should have been studying to go spend money I should have been saving, and for what? To go buy clothes because I let myself get fat?”

Jon knew better than to say anything at this point in her story.

”The bus stop for the mall was near one of the entrances, which was nice since it saved passengers from walking across the whole parking lot. But of course, Ardent was at the opposite end of the mall. That didn’t do much for my mood, but I was already there, so I started walking.”

”As I neared the other end of the mall, it was obvious where Ardent was. There were more furs at that side of the mall than there had been in any other part of it. Many had Ardent bags in their hands and those without them mostly seemed to be headed towards the store. Seeing how happy those furs looked - especially those with Ardent bags - I went in.”

“I was greeted by a staff member who welcomed me to the store and gave me a small booklet about the company, made especially for this grand opening. She pointed out the store map on the back cover, encouraged me to look around, and showed me where the service counter was - both on the map and in the store itself - in case I had any questions. That was it. No judging, no sneering, and no pressure. I liked it immediately.”

”I probably spent an hour just meandering around looking at things. Their clothes were so cool! They really weren’t all that expensive either, but most of it was still out of the range of my very limited budget. I knew I’d have to start my walk back to the bus before much longer, and really wanted to have something to show for the trip. I’d wandered into the intimates section, and that’s where I found these.”

Jenna picked up the boxers and held them on her knees.

“They were a little more than I wanted to spend, but they looked so nice, even hanging on a rack in the store. I had to have them. I didn’t have a lot of time left, so I hurried to the cashier to pay for them. The clerk complimented my selection, and told me how well they’d go with my fur. She even pointed out how well they’d work with my hair color. (I got a little embarrassed, because there was no way anybody was going to see me in just these!) She wrapped them up and put them in a little Ardent bag, which I hid in my backpack as soon as I left the store. I would’ve died on the spot if anybody knew what I’d just bought.”

“I only ever wore them in my dorm room that year, and nobody’s ever seen me in them, but I Ioved how they looked and felt. By the time I went home for the summer, I wasn’t the same bear. I’d finished growing and gotten a better handle on my eating habits. That combination of changes had me looking very different from the day I went to Ardent.”

Jenna had tried to keep eye contact with Jon throughout her whole story, but she couldn’t do it for the last part. She kept speaking, but her gaze dropped to the bundle of silk she held on her lap.

“These didn’t even fit me by the end of that year - they were actually too big, if you can believe it. But I could never bring myself to get rid of them. They meant so much to me at a time when I didn’t have much, and didn’t feel like much. When I went into that store, I wanted to feel invisible. Instead I felt welcomed, and I felt seen. And it felt incredible.”

“I want you to have these, and I want you to feel the same things they made me feel.”

Jenna held the boxers out towards Jon and looked up again. His eyes were glassy and wet, and she could tell hers were quickly getting that way, too.

Jon nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he took the bundle from her. He slipped one claw tip under the hair tie and tilted his head towards it, asking for permission. Jenna smiled and returned his nod.

Jon pulled the hair tie off and the shimmering blue silk unfurled, practically dancing in the sunlight coming in through the window. He wasn’t sure what they were until just now. It had been obvious they were made with a gorgeous blue silk, but now that they were no longer rolled up, it was clear they were a pair of women’s boxers.

”Wo-“ Jon tried to speak, but his voice hitched. He cleared his throat, wiped his eyes with the back of his paw, and tried again.

”Wow, these are beautiful. May I?”

Jenna took a beat to wipe her own eyes. “Please do.”

Jon stood up and started to pull the boxers on. He wasn’t as slow and deliberate with them as he’d been with Jenna’s skirt that first time, but he didn’t just yank them on like he’d do with his own. The silk had so little friction against his fur they practically flowed up his legs.

”Oh my! That’s nice,” he said about mid-thigh.

Jenna smiled and waited for him to finish.

