FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hole in the Wall: The Little Things

Epilogue

By Roofles

Three years later...

Theo woke up with a loud yawn, a back popping stretch and a scratch to his white furred stomach as he looked around the small room he was in. The box shaped room had several holes drilled through the sides of it creating a natural airflow throughout the room keeping it at a nice temperature no matter the time of year.

Theo's internal clock never let him sleep for too long, always waking up an hour early before any alarm.

"Time already?" The rodent yawned, glancing towards the tablet next to the cotton mesh sheet bed. The blanket had been hand crafted and Theo liked to adjust the stuffing throughout the year, adding more when it got cold and taking it out during these warmer season.

The bed frame was made from an old recycled can of sardines. Thoroughly washed and clean. It still had the print on the side of the can from the company that had made it. The edges had been smoothed out and duck taped to prevent any chance of getting cut by the metal, Theo always a stickler for safety. The bottom of the can had been stuffed with a mixture of cottons and sawdust shavings he could adjust as needed. The blanket, the size of a regular napkin, had been placed over it, sinking down just enough to provide maximum comfort. The perfect rat bed. He didn't even need a pillow whenever he curled up in it, tucking himself in for the night.

After making the bed, Theo gave another yawning stretch and a good couple soft slaps to the face to help wake up. Reaching behind him, the rat touched the touch phone that lit up with a dim light inside the small box room he lived in.

"Still an hour to go?" Theo grumbled, tossing his legs over the side of his bed before getting up. The tablet was larger than Theo was and had been crudely stuffed into his room for him and Pedro to text throughout the night when they wanted to sleep in separate beds.

Something Theo insisted they do during workdays at the very least. He never got the proper amount of sleep next to his snoring, smelly roommate.

Walking towards the far wall, Theo took hold of a yarn string that fell from the ceiling and looped back up into it. Pulling on the string, Theo slowly opened the front of his bedroom to look out of. The wooden wall slowly lowered like a platform to the room he lived in, tucked into Pedro's bedroom wall.

Stuck in the wall was a box, hand carved, for Theo to sleep in. It was no larger than a shoe box, but Theo didn't need much. It had been outfitted and wired for his needs. The tablet had been the most difficult thing to find for him to use; Pedro and Theo spent an entire day in the city looking for the smallest tablet available. A difficult task seeing as how the tiger needed to secretly pull the rat out to look over in each electronic store.

The door in the corner of the box room led to a tunnel within the wall allowing easy access to the bathroom if Theo might need to use during the night. There were numerous tunnels throughout their place that Theo could easily use and get access to things from. It was a familiar thing for the rodent and it was only at his request did the tiger help him along.

Speaking of which, Theo glanced over the edge of the platform down at the bed below. With navy blue sheets, the bed was the perfect surface for him to fall onto if he needed to jump. It wasn't empty this morning and Theo had to chuckle at the man below.

Everything that had happened these past three years had been in thanks to the naked tiger man sleeping just underneath the platform Theo was standing on.

Pedro had the covers tangled around one leg, over his groin and the rest kicked off the bed as the massive feline snored that early morning. It wasn't like Pedro was sleeping in. Theo was just used to waking up earlier than he did. It allowed the rodent to get things ready as, with another long full body stretch, Theo made his over towards the block-set train tracks sticking out of the wall.

No point in getting dressed when it was just the two of them living there.

There was a wooden train on the tracks next to the platform. The tracks and train were made of wood but the engine on the front was electronic. Theo jumped aboard, putting on the conductor's cap and started up the toy. The engine didn't make a sound as the wheels began turning.

Theo took one last guilty glance at his roommate down below, admiring the sleeping tiger with a smirk. The heavy-set tiger was a fuzzy mess this morning, as he was any other. Scruffy with a large belly and body fur that needed a good trim. Pedro liked to sleep in the buff during the summer seasons, the weather to warm to wear pajama bottoms to bed. Theo just wished the blanket was pulled aside a little more, letting him see the goods.

With a laugh, resting out the window, Theo began his day as he pulled the small toy steam locomotive bell twice. It made a preprogrammed sound that wasn't loud enough to disturb the tiger snoring down below. It was just a cute vanity thing added on to make Theo feel more at home and welcomed here.

Pedro liked to do that. Adding unnecessary but cute little things for the rodent around their place to help Theo feel like he belonged, instead of just living in the walls as he had been before.

The train looped into the wall and out the other side into the kitchen the two of them shared in their new place. Their place was large and spacious, allowing Theo to relax and breathe. With just the two of them here, the rodent never had to worry about being in the open. Every surface had a means up and down from them just in case the rodent happened to get on the floor.

Theo, even to this day, never risked walking around on the floor with the overgrown feline sleeping in the room next door. There was no reason to. Pedro had made branching paths and bridges between everywhere Theo might need to go creating a canopy of ladders, slides and ziplines for Theo to use. Add the toy train tracks in and the rodent was the one living the luxury life.

To anyone else? It might look as if Pedro owned a toy store or was an avid collector of things. Racetracks, toy structures and numerous different kinds of building blocks were scattered around the room. The two could use these blocks together to create makeshift cities throughout the apartment; before Pedro would go "kaiju mode" and knock everything over as Theo watched, laughing about it from a safe distance, recording the entire thing.

Sometimes these tracks would intertwining with each other, looping through or over another. Theo had thought they were just to represent streets, roads, and highways but Pedro had another thing in mind after buying a white, red marked car for him to use on it. It was the rodents size, but Pedro carried it around as if it weighed nothing.

"Gotta' go fast!" Pedro had playfully teased.

Theo still felt nauseous from the time Pedro had placed him into the supped-up toy race car, buckling the rodent in and placing a handmade helmet over Theo's head before going. Taking the steering wheel in hand, Theo had regretted letting Pedro use the controller as he shot around the room at breakneck speeds, for a Small that is, going over racetracks, through loops and throughout the city they had spent the weekend building before being launched off a platform into the tiger's smelly laundry.

Pedro never seemed to get tired of that, the massive tiger steps shaking the room as he came stomping over to check on the tiny rodent inside a pair of his old briefs.

"And that's why we call it the Mock Five." Pedro had nuzzled the small rodent after checking that he was okay. "Next time, we'll crank up the speed!"

"Please, no!" Theo had begged and the tiger had teased him about it the rest of the afternoon as Theo sunbathed on Pedro's belly as the tiger curled up in front of the window.

There hadn't been a single day that passed by that Theo felt bored or unwanted here and knew he had the tiger to thank for that as he snuggled closer to the soft, warm belly fuzz of the snoozing tiger; Pedro's hand rested gently over the white rodent, never letting him go.

The sofa and TV had been shoved into one corner of the room, out of the way, leaving the rest open for the two to build together. There had been countless hours spent constructing cities after working on the blueprints together. Currently, they were working on their new project that Pedro had nicknamed "Theo Land." Theo, a blushing mess, had hated the name. The tiger had bought, crafted, and jury-rigged several toy structures together creating an amusement park that Theo, or other Smalls, could use matching something Theo had seen on TV once.

"I wonder what it'd be like to go on one of those!" Theo had said without a second thought, watching the lights light up on the Ferris wheel during a New Years festival. Everything else had turned off and the fireworks had started. Theo had been at a loss for words never seeing such a thing before. The rodent had been entranced, marveling at the skilled craftsmanship of the various rides and how they could build one, wondering what it would be like to ride on one his size. "Someday, maybe, I can ride one of those to... Watch the fireworks. Together."

That had been all the encouragement Pedro had needed to make Theo's dream come true.

Memories of that time came to mind as Theo looked out over the room as the train slowly chugged along without sound. It had been one of the best nights of his life. Riding in the Ferris wheel to the top before a certain tiger had stopped it with a finger, bending down for the two to spend the evening together as Pedro sat next to the structure seemingly enjoying the ride just as much as Theo was.

Theo had giggled about it; Pedro having turned the lights off in the room. Only the lights along the side of the Ferris wheel and those in "Theo Land" brightened the otherwise dark apartment as they sat there, together, side by side in their own way. Lost in a colorful display of the amusement park that Pedro had made for him.

"This is the best gift ever!" Theo had just smiled up at the tiger who was lazing on his side, propped up on one arm as he stared down at the rodent. "But we have to change the name. It's terrible."

"Why?" Pedro had purred the word out over his tongue, flicking it after as he gave a toothy smile to the rodent.

