FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Young Love

Chapter 18: Resolution

By: Mirron Tenshi

Mark just stood there after Jason left. Honestly, he didn't know whether to feel hurt, rejected, guilty, angry, or what. Actually, he was totally confused.

He kissed him. He took a piece of Stacey's advice, though he was pretty sure she was only joking, but he didn't have any other option to get his message across.

Mark anticipated one of two things to happen:

1: Jason would beat the shit out of him.

2: Jason would apologize and say he has a girlfriend, and that's it.

But never expected this result:

3: Jason would look terrified and run away.

The fox thought about this for a moment. If you'd break down the word 'Homophobia', it would split into 'Homosexual' and 'Fear'. Mark always thought that homophobia just meant you hate gay furs, but from how Jason just reacted, it looked like he was literally scared of a gay guy. But how would one be that kind of afraid of a gay person? What, did Jason think Mark was gonna grow fangs and suck his blood or something? Come on, he may be gay, but this is Mark the fox, not Edward Cullen.

With nothing else, the vulpine just walked out of the ally, with mixed feelings and full of confusion.

Hidden from behind an old green mustang, the girl cocker spaniel watched with her mouth ajar. She just witnessed one of her good friends, Mark Kenson, kiss her boyfriend, Jason Tyler. "Mark . . . You've been after Jason . . . ?"

Waist-deep in his thoughts, Mark soon found himself nearing at his house. He needed to talk to his dad, about what happened. Problem is, Bill doesn't know his son's gay. Hardly even thinking about the possible negative outcome -Stacey often told him to think positively- the fox made a decision to tell his father as soon as he got home.

Bill was watching TV when Mark came home. "Dad? I'm home."

He turned his head and smiled at his son. "Welcome home, son." The younger fox sat down on the couch, turning to his parent.

"Dad . . . There's something I gotta say . . ." Bill nodded and put the TV on mute before turning to his son.

"Alright, what did you take, deal, or smoke?" Mark smiled and chuckled a little.

"Daaaaad!" Bill smirked before he quieted down.

"So what do you need to talk about?" Mark swallowed, and sighed before looking up.

"D-Dad . . . I'm gay . . ."

Seconds phased by the two. The older fox blinked at the silence, as if waiting for an explanation. ". . . Aaaand you killed someone?"

Mark looked at him curiously, "U-Um, no, dad . . ."

"Ok, you stole from a store."

"No."

"You committed fraud, lied and cheated, corrupted the government, give me something!"

"No, dad! I didn't." He replied, not really knowing where his father was going with this. "I'm gay, dad. Ok?" Bill smiled and put his paw on Mark's headfur.

"Yeah, you established that." He ruffled his son's head. "You're my son, Mark. I don't really care if you like men or women." His dad's acceptance was more than enough to make Mark feel better about what happened with Jason. "So just out of curiosity, why come out to me right now?"

"Well, see, there's this one guy at school . . . His name is Jason . . . And I really like him . . ."

"So what happened? You tell him?" The young vulpine blushed a little, thanking his white face fur hide the pink glow.

"Sort of . . . I tried to tell him, but I couldn't get it out right away."

"Whaaat do you mean?" Bill asked, rather curious about the situation.

"I was nervous as heck. He was about to go, and I . . ." Mark blushed a little more. ". . . Kissed him. . ." The older fox raised a brow.

"You kissed him?" He noticed the pink tint on his son's face. Luckily, Bill was the kind of father that knows what to say in order to avoid embarrassment. "What happened next?"

"I . . . Don't really know . . ."

"What does THAT mean?"

"Well, he . . . Just kinda . . . Freaked out, I guess . . . After I kissed him, he just ran away . . ." The older fox tilted his head.

"Ran away? Did he say anything, or . . ."

"I dunno . . ." Mark said gloomily, "It happened so fast . . ."

"I gotta say son; you're either reckless or overconfident." The smaller fox looked at his parent in curiosity.

"Huh?"

"First, you took a dive and kissed someone you liked, without knowing how he'll react. Then, you came out to me, without knowing how I'd react."

"It turned out alright, didn't it?" Mark said defensively.

"I'm just saying, son, I think you should try harder to plan things out." The offspring pouted, feeling a little annoyed from this. He tried planning to let Jason know how he felt about him, but that didn't go well. Though, he had to admit the part about coming out to his dad. He had no idea how he'd react. If Bill was a homophobe, that would've been the end of . . . Well, everything.

Bill chuckled and kissed his son's forehead. "Sorry, son. I'm a cop; every once in a while, I get called in to talk to few classrooms about being careful. Force of habit." Mark nodded before sighing.

"What am I gonna do? I just wanted to let him know how I felt. I know he has a girlfriend but-"

"Wait, he's in a relationship?" Mark cringed, wishing he hadn't mentioned that. "Son, you can't just do that to a person; he's with someone else, it just makes you look jealous." The little vulpine groaned.

". . . I know . . ."

"Alright now," Bill continued, "I know this may be hard for you, son, but the next time you see Jason, I want you to apologize, alright?" Mark nodded, feeling low, "It's not right to try and do that, Mark."

"Yes, dad . . . Can I go to my room, now?" Bill looked at his now forlorn son. Now it was the father's turn to feel remorse.

"Yes, son. Dinner'll be ready in a couple of hours." The young vulpine got up and sulked upstairs. When he was gone, Bill held his head. "Dang it. Now he just feels worse. You've got to do better, Bill . . ."

Mark just flopped onto his bed, a little depressed at the situation. He even felt like he betrayed Stacey. For what he did, Mark just felt like dirt; Stacey would have no idea of how he felt and acted towards Jason. Wallowing in this guilt brought a flicker of tears to the fox's green eyes.

During the next week, Mark has been trying to find Jason. However, he could never get his sights on him, and the few times he was able to find a glimpse of that husky, he couldn't get close enough to start talking.

Strangely enough, Mark couldn't get a hold of Stacey either. Actually, it was more like he hardly bothered to get a hold of her. The fox felt so low for kissing Jason behind her back; how could he even face her? And what was even stranger, she hasn't talked to Mark either. It didn't seem like she was avoiding him, but Stacey hasn't come up to him either. The whole week, Mark as been feeling down; the sooner he apologized, the better.

"Dang it," Mark huffed as he sat down on a park bench. "It's like he IS avoiding me . . ." It was Friday in the afternoon, and he has been trying to track down that husky.

After a few minutes of just spacing out a little, the fox looked to the forest area. He's always been curious about where it leads. Well, there's nothing else to do, since his recent attempts to talk to Jason failed.

The vulpine got up, and walked over to the trees.

Mark wondered into the area. The trees were thicker than he thought; he had to keep his head down in order to avoid tripping on any of the large, hard roots protruding from the ground. It was getting darker as well - the trees were just so full of leaves, there were practically blocking the sunset's light.

However, almost as soon as Mark reached the darkest part of the wood, he saw light from up ahead. He continued treading carefully on the forest ground until he reached a clearing. The fox heard running water, but ignored it; there was something much more alarming in front of him.

"Jason?!" There he was, sitting on the grass, wearing a pull-on cotton coat, cargo shorts, resting his head on his knees, holding his shins with his paws. His head whipped around when he heard the fox talk to him. The husky got up on his feet, but before he could do anything, the fox spoke.

"Wait! I'm sorry!" Confused, the canine listened. "I shouldn't have . . . Don it . . ." He looked to the grass sadly. "Just forget I ever did anything . . . I already know it won't work . . ." He turned around and started walking.

". . . How . . ." Mark stopped before he turned around.

"Huh?" The husky seemed to be trembling.

"How did . . . How did you know . . . ?"

"I didn't know you were here. I was just curious where the forest lead to-"

"No . . . I meant, how did you know . . . About me . . . ?" The vulpine tilted his head.

"Huh? What do you mean?" The husky then looked right at him.

"How did you know I was gay?!" He hollered. Mark just stood there, a little dumbfounded, "I already know it; I'm a fag. For so long, I've kept it a secret. When I was just considering it, I hoped with all my heart that I was never gay. Because if I was, my parents would hate and throw me out! I know damn well how they'd react if I ever told them!" Mark stared at him, not knowing how to feel about what Jason was saying.

"Don't you get it?! If anyone ever finds out, my life will fall apart!" He then walked over to the bank were the water was flowing, occupied by little colorful guppies. He turned and sat down on a large boulder. He put his elbows on his head, and held his head in his paws. He was bordering on tears. Mark stepped forward, slowly as he neared the upset canine.

"I knew it!" Both teens jerked their heads to see an angered cocker spaniel. Stacey snarled a little before uncrossing her arms and walking towards them. "So you DO have a thing for Jason, Mark!" The fox just looked at the girl fearfully.

"I-I, h-how-"

"Save it, Mark! Do you REALLY think I haven't seen who you were drooling after? I thought I was your friend, Mark! And you kept this from me for how long?!" Jason gulped, and spoke up.

"Stacey-"

"And is that all I was to you, Jason Tyler?! Your cover-up?! How could you fool me like that?! No WONDER we never really kissed! I don't care what you say - just touching lips is NOT a kiss!"

Jason lowered his head, clutching his paws onto his scalp. ". . . I'm sorry I used you like that, Stacey . . ." His voice started to shake, "I didn't mean it . . . Like that . . ."

"Then-"

"I don't want to be gay!" He shouted, his head still lowered, "But I can't help it! I thought by having a girlfriend, I might somehow be able to fix that about myself!" He lowered his paws, looking at them. "But it's still just the same . . . I'm someone who my mom and dad would have no problem hating . . . I have to live my life as a liar just to keep everything together and I hate it!"

Mark timidly walks to the canine. He put his paw on Jason's shoulder. "Jason . . ." He didn't know what to say. The husky stood up, his head still lowered.

"That's why I need to know, Mark . . ." He turned his head to look at the vulpine. "How did you find out? I need to know. Somewhere, I messed up and you knew, how did you find out?" The fox's ears lowered.

"I . . . I didn't . . . I just wanted to tell you I liked you, but I didn't know what to do or say. When you were about to leave, I acted out of impulse and from some advice." A glance to the side showed that Stacey was somewhat quickly losing her anger, a little too quick, but she had a casual look about her.

"Wow, Mark. I was only kidding. Talk about balls." The cocker spaniel said. Jason shifted his gaze over to her.

"YOU told him to kiss me?"

"It was a joke!"

"Stacey, you know what you put me through??"

"Deets, Jase." Mark was beginning to think that Stacey was not really all that mad to begin with; she's has her cool way too easily. "Anyway, you two are the dishonest ones here." Both boys looked to the side, not able to deny that, regardless of the situation.

"So here's how it's going down," The two looked at her intently, sensing that she's going to use some kind of leverage, "Jason, you're going to keep going out with me so that you're still safe." A flicker of hope dawned on Jason's face. "IF," He froze from the continuation, "Mark takes up my advice, and kisses you." The husky's ears swiveled.

"Stacey . . . It's not that-" He was interrupted. Mark had turned his head to face the fox, and their lips met again. This time, unlike the last time, the fox started to move his lips tenderly against the other. As if in a trance, Jason's eyelids lowered a bit and just let go. His mouth started to move in the same manner Mark's was. Mark's paw lifted up and stroked the husky's neck.

They parted the kiss, and Jason was blushing. "I . . . I don't understand, Stacey . . ."

"I know. Kissing is so complicated, isn't it?" She said with a smirk.

"No, no, I mean . . . What now?" He said, looking at her, no clue what her angle is.

"Look, Jason. A few of my other gay friends would know just what you're going through," The girl came over, and put her paw on his shoulder, "I think it's awful, and I absolutely hate the idea of someone like you having to do that to yourself."

". . . But you're ok like this? Just being my cover? Don't you see you can't have a normal boyfriend as long as you're doing this for me?"

"Weeeell," The spaniel continued. "I can always have a secret boyfriend if you do." Jason then felt his arm being hugged by the fox.

"He accepts!" Stacey and Mark laughed while Jason just chuckled and blushed.

"No, but look, Jason," Stacey continued, "I don't want you to feel pressured into having a boyfriend-"

"No . . ." Jason said, ". . . You're right. I don't want to hide, but I'm not ready to be open about me either, but I don't want to lie about and to myself for the rest of my life . . ." He then turned his head to the hopeful-looking fox. "Mark . . . I'm not ready for something too intimate, but . . . I wanna . . . At least give it a try . . ." Mark smiled before he hugged Jason. The husky blushed a little more as he felt a weird by very subtle air in his body. He decided he wanted to eventually be open with himself, and he's always known Mark was gay, as he was one of Stacey's best friends, and Jason wasn't sure how Mark would feel about a secret relationship, but if he was going to try this new method of life, Jason felt as if he should place his faith in Mark.

"Well, I gotta go, you two. My dad's gonna kill me for being late for home." The pink-streaked cocker spaniel then made her leave into the forest.

"We should get going to." The fox said.

"Yeah . . ." Jason nodded, looking to the side and still blushing.

Mark led the way with the other teen following into the wood. They carefully treaded along the thickly knotted ground, stepping around the large roots and trees. Just as they had reached the darkest part of the wood, the fox felt something on his paw. He quickly realized that he was holding another paw.

"Just, you know . . . So we don't get lost . . ." In the darkness of the tree shadows, Mark was smiling. This was a good enough start for him.

()()()

As the plane moved forward, Jason's paw held Mark's in a better position. Regardless of how painful his parents made his coming out experience was, he knew it was a hell of a lot better than the plan that Stacey dissuaded him from, and he was very thankful for it, considering how his life is now.

He knows just how lucky he was and is now.