FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hey guys! Sorry about the pause between uploads, my family life has been getting pretty tense lately, that's all I'm gonna say about that. Thanks for your patience, hope you enjoy the chappy!

Cold dawn rears its ugly head far too early, and my eyes blink open to what appears to be a vast darkness, and it takes a few blinks for me to realize the dim light streaming through the window. A quiet, annoyed grunt escapes my lips as I decide to stay in bed for a few hours longer. Then I jolt in surprise as I feel movement behind me, on the other side of the bed. I reach for the bedside table and realize it isn't there, feel my paw floundering in midair for my knife. The quiet of the morning intrudes again as I settle down, straining against the grogginess to remember what happened.

_ _ Then all of the events of yesterday come crashing down on me like a hammer blow, and I gasp for air as the rush of memories crushes me. It's a few moments before I get my heart rate under control and my breathing back to normal. I turn in the blankets and consider Callisto. The wolf is sleeping soundly, it appears, or at least his face is peaceful. It appears as though he had a rough day yesterday thanks to my eviction, which, if that's the case, I feel horrible about, but there's not much I can do about that now.

I spend a few moments staring through the caramel head before deciding to get up and prepare a sort of breakfast. It's going to take a bit of experimentation to figure out his kitchen, but I think the surprise will be well worth the effort. And I enjoy cooking regardless, so it's fun for me, and it ticks a check mark on his list of things to do, so beneficial for him.

The carpet under the bed muffles my pawsteps nicely, and I make it over to my bag and change with no problems. I place my paw on the door handle and turn it slowly, quickly opening the door and getting a quiet squeal of protest from it. My ears flatten from the noise, but Callisto doesn't seem to notice, and I quickly shut it behind me. The squeal doesn't repeat.

Downstairs, I manage to figure out where the kitchen is without much trouble and hurry to the fridge and freezer combo, looking for options. I find enough ingredients to make a couple of dessert crepes, but dive back in--a few dessert crepes won't be enough. There ends up being plenty of eggs, and I find a tomato and a couple of other things that I could throw together a rudimentary omelet with. It'll do.

Next is finding all the necessary cooking utensils. The pots and pans aren't hard, and I set those up on the oven--which itself will take some experimenting with to get right--before diving back into the drawers for the actual utensils. It's not hard to find the silverware, and the whisks and other cooking niceties are right next to that. I grab a bowl to mix up the eggs and seasonings in, then get to work.

After a few moments of preparation, I realize what shirt I had thrown on: a long-sleeved, heavy winter shirt. In my rush to get out of the bedroom, I had forgotten how hot I got when cooking. I roll the sleeves all the way up to my shoulders, exposing my arms, and curse my stupidity as I resume the preparation.

I finally have everything chopped and diced and mixed and ready to go, so I turn on the stove and pour the egg mixture into two pans on the two back burners, then two blobs of the crepe mixture into two pans on the front two. I spend some time shaping the crepes as the burners heat up, then focus more on the omelets, only checking the crepes briefly for flipping. The cooking doesn't take long--thank you, sea level!--and before long I'm sliding the last crepe out onto Callisto's plate.

Just as I finish that, I hear a creak from his room, then the sound of running water. I quickly ferry the bowls and pans over to the sink, then set the table with silverware and the two full meals, complete with a couple of fruits on one side. I finish setting Callisto's plate down just as the caramel wolf pokes his head into the kitchen, the grogginess being rubbed from one eye.

"Colton?" His tone is so confused that I have to stifle a laugh before responding.

"Yes, Callisto?" I smile at him.

"What're you doing?" He's even still slurring a bit.

"Take a seat," I reply, gesturing at the table and pulling his chair out a bit for him. "I made you breakfast."

He starts a bit and blinks owlishly at me for a moment. Then he stutters, "C-Colton, you didn't have to!"

"Not at all, but I wanted to," I reply, a wide smile spreading across my muzzle. "Plus, it's the least I could do in response to all the trouble you went through to pick me up yesterday."

He grumbles a bit, then says louder, "You didn't need to pay me back for that."

"I understand that," I say, still smiling. "But I enjoy cooking, so why not make breakfast anyway? It's omelets and crepes."

"Sounds delicious." He finally glances at the table before returning his gaze to me. "Thank you, Colton."

"Of course." I help him sit down and slide his chair in, then sidle over into my seat. "Hope you like it, I made do with what I could find."

"We shall see, yeah?" He chuckles a bit before taking his first bite of the omelet. His eyes widen as he chews it, and he smiles. "This is great, what do you use?"

"Nothing different, really," I say. "Onions, I think, might be different. I cook them slowly though."

"That might be why, then," he says. "I usually cook mine quickly because I'm hurrying for work, when I do have them."

"Yeah, you don't usually have breakfast, just a kind of lunch before work."

"Yup."

"Well, I'm going to have to start making you breakfast more, eh?" I tease. "Need to start getting a full three meals in you."

"I can't ask you to make breakfast for me, Colton," he protests. "That's my--"

"But you're not asking me to, Callisto," I interrupt, smiling. "I'm saying I'm going to do it."

He grumbles for a moment. "Fine, then," he says. "Then I'm just going to be a good host and offer you anything you might need during your stay here."

I shake my head. "I'm only going to use what I need. Don't need to be wasting unnecessary money."

"True." He finishes his omelet, going through the crepes in record time, and stands to wash his dishes. "You're not done yet?"

"Slow eater. Though I am faster than the rest of my family," I respond.

"Savoring every bite, eh?"

"Absolutely." I finish right as he finishes loading his plate into the dishwasher. "You move, I'm going to clean up my own mess."

"No, Colton. You made me breakfast, you deserve a break here." Callisto points to the counter. "Just put your plate there, I'll wash it once I've finished with the pans."

I roll my eyes in amusement but set my plate on the counter. "Is there anything I can help out with?"

"Getting out of my fur so I can do the dishes?" he says, chuckling. "Not really, no. You can go do whatever you want for now."

