Tough Lessons - Part I
#1 of Tough Lessons
Jonah cringed as the door to his apartment slammed shut. The heavy bags caused the wolf's paw to lose grip on the handle. As he waited for the inevitable yells from his neighbors to keep it down, he took stock of his grocery haul. Two handles of vodka, a few frozen entrees, and a cupcake the bakery was about to throw out. Seems about right for a birthday party, he thought, putting away his dinners for the next week. One of the cheap plastic jugs gets tossed in the freezer, while the other's neck is slowly strangled until the cap pops off.
Picking out a clean enough shot glass from the pile of dishes in the sink, Jonah pours himself a double. Hmm, I guess Mrs. Bitch on 2 is out tonight. At least someone thought to give me a present. Holding up his glass to no one, he toasts:
"To another awful year."
As the glass is quickly emptied, Jonah's world became a blur. Maybe pregaming for the grocery store wasn't a great plan. Wiping his muzzle on his sleeve, he blinks twice as he notices there's a darkened figure sitting in his living room.
"Hey! Who are you? How the fuck did you get in he-"
The figure stood up, seemingly insulted by the barrage of questions. Even as it's claws tapped steadily along the laminate floor into the lit kitchen, Jonah still couldn't make out who - or what - it was. I'm not that drunk, am I? Maybe the absinthe from earlier really had gone bad...
Jonah tried acting tough. "Look pal, I won't call the cops, just let me... celebrate in peace. I-I don't have anything worth stealing." He didn't do a good job.
"I did notice that" the figure said mockingly, adding "Some celebration you have going here, who died?"
The figure stood across the island from Jonah, finally removing his hood. A... Tiger? Brilliant white fur shone in the dim light. The tiger smiled at Jonah.
"Relax, I know it's your birthday. That's actually why I'm here." The tiger pulls a business card out of his wallet and offers it to Jonah. "Call me Max, that's the closest furs today can get to pronouncing my true name. I mean you no harm, in fact you'll probably be very interested in what I'm offering."
The heavy weight cardstock felt warm to the touch, comforting Jonah somewhat. Under Max's truly unspeakable name read his job title: Incubus. A demon?!
"I'm here to get you laid."
"Let me explain. Once a fur turns 24 with their v-card unpunched, it is the duty of an incubus or succubus to step in and help. Pleasure and corruption are the domain of us demons. We thrive on sexual energy. In our earliest days, we took this energy by force, through possessions and nightmares. But, a long time ago we reached an accord, demons would stop possessing and raping furs, provided they all kept fucking each other. We can siphon off just enough power to coexist. The truth is, with all the new apps these days, it's actually rare to get the chance to help anymore." The demon tiger mimed swiping though profiles.
Jonah finally found his voice. "And if I refuse?"
The tiger laughed. "Violating the ancient agreement isn't something to consider lightly. I have the opt-out contract if you really want me gone, but a signature here waives your rights to demonic protection." The tiger produced a crackled parchment scroll, unrolling it in front of Jonah. Realizing he had no choice, Jonah pushed it away.
"Okay fine. So how exactly will you get me laid?"
"I'm glad you asked! To start, I'll need to see what I'm working with. Strip!" demanded Max, pulling out a note pad from his breast pocket.
Jonah felt odd undressing for his uninvited guest, this was all giving him some uncomfortable flashbacks to his high school gym class. After removing his shirt and pants, the wolf hesitated before removing his briefs, freeing his bait and tackle before the tiger. The demon, caring little for Jonah's comfort, knelt and started to massage the furred sheath. It wasn't used to the strange attention and warm paws, and quickly grew to full mast. Jonah started to breath heavily. Pressure slowly built up in his penis before Max let go, moving on to study more of Jonah's anatomy.
"Very impressive, not the biggest I've personally seen, but this'll make the right fur very happy. What team do you play for?"
"Uhhh..." It took him a second to decode the idiom. The question was a tough one for him. He really didn't know. He started coming up with an excuse before the wolf froze when he felt Max take a deep whiff of Jonah's undercarriage. Jonah shamefully realized he hasn't bathed all weekend. The demon showed no visible reaction, other than shaking his head as he wrote in his notepad.
