A Lazy Eye
... three years ago ...
"Field ... "
No answer.
A sigh. Paw knocking (oh-so-gently) on the door ... " ... I know you're in there. I can hear you sniffling."
A sniffle. "I'm not here," was the muffled reply.
Wren pressed the 'open' button ... and the door wouldn't budge. Locked. "Field, you are, too ... come on ... let me in."
A shaky sniffle.
Wren fidgeted, using his paws to try and pry open the ... double doors. Which, normally, would swish and retract into the walls, but ... pry, pry ... and he stopped. This was hurting his paws. He returned to the door's control pad, taking the cover off the door chime, and ... hot-wiring the circuits. Forcing the door to "swish!" ... open ...
Field looked up. "Hey," he said, in a defeated way. Not angry. Not accusing. Just ... noticing he'd made it in. The mouse's eyes were red. He'd been crying ... for how long, Wren didn't know. Probably hours.
"Hey," Wren said back, with equal gentility. Stepping in (and the doors sliding shut behind him). Spring light streamed through the window. And dust motes and ... other things ... danced in the beams. A window was open, letting cool air in ... otherwise, the room was quiet. Except for Field's sniffling, and his ... swallowing, and his ... rustling (as he turned away from Wren). The mouse was on his side in bed, wearing just a tattered pair of jean shorts. His country clothes ...
Field just breathed. Saying nothing.
And Wren sat on the side of the bed, hesitating, before saying, "Um ... I'm worried about you ... "
Field, unblinking, stared at the wall.
"Tell me what happened ... please ... " He reached a paw out. Stopped. Withdrew it, but ... reached it out, anyway, and ... put it on the mouse's bare side. Clutching weakly at the fur. Slowly beginning to stroke up and down his side ... " ... come on, baby ... tell me. Please ... "
Field swallowed, cleared his throat. And cleared it again, speaking (in wispy whispers), "They found out." He sounded haunted. A sniffle. "They found out ... "
"What?" Wren drew a breath. "What do you mean ... when? How did ... "
"I told them." Field's voice was barely audible. Still, his eyes staring (unblinking) at the wall.
"Why?" Wren asked, confused. "Field ... "
"I don't know ... I don't know. I shouldn't have. I just ... I did." A shaky exhale. His eyes finally closing (hurting). "They, uh ... freaked out. Said I'm going to hell ... " A swallow. Clearing his throat again. "I believe in hell, you know ... I ... I ... my own ... f-family, they told me ... I'm ... " His words broke down. Into sobs. Into ...
"Hey ... " Wren's voice, friendly, soothing, and echoing the mouse's pain ... spoke into his ear. And his paws went round him in a hug. The squirrel lying behind him, beside him. Holding him. "You're not going to hell ... "
"They said I was," the mouse quivered. "They told it ... right to ... me ... "
"Hush ... hush ... you're not going to hell," Wren repeated, his belly and chest snugged to the mouse's bare back. And his fingers scritching at his belly-fur. Which was a lighter, almost creamier color ... than the rest of him. "What about ... "
" ... Fuzzy? He dumped me." A sniffle. A pause. "He didn't know ... I was ... I became too much a burden," Field said, eyes open (again), and staring (again) at the wall. "I was too much a burden for him. He didn't ... have anything to say. I was ... I was sobbing. I was in so much pain, and I ... he just looked at me and shrugged and said ... said ... " The mouse closed his eyes again. Obviously, not wanting to remember it. It was too fresh. Too hurtful. But he needed to get this out, didn't he ... lest he explode? "He said it's 'just the way it goes,' and ... he didn't cry. Didn't ... show any emotion. Just ... he was so cold ... he said it was over ... I only came out for him. Cause I wanted to be with him ... and he dumped me!" There was a desperation in the mouse's voice. "It was for nothing ... all this pain ... what ... I ... I ... " The words fell apart.
Wren could've said any number of things. Could've said 'your mate was a predator ... a lion ... he didn't want you for your heart, or your ... mind ... he just wanted fun ... predators don't know how to feel emotion, Field, and you're as emotional as they come ... I don't know what you saw in him ... I don't know why you allowed it to happen ... ' Wren could've said that. The squirrel could've told the mouse that it was to be expected, such a reaction, such a ... thing. That maybe Field had been too naive, and ... too innocent. To think that he could mate with a predator ... not just a predator, but a male one ... could've told the mouse, 'you would've been better off with me' ... but he didn't. He loved Field too much ... to say anything that could possibly hurt him (in his already fragile state).
