FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Adriel was very aware of the drop of sweat that trailed down his snout. Unfortunately, his fur was saturated with the moisture and couldn't absorb a lick more. Just an eighteen millionth reminder that he was out here, baking in the harsh summer sun, sweating like a pig, and stinking like a skunk.

Which of course was a complete and total fabrication. Of all the evolutionary holdouts from the days of yore that passed into obscurity, the skunk's stereotypical defense mechanism was one that Adriel wished more people were aware of. There were too many memories rattling around in his head of childhood bullies and sharp looks from adults and sneers from strangers and the willful effort to avoid standing too near him. The ultimate outcome of such a childhood was the insecure, introverted, neurotic skunk that passed what was left of his water bottle to his lips and again agonized that he forgot his travel deodorant at home.

He passed his eyes over the site, shading his eyes from the sun, fulfilling the oversight part of being on contractor oversight. Five guys stood across the site, scattered here and there, where their neon safety green, branded work shirts were stained with dirt, dust, and a fine pattern of sweat in all the normal places. Deep in their pits, about their collars, and trailing down their backs. 'Disgusting.' Adriel thought with a scowl.

He immediately regretted thinking it, tsking at himself. His own sweaty back peeled off the cinderblock wall, having decided it was time to do his hourly rounds and check on everyone. He started with the pair cutting and laying rebar, Zalez and Andre. The acrid smell of smoking steel hit Adriel's nose as he approached, sparks shot off the grinder like a sparkler during a festival. 'Pretty...' The skunk thought. The lack of awareness the marten had by standing in the stream however was quite concerning.

"Can you believe that asshole, I called him up to tell me that I'm coming back and you know what he fucking told me?"

"He fucking told you show up on time. I'm telling you, show up on time and he won't get angry. You were fired cause you didn't ever show up on time."

"That's bullshit, 'dre. I do! Twice a month!" Zalez the weasel laughed while holding up two fingers, as if a lack of punctuality was something to laugh about, all before turning back to measure more rebar.

"Look, dumbass, it's easy. Show up on time and work hard and he wouldn't have fired you."

"Mmm, I do! I bust my ass 99.9 percent of the time."

"More like 99.8 percent." The marten Adriel knew as Andre responded. Zalez laughed again, a wide mouth. Wide enough for Adriel to see his yellowing teeth from chain smoking. Andre joined him in chuckling before moving the cut rebar across the sprawling site to prepare for the concrete pour.

Adriel shook his head. Everyone onsite was a little odd to the skunk, a little off, just a touch unhinged. 'Working in the hot sun would do that to anyone, I'd imagine.' He thought as he stared up into the clear blue sky, eyes squinting as the harsh and unforgiving sun beat down on them. The skunk made a quick note in his work log before moving on to the next crew.

It wasn't really that they were unhinged or anything. They were just so different from Adriel, the college educated, newly hired inspector, whose primary responsibilities were to watch others do all the work and take some notes every once and a while. All while they dug in the dirt and operated power equipment and diggers and joked with each other and smoked multiple packs a day and smiled the entire time.

And at the end of the job, they had built something. They had created and turned raw materials into works that would house businesses, buildings, infrastructure, refueling islands, roads, whatever they could. They, by their calloused hands and paws, molded the natural landscape into a useful thing for Anthros, battered by wind, sun, and the elements to create productive structures. That's more than Adriel could say he's done. Spending the past four years in books and air conditioned college lecture halls had only reminded him that he hated being out in the dirt. In the heat. Being a nuisance. Being in the way. Sweating. And smelling like a skunk.

"Hey, Super, taking notes?" Javi the badger called Adriel's way. The embarrassed skunk flashed him a bit of a wave as he neared. 'Of course, I'm taking notes. That's all I do. All I can do...'

He was currently spraying X's on the ground with white paint marked out at three-foot, ten-inch intervals. These were eventually going to be bored with an auger and filled with ballards.

"Hello, Javi." Adriel called, "How's it going?"

"Ah, just 'nother day in paradise, Mr. Super." He said with a quick wink.

"This is paradise?" His tone was of course incredulous, it was above ninety degrees out, not a cloud in the sky. And the badger smelled, his dark fur trapped heat like a bitch, Adriel could relate.

"Yeah, could be raining." He joked while painting another X. All Adriel could do is shrug. Javi was another odd duck out here, someone who was paid to dig in the dirt.

"You remember where the underground electrical conduit is, right?"

"Sure do, Mr. Super." Javi jerked his head to the side. Little blue flags laid in a line starting at a quintet of above ground standing PVC that eventually would house a multitude of underground utilities. The path marked right through the site and conspicuously arched between the X's marked in the packed dirt. Adriel nodded.

"Looks good."

"You gonna make note of that, Mr. Super?" He posed, Adriel gave him a look. The badger was always smiling, always happy, always upbeat. And always teasing him. The nickname started day one and despite multiple requests, there was no getting rid of it. Adriel readied his clipboard and pen.

"Yes, Javi. I'll make a note of it. 'Javi demonstrated commendable work delineating the underground conduit and demarcating locations of ballards to avoid augering into them.'"

"And he's extremely handsome and deserves a fifty percent raise." The badger added.

"'And is quite pleased with himself and humbly requests a wage increase in recognition of his talents and skills'" Adriel chuckled as he faux scribbled the two notes in his log.

"Thanks, Mr. Super. But you missed the part where you've been checking me out all week. Got a crush on me." Adriel's pen actually scratched across the page, leaving a four inch streak through his meticulous notes. Immediate shock and disbelief hit Adriel like a freight train. He could only stare blankly at his page. Despite knowing it wouldn't work, he began scrubbing at the line, trying to erase his mistake. And only succeeded at creasing his paper and smearing the ink.

"Dammit." Adriel swore under his breath while Javi laughed at the skunk's misfortune. 'Asshole.'

"Yer much too tense, Mr. Super. You should come drinking with us after work. Take a load off." The badger made another X in the dirt, completely oblivious to Adriel's distress or in complete disregard of it. Neither sounded all that appealing to him.

Adriel the skunk was absolutely flummoxed. How could Javi just so casually drop a line like that and act like it's no big deal. Well, it's a big fucking deal!

"I- No, I'm not going out drinking with you guys. I gotta get home and shower." He said while trying to maintain some composure and dignity.

"Bah, showers. Who needs 'em? Just gonna get dirty tomorrow, yeah?" The badger dismissed Adriel with a brush of his hand and tail.

"That's, that's exactly why we need to take a shower, Javi. Are you serious, you don't shower?!" The badger stood up, legs spread from where he was leaning down to paint another X. His back was to Adriel and gave him a perfect view of the highway of moisture that was wicked down his back by the light yet tough fabric that he was wearing.

It was involuntary, but Adriel still pulled in two breaths. Quick puffs, short snorts. There was enough distance between them that even if he did stink there was no way he could have picked it up. But in the end, Adriel still tried. The stench of Javi's smug smile though, that was poignant. The badger turned to look over his shoulder.

"You into that, Mr. Super?" The words came out provocatively, they locked eyes as Javi looked over his shoulder. Cheeky badger grin and sweat stained brow clear and present as he side-eyed the skunk, bushy tail fanning towards him. Adriel's cheeks burned with more than just the heat of the sun as he scowled across the job sight. Javi's laugh was crisp and clear, and caught the attention of Zalez and Andre.

"Hey now. I'm gonna have to take you to church. Beat that gayness out of you." Zalez shouted. Adriel only blushed more under the sun, holding his clipboard in front of his face. Little flicks of sweat sprinkled the paper. Javi, however, took it in stride.

"Ah, don't you worry, you'll be fired in two days. And if you want, we can still meet behind the dumpster at the office. See how much you like getting the 'gayness' beat into you." Javi yelled back with a grope to his crotch, as if anyone needed help catching the innuendo. Adriel quickly walked away before he died of embarrassment and asked to be buried under the concrete they were going to pour later next week. The whoops and howls of laughter behind him might have not been at his expense, but it was very hard to believe that.

'Fucking assholes, all of them!' Adriel bitched in his brain. All the while trying desperately to dry the sweat drops from his clipboard. He swiftly kicked at some loose rock of the site, scattering a bit of a dust cloud that wafted across the land, flying free of the bounds of gravity. It was hard not to feel green with envy.

There was a freeness that everyone on this site seemed to have, a resilience in the face of the worst shit imaginable to the skunk. And they all could laugh so loudly, so openly, so happily. They were constantly laughing and cracking wise, jabbing each other with the worst jokes imaginable, and constantly hitting back.

Adriel couldn't imagine how any work actually got done, if not for his notes and pictures showing the time lapse of the site, he'd never have believed it. Adriel sighed the remaining agitation away, all while carefully stepping through square foot squares of lain rebar. 'Why can't I be like that?' he complained. Free, happy, content with his lot in life. Not plagued by anxiety and doubt. Not constantly on edge and guarded against making a mistake.

He came up to the last two workers on site. Felix the raccoon, and Geo the wolverine. Geo's eyes targeted him as the lone skunk delicately walked up, still avoiding getting tripped up by the rebar.

"Adriel." He was the only one that used his actual name on sight. And always so earnestly. It was a sharp distinction from the rest of the crew.

"Hello, sir."

"We're 'bout to start augering." He said it as a matter of fact. As if just letting Adriel know was an inconvenience, Adriel made a note on his sheet and just stayed out of the way. Felix sat posed in the excavator, rider atop his horse.

"We cleared for underground intrusion, Boss?" He asked, the engine flaring to life as the key spun in the ignition.

"Javi'll be done by the time we get over there. Let's hit it." His voice didn't request respect, didn't need to earn it either, he declared it. There was clear direction and it was honestly refreshing to hear. There wasn't anything to misunderstand, no satire or humor. Just crisp, clean leadership. Adriel noted the time on his paper. The noise was nice, it drowned out other thoughts.

'He's so cool. Why can't I be like that?' Adriel thought, sneaking a look over the top of his clipboard, blinking sweat from his eyes. He stood tall, arms crossed, back straight, back sweaty, two pools around his shoulder blades and one down his spine. It oddly looked like a two bladed axe, and only added to his image in the skunk's eyes.

He sighed and just looked over the sight. Five fascinating crew members, all unique and interesting. All doing their best with what they have, all doing better than Adriel.

'All I can do is stand off to the side and count bore holes. One, two, three, four, conduit, fi-'

Four then the conduit? That didn't sound right. Geo and Felix were already done with the first hole and repositioning the auger to the second. 'I must have miscounted. One, two, three, four,... conduit? Okay, didn't miscount.'

He scoured through his pages on pages of plans trying to find the one that showed where the utility was supposed to lay. He found it as he felt the ripple of the auger burrow into the ground, making borehole number two. The auger engine flared to life as it cut into the compacted ground.

Adriel's eyes flashed between it and his plans, convinced something was wrong. His sweaty fingers were slipping on the papers, making it hard to turn. He dropped his clipboard, paper spreading across the dirt at his feet. 'Dammit, dammit!'

A third borehole was drilled while he scrambled to grab his schematics.

"Looks good, Felix. Next one." Geo commanded, shouting to be heard over the engine noise.

"I, sir!" He called, voice failing in his throat. The auger hovered ominously over the white X, a clean target that belied what he felt was exactly where the underground conduit was. The bit spun.

"Stop!!"

Immediately, five sets of eyes turned his way. The drill slowed to a stop, the first inches of dirt excavated. 'Oh, fuck.' Under that much scrutiny, he felt his anxiety skyrocket. He gulped.

"Adriel." The voice that commanded respect, Geo's voice. "What is it?"

"I, uh, I, it's-"

"Out with it." Adriel cringed, feeling every hair on his body stand on end.

"I don't think the marker is in the right place." Geo looked down, looked across the site to where they originated at the standing PVC. Adriel was shaking, feeling very cold despite the sun.

"Felix, cut the engine."

"You got it, Boss." Dust clouds settled as bootfalls stomped over his way. Adriel couldn't look up at the man. Across the way, sounds of scrapping rebar and shooting paint started across the site.

"Hand me the plan." Strong words ordered him about. The skunk reached out, passing the one sheet that he found to the waiting paw. He focused on his breath, the giant presence before him just shaded out the sun. "Hmm, you're right. It should be between the third and fourth."

'Huh!' he looked up, 'I'm right!' Geo was already walking away, pulling out his phone.

"May! You scalie bastard, how's it going?" On the other side of the line May, Adriel's boss, answered.

"We're stuck, your electrician didn't mark the conduit where your plan marks the conduit. We're skipping the third and fourth boreholes on the west side. Get your guy out here to mark where it's supposed to be. Or are you okay with us tearing it to shit?" After a moment, Geo laughed. "Ha! That sure sounds like someone else's problem. Mainly yours. We'll skip the west side entirely. Have it marked by Monday?" A pause. Adriel could only blink. "Good. Take care, ya bastard."

The wolverine stomped over to Felix. "Ya hear?"

"Skip the west side, do it on Monday."

"Get going, I'll meet you over there."

"Got it, Boss."

'I was right.' Adriel was still shocked, just stunned. He didn't even register the giant that was handing his plan back to him, until it was waved under his face. Geo's eyes were strong, hard, and boring into him just like that auger did to the ground. Adriel gulped.

"S-sorry."

"For what?"

"I-, I don't know." Geo was silent, judging.

"Take your plan." The skunk accepted the page, gripping it hard enough to crinkle. He left without another word. And Adriel could only feel like he made a mistake, despite being right.

......

The skunk stayed far away from everyone for the rest of the day. Taking notes from afar, unwilling to interact with any of them. 'They're mad at me, I'm sure of it.' His ruckus surely upset every single one of them. Geo most of all. The wolverine never turned his way again that day, despite the skunk's surreptitious glances toward him. The giant never said anything more, and that made it all the worse to Adriel.

The skunk could only sigh, beat himself up, and count the sweat drops that fell to the ground. Eventually, the day had to come to an end. Geo called it a day, and a collected shout of joy rang through the five of them. Adriel sighed, happy to finally be free to go home, shower, and sleep the rest of the night in peace and solitude.

All of which was immediately thrown out the window, when he stood and was met face to face with the wolverine. He looked larger than life. Wide as a truck and stronger than steel. And terrifyingly close.

Adriel shrank back.

"The guys're all going drinking, join us."

"I, sir, I don't know. I need-"

"Speak up."

"I stink." The words were out before Adriel knew what he was saying.

"Are you fucking serious?" Geo said with a scowl. "Everyone here stinks. Get over yourself. Come on." Adriel was nodding and agreeing before a second thought, following after the large mammal.

Going drinking actually ended up being a fun time, despite initial hesitancies. Adriel didn't drink but there was something freeing in seeing these men outside of work. And constantly being surprised at how they acted completely the same.

Zalez complained about the hours they were asked to work. Andre called him a "lazy piece of shit." Javi teased him for drinking a rootbeer and was constantly offering him a "shot of something stronger" with a wink. Adriel ignored that, no use trying to understand that badger. Or maybe he understood that badger too much.

Felix cut out early, having a date to get to.

And Geo sat in the corner, chuckling at every joke and nodding at everything said to him. Adriel couldn't keep his eyes off him. The chocolate brown fur trimmed short, the broad shoulders that rumbled with his laugh. Eyes light yet steely.

'He still looks so cool...'

The problem was getting caught staring, multiple times, blush reddening each time. Only to look up again and be met with those icy eyes staring back at him. Ones that bore straight through him.

It was eventually too much and Adriel needed to excuse himself. Get away from Geo and his eyes. The bar restroom smelled chemically clean and thankfully was quiet enough for Adriel to think as he pissed.

'I got to stop staring at him. I'm sure he already hates me. I'm just pissing him off more.'

And he didn't want that. He didn't want any trouble. Adriel wanted to just make it through the rest of their project together and hopefully never see each other again. Never see those wide shoulders or thick legs or powerful arms or those...

He groaned as he finished up. Heat and blood rushing to his awakening member. Further distressing the young adult. 'Go down you. You'll get no attention from me. Or him.' The mental command served no purpose, and it didn't make his erection go away either.

The skunk sighed. Angry, slightly humiliated despite his solitude, and now horny. The shock of the bathroom door opening made his hackles raise, tail shoot straight out. And thankfully, immediately killed his hard on.

Heavy footfalls came to the urinal to his left. Neon green safety shirt, heavy duty work pants, chocolate fur bloomed in the sides of his eyes. It made Adriel shiver, his jaw locked and eyes snapped forward. 'Don't look! Don't look! Don't look!" ran on repeat in his mind, doubly so when he heard the zipper open.

The tiny tiles in front of him had to hold his attention, anything else and he was sure to get spotted like prey and singled out. Eaten alive and discarded. Torn apart. By the hands of Geo the wolverine himself.

The problem of course was his paralysis was much to complete, by the time Adriel recovered any level of agency over his body. Geo had finished his business and was washing his hands. The absolute shame of being a coward ate at him.

'I ran in here to get away from him, and now I'm too scared to move. Dammit!'

Anger brought motion to his frozen limbs. He pulled himself together. Pulled up his pants and beelined it to the door. His hand was on the handle, just a pull away from freedom. Freedom from being near Geo and freedom from his guilt.

"I really hate little shits like you." The line was delivered with the calm intensity of a soon to be raging storm. A voice that didn't demand respect. It embodied it. A voice as old as time and as wide as the sky. A voice that when spoken had to be heard. Had to be heeded.

Adriel was halted again, hand around the handle, just a pull from freedom.

The faucet squeaked, errant drops of water plinked on the drain, the ceiling fan buzzed on its bearings. But all the wide-eyed skunk heard was his own heart. It thumped loud, almost louder than Geo, but nothing could keep him from listening to his coworker.

Steel toed boots made their way over to him. Counting out the seconds until he gets killed. Cutting his pathetic, dismal life short. Soon, too soon for Adriel, the wolverine was at his side, towering over him. Silence pestered him, nagged at him, sapped at his strength. He had to respond, answer the insult, in the only way he knew how.

"S-sorry..."

Geo tsked in further anger. "This is the exact shit I'm talking about! You have no idea what you're apologizing for, do you?"

"No. I'm so-"

"Don't you dare finish that word, Adriel. You hear me!" Adriel's eyes dipped to the ground, two pairs of boots. His new and clean, Geo's cracked and worn, caked in dirt and mud, worn and still kicking.

'Even his boots are stronger than me.'

"What did I do? I don't even know what I did." Adriel admitted, stuck in the corner of the restroom, boxed in by the large man.

"Of course you don't. I've seen my share of sad eyed, drooping tailed brats like you who decided that just existing was a fucking problem and can't help but grovel and beg for forgiveness from anyone and everyone they meet. It makes me sick!"

He wanted to cry, break down, fall to the floor, and yes, beg for forgiveness. But Geo was telling him that was wrong, and that made him reconsider. Someone telling him that it was wrong to be wrong. The idea hurt, it challenged every single belief he held about himself. Everything he was taught from every stranger that he's met, every damn one that looked down on him, considered him as nothing more than a disgusting, smelly, dirty skunk.

He got mad.

"What the hell would you know about it!?" Fury he didn't even know he had. Welled up from God knows where. "What the hell would you know about what I've gone through!? You don't know a damn thing about me! You don't have the right to talk down to me like that!" He rose up, as tall as he could be, tall enough to face his Goliath, his Geo. Steam poured from his mouth and nose. Blood pumping stronger than he's ever felt, repressed rage that exploded once given the slightest provocation. And all he hoped was that Geo feared him.

All Geo did was smile, steely eyes twinkling.

"Good." The wolverine said, the obtuse reaction stunning Adriel once again.

"What?" He demanded.

"You're angry. Good. It means you haven't beaten yourself into the grave yet. It means you still might have a chance." The man crossed his arms, even at Adriel's full height, the wolverine was a head taller. Twice as wide. Three times as strong. And four times as cool as the skunk.

"What are you talking about?" Realizing somewhere he had clenched his fists. 'As if I could actually fight this guy."

"It means exactly what I said, Adriel." Hearing his name, spoken with the most respect he's heard from anyone, it iced his anger. Made him question Geo's motives.

"Chance for what?" Bitter words spat back.

"To stand tall, Adriel. To be strong." The skunk grit his teeth, dull irritation and frustration, smoldering within his gut.

"I'm not strong, Geo. I never have been." The wolverine growled something bestial at the younger of the two.

"What a pathetic excuse, that the best you got?"

"What do you want from me!? You know what, never mind. I'm leaving." Vice like fingers clamped the handle. He saw freedom. The interior of the bar. Seats and patrons. The next thing he saw was a large paw. The slam on the door rattled the wall, his escape blocked.

"We're not done here." Fear gripped the young man, finally realizing how close they were. He had to press against the door to keep any amount of space between them.

Two stared each other down.

Cowardly Adriel didn't panic, sure he was trapped, sure he was backed into a corner, and sure that Geo was going to tear him a new one. But screw it! Why not meet his doom head on? Show this brute that he's not just a "sad eyed, drooping tail brat!"

"It's not an excuse! It's the truth. I'm not like you."

"Like me?"

"I'm not strong, I'm not confident, or cool, or big, or anything like you. I've been picked on my entire life by assholes like you, and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of you. I'm sick of having to work with you, to have you look down on me, judging me. Let me go!"

Water dripped in the leaky faucet, the ceiling fan squeaked to a halt. Adriel heard himself breathe, the sweeping air came in and out of his nose. Sneer plastered on his face. Showing Geo just how much he thought of the man. How much he cared about his empty words.

Geo only continued to blink, brow knitted into a slight scowl. He didn't even flinch, bared every thing Adriel threw his way. And not a one phase him. All it proved was what Adriel knew deep in his bones. 'He's so much stronger than me? Why!?'

Adriel's posturing anger faded, the skunk couldn't beat this man. It was folly to try, stupid to think he could. He let his shoulders sink, head drop, leg muscles lax, tail droop, eyes sadden. 'Just get it over with. Just end me.'

When Geo finally talked again, the words were soft. Weak in a way that Adriel had never heard from the giant. "You want to be like me?"

The skunk answered honestly. "Yeah, I do." 'More than anything.' He added internally.

"Then listen to me, Adriel." Soft words, and still a voice that commanded respect. Adriel lifted his head. Steely eyes met his own.

"I'm going to tell you what you need to do. You need to get your hands in the dirt. You need to put your neck out there. You need to get knocked on your ass fourteen million times and stand up fourteen million and one times, that's how." Those eyes inched closer, taking up more and more of his vision. He dared not blink. "Of course you're nothing like me, you were in diapers when I had to bust my ass at two jobs to make ends meet. I don't expect you to be anything like me. And you shouldn't either. I said I hated little shits like you, that's cause it gets me right in the heart that you grew up thinking you needed to be perfect when not a goddamn animal on this Earth is. Make a fucking mistake, Adriel! You'll be better off for it."

Adriel hung on to every word, the sort of wisdom that comes from age. From someone he admired. From someone that he fancied. From someone whose eyes were much too close for comfort. And it brought the smell of alcohol and sweat and fur.

"A mistake like this."

Brutish lips met his. And for a moment he wondered whether this was all a dream. A bunch of flashes from his horny mind selling him some fantasy. But the way it felt, the way it ... tasted as a tongue that wasn't his lashed out through his maw, the way it smelled like dirt and musk and sweat and hard work, the way his nails dug into the door behind him. The way his dick made it known what its thoughts on the subject were. That all had to be real.

It was over too soon, too quickly for the raging, desperate skunk. Steely eyes met his own once again when he opened back up. Snout to snout, Geo didn't look big, but it was all he saw.

"I-"

"Hmm." He grunted, the edges of his eyes turning up in a smile. "Like that?"

Adriel could only nod, completely dissociating from the logic of the situation.

"Good." He couldn't begin to guess what Geo was going to do, so it hardly phased him when a wet snout pressed into his exposed neck and a large volume of air rushed through his sweat-matted fur. His eyes jerked open as a large sigh spread warmth across the side of his body, heart rate spiking.

"You smell delicious, Adriel. Fuck anyone who says otherwise."

"You, you think I smell good?" It almost brought tears to his eyes.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"From one flaming musk slut to another, I could not tell you." The skunk turned to meet the wolverine. Eyes locked again as another deep draw was pulled into lungs, followed by another equally contented sigh.

Adriel gulped, but didn't move as he went for a third. And with that, Geo pulled off leaving the skunk hanging on for something more.

"I-, you-, I-"

"Like I said, a mistake. And once you stop thinking with your second head enough to form rational thoughts, consider making another one." A paw pulled his hand out and slapped something in it. "Whether or not you accept is your choice, Adriel. If not, come Monday, we won't speak of this again."

Then he was gone, easily brushing past him and through the portal to the bar. Leaving the confused skunk alone, holding a cocktail napkin with what oddly looked like an address, a house key, and a time, "in 1 hour".

Adriel gulped again.

......

It was a twenty minute drive, which left the very confused skunk with forty minutes to agonize over whether he should even be here, considering this, imagining what would happen if he went in that house.

'I shouldn't do this, I really shouldn't do this.' He put his car in reverse.