"You sure there's no cleaning I can help with?"

"Thank you for the offer, Colton, but I'll be fine," he assures me.

"So there is," I reply, smiling.

"Curse you, Colton," he teases. "I was just planning on vacuuming today, nothing serious."

"Where do you keep the vacuum?"

"Not going to tell you."

"Tell me!" I say, giving a fake pout.

"No! You don't have to do anything more, Colton," he replies.

"I know I don't," I fire back, "but I did say I was going to help out around the house."

"That is true, but I don't have much to do today. I can vacuum on my own, or so I'd hope." He turns to face me. "Go play your game, Colton. I'll be fine."

I offer up a slight smile, then turn and go back upstairs to the room. My computer is there, in my bag, but I have plans right now other than gaming. I let myself relax, then dance my paws in the air. Yes, I can use magic--long story, but put short, the magic chose me, not the other way around. A second later, I feel my vision detach from my body. It's not astral projection--my spirit is still rooted in my body--but more as if I'm literally shifting my sense of sight around. I slide it around, through the walls of each room, searching until I find the room where the vacuum is stored. It's down on the first floor, in the closet in the living room right by the entrance.

"Good uses for magic," I mutter to Day, the hint of a smile on my face. He chuckles in my mind as I leave the room and take the stairs to the first floor. The stairs make a sort of column in between two rooms, so I split off the opposite way from where I went this morning, keeping myself out of sight of the kitchen. His little [breed] feral puppy follows me, with me trying to ignore him as I search for the room I found earlier. The dog peels off as it realizes where I'm going, and my ears flatten. I remember that I have no clue as to what Callisto does with his dog when he decides to vacuum. I guess I'll start upstairs then.

That's probably your safest bet, Day agrees.

I find the room pretty quickly--hard to miss a door in a living room--and quietly nab the vacuum, hurrying back upstairs before Callisto can realize I have it. Once safely up the stairs, I slow my pace as I stride to the farthest room from the stairs. It appears to be an office sort of room, but it is evidently used as a collection room. Various objects from different places scatter old, dusty shelves, and the floor looks like a fur itself--covered in clumps of hair. I set the vacuum down and unwind the cord, plugging it into the electrical outlet in the hallway, then flattening my ears and turning it on. To my surprise, and immense pleasure, this one runs quieter than most, and I'm able to work without noise-cancelling headphones to dim out the whine of the engine.

The stairs creak just as I get about halfway done with the room, and I roll my eyes as I continue to slowly move the head across the carpet. That is, until the machine shuts off.

I turn to face the upset caramel wolf. "Colton," he starts, his voice calm. Thankfully, he doesn't appear too angry--there's actually a teasing shine in his eyes.

"Yes, Callisto?" I respond, raising my eyebrow.

"Why the hell are you vacuuming?" he asks.

"Because I wanted to," I reply.

Callisto lets out a sigh. "Colton, I'm asking you not to."

"Why?"

"Because, like it or not, you're not going to get it done as perfectly as I like it to be."

I stride up to him, smiling a bit. "Are you underestimating my abilities?"

"Probably." He watches me for a moment, then sighs and caves reluctantly. "Fine, but you had better perform to standards."

"Oh, I will," I respond, letting out a chuckle.

"My standards are high," he warns.

"Mine are higher," I counter. "When I would vacuum my house willingly, I'd spend over an hour on a two-thousand-acre plot just to get every last bit of fur. And then I'd go over the wood and tile with a mop."

"Yep, your standards are higher," he responds with a quiet laugh. "I'll leave you to it, then. I'm leaving for work in about three hours, just so you know."

"Thanks for letting me know. I should probably look for a job myself, a decent paying one too," I reply.

"Just so you know, the vast majority of lifeguarding jobs here pay well above minimum wage," he calls as he walks down the hallways.

"Good to know! Back in Colorado, most of them paid minimum wage!" I call back, still a bit upset with those companies. Then I turn the vacuum back on and continue my work.

It thankfully doesn't take much longer than forty-five minutes, and I store the vacuum back in the closet before alerting the caramel wolf that I'm done.

"I meant to ask you," he says as we head upstairs. "How did you discover where the vacuum was?"

"Magic," I whisper mysteriously.

"Funny," he says, letting out a chuckle.

I wave my paw in the air in a complex pattern, catching his wrist as his body freezes up, casually turning to face him. "Also true," I say matter-of-factly, before snapping my fingers and releasing him from the magic.

He grunts and staggers for a little. I maintain my grip on him until he regains his balance, before noticing a slight flush of embarrassment on his cheeks. "Apologies. I didn't know you were a user."

"No worries at all, Callisto," I respond. "I'm still your friend, aren't I?"

"That you are, I know I should stop apologizing but it's habit," he responds. By this point, we've reached the original room, and he starts checking my work as we talk.

"I understand the urge to apologize, Callisto. I still do it all the time with Volpe." Volpe--the light-blue-and-white fox who is my boyfriend--lives in the UK, as does Callisto's own boyfriend. Callisto and I are in pretty similar situations, despite being nearly a decade apart in age.

"Yeah," he admits. "I guess it must be something to do with dating a Briton?" He glances at me, and we share a chuckle.

"Maybe," I reply, following him to the next room, "but I think it's more likely that it has to do with our personalities."

"That would just be another way we are similar," he says.

I laugh. "We might as well be brothers, with how similar we are," I comment, still chuckling.

"You know, Colton," he says, turning to me as he exits the second room, pausing in his check, "I do consider you to be my brother, or at least close family. To be honest, our relationship has kind of felt like that from the start."

"I know. I feel the same way, Callisto." I nod in agreement. "You and your boyfriend have honestly become two of my closes friends and truest supporters. I wouldn't choose anyone else to have to my left--left because Volpe is already on my right."

"It means a lot that you've let me so close, Colton," he says quietly.

