FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Colors of the Rainbow

Part 5

Terin began to stir as he slowly opened his eyes, Zane's head being a welcome sight to him. He gave a slight smirk before rolling off of the edge of the bed, standing up and stretching; there was a reason that only the patient was supposed to have the bed. The wolf walked over to the window and gazed out. It was still the middle of the night, but it didn't bother him in the slightest to be watching the stars. Through a tree, he managed to catch a glimpse of the moon; seeing the full pale circle brought the earlier events into his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"... Zane,..." he started through misty eyes. "... ... ... I love you."

Zane's eyes stopped moving, the shock locking his entire body in place. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't speak. Of all the things he could possibly hear his friend tell him, not even in any dream he had ever had did something like this ever appear. All he could do is watch as the wolf left the room quickly with tear stains on the fur on his muzzle.

Terin bounded the corner in the hall slowing down as though he had just gotten out of sight from someone or something chasing him. He looked around for some other place to go, spotting the sunroom at the far end of the hall. All he could do was pant as he walked slowly, tears still forming in his eyes as he forced back the sobs. He didn't even try to notice if anyone else was around as he moved forward. It was early evening, but the sunroom favored the sunset and allowed enough light in to make it seem more like late morning. The lack of others in the room seemed to make the room brighter somehow. The brown wolf walked over to where the solid wall met the glass wall and sat on the floor, his legs curled up as he sighed painfully and buried his head in his arms.

He didn't know how much time had passed. All he knew was that he could feel someone's arms around him. Looking up, he saw the aqua furred fox looking back into his eyes, smiling. Terin's arms slowly, instinctively, wrapped around him in return as the vulpine's nose nuzzled the wolf. He whined softly as the fox pulled away for a moment and gazed into his eyes again. He was entranced and could feel his lips form words, the only one he noticed himself saying being 'beautiful' before his lips met the fox's. He felt calm, relaxed, serene. Then he felt a tapping on his head.

He raised his head from his arms. The sun was halfway down the horizon; he had ended up falling asleep.

"So the young prince is awake finally."

The wolf looked up to see his father standing there with a paper bag with a McDonald's logo on it. He handed it to Terin who took it, still half dazed as he tried getting his thoughts back together. "Th-thanks. Sorry."

"It's fine. Figured you didn't want to doze in a chair or something," his father said with a chuckle.

Terin laughed weakly as he opened the bag and began sifting through the contents; he always preferred the club sandwiches, but then again, they had a knack for being a little healthier and still have some taste. He wasted no time in popping the box open and digging in.

Eric slowly sat down on the floor next to his son. "You know, you're still not supposed to fall asleep in the sunroom. They usually aren't very nice about people doing that."

Terin shook his head before swallowing a bite. "I wasn't trying to fall asleep here. I just... ran out of energy I guess," he said, trying to say so coolly.

His father sighed. "He was asking about you, you know." Terin froze, pulling his sandwich slowly from his mouth. "He didn't tell me what happened, but whatever it was, it had him worried."

"Dad, I-" he started off as he looked at Eric.

The older wolf shook his head. "This time, I'm staying out of it, son. This is something that happened between you and him that never had me caught in the middle. I've already done everything I can to have Zane have a potential home with us." He ruffled Terin's head fur. "Keeping whatever bond you have with him is yours."

Terin chuckled weakly. He knew his dad was right; he couldn't just bring this problem to him like this. His father could learn in time what had and would happen, but for now, he had to find out what Zane wanted on his own. He only gave a nod to his dad before taking another bite of his sandwich. Eric pulled a cup up to his own muzzle and took a drink as he relaxed next to his son. When Terin had finished his sandwich with a final gulp, he looked over at his dad. "Have you managed to talk to Mom and Kerin already?"

Eric nodded. "Yeah. Sara doesn't have a problem with it, her excuse being that she's always away at work anyways, so she figures the extra head in the house would be good for you. Kerin said that she can do a little over time herself to get some papers worked out for us as well."

"That's good," the wolf replied somewhat quietly.