"No one will want to go to a place called Theo Land," the rodent had squeaked at the tiger, sticking his upper body out the window of the box car ride. Pedro had leaned closer, chuffing a breath out and Theo felt it over his face, whiskers curling from the warmth of it. Theo could smell the fact Pedro had brushed his teeth giving his breath a cool minty air to it.

"Whoever said I would let anyone else in, mi little rata?" Pedro toyed with a finger on top of the ride, jostling Theo back and forth inside. "This ride, this land, was made for me to play with mi novio." The tiger's tail flicked. "I never said I'd let anyone else in, or you out." The tiger bent down showcasing his teeth in the window.

"P-Pedro!" Theo just squeaked, a blushing mess as the tiger teased him.

"The perfect little rata trap, for you. Has everything you'd ever want or need. Rides, entertainment, a food cart..." Pedro motioned past Theo now, towards the other things he had set up in the small amusement park. "Me." The tiger added with a wink, bringing his snout back around to lower it down in front of the window Theo was looking out of.

"Y-you're just looking forward to breaking everything! AS usual." Theo tried to appear strong as his face glowed with a pink hew, his tail curling around his leg as he looked away from the tiger.

"No, no. Not this time." The tiger let his breath wash over the windows, fogging them up before dipping his muzzle down so Theo could look into his eyes. "This is a special little place for a special little guy in mi life. No one else. It'll remain here, in our home as a reminder to this day."

"This day?" Theo asked, leaning out the window as the tiger scooted a fraction of an inch closer. The movement was a lot more noticeable to the small rodent than it was to the tiger leaning forward.

"This day. This moment. This one single..." And Pedro had leaned in, and Theo had leaned forward, meeting their lips, his lips, Pedro's lips... with his own. Those lips were like warm velvet, large and covered Theo's face as his tiny muzzle slips between them as the tiger kissed him.

It had left him speechless. Nothing else had happened. The two just sitting there, side by side after, enjoying the night as Pedro put on a recording of a firework show for them to watch together. The tiger had apologized for not getting the real thing, his words as soft and warm as his lips had been. Theo hadn't said a word the rest of the night, trying to process what had just happened as neither of the two brought it up again; even though, Pedro was sitting directly next to the Ferris wheel now with an arm over the top of it, his side pushing against the window and his weight threatening to break the thing as the tiger just purred.

Theo remembered that purr. The sound of it shaking the ride slightly, the tiger's pale orange fur sticking through the window as Theo could smell his musk filling the air around them. Theo could still remember just how warm Pedro had been that night as they sat there, in silence, watching the fireworks together...

Theo could practically feel steam shooting out of his ears recalling that day, quickly looking away from the amusement park still tucked off to one side. Shaking his head, he desperately tried not to think of that day, or that night, with the tiger when the two weren't just roomies any longer and something more.

As much as the tiger liked to tease him, Pedro had always respected Theo in the end and the two understood, with their given sizes and circumstances pushing for anything more between them hadn't even been on the table.

And now...?

"Then Pedro goes and does that!" Theo face was so hot he desperately looked around the room for something to distract his inner horny with. Needing to focus on the work day ahead of them and not of the smelly, stinky, snoring, dumb, stupid... cute, handsome, friendly, warm and "the best thing" that happened in Theo life... tiger, in the other room.

"Get yo' shit together!" Theo slapped his face as he spotted the window. It was going to be another clear, beautiful summer day.

There was a desk against the far wall in their upstairs apartment. It had been pushed underneath the window matching the one Pedro used to have back in the dorms. It had been outfitted with another, much smaller, desk on top where Theo could work next to the tiger who, even after these three years together, had never gotten bored of the rodent in his life.

"Not like I get bored of him either..." Theo felt a warm shiver run through his body, clenching his tiny hands as he let it go. "Breakfast first. Existential horny crisis later!"

The tracks dipped down and carried Theo to the train station set up on the counter top where he cut the power, letting it come to a stop before jumping off with another full body stretch. This was always such a chore to do in the morning and, still, Theo liked to do it.

Everything on the counter had been bought with Pedro in mind. The jars of sugar and salt towered over the rodent who walked over to the push lever on the bottom. Jumping, Theo landed on it popping the top off of the sugar tin open.

On accident, Theo had fallen into the damned thing once and Pedro had to scoop him out, with an unhealthy amount of sugar, and dropped both the rodent and the sugar into his coffee for an "Extra sweet drink." It took hours to get the coffee stains out of his white fur.

He had learned his lesson, stuck in the warm beverage until the tiger had enough of his fun with Theo. Sometimes living with the guy was a pain in the tail.

Bouncing off the metal push lever, Theo jumped on over towards the coffee pot. It had already been pre-set and the rodent just had to push the start button to get the tiger's morning coffee started. Jumping from the top of the coffee maker over to the salt container, Theo scooped out a decent sized amount of sugar from the side container and was already adding it to the coffee mug underneath the pot.

"Three spoons," Theo rolled his eyes. His tiger always did have a sweet tooth, preferring his coffee strong but sweet as hell. "And plenty of cream." He chuckled at the cat-like tendencies Pedro had.

It was a nice work out, Theo thought as he stretched once more. Getting the tiger's breakfast going was great exercise to keep the otherwise chubby rodent in shape. Theo shook his belly, blaming his rat genes for it. No matter how much climbing, running, or jumping he did, Theo just couldn't get rid of the damn thing.

Jumping down, Theo wrapped his tail around the coffee mug handle and slid it down the ramp they'd made for the coffee pot. The cup slid easily enough thanks to the marble countertops they had installed last spring as he brought it over towards the fridge.

The fridge was massive, as large as one of the skyscraper sized buildings from Rathole. Theo was just glad they didn't give a shit about the warranty as he opened the small door in the side of the fridge Pedro had built into it for him. Inside, he could easily pop the "easy-access" front of the fridge where the half and half was kept. A small wooden walkway had been built on to the side, giving him easy access to the front of the fridge allowing Theo to walk around to grab the creamer.

Theo ignored the creamer container and grabbed one of several half and half single serving cups that had been prefilled by the tiger last night. It was a bit of a waste, but Theo couldn't handle a full container by himself. Last time they had tried to add a side spout, like a syrup tap, for him to use in the container. It hadn't gone well, and Theo had to be cleaned up after by a laughing tiger holding the rat under the faucet.

Carrying one in each hand, another with his tail, the rat walked over to the coffee cup. A small step stool had been placed on the counter for him to use to reach the top of the steaming mug of coffee as he concocted the strange brew.

"He's going to have a heart attack at this rate." Theo muttered emptying the containers into the mug, one by one. Using the sugar spoon he'd left in the cup, he stirred it around, walking along the edge of the mug like a circus actor holding the elongated spoon the length of the rodent.

There was movement from the side room, Theo's ears perking up, as the tiger most likely stirred to life thanks to the rich aroma of coffee wafting in from the kitchen. Or his alarm. Theo didn't hear the latter though, just Pedro's early morning cursing which always got a chuckle from the rat. Every door in their apartment was ajar for the rodent to come in and out of as need be. More so in case of an emergency than something he'd actually use.

While Theo loved to be helpful around the house, it took him four to five times longer than it did the tiger to do the most simplest of tasks. Everything took longer, taking a lot more work than Pedro ever needed. Theo was just thankful the tiger never tried to stop him, allowing Theo a lot of independence in his day-to-day life.

He wasn't sure how he'd handle it if Pedro did everything for him. Just another thing Theo was truly thankful for with the feline. It didn't stop Pedro from trying though.

There had been several ideas and failed attempts at making their lives easier, together. While some things helped Theo, they would only get in the tiger's way. Over time they eventually agreed that less was more. Or at least Theo did.

Pedro went out of his way to rework their entire apartment. Creating ladders and slides and poles all over the furniture and counters to help Theo reach whatever he liked. Train tracks had been set up from one room to the next giving Theo easier access to everything while also giving him something to ride in. The toys might seem silly, but it was far easier for the tiger to notice than a small white rodent running between his paws.

While the rat wouldn't mind just walking, Pedro worried that if Theo did that he might go unnoticed by the giant tiger. The fear of that had been one of the very first times the two of them had gotten into a verbal fight. Arguing over it. Theo not taking it seriously enough as Pedro did. Pedro fearing for Theo's life while the rodent wanted independence and faith that he wasn't going to just jump underneath the tiger's paw.

They had come to an agreement that Theo wouldn't walk on the floor, not that he wanted to, and Pedro would make sure he had easy access to every visible surface for the tiger to see him on. Pedro could relax knowing where the rodent was and would usually scoop him up with a hand and put him in his shirt pocket to make sure he knew exactly where Theo was. Theo hadn't wanted to fight over it again and let him, watching as Pedro went up and beyond to make him feel welcomed here.

Ever since Theo had been banished from his colony, Pedro had gone out of his way to make him feel welcomed and wanted. Theo had been the one to convince the tiger to get the large apartment, knowing Pedro needed as much space as he could get, or the clumsy tiger would knock everything off the counters and tabletops.

After coming to another agreement, they decided to get a place close to work so Theo wouldn't have to travel far. Theo wouldn't have minded some distance, but Pedro insisted that if he was going to fund this he wanted to take all of Theo's needs into consideration. Theo had let him but had laughed after.

"I should've known!"

The tiger had ended up getting a place directly above the shop the two of them owned.

"The least I can do is make you breakfast." Theo had gotten on Pedro who hadn't wanted the rodent to push himself. "I am far to capable to just laze around all day and fart out ideas." The rodent wouldn't hear any of it and, though Pedro tried not to laugh, his squeaky voice and small finger wagging in the tiger's face wasn't exactly the most menacing of things.

"Fine. Treat me to your heart's content." The tiger had reluctantly agreed too, unaware of just how stubborn and headstrong his new roomie was going to be about things until they had begun living together.

The "thooming" steps of the tiger announced his presence as Pedro, wearing only a pair of old boxer briefs, came into the room. Pedro would stop in the doorway to the bedroom every morning, looking for the Theo before proceeding further into the room. Scratching his ass, the tiger looked around until he saw the white furry rodent on the counter and came over to join him.

"Three spoons?" Pedro asked, covering a yawn with a large hand. Even his massive hand couldn't cover the size of that yawn and Theo squeaked a laugh.

"Of course." Theo rolled his eyes. Pedro was not a morning person and it showed as the tiger, directly in front of the rat, scratched himself.

"Three creams?" Pedro looked down at the rodent who wiggled his whiskered muzzle at him.

"Yes." Theo said, tapping his foot as he crossed his arms. "I do this every morning for you, you big lug! What more could you want?"

"How about... one snarky little rodent?" Pedro smiled just enough for one of his fangs to poke out. Theo squeaked as the tiger reached over, grabbing him by his tail and lifted him up above the cup. "The sweetest of things."

"H-hey!" Theo squeaked as he dangled above the steaming cup of coffee. "Pedro!" He yelled at the tiger who just smirked down at him. "White fur plus brown coffee equal not a good time!"

"Oh, come now, mi rata. Don't you like a nice hot bath in the morning?" The tiger bent over the counter, propping his face up on an arm as he watched Theo dangle as he swayed the rodent around playfully.

"Not like this!" Theo glared at the tiger as he slowly spun in front of the feline. The rat shot him a glare every time their eyes met.

"You know, they say, a high rich protein diet in the morning is good for ones coat of fur," the tiger teased.

"Pedro!" Theo squeaked and the tiger just chuckled, bumping the rat into his snout.

"What? Can't I at least get a morning kiss?" The tiger purred and Theo's entire face turned red as he felt the sound against his very body.

"Fine..." Reluctantly, Theo, closing his eyes, reached over to give the tiger's lips a soft kiss.

"Perfecto," Pedro winked before setting Theo back down on the counter. Grabbing the coffee, Pedro tried to lick at it before wincing. "Mierda que es caliente." The tiger fanned his tongue as the rat laughed at him.

"I told you to let it cool off! It's what you get for trying to dip me." Theo stuck his tongue out at Pedro who just frowned down at the small rodent on his counter.

"Don't make me call an exterminator." The tiger tsked, rolling his eyes as he rested against the counter as he talked with his small roommate.

"Hah! I'd like you to see you go a single day without me around," Theo just smirked, crossing his arms as he gave the tiger a knowing look.

Pedro just stared at the rat for a solid minute, sipping his coffee before putting it back down. Without a word, Pedro reached out and snagged Theo's tail once more, bringing the rodent away from the counter in front of him to dangle above the air now as the tiger looked down at him.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" Theo, arms still crossed, just snidely remarked as the tiger stared at him with a bored expression.

"You know." Pedro lifted an eyebrow. "For someone so pequeño... you do have a big mouth on you."

With that said, Pedro opened up the front of his boxer briefs and dropped the rodent inside, snapping the band shut after. The hot, musky confines of the tiger's briefs kept the nosey rat silent as Theo stewed in a summer nights worth of tiger funk so Pedro could finish his coffee.

"I'll let you out when you behave," the tiger had to adjust himself, groping Theo against his junk. "Or maybe I'll just go to work like this," the tiger chuffed, smiling the entire time.

Pedro took his sweet time before, a good fifteen minutes later, he was in the bathroom dropping his underwear to the floor. The tiger looked down, smiling at the rodent glaring up at him, clinging to his junk for dear life.

"Don't. Say. A word!" Theo glared as the tiger. Pedro let out another chuffing breath and turned the shower on, ignoring the small guy clinging to his junk. Adjusting the temperature, Pedro scooped Theo up and set him in the small alcove of the shower one might normally put a bar of soap in. "Can't believe you did that!"

"I don't hear you complaining." The naked tiger just stepped into the shower, letting the water soak through his thick pelt of fur to his sore body underneath as he rubbed his hands all over himself, giving Theo a show.

"I am, literally, complaining right now!" Theo squeaked angrily at the tiger who just glanced at him with bright blue eyes.

"You complain after, sure." Pedro nodded. "Sometimes, even before... but never during." The tiger just reached out a hand and, wrapping his fingers around the rodent, picked him up. Holding Theo before his muzzle, Pedro kissed his entire body. "Not that I would mine if you did. Your little squeaks would be cut smothered under me."

"I would if you weren't suffocating me with your balls," the rat turned away, grumbling over the entire thing.

"Sure, sure. Whatever mi little rata needs to tell himself." Pedro nosed Theo's body before reaching over and squirted out a decent dose of a body fur into his palm. "You ready?" The tiger asked.

"Oh, NOW you're asking if I'm ready or not!" Theo glared at the tiger who, rolling his eyes, just lathered up the rodent with both hands.

Theo squeaked the entire time as those strong fingers rubbed and kneaded over his small chubby white furred body. Pedro made sure to get his legs and arms, pinching two fingers around one and wiping down them. The tiger even did the rat's tail before holding the soaped-up rodent before his face.

"Big breath, mi chico." Pedro winked and Theo did just as the tiger lifted up an arm.

Using Theo's body like a luffa, Pedro began soaping himself up with the furry rodent in hand. Rubbing and scrubbing Theo against his furry armpits, over his large chest and down his legs. Every now and then, Pedro would pull Theo away, letting him catch his breath before soaping him up once more to continue. Pedro was very thorough, and Theo was just glad the tiger was to busy enjoying himself to tease the rodent any further than he already was.

Their daily ritual had been on accident, at first, not something either of the two had planned for. Originally, Theo would bathe within the small cubby of the shower where the bar of soap was kept. The problem was Pedro, blinded by fur shampoo, had accidentally grabbed the rodent instead of the soap to finish the job off with.

They had laughed about it after a very awkward and uncomfortable realization of what Pedro had just done to his roomie, using him to wash all those special places off. Seeing as how Theo hadn't tried to stop him, Pedro had "Accidentally" done it again the next day. And the next. Until it was a daily occurrence for the two to clean up together.

Small incidents like this, over the past three years, had led to the two of them becoming closer with one another than they had ever been before. It wasn't just the physical intimacy, but the trust Theo had in Pedro that made the rodent allow the tiger to use him as his luffa, for example. There wasn't another person alive that Theo would let half the things that Pedro had gotten away with do to him.

The two able to laugh about it after and talk with one another, exchanging their thoughts and feelings over the matter to make sure they both were on the same page. Pedro just loved teasing Theo and would tip toe along these lines to torment the flustered rodent with.

Not that Theo seemed to mind and, at times, began welcoming these rare exchanges between the two of them. Theo to embarrassed to ask.

The playful tiger loved teasing the rat and had gotten several unexpected, if welcomed, responses from Theo over the years. A simple joke could leave Theo a flustered and bothered mess for the rest of the evening, his white fur showing hints of pink to it as he refused to make eye contact with the tiger after.

Pedro always made sure to check on Theo, giving him another large full body kiss before shoving the rodent down between his legs for the "finale." It was the most intimate thing the two had down with each other and Pedro had been gently the entire time dragging his sack over the rodent's face and body before turning the water off.