"I feel like we're getting a bit romantic here," I say, stifling the awkwardness that rises in me. "Should we continue the check?"

"Yeah, would probably be a good idea." He chuckles. "Seriously, though: thank you for letting me get so close to you."

"And thank you for letting me get so close to you," I reply.

"Of course." We continue in silence for a few more minutes before he speaks up again. "What's your plan, honestly? At one point or another, Shi is going to have to know that you're staying with me, and I want to have a plan ready to tell him in case he gets nosy."

"Jealous, you mean," I say, chuckling. We both know how jealous Shi can get of Callisto.

"Point taken," he consents, "but I need that plan, so he knows what to expect."

"I'm planning on getting a decent-paying job right now, until I'm eighteen, upon which point I'll move up and look for a better blue-collar job, similar to yours, that pays higher, so that I'm able to move out and rent my own apartment."

"Sad day," he notes.

"What's that?" I ask, confused.

"The day you move out is going to be a sad day," he clarifies.

"And why is that?" I ask, now bewildered.

"Right now you're like a son to me, odd as that is to say, considering I look at you like my little brother," he replies. "The day you move out, it's going to be like letting one of the closest people to you go into the world. I'm going to miss having you around all day, I think."

"Well, if it's alright with Shi, and you," I say slowly, "I wouldn't mind living with you two after he moves in with you. He did say that you two wouldn't...um...with someone else like me in the house, though."

"That's a restriction by him, then," Callisto says, appearing confused. "Because I'd be fine with that."

"His reasoning was so that I or whoever it was wouldn't have to be subjected to hearing that."

"I don't honestly think you'd mind."

"I wouldn't at all," I say, laughing. "But I think he'd rather not do it with someone else in the house more for privacy reasons, not because he doesn't want me hearing it...though that is a subcategory of having privacy."

"Point taken." Callisto nods. "I wouldn't mind having you here, though. I should ask him about that again when he moves here."

"You don't have to. I'd be fine just visiting for dinner every week or two," I reply, waving off his protest. "I know you enjoy my company, but I don't want to make it awkward between the three of us."

"Alright," he says, after a moment. "I might not like it, but I understand where you're coming from."

"Good."

A few more minutes pass in silence as we complete the check. He smiles widely at me after inspecting the last corner. "You did really well, better than I expected even with your standards. I'm not going to go over this again at all, not even with a mop."

"Well, I'm not sure if I should be honored or if I should be flustered," I say, chuckling. "I've never been complimented like that on my work. Thanked, sure, but never complimented."

"Glad I could be the first," Callisto says, smiling.

"There's, fortunately or unfortunately, going to be a lot of firsts that you're probably going to get that Volpe would like to have." I say, my voice falling to a quiet, sad tone. "Since I'm living with you."

"If you'll tell me them, I won't do them--"

"You're already going to do one tonight, probably," I reply. "It's no use trying not to."

"Which one is that going to be?"

"Preparing me a dinner."

Callisto stops for a moment. I can feel his gaze on my back as I continue walking. "Jeez...how many things are there going to be like that?"

"First to sleep in a bed with me, without being a relative," I add to my previous thought. Then, in answer to his question, I say, "There's going to be, unfortunately, a lot. Ones that we can't help but do if I'm going to live a decent life here."

"He's still going to have..." Callisto lets his sentence trail off, but I know exactly what he means.

My tail curls upward a slight bit and starts wagging. "That is always going to be his, no matter what either of us tries to do."

"Good. I wouldn't want to steal that away from him." He gives a weak chuckle.

The weakness of his chuckle catches my attention, and I turn to fully face the caramel wolf. "Callisto, what's wrong?"

"I don't want to take these things from Volpe..." His voice is quiet, and it sounds like he's going to cry.

I step close to him and give him a tight hug, whispering reassuringly in his ear. "Callisto, it'll be alright. I know he'll be alright with not being able to have those firsts, because he's going to have so many other firsts with me that it's going to completely drown out any number of firsts that you can have here." I give a quiet chuckle. "Several of which are going to mean exponentially more than cooking a dinner."

"I suppose," he responds, just as quietly as he hugs me back. "It still doesn't make me feel any better knowing I'm going to be stealing them from him."

"You're the closest person to me aside from him, Callisto," I reassure him. "It's only right that you have a few firsts of your own."

"I don't want to, though," he says. "Nobody took those firsts from Shi, and I don't want to be the one to take them from Volpe."

"Think about it this way, then," I offer. "If you're like a brother or a father to me, then it's exactly the same as if I was back at home--my father or my mother would typically make my meals, often with my sister helping, and when we'd vacation it'd always be me and my dad sleeping together if we could only get two beds. So you're doing nothing that either my parents or my siblings wouldn't have done, and if you're either my sibling or my father then you are taking no firsts."

He chews on that for a moment before responding. "I think I am going to think of it that way. You as my brother, and that way I'm not stealing any rights."

I smile at him. "Perfect."

Callisto smiles back before heading over to the couch. "What're you going to do?"

"Well..." I chew on the question for a while before responding. "I'm going to write until you go to work, then look for career opportunities for myself. I need money to pay for my pilot's license, so might want a decent job to pay for that."

"Or you could just get your GED and go to college for it," Callisto replies, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Or I could go into the military for a few years and transfer from there," I respond, raising my eyebrow back.

"True that." He relaxes for a moment, then glances up at me. "Kind of need your computer to write, don't you?"

I let out a soft laugh. "Point taken." I turn and head upstairs, bounding up the stairs two at a time, and hurry into his room. I open the computer case and slide my computer out, reaching in and grabbing the charger as well before scrambling back down the stairs.

I start to set up to sit in one of the chairs next to the couch, and Callisto raises his head from where he's reclining on the couch. "Why don't you set up over here?"

A flush spreads across my cheeks. "I-I'm kind of embarrassed of my writing," I say quietly.