His father gave another nod. "All that's really left is Zane recovering so we can bring him home. I asked a doctor about it, and apparently he can actually leave when he gets his strength back." A slight grimace came across his muzzle. "Apparently, the wreck was the least of his problems."

Terin was pulling his fries out of the bag when his father said that last line. He stopped instantly and looked at the older wolf. "What do you mean?"

Eric let out another sigh. "The reason he's actually still in this hospital is because of malnutrition. Normally, with how minor the wounds were on Zane, he would've been able to leave tomorrow, maybe the day after if he was recovering normally, but he has a number of deficiencies that are keeping it a little slower."

Terin couldn't help but let out a growl. He didn't care if he would have done so in the past or not; all he knew is that he could kill Zane's family right now for hurting the fox so much if he was just given the chance.

His father shook his head. "Zane's family is being charged with long term neglect and abuse, among other things. They're getting their due."

It wasn't much comfort to the wolf. Damage was already done to Zane, sections of his life gone that he couldn't get back. Terin swore that they deserved worse than just a few years behind an iron gate. After a moment, he managed to cease his own growling and went back to finishing his fries.

The two of them sat in silence for a while as Terin finished his food off. Eventually, Eric stood and stretched before throwing his cup into a nearby trash can. "I'm going back to the house," he said while trying to hold back a yawn. "You coming back with me, or are you staying here again?"

Terin thought for a moment. He didn't know why he had to think on it though; everything in him was already telling an answer. "I'll go ahead and stay. I... want to talk to Zane."

The older wolf yawned and nodded. "Alright. I have some more errands to run tomorrow, so I'll drop in and check on you."

"I'll be alright," Terin said with a shake of his head.

Eric just shrugged. "Just be good then. I'll see you later tomorrow." He threw a short wave to his son as he walked off.

The younger wolf threw a wave back. "See ya Dad," he said as his father walked out the door. He put the empty boxes inside the bag and sat there, watching the horizon change from the red dusk until it was overtaken by complete night. His thoughts wandered in the mean time. So much had taken place in only a couple of days. So much pain, so many tears, so many questions, so many thoughts. Everything had been a struggle, but for some reason right now he felt so calm. His last words to Zane began echoing in his mind though, and he knew that was why. He closed his eyes and prayed silently that Zane felt the same way about him. His father said that the fox was worried about him though, so he knew Zane didn't hate him. Terin sighed. "I hope that's a good thing," he said quietly as he stood and dropped his bag in the trash.

He took his time walking back to Zane's room. He didn't want to rush in. The halls seemed quiet and deserted, save for a doctor or two checking in with the other patients. When he finally got to Zane's door, he stood outside for a moment. He had already told Zane how he felt, and it just occurred to him that he didn't have anything in mind to say to start some sort of conversation with the fox now. After pondering a moment, he shook his head and decided to say whatever came to mind when it came. As long as the wolf was in there with Zane, he would be ok enough.

There was a quiet click as Terin slowly opened the door and walked in. Zane was sitting up in his bed, his eyes heavy and dark wet streaks lining the fur on his face. The wolf closed the door, a more audible click making the fox jump. "T-Tehr?" he asked, surprised.

Terin just shook his head and walked over beside the fox, his eyes avoiding Zane's as he searched for something to say, only to come up empty handed.

Zane's ears fell to the side of his head as he failed to think of anything to say himself. It didn't stop him from trying though, but they both started speaking at once.

"Tehr, I'm s-"

"Zane, I'm s-"

All they could do was look at each other awkwardly before looking away again. Terin sighed softly as his mind locked again on anything to say. Zane was in the same boat as he tried to think of something as well. After a while of more quietness between them, Zane tried again. "... Tehr?"

The brown wolf looked over in Zane's direction, his body still as his mind and heart grew anxious. "Yeah?"

Zane struggled to speak again as he fought against nervousness. "... Did you... really mean it when...?"