"You jack off? Who am I kidding, look at you, give me your phone" requested Max. Jonah grabbed it out of his trousers and unlocked it for the demon. Jonah was surprised that the tiger demon was tech savvy as Max deftly navigated the device.
"Well, would you look at that. There's not a single tab of straight porn on here."
"Fine, I'm gay" Jonah admitted, defensively adding "So what?" Jonah had never admitted that to anyone, even to himself. This tiger was starting to really stress Jonah out.
Handing the phone back to the naked wolf, Max shrugs. "I don't personally care, sex is sex to us demons. I'm just trying to get a complete picture of who you are." As Max lead Jonah back to his room, he asked "You've got a job, yes?"
"An office job, in the mailroom. Only temporary until I can find one in my field." It's true, Jonah had applied to hundreds of places, but no one called back. He was lucky to have this one, but it won't pay him enough to keep his apartment for more than a few months. The wolf tried to keep himself together.
"Mhm. Friends?" The tiger asked as he began rummaging through Jonah's closet, scribbling down more notes.
"Lost touch with the few I had after college. Everyone found their someone. No one wants to take on a third wheel. There are a few furs at work that know my name, but making friends is hard enough without them yelling at me about their mail." Jonah's voice cracked as tears slowly began to grow in his eyes. Jonah hadn't though too much of his current state, but he was truly a wreck.
Max gestured for Jonah to sit on the edge of his bed.
"Alright, look Jonah, I know this has been a bit of a weird night for you. And yeah, you have it rough right now. But I think I can help." The tiger took a seat next to the wolf. "I've helped many furs like you. I've taken to calling your condition adjustment disorder. Basically depression, but caused by outside stressors, that is, we can fix you."
Jonah was still visibly upset. Max scooted closer, and let the wolf's head rest on his shoulder.
"Don't worry little wolf, we'll get you better. By tonight, if things go to plan."
"Really? Y-You think so?" Jonah sniffled back his last tear.
"I know so. Not one of my students has failed yet. Here's how tonight is going to play out: First off, let's get you cleaned up." Max said gently. He got up, and pulled out some clothes from Jonah's closet.
"Put these on when you're done." The tiger hands him a plaid shirt and khakis, plus a lime green G-string Jonah bought but tried to hide underneath his normal undergarments.
Jonah nods, embarrassed that it took a demon tiger visiting to get him to bathe himself. Max follows Jonah into the tight bathroom, not giving the wolf a bit of privacy. The wolf begins his shower, making sure to scrub soap into every square inch of fur.
Max continued detailing his plan. "I'm sure you'd like to just head to bed and start in earnest tomorrow, but that's not how I roll. We're going to a bar."
"I hate bars." spat Jonah.
"You like alcohol, right?"
"But I hate bars." Jonah began having second thoughts.
"Trust me kid. This one's heavy on alcohol, light on conversation. I think that'll be our best bet."
"Won't people just assume we're together?"
"Right, almost forgot, while I am very real to you, other furs can't see me. You'll be walking in alone."
"Great. I am actually going insane." Jonah declared, shutting off the water and grabbing towel the towel the tiger was offering him.
"Oh, don't be like that. I'm only here to help. I'll be with you every step of the way."
Mildly reassured, the wolf put on the G-string, then the shirt, then khakis, tucking in his shirt in the process.
"Whatever. It beats my plans for tonight, anyway."
The Wishing Well was the perfect place for a tough otter like Ryan to relax. Nice big parking spots for his truck, close to the job site, and plenty far away from his wife and cubs. It also didn't hurt that it was a gay bar. He'd been "working late" now for a couple months, mastering the timing of how late he can drink so he arrives home sober. A glance at his watch told him he had a couple rounds left. It was pretty empty, just the Sunday usuals. He started to motion to the bartender for another round, but a new face walking though the old wooden doors grabbed his attention.
"Hey Bill, get me and this young man here a round, will ya?"
Ryan motioned to the wolf, ushering him to the empty seat next to him. Two beer bottles clinked down a moment later. Ryan turned to face the wolf.
