Contest Entry: Find me in a Hammock, On the Isle of Love.

Story by Dioscuri95 on SoFurry

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My contest entry for the Sheer Writing Contest 2022. :D

Changes happen when you least expect it, even from people you know, as a bounty hunter finds out on New Year's Eve...

I tired to spell-check as much as I could. Shout out to Girrith for the pre-post feedback, thanks mate! X3


Sheer Contest 2022 Entry.

Find Me in a Hammock, On the Isle of Love.

Theme: Changes/ Resolutions.

The hovercraft ghosted across the water, its anti-gravity engine sending ripples of stars and moonlight billowing over the mirror-smooth surface. The midnight breeze blew fresh and tinged with salt aganst the lone rider, his form covered in an inky-black suit, almost perfectly obscured. No matter how many times he'd made the distance safe and sound, caution was always warranted.

His destination was a small, artifical island--Mont Dú Venus. The cybernetic implants in his eyes scanned it as he closed in. 'NO LIFE-SIGNS DETECTED' broadcasted over his retinas in bold, bright green.

Javus allowed himself the luxury of a smirk. Good. She's still got it. With a light, rocking press of the stearing wheel, he sent his craft bobbing faster, the ripples now a continous sharp, drumming vibration against the craft's underside.

As soon as the white shoreline became visible, veiled in the light of a proud full moon, he turned the engine off and let the current carry him the rest of the way. Soon enough, he reached the shallows and simply turned sideways, slid into the now waist-high water and used his powerful frame to tow it to shore.

The buff panther zipped down his wetsuit to reveal a masterfully chisled body, worthy to be used as a model for the finest sculpture and artwork. He pulled his rasta-styled braids free, shook them around his broad shoulders. He chuckled low in his throat as he spotted two other hovercrafts, identical to his 'borrowed' one resting a few yards up on the white bank.

Heh.Guess I am last one out this year. He scratched at his chest, like the rest of him it were covered in chocolate brown fur, short and neatly groomed, a few shades lighter than his hair and matching goatee. He wore a simple shirt and shorts.

Javus began a brisk yet controlled gait up the beach, not really wanting to waste time but also not in any particuallry hurry either.

He froze in his tracks as a red laser dot searched up over his body, eyebrows rising as it hovered a bit over his groin before continuing up. He sighed, shoulder rising and falling as he shook his head while rolling his eyes.

"You done, Cori?" He said out into the air, bulging arms folding accross his chest, bottom lip slighty out into a pout, not something he'd ever allow himself to do normally, yet this was one of those rare moment he felt cmofortable enough to let lose. Change out of his usually pragmatic, no-nonsense mindset.

A disembodied female voice laughed crystal-like in response, before a shape flickered into existence on a outcrop a few paces ahead of Javus, as if light drizzled over and melted onto the form underneath.

A red panda female lay on her belly, ringed tail, firey red coated and with a black sharp, straight bob-cut hairstyle One side of her face pulled into a devilish smirk that might have been worrying if he hadn't known her for half-a-decade's time. But that probably said more about his mental state than anything else. Us bounty-hunters are a weird lot.

"Do you have to do that every single time, woman?" He muttered, cocking one eyebrow, knowing she could see it through her scope.

"I like to be consistent...besides, changing is hard, especially without a reason to." Cori said, or rather cheerfully quipped as she holstered her sniper rife accross her back, the firearm clicked into place as the magnetic locking mecanism secured it. She winked one cerulean eye at him and snickered when Javus just shook his head. She nimbly slipped over the dark, rocky rise, like a practiced surfer down a wave. She wore a bodysuit in leather, an greave with an blue interface on one arm. He found himself scaning her for additonal weaponry before he reminded himself that he should be trusting her.

Then, the big feline spread his arms open as if suggesting an embrace, which he was.

Smiling like she'd won a battle, Cori trotted up to him and wraped her arms around his muscular waist. This time, he didn't make the mistake of hesitating as he held her back. Under normal circumstances he'd found the contact uncomfortable--a part of him that always were the mercenary, the bounty hunter--still did. The part of him that was the lover, however, relished the longed-after conctact. He closed his eyes to block out all other stiumli, save for hers. Javus buried his nose in her hair, taking in a deep breath of jasmine. A pleseant, anchoring warmth blanketed him.

"I...I missed you...." She said, voice a low, almost hesitant whisper against his chest. She didn't look up at him, face staying pressed were it was, cheek first. If it had been anyone else, he'd have said it sounded like a confession. But since it was her, he wasn't so sure. Or maybe he was just trying to explain it away. Finding loopholes was something he'd always been good at.

Still Javus almost pulled back to look at her incrediously. He managed to turn it into simply blinking owlishly over the top of her head. For all the years they'd known eachother--and it had been for a long time--he'd never known her to be a sentimental or overly romantic woman. That professional part of his brain that were always on alert sent off alarms in response, and he barely resisted the faux pas to scan her with his eye inplants; just to make sure it really _was_her in his arms.

Instead, he decided in the back of his head to squeeze her a fraction tighter. Seems I ain't the only one changed this year. I missed you too, Cori.

So easy to think it, but just the thought of actually saying it made his face burn hot and his tongue feel fives times larger than it's normal size. No sound came out, his voice gone, buried under the weight of his unspoken feelings for the woman in his arms.