"Oh, come on. Those few chapters you sent me were amazing!" he exclaims. "Come sit with me, maybe if you need to you can bounce ideas off me. Or, if you don't need that, I can read over your shoulder as you write."

"Well..." A moment's hesitation again punctuates my sentence before I finish it. "Alright. I'll sit with you." I pick up my computer and set it in front of the couch, finding the closest power outlet and plugging my computer in before sitting on the couch and reclining a bit, lifting the laptop into my lap and opening up the software I use.

"Mind if I snuggle up to your side?" he asks.

"Would be more appropriate for me to snuggle up to yours," I reply, "according to our roles, but whatever you want."

He smiles. "If I sling an arm around your shoulders and pull you tight to my side we're still in line with said roles."

"Point taken." I open the document, then glance at him. "Feel free."

I hear a quiet chuckle escape from his lips as his arm slips around my shoulder, stabilizing my laptop as he draws me to his side. I turn a bit and lean back against his side and chest as he rests his head on my shoulder, watching as I begin typing, words appearing on the page, continuing from where I left off.

A few moments pass in silence before he speaks. "You're an amazing writer, even though you like to say you're not. Even as a rough draft, this is very smooth and eloquent."

Another flush floods my cheeks. "Thank you. When I write and upload the chapter to a website, I will often upload it and publish it without editing it, so it's good to hear that."

"Good that you're not completely embarrassing yourself by failing to edit?" I hear his quiet laugh in my ear, as well as feeling it rumble against my chest.

"Yeah, exactly," I reply, turning my head to smile sideways at him, my fingers continuing to tap at my keyboard as I do.

"Are you planning on publishing this?" he asks after another moment.

"Maybe," I reply. "It's not the main goal--I'm simply doing something I enjoy--but if that's what ends up happening, then it's what's going to happen."

"I think you should, or at least self-pub," he advises. "This is some good writing."

"Callisto, you've got to stop this," I say, managing to quell my blush before it really shows.

"Stop what?" he asks innocently.

"Complimenting my work so much." I give in, even though I know that he knows what he's doing. "Or I might think that you're flirting with me."

"Flirting? Me? Never," he says with a hint of sarcasm.

"Callisto," I warn.

"What?" His voice changes back to innocent.

I sigh and give up trying to get him to stop, instead returning to working on the story. He rests his muzzle on my shoulder again, and out of the corner of my eye I see a triumphant smile on his face. My typing stops for a moment, and I frown for a moment before resuming my typing. "There we go."

"Miss an idea for a second?" Callisto asks.

"Lost my train of thought," I correct, letting my fingers fly across the keyboard, barely hitting the button before continuing to the next.

"Fast typing," he says, and I sense as his eyes flick down to my paws.

A wry chuckle escapes my lips. "Convenient when part of your third-grade curriculum is learning how to type properly. I'm actually supposed to be using my right pinky finger to hit the shift when I have to capitalize a letter like 'A' or 'Z', but I use my left pinky all the time."

"Interesting," he replies. "Home keys are second nature, I see."

"You tend to develop that when you spend around an hour a day average writing a story, and another three or four average talking on chat servers with friends," I respond dryly.

"Point taken," he says. "I guess it's not really something I worked on."

"You type like a computer scientist?" I ask, with a hint of amusement. "Chopsticks?"

"Yup, that's exactly it," he answers. "Why did you say, 'like a computer scientist'?"

"Because my dad is a computer scientist," I reply. "I know exactly how most of them type. They just take the pointer finger and tap-tap-tap at the keyboard."

He laughs. "That is actually amazing. All of them do it?"

"Every single one I've seen," I answer.

"That is hilarious," he says. "I never knew that."

"Learn something new every day, eh?" I quote the old saying with a hint of amusement.

"Exactly." He glances back at my computer screen. "How the hell did you write during that entire conversation?"

"Muscle memory and good sleep. I double task better when I'm feeling well-rested."

"Not multi-task?"

I laugh for a moment. "Oh, no, absolutely not. I can't multitask for the life of me, and often double tasking is even hard."

"Except when you're well-rested."

"Exactly."

"Well, somehow you still wrote high-quality material," he says. "Of course, I shouldn't expect anything other than high-quality work from such a high-quality wolf."

His tone is completely even but I can hear the flirt in the words. "Oh, Callisto, don't you flirt with me," I warn in a teasing tone.

"Oh? And why not?"

I chuckle and turn my head, planting a kiss on his nose. "You don't want me losing control here."

"Or do I?" he teases.

"Oh, come on, Callisto," I reply. "Think of what Shi and Volpe would think."

"They don't have to know," he protests.

"No, but we would."

Callisto considers that statement for a moment before consenting. "Fine. But I can't promise I won't flirt."

"So long as there's no hidden intentions," I respond.

"Nope," he responds. I flicker my ears to his tone, sensing a slight undertone but ignoring it for now. I write in silence for a while with him resting his muzzle on my shoulder and watching the words appear. Then he speaks up again. "You are very comfortable."

"I--sorry, what?" I stop writing and turn my head again to look at the caramel wolf out of the corner of my eye.

"You are very comfortable," he repeats. "Leaning against me. You're warm, and it feels nice."

"Just the warmth?" I ask.

"A-and the fact that it's cuddling, an--ah..." He lets his voice trail off, interrupting his own 'and' before he can continue.

"And?" I prompt.

"A-and..." He hesitates before finishing. "And I enjoy cuddling with you."

I smile and fold the lid of my computer partway down, leaning forward and setting it on the coffee table before leaning back against him and shifting into a comfortable position. "There you go."

Callisto, having whimpered when I had sat forward, rests his arms around my waist and pulls me snug to him, resting his head on my shoulder. "Sorry, it is a bit embarrassing."

"Isn't it?" I say. A blush is heating my cheeks to a royal red.

"You're cute when you blush," he comments, noticing my blush--which, of course, only makes me blush more.

"I-I, I'm--no I'm not!" I protest, after an embarrassed stutter.