'He said I smell delicious.' He put the car in park.

"AUUGGHHH!!!" And that's how it went for thirty-eight minutes, a torrential back-and-forth with no end.

'He's my coworker' Reverse.

'He's fucking hot!' Park.

'He only wants me for sex!' Reverse.

'I want him for sex.' Park.

'This is a mistake.' Reverse.

'A mistake I really want to make...' Park.

"Make a fucking mistake, Adriel." Geo's voice echoed off the inside of his skull.

"AUGGHH!!" Engine off.

......

Geo was sitting on his lounge chair, stance lazy but eyes piercing. His face was one of neutral displeasure, as if he had no further opinion on Adriel coming into the room, into his house. No further involvement on whether or not the skunk took him up on his offer.

"Close the door." Adriel gulped as he turned to close the entrance, he gave a last look outside, to the air and green. And then the portal was closed. He was alone with Geo, in his house, taking him up on his offer.

"Good." The verbal approval felt so thrilling, almost visceral. It excited Adriel more and more. The skunk took his time turning around, trying to take in the room. There were a couple of houseplants, some abstract paintings, and the biggest TV he had ever seen. Not quite a man cave, not quite lived in, too clean. Despite all the things to look at, Adriel knew that he was just avoiding looking at Geo. The sexy wolverine never took his eyes off of him, always making his presence known to the skunk, holding him under scrutiny.

"Like it?" He asked.

"It's... homey." Adriel said honestly.

"Thank you." Despite the back and forth, he couldn't move from the entryway. "Nervous?"

'Nervous? Nervous?! I'm standing in your house, basically admitting I want to sleep with you, scared out of my mind! And you ask if I'm nervous?!'

Adriel nodded, holding his tail in front of him.

"Mmm." Geo grunted, nodding, "That's fine. You don't need to do anything you don't want to do. Understood?"

Adriel could only nod again. Something in the clear and direct language, there weren't any pretenses there. Just calm understanding. And Adriel couldn't imagine any way better. He stepped forward, into the inviting room, closer to his coworker. Those sexy eyes still scrutinizing him.

"Should I..." the nervous young adult trailed off, there wasn't even a clear direction where the question was going in his mind.

"Sit." A hand was offered to the other armchair. The leather was worn but supple, it creased easily and without cracking. The room was comfortably chilled and it felt pleasant against his flushed face. "Let's just talk for now." The skunk nodded. "As I have mentioned before, there are certain acts that I'm extremely interested in doing. Doing with you." Adriel gulped, but nodded again. "Since you entered, I understand that you mean you're interested in doing certain acts with me." Another nod. The geometric shapes in the rug in the middle of the room were holding his eyes but his entire mind was stuck on his voice. "I think it best to be clear about what we're expecting here, I think you'd benefit from that." Another nod.

"So I'll ask plainly, do you have any expectations here?" A very plain question, that Adriel couldn't answer. Every single answer he thought of seemed so wrong, so he decided to be honest.

"I, I don't know." He said with a shake of his head, still holding his tail in his hands, rubbing it up and down.

"Mmm, and that's fine. What's equally important to knowing what you want is knowing what you don't. I'm going to state my expectations now, I need you to speak up if you have any concerns. Understood?"

"Yes." He could do that, he had tons of worries, too many to count, should be easy.

"Good." That word again. It felt nice coming from Geo's mouth, tickling his ears and brain. Adriel mouthed the word to himself, trying to chase the feeling.

"When I'm with a partner, I like to maintain control. Steer the action. Be in charge. I'm sure that's unsurprising to you." The last sentence came out with an uplifting lilt, it wasn't a joke coming from Geo, but it was a nice change of pace to the very stern tone he's been using since Adriel walked in the house. The skunk smiled and nodded. It did make a lot of sense. Considering all he experienced from the man at the bar an hour ago.

"Do you understand what that means I'm asking you to do, though?"

"Umm, you're saying you're a top?" Adriel posited, he was okay with that, there's no way he'd be confident enough to top. And, there was a little thrill he felt imagining himself below the gruff and buff wolverine.

"In part, but not completely. I'm a dom. Do you know what that means?" He leaned forward on his knees, the change in posture was a clear indicator that this question meant a lot to the man. And it made Adriel take a second thought.

He thought of the thumbnails he scrolled passed online, the boards that he'd never admit to anyone that he sometimes lurks on, the word had come up. And the acts Adriel associated with it were not too pleasant. He shrank away from the man, deeper into the chair, feeling very meek. He felt his heartbeat spike muscles tense, for the first time feeling in danger being in this house, in Geo's house. But he fought his fear, 'He asked me to speak up, I need to speak up.'

"Are you going to tie me up?" Barely above a squeak, steeling his heart while squeezing his tail.

"Do you want to be tied up?" He asked neutrally. Adriel couldn't have shook his head more emphatically. "Then I will not tie you up." The skunk breathed. Turning to look at the man who offered to sleep with him. He still looked so strong, so sure. Even after being denied something, his dark eyes blinked slowly, his shoulders and chest pulsed evenly with his breath. And just like everything he did, he looked so cool.

"Are you going to whip me?" Adriel asked now, feeling more confident at speaking his mind.

"I have zero desire to hurt my partners, that's not how I want to take control." There was finally a hint of edge to his voice, as if Adriel had touched a nerve. It didn't completely shatter Adriel's illusion of the wolverine, but it did remind him that there was more to this man.

"Then maybe I don't know what you mean." The skunk admitted, shoulders loosening and hands resting in his lap.

"That's not your fault, by your questions I can tell you're applying a stereotype to the role. Can't be helped, there's a lot of content out there that doesn't explain anything well." He stood up and walked across the room, stiff steel-toe boots thudding on the hardwood. There was a small cabinet that he opened and the clanking of bottles and reflection of glass spread into the room. A sharp pop of a stopper coming off sang to the skunk's ears, followed by the pouring of liquid. It gave Adriel a fine view of Geo's back, the line of sweat was all dried up by now but it still looked just as broad as a tree, and three times as strong. "Like a drink?" He called over his shoulder. Calm voice, soothing aura, cool attitude. 'You need to get knocked on your ass fourteen million times and stand up fourteen million and one times, that's how.'

"Um, no thank you."

"Mmm" he grunted with a nod, turning back to his armchair with a stout glass of some amber liquid. He took a sip as he looked off into the wall, probably sorting out what he was going to say.