He just hugged and continued stroking Field's belly, whispering into his ear, "Don't let him get you down ... don't let your family ... don't let any of them," he whispered, "to extinguish your light. You've ... you've," Wren whispered, "such a shy, gentle spirit. You're so kind ... you're special, okay?" He nibbled on Field's ear. "You're very special ... I won't let you be destroyed by this. I won't let you hurt yourself," he whispered, knowing of the mouse's ... what Field did to himself. How he could starve himself. How he had ... how Wren had to make sure he ate ... how Wren checked on him every day, to make sure he was eating.
Tears were streaming down the mouse's cheeks, matting his fur there ... clinging in little droplets, which then fell and soaked into the sheets. One of his own paws reached for one of Wren's ... fingers clumsily meshing between the squirrel's. The mouse had such a weak grip. And the squirrel squeezed his paw ... squeeze ... squeeze ...
"You ... gonna be okay?" Wren whispered.
"My family doesn't ... wanna see me anymore," Field said blankly. "They think I'm ... going to ... corrupt my siblings." A pause. "They ... I don't understand. I don't understand," he said. "I ... I'm not bad! I'm not trying to ... " More sobs. More shakes.
"You're not bad. You're not ... okay? You're not ... some furs, they just ... they get scared of what they don't understand."
"I don't even understand, though! I don't, either ... I don't ... either, and ... I'm scared, too, and they're ... acting like ... " A squeak of frustration! Words stopping. Replaced by erratic breathing. "I've lost my family ... and my mate ... in the same morning," Field whispered ... sounding haunted. "I don't know ... what to do. My faith ... what if I lose my faith, too?" There was panic in his voice. Pure terror. "What ... what will I do? I can't lose that, too ... "
"You won't," Wren assured. "Field, you won't ... it's gotten you this far, and it's survived everything. You're not gonna lose it. There is life after death. Don't be afraid." The mouse had fierce anxiety problems. Was afraid of dying ... was terrified of getting sick, or ... so often, his faith was his purpose. Was his greatest hope. It gave him so much comfort, and ... identity ... and if he lost it ... " ... don't be afraid ... " And Wren knew the words were a bit hollow. Field couldn't stop the fear ... " ... maybe your family will soften ... maybe ... "
"You've met them," Field whispered. "Do you honestly believe that?" A sniffle.
Wren hesitated. No ... he couldn't say he did ... but ... he didn't want the mouse to buy into any sort of cynical mind-set.
The mouse let out a shaky breath. "It hurts ... I can't do this anymore. I kept it a secret for so long, and I buried it from everyone but you, and ... I don't want ... to have this burden. I can't carry it," he whispered. "Not for my entire life. I'm not strong enough ... "
"Field, don't let them ... "
" ... change me? Don't let them ... change me? This ... this is a choice," Field stammered.
"Field, it's not ... "
"It is," was his feverish response. "It is. I can be ... I'm not going to go through an entire life," he whispered, "of this pain. I can't ... I need to be open ... emotional. I need ... this lifestyle, it's ... so heavy. I can't ... I can't ... " Weak twitching. Twitching ... " ... look it what it did to me."
Wren hugged the mouse tighter. Oh, he loved Field ... more than how one should love a friend. Wren's own struggles ... dealing with his sexuality, the secrets, the lies, the hard searches for a mate who would commit to you ... leading double-lives, his family, his faith ... the mouse was now professing ... that he couldn't take it anymore. And Wren suddenly felt ... a panic. And he didn't understand why.
"I'm going to change," Field said. "I can't ... change my personality, or my ... my ... but ... I need peace. I need ... my faith, Wren. I can't lose my faith. I ... I ... my ... everything. What am I supposed to sacrifice to ... feed these desires? Are they going to consume me? When does it stop? I'm NOT ... a fighter," Field whispered, sniffling. "I don't want to fight ... anymore. I don't want to ... I can't defend myself. I ... I've tried. I've tried so hard, and it's not ... you can call me a quitter if you want, but ... I've seen what this ... is doing to me, and to furs around me, and I ... I want to change. It's not worth it ... " A sniffle. "I can love a femme ... they're pretty. They're nice. I can love them," Field assured.