He cleared his throat and pulled back, not knowing what else to do. He swallowed and once he were at least half-certain his voice worked he said, "Is Noah far?"

If Cori had any negative response to his inabillity to properly respond to her missing him, she hid it well. She'd always been good at that. The Lotus of Taurin had always been an engema. Even to him, it seemed as he briefly glanced towards her unreadable face. Though he wondered in the back of his head if that was an active choice due to her profession as bounty-hunter and assassin, or if it was just an innate trait. He most likley would never know.

As it were Cori made a brief, ambigious gesture with a hand over the rise she'd perched on moments before.

"He's somewhere over there, making camp." She said, smiling as if she knew something he didn't.

He smiled back in besument but ultimely decided to not ask for specifics. He could play along. J_ust for tonight,_ he thought before he bowed, one armed spread in only half-mocking gentlemanly grace.

"Well then, little flower, after you."

She smiled, giggled with one hand infront of her muzzle prettly, before she nodded as if pleased, and surprised him for the second time that night by sauntering to his side, and linking their arms together as if they had been at a upper-class soiree and not on an moonlit beach.

She has changed. Don't know how to feel about that, honestly... Javus thought to himself as they made their way up the rise. He'd never felt wary around Cori, hadn't seen any need to. Him being part-time of the Death-Game and her being an bounty hunter meant that there was no professional competition to speak of.

He was brought our of his musings as the blaze from an open fire registered in his optic nerves and implants. He blinked, eyebrows rising high as he took in the scene.

'Camp' as Cori had called it happned to be decked out with a not-so small feast. A whole grilled chicken and what looked like cut marinated steak were two of the dozen of dishes that caught his eyes. The lovely scents made his stomach rumble, and Cori giggled when the panther licked his chops wantonly.

A hammock woven from silver fibers glimmered with edges of gold from the flames, suspended between two rough palm tree trunks, it swayed in the lukewarm breeze gently. The scene was completed with a raised military tent pointing up against the stars.

By the crackling fire, an American Akita sat seated. Aura imposing despite the relaxed set of his broad shoulders. His gaze was friendly enough as he greeted them. His weighted stare rested a moment longer on Javus than Cori, the panther took note.

"Overslept, Javus?" Noah said in his trademark serious way, voice pleseantly husky to the ears.

"Give me a break, Noah. Unlike you I had to borrow my ride here. Again." Javus said in slight annoyce, but still bent low to hug the canine as he reached his arms out, still seated. All the while he hid his surprise. He'd started to wonder if both Noah and Cori were pulling his leg: Noah had never been much for physical contact...at least not outside the bedroom.

"I take it you'll return said 'borrowed' vehicle?" Noah said, eyebrow raised in something like admonition. Always the spoil-sport military-mutt. Javus wouldn't have had it any other way, really.

"Of course. They'll be no the wise." Javus said with a swipe of his hand and a large, too friendly grin.

Noah grunted in response but seemed content to let it slide: They both knew he'd return the hovercraft sooner or later.

At his side, Cori snickered. "He might but I won't, that's for sure!" She looked and sounded thoroughly pleased with herself. "If someone can afford a V-50 Stallion they can probably afford a new one--Probably a pair." She continued before her face lit up. "Why don't...why don't you join Noah, Javus? I'll go and change into something more...comfortable." She said with a knowing look aimed at Noah.

Javus almost couldn't believe his eyes when the American Akita gave a sheepish grin, face turning red under his pelt as he cleared his throat. Now the panther's' intrest had become truly peaked. If the tight-laced military man blushed, it had to be one heck of a outfit.

He watched the curvy, atheltic female start for a rocky wall, before he turned around towards the beach. Further out from their cozy firelit camp, the deep blue waves gently lapped at the shore under a curtain of moon and starlight.

He took a lungfull of salty sea-air. In his peripheral, Noah rose from his seat like a king from his throne and moved to stand beside him, in passing, the panther noted how their arms brushed. If he missed me too, I won't deny him. The thought caught him off guard because it was true. Despite the fact that this was the first time they'd seen each-other all year didn't take away anything. For a while , neither spoke, and there was nothing between them save the breeze through the palm leaves and the soft whitenoise of the ocean.

"How long can you keep winning?"

Noah's question caused Javus to blink, reach up with a hand to move one rasta braid away from his face.

"As many times as I have to." He said, though he knew he'd replied out of instict rather than having given the response any thought beforehand.

Noah gave a hum in response. "You'll lose, sooner or later." He said matter-of-factly.

Javus pretened not to notice as the American Akita inched a little closer, their arms and elbows fully touching. It had to be deliberate, the dog was far too disciplined and controlled to not be aware of his body.

"I know I will." Javus said in a low baritone, even though it seemed redundant; it wasn't like the answer would ease any worries Noah might hold.

As if he'd expected such an reply, Noah shifted, and before Javus could properly react, had caught the panther's chin between two fingers and brought their faces together.

The roughness of the kiss, the uncaracteristic lack of control from the dog's side, took Javus aback. Almost caused him to push Noah away. For a few heartbeats he were a passive statue under the other male's heated touch, before the shock melted away and he eagerly found himself returning the kiss, fisting the front of the simple military fatigues, pushed his sand-paper rough tongue against Noah's own strokes as their breaths mingled in their mouths.