"BDSM is an umbrella term that houses many seemingly related kinks, but are ultimately distinct. Two you asked about, bondage and sadism fall under this umbrella. Discipline is the letter I mean when I say I'm a dom and like control. I'm aware of the somewhat negative image the community receives, in part due to misinformation. When I say I'm a dom, I mean this." He turned to lock eyes with the young adult. There was again no pretenses there, and Adriel felt no need to turn away. "I will give you orders, I'd like you to follow them."

"Orders?"

"Yes, verbally or nonverbally, directing what you do when I want you to."

"Oh..." Orders, he can follow orders, at least he felt he could follow orders. The daydream of Geo's voice telling him what to do, in that cool, confident way. It jolted him, he became quite aware of his eyes widening in interest.

"Seems you're interested in that?" Adriel looked back at the man, he had his legs crossed, swirling his drink slowly, half smiling, cool eyes light and mirthful.

"Umm, that doesn't sound too bad. I just, what if.." Those numerous concerns came back.

"Do you remember what I said to you when you walked in the door?"

"Close it?" Geo chuckled, deep and low. Adriel didn't think it was meant to be condescending, and he realized that maybe he's already been following orders since coming in. There was actually comfort in that.

"I said that you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, that holds true for everything I order you to do."

"But what if-"

"Adriel." The name pulled his attention back to Geo's eyes, they were calm, sure, and everything Adriel wanted to be, "Everything." No pretenses. The skunk only blinked at the man. "This is supposed to be fun for both of us after all." He said with a wink. Adriel looked back at the geometric rug with a blush returning to his face.

'Right. Fun, and a mistake. That's right.' he remembered. He remembered he did actually want to get in this man's pants, despite all the reasons he shouldn't.

"Okay. I think I'm okay with that." Adriel admitted, as much to Geo as to himself. Geo smiled kindly, approvingly.

"Good." That word again, it still felt nice. Still felt great to hear. Geo pounded down the last of his beverage before placing the glass on the end table next to his chair. The two held gazes for a moment, two men finally in agreement on what was about to happen. Adriel could feel the anticipation start rising in the air, he could practically smell it. "Then come here." He said, patting his lap, beckoning Adriel over. The skunk gulped, in part from the tone and implication from Geo, and in part from his own internal reaction. The extreme feeling of wanting to follow those words, do anything and everything they say, it was so freeing, so desirable.

He stood quickly but his feet were a bit slow to get moving, eventually they did and he started slipping his hands under his shirt, pulling it up.

"Leave that on." Adriel halted midstep and mid-disrobe. "I'll take it off when I'm ready." Geo explained. Adriel blushed and nodded, letting the hem fall back down. There wasn't any admonishment in his tone, but he still felt like he was getting told off.

"Sorry."

"You're fine, just relax." It was reassuring, and a clear reminder that he wasn't expected to be perfect. His heart was in his ears as he lowered himself onto Geo's lap, his back was still straight and rigid, but he completed his first order. And it felt so nice.

What felt nicer was the hand that rested on the back of his head, petting down his scalp, tickling against his skull. Adriel's eyes drooped closed, ears lying flat on his head, and he sighed out, letting the strokes drain him of all stress.

He felt so much tension leave him, so many years of worry and strife, so many moments of trying to be perfect, so many seconds of suffering. He sank back, feeling the strong presence of Geo meet him.

"Are you enjoying this?" Geo asked, the noise originated closer than ever, and it only magnified his response to it. To the point he couldn't do more than nod his assent. "Good." The petting continued. Geo's other hand reached around his side, Adriel lifted his arm a bit to give it room to pull around him, wanting to sink more into the embrace. Into the feeling of being held. The wolverine's large paw slid around his chest, holding there, silently telling him to stay. Not that Adriel had any intention of leaving.

It was bliss. But Geo wasn't going to stop there.

"Lift your arms." Adriel didn't second guess the command, only very aware of the large fingers that pulled at the bottom of his shirt. It pulled off his fur at points where the sweat and dust stuck to his body, snagging around his neck but undeterred, eventually removed leaving him topless. In his coworker's house.

Paws pawed at his body, around his shoulders, under his arms, across his chest, down his tummy. It felt very possessive, it felt very thrilling. Feeling those calloused world worn fingers thread through his pelt.

"You're beautiful, Adriel" Geo whispered into his ear. The skunk's ears smashed down in shameful joy at the compliment. He even choked out a sob, and immediately everything stopped. "Are you alright?"

The sub turned to look the dom in the face, knowing it was plastered with guilty pleasure. "Yes, I'm fine. It just feels nice." The wolverine smiled.

"Good." The skunk smiled brightly at the word. "Keep telling me what you like." He nodded. "Now turn around, I want to see you from the front." And just like that, Adriel was electrified. Motivated. Inspired. It was a bit of an awkward shuffle to turn on the armchair but eventually the two men were face to face. Finally this close to each other, Adriel shivered at the hunger in Geo's eyes as he ate at his body, fingers tracing across the white lines that traced down his pelt. "What a handsome skunk." Ears once again flattened to his skull. "Cute too." Adriel had to look away at that comment, cheeks burning.

"Take my shirt off, I want you to see me too." Hands couldn't have fiddled faster at the neon yellow overshirt that Geo was wearing, a bit too eager perhaps but Adriel was beyond caring. He had orders to follow. The wolverine's paunchy belly came into view, the middle age beer gut of a distinguished man. Next it was his pecs, rounded and pert. Then his pits, hairy, wild. With a tug, the apparel was removed and they were both topless. And Adriel couldn't stop staring. Everywhere he looked was more to feast his eyes on, his cavernous belly button, oval nipples, a large tuft of hair at his sternum. And all of it on display to him.

"What do you think?" He asked, cocking his head to the side, and smiling as if he didn't know the answer already.

"You're, you're really sexy." Was all that Adriel could respond, finally speaking his mind on how he felt about the wolverine. Geo's gut shook as he chuckled. Low and deep.

"Good."

While admiring the view, a new sensation came to his attention. The smell. The aire. The aroma. The scent of unadulterated men. Coming from the dom. Adriel involuntarily sniffed it. For once feeling unashamed after realizing he did.

"Flaming musk slut." He was called earlier.