He shifts so I'm laying more against him and less on the couch. "Oh, yes you are." One of his paws reaches up to boop me on the nose.

I blink from the boop, then fold my arms over his on my waist. "Fine, you win." I glance up at him from where my head rests on his chest. "Is it alright if I call you 'bro'?"

"I'd rather you not, that'd end up getting awkward, I think." He manages a grin, but he's obviously flushing deeply, though his caramel fur hides it better than my white fur.

"Why is that?" I cock an eyebrow at him, teasing him this time.

His blush deepens until it's clearly visible through his fur. "I-I--no reason," he mumbles.

"No, you can't give me a pawhold, then leave me hanging!" I protest.

"N-no, Colton," he replies. "I-I can't say."

I frown at him, then cave. "Fine. But"--I latch my arms around his neck and pull myself up so I'm sitting just off to the right of his lap--"I feel like I know the reason already."

"Don't kiss me, Colton," he warns. "Or we'll both lose control."

I give him a wide smile. "Oh, don't worry. I know what I'm doing." I release my arms from around his neck and lean against him, shifting a bit to get comfortable, then nuzzling into his neck.

"I--Oh-ho-ho, Colton, be careful with my neck," he responds. "It's my--"

"Most sensitive spot, I know, I know," I finish, smiling as I kiss his neck softly. "Don't worry, I said I know what I'm doing." After another moment, I pull away from his neck and shift so I'm sitting in his lap. "I would give you a hindpaw massage, but I know for a fact that'd make us both crack, so I ain't doing that."

"Ain't?" he asks, letting out a small, nervous chuckle.

My own chuckle comes out sounding weak and nervous as well. "I turn southern sometimes. Downsides of being raised by an Alabaman." I cock my head to the side. "And a Pennsylvanian. Both have pretty odd slang, and slang from opposite parts of the country."

"How slow was he?" Callisto asks.

I shift in his lap as I straddle his legs, resting my chest against his and my muzzle on his shoulder. "Honestly, he was far from slow. Quite the contrary, actually. He was--still is--one of the smartest people I know."

"R-really?" He stutters accidentally, obviously trying to focus on the conversation.

"Mmhmm." I finally settle and give him a break.

"Nice to know," he says. "Helps me understand how he was such an asshole."

"He was a smart asshole," I respond. "Knew how to push my buttons in just the right ways that I couldn't protest but made me angry nonetheless." After a moment's though, I add, "And somehow framed his arguments so that everyone else saw me as the bad guy as well."

"That's even worse," he assumes.

"Oh, much worse." I laugh quietly. "What I think is most hilarious though is that he didn't even realize how much he was driving me away."

He lets a chuckle escape from his lips. "Yeah, that is pretty funny."

"Anyway." I sigh softly. "What time is it?"

I feel him check his watch, then sigh. "I hate to cut our cuddles short, but its eleven-thirty."

"Time for work, then," I reply, rolling off his lap. "You should probably go, and I should probably check for commissions."

"Yeah, I forgot that you opened yourself up for commissions," Callisto replies, waiting for a moment before standing up with a grunt. "Need to go get dressed, then I'm going to go."

"I don't know why I needed to know that," I say, smiling, "but alright."

A small smile touches his face. "Just thought you'd like to know my schedule."

"Don't need to know it that much," I reply, giving a bit of a chuckle as I grab my laptop. "Not that specific."

"Alright, I won't go that specific again."

He heads upstairs as I lift the lid of my computer again, logging on to the website I use to manage my commissions. My eyes bug out as I see the number, and I hurry to reply to all of them. "None for months, then a crap load all at once. At least I have time," I mutter.

"What was that?" Callisto is back already, scaring me nearly out of my pants.

"Jesus, you scared me, Callisto," I say, slapping a paw to my chest, over my heart. "I was talking about commissions. I haven't had any for several months, then today they all just come rushing in." I recheck the times. "Sorry, last night. Every last one was sent in last night."

"Wow. How many?" he asks.

I check. "Six. All requesting short stories."

"Damn. Well, you've got time now, finally," he replies.

"Yeah, thank God," I reply. "I might have to work for real, though, in not too long."

"Why is that?" Callisto raises an eyebrow at me.

"I mean, getting my GED isn't free, is it?" I ask.

"No, it's not. How much do you have saved up?"

"I'm not sure, I'd have to check." I turn and look up at him as he leans on the back of the couch. "Just tell me how much it is."

"One hundred twenty-nine per month." He cringes a bit.

I do as well. "Jeez. I'll have to work part-time year-round to pay for that."

"Yeah, that's not going to be fun," he replies.

"Well, depending on how much I make I might be able to work less shifts and still pay for it, and have some left over," I comment, thinking.

"True." Callisto glances at his watch again. "Well, it's time for me to head out. I'll see you later, Colton."

"Alright. Be safe, don't get run over."

"Not again," he replies.

I chuckle. "No, not again. See you later."

"Later." I hear the door open after a moment, then slide shut.

My fingers dance across the keyboard as I respond to each request, affirming all of the ones that came with a story idea and asking for ideas from the others. Then I navigate to the browser and do a citywide job search, mostly looking for the lifeguard ones. I take into consideration others, but I quickly find a well-paying lifeguarding position based in a rec center about three miles away, easily doable for someone like me. I check their website, and though it is hard to navigate, I manage to find their online application. That takes some time to fill out, and when I glance at the time again, it's already ten till three. My gaze instinctively flicks out to the windows, and surprisingly it appears to be a nice day outside. After a moment's consideration, I decide to go for a walk outside, maybe fly a little bit.

Be careful of wind at higher altitudes if you do fly, Day warns.

"I know, Day, calm down," I reply, standing from the couch and closing my laptop, setting it on the coffee table. "How will I get back in?"

That..._Day considers that for a moment. _That would be a very good question.

I laugh. "No shit, Sherlock. That's why I asked it."

So how are you going to? he asks.

"Did I put tape in my bag?"