When did this start and where will it end? A part of his mind which still seemed to work wondered.

Noah was the first to pull back from the kiss, a string of saliva connecting their muzzles. Javus bit back a dissapointed groan from the kiss ending; normally he'd have to tease the man pretty hard before they got this particlary brand of heat thrown at him. Usually Cori got it first, too.

When Noah leaned in again, close enough so Javus could feel his breath fan accros his whiskers, the panther could pick up a slight tint to his hard exhales. He'd been drinking before Javus' arrival. Javus watched, muscular chest rising and falling hard, as Noah smoothed his palm up his abs and pecs, something thoughtful in the gesture. Something loaded with more than lust.

"Are you ready to bear the consequences when you lose?" Noah's gaze burned. For some reason Javus had to look away. "You know it's not about me. Not really..." the panther heard himself say. Inwardly, he cursed at himself, he could do better than to deflect, damnit!

"Your sister. I know. How many more surgieries does she requier?"

"One. Just one. And that's the truth."

Noah grunted again and Javus gnashed his teeth, lust evaportating to be replaced my something pricked and annoyed. Almost hurt.

"What's this about Noah?" He stepped back, green eyes narrowed into slits and the canine reached out with a hand as if to pull him back before thinking better of it and let it fall back against his side, a frown pulling at that regal face.

A strong gust bowed the fire, a cloud veiling the moon, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Are you addicted to it?" Noah said, voice tense, as if he had been afraid to ask. "The Death Game, I mean. The danger?"

Jesus. That's what's this about? Javus thought as he gaped at the dog before his face twisted into a grin. "I might be an andrenaline junky but there are other ways to get my fix, you know." He said.

Where was Cori? Surely chaning into 'somethimg more comfortable' couldn't take such a long time? He'd let it slide. They had all night, after all. Do I wonder just because I want her as a buffer or...?

"That dosen't answer my question, Javus." Noah crossed his arms, and the panther was tempted to say that he wasn't in the millitary at the moment, chastising some greenhorn.

Better not provke him...He seems anxious enough as is. Gotta fix that. No lying though.

"Are you worried I've forgotten my reason for even entering in the first place?"

"You start things with a certain mindset, so sure that you can keep to the track you've decided on. But you don't know how you'll change or how much some unforseen things along the way might influence you." As the the last syllables left him, Noah looked up and squarly gazed the panther in the eye.

Javus smiled privately. Been refered to many things over the years but I am pretty sure 'unforseen thing' is a first.

"I still remember." So please don't worry, my Arthur. The last part he kept to himself. Great. I am turning into a Shakespear-spewing love-besoted idiot.

"Did you ever consider a change? A different approach?" Noah's eyes had turned curious, and Javus decided to risk it and stepped closer again. He placed his palm against the white tank-top, the cotton seemed newly cleaned, not a spot on it. He started to stroke a slow path upwards, mirroring the other man's touch a little while ago.

Javus shrugged, eyes on the dog-tags daggling from its necklace. Had he always wore these? Javus couldn't remember. Maybe he'd never cared to look so closely, a poor choice it seemed now.

"The Death-Game is high risk-high value, as you know," he said, glancing up to see that Noah's brown eyes were fixed on him. Good, he had the man's undivided attention. "And after every match the money is in the bag, so to speak. I don't see anything else that might be quicker paid..."

"Was it worth it, Javus?" Noah's hand covered his were it laid on one greyish pectoral. His gaze glowing, softer than the panther had ever seen it. It's too much, too fast--I-I can't-- He gently tried to pull away, the contact and their shared gaze too electric, as if he were tangled in a livewire.

Noah's hand tightend. "Was it worth it?"

Underneath his, Javus' own hand had started to tremble.

The panther's mind raced. Had it been worth it? Maia could walk again. Could breath without the sensation of invisible glass cutting her lungs to shreds. Could stand in the rain without it feeling like acid on her skin. Could eat the finest food without having to throw it up the following night. His little sister could live again.

"It was worth it." He said, eyes never leaving Noah's. He had never meant any words more in his life.

Noah gave a short hum again, seemingly satisfied with then answer becaus his hand slowly placed itself at the back of the panther's neck and pulled him close. They kissed again, small, almost chaste meetings of their lips compared to the heedless, passionate melding from before.

"As much as I like to watch this, the food's getting cold--come and eat you assholes!" Cori's voice broke the spell and Javus and Noah pulled away at the same time, both bearing expressions fitting two little boys caught with their hands in the cookie-jar before dinner.

The American Akita jerked his chin approvingly towards the fireplace and their shared lover, before he made his way to the food with only the eagerness a hungry dog could show, even his tail waved behind him.

Javus smirked knowingly as he gracefully made his way closer only to freeze for what must've been the tenth time that night.

Cori looked as lovely as a sea-nymph, a long flowing dress hugging her curves, the shorter of the trio glimmering as the blue scales glinted in the light from the moon and the flickering fire. Sleeveless and secured around her neck with a single oranmental clasp, she was truly a vision.