Wren listened with swiveling ears ... not knowing what to say. Not knowing ... whether Field even KNEW what he was, himself, saying ... wanting to tell him that it was impossible to turn straight after being gay. That everyone who had common sense ... knew that. Wanted to tell the mouse to calm down and ... take a few days to think things through ... but he knew Field. Field was stubborn. Field was obsessive-compulsive. If Field said he was going to do this, then ... he was going to. The rural, religious mouse would ... secretly revel in proving everyone wrong. If Wren told him it was impossible, the mouse would only get more stubborn ... but Wren simply didn't know what to say to Field's words. What did one say to that? He knew that Field was very intelligent with words, and would be able to counter anything ... the squirrel said. So, Wren said nothing ... just listened. Just let the mouse loose his burdens ...
And the squirrel, himself, had been ... having problems. He loved Field, but he ... loved another, too. Kodiak. A rabbit in med school here ... at this school. All of them in this academy ... to train to join the fleet someday. Wren loved more than one fur. More than one male ... but Field, he was so pure, so spiritual ... and Kodiak, he was so ... loose. So crass. So ... fun. But his fun was a ... wild kind of fun. Addicting. Tempting, but ... the things he made Wren do. Or, rather, the things he convinced Wren to do ... that Wren did ... sexual things. Alcohol. Whatever ... risky things ... Wren had gotten himself into things, and couldn't get out. And he felt that ... if he clung to Field, and threw the bulk of his love on Field ... that maybe the mouse ... would rub off on him. Maybe Wren could escape all this ... with Field.
Maybe, together ...
" ... together," the squirrel whispered into Field's ear. "We'll get through this together ... okay ... " ... a swallow. A breath onto the back of the mouse's neck. And a gentle kiss there. Which turned into a ... mouthing. A sucking.
Field was wordless. Just breathing. Eyes half-open, knowing what Wren was doing, and ... not stopping him ... right now, so fragile, so traumatized ... that the whispers, the gentle caresses, the soft light coming through the window ... all this tender quietness ... had lulled him into some kind of protective bubble. And if he stopped Wren ... right now ... if he stopped him, the bubble would burst. And all the pain would stab back into him ... and ... and ... he didn't want Wren to stop ... they were friends ... but they'd never ...
Soft, little smack-smacks ... and sucks to the mouse's neck.
Field's eyes went to a slow, complete close. As Wren's body began to drape over his own ... moving Field to his back, and ... the whisper of, "I'll help you ... and you'll help me." Rubs of the mouse's chest. Whispers. "It'll be okay ... alright ... you're my best friend." A squeeze of the mouse's paw. "You're my best friend ... " Leaning down and licking at the mouse's whiskers ... which twitched. And tasted of salt.
Field's eyes, watering ... and his paw squeezing back ... he started to quietly cry. He was in so much pain.
The mouse may have lost everything that mattered, but ...
" ... you won't lose me," Wren promised. "Got that? I'm gonna get a ship of my own one day, okay, and ... I'll take you with me ... "
"You can't promise that ... "
"I can ... "
"I'm scared of ... heights."
A chuckle ... " ... then ... why are you at school ... to join the fleet, then, mm?"
"Cause I'm a mouse, and ... I'm insane." The mouse had entered into the artistic program. There were many opportunities in space ... for artistic endeavors. Photography, reporting ... many deep-space outposts and colonies ... needed sources of art and entertainment. Needed artistic furs to come there and ... take root. Art was necessary for any society's survival. Field had entered into that, but ... was thinking about changing to the command track. Not that the mouse was very assertive, or very ... strong. But he had the ability to gain the trust of others, to work well ... with others. Furs trusted him. Furs liked him. And ... he didn't know ...
He didn't know what he was gonna do, or where he was gonna go, but ...
" ... we'll stick together," Wren told him. "I promise ... I'm gonna get a ship, and ... I'll be the first rodent to have my own ship. And I'll make you my first officer."
"That's ... silly," Field whispered.
Another chuckle. "Well ... all the same ... " A sigh ... and he laid down with the mouse, wrapping his arms around him. Just a minute ago, his desires had been such ... that he would've yiffed with Field then and there (and he'd nearly started to do so) ... and Field would've let it happen. The mouse, indeed, was submissive ... he would've let it happen (even if he would've regretted it afterwards) ... but ... somehow, they both held back. Somehow, they both ... reigned themselves in. And through their words, through this sudden, light conversation ... they regained their perspective.
"I'm afraid ... Wren. I'm scared," Field whispered.