"What?" Pedro asked innocently after the shower, drying off with a fur dryer before turning it on a lower setting and using it on Theo. Only after the machine was off did he continue. "Did you want to go the rest of the day smelling like your tigre's funk? Kinky rata. Not that I'd have minded," Pedro poked at the bashful rat on the top portion of the sink furthest from the edge.

"You didn't have to stick me in there to begin with, Pedro!" Theo squeaked angrily at him talking about being dropped into the tiger's underwear earlier that morning. "Of course, I needed a shower after... You big stinky, smelly... tiger..." He grumbled and muttered refusing to look at the tiger with only a towel around his waist.

"Don't act like you haven't slept in my underwear before..." Pedro brought up and Theo's whole body froze, sticking out comically at the tiger's words as if he'd been electrocuted by them.

"Stop. TALKING!" Theo, shaking his little balled fists at his sides in anger, yelled up at the tiger who just laughed about it.

"If your good, I'll let you do it again tonight." Pedro just offered as he pulled their down toothbrushes and passed the tinier of the two for Theo to use. It looked like a girl's doll's toothbrush but worked just as well for the rat to use.

"Shut up!" Theo just grumbled, dispensing a large glob of toothpaste on the toothbrush. "I think I still got tiger fur in the back of my throat," he coughed dramatically, and Pedro just rolled his eyes.

"Should've just left you in there..." Pedro grumbled.

"What?" Theo glared at the tiger who pretended he hadn't said anything.

Carrying Theo back to their shared room, Pedro set the rodent on the flat desk he'd kept ever since college. The two of them had carved their names into the side of it. Pedro couldn't possibly get rid of the thing. Over the years the two had carved a heart around their combined names. The desk had a lot of sentimental value to the two and neither had wanted to get rid of it. Pedro had been extra mindful, after hiring movers, to transport everything that the two could connect with when they moved out of the dorm to this new place.

"You ready for another day, little amigo?" Pedro asked, placing a hand down. Theo had several cabinets on the desk that Pedro had placed there for Theo to use. They looked like doll toys to the tiger, though, over the years, Pedro made sure only to bring that up if he were teasing the rodent.

Which he did do fairly often.

"Of course!" Theo jumped over and climbed up onto Pedro's paws after getting dressed. As was their routine, Theo held onto Pedro's thumb, lacing his tail between the tiger's pinky and ring finger to anchor himself in as the tiger's fingers curled around his small body to take hold of him. Theo's tail brushed against the gold rose ring on the tiger's finger matching the one Theo had on his.

"You look like your going roller skating instead of to work." Pedro chuffed, lifting the rat up to look at. Theo had a pair of short jeans on and a pink tank top. He'd dyed his hair a pale orange color and Pedro had covered him with kisses after seeing the matching look. "Cute. Cute enough to-," the tiger tried to say but was silenced by a slap on the nose from the rodent's tail.

"None of that while we're at work! We don't want to scare off any customers. They won't... they won't understand." Theo clutched his chest, recalling the horrible memories of that day.... A quick kiss from the tiger against his face shooed off the dark thoughts. "And, besides, what's wrong with my outfit." Theo looked down at himself. "It's very breezy and comfortable. It's been so hot lately. Can't a guy have a little fun?"

Pedro rolled his eyes. "You're just lucky I can't fire you," the tiger teased placing Theo in the pink and white striped shirts pocket. The two looking as if they were about to head to a California beach as the tiger locked the front door of their place. Heading down the side stairwell, the two reached work on the first floor.

"The Little Things" was a peculiar store unlike any that had been seen before. With Theo's designs and Pedro's skills, the two had revolutionized the marketing world by targeting the one demographics most commonly overlooked. Smalls with Bigs or, as Pedro liked to say, Bigs with Smalls.

The two would argue often about which one came first.

On the first floor, beneath their shared apartment, was a large open room that had been divided in half. It looked like a cross between an antique shop and pottery barn. There were furniture of all sizes and shapes, do it yourself home improvement kits with guides helping Smalls fit in a bigger environment and that was just scratching the surface of all the things they sold.

On one side of the store that Theo ran, the "Small" section, were various goods shrunken down to the size that a rodent, squirrel or even a badger could use. There were clothes that Theo had, originally, handmade before getting a larger staff to help out with. Outsourcing most things to a friendly chipmunk colony nearby that had been eager to get in on the idea.

Theo turned out to be a natural leader and worked with a much larger staff than Pedro did, being the go between the two sides of the store. Theo would sketch out, draw up or write down the guide for something and send it to his staff that would quickly make whatever it was possible. Many, even small, hands put together got the job done quickly and Theo had been astonished at just how quickly, when they put their minds to it, Smalls could get things done.

Pedro worked on the other side of the store. A large clear divider had been placed between the two sides, for safety concerns, in the front leaving an open area in the back for them to safely intermingle after the Big and Small had been cleared to enter the area. Pedro had reworked several toys into working vehicles that someone Theo's size could use. He placed them right next to the open space in the back of the room where people could come up and check the things out before getting back to work.

One of their hired security made sure to keep an eye on things when the store got busy. He would regulate how many people could be in the back and double check them on the way out. Pedro would step in as need be and any Big would back down when faced with the angry looking tiger.

Theo had been surprised by how many people were into the idea of the two, very different, groups mingling with each other. Safely mixing them together. Both with their customers and people that wanted to join the ever-expanding enterprise. They were even opening up to online orders that were always keeping them busy with work.

And, still, that was only the start.

There was a market here that Theo wanted to make sure to tap into. Providing anyone shopping here with not only a unique choice of goods but a very unique experience unseen anywhere else. Theo just need to make sure to trade mark it in time.

The room had been divided in two. Simple enough. One side was dictated for Bigs. The other for Smalls. Theo heading towards one side and Pedro the other at the start of the day, giving one more kiss as Pedro dropped Theo off. On one side everything was small and compact, lifted off the floor using tables and crates that had been connected with suspension bridges and walkways letting the Smalls shopping here stay far up off the ground.

The further into the back you went, things began to change. Becoming more open and welcoming, designed for both a Big and Small in mind. Both sides meeting together eventually.

There were pathways between these walkways, big enough for someone even Pedro's size to walk through. Each table and set of boxes had multiple floors with different goods inside, serving as an almost shopping mall for Smalls to come through to see what they wanted to purchase, browse, or buy. The bottom floors were larger than the top floors, designed for the bigger smaller species such as mustelids like otters or even skunks in mind.

There was one thing that Theo had wanted though, above everything else. This wasn't just a business; it was his dream and to accomplish his goals he needed Pedro's help to do.

"Exposure... therapy...?" Pedro wasn't even sure where to start with that.

"Exactly! The one thing you do when your afraid of something? Expose yourself to it!" Theo had jumped up and down coming to the conclusion that had plagued him most his life. "It's so simple and yet perfect!"

Bigs kept away from or flat out ignored Smalls and Smalls made a living by stay far, far away from Bigs. That left a gaping divide between the two groups, not just because of their vast varying size differences but also because they were foreign, almost alien creatures to each other.

What they lacked wasn't just knowledge but, after meeting Riz, experience. That was the one thing Theo wanted to change.

This divide had even prevented an accurate depictions and exchange of knowledge between the two varied groups of people. But, on top of all of that, there was one thing that needed to be solved above all else. Experience. The experience of the two different groups meeting was very different than just knowing what they are or what they do. A Big could be curious about a Small, not meaning to put them in any danger or meaning to put them at risk or have a fear of them... but just their size, alone, could.

Most Bigs that Theo had met over the years treating them like oddities and toys instead of other living sentient beings. Trying to figure them out like a new device instead of sitting down and talking and getting to know them as a person instead of a thing.

Riz had been the perfect example of that.

The hyena had meant well but still, just like Pedro had done, treated the rodent as some kind of pet instead of as a person.

While Bigs were more curious about Smalls, Smalls were deathly afraid of Bigs for obvious reasons. Over the years things had gotten better and the threat of, another, war had prevented anyone foolish enough to try and hunt them down. There were always still stories or news articles about violence happening between the two groups. Smalls getting revenge on a Big that had unknowingly destroyed their home or a Big finding and torturing a Small for their amusement.

That was why Hank had been added to the store. A rather gruff looking brown bear in a full security uniform to be as large and imposing as possible. Security had been added to the building and Pedro's secondary job was to make sure everyone was safe and behaving or Hank would take care of it. No one wanted to mess with the bear.

That was where "The Little Things" came in. Theo's entire idea was one of the most simplest of things.