"Cori...Wow, you look--"

Cori's eyes sparkled. "Pretty good huh?" She smiled, as carefree and at ease as maiden goddess. She crossed her legs as she sat down on a nearby bench at the firepit.

'Pretty good' wasn't something he'd chosen. 'Stunning' would be closer he thought as she handed him a plate for his dinner. "Where did you find it?" He said he peered at it. Had to be from some desinger's collection. Expensive-looking too.

"I didn't.Noah chose it for me. He said it reminded him of my eyes."

Noah choked on a sasuge he'd been busly gobbling up, his plate swelled over with food. Mostly meat of various kinds. Military men and their apetite. Still, Javus could understand. MRAs could taste like shit, so when real food was offered it was best to make use of the oppertunity.

"I-I never--Ach--_said that, I just said that it...was pretty." He said, eyes tearing up, gratefully accepting the bottle of carbonised water Javus offered. After a few gulps, he retaliated by pointing a finger at her and saying, "_You were the one who said it made your tits look nice!"

"Of course I did. I mean, just look at these bad girls!" Cori said as she cupped her own chest. "Looking as fine as a pair of V6 Ani-material rifles if you ask me!"

All of them broke out into laughter. Their shared joy melted into the waves at the shore and the starlight above.

They feasted and laughed, tasted of the finest food from all round the world and the finest vines there ever was.

Once the plates were empty and the bottles hollow, the three of them sat under the stars, watching the theather that was the ocean's constant ebb and flow. Noah and Javus, relaxed and nerves soothed by wine enough to sit side by side, one arm over the other's shoulder, and litte Cori sitting at their feet, gracefully leaned back against their knees, like a queen recling.

"Are we losing, Noah?" Cori said without warning, probably outloud and more to herself than actually asking. Her voice had turned soft, almost lost to the breeze as it passed and slipped out to the sea.

"...So far we're holding strong."Noah replied, but it wasn't lost on Javus when he pulled the panther a few inches closer against him. Ah, the war. Crazy to think that a bio-virus is out there raging on the world. Seems like a diffrent dimension right now.

"But for how long? Sooner or later every wall comes down..." Cori said, again in the same hushed, slightly distant tone.

Noah opened his mouth to reply but Javus interwined before he could do so. "Hey, remember the rules--No talking about work you two. We're currently off the clock."He prodded Cori gently in the back with his knee for empahsis. Just as he gently bumped Noah's shoulder with his own.

Cori was the one who twisted to give him a chagrin look. She shrugged one delicate shoulder. "Sorry, I shouldn't have." She ducked her head, thick dark eyelashes fluttering. "Must be the wine..." Her white markings had grown from white to pink the more spirit she'd had.

She stood up suddenly, grasping a handfull of her dress and shook it free of sand and dust, she twirled, laughing, dress billowing out.

"I want to dance on the moon!" She reached up into the moonlight, slender arms glowing silver in the terrestial-sent curtain.

Javus snorted good naturedly. He'd never seen her tipsy like this before.

"Careful now...!" He called, sitting up as her spinning form drew a little too close to the edge of the cliff. Deciding not to risk it and urged on by a soft push of Noah's hand on his shoulder, he went over and picked her, and she laughed even more as he spun her around.

He brought his mouth close to her ear. "What do you say we make the old dog blush?" He whispered and smiled in response as Cori eagerly nodded her consent.

Glancing at Noah conspiratorially, they shared a half-surpressed snicker. Just loud enough for the dog to hear.

"What are you two up to now? And don't tell me its nothing--I know those looks." Noah had risen from his seat to regard them with a look befitting a old man who'd found two teenager making out in his car.

"Nothing--We were just discussing how to turn an old friend's frown upside down..." Cori said with growing heat in her eyes as her tail danced like a serpent behind her.

A challening glint appeared in those sharp but pretty brown eyes. Though the dog would probably chastice anyone for calling them that.

"Do you now? And just what would that entail...?" Noah said as the red panda slipped from Javu's arms to reach up on the tip of her toes to teasingly kiss him on the chin.

Cori looked down-right wicked as she started to pull away, knowing smile in place, only to be stopped by Noah's thumb and index-finger on her own chin. He hummed and raised his eyebrows promtingly, in such a way that butterflies errupted into Javus stomach.

"Far less clothing." She said brazingly, tilting her chin up in a wholly arrogant way to stare at him expetantly. The little minx. She knew just how to push the Major's buttons as well Javus himself did. They had been trading points on him for years now after all, one of their little shared games.

Having had enough of the observer's seat, the buff panther made his way over to the couple, stopping to brush a kiss to the red panda's forehead before he turned his focus on Noah.

Javus kissed him without any reservation or doubt, whatever thorn that had been between them seemed plucked by their earlier talk, he was tired of holding back. If there was people who were worthy to change for, it would be Noah and Cori. For all their faults they'd never demanded anything from him--which made him want to be worthy of their affection even more.

Cori, ever the adventurous one, had slipped between them to start to promtly work on Noah's trousers, the american akita giving a startled groan into Javus' mouth as his pants and boxers were yanked down my eager, slender hands.

"My, my." She said, licking her chops though the fine meal had long since gone. "So composed and in control...Except down here."