"I know, baby ... " Caressing his chest ... " ... I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you all day."
"What about ... our classes?"
"We can skip one day ... this is more important, okay?" was the whisper. Nibbling on Field's ears again (because it gave Field pleasure, and ... because he wanted to). "You need to rest. You never let yourself rest ... "
"I can't ... I can't shut it off ... " He didn't elaborate as to what 'it' was ... could've been a hundred things. His mind, most likely, but ... with Field, you never knew ... if his words were metaphors for something else ...
"Just close your eyes," the squirrel whispered ... drawing the blue, cool sheets ... over their furry bodies. "Get some rest. We'll both ... get some rest."
Field closed his tired eyes, and ... nodded slightly. "I'll try ... "
"Don't lose your hope ... this will get better," Wren promised.
A swallow. A nod. "I pray that it will ... "
"What?" Wren looked up ... at his desk. In the present.
"I pray that it will," Field repeated, sitting on the couch. In the captain's ready room. "That a home will come our way ... "
"Mm ... " Wren looked back down ... staring at his computer screen before tapping the power button. Turning it off. "Well ... " He looked back up. "It'll have to. We've only ... less than two weeks of supplies, of energy ... we gotta find something."
"Well, I ... I do pray about it," Field insisted. "Every day. You should, too ... it helps," he whispered.
Wren gave a little smile. He'd never been sold on the power of prayer ...
Field twitched a bit. "You don't think it works."
"Well ... "
"I can read your mind. Remember?"
A sigh. "Field ... "
"It works," he insisted, a steely gaze in his grey-blue eyes. A look of ... devotion. Of having walked through fire. "He listens."
"I didn't say I ... doubted His existence."
"Well, I'm just ... if we all pray about it, and ... I'm just saying ... it might help."
Wren nodded.
Field took a breath. And let it out.
"How's Akira?"
The mouse nibbled on his own paw for a moment, eventually saying, "She's better. She had a little ... cough ... but ... a little cold, or something. But she's better."
"Adelaide?"
"She was shaken up by what those other bats ... were like. What they tried to do to the away team ... "
"Yeah ... I read everyone's report."
"Most bats aren't like that," Field assured, as if ... feeling he had to defend his mate's species. "Most bats aren't ... "
"I know," Wren assured.
Field nodded. Needing to make sure ... Wren knew that. That everyone knew that. "Mm ... well ... she's fine. She's had the past few days off-duty, you know." A pause. "I ... I wanted to ask you ... something."
Wren's ears swivelled. "Yes?"
"I ... I feel, lately, like ... I've become a cipher on this ship."
"A cipher?"
"I'm the waif-like ... mouse ... the cute, effeminate mouse who ... everyone likes," Field said, "but no one takes seriously." A pause. "Rella would make a better first officer than me ... you should give her my position."
"What?" A face.
"You should ... "
"No, Field ... no ... first off, Rella's chief of tactical, and I need her there. Dotna's good, but she's not ... senior officer material. Rella is. I need her at tactical."
Field nodded quietly.
"Second, everyone does like you ... and they DO take you seriously. No one on the crew," he said, "comes to me when they have an issue with something, Field. They go to you first. Every fur on this ship, down to the paw-ful of predators ... when they have a problem, or when something's wrong, they don't come directly to me. They go to you. And then you relay it ... to me."
"Well ... "
"Well, they trust you. Alright? They care about you. I don't think everyone would bare their souls ... to Rella. Or myself. But they do it with you ... they open up around you, because you open up around them. I need my first officer to be close to the crew. My first officer," Wren said, "has to have his paw on the pulse of this ship ... the furs on it. And you do. Every day, we have these briefings, and you tell me what's going on with everyone on the ship. I wouldn't know this stuff ... otherwise."
The mouse said nothing. Just held his own tail in his paws ...
"You are vital," Wren assured, "to the morale of this crew ... you brighten everyone's day. Your smile, your softness ... your hope, your spirit ... when furs talk to you, they feel better. You ... you may not be the best fur to be in command during a crisis," Wren said, "but ... we're a family here, okay? No one fur needs to ... be everything. If a crisis occurs, as it has before, you have help all around you ... so, you needn't fear that ... "
Field flushed.
"You're a fine first officer. And you've been spending more time off-duty, taking care of your baby ... and letting Adelaide run Ops ... that's fine. I'm fine with it ... I know Akira needs one of you with her ... at all times, basically. So ... you know, however you and Adelaide wish to stagger your work schedules, that's fine by me."