"It's not a zoo!" Theo had squeaked at the tiger who teased him about it. "It is an experience. Bigs don't know Smalls. This place gives them a chance to interact with them in a safe, controlled environment to learn and understand that they are people to. Smalls will be able to see that not all Bigs are dangerous but understand that just due to their sheer size, they can be unknowingly so! This'll help them learn to keep their heads on straight as well as," Theo had picked up one of the many signs he'd been working on. "Learn the rules."

On the warning sign was a list of rules. This one was a circle crossed out of a massive paw stepping on a little guy. The paw and the Smalls were shaded and impossible to tell who they were, but Theo had based it, and many others, off the two of them. Using them as the example to go off of.

"I apologized for that!" Pedro rolled his eyes. "I didn't even hurt you."

"Yes. Because you are extremely mindful of touch." Theo nodded. "The second you felt me against your paw pad you pulled back instantly. THAT is the kind of knowledge and experience I want others to learn! Accidents are bound to happen. There is no preventing that. I can't change how people see things but... but with this, I can help them understand at least. Experience is something we all need to learn. We can't know it by just reading a book or seeing it online. You need to be there to experience it! Just to expose ourselves to other cultures and people, big or small, cat or mouse... just to learn that, in the end, we are all people that feel and care and love and- STOP THAT!"

The rat had jumped up, yelling at the tiger who was zipping down his pants in front of Theo while he was giving his speech about his idea.

"What? You said to expose myself." Pedro just grinned and the tiny rat had kicked the bulge resting on the tabletop, it had the opposite reaction than what Theo had been going for and the tiger just stuck his tongue out at the rodent in front of him. "Harder."

"Oh, shut up!" Theo had given Pedro the silent treatment until the tiger had apologized and made it up to him by baking a Sopapilla cheesecake pie.

"All I'm saying is... if you want to help me." Theo's ears had splayed out, unable to look at the tiger as he snacked on the honey milk-soaked treat. "If you want to... we might be able to make a difference. Is all I was trying to say... so people don't make the same mistake I did."

"Theo," Pedro had bent down to bump his nose against the rat's back until Theo looked at him. "We already have..."

The difference was how the two of them had gotten their business started. As big as Theo's ideas and dreams were, they needed to be rational about this and do things slowly so they could make a difference on a, hopefully, larger scale.

Following a similar construction process as the colony had, Theo had Pedro build stacked buildings that could be disconnected and interchanged throughout the season to keep up with whatever was in demand. These were built of strong plastics and reinforced with metal bolts. Even if someone accidentally tripped and fell on them, they wouldn't crumble or break. Small little bunkers that could protect the Small inside from a natural disaster or a careless Big.

These "small shops" had led to another idea that Theo had run past Pedro one late evening.

"Housing?" The tiger asked as the rat practically bounced up and down on his chest that night.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Think about it! We can build extremely sound, secure, and structurally supportive buildings for people to buy and use!" The albino rats red eyes had sparkled at the idea. "Just think about it, Pedro!" The rat had grabbed hold of the tiger's snout and was trying to shake his head around with his excitement. "We can make homes! For Smalls! Just like how you built my bedroom in your wall, we can build box houses, Small homes if you will, that we can transport to the desired location for the Small to live at! Anywhere! This is a game changer, and we'll make a fortune once word gets out." The rat's tailed curled in and Pedro could practically see dollar signs in the rodent's eyes.

"Squatters, got it." Pedro nodded and Theo had nibbled on the side of his nose making the tiger wince. "Ow, ow, ow. Mi amor, I was joking! Just joking!"

"Don't ruin this for me! You don't understand, you're a Big. You can go where you want and where you please, stomping around and be like 'fee-fi-fo-fum I'm a big stinky tiger man that goes where he pleases!" Theo mimicked Pedro's accent as he stomped around on the tiger's chest with his arms up.

"Kaiju Pedro again?" The tiger had chuffed.

"Kaiju Pedro." Theo nodded before rolling over onto his back as the tiger tickled him with a finger. "I apologize for nothing!" The rodent had just giggled at the tiger's teasing.

The Small Homes were extremely well-made, hand-crafted buildings of varying sizes that were built with the area they would end up in in mind. Theo had never expected their first customers turning out to be a large group of migrating birds looking for homes to stay in for the summer.

It was a new, unseen market that Theo was gladly willing to accept.

"You are having me build tree houses?" Pedro rolled his eyes as he worked at his station in the back of the room one late night, sanding off and jigsaw the different pieces of wood he'd be using to build them with. "Do you know what that does to my pride? As a cat," he swallowed heavily, struggling to find the words to finish the sentence. "Building homes for... for.... Birds!"

"You don't seem to mind rodents." Theo had teased, staying up on a safe shelf out of the way. Pedro refused to have Theo around the heavy equipment unless he was strapped in and out of the way. The tiger would turn the machine off, pretending to sand something whenever Theo came by to check on him.

"Yes, they are delicious." The tiger licked his lips and made a loud "Mmm" sound as he rubbed his belly. "Pop them into my mouth like pieces of popcorn. Mexican street corn-style rat kabobs." He growled hungrily at the idea, drooling. "Just dust you with some seasonings and... what?" Pedro asked getting a look from Theo.

"You done yet?" Theo rolled his eyes.

"I could keep going. Give you ideas for date night," the tiger stuck the tip of his tongue out as he pulled off his heavy safety gloves and put them on the work bench. He reached up, disconnecting Theo's harness, before bringing the rat close. "I do not like rodents."

Theo's ears folded back as he looked away from the tiger.

"I love them." And Pedro planted a large wet kiss on the side of Theo's face as the rat squirmed in his grip, the tiger refusing to let him go. "Or at least, I love one."

"I love one feline... too." Theo just blushed, refusing to look at the tiger as he pouted in Pedro's grip. The white rodent might as well be glowing the same color as the pink paw pads holding him up before the tiger's muzzle.

"Oh? Is it someone I know?" Pedro smugly asked, leaning back as he looked at the rat with half-closed eyes.

"Well, he's handsome." Theo nodded.

"Oh?" Pedro's soft brown eyebrow lifted at that. "Tell me more, tell me more."

"He's very funny." Theo continued and Pedro nodded along. "Or at least, he thinks he is." The rodent teased and the tiger's ears splayed out.

"I bet he's hilarious!" Pedro grumbled to himself.

"He's also a very good hand-dancer." Theo shrugged at the look he got.

"Hand-dancer? Sounds like a bad porno." Pedro snorted.

"If you saw the way he uses his hands, you'd understand." Theo sighed dreamily.

"Yeah, still sounds like a bad porno." Pedro rolled his eyes.

"He's also super smart," Theo winked.

"Damn, can't be me then!" The two laughed. "You think I'm smart...?"

"You aren't, like, book smart no..." Theo chuckled at the crestfallen look that fell over the tiger's face. "But you have some of most interesting bits and pieces of knowledge of anyone I've ever met. You can do yard work, construction, you're a carpenter but also an electrician!" Theo just smiled. "None of this, Pedro, would be possible without you." The rodent gestured around their shop that late night. "You made this possible."

"Because of my padres money." Pedro frowned but Theo caught his face with a hand and stopped him, looking down his muzzle into those bright blue eyes.

"No, Pedro. We were able to do this because you are so smart. So skilled. You are so incredible that, at times, I don't know how I got so damn lucky to be with you." Theo smiled and Pedro ear's splayed out.

"I'm going to fucking eat you if you keep that up, being so damn sweet!" The tiger masked his embarrassment with humor and the two laughed about it as they headed upstairs, that night, together.

Only to start it all over again the next day. Doing what you love is still work, no matter what anyone said but Theo wouldn't have changed things for the world.

"Are you sure windows are a smart idea?" Pedro had asked about the buildings the two of them had taken a pain stacking long time making. "All the Smalls inside will be able to see are crotches and legs and paws... I mean, some people will be into that but not everyone."

Theo had laughed though as he walked around the desk looking at the blueprint spread out over the buildings designs he had in mind.

"I know it seems silly but, the thing is? Most Smalls live underground, within trees or within some kind of structure. They don't even get a chance to see a Big's legs, or crotches!" Theo rolled his eyes as the tiger wiggled his eyebrows at him.

"Some do." Pedro purred and the rat had to push the playful tiger's snout away.

"No! None of that mister! We still have a lot of work to do." Theo blushed, shaking the lewd thoughts away. "Back to what I was saying! Smalls need to be exposed to Bigs in a safe environment. These plastic glass panels are reinforced like the structures are! They could take a baseball bat to them without breaking! Those inside can get a clear view of what it's like with Bigs walking around without worrying for their lives..."