Noah's cock throbbed in the evening air, fully erect and out of his sheath, with a bulbus knot at the base. Javus reached out to give it a few teasing squeezes, skimmed his fingers up the lenght of it to trace the tip with a finger. Precum proceeded to bead out into a single perfect pearl. Before he could pull back to taste it, Cori gently caught it, before tasting his finger all the way to the knuckle, eyes half-lidding.

A quick look Noah's way showed the Major sporting an almost suffering look on his face. The look about doubled as Javus gently pulled his finger free of the red panda's muzzle and knelt on the opposite side of American Akita's slighty trembling form.

"Attacking from both's sides is not fair! Have you no honour?" He said, tone chiding. Noah yelped as Javus began to lick up the side of his shaft, the sound dipping down into a pleased growl as it curled deftly around the tip. Those thick thighs shook, telegraphing just how thorughly Noah burned with need.

"Haven't you heard...? Everything's fair in love and war." the panther purred and smiled knowingly as Noah made a half-humuoured half-annoyed snort.

Cori's impishly smiling face greeted him as they both went to work on driving their lover crazy. Their tongues would whisk together on occasion as they dipped and brushed over heated flesh and veins, dove low to lavish those full fuzzy balls, taking delight in every gasp, hitched breath and moan that they worked out of the usually stoic male, fully knowing he wouldn't have been so pliant with any other pair.

Javus pulled back first, pallet full with Noah's slighty salty taste. He sat back on his hunches, content to once again watch Cori's muzzle plunge down that impressive shaft. Her nimble hand worked what didn't fit into her mouth, dazzling eyes crinckled in concentration. About the same time, he became aware just how much his own erection tented the front of his shorts. He purred as he noticed with a smile how one of Cori's hands dipped low under her dress, then how her cheeks grow reder as she pleasured herself.

Noah's quiet gasps were turning into half-choked soft yelps, his body stiffening before it froze, then gave a hard series of shudders. The red panda at his feet gurgled as his orgasm filled her mouth, long strings of American Akita sperm slouching from between her lips even as he throat deligently worked to swallow. The auidble gulps made Javus' own neglected shaft twitch with want, hard almost to the point of being envious. But just almost.

"S-Sorry--S-should've warned you, but--" Noah started to explain, eyes still glassy and unfocused. The panther nodded slowly, impressed that the other man had the wit to speak: If it had been Javus he'd been a happiliy drooling cocoonut on cloud twenty.

Cori's laughter cut him off, sweet and so delighted sounding that it made Javus' chest warm.

"Well I'll be dammned--Where did you manage to hide that Bazooka, Major?" Cori's tail lashed back and forth as she rocked on the balls of her feet slighty, face painted with streaks of clear white seed.

Javus couldn't keep from snikering as Noah's face pulled down in disgruntlement, red rising over his muzzle as Cori managed to look perfectly innocent, all the while swiping Noah's passion from her face with quick flickers of her tongue.

The American Akiat gave no further comment as he stepped out of his pants and underwear.

The red panda gave a sudden squeal as Noah picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

"Help me teach this minx some manners." A quick look at Javus' tenting shorts made the regal dog raise an eyebrow. "Looks like you need it as well."

Javus didn't miss a beat as he brought two fingers up to a temple in a lampooing salute.

Noah snorted and shook his head, and probably would have managed to look dutyfully exaperated if his tail hadn't been flashing behind him as he turned around. "You know what they say," Cori said with a conspiratory wink towards Javus, "If the knock dosen't work, might as well try the battering ram."

Javus snickered as the red panda gave a girlish yelp when Noah swatted her on her pert little rear, slung over his broad shoulder. The panther licked his lips as he took the oppertunity to shamlessly oggle both of his lovers delectable behinds.

The panther hung back slighty as Noah put Cori down on a thick blanket by the low-burning fire before whipping off his white tank-top. Javu's rolled his eyes with a small smile as the canine duitfully folded the garment, followed by his pants that had been slung over the other, none-Cori occupaid one.

"Javus--You helping or watching?" Noah said in an ardent rumble with a smirk that could've been stolen straight from the panther's own face.

"Oh I'm helping--Just enjoying the show for now."

"Suit yourself."

Noah unclasped Cori's dress with deft fingers without further ado.

Javu's let out a mental whoop at the action.

Cori's full, gorgoues breasts shone in the moonlight, the red panda gasping, dress bunched around her trim little waist as the canine took one jutting pink nipple into his mouth to suck and pull.

Javus growled soflty at the sight, erection painfully curving against the fabric of his pants. That's it. No more observing for me! He quickly unsnapped the formost button, pulled the zipper down. The relief mixed with the soft insitent sounds escaping Cori coupled with the pleased growls from Noah almost made Javus' knees buckle. Hands trembling, he pulled both shorts and underwear down over his legs and kicked them off. A lukewarm breeze blew at his naked legs and thighs.

He strode over the couple showered in silver-blue moonlight and knelt down. Noah shifted oblidging to make room for him, as for Cori, the red panda seemed quite content to simply be manhandled for the moment, eyes hazy and unfocused.

Her breath hitched as Javus craned down to suck on her other nipple, lavished it with his rough sand-paper-like tongue in firm flicks and curls that made her legs shift on the blanket. He glanced quickly Noah's way. With a sly wink to the akita he let a devilish smile spread as he slipped his hand under Cori's dress.