Terin waited as Zane tried to finish speaking. He saw the lack of words coming to him, but he knew for sure what the light blue fox was asking. The fox looked away from Terin with eyes closed. He didn't want Zane's mind at unrest like that, so he decided to answer. "... Zane,... I meant all of it." He lightly put a paw to the side of Zane's face and guided his eyes back to his as he spoke softly. "... I really don't want to lose you."

Zane's breathing grew shaky as he heard the wolf's words. As he looked back into the wolf's eyes though, he started to calm down again slowly. He felt strange somehow, but he didn't know what it was. It was just something different to him, something he couldn't remember feeling before, but it brought him so much peace.

Terin saw the lack of words in the fox again. He didn't know how or why, but slowly brought his head closer to Zane's, their lips softly meeting for a moment. Zane never pulled away, never hesitated, but returned the kiss as he brought a paw to the wolf's shoulder. It was a moment that felt like years until Terin slowly pulled away. He thought it was supposed to be strange, but all he felt was so much calmness inside. Zane quietly laid his head on the wolf's chest and breathed softly. Not a moment of fear went through him; all he felt was soothed by the brown wolf's touch as Terin wrapped his arms around him.

"... I love you, Zane."

The fox wanted to curl up as he heard Terin say those words again. He was unable to say anything when the wolf said it the first time, but this time, he couldn't help but reply softly.

"... I love you too, Tehr."

Terin sat in the edge of the bed and laid back as Zane put his head on the wolf's shoulder.

"... Zane?"

The fox looked into Terin's eyes, his own eyes showing how tired but content he was. "... Yeah?"

He felt it was something corny to say, and it embarrassed him a little to ask. "... My rainbow is... missing a couple of bands. ... ... ... Will you complete it for me?"

Zane giggled softly. It was something that belied his usual nature, and he couldn't help but find it funny. "... Why don't we just share ours with each other?" he said as he closed his eyes. "... You have colors I've been missing."

Zane fell asleep as he finished whispering to Terin. The wolf couldn't help but chuckle as he closed his eyes, smiling tiredly himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Terin looked back as he heard his friend groan quietly and open his eyes. "... T-Teer?" he asked, obviously still more than half tired.

"I'm still here, Zane. Just had to get up for a moment is all," he reassured the fox. Zane nodded and closed his eyes, quickly falling back to sleep.

The wolf looked back outside at the moon again. As he did, he thought back to all the times he had watched the moon in the night sky before. Something in him would always stir, as though it was some sort of jealousy. The moon's phases always wound up being halves and either full or new moon, a constant unending cycle that always seemed like it was meant to taunt those who felt incomplete. It didn't have a whim, it had no thought, it had no heart, and yet it was always something that could be complete on its own time. For once, he stared at the moon and didn't feel that anymore. A smile came across his muzzle.

"... You're not the only one complete now, moon," he said half tauntingly, "but now you're the only one that has to find your other parts again."

He turned slowly and walked back over to the bed. Zane had already sprawled out some though, which caused Terin to groan. It turned into a quiet laugh though quickly as he kissed the fox's head and sat down in the chair instead again. He watched Zane as he slept for a while again as something came to his mind. He didn't know if Zane had heard it before, but Terin remembered hearing a song once. The lyrics irritated him before because they stayed in his head just after hearing it once. He didn't know who had sung it or what it was even called, but the words wouldn't stop coming to his tongue. He partially hoped that Zane wouldn't hear him as he quietly let them pass his lips.

So damn sure you want to look kind

Twenty -four, seven on my mind

All I ever wanted is to be with you

Make me feel, is so brand new

I thought I could love no more

One too many times before

Every time I look out to the sky

I've got you on my mind

Colors of the rainbow shine so bright

Every time I look into your eyes

It's the colors of the rainbow that feed my soul

Over and over, just like you do.

He saw a faint smile on the fox's muzzle, causing him to freeze for a moment. Zane never spoke though, so he just prayed the fox was only smiling about a dream and not him singing. After a moment, he sighed and just watched as the fox continues sleeping before laying his head on the bed, a smile on his own muzzle as well.

'I really do love him,... but I hope sleeping like this doesn't end up becoming a habit,' was the last thing through his mind before he drifted off to sleep.