"Will it work though?" Pedro frowned, being honest about it. Theo shook his head.

"No... not at first. I've learned that. I can't just... just turn the spout all the way on and expect others to be okay with the change. I got to do it slowly. One drop at a time. One thing at a time... get people used to Bigs. Comfortable around them. Familiar with them. Just familiar with the way one of you walk! It seems silly but when you are my height... you understand. Every step you take Pedro, shakes my world. Someday, maybe, then..." Theo walked over and unraveled another blueprint. "That's where phase four comes into mind."

"What happened to three?" Pedro asked.

"We always leave phase three to profit." Theo grinned. "First phase is introduction, second phase is exposure, third phase is profit, last phase... interaction." And Theo slowly unraveled the paper. Pedro placed small weight on the corner so it wouldn't roll back up on the rodent. "There are a few things I have in mind but the first one I had..." He tapped on the paper, looking back and up at the tiger hovering over him. "This."

"A.... salon?" Pedro was skeptical at first as he helped construct the device the following morning using his uncles workbench to do so.

The newest addition to their very strange shop.

In one section of their store was several salon chairs that had been pushed up in front of a wall. The wall had been the main thing for Pedro to work on. There were several sheets of plexiglass serving as windows for those getting the service to watch those on the other side. Slots in the walls were just large enough for someone like Pedro to stick his hands and paws through. They'd be strapped in, for the workers' safety, while they got their fur, nails and paw pads done.

A Small treating a Big.

Smalls that Theo had found and hired over the past year worked to help trim, clean and manicure or pedicure those that had paid for the service. The Big could talk with the Smalls on the other side working if they liked or just enjoy the feel of the pampered treatment.

After a weasel had gotten a little too friendly, the safety devices had been upgraded. The Smalls, if they felt threatened, could ring the bell to call for help or push a button to slam the openings shut. Thankfully, only one incident ever had to require Hank, their security bear, to come in to break things up.

"It turned out far better than I ever thought it would," Theo had to admit. It was a major hit with female customers, and some males wanting the experience. Riz got his nails done at least once a week. "We've been able to increase the prices and make a hefty profit just last quarter." He nodded as if he were some savvy businessman. "I'm a genius, you can say it." He stood there, proudly, with a hand on his chest before the tiger.

"May I?" Pedro had asked, setting Theo down on the center counter where you would normally pay for the treatment. The tiger carefully got up and into one of the salon chairs before pushing the bell next to Theo. "Service. I require service!" Pedro called out, looking around. "Oh, there you are. I didn't see you being so small and tiny."

Theo glared at him for that but, coughing into a hand, played the role. "Hello there good sir, what brings you here this fine evening?" Theo bowed as if he were a server, welcoming the tiger into a fancy club.

"Well, I have just gotten off a long day of work. I would be very grateful if I got a full spa treatment, por favor." Pedro batted his eyelashes at the rodent who just laughed.

"Yes, yes. Of course, sir." Theo cleared his throat before walking over and setting things up. Four slots in the wall opened for Pedro to use. "Now then, if you would just put your hands and feet through the openings..." Theo bowed, motioning for the tiger to do so.

"Doesn't seem safe. Or sanitary." Pedro stuck his tongue out as Theo grabbed one of his bulky hands and dragged it through the slot. "Is this what they meant by being man handled? I could get used to it." The tiger chuffed.

"I do bite!" Theo warned and Pedro laughed.

"No straps," Pedro said and Theo, blushing, agreed to it.

"Usually we do." Theo laid Pedro's massive tiger hand on the counter before him. The tiger drummed his fingers as Theo walked over to grab some tools down off the wall to use. Pedro never let anyone else do this and, if Theo didn't help, the tiger would end up very scruffy with overgrown fur between his fingers and toes, his paw pads becoming rough and calloused with the long days of work the two put in to keep this place up and running.

Taking a small fur trimmer, Theo told Pedro to open his fingers before slipping between two digits and trimming the white tufts of fur between the pale orange markings on the back of the tiger's hand. The scissors were slightly larger than what Theo would've liked but didn't say anything as he used the hedge clippers to trim the tiger's fur as if he were some kind of foliage.

"You been doing this long?" Pedro asked as if only to be friendly.

"Since I began working here," Theo answered almost robotically as he carefully trimmed the fur to an even, manageable length before going around to work on the next finger. Pedro closed the first set of fingers to give him more space for the second.

This hadn't been their first rodeo doing this.

"Oh? How long has the little rata been working here?" Pedro smiled through the plexiglass, watching as Theo painstakingly trimmed his fur, grooming it out after with a small comb and then going around to file down Pedro's nails.

Pedro turned his hand over, showing off his pink paw pads. Each one of the paw pads had the tiniest hints of black around the edges that Theo focused on with a manicure tool that resembled a pumice stone. Sitting in Pedro's palm, the rat bent over to work and rub off each one of the tiger's fingers. Pedro would lift them up for Theo to access.

"Going on a couple years now. My man and I got this place from his family. We spent an entire summer cleaning things up and remodeling it." Theo wiped the sweat from his brow. After a long day of work, he could smell the musk coming off the tiger's fingers and tried to ignore it as he started on the center palm.

"Speaking of familia, how is yours doing, Theo...?" Pedro asked, ears splaying out. "Do they still...?"

"No, no, no. Nothing like that. I pigeon mail my brother at least every other day." Theo just smiled up through the plexiglass at the tiger. "Anthony keeps me up to date with the family and what's going on with the colony. Looks like they're planning to move, again..."

"How many times does that make?" Pedro sighed, shaking his head unable to believe that mayor was still in charge. They had refused Theo's offer to give them structures to live in. Even now, letting their pride govern their lives. Not wanting any help from a Big.

"Too many." Theo gritted his teeth before exhaling. He bent down and nosed between the tiger's fingers, sniffing, and letting Pedro's smell calm his nerves down before getting up and walking over to the other tiger's hand to start that up. "I have written it off now by now. There isn't anything else I can do but send some money home to them... They are going to do their own thing. And I am going to do my mine."

"I'm sorry, mi amor. For that. It isn't easy to see..." Pedro repeated the process as before, opening his fingers up as need be before extending his nails out for Theo to work on as the rat sat in his palm. It was a familiar weight, Theo sitting in the tiger's palm.

One Pedro would never get tired of experiencing.

"It is what it is." Theo shrugged it off before taking off his pink tank top and tossing it onto Pedro's wrist. "I'm going to head down to do your paws."

"Careful not to get stepped on." Pedro stuck his tongue out as Theo flipped him off, taking the small elevator down towards where the tiger had stuck his feet through the bottom of the salon door.

Theo nose wrinkled from the pungent smell but didn't say anything as he tapped the first paw. Pedro couldn't resist as he lifted it up, scooted forward quickly and brought the heavy thing down on top of the rat. Trapping Theo underneath his massive paw. Theo squirmed and squeaked and yelled at the tiger who gently pressed down on him, curling his toes around the angry rodent before letting him go just as quickly as it had happened.

Theo was a disheveled mess of fur and whiskers as he jumped up, cursing under his breath as he groomed his whiskers as the tiger turned the paw over, as was procedure, showing off his pink beans for the rodent to take care of.

"Sorry. I couldn't resist. You feel so good squirming under me." Pedro chuffed a laugh, smirking to himself.

"Of course, you know this means war..." The rodent walked over to turn on a machine tucked up against the wall. The small machine chugged to life as Theo took the hose in hand, turning the spout towards the tiger's foot and let it loose.

The power washer shook as the harsh spray of water hit the tiger's foot making Pedro wince, toes curling as he bit one finger to stop from yelling out comically. Theo had turned it to the max setting, and it felt as if the rodent was trying to take the tiger's beans off as he hosed and sprayed them down.

"Lo lamento! Mi rata, por favor, turn it lower." Pedro whined from above, covering his face with both hands. "It burns us!"

"That's what you get, you gato grande!" Theo squeaked as he turned it off and came over with a scrub brush. Dipping it in a soapy mixture, he began to work over Pedro's paws and the feline melted above him, purring low and deep as the rat scrubbed his tired feet off. "You're just a big baby in the end."

Pedro rested against the counter as he put some music on for the two to enjoy. He turned and tilted his paw as needed, splaying his toes as asked as Theo cleaned him off. The bristled brush made the tiger's face change from good to bad to "just the right spot" as he "oo'd" and "aw'd" his way through the loving, if rough, care Theo put into his work during the treatment.