Field nodded.
"Okay?" Wren whispered.
Another nod, and a shy smile ... "okay," Field whispered.
"You're still my friend," Wren told him. "You're the first officer, and ... a very important part of this crew. And you always will be. Don't convince yourself otherwise, okay?"
A shy smile ... eyes darting. "Okay," he whispered again, feeling better ...
Wren thought for a moment, and said, "And I'll ... say that prayer," he said. "For God to ... lead us to a home."
The mouse beamed. "I think it'll help," he said gently, genuinely.
And the mouse's innocent smile ... so contagious. Wren caught it, and ... chuckled. "Mm ... well ... you can go, now. You doing your daily tour of the ship next?"
"Mm-hmm." Field, daily, went on a walkabout ... around the ship. Checking in with each department head. Getting a status report. Making sure everything was okay ... normally, he did his walkabouts before the briefings with Wren, but ... he'd gotten a late start today, and ... was having to wait until after. "I'll come back later, okay, and ... give you my report ... but I, uh, gotta stop my quarters first ... "
Lips in a loose, wet ring, her muzzle bobbed, bobbed ...
The mouse's eyes rolled back a bit ... eyelids fluttering ...
... bobbed on his sheath-less mousey penis. Proud, pink ... poking the roof of her mouth, and her long, versatile tongue ... slip-slithering on the underside. Lathering him up with saliva. As if basting prime meat ... mm ...
A squeak passed through his own lips ...
Adelaide had bet him ... he couldn't orgasm without moaning. Squeaking ... he could squeak. Squeaking was allowed. But the bet was ... no moaning. There was nothing riding on the bet ... it was just a fun excuse to have sex at 1:43 in the afternoon ...
Huff, huff ... ears flooded with blood, swiveling ... pulsing at every sound. His hearing was heightened during yiff. His ears became erogenous.
She had been avoiding the head. Been giving him a false sense of security, but ... her tongue lapped over the rounded, sensitive flesh of his cock-head, right over the slit ... tasting of salty pre. Lick, lick, tongue running over the top of the head, over the ridge that led to the shaft ...
The mouse sagged ... leaning forward ... sitting, no pants, on the counter-top in the kitchen area of their quarters. Foot-paws dangling, not reaching the floor, and tail limp ... he arched, squirming. So ... so ... sensitive ... huff!
Bob, bob ... grabbing his furry ball-sac with a free paw. With cock in her muzzle, with balls in paw, Adelaide opened her pink eyes ... and flashed a cheeky look upward. It wasn't over, but ... Field was going to lose. They both knew it ...
She was sitting on her knees on the floor, making a meal of his maleness ... or his mousey-ness, rather. She began to roll his balls, tug his sac ...
Puff ... huffy-puff ...
Suck-suck ... suck! Giving him muzzle ... and doing it with such delicacy (cause of her fangs ... having to keep them from getting in the way).
Tail starting to snake (like a live-wire), and squeaks reaching higher pitches ... unconscious, instinctual signs ...
... that the shaft of flesh, that the warm, wet organ marinating between her lips ... was about to ... was about to ...
A shiver seized his body. His head went back ... eyes went shut ... tail went erect ... and the moans came. He came. "Uh ... uhn. Uhhhn ... ohh ... oh, oh ... uhhmm ... "
The first moan, the second ... and, on the third moan ... came the gentle spurt, spurt ...
"Ohhh ... "
The white, creamy seed ... shot right onto her tongue, running down her throat ... suckle ... " ... mm ... mmm ... " She let the fluid pool on her tongue. Collected it ...
Field, matted with light sweat ... sagged, huffing weakly.
A few more bobs, a suckling of the head ... and still not swallowing, with semen dribbling out of her lips, down her chin ...
"Mm ... "
... and she pulled off, nose flaring, weakly getting to a stand ... lips to his, dribbling the cum into the mouse's maw. Tongues touching, fluid stringing ... both of them sighing, swallowing, tasting ... until she parted, sinking back to her knees, licking her lips, looking up at him. "You moaned," she said, grinning.
"Does ... does that mean," he asked, in mock disappointment, swallowing his own taste, "we have to yiff again tonight?"
"Afraid so," she said, grinning. And then giggling. Moving back to a (wobbly) stand, and leaning against him ... into his arms.
