My Faith... My Life... My Love...
Hey there, Its Love_Ink! And as always, I hope that I entertain or maybe poke at your imagination. But First note or disclaimer if you will, is that there is male on male attraction in this particular story. So if you are uncomfortable with ideas of homosexuality then please kindly click the back button and have a wonderful day elsewhere here on Yiffstar. Second note would be that I probably could use an editor, I don't think I'm all that bad with grammar, but some times things just don't come out like as I'd imagine. Any corrections needed I'll be looking out for but a friendly reminder would be wonderful... this is the second chapter to "Why We're So Diffrent". I'll see the reactions and continue if anyone is interested. This is my second story submitted and a major helpful tip that so many of you gave me was to make it longer. I hope that I make a good setting here and I hope that my talent as grown since last I posted. I want to send out a lot of love and a grate deal of respect for people that went out of their way to help me out and teach me more about writing. And as always, please comment. The only way I can get better is if I can get help from every one here. Or even a complement here and there. <3
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Chapter 2... "My Faith... My Life... My Love..."
Julian had no idea why he had hit the older rat. He knew that he was really upset, but he had never attacked an adult before because of his emotions. Such a thing had never happened in this quiet little safe town. Such a heaven never had its peace disturbed. But Julian couldn't understand why it was considered to be so perfect when there were sad things like what was happening to Zack that happened there. He looked to Zack just before his head was lowered into the police car with handcuffs tightly bound to his wrists.
"Don't worry Zack... Everything will be fine..." He smiled. The rat looked to his dad and then back to Julian. His face was twisted with confusion. It really did look like he felt bad for being thankful that Julian had come running.
"Damn Julian..." Jake mumbled, resting his elbow on the top of Zack's head like a leaning post. He scratched the back of his head and flickered his tail back and forth as he thought about what Paster Stevens was going to do. The fox knew one thing, he didn't want to lose Julian, he was a good friend and a damn good partner when it came to making money. "Officer, you gonna take that drunk in too?" he said motioning to the abusive father with his chin.
"That depends if his son would like to speak up. Sorry kids, but when it comes down to the papers it don't mean much when it comes to getting the facts from an orphan..." The officer said with a shake of his head.
"Bullshit!" Jake said insulted by the comment. "Thats the second time today! Whats wrong with everyone..." He added under his breath with a cocked brow.
"I... my father attacked him..." Zack said quietly.
"What was that?" The officer asked as another cop car pulled up to the driveway. Julian cursed under his breath as he saw who it was. Detective Harneky in his long brown duster and fedora. It not that Julian disliked him. He adored the Airedale, He was the only point of authority that stood up for the kids at the foster home. The reason was because he felt bad, He knew that Harneky was going to be disappointed in him, and this hurt so much more...
"Whats going on here?" The Airedale rasped as he took his hat off and ran his paw through his straggly head fur.
"Case of domestic violence it seems..." The other officer said. Harneky looked over at Zack and his father with Jake not too far away. A guilty charming smile on his face and a wave met Harneky from the fox. He gazed into the back seat of the squad car and saw Julian in cuffs and looking ahead of himself showing no emotion.
"Must have been something bad this time huh Julian..." Harneky mumbled. The wolf's ear turned like a radar to the Airedale's voice. "Listen, I'll take care of this. Leave everything to me alright?" Harneky said to the other officer.
"I don't know if this will go well back at HQ Detective..." He warned.
"Zack's father won't press charges, his pride being knocked down a peg will keep him quiet. I mean really getting knocked out by a kid, he won't speak up and make it public."
"Are you sure about that?" the officer asked with a cocked brow.
"I know these people better then anyone else back at head quarters. The kids grew up around me and I grew up Zack's father here." He said with a nod as Julian was let out of the Squad Car. "He was one of the four of us that made it out..." Harneky said under a sigh looking distantly at the older rat.
"What was that sir?" The officer asked as he took the cuffs off of the Wolf, who rubbed at his wrists.
"No... Nothing..." The Airedale chuckled to him self. He put his hat back on and turned to face Julian and gave him a wink. "Ready?" He asked as the wolf knew that the drama meant another ride home.
"Yeah..." He mumbled. "I'll catch you later Jake... Go get paid and I'll see you back at the house..." Julian added as he got into the passenger seat in Harneky's car.
"I planed on it..." Jake said not so amused while his paw tips were picking at Zack's hair like some one taking the splinters off a fence post, attempting to get the bits out of the Rat's hair from being on the ground.
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"Sage, don't worry. The people next door saw it and knew it was Julian. I've called Detective Harneky and he said that he was on his way..." The otter said after he had hung up the phone. He had made the call right after the first one came in. Sage had tears in his eyes dampening the dark lining that edged his long eyelashes.
"Julian... You know what happens when you fight..." Sage whispered seeming to himself. His paws were folded in his lap and his head hung low. Paster Stevens knew that it was one of his trances that seemed to happen. He would be deep in thought and had to be shaken out of it when he spent too much time away from the other wolf.
"Sage!" Jon snapped as he pinched the wolfs ear. Sage yelped and looked the Otter in the eyes surprised.
"I-I'm sorry..." He mumbled as his gaze fell back to the table.
"I understand, even more so after our little talk. You just don't want to lose him..." Jon said quietly as he went back to doing the dishes. "But the day doesn't stop, not even for this. We need to get down to business..." He added.
"So does that mean we're out for grocery duties?" Came Alex's sly and chilling voice. The slender Cheetah was leaning in the doorway, his long thin dreadlocks covering most of his head, causing his pointed ears to poke out from the braids. His headfur fell to his chest and down his back like the branches of a weeping willow tree. His posture was graceful and his frost blue eyes were as piercing as ever, merely half opened as though he was not fully interested. His arms were crossed and his shoulder was lifted as to gaze over it at the two in the Kitchen. His foot paws were bare as was normal. His cargo pants were the same baggy black, laced with zippers and D rings that Julian was pron to wearing. His cropped gray denim vest was open exposing his slender frame to the world and his neck lining had a white fluffy trimming. A star painted on the back and sleeves that reached tightly to his wrists, It was his favorite jacket, but he never really wore much on his upper portion. He looked good, and he knew it. Even including the piercing in his tongue that he had gotten when Julian had gotten his lip done. Aside from Sage, Alex truly was Julian's best friend. His calm composer and soothing voice was impressive in all means of the word. But not many aside from Julian seem to truly understand him.
"Alex! How long have you been there?" the otter chuckled taken back and uneasy.
"Long enough..." He said with a gentle smile and a look to the ceiling.
"S-so you know what happened to Julian?" Sage asked as he got up from his chair. He got to the cheetah and put his paw on his arm trying to look him in the eyes.
"Yeah..." Alex sighed, he lowered his gaze to Sage's hight which was only a few inches shorter then himself. "Tough Wolf... Tough Love..." He mumbled. Sage couldn't tell if the situation annoyed him or bored him. But he pressed his forehead into Alex's shoulