FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 6

\ **Cough cough* * Air. I need air. Why is it so hard to breathe? Is that smoke? Oh god, I need air. Wait, where is Ian? He should be around here somewhere. He wouldn't just disappear like that. Ian, where are you? I can't see him anywhere. There is fire, and there is smoke. I hear screams, voices screaming, clawing at my mind... Tearing away at my sanity. No, no, no... Ian... Ian where are you? Ian!

"AAAAHHH!!" I flung up, my body hot and sweaty. Muscles shaking violently and my face were itchy and wet. My eyes rapidly darted around, and all around me I saw fire and death... No, this wasn't real. There was no fire. There were no bodies. I closed my eyes and took a few collected breaths. I was in no danger. I was safe at home. And Ian, he was also safe. I felt it in my bones.

The door to my room flew open with alarming speed, almost denting the wall as Andy rushed in. The white bunny stood in the doorframe wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs and a tank top. What time is it anyway?

"Lukas, are you alright?" Andy's voice was alert and on point, he was all too used to come rushing to my room at times like these. Seeing his white furred body reminded me of Ian, and that made me think of the time he and I spent together last night... Considerably it helped to ease my post-traumatic stress attacks, knowing the arctic fox was safe and alive.

"Uugh... Yeah I'm... I'm fine. I mean, I will be. Thank you." I rested my head in my hands, drawing slow breaths and allowing my eyes to wander my room.

Andy lingered in my door, keeping an eye on me. I wasn't sure he believed me when I told him I'm fine. Not so sure I believe me either.

"Hm. Guess I'll start on breakfast then... What do you want?" Andy didn't leave until I gave him an answer.

"What I want is a bottle of Stroh rum, with enough alcohol to knock my brains out. But obviously that would be bad for me, so what I need right now is a cup of coffee black as the night, and some toast." I threw off my covers and swung my legs over the edge of my bed. Going back home had seemed like a good idea last night, I wouldn't want to be a further burden on Ian.

"Alright, I'll get on it. You gotta hop in the shower." That wasn't a suggestion. Andy left my room and moments after I could hear the frying pan sizzle and the toaster being used.

A shower was exactly what I needed right now, so up I go. I stretched up, and then bent down to touch my toes. I stared at my disfigured right leg, from below my knee and down to my heel there was only a slab of scars and marks left by stitches.

I guess I should consider myself lucky that my leg worked at all, considering what an awful mess it had been way back then.

Standing upright again I rolled my shoulders and grabbed a towel and headed for the shower, I walked by Andy getting busy in the kitchen, brewing coffee and frying eggs. I managed to slip in without confrontation, and wasting no more effort I got under the running water faster than a condom going onto a cock.

Aahhh cold heavenly water, washing all the nasty right off me. Just what the doctor ordered.

"Hmm, hmmhmm..." I started to hum on a song as I thoroughly enjoyed the water rinsing my sweaty body.

"When tomorrow comes... I'll be on my own... Feeling frightened of, the things that I don't know." I sang out with a hushed voice, growing in my vocal range and the sound of my voice started to resonate against the tiled bathroom walls.

"When tomorrow comes, tomorrow comes, tomorrow comes." I reached for the shampoo.

"And though the road is long. I look up to the sky. And in the dark I found, lost hope that I won't fly." lathering up my blonde hair my voice continued to rise, and soon was singing at the top of my lungs.

"And I sing along, I sing along, and I sing along. I got all I need when I got you and I. I look around me, and see a sweet life. I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight." I rinsed my hair and reached for the conditioner.

"You're getting me, getting me, through the night. Kick start my heart when you shine it in my eyes. Can't lie, it's a sweet life." I was thorough with using the conditioner in my hair, giving it some proper TLC.

"Stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight. You're getting me, getting me, through the night. 'Cause you're my flashlight." My voice trailed down to a humming as I proceeded with rinsing my hair again. I reached for the soap and rubbed it over parts of my body.

I let the water run over my body for a couple more minutes until I deemed I was clean enough and turned the shower off. Pulling the shower curtain away I stepped out and grabbed my towel to dry myself.

Yeah that felt much better... Had I been a cat I would be purring most delighted. I exited the bathroom and sniffed, feeling the dark aroma of coffee, toast and eggs in the air. My stomach rumbled to remind me that I was starving. With the towel around my waist I walked past Andy reading a magazine at the kitchen table, sipping on his cup of coffee.