The mouse wrapped his arms around her. Hugging her close, and swallowing ... putting his nose on her shoulder. His mouse-hood still more erect than not, and resting against her waist.
She closed her eyes, brushing her mind against his. Radiating of love, of need ...
"Adelaide ... "
"Yeah?" she whispered, still in his hug ... and she had no desire, currently, to wrest away from it.
"I'm ... I'm sorry if ... sometimes, I'm too needy, and too helpless," Field said quietly. "I want to be strong for you. Like how you are for me ... "
"Oh, darling ... " She nuzzled his neck. "You are strong ... we're each strong in different ways. You keep me grounded," she told him. "You give me perspective. You keep me ... you keep my heart from going idle," she whispered (right into his cooling ear). "I need you ... badly. Every day. You're the only one who I can ... brush minds with. You're the only one," she said, "that I want. I bore your child," she whispered. "Don't doubt, even for a moment ... how much I need you. Sometimes, I may put on a ... toothy, I-can-do-anything act, but ... I can only do anything ... cause I know you'll catch me when my wings fail me. You're my net. You're my ... gravity," she breathed. Sighing into his ear.
He shivered. "Oh ... okay," he managed, throat dry. Swallowing.
"Okay?" she whispered.
A nod. "Okay ... "
She smiled warmly and pulled back a bit ... and met his eyes. And ... helped him off the counter. So that they were both standing in the kitchen area. "Now," she said, with a growing smile ... and a paw groping (and then lightly slapping) his naked rump ... "now, get some pants on, and ... resume your walkabout of the ship. I'll see you," she promised, with shining pink eyes, "later."
A giggle! "Mm ... alright."
She smiled as she watched him dress, and ... as she watched his bright, shy smile ... trained on her. As he scurried for the door, pausing in the frame of it, giving a little wave at her ... biting his lip, tail hanging behind him like a fishing line. As he blew a devoted kiss to her ... with all his warmth and love and ... desire. Emotional, mental, physical.
He didn't just want her in one way ...
He wanted her in every way.
And it was so evident in his eyes.
And it meant so much to her ... to be needed like that. And ... she'd come to need those things from him ... in return.
Oh, but love ... what it did ... what it was doing ...
And Field scurried out of the door, resuming his ship-wide tour ... leaving Adelaide to flop on the couch, sighing with satisfaction as, with the taste of him still on her tongue, she thought of him ... as she slid her paw down, down ... and rubbed at herself. Priming herself for tonight's ... activities.
Field stepped into sickbay, looking around. Nose sniff-twitching ... and ears at their normal swivel-swivel. Until he spotted Denali.
"Hi," said the otter, looking up from some read-outs. "Mm ... you okay?"
"Yeah," said Field. "Yeah," he went, stepping forward. "Mm ... no lollipops?"
The otter frowned. "Um ... what?"
"Lollipops. When Akira and I left the other day, we didn't get our lollipops."
The otter, still, was befuddled.
"I thought doctors gave lollipops ... to good patients. Unless we weren't good patients."
The otter chuckled, looking to the floor, and then back to Field. "No, you were fine patients. I just ... never heard of that one before. Doctors giving out lollipops."
"Seriously?"
A shake of the head. "Never ... "
"Must be a rural thing ... "
"You're a rural mouse?"
"Born and raised ... on a farm. Yeah." A quiet nod.
"Must've been nice," was the otter's reply. "You must miss it."
The mouse's eyes went distant for a moment. "Mm?" He blinked. "Oh ... yeah ... " He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I, uh ... I got you some."
"Some what?"
"Lollipops ... silly," said Field, stepping forward, and showing a little canister of suckers. "You have to let me swipe a few, though."
The otter chuckled. Picking up the glass canister, looking at all the suckers in their colored wrappers ... the color of the wrapper indicating the fruit flavor of each lollipop ... " ... you get these from a food processor?"
"Yeah ... I had Juneau program the specifications."
"Wow ... thanks," said Denali, putting the canister on his desk. Smiling, staring at it ... for a few moments. And then looking back up at the mouse. "Really ... thanks ... "
"You're welcome," whispered Field, with a shy smile. And he took a breath, looking around. "So, everything's okay in the medical department, I'm to assume?"
"Yeah ... pretty much."
"Pretty much?"
"Well, I just ... it's not what I wanted. I rather liked being in the science lab all day. Here, it's different. I don't know. It's ... taking me a while to adjust."