Hands gripped behind his back. "Come here." The draw was magnetic, Adriel didn't even need to be pulled. He plopped his nose deep in that coarse fur. Strands shooting up his nose. And he inhaled. Drew in the most concentrated scent of man he's ever experienced. Ripe with the day's labors and brimming with bullish power. He swooned, eyes glazing over and going crossed. "There you go. Breath me in, Adriel." A second hit of that amazing perfume. He felt a large hand at the back of his head. Holding him there with no other option than to suck in the sweetly tainted air. "Good, good. Breathe me in, slut."

And he did over and over. Losing himself in the overwhelming power of a strong male that he admired. Sinking into wave after wave of euphoria. Content to stay there forever. Only to be jerked away from the intoxicating source. He coughed as he breathed in fresher air. The hand on his head had a fistful of his hair, sternly pulling him back.

Slowly his fit ceased and he was able to see and think straight again. Geo was smiling at him, eyes cool and calm. Adriel smiled shyly back. "Like that?"

'As if you need to ask.' The skunk thought as nodded as much as he could with his loose skin pulled back.

"Good." He actually shivered at the word. "Get on your knees." It was the first time he wanted to disobey.

"But I-" he clamped his mouth shut with his hands, mouth moving faster than his mind. Geo just raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes?" He asked, eyes still light.

"I want to smell you more." It was honestly pathetic, Adriel knew.

"I know what a musk slut like you wants."

Adriel gulped, feeling like ice was injected directly into his veins, shocking him awake.

"Now, on your knees." It was sterner this time, harder, a reminder that Adriel wasn't in charge right now. Geo was. The skunk slinked to the ground, the hardwood floors pressed against his knees, Geo still in the chair. Looking large and in charge, looking down at the skunk. Reveling in the power. Adriel was reveling in the powerlessness. "Good, slut." Large hands pet his head, and he pressed into them. "What a good slut, doing a wonderful job at following orders." Adriel nodded, confirming what a good slut he was. That he was wonderful at doing what he was told. All for that sweet, sweet validation. "Take my pants off."

That was sobering, that was another step further into... whatever this is. Adriel stared right into the man's crotch that was now about eye level with his place on the floor. It was shadowed over because of the convex curve of his stomach that spilled over his belt line. Tons of ideas and fantasies, good and bad, shot through him. Each sexier than the less, each more fantastic than the last, each more of a mistake to think than the last. He wanted to move, but couldn't, too frozen.

"Nervous?" A calm voice from above asked him, it pulled his attention upward. There was strength up there and it looked down on him. 'It's okay to make mistakes' it told him.

"Just a little."

"You don't hav-"

"I know. But," He placed hands on Geo's thighs, feeling the scratchy denim under him, "I want to. So, watch me, Boss." The word felt right in his mouth, better than calling him Geo, especially when they were already half-naked in front of each other. The slight new glimmer in his eyes was more than he expected, but it acknowledged that this was the right choice. And Boss approved. The soft pet and scratch behind his ear was heavenly.

Boss leaned back, settling into the chair. "Get on it then, Adriel."

"On it, Boss."

With renewed motivation, the skunk attacked the problem. His palms pushed forward along the thick thighs, edging closer to his destination. The twinkle of Boss' buckle was barely visible under his paunch but lifting the hefty gut was extremely satisfying. Chiming metal sounded as he fiddled with the clasp. The sound of grinding leather was next. Then a pop of a button. Lastly, a pull to a zipper. All the while, there was a pleasant heat that radiated from Boss' crotch.

It was a struggle to pull down his pants, he needed Boss to lift his mass off the seat just an inch before he could complete the command. Adriel admired his naked form, a stark black jockstrap he wore, and the sexiest man Adriel has ever seen in person.

"Good."

"What now?" He asked.

"The musk slut gets what he wants. Right from the source."

'God, yes, please.' Eying the bulge in front of him, the wellspring of his manhood. The object of his obsession with this wolverine. Boss fondled himself a moment or two, teasing his sub. Adriel fought for any glimpse at the appendage, but between the thick black fabric and the large hand handling it, there wasn't any hope of that.

"Take a whiff." He commanded as he extended his hand. Adriel couldn't have jammed his snout harder into the palm, practically tasting the remnants of ball sweat and grime that clung to Boss' skin. It cut to the quick, so much more intense than before. And just not strong enough to sate him. His own repressed urges spilling up faster than he could tamper them down, not that he was trying anymore. The moan sounded foreign to his ears, but he knew it came from his mouth.

"What a good musk slut. Want more?" The skunk nodded without moving his nose. Boss chuckled. "Then get in there." And his head was pulled in.

'Incredible...' was the only word that Adriel could use to describe it. The sensation of being pulled forward, everything else going dark as he wedged his muzzle right in. The noxious odor of Boss, the absolute supremacy, the feeling of being subjugated, calm.

He breathed in and out, wanting to absorb more of that delicious musk for himself, feel as it singed his nostrils. Feeling the weight of virility on his face, the cool dampness of trapped sweat. The marks of a true man.

"In and out, good slut." He heard Boss coo from about above.

'I am a good slut. I am a good slut'

'A good flaming musk slut.'

'And I want more.'

He knew he shouldn't have, he'd only been ordered to breathe but he needed to taste. Faulty logic of his zonked brain told him that if it smelled this good, it would taste even better. Adriel clamped his mouth around the slowly inflating package of flesh and fabric. And sucked.

A day's worth of salt and effort danced across his tongue, an indescribable taste. An unimaginable feeling. His tongue danced across the surface, trying to find every flash of color for his taste buds. Eyes slammed closed to focus completely on the hot mouth full of dick and balls he selfishly took.

He would very well have lost himself to that, luckily he had Geo to pull him back. There was an audible pop as he was yanked off the succulent sack, and once again the rush of cleaner air helped him think. And coming out of that haze was the coolest pair of eyes. Dark brown, brimming with swagger and confidence.

"You really are a musk slut, aren't you?"

"I'm a musk slut, Boss." Adriel finally admitted, with a drunken smile.

"I want to tell you a secret, Adriel."

"Okay." The wolverine leaned down, leather crunching beneath him. It wasn't until brusk lips surrounded his own that Adriel understood what was happening, but as with everything else this night, he just let it go. Content to let Boss' tongue swirl through his mouth, tasting every inch of gum and molar, taking the skunk's breath away with each pass. Saliva connected them as they parted.

"I love musk sluts."

A paw pulled down the jock, resting beneath surely heavy balls, his thick member finally out in the air. Suddenly, it was all Adriel could see. All he wanted to see.