It was exhausting work and Theo needed to give his staff a raise for doing this throughout the day.

"This is why," Pedro said a good fifteen minutes later as Theo came back up the elevator with a towel over his head, drying off. "You don't do this with anyone else." The tiger adjusted himself. "Soy un hombre celoso." The tiger chuffed. "And the things you do to me, I won't allow done to others."

Pedro growled low, one of the very few times the tiger looked angry around the rodent.

"Just because I brushed your teeth that ONE time doesn't mean," Theo covered his blushing face as he laughed. His hands stunk of the tiger's paw and tried to ignore them wishing he'd washed off better.

"Heh, little rata. That's not what I was thinking of." The tiger said, glancing around the room as if to make sure no one was there after hours before standing up.

Theo got a clear view of the tiger, towering over him on the other side of the plexiglass, and watched as Pedro unbuttoned and zipped down the front of his pants. With a single motion, the tiger flopped his junk out into the open air, free balling in the air in front of the rodent who squeaked in alarm. Glancing around once more, the tiger took a step forward and pressed his groin up against the wall, manhandling his junk through the hand opening in the wall so it was resting there to Theo's left.

"I think I might need one more spot cleaned, mi amor." The tiger purred low and deep as the rodent blushed on the other side of the glass.

"P-Pedro," Theo hissed looking around as if to make sure no one else was there in the dead of night as they were.

"The things you get me doing," Pedro was the one to blush, feeling warm in the face as he gave a cheesy grin. "You think, my good sir, you could put those tiny, skilled hands of your to work and give this el tigre a man-i-cure?"

"...What?" Theo just asked, a bit confused, eyes glued to the large bulge pushing through the open slit in the wall. The nuts would make for the perfect bean bags and Theo refused to ever mention that to Pedro who would, surely, let him use them as such.

"Manscape. Manscape me." The tiger rolled his eyes. "Unless you like su tigre having a jungle for you to explore?"

"Oh, my freaking gawd, Pedro! You are terrible." Theo just covered his face with a hand, shaking his head in shame for the feline. If Theo didn't take care of Pedro, no one else was going to.

"Careful, mi amor. It's been a long day of work..." The tiger held the top of the wall with both hands, looking over it and down at the rat standing before his junk. His sheath twitch and Theo nearly collapsed his face turning so red it hurt. "One of these days you are going to get used to seeing this. What did you call it? Exposure therapy?"

"T-that was for OTHER people, Pedro!" Theo turned away, taking several heavy breaths as he tried to calm down. It was hard to see if the feline was teasing him again or if Pedro actually expected Theo to help him with his issue.

The air was warm and musky from the tiger's groin and Theo could swear there was steam coming from that large sheaths opening.

"I like to think of myself as a poised man..." Theo said, turning around with his fingers pushed against each other so he could stop from reaching out to touch the tiger's exposed self. Or jump face first against it. "But even I have my limits."

The rat chuckled, reaching a hand out before stopping, withdrawing it and holding it with his other as if afraid the tiger's groin was going to burn him at the smallest of touches.

"Theo," Pedro growled from above. The rat looking up at him. "I promised you we don't have to do anything, remember? I keep my promises, Theo..." The tiger took a moment, groaning out as he stretched on his tip toes reaching for the ceiling before taking a step back, pulling his groin out with an audible "pop" from the hole. Holding his groin, Pedro went on. "I'm just a tigre, standing in front of a rata, asking him to get the other off."

Theo laughed at that before glancing up at the tiger still watching him.

"Oh. OH. You are serious..." Theo swallowed at that. Sure, Pedro had teased him over the years they'd been together. The two had even, somewhat, done stuff with each other. Or at least, adjacent to the other. In the same room. Sometimes in the same bed. Sometimes with Theo's nose in Pedro's armpit...

This was different. This was a lot different than just getting off to each other smells and bodies.

There were certain things though that neither of the two had wanted to cross. Where the lines had been drawn in there very strange and peculiar relationship. As odd as the very store the two of them had made together. A jumbled messy relationship with all kinds of things mixed together into one place with lines drawn, walls built, and safety measures taken into account.

Theo wasn't sure if it was because of his own wants and needs that he didn't want to do it with the tiger or... or if it was once more society dictating his life for him. Telling him what he could and couldn't do, who he could and couldn't be with. Because of whom he was born as. A small, insignificant rat in a big, big world...

"What kind of man do I want to be...?" Theo had asked himself that question ever since he had gotten kicked out of the colony. He thought he'd known until the day he had lost everything and moved in with Pedro.

Looking around their shop, he still wondered about that question. Everything here he and Pedro had worked for. Sure, they had the tiger's money to supplement their wants and needs for the shop, helping along the way. To get things off the ground and for it to really get going and started.

Still, Theo knew it was thanks to Pedro outside of just that. Outside of just all the money the tiger dished out. It was his work, the quality and care he put into things that people loved. It was as if the buyer could see the care and love that Pedro put into the products he made and worked on and that was why they would buy them from him. A tiger. That someone like Pedro, no matter how large or frightening he was, he could do things even for the little folk.

Like for Theo.

Where would Theo even be if not here with Pedro? A single day hadn't gone by since he'd moved in with the tiger that he thought of a life without Pedro there next to him, snoring in bed every morning as Theo got up to make coffee for the tiger. Pedro was such a part of his life, Theo couldn't imagine a single day without the tiger in it.

"My tiger." The rat almost chuckled on, thinking that over. There was no one else here. No one would know. Theo loved Pedro so why wasn't he...

"I didn't mean to pressure you." Pedro's voice was soft as he tucked himself away, taking a seat in the salon chair and resting against the counter. He wasn't looking at Theo, just to the side thinking similar thoughts as the rat was. "I just... quiero estar contigo."

"Pedro..." Theo licked his suddenly dry lips, swallowing trying to find the words. "I love you." He started. Three powerful words that a lot of relationships never even said to one another. Others said the words because they were expected or in a way of apologizing without meaning them. Without feeling them inside.

Theo did. He loved this silly, dumb tiger. He felt it in the very core of his being.

"I'm just... nervous. And scared. At first, it was because of what others would think of me. What they would... see me as after admitting it. Doing it. Saying the words that I... I love a tiger..." The rat chuckle, brushing the back of his hand against his cheek as he wiped it off.

Pedro turned just enough to look at Theo without saying a word, letting him go on.

"Then there was... well you're huge! Secondly, you are gigantic. A giant! You tower over me. Sure, I've taken glances and looks but like... to think of you, rock hard next to me... is your dick bigger than me..? I know your balls are huge!" Theo squeaked, blushing as he tried to laugh about it. He was shaking slightly, and Pedro could see why. "But your dick? Fully aroused... are you bigger than I am? How could I... I'm so..."

Everything about the tiger was gigantic to the rat. Every part. And the idea of that might be arousing to some but, for Theo, it was worrying.

"Third... Third, I worry. I'm afraid that I'll... I'll not satisfy you. I won't be enough of a... a man, for you. I'm so small, Pedro." Theo looked away, holding his arm. "I want to make you happy. To please you. But I... this body.. I just can't! I try so hard for you, every day. Make your coffee, try, and bring you the remote... I want to make you happy and I just... I just can't. I'm insignificant. I'm small and useless..."

Taking a deep breath, Theo turned back towards him needing to say this. To get it off his chance. His doubts and worries and concerns.

"I know, for you. It's... It's easy. Or, at least, easier..." Theo let out the breath he'd been holding. "That you are so big and I'm so... small. Such a thing, for you, isn't the same as it is for me. It's dangerous for me. It's actually life threatening for me to be with you and yet... and yet all I want to do is, to be, with you..." The rat twiddled his thumbs, staring down at them instead of up at the tiger looming over him.

Pedro's muzzle was so large it was blocking the dim lights out from above, casting a deep shadow over the smaller male's body. There was an eerie glow to those eyes. The large predator watching the small prey. A cat and a mouse.

How could they ever be called a thing? A relationship? Even friends...

"A day doesn't go by that I don't think of you. You just... being there. With me. Being my friend, my roommate, my coworker, the guy I stay up all night with working on projects or watching shows with or, or, or..." Theo choked on his words, getting worked up. He covered his mouth, closing his eyes as he tried to calm his racing heart down. "I'm sorry. I just need a moment to collect my thoughts."

Pedro gently reached out with a finger, brushing it against Theo's cheek to wipe the tears away.

"I love you, Pedro." Theo admitted, saying it aloud and blushing hotly as he did looking up at the tiger. "With all my heart, I love you."