"You better hurry up Charming, you don't want to be late for work. And your coffee is getting cold." Andy's eyes left the magazine to follow my journey from the shower to my room, probably enjoying the sight of a half nude human parading around the apartment.

"How much do I have to hurry? I haven't had the chance to look at the clock yet." I took my sweet time reaching my bedroom, swashing my hips to give the ogling bunny something to watch.

"A little over eight, so if you don't eat now you'll miss your bus." Andy said with a wink.

"Roger, I'll just get dressed and be with you in a second." I hurried inside my room and slapped on some quick, easy to wear clothes, as I would be changing into my uniform at work either way. Back in the kitchen I sat down at the opposite side of Andy, a cup of pitch black coffee and two slices of toast were waiting for me.

"Thanks for the breakfast Andy. I appreciate it." I thanked the white bunny with a charming smile, and took a huge sip of my coffee. Ah that hit the spot. The bitter beverage tasted just like I felt, and together they canceled each other out.

Andy smiled back at me, his brown eyes returned to the magazine in his paws. A magazine I suspected was more than just real estate articles. Really now Andy, reading smut at the table, what would your parents think. On the other hand... They would probably find most it amusing.

I yawned and rubbed my eye with the back of my hand, enjoying my breakfast to the fullest in peace and quiet in the company of a friend. My eyes traveled over to Andy frequently too, just to make sure he was still there.

"I'll be going out shopping after work today, is there something you would want me to buy?" Andy laid down his magazine, chugging the last of his coffee and looked my way.

"Hurm." I huffed, furrowing my brow. "How're we doing on coffee?" I asked and swirled the remaining black liquid in my cup.

"Still set for quite a while." Andy gathered his dishes and carried them over to the sink.

"Then I'm good, thanks." I bowed my head to him when he turned to look over his shoulder at me, washing his dishes and putting them to dry.

He was about to say something, his mouth opening when my phone rang. We both jumped at the sudden scare and I fumbled in my pocked to fish up my phone and found to my amazement Ian calling me. I looked quickly at Andy before I pushed the button to answer and put the phone to my ear.

"Hullo Ian, good to hear from you again." I sang out, completely giddy with excitement purely from the fact that the fox had called me. Andy turned back to his dishes when he heard me mention the arctic fox's name.

"Hi Lukas, how are you? You doing okay?" Ian's soft voice spoke on the other end, surprisingly high spirited from the sounds of it.

"Uhm... yeah, I'm uhh... fine. Rough night... but I'm fine now." I tried my best to sound reassuring, but failed rather miserably at it.

"I'm sure you're coping the best you can Lukas, hang in there. You know I'm just a phone call away if you ever want to talk." Ian tried to assure that was the case. But I always tried my best to ride it out without pushing any of my troubles to the fox. It just felt like I was taking advantage of him over and over again.

"Yeah... Thanks Ian, I know." I held back a sigh, taking a small sip from my coffe.

"Hrrm... good. Now for the second reason I'm calling so early. I have some good news, and then some more good news. Which one do you want first?" Ian mused. I could practically see the white fox whip his tail in a cheeky manner.

"Hum... How about the first good news?" I asked carefully. Good news was always a matter of perspective, maybe it was good news for him, and bad for me. But he didn't need to know that was what I was thinking.

"Well I finally got the 'call' from Victoria, and she wants me to make an announcement about the release of my new book as well as hold a Q&A about it." Ian sounded happy, and I felt my hear sink in my chest. This could only mean one thing. That Ian was going away. But I had to stay happy for his sake, I can't hold him back.

"Oh wow, that's great isn't it? Where is it being held?" I asked tentatively.

"That's the first good news, it'll be right here in Rosewood. This weekend in fact, at the Rosewood comic con & exhibition." It was almost like I could hear Ian grin on his side of the phone, and I admit, my heart did a somersault.

"Really? That's awesome! I wonder if it's too late to get tickets for that..." My line of thought was cut short by a snort from Ian's side.

"You don't really expect I'd let you pay your way to see me speaking in public? I've already secured two tickets, VIP of course with backstage pass, one for you and one for Andy if he wants it." My eyes trailed over to the bunny, now occupying himself with putting away my dishes as well.

"Hey Andy. Do you want to go to comic con this weekend?" My question seemed to surprise him, and he cocked his head sideways.

"Huh? Comic con? What's the occasion?" Andy flicked one of his large ears, his colourful piercings jingling slightly.