Jon pulled them the rest of the way on, fastened the button over his tail, then took a moment to adjust things. They were a little snugger than his regular ones, but being silk, they just slid across his fur and didn’t grab at all. They felt incredible, but something was slightly off. Jon walked to the hallway mirror to check himself out and saw what needed to be adjusted. He put his fingers in the waistband near his tail, then pulled downwards while sliding them around to the front. When he was done, his hip bones were on full display. It was a look Jenna had found with the skirt, that he’d taken a very strong liking to.

He walked back to the living room and struck a pose - left leg turned out with the knee bent and arms raised with his hands behind his head.

”Well?” He grinned.

Jenna returned Jon’s grin with an even bigger one. “Those never looked half as good on me.”

Jon was feeling very confident, but that still didn’t stop him from blushing.

Jenna rose and moved to him, taking him in her arms. He dropped his and returned her embrace.

”I can tell how much these mean to you from the story you told me about getting them,” Jon said. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to have these?”

She pulled back slightly and looked up into his eyes. ”Kitten, they stopped being mine the moment you stepped into them.”

“In that case, would it be too forward of me to ask for a kiss to celebrate my new boxers?”

“You’re getting one no matter what, pretty boy. C’mere.”

Jon didn’t have to be told twice. He brought his lips to meet Jenna’s and did his best to make up for the kissless month they’d just had to endure.

After a kiss that would’ve been shamefully long in public, but somehow still not long enough in private, they pulled back from each other and broke for air.

“You taste like coffee and berries,” Jon chuckled, picking up a hint of Jenna’s toothpaste when they kissed.

“I brushed while you were napping,” Jenna said. “You can go ahead and do yours if you like. I’ll take care of the mugs while you do.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Jon said.

They gave each other a quick peck then broke apart. While Jenna washed the mugs, Jon brushed his teeth. He and Jenna both had stashes of things for each other at their respective places. While he wasn’t a big fan of Jenna’s berry-flavored toothpaste, she outright couldn’t stand the coconut stuff he used. Sharing was never going to be an option. By the time he finished brushing, Jenna had the mugs cleaned, dried and put away. With everything done, they regrouped on the couch.

“I know we were talking about spending as much time as possible in our fur, but would it be okay if I kept these on for a while?” Jon asked. “I’ve really never felt anything quite like this.”

“If you’re enjoying them that much, then you should keep them on. I’m sticking with fur for now, if it’s okay with you.”

“More than okay.”

Their afternoon clothing (or lack thereof) decisions made, they easily fell back into old routines, as though the time apart had never really happened. They chatted about Jenna’s studies and Jon’s work. They talked about what they’d read, watched, and eaten in the past month. Mostly, though, they just enjoyed being together. It was like a “Friday Face to Face” only in person, which they both agreed was much better.

As the afternoon went on, they talked about dinner plans. Neither of them were hungry yet, and while there were plenty more new places in the neighborhood to try, as well as old favorites, ordering in and spending a relaxing evening at Jenna’s place sounded like the best option. With that decision made, Jenna had one more thing she wanted to do.

“You know,” she started, “you did fall asleep before I got to finish pampering you earlier.”

“Was there a phase five I missed?”

“No, I decided your nap could be phase five. This was something extra. Wait here,” she instructed. “I’ll be right back.”

Jon waited on the couch, wondering what she had in mind.

Jenna made a quick trip to her bedroom and returned with a small glass jar with a simple label on it in her hand. She went back to her place on the sofa, set the jar on the table beside her, and gave Jon his orders.

“Feet. Now.”

Thinking he was going to get one of Jenna’s famous foot massages, he happily complied, turning sideways and placing his feet in her lap.

“What’s in the jar?” he asked.

Jenna held up the jar and showed it to him. Jon could see it was about halfway full, containing a white cream. The label was simply designed, with just a pawprint and the product’s name.

“‘Pampered Paws?’ I’ve never heard of that before.”

Jenna resisted the urge to call him a cave-dweller again.

“Believe me, I know,” she said with exaggerated frustration. “I got a good look at your paw pads when I was putting the blanket over you earlier. They’re in rather rough shape, but we can start getting them back into proper condition. Unlike your fur, this isn’t a one-day fix.”