Field nodded, holding a few lollipops in his paw ... " ... well ... I mean, I understand. I know how that is." A momentary quiet. "I guess we just ... you know, we can either look at things with a lazy eye, and see them the same as before, and ... not try and ... adjust to the present. Push away change. Or we can ... turn that lazy eye ... to the horizon. And watch as we grow. As things come toward us, and as we ... react to them. I don't know. It's ... just gotta deal with it. Just gotta make it through."
A quiet nod. "Yeah," the otter whispered. "Well, easier said than done."
The mouse nodded ... knowingly. "I'm aware of that," was his whisper, and his eyes darted to some of the blinking monitors. He fixated on them for a minute. And then let out a breath. "I ... I just know you'll do a good job. And, if you need help, you've ... all the rest of us," Field said, saying to Denali what Wren had (in essence) said to him an hour ago ... " ... you've got a whole family on this ship. You've got support. If you need help ... ask for it. You'd be surprised how many furs care ... "
Denali fiddled with the lollipop canister. "Yeah ... mm ... thanks," he whispered, offering the mouse another smile.
Field smiled back, and ... lingered, and turned for the door. "Well ... I'm gonna scurry. Got five more decks to stroll, and ... stuff," he said, smiling. And, soon, was out the door, and in the corridor on C-deck. Nearly bumping into Pyro.
"Oh," Field exclaimed, putting a paw over his heart. "I didn't hear you ... "
"Heh ... " Pyro stopped. Looked him over. "With those ears?" A grin.
"Well ... guess I was preoccupied," he admitted.
"What with?"
"If I said I couldn't ... say it out loud, in the corridor, you'd ... "
" ... probably guess it has to do with ... something pink. Yeah?"
A giggle. Eyes darting. "Mm ... yes," was the admittance. "Mm ... " A pause. "You okay?" he asked the wolf.
Pyro had been a bit upset about the incident on the rogue planet. Assumpta had predicted that, should Dotna be threatened, Pyro (who was prey) ... would lash out in a predatory way. And he had. And, since then, no further predatory flares ... but ... he knew now, deep down ... something predatory was inside him. And he wasn't sure what to make of that ... he didn't want to end up like the 'predators' from his universe. Or even the predators here. He would much rather be prey, thank you ... the last thing he wanted to do was scare Dotna ...
"Pyro?"
"Mm ... yeah," said the wolf. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just ... a bit confused. A bit tired."
"Mm ... have a lollipop," said Field brightly, extending a paw (with three lollipops in it). "Have TWO," he insisted.
A chuckle. "Wow ... suckers. Two?"
"Lollipops," Field corrected.
"Suckers, lollipops ... haven't had one in ages. What flavors you got ... "
"Watermelon, strawberry, and ... cream soda ... "
"Which one you want?"
"I can synthesize more ... "
"Well ... watermelon, and ... cream soda. You can have strawberry," said the wolf, taking the watermelon and cream soda lollipops. "Wow," he said, sniffing. His sense of smell was very good, and ... mm ... fruity candy. Sugar. Suckers!
Field giggled as he watched the wolf.
"Thanks," Pyro said, looking up, smiling.
"You're welcome," the mouse replied brightly ... " ... I'll see you later, okay?"
"Sure! Heh ... " Pyro continued in the direction he'd originally been going in ... lollipops in paw.
And, Field, with the remaining lollipop (the strawberry) ... took off the wrapper, and put the sucker in his mouth. "Mm," he sighed ...
... and flopped (from her grinning shove) to his back ... in the bed. On the strewn-about sheets. Orgasm-induced pussy juices dribbling down his lips (and in droplets on his whisker-tips) ... and the mouse huffing, her scent inhabiting his nose ... making him heady.
"Oh ... oh," the bat breathed, moving to a straddle of his waist.
Field huffed, remaining still ... tasting the femininity on his tongue. And milk. He'd suckled milk from her left breast ... for five minutes ... until, giggling, she'd pried him off ... " ... you're gonna drink me dry," she'd accused. But she always found it incredibly erotic ... him doing that ...
"Mm ... okay, Field. Mm ... " She tried to regain her bearings, but she could taste her own mating milk ... leaking from her needle-like fangs. "Darling," she panted, reading his mind. "You're not ... too submissive. I ... I waited years for ... oh ... I like being dominant. It gives me ... " She sank down on his cock, the blood-gorged tip of which ... parted her furry folds, sliding right into the slick, steamy muscles ... of her vagina. " ... oh ... oh ... p-pleasure." She sighed ... at being filled. At being on top. And she rose, fell ... sat for a minute ... " ... you know ... I've never heard you use ... the f-word ... Field."
