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Hmmmm.... well see what you guys think of it. Any criticism is welcome constructive or not. I'm sure I deserve either :P

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A Lion's Tail and a Bear's Hug

Chapter 2: Age old Concerns

Lejon sighed and leaned back in his chair. He let out a deep happy growl and rubbed his full stomach contentedly. Across the table Bjorn was staring at Lejon with a gobsmacked look on his face.

"Finished yet?" The bear said in a mild state of shock.

"Yep, no wait" Lejon found a piece of chicken on his plate and ate it. "Now I am," the lion said with a cheerful grin on his muzzle.

"I-I-I don't understand. It shouldn't be physically possible to eat that much. Is there like a wormhole in your stomach that transports the food to another dimension?" Bjorn looked at his place. He thought one and a half plates were a bit too much but then he looked over at Lejon who was surrounded by 5 empty dishes.

"What can I say" The golden lion grinned. He suddenly got an itch at his ear and struggled to try and scratch it without using his greasy paws. He hated trying to clean sauce out of his mane. Eventually the bear handed him a napkin to wipe his paws on and the lion happily scratched away. "Where was I? ... Oh yeah, anyway, I don't have the self-proclaimed title of Iron Stomach for nothing y'know."

"Do people really call you that?" The bear chuckled, somewhat amused by the lion's eating capabilities.

"Nah it's just a personal nickname. It's what I refer to myself as in my mind. I gotta love this high metabolism though. I know I'll probably lose it when I get older but I will be sad to see it go" The lion did a mock sniffle to put across his point.

The bear smiled back at the lion who had gone back to rubbing his belly again.

"Meh. At least it's not such an immediate concern for you" the bear said patting his belly now. I gotta watch what I eat nowadays. My metabolism isn't what it used to be." Bjorn grinned at Lejon who had his tongue stuck out at the bear.

"Why, what age are you 50?" The lion chuckled, his tail swishing happily about behind him.

"No, just 20. So overall it's not too much of a concern, but still probably more immediate than yours. What about you? What age are you?" Bjorn asked smiling innocently at the lion. Behind Lejon his tail had gone completely limp. Fortunately for him the table was blocking Bjorn's view of his tail and he managed to keep a blank face.

20 years old thought Lejon Even if he was gay there's no way he'd even consider going out with me. I'm too young for him. And he's too good for me. I mean look at me. I'm just some 17 year old lion. And I've done some terrible things. Plus I just completely pigged out just now. Way to make a bad impression Lejon he mentally cursed himself and realised he still hadn't given Bjorn an answer

"Oh sorry, he he, off in my own little world. I'm 17. "

17? Bjorn thought. That's a bit too young for me. I thought he was like 18. I mean 18 is a good age and that would only be 2 years difference. Oh I bet he won't want to go out with me cos I'm so old. Heh, well, older than him at least. And what will my friends say? Or my dad? Oh dear, imagine when I come home with a male lion; he'd absolutely flip. He sent me to dancing classes to get a girlfriend, not that he'd say that directly, but what happens when I come home with a boyfriend 3 years younger than me? People will think I'm a monster or a paedophile. But he's soo lovely...

Bjorn was gay just as Lejon had hoped; he just wasn't the age that Lejon had thought he was. Nor was Bjorn out of the closet, at least not to his father. Quite a few of his friends knew but his father was still a problem. It wasn't so much that Bjorn was afraid to tell his father, he just hadn't found the time, or seen the need, to do so. Furthermore, he had only fully come to terms with his sexuality a few months ago. He knew it wasn't a phase. Like Lejon this wasn't his phase, he had had tendencies for quite a while now; he just avoided the point of putting two and two together for a long time. But now he was quite content with his sexuality but before when he was "straight" he had had no interest in girls whatsoever, this confused many of his classmates and some just thought he was weird because of it. But his total lack of interest in both boys and girls had meant he was single all his life. At first he didn't mind but in the few months since he realised he was gay he realised that most of his friends weren't single and he had started to feel lonely. This was the first time he had truly thought that he might have a boyfriend, a special someone in his life, someone to spend time with, to be happy with, someone who would complete him.

The news that this lovely lion was 17 was like a dagger in Bjorn's heart. He always vowed not to go out with someone below 18 but now he wasn't so sure. The truth was that ever since Bjorn had saw the lion at the dance class during the first class he wanted to get to know him better. There was just something about the lion. He hadn't actually needed the lion to convince him to come back but he just played along on that first night so he would have an excuse to speak with him. But now...

Bjorn and Lejon were both slightly stunned by the realisation of each other's ages and couldn't believe that they hadn't once mentioned it throughout the meal.

Lejon was first to recover from their stunned daze. He quickly turned to a waiter, a tall, well dressed tiger and asked for the bill. The tiger brought it promptly and Bjorn and Lejon both reached for it.

"Please," Bjorn said "Let me pay for it. After all I am the older one. It's sort of my responsibility."

The reference to their age difference didn't put Lejon in a good mood.