"Ian's treat, he'll be talking about his new book and he got us both VIP tickets." It was hard to mask my happiness as I spoke.

"Ooh, I see." Andy looked up at the roof and twitched his long ears, his thinking face was hard on.

"You can thank him for the ticket, but I don't think I'll be able to go. Don't you remember I had plans to visit my sister and my nephew over the weekend?" He offered an apoplectic smile. I felt my chest drop again, oh how could I forget that.

"Sorry... it must've slipped my mind." I said quietly. I don't think I've paid the fact that Andy was going away a single thought.

"It's fine. At least now you have an excuse to leave the house when I'm gone yeah?" Andy said, smiling and erecting his large ear, indicating that he was happy. Furs was nothing if not easy to read sometimes, with their obvious bodily reactions to emotions.

"Uhh, yeah. Andy won't be joining us Ian, he's going to visit his sister this weekend." I nodded at Andy in acknowledgement and turned my attention back to the fox who had waited patiently for me.

"Oh... okay, sure. No problems. I'll just return the other one no problems, unless you know somebody else who'd want to go? Maybe someone from work?" Ian didn't sound displeased that the bunny wasn't going to join us. Those two had never really seen eye to eye... figuratively speaking. They didn't outwardly display any hate for the other, but I could tell neither liked the others company any more than acquaintances with a mutual friend.

"I uhhh... don't know. If you want to I could ask around." I scratched my head. Ian huffed on his side of the phone.

"I couldn't care less if you brought the Queen of England with you, all I want to know is if you'll be bringing a friend or not." Ian sounded almost amused by now.

"Okay, okay. I'll ask when I get to work and call you back later today and tell you my answer." I let out a chuckle myself and sighed, feeling relieved.

"Sounds good... and now about the second piece of good news. With the release date of my new book announced for next Monday, I will be holding a book signing at no other place than the Book Corner." Ian said.

"Really? The Book Corner? But that's-..." I started.

"Also in town, I know right? So I won't be going away for a good while now. Feel free to spill the beans for Andy if you'd like, so he can mentally prepare." Ian sounded almost too happy by now, and I can't deny I was feeling it too. My priorities in life were that I always wanted Ian to succeed in life, to enable him to go out and be the famous author he always wanted to be. Even if it meant that he'd be gone for weeks, or maybe months at a time.

"I'll do that, thanks for the heads up Ian." I looked at Andy now wiping the kitchen table with a dishrag.

"You're most welcome Lukas. Now, about work... isn't it time for a certain human to catch the bus if he doesn't want to be late?" Ian mused in the phone.

Hmmm. What? Shit!

"Oh crap, uhh, I gotta go. Talk to you later Ian?" I stood up in a rush when I noticed the time and hurried to the entryway to get my shoes on.

"Yeah sure, I'm already looking forward to it. Take care Lukas, I love you." Ian's smooth voice licked my ear, and suddenly the phone felt hot against the side of my head where I held it.

"Yes, I'll call you as soon as I'm able. You take care as well, I love you too Ian." I heard a short chuckle before we said a last good bye and we hung up. Now I had to really rush to not be late.

"Bye Andy. Before I forget Ian will be holding a book signing at your book store later on okaybye!" I stumbled out of the apartment and half skipped down the stairs, going just as fast as I dared to trust my leg.

On the bottom floor I elbowed the automatic door opener and was outside the moment it swung open. I power walked at the top of my speed limit, going at a relatively fast pace. I was fine with running, but I wanted to play it safe for now so I held myself back. Even as I saw my bus waiting for me by the bus stop I hesitated to run.

I scrambled onboard just as the doors closed on my ass and I sighed. I held up my wallet to scan my bus card and pay for the travel fee before I looked for a seat. Hmm. There were quite a bit of people on the bus this morning... I wandered down the aisle, looking left and right.

"Oho? If it isn't the waiter boy." A purring voice caught my attention and I looked down at a familiar looking cougar guy. He was smiling all cryptic like, flashing his white fangs.

"Oh, hi." I wasn't sure if I wanted to interact with strangers this early on the morning, but I put on my charming smile nonetheless.

"You can sit next to me if you want a seat."His smile grew sharper as he gestured towards the empty seat next to him. My options were limited, and it's not like I'll regret sitting down next to this almost complete stranger. Right?

"Thanks." I said, using my happy waiter voice which I often used on customers. Sitting down I exhaled and braced myself for a long ride.