"I ... you know ... I don't curse."
"No, but ... it's not a curse ... during yiff. It's ... " She rose and fell. "Uh ... uh ..." She rubbed at herself ... while she rode him. "Mm ... "
Whimper-squeaks ...
"Oh ... oh, say it ... with me, Field ... " She rose ... and fell ... " ... uh ... fuck," she exhaled, the mouse's penis burying inside her, rubbing her walls ... making her wet. The give and take of their organs ... making squishy, squelching noises. Very gentle sounds ...
"Uh ... "
" ... fuck," she supplied gently (encouragingly). Rise ... fall ... breasts heaving.
"Uh ... oh ... " He held back ...
... and she took two hard bounces, putting the claws of her thumbs ... on his mousey nipples. Pressing them like buttons.
Causing him to squeak and arch, breathing (wispily), "Oh ... fuck ... "
"There ... we go! How ... how did that ... feel," she asked, rising, falling ... oh, riding him!
"Um ... mm ... g-good," he panted.
She giggled. "Mm ... you sounded so adorable, saying that. Mm ..." She slowed the pace of her riding. Ready to lick and numb his neck ... so she could sink her fangs into his neck.
It would take her a minute to numb a spot for her bite ...
... and while she licked and lapped, Field closed his eyes. They were still physically joined. About to be ... FURTHER physically joined, as well as mentally, emotionally joined. Oh, she was beautiful ... the pink of her. The pinks of her, and ... her filmy, stretching wings, and her sharp teeth, and her ... stubby tail, and her ... oh, everything ... physically ... and mentally ... how smart she was. How confident she was. How assured she was. How ... she was everything Field wanted to be, and how ... they each had something the other needed. More than needed. Wanted. They each wanted each other, and ... though love (like life) could get messy, and ... could take its wayward turns, time was only bringing them closer. Was only increasing the want. And need. And ... it made it pure ...
"Adelaide," Field whispered, eyes still closed. He loved her name. Loved saying her name. "Adelaide ... " It was like poetry.
She paused ... the lapping of his neck-fur, which was matted now ... with her saliva. "Yeah ... "
"I love you," he whispered, exhaling it ... as if saying those words ... induced a loss of breath. As if the force of those words deflated his lungs. "I'm so grateful," he whispered, "for ... how you ... let me be myself. How ... how you take care of me."
"Darling," she breathed. "Darling, I ... love you, too ... and it's not a problem. I'm glad," she said, "to take care of you." For years, she had longed to ... have a mate. Not just a mate. Not just someone to love, but ... someone to love and NURTURE. To help. Someone ... someone like Field ... someone she could exert her more aggressive bat-like impulses ... with. "And you let me be myself ... with you, too," she told him. To be this vulnerable, this close, this intimate with someone ...
... was worth it. Was so worth it.
Field was SO different from how a male bat would be ... and maybe that was (also) part of his appeal ... bats were few, and ... she'd left home. Taken this assignment, knowing full well she'd be the only bat aboard. Field was the furthest thing from a bat ... and yet ... genetically, mice were the furry species most closely-related to bats ... hence their being able to have a baby ... Field was so different from her, and yet ... echoed with certain similitudes. He was a mystery, and ... a comfort. All at once. And so gentle, so ... submissive ... which she adored. For she was strong-willed, and ... very confident in herself ... and enjoyed it ...
Adelaide continued lapping. Continued prepping his neck for her bite ...
Field breathed, closing his eyes. Clutching at her. Paws in the middle of her back ... gripping her. Holding her. So warm. So solid. So soft. So real.
"Ready ... "
Field gave a tiny squeak ... in response. Taking a breath. Preparing for their mental/physical merging ... the flood of sensations, emotions, memories ... everything. For their shared pleasure. "I'm ... ready ... " He had been ready ... for his entire life. Ready for happiness. But he'd been waiting ... waiting ... failing ... and then she came along. And it had been over a year, and ... the mouse had long since ceased his waiting ...
She ... bit!
The images ... the sensations ... came!
And, together, they went for a ride ... both of them closing their lazy eyes. And, with crazy sighs, sank into the sheets. Feeling they could melt ...
... for their hearts were aflame. And not even close ... to ever burning out.