No, but you saw some in the kitchen. Make sure it's good tape, but one that'll come off easily.

"Of course, Day," I say. "I'm not that stupid."

Sometimes.

"Shut up!" I protest. He only lets out an amused chuckle as I find the roll I found in the kitchen. "Is electrical tape good enough?" I ask dryly.

Yes, it is, he replies matter-of-factly.

"Smartass."

Dumbass. I only roll my eyes as I pad over to the front door. The door opens without resistance, and I secretively slide the tape over the jam before closing it, making sure the door remains closed before opening it again and padding outside in my bare hindpaws. Just then I think better of that and head back inside, slipping on some socks and shoes before quickly striding back outside. I realize as I slide the door shut that I'm wearing a cloth shirt with athletic shorts, but shrug and continue down the driveway. I've worn worse before.

The day on the ground is relatively calm, but I can tell from the speed of the few clouds in the sky that the air gets pretty rough up higher, so I decide to stick with walking. The warm, fresh air relaxes me as I walk, filling my lungs with a breath of relief from the filtered indoor air. A gentle breeze washes over me, and my wings flutter with the temptation to fly. I resist, however, and continue to walk down the sidewalk, the bright sun warming me despite the slight wind chill.

About twenty minutes into the walk, I'm starting to heat up uncomfortably under my cotton shirt. Normally, back in Colorado, in more familiar territory, I would have taken it off. The fact that I'm in new territory, however, kind of makes me shy away from that option, and so I simply decide to turn around and walk back to the house. I see a good number more cubs wandering around the sidewalk and street on the way back, playing and messing around, and assume that school's out at three, same standard time as Colorado. I continue to walk with my tail swaying behind me, but my ears perk, alert for any sound that might indicate a cub sneaking up on me with a water balloon.

Thankfully, I reach the house without incident and pretend to unlock the door with a fake key, then slide it open, discreetly ripping the tape off the latch as I pass, letting the door fall shut behind me. I breathe a sigh of relief as I slip my shirt off, then kick off my shoes and pull off my socks. I move quickly, refusing to let the musk surround me as I head to the kitchen and grab a glass of water, then head out to the backyard and sit in the shade, reclining a bit as I cool off.

Who would've thought that the sun could turn such a nice-temperature day into a sauna? Day comments.

"Any Colorado native," I say with a laugh, knowing full well the effects that the sun has on the outside temperature.

Point taken, he replies, joining in the laughter.

It thankfully doesn't take me too long to cool down in the shade, the lack of sun exposure allowing my fur to bleed off the excess heat. Eventually, my sweat dries, and I head back inside, grabbing the soap and shampoo I brought and searching for the shower. After a moment, I find it and take a fast shower. The fur dryer, as always, makes me look like a gigantic big blue-and-white puffball, and I comb it down before heading back downstairs and sitting on the couch again. I lift my computer onto my lap and open up the chat software I use with Volpe--a different one than I use with Callisto--and shoot him a quick message. He fires back one in return, and I give him a quick countdown before calling.

It doesn't take long for him to pick up, but the connecting process takes longer, and it's a little bit before I hear a guitar from the other side. "Hey hun," I say, a little louder than normal because of the guitar.

"Hey babe," he replies. "How are you?"

I hear the worry in his voice. "Babe, babe, I'm alright, I promise. Nothing happened, I got here safe and sound."

He sighs in relief. "Oh, thank God. I got worried sick when I didn't hear from you in two days!" His tone goes accusing at the end.

I flatten my ears and whimper a bit. "I'm so sorry for not messaging you, Volpe. I had no chance to, even on the plane--I crashed--and by the time I got here it was late, so I've spent the morning getting settled here." Not all of that was the complete truth, but it was true enough that I'm confident that I didn't lie.

"Alright, baby." He still sounds a bit upset. "Never do that to me again, alright?"

"Unless it's when I'm visiting you," I reply with a hint of amusement.

"You can only do that once you actually visit," he warns.

"So that I know where you live, I know," I say, chuckling quietly. "But I'm going to one time, at least."

"I know." He thankfully sounds happier now. "What are you doing?"

"Talking to my favorite fur in the entire furverse!" I exclaim. "And giving him my full and one hundred percent attention."

"Aw, I'm blushing now," he says.

"I wish I was there to kiss those cute cheeks," I reply, giggling.

"Blushing even more," he responds.

I give a chuckle. "Someday soon, we'll be able to be together, babe."

"Soon, soon," he says quietly. "It's always soon, but never soon enough."

"It can never be," I respond as quietly.

There's a moment of silent desire that we share, before he speaks up again. "I assume you're staying with Callisto?" He spits the name out--Volpe doesn't really like Callisto, for reasons better left unsaid.

"Yes, I am," I reply. "You know that was my plan."

"You know how I feel about that," he says, voice low.

"I do." I sit back and slump on the couch quietly for a moment. Then I sit back up. "You can't even try to forgive him, even in four years when you're over here permanently, and can spend time in real life with him?"

"Even then, Colton," he says, tone threatening in response to my words.

I flinch slightly to his words but respond calmly. "I guess I didn't expect you to."

"Please don't think that this means that I don't love you, Colton." His tone turns to pleading. "I love you to the end of the universe and back. I just can't stand Callisto and the way he seemed to just drop me again, because I was too 'inconvenient'."

My paw flicks to the touchpad and turns on the webcam, then I mime sealing my lips for him. I don't get a verbal response and assume he did the same on his side, but since his webcam is screwed up, he can't show me. After a moment of awkward silence, I lose my fight to not speak. "I love you," we say simultaneously, then burst out into laughter.

"Do we need any more proof?" Volpe cries through his laughter.

I cough slightly and speak between laughing fits. "No!"

After several moments, we manage to get our giggles under control and have a normal conversation again. "I'm so glad I have you," he says.