"So kid, haven't seen you around here 'fore. Gotta name?" Ryan was proud of his deep voice, but the kid seemed distracted, partially facing the empty seat next to him.
"I...yeah...it's Jonah. I moved into town just the other month." Jonah took a sip from his bottle, making a face at the bubbly bread water. "Sorry, beer's not really my drink." After another distracting glance at the empty seat, he asked "Uhh, so what do I call you?"
"Well Jonah, you can call me daddy."
Jonah looked lost again. Ryan chuckled. The wolf's nervousness reminds him of many others he meets here. The kid knows he's in a gay bar, right? Ryan decided to make his intentions clear. He finished off the last few ounces of his before throwing a $20 onto the bar.
"Wait, where are you going?" Jonah asked.
"I know why you're here kid, finish that beer and when you're ready, join me in the second stall." Ryan got up and headed towards the back. There's something off about this kid, he thought as he entered the men's room. His favorite stall was unoccupied, as it often was this late. Would the kid even show up? Ryan was no stranger to getting bailed on. It's a fact of life at this bar. Hell, his wife bailed the first night too. Worst case, he'd just have to jack off in his truck. But it seemed like luck was on his side tonight. Jonah opened the stall door then, not prepared to see a naked from the waist down otter.
"I was wondering if you'd come. Pull 'em down, boy."
"Yes, daddy." Jonah nervously approached the otter, eyes locked on Ryan's bare groin.
Ryan watched Jonah, as the wolf turned slowly before unzipping his khakis, revealing his bare ass to the otter. Jonah blushed as his new Daddy whistled at the sight of his G-string. He couldn't help himself, Ryan knelt and put his muzzle against Jonah's ass. Ryan felt Jonah jump at the warmth of his breath. Assured that his partner was clean enough, Ryan stroked Jonah's back as his tongue began surveying the wolf's hole. Ryan got himself into a steady rhythm, circling then pushing on the opening. The otter just could not get him to open up. I lucked out, this kid's gotta be inexperienced, some assholes practically suck my tongue in. Should be a tight lay. Leaving a wad of spit behind, Ryan pulled off Jonah.
"You ready?"
Just as Ryan stood, Jonah rushed out of the bathroom.
Ryan sighed. Guess not. Fuckin' hell! It's always the cute ones, he thought, sitting on the toilet, dick still rock hard. Better take care of myself anyway, not like anyone at home will.
Max's physical form was barely able to catch up with the wolf. "Can we talk?" Max asked breathlessly. "I need to know what happened in there."
Jonah kept running, not even acknowledging the tiger.
"No one gives you looks like that if they want to be left with blue balls at closing time."
The wolf stopped, as emotional as ever.
"I-I don't know. I just couldn't go through with it, ok? He asked me to call him 'daddy'. He's probably old enough to actually be my dad... It just, it... just felt wrong." Jonah started walking away, the tiger close behind. "I got rimjob. Shouldn't that count for your fucking agreement?"
"It only counts if you enjoyed it. I'm so sorry Jonah, I got this one wrong. Bound to happen at least once a millennium." Max's stale attempt at humor hung in the air between them as they walked the last block before arriving at Jonah's front door.
Jonah broke the silence. "I'm sorry, I guess you're stuck with me for a little longer."
"It's my own fault. I could feel your case was different than most. I do have more tricks up my sleeves, but after tonight I should take a step back. I'll follow you to work tomorrow."
"It does get pretty lonely down in the basement sometimes, sure. Not like I have much of a choice." Jonah yawned as the door shut behind them. He realized he still really didn't know much about his new mentor. "Do demons need to sleep?
"Are you offering me your bed? You're too kind!" Max laughed as he jumped onto the old mattress. "You're okay sleeping on the floor, right?"
"Hey, fuck you. You don't even have a real body." Jonah was embarrassed, but he quickly realized sharing a bed with anyone, even a demon, is better than spending the night alone. The wolf got into bed next to the tiger, feeling the unnatural warmth from his fur.
Yeah, he could get used to this.