“You really think they’re that bad?” Jon asked. “They don’t hurt, and I haven’t had any issues with standing, walking, or - or anything else I can think of involving my feet.”

“Jon, they’re rough, dry, and you’re starting to get callouses on them.”

“But the callouses are just them toughening up. Like an extra layer of protection. Lots of guys-”

Jenna stopped him cold with a look. “I’m going to ask you not to finish that sentence.”

Jon knew better than to argue, and just nodded, signalling that he was ready to listen and learn.

“Thank you,” Jenna said. “Now, short of actual cuts, callouses are pretty much the last thing you want on your paw pads. I know, I know. Guys think having ‘tough’ paw pads makes them more rugged or whatever, but our paw pads are meant to be soft. Firm, yes, but still soft.”

Jenna opened the jar of Pampered Paws and scooped a dollop about the size of a grape out with her finger. When she did this, Jon could see it was much thicker than he’d thought. More of a paste than a cream. She spread it on the central pad of his left foot and started to massage it in with both of her thumbs while she continued the care lesson.

“Our paw pads are what keep us in touch with the ground. They’re as important to our understanding of the world around us as our eyes, ears, and noses. Through them we can feel the texture of what we’re standing on, sense vibrations or movements near us, and they’re critical for our balance and posture. Callouses will dull all of those senses, and they’ll reduce the grip you have while walking.”

Jenna’s massaging felt really good, and Jon listened intently while she did it. He knew that what she was saying was every bit as important as what she was doing.

“What was it like at work last month after the ice storm hit? Who had an easier time walking outside - the women or the men?” Jenna asked.

“I mean, obviously the women. They’ve just got better natural poise, right?”

“Poise may be part of it, but I can pretty much guarantee none of them have rough paw pads like the warehouse and dock crew guys. These,” she said, poking a claw into one of Jon’s developing callouses, “are hard and slick, with no grip, and will have you falling on that cute butt of yours. The last thing we want is your backside covered in bruises, so you’re going to have to put in some work to get your feet back into proper shape.”

“Gotcha. I take it we’re adding some Pampered Paws to our shopping list?”

“Among other things, yes,” Jenna agreed. “You’re getting some new grooming tools, along with some care products. We can’t fix your paw pads up completely today, but we’ll get them headed in the right direction. I’m going to do as much as I can right now, so grab the remote and find us something to watch while I work.”

Jon reached over his head and picked up the TV remote from the side table behind him. Even though it was a holiday weekend, there wasn’t a whole lot on TV, so he opened up their go-to anime streaming service. They both laughed when they saw that a second season of the “will they or won’t they” show that led to them finally having sex had been released. Nothing else looked interesting enough, so they started watching it.

It took two episodes for Jenna to finish taking care of Jon’s paw pads. She gave his central pads a rather strong massage to get the Pampered Paws worked in as deeply as she could. For his toe beans, she was a little more delicate, but still just as thorough. Jon couldn’t walk around right away until his paw pads were dry, so they sat through one more episode after Jenna took a break to wash her hands.

By the end of the third episode, Jon and Jenna looked at each other and sighed.

“They’re never gonna do it, are they?” Jenna asked.

“Probably not,” Jon responded. “Those fools have no idea what they’re missing.”

“Speaking of that,” Jenna said, reaching over to give Jon’s boxers a gentle tug. “You think I might be able to convince you to take these off for a bit and join me in the bedroom?”

As much as Jon loved his new boxers, the mere suggestion of bedroom time was more than enough to get him to stand up and take them off. He folded them gently and left them on the couch, then followed Jenna out of the living room for the second time that day. As nice as the care session in the shower had been, their time in bed was even better.

Already in their fur, they wasted no time getting reacquainted with each other’s bodies. Their separation hadn’t really been as long as it had felt, but that didn’t make things any less intense during their first time back together. They remembered all the places each other liked to be touched and kissed, and made sure to get to every last one of them. They were so into each other, and each other’s pleasure, that they didn’t even realize the sun had set during their lovemaking.

Only once they were finally spent, did they begin to realize just how much time had passed.

“Hang on,” said Jenna, rolling over to look out the window above her bed. “When did it get dark.”