"As am I that I have you," I respond. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Nor I without you." He mutes himself for a moment then, and I take the opportunity to glance at the time--1730, or five-thirty. Just as I get it down he unmutes himself. "Sorry, he was upset that I was talking so loud."

"Volpe, it's past midnight. Go to bed," I command.

"B-but!" he protests.

"No buts, babe. We have almost all the time in the world right now, so get your sleep. I'll be here tomorrow," I reassure.

"Fine." I can tell he's pouting. "I want you to go to bed on time as well tonight, though."

"I promise." I smile through the screen, my webcam showing my expression clearly to him. "I love you so much, baby. Sleep well, and I hope your dreams are as sweet as you are."

"To be that I'd have to be dreaming of you," he replies with a flirty chuckle.

I give him a teasing raise of my eyebrow. "Or you."

"Blushing again."

"Cute."

He giggles. "I'm not even going to protest."

"Good," I reply. "You wouldn't win."

"Wouldn't I?"

"Nope."

He chuckles. "Well, you seem pretty confident in your abilities."

"I am. Go to bed, hun," I say, chuckling back. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, my love. Rest well, when you do."

"I will try. Sweetest dreams." I smile and blow him a kiss. "I love you so, so much."

"I love you as much." I hear him blow a kiss back. "Nighty."

"Goodnight, my love." I end the call before he can draw me back in to conversation. He types another goodnight, and I respond in kind, then wait a few moments to make sure he went to bed before switching over to the writing program again.

It's not much longer before Callisto arrives home, clomping through the door. I turn in time to see his slouched, tired form round the corner, dropping his pack on the couch before walking around and flopping onto the soft cushions. "Hey."

"Hey there," I reply. "Hard day?"

"Just long. Always was a rush, then a long break, then another rush, et cetera." His eyes close. "I'm going to nap for a bit. Tell Shi such, and that in about an hour I'll be up again." He cracks an eye at me. "You make sure of that."

I chuckle. "Oh, of course. I have several commissions to work on, so I'll be quite busy during that time." I tap out the message to Shi, then switch back to my writing software and start working on the most pressing commission.

The words seem to flow onto the digital page, my fingers flying across the keyboard as I let the ideas flow through me. The first commission is a short story about an otter and his Arctic fox girlfriend--I can somehow write works for any sexuality, despite being fully gay myself--and it thankfully doesn't take very long. Of course, I cap the short stories at seven thousand, five hundred words, and when I'm inspired the words just flow out of me. Sometimes I can get that in a day, and sometimes in an hour, like I just did.

"Callisto," I murmur, setting my laptop on the coffee table again. He blinks blearily. "Sorry for waking you, but it's been an hour."

"Thanks," he says groggily. "I'm gonna call Shi now, I'll talk to you later."

"Talk later, Callisto," I reply. He smiles and stands, grabbing his phone from his pocket where it fell out on the couch, then trudges upstairs to his room. Once I hear the door close and the sounds of speaking start, I pick my computer back up, grabbing my earbuds from my pocket and plugging in as I work, concentrating on the commissions for another hour and a half before working on my own personal stuff.

About thirty minutes into working on my own story, I realize the time--eight thirty. Callisto must have gotten home early, but it's still going to be a late dinner. I quickly pause my music, then set my computer once again on the coffee table and head over to the kitchen to prepare a dinner. After examining my ingredients, I decide to make a simple chicken dinner, with a side of vegetables. I know, my culinary expertise is amazing.

I prepare the chicken, then set it up to cook before moving on to prepping and steaming the vegetables. Thankfully, the dinner has a quick cooking time, and I'm pulling the chicken out of the oven after only about a half hour, with the vegetables having been done just a few minutes before. I divide it up between two plates and set the table again, careful this time to set them at spots that are next to each other, not across, so that it seems less like we're dating and more like we're just buddies, like we really are.

Then I call, "Dinner!" up to Callisto. It's only a few minutes before I hear his door open and his pawsteps coming down the steps.

"You didn't have to cook, Colton," he says as soon as he peeks in.

"I know, Callisto, but I'd rather you eat at a normal time," I reply. "As would Shi, I think. Eat too late and you'll upset your stomach when you try to sleep."

"Point taken," he says, chuckling. "Of course, when he's here, I'm not sure when we'll be eating."

I flush. "Didn't need to know that."

"Sorry." He takes his spot next to me at the table and sniffs at the food. "Simple tonight."

"Wanted you to eat before ten," I reply with a wry smile.

"You really know recipes that're that complex?" he exclaims.

"And even more." I chuckle at his expression. "Don't worry, apparently Volpe's are even more complicated. Can't wait to taste his cooking though."

"Yeah, man-oh-man." He lets out a whoosh of air, chuckling. "I wish I could have your culinary skills."

"No, no you don't," I reply. "It always comes with too much responsibility. I know how to cook a burger on a grill to the exact specification, as far as well to rare."

"So, it takes a lot of time, too?" I nod. "More of which I don't have."

I nod. "Unfortunately. You could use another few hours."

"Yep." He chuckles. "Of course, having a boyfriend and a near-full-time job does that."

"Of course." I muse for a moment. "At least having a boyfriend is worth it. Sometimes a full-time job isn't, but you need to pay the bills somehow."

"Uh-huh." He nods and takes a bite of the chicken, finishing his bite before speaking. "Seasoned perfectly, how'd you find them?"

"Browsing," I chuckle. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, you're a good cook. All-time access to my kitchen if you need it."

I laugh. "I hope I won't need to take use of that except when preparing our meals, when I do. I suspect I'm going to become our full-time cook?"

"Yeah, for a little while," he replies.

"Well, I suppose I'll do a culinary masterpiece for you tomorrow. Still waiting for a response on my job application." I curl my tail in my lap, slightly anxious.

Callisto places his paw on mine. "Colton, you'll be fine."

"No, I mean I still need to get re-certified with the ARC before they can start me working." I fold my ears back slightly. "And I barely have the money to do that, after flying over here."