She was sopping down there, the furless crease grasping at his finger as he eased it inside to the knuckle, hot wetness massaged his finger as he gently scissored her passage with it.

Cori moaned, the sound muffled as Noah closed his mouth over hers, one hand squeezing at a firm yet undulating breast. Her body shivered and fidgeted as if she couldn't decide which sensation to lean into.

Javus watched it all with burning eyes and pushed another finger inside and smiled at the firm squeeze that shuddered along it as it registred along Cori's exited nerves. He pulled out to bring his fingers to his mouth to taste the sweet juice clinging to them in a clear web.

"Can't wait to see you take her." He grolwed lustfully at the pair. Only to blink in confusion as the two parted, breathing hard but still able to share an knowing look between each-other.

"Actually You'll do the taking." Cori said and didn't even bother to try and keep from smiling. Looking at Noah for clarification made the fit panther almost gulp at the sight of the canine's eyes; which were almost black with desire as they borrowed into him. He began to stammer, but couldn't tell it was from Cori's_implications_ or from the loaded stare; why, Noah had never looked at him like that.

"What? But I dont--"

"Have you forgotten the rules, Javus? 'Last one to the island will follow the others' wishes', remember?" Noah said, and didn't even have the good grace to look smug about it, either.

Javus chewed his bottom lip, torn. This was new. Not something he'd expected to being brought up, all things considered. But so much else about the night had been new, too. And he hadn't minded that, had he? No, of course not. Not one bit, in fact. He'd just gone with the flow and adjusted accordingly. Does changes had been liquid and easy._Worth a shot I guess..._He thought as he scrathed behind his neck, face flushed from brown to burgundy.

"If you don't like it, we'll stop. No questions asked." Noah said, because of course he did; Noah who were the kindest when he weren't on the battlefield. The most quiet yet generous soul Javus had met. Wonderful. Now I'll feel like an asshole if I refuse. Great job, brain.

"Alright, let's try it," He said before he understood just what he were promising.

The fact that he'd agreed to be fucked by Noah only registred as Cori gave a delighted squeal and clapped her hands rapidly together. Noah rose, a pleased rumble sounding from him.

He clapped a heavy hand on Javus' shoulder. "I'll go and get the lube." He said before turning and lumbering over to the tent. The panther continued to nod even as Noah's footsteps receded. A hand stroking his cheek made him quickly look the other way.

Cori's smiling eyes greeted him. "Hey." At his sheepish grin she smiled. "Don't look so scared, it's Noah, after all."

"I know. But it's so--"

Cori gently tilted her head. "Diffrent?" She smiled helpfully.

"New, is more like it." His eyes darted to their corners as Noah sweared softly, a soft thunk sounded as he threw something inside the tent. Well, someone's eager to do some stuffing. Javus thought bemused.

He looked at Cori before he jerked his chin in the tent's direction, before widing his eyes dramatically.

Cori tapped him on the nose. "He's been wanting to do that for a long time, though he'd never admit it: I only became aware of it because he blurted it out while drunk one time."

Javus filed that informaion away to ask for a more suitable time. He hummed in intrest. "Really?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You have a very nice butt, Javus. It's very..." She made a bulbous gesture with both hands in the air, as if cupping a pair of buns. "...Plush." She said with a wicked smile.

Javus huffed out a laugh at that, tinged with wryness. "Well, that would explain why all the camera's during the game is behind me..."

Cori took his hand, perhaps sensing that he were slipping into another revire: wine tended to do that to him. She peerd into his face, eyes at once appearing rapt and no longer hazed. "Just one more year, right? You promised."

As she spoke Javus felt the nagging desire to ask how she knew about that conversation, since she'd been busy changing cloths behind a rock. Oh for--what does that matter now? He chided himself with a private eyeroll. He'd let that one go.

"That's right, my sweet, just one more year." He patted her hand and expected her to snort, pull it back, and then tell him to stop treating her like an old, docile ball-and-chain.

Instead, she squeezed his back tight, ears lowering against her head as she sighed, shoulders dropping as if they'd been tense. She chombed her hair back. "Oh that's a relief...If I'm not worrying over Noah it's you... I swear..." She muttered while rubbing her forehead.

Javus were just about to ask what she meant, but didn't get the chance to as a rustle from behind heralded Noah's return.

"Found it." He said, face passive but his tail swayed gently from side to side, betraying his eagerness. He looked at Javus who were sitting, still with Cori's hand in both of his.

"Changed your mind?"

Javus shook his head. "No." Like Cori had reminded him, Noah was good, Noah could be gentle.

"So, how should we--I mean don't look at me for advice, guys! I only know how to be the bread on a sandwich." He looked between them with a perhaps too wide smile, and his popping eyes probably didn't make him look any less nervous, either.

Noah cleared his throat. "I have-ah-done some small...research."

"Was it porn? It was porn wasn't it?"

Noah put his hands on his hips and looked at Javus with an annoyed frown. He crossed his arms. "No, Javus, it was not porn." He sounded almost genuniley offended that he, the great Major, would be surfing on such sites.

"Then what was it if not porn, Major oh Major?" Cori leaned forward with her chin resting on one hand.