"Really Bjorn don't worry about it I mean, after all-" Halfway through his statement Lejon grabbed the bill from the tiger's paw and gave it back with 2 twenty pound notes. "Sorry for being so rude," Lejon said, addressing the tiger "please keep the change."

The waiter smiled nodded his thanks and walked off with the bill and a happy swish to his tail.

Lejon turned back to see Bjorn glaring at him. "What?" Lejon said innocently "You were my shoulder to cry on earlier, it's only fair that I pay for dinner."

The bear's expression softened slightly but it was evident that he was still annoyed with the young lion.

"Lejon, you shouldn't throw around your parent's money like that; especially if someone else is offering to pay."

"Parents?" Lejon said biting his lip slightly. A frown came to his face "I live on my own, Bjorn. I have ever since I came out to my parents a few weeks after my birthday last month. I rent a flat. I work in a pet shop every day after school to pay for the rent. So you see all my money is my own. Besides I could never ask my mum for money, not after what I put her through. "A tear crept into the corner of Lejon's eye. "So you see Bjorn I can spend this money on what I want and who I want even if it's on a lovely, beautiful bear like you."

Lejon realised what he just said and clapped his paw to his mouth. He then realised just how obvious that made his last sentence and as Bjorn's eyes started to widen and Lejon blushed, excused himself from the table and went to the bathroom.

Bjorn stared after the lion whose tail was now between his legs again. This time a tear came to the bear's eye.

"He thinks I'm beautiful?" The bear whispered to himself, somewhat stunned. Then he drifted between his thoughts again. This is just typical isn't it? I like him, he likes me but unfortunately we can't be a happy family as Barney the dinosaur would like us to be. Oh my God I'm thinking of children's programmes now. That's even more depressing. Why is the universe always like this? It never leaves me in peace. I finally had a chance and now it goes and ruins it. Ugh, great, I'm such an idiot. I can't believe I went and hurt Lejon's feelings. Why couldn't I just say thank you. Oh god, I didn't even thank him after all that. "He was 17 in November and I'm 21 in May that's about 3 and a half years difference. By the time I finish uni he'll only just be starting. Why does the universe hate me so much" Bjorn slammed his paws on the table. He didn't actually realise his thoughts had drifted into words and so now many of the diners were looking at him with shocked looks. He buried his face in his paws and didn't even notice that Lejon was standing frozen in the bathroom doorway having just seen Bjorn slam his paws on the table.

Lejon had got to the toilet and sat in a cubicle and cried and let his thoughts take over him as the tears flowed down his muzzle. Why am I such an idiot? I can't believe that I'm crying. Twice in one day? I never cry what's going on? ... Aw heck, what's the point of trying to lie to myself, I know its cos I'm an asshole. I've been an absolutely prickish asshole. I just end up hurting everyone. I've hurt friends, I've hurt Bjorn and most of all... most of all... no hurt is an understatement. I can't describe what I put my mum through. Oh god, if I wasn't so naïve. If I had just thought to keep my mouth shut on that day we could still be a happy family. I wouldn't have minded going back to the way it was. If only I could turn back time. I could pretend we were still a happy family. I could pretend I didn't hate my father for all the many reasons that I do. I could pretend I wasn't gay. I... I just... I don't know what to think anymore. The lion tried to stop himself from crying and after a minute he wiped the tears from his muzzle, washed his hands and went outside to see Bjorn slam his hands on the table. This is what happens. This is why I don't let my straight friends know my feelings for them. I just make them angry like this... Oh well, I guess I'll go say goodbye. He doesn't need someone like me in his life anyway.

Lejon walked towards the table but remained standing.

"Bjorn, I'm so sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I vowed that I would never let a friend know my feelings for him if I knew he was straight. I think of you as a friend Bjorn but I understand if you don't ever want to see, speak to or hear from me again. Just say the word and this faggot will get out of your life for good."

Bjorn was surprised at the sound of Lejon's voice and a look of shock covered his face. Then to the lion's surprise he started to chuckle.

"Straight? Oh Lejon I'm definitely not 180 degrees. And if maths isn't your strongest subject then I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I'm gay, I think you're a beautiful lion and don't worry I'm not angry with you. How could I be angry with someone as lovely as you? No. I'm angry that the universe set us up with such an age gap between us.

"Me too," The lion sighed "I thought you were more like 19."

"Thanks" Bjorn stuck his tongue out cheekily at Lejon "but I thought you were more like 18. You see" the bear said as he took Lejon's hand and sat him down, "I lied when I said I had nobody to spend Christmas with. I could have easily spent it round at my dad's place where I've been staying with him and his step mum. But I wanted to get to know you better cos you just seemed so lovely."

The bear squeezed Lejon's hand gently and looked at him. The bear took a deep breath, steeled himself and asked: "So, Mr. Iron Stomach, do you think you could give "us" a chance, despite the age gap?"

Say no. Say no. He's too good for you you'll only hurt him, Lejon!

"Of course I could you big old bear" said Lejon with a smile as he gave the bear's hand a quick kiss. The only question now is where to spend the night. Your place or mine?"