"I love you to, mi rata." Pedro said in a low rumbling voice. "We don't have to do this... I don't want you to be uncomfortable. Not around me... please. I don't want you to be uncomfortable around me... it would kill mi, inside, if you ever were."

The pained look in Pedro's eyes? Theo felt it in his chest.

"I don't want to be in a relationship that doesn't have sex!" Theo squeaked, his voice rising up as he just shouted the words out. "And I want that! With you! You big dumb, stupid, silly, fun loving, stinky feline! I'm a rat that wants to have sex with a feline! There. There! I said it! I said it. I want to have sex with you, Pedro!"

"Oh my," Pedro ears splayed out as he blushed underneath his creamy white fur on his cheeks.

"I want to have sex. And talk about sex. And do sex stuff!" Theo just angrily said, stomping around now. "I'm just so freaking sick of not being able to just be like 'yeah, I'm dating a tiger and yeah we have sex! Get over it.'" Theo sighed, holding his head in his hands, tail curling around him. "I just... it's hard. Hard to be open, to be... me?" His hands were shaking as he looked down at them. "I just... I don't know if it's something I don't want to do or if it's just my upbringing? Afraid of what society will say about me. Afraid of getting hurt? Physically...? Emotionally...? What others will whisper behind my back and just," he held himself, tail curling around his ankles as he looked away. "Why do they have to be so mean, Pedro...? Why can't we just love who we want to and be happy...? Why does every feel the need to get involved in our relationship!"

"Well," Pedro started up with, offering a hand for Theo to climb on. The rat took a moment before nodding, jumping up onto it. Pedro lifted him up off the desk to hold before his face. "What do you want, Theo. In the end. That's all that should matter. Not what your familia says. Not what society wants. Not what I desire..." Pedro smiled softly then. "I will do, whatever you want to do. Because I know who I am. I like who I am. And I like to make you happy, mi amor. It makes me happy to see you so happy. Besides, I bought plenty of toys to get throughs these months we've been together..."

The tigers tail flicked as his soft blue eyes looked away.

"I had little wants growing up, Theo. Sure, I wished people would get over the fact I'm a tigre. That people should fucking learn a second language instead of forcing me to speak theirs!" The tiger clicked his tongue angrily. "I didn't know who I was, what I wanted. I didn't have that... that drive! That others do. Like you do," and then those eyes turned back towards the rodent in the tiger's hand. "This small, tiny, almost... insignificant person here, in the palm of mi hand... You had bigger ideas than I ever did. Bigger dreams than I ever would! Than this giant tigre ever, ever did..." Pedro chuffed softly but his laugh didn't meet his eyes. "I don't know where I would be today, without you, Theo. I was lost until you found me. I was just going day to day without a thought or care. Now look at me!"

The tiger rested back, holding Theo securely as he looked around the room.

"I own a store! I have my own apartment! I'm making a name for myself, slowly. People don't look at me with fear, anymore. They look at me as some strange, odd feline wanting to build things for a rat, heh. But I can live with that. I can... I can happily live with that. It's not exactly what I thought I'd be doing but I'm happy, Theo." Pedro nodded. "Estoy feliz. I am happy...?" The tiger chuckled, eyes tearing up a bit. "Who would've thought ol' Pedro could be... happy? All because a small little rata fell into my life. So, no matter what others say about you. What others may see you, or I, as? You are not insignificant. You are the biggest, smartest, big-brained person I have ever met and am glad to call you my rat... For," Pedro touched Theo's chest with a finger gently. "You have the biggest heart of anyone I have ever or will ever meet." And Pedro kissed the rat on the face before pulling back.

"Pedro..." Theo jumped forward to give the tiger's snout a big hug. "I love you..."

"I love you. Each and every day, mi amor. Each and every day." The tiger closed his eyes, nuzzling against the rat. "No matter what anyone says or does. Even if mi own familia cuts me off! I will love you and be here for you."

"I doubt your family will kick you out. They even asked you how I was doing the other day! They sent you a freaking post card, unfair.... They love you and accept you where my... where my family couldn't." Theo pulled back, chuckling as he wiped his face off. "Holy fuck! I can't stop crying! What the hell! Is there something in the water? I wanted to have sex and here I am sniffling like a baby..."

Pedro chuckled at that.

"Who says we can't do both...?" Pedro offered, standing up slowly as he held Theo in both hands now, looking down at him. "If... If you want. My dream, Theo? Is to make you happy. Until the day I die, mi amor. That is my dream."

"You can't say that to me without," Theo gasped, fanning his face as he cried. "Yes! Holy fuck, yes! Sex me already, you big stinky jungle god!" Theo just laughed, looking away as a deep blush took hold of his face. "I just... I just don't know how we are going to.. to do this... with the whole, you being a giant and me being... well, me..."

Pedro reached a finger down to brush along Theo's chin before lifting it up and turning it to face him.

"I have an idea in mind, for us." The tiger just nosed at the rat, nudging Theo onto his back in the palm of his hand. "Or two." The tiger's tail swayed. "Or three or four or five." The tiger chuffed and his hot, moist breath washed over the rat's body who shuddered at the deep lustful tone of the tiger before him, staring down at him with hungry eyes. "I've thought of many things we could do together. People are so vanilla. Got to get creative to please mi little rata. I got enough toys up in our bedroom alone," the tiger waved a hand with another chuff. "But, tonight, it'll just be us. I promise..."

The tigers front teeth nipped and bit at Theo's pants playfully, making the rodent squirm before him. It only enthralled the tiger further, breathing in Theo's scent from the tiny male in the palm of his hands. Sniffing and breathing it in, inhaling Theo's muskiness. Pedro pushed his snout closer, refusing to let Theo stand up unless the rodent asked.

Theo never did. He never stopped the tiger's advances.

A wet, damp tongue drooled from the tiger's lips. The tip of that hot muscle touched Theo's tail and the rodent froze, eyes widening as Pedro gave Theo a full body lick, drooling and pressing his tongue down over the rodent's half naked body; pressing Theo against his squishy paw padded hands as that thick muscle washed over him like a car wash, soaking his fur in tart tiger drool before Pedro pulled back to give Theo room to breathe.

It happened so suddenly, so quickly and with such loving care that the rat, at first, wasn't sure what to say or do in response to that. Theo laid on his back, dripping wet from tiger drool as he took several quick breaths, heart pounding in his chest as he looked up at the ceiling wondering what happens next.

"I'm not dead." Theo just said, blinking several times before wiping the drool off his face and sitting up. He flicked the drool to the side. "Urgh, I smell like cat breath now. Disgusting..."

"Not yet..." Pedro voice was like warm honey as he purred it out, staring down at the rodent in the palm of his hand. Something so small and yet, Theo felt so heavy as if the rat was the weight of the world to Pedro. "Not unless you want to be." The tiger grinned. "Only if you want... I won't just drop you in." He chuckled, giving another toothy smile.

"Didn't stop you this morning." Theo blushed, recalling being dropped into the tiger's underwear.

"Yes, but we both know how much you like my smell." The tiger nosed him. "Don't think I didn't catch you sniffing my socks the other day."

"You put them in my room!" Theo squeaked angrily at him as the tiger was the one to blush.

"Oh right... I, uh, thought you would get cold?" The tiger just teased, sticking the tip of his tongue out. "Needed to check if they were clean? Needed new bedding? Or maybe I was just wondering if you wanted to hitch a ride...?" The tiger just teased, nosing the rodent before pulling back and looking at him. "So...?"

"So...?" Theo glared back, crossing his arms.

"You want to spend the rest of the night with mi?" Pedro grinned.

"Don't we always spend the night together...?" Theo ear flicked at that.

"For someone so smart, you can be really dense, Theo." The tiger rolled his eyes. The rodent still didn't seem to get it. "...Sex, Theo. Do you want to have raunchy, wet, sticky, bodily spasming sex with mi? Por el amor de dios," Pedro rolled his eyes again.

"OH. Oh... OH!" Theo squeaked. "I. Um. I've never done this..." The rat pushed two fingers together. "Other than the times we fapped together and such, I mean..."

Pedro chuffed. "Don't worry, chico. Pedro will handle it all, just trust me."

"I do, Pedro. With... with everything." Theo said leaning in for a kiss. The tiger returned it, smooching his lips around the rodent before Pedro's jaws creaking open and with a drooling fangs smile, scooped the rat up with his tongue, closing his maw around the squeaking rodent before heading upstairs for the two of them to spend a long night of, strange, love making and passion together.

In their own little hole in the wall, together forever.

The End.