When Noah puffed his chest out and lifted a finger, a reproacing look on his face, he appeared to be the very image of a school-teacher about to spit some facts. "It was a trusted medical site intended as a place for learning about intimacy--"

"Tushies.com or Paws-and-Jaws?" Javus snarked up at him with a grin and a wink.

Noah aimed a snort his way, "Keep that up, funny guy, and I'll go in without the lube."

All three knew he wouldn't. If there had ever been any unspoken agreement between them over the years, it was that they were always safe with each-other.

No-one said anything more. As were often the case, banter was easy, but it was a apperant fact that not one of them, not even Cori, were particulary good when it came to relationship talks. Probably why a night such as this one had been such a long time coming.

Maybe this what they had all been waiting for? The thought spurred Javus on. Determination welled up; He could take the pain, more than used to it in the Death Game. It would be worth it if the three of them grew closer, changed together because of it.

"Lets do it." He said, looking at Noah first and then Cori.

Noah's brow pulled together. "You sure? If you really don't want to--"

"I want to, Noah." Javus cut him off with a soft gesture of his hand and an reasuring smile.

"Fine. Cori, if you could lay down..."

"Say no more, boss-man!" Cori saluted him before tipping back against the blanket.

Noah turned to Javus next. "Now if you could just do your thing, try and enjoy yourself and leave the rest to me..." He jerked a thumb at the red panda spread out like a starfish on the blanket.

Javus didn't need to be told twice.

The panther were on her in a heartbeat, caressing and squeezing every inch of that lovely naked form, arousal suffusing through him, maddening and fever-hot. He squeezed and groped those wonderful breasts, kissed that pretty mouth deeply, while his arousal, back in action, grinded against her clit and sopping lips. He groaned into Cori's mouth when those hungry little thighs closed around his, pulled him close, enough so his glands poked against her entrance. With a asking look he gently prodded at her, and the agreeing nod and hooded eyes were all the reasurence he needed.

Cori gasped as he hilted, feline spines grinding against her soft, silky depths, back arching as he filled her. Javus bared his fangs in pleasure at the stars. Perfect heat clung to him like a vice, and he began to move, licking and dragging his tongue in broad laps over each of her breats and stiff nipples. Cori roamed her hands over his toned back and ass cheeks, pressed brief fluttering kisses to the corners of his mouth and cheeks that made his chest tight. He nuzzled into the crock of her neck in response, voice stolen for the second time that night, by passion, pleasure, and a disbelief that such a lovely woman cared for a man like him.

Something cool touched him between the buttocks, right at his anus, and he couldn't keep from freezing at the touch, despite the small, barely audable dissapointed mewl from the woman underneath his bulk. Javus groaned soflty in his throat, eyes drawn over his shoulder to the canine kneeling over him, one hand working a finger into him, and the other gliding over an hefty erection of his own, glistening with precum and lube.

"Remember to breath." Noah said in a tone that dipped low and warm, with eyes that could have a adorned the night sky itself.

Javus began to move again, teeth gritted in concetration, both at the warm tingles flushing through his cock as it were massaged by Cori's eager little passage, and that he were trying to relax and grow used to the strange, cool sensation of a finger up his butt.

He hissed, tail lashing in a jerking arch over his ass as that finger pushed deeper a fraction, then pulled back to repeat the motion.

It didn't hurt but it sure felt alien. New. But if Noah wanted it he'd bare it. He loved the mutt enough to trust him on this one. If he'd said he'd done his research, Javus believed him.

"There, that should be enough. How do you feel?" Noah said, as if he hadn't just had one finger up to the knuckle in the panther's derrier!

"Weird. It feels...Strange. Do I feel like that?" He said, still moving inside Cori who were lapping at his pectorals as if they were a treat.

"That's classified. Maybe I'll tell you some other night." Noah rubbed briefly at his chin. Then his eyes softened. "Do you wanna keep going, Javus?"

The panther took a deep breath, and any doubts were banished when Cori reached up to kiss in on the chin.

He spread his thighs. "Shut up and stick it in me already. Fuck me like a pornstar!"

Noah let out that deep, loaded growl that sent lustfull shivers up Javus' back. "Gladly. I won't tie you, though. Would be too much for your first time bottoming."

Javus nodded, and when Noah knelt behind him, hands grasping his hips and waist, he didn't freeze up. Noah rested his length between the panther's ass cheeks, grinded them back and forth a couple of times as if in warm up. When Javus felt the first few gentle probbings, he took a deep breath and did his best to make his body relax.

The entry happned slowly. Noah's girth spreading him apart. When he was about half-way in, he paused, panting, and Javus only became aware of clenching his jaws as Noah stroked a hand over the broad of his back.

"Are you doing okay...? Does it hurt very much?"

Javus forced himself no to grimace too much. It hurt but it was bareble. "I'm okay. The lube helps..." He said and let out a purr when Noah reached over to kiss him on the cheek. Heat and a few spark of pleasure began to smoulder as Noah gently began to push deeper, along with Cori grinding up on his dick.

Javus gasped as he became caught up in the sensations crashing over him, delightfully trapped between his two lovers as he were, the pleasure erroding away all pain and concept of time, all that was left was the feeling of two heartbeats that drummed along his own.