Cool words sounded in his brain as Boss stroked himself slowly. "I love that they can't get enough of me. I love that they lose control when they smell me. I love that their brains fry on it." His dick was full and pulsing, filling enough of the air with not enough stench. And with Boss' hand firmly holding him back, the skunk couldn't get closer. He whined. "I love the faces they make. I love the sounds they make." He started grunting, speeding up his hand. The sound of skin sliding on skin marked his tempo. "I love when they admit it to me. I love when they submit to me." He was hissing through bared teeth. His shoulder's rolling in heaves. "I love it. I love them. I love musk sluts!" His hand was pounding now, his stomach thumping with every jerk. Adriel was sure it wasn't going to last much longer, and he longed for it to finish sooner. "I love musk sluts just like you, Adriel!!!"

White streaks of light sprayed him right in his face. Up, down, left, right. He quickly shut his eyes and mouth and let it happen. Let his Boss cover him in cum.

"Gah, gah, gah! Ha!... Ah!" Boss groaned out as his shots slowly petered out. Adriel counted, six shots, half a dozen jets. The sticky ooze was everywhere, he could smell it everywhere. It smelled oh so very bitter. The hand around his head pulled off

'Incredible...' But he wanted to see, needed to even.

Despite the huffing and puffing of Boss' breath, he found his voice.

"Umm, Boss?"

"Hmm." He heard.

"Can I.. Can you.."

"Don't move." Creaking chair and rustling fabric sounded from in front of him. "I'm gonna to clean you up now." Surprisingly tender pats brushed down his face, his brow, his cheeks, his snout. Wiping up the mess. "I'm going to do your eyes now."

"Kay." Soft pats returned, wiping the muck away.

It gave a moment for Adriel to calm down, regain his autonomy, feel how he felt.

"All clean." WIth that, Adriel delicately returned to the world of light. And the first thing he saw, a strong man and a wide smile. Kind eyes and pleasant face.

"Hello, Adriel."

"Hello, Boss."

"Call me Geo now." He said with a shake of his head.

"Oh, right."

"Need a hand?" Adriel clasped the one that was offered. His knees ached from resting on the rough floor, but the strong arm kept him steady. Now standing, Adriel could look down on Geo for once while he sat on his throne. "How do you feel?"

"Umm..." He finally took stock of how he was. A lot of thoughts going through his mind. "I think I'm alright."

"Good." There wasn't as strong of a reaction from it that time. But Adriel found he was okay with that. Geo patted his lap. "Wanna sit?"

"No more orders?"

"No. Not from me. I got what I wanted."

"And what about what I want?"

"What do you want, Adriel?" The skunk pondered for just a moment, before smirking.

"I want to sit." Geo chuckled before settling back into the chair. The skunk rested down, face blushing as this time as the wolverine was completely naked. But those large limbs that wrapped about his stomach still felt really nice. They rubbed at his chest, across his shoulders, holding him together. Geo buried his nose in the skunk's nape, taking deep huffs of whatever he smelled there. It made him wonder

"Do I still smell good?"

"Absolutely."

"Cool." It was silly but it made him feel good, feel good about himself in a way he never has. The scent of Geo's spunk still coated his face, and that combined with everything else reminded him of his own needs.

His still clothed cock was waiting patiently in its denim dungeon. But Adriel couldn't ignore it anymore.

"Umm, Bo-, Geo."

"Yes, Adriel."

He couldn't find his voice or the words to say, he just had to wing it and hope it worked out. Stick his neck out there. He grabbed on of Geo's paws as it passed around his lower stomach. Their hands slid smoothly across his pelt towards his crotch, resting upon the mound which laid his own flesh.

Adriel rolled as Geo chuckled, riding the waves of the larger man. "Understood." The skunk moved his hands, content in knowing he had communicated what he needed to. The mitt slipped under his belt, or tried, it was large and Adriel was drawn up quite tight. Undeterred, deft hands removed it, all of it. Adriel burned as his pants sat around his thighs. Large hands groped him through his underwear. It made his hips roll, his voice whine, his hands grip the arm still around his chest.

"Don't hold back, Adriel. If it feels good, let it."

"Okay."

"I'm pulling them down now." The skunk nodded.

His last piece of dignity was taken from him, and he sat proudly for the world to see. Or at least, for Geo. Rough textured hands gripped him, pulling up and down, faster and tighter than he ever had on his own. It made him weak. It made him squeak. It made him want more.

'Geo.."

"Just relax."

"It feels amazing."

"...Good." That triggered him, he burst. Shooting cum a second later. The rough hands milked him, all while his back arched and head jammed back. Stars flashing in his eyes. He collapsed as every muscle let go, he huffed and puffed as he was still handled, rubbed everywhere those hands could reach. Deep whiffs and sighs still bathed his neck.

And it just all felt nice. He sighed out, feeling again as tension passed from him. Breath coming under control as he descended into his afterglow.

"You liked that?" Geo asked.

"Yeah." The voice was frail, but he knew it was his own.

"Good."

In the peace, Adriel finally came to a decision. One that he was beyond sure of.

"Geo?"

"Yes."

"This was a mistake."

"Yes, completely." Zero pretense, it made Adriel even more sure.

"But I think I needed to make it."

"Hmm. How so?"

"Cause I want to make it again."

"Oohh!" Geo's voice hummed in his ear. Adriel smiled forlornly, certain of his resolve. With great melancholy he pulled the hands that held him close apart. Saddened by the momentary resistance he felt in the wolverine's strong arms. Without a word he stood and fished his shirt from the ground below him, pulled up his pants. Both slipped on with little delay.

"I want to make it again, and I know I shouldn't. At least, not while we're still working together."

"Hmm?"

"So," he turned to look behind him, Geo's contented smile reached his eyes. Practically beaming. "Let's finish the project soon."

Geo's head shook left and right, eyes drooped closed. Soft chuckles met the skunk's ears. Deep and low. "Seems you're standing taller. Good." Adriel looked across the room once more, it was actually quite inviting. With two people in it. He spotted the streaks of his cum on the rug and coffee table.

"I made a mess." He said.

"I," Geo emphasized, "made the mess. I'll clean it up. Just like you're doing."

"Fall down, stand up. Right?" The wolverine nodded.

"I'll see you Monday, Adriel. Drive safe."

"See you Monday, Geo."

......

Adriel plopped into his bed, alone. Exhausted. Fine with the fact he hadn't showered. The smell of his Boss everywhere on his face.