"I'll help pay for it," he says instantly.

"C-Callisto, I can't ask you to!" I stammer. "You need that money for personal interests."

"It can't be more than a few hundred bucks," he reasons, "and if you're paying for most of it, there won't be much of a hit to my savings."

I hesitate for a moment before relenting. "Fine. But I am paying for most of it."

"Alright." He smiles at me. "Don't forget to eat."

"Right." I chuckle and take a bite of my food, eating quietly and quickly. Once I finish, I stand and begin to wash my plate. "Are you going to go back up and talk with Shi?"

"Mmhmm," Callisto replies through a bite. He finishes before explaining. "We have some unfinished business that we need to finish."

I chuckle. "Just don't let me hear you. I'll be listening to music, so if I can hear you you'd be far too loud."

He flushes. "Colton!"

"Hey, don't blame me for knowing what you were talking about!" I protest, smiling. "I took a very well-educated guess, based off the fact that you two are so close, and the fact that you specifically said 'unfinished business' instead of something more specific."

"I need to be more careful." He lets out a laugh. "You're not as innocent as you seem."

"Oh, you should have known that long ago," I reply. "Go have your fun, Callisto. I'll do the dishes tonight."

"Thanks. I'll try to be quiet." He stands from the table and heads up the stairs. I hear the door close, then a soft call, which I flush to. Then nothing, thankfully.

I finish the dishes quickly and head back over to my computer, opening up the lid and checking on the commission page to make sure I haven't gotten any more requests--none yet, thankfully. Then a notification dings up from Volpe, saying he's awake. Then he asks me to call him.

"Hey," he says as soon as he picks up.

"What's wrong, baby?" I ask, concerned.

"The operation," he replies. "You know, the one on my heart?"

"Babe, I remember," I say quietly. "You're nervous, aren't you?"

I sense his nod. "Extremely."

"I'm sorry I'm not there to help you through it," I say, still quiet.

"There's still time," he replies, just as quietly.

My ears fall flat as I whimper. "I wish I had the money to."

He whimpers as well. "I would do anything to have you by my bedside. I have enough to get you over here and back, but then I don't know if I'd have enough to visit you later this year."

"I'll help you pay for it--"

"Colton, we've discussed this," he says firmly. "I will pay for all of the travel requirements, and you can pay for the dates if you want to, while I am visiting."

"Yes, we have." I sigh softly. "I just wish there was an easier way to do this."

"The operation is in two days. If you want to come just tell me, and I'll get you tickets."

"Volpe, of course I want to come. I don't want to waste your money." Then I slap the couch in frustration. "I wouldn't be able to anyway. I'm not eighteen."

"Fuck." He curses again under his breath. "Sorry for tempting you."

I sigh. "Volpe, you didn't tempt me. I did it to myself." I press my paw against the screen. "I just wish I could be there with you."

"Can you fly across the ocean?" he asks desperately.

"Baby, if I could, you know I would," I response, my voice falling sadly and trembling audibly as I hold back tears.

"C-Colton, I don't know if I can do this without you!" he pleads.

Tears start leaking down my cheeks and muzzle, but I keep my sobs silent as I respond. "B-baby..." I inhale deeply, then exhale forcefully, the hint of a sob escaping my muzzle with the breath. "I-I want to, but I don't want to get thrown into prison so close to you. I'm sorry."

I hear him sob on the other side before he mutes himself. He types his response. I know, but I don't know that I can make it without you.

"Mi amor, por favor no lloras," I say quietly, tears streaming out of my eyes. "Please don't cry."

"Ho bisogno di te, Colton," he responds as quietly, unmuting himself.

"I know, Volpe, but your strong." I hide another sob. "You can get through this, I know you can."

"I can try," he says weakly, voice trembling.

"I know you can," I reassert.

He takes a deep breath. "Alright. For you."

"Thank you, baby," I say, letting a sob escape.

"Aww, you're crying too?" He whimpers in response to my sob.

"I-I'm scared for you," I stammer out.

"Baby, it'll be alright," he reassures me. "I'll be alright, I promise."

"The one percent?"

"The one percent." I hear him knock on wood--or 'touch wood', as the Brits like to call it. I cross my own fingers.

"I love you so much," I say, weakly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You won't ever be without me, Colton," he replies. "Not forever."

"I know, baby. I'm just scared to death." I take a deep breath.

He takes a breath as well. "I know...I should probably go to bed, though. Staying up late before won't help the recovery after."

"I'm sorry," I say again. "I would do anything to be with you during this..."

"Colton, I understand. You can't." He takes a deep breath. "As much as we both wish you could."

"I love you so much, Volpe." I press my paw against the screen again. "Sleep as well as you can."

"I will try. You as well." He sniffles. "I love you as much, Colton."

"I will try as well. Goodnight, my love," I say quietly.

"Goodnight." He ends the call first, though I leave at almost the exact same time. I take a deep breath and shut down the chat program, then close the lid and sit back, rubbing my eyes.

Some time passes--I'm not sure if I dozed at all or not--but Callisto pokes his head out of the room. "Hey, Colton, I'm done."

"Yeah, so am I," I reply, standing from the couch and starting up the stairs. About halfway up I grow faint from a head rush--what I call it when the blood rushes from your head down your body and leaves you lightheaded--and fold over to coax the blood back into my head.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, head rush," I reply. "Just got a bit lightheaded."

"Alright. Time to sleep?" he asks.

"Yeah." I yawn. "Still jet lagged."

"I can understand that," he says. "Let's get you to bed."

I yawn again as I stagger up the rest of the stairs, the jet lag hitting me hard as I collapse into the bed fully clothed. Callisto helps me struggle out of the shirt, then tucks me in. "Nighty, Callisto," I murmur, already falling asleep.

"Night, Colton," he replies, smiling softly.

My head turns to the sky as I utter a short prayer under my breath, staring at the heavens until I finish. I then let my head drop back onto the pillow and close my eyes.