The rythmp of their sensual dance increased, more and more noise escaping the trio as their desire whiped up into a frenzy as they tried to pull more pleasure to each other.

Cori craned her head up to kiss Noah as he hunched forward, hilting inside Javus who gaped, face scrunched up in ectacy as a bolt of pleasure unlike anything else before shot through him, tingles erputing over his whole form. He panted both of their names, chanted them as if it were a hymn that might save him.

The canine moved for all three of them, one big arm having reached over Javus' form to cup Cori's ass to help shove her onto Javu's cock as she clung to the panther thick neck with both arms. The cresehndo was close, trembling through their cojoined bodies like a quvering bowstring, ready to snap at a moments notice. Javus was well determined at this point to give as good as he got, and he redoubled his efforts. Thrust harder, faster into Cori's fluttering heat, ground back to met Noah's forceful thrusting. Together, as one, they raced for the edge of ectasy, blind to anyting that didn't exists within the sweating, breathless sphere that their shared perceptions had narrowed down to.

Suddenly, the three of them froze. They came together, as if every nerve-ending had entwined and became one big connected mass, almost impossible to tell where one began and the other two ended. Each rode out their climax, gasping and panting each others name, praises and phrases always thought of but never voiced, now came out in words as their bodies shook and trembled as cascades of pleasure and warmth twisted the knots inside free.

Javus trembled, cock pumping, jerking as tingly shockwaves blasted from his cock into his stomach with intensity of a boxer punching away at his bag. He sagged over Cori's equally shaking form, drained and exhausted. He winched slighty as he felt the moment Noah pulled free--true to his word--he hand't tied him. A quick instinctive glance over his shoulder showed the American Akita sitting on his ass; a throughly dazed expression accross his face, eyes glazed over.

Cori touching his face again made made him chance focus, and as he turned his eyes on her, she snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him down into such a tender yet deep kiss that it made his heart flutter.

He closed his eyes and returned the kiss, feeling more safe than he could properly express with words, felt more cared for then he had in years, perhaps ever.

Noah gave a soft, wheezing chuckle before he rose on shaking legs. "I'll go and...Aha...Get the paste. And...ah towels. I see we bit of a mess."

As the canine began the treck to the tent once again Javus shifted his weight to his forearms so he could get a better look at Cori. "Paste? What's the paste for?" He said, nonpuzzled as he frowned down at Cori.

Cori shifted and streatched underneath his body, a soft, glowing smile that dazzled him as she glanced over to the tent before looking back at him. "For your butthurt, kitty--what else?"

Javus' laughter could probably be heard over the whole island.

Much later, after a quick clean-up, the three of them snuggled up on the hammock, a towel used in leu of a blanket. The sky was still dark and crowned with a infinity of stars that still kept their millnium old mysteries. Time seemed to be still, and yet in a matter of a few hours, so much had changed...

Javus tail lazily swayed over the hammock's edge as he stared up at the canopy of stars, Cori resting on his chest and Noah spread out on his side beside him, one hand curled around Cori's while his head rested in the crook of the panther's neck. Noah had buried his nose in Javus' rasta-braids, breath coming out in warm, relaxed puffs.

"One year..." Cori's soft voice vibrated through his collarbone unexpectedly. He looked down with a curious hum in return. She tilted her chin up to meet his gaze.

"One year until what?" He followed her hand as it reached over to stroke Noah's forhead lightly, a thoughtfull look settling over her face.

"I am not sure..."She gave a small laugh, as soft as the breeze that caressed through their pelts. She shrugged. "Change. I guess." Cori looked at him again, a unspoken resolution in her eyes. "Whatever happens, we'll be there for eachother. Whenever we need it."

A warmth like a small fire flared to life in Javus' chest at her words, a giddy sort of excitement following as he began to reach for her hand, only to be stopped by Noah's own as it pulled it down to stettle on top of Cori's.

When Javus turned his attention on the canine, he felt surprise mix with the butterflies and the warmth, as the same determination could be seen mirrored in Noah's eyes.

It made Javus pause. As his mind searched for clues and causes, like it always did, the answer came so simply: Maybe this moment was were they had been heading towards over the years, or maybe it was simply, like so much else in life, and accident. It didn't matter if it were an accident. If so, it was one of the best accidents to ever happen to him. No-one knew what the coming year held, but whatever they would face, they'd have each-other to relay on. They'd brave every single wave that came at them. Splinter every single wall.

"Together." The American Akita said simply as he brought Cori's and Javus' entwined hands to his lips.

Javus smiled and squeezed their hands in his, heart doing flips against his ribcage. He must've been smiling like an idiot but didn't care. Cori had said that changing without reason to was hard, but what better reason to change could there be than love?

Instead of saying all that though, he simply uttered one word back to them with all the conviction he could.

"Together."

They snuggled back, the timless stars the only witness to their spoken vow and their shared heart's promise. Dawn would eventully come, and they'd each stride back along their chosen road, now backed up by the promise and the knowledge that the two others had their back, even if they were far away.

A large change for all three of them, to be sure, but as Javus put his arms around his two lovers, he knew that they'd grow into the relationship with a little luck and some work.

And Javus wouldn't have had it any other way.

FIN.