“Probably somewhere between ‘don’t stop’ and ‘do that again,’” Jon teased.

“I don't recall saying either of those things,” Jenna said, giving his side a playful poke.

“I never said it was you that said them,” he laughed.

“Well, as eager as I am to make you say them again, we should probably get our dinner ordered.”

Jenna got up to get her phone and order food, and they both opted to relax in bathrobes, to keep from traumatizing any more delivery drivers. Once the food arrived, they were back in their fur, as they’d promised to spend a generous portion of their weekend that way.

While they did spend a lot of the weekend in bed, they made Saturday’s shopping outing as planned. Jenna took Jon to her favorite cosmetics shop and got him reasonably, but not fully, equipped. She knew that if she overloaded him on new care items and products, he’d end up using none of it. A pin brush, some Pampered Paws, a better conditioner than he’d been using, a handle extender to clip onto his brushes so he could reach his whole back, and a gray Nubby Buddy of his very own seemed like plenty.

They practiced care on each other using Jon’s new supplies so Jenna could be sure he’d be able to do things right on his own. She also made him promise to keep using the Pampered Paws until his paw pads were back in proper shape.

Sunday was spent relaxing, and they finished off the day with a trip to Witchin’ Kitchen for dinner, so Jon could get the burrito he’d been craving. Sunday night, Jon tucked Jenna into bed with a kiss, then made himself a pot of coffee. He had to be back at work in about 24 hours, and he’d need to be able to be at his best - or close to it - to get back into the swing of things. He stayed up all night, drinking coffee and reading books on his tablet. When the sun started coming up, he put on some fresh coffee and woke Jenna to let her know he was heading out.

She wasn’t quite ready to let the weekend wrap up just yet, and surprised Jon by getting dressed and making her coffee in her big travel mug. She checked Jon’s backpack to make sure he wasn’t forgetting any of his new grooming items, and rolled up his boxers for him, securing them with the same black and white hair tie she’d used on Friday. Once she knew he had everything he needed, they left her place and walked down to the bus stop.

Jon had been expecting a hug and a kiss good-bye, but Jenna surprised him again by getting on the bus with him. He didn’t ask why, and just smiled as they sat together, holding hands all the way back to his neighborhood.

Back at his place, Jon fell into his usual routine. He unpacked his bag, got undressed, brushed his teeth, and crawled into bed. Jenna sat next to him and watched him until he fell asleep. Only once his whiskers started twitching in a dream, did she give his forehead a kiss then quietly get up and let herself out.

Jenna wasn’t nearly as happy on the bus ride home as she’d been on the way over, but she was okay. They’d spent a good bit of Sunday figuring out the logistics of how to see each other more often. Jon’s schedule was fairly rigid, but Jenna’s had some flexibility. Plus, spring break was coming up in a few weeks, and Jon had just enough time to put in a leave request to get the whole week off. She’d enjoyed taking him shopping on Saturday, and had a few ideas in mind for where they could go next to get Jon more of what he needed.

Jon slept like a kitten all day, waking up Monday evening feeling very refreshed. While having a light dinner, he made an entry in his notes app reminding himself to make a leave request as soon as he got to work. He already knew none of the overnight team leads would be taking off that week, so there was little chance of it getting denied.

Everybody at work was in a good mood after the long weekend, even Brooks, surprisingly. Things ran smoothly all night and Jon finished out his shift feeling very much like his old self. He couldn’t help smiling to himself on the way out of the building in the morning, where he ran into Sandra, coming in to start her day.

“Good morning, Jon,” she greeted him.

“Good morning to you, Sandra,” he said with a more cheerful tone than she’d heard from him in some time.

They both took a few more steps, then Sandra called out his name.

“Jon?” she said.

“Yeah?” Jon turned, and caught her giving the air a sniff.

“I’m not sure who you spent your weekend with, but you’d better keep them nice and close,” she said with a little wink.

Jon smiled, realizing Sandra’s nose was good for more than just numbers and coffee.

“Don’t worry,” he promised her. “I plan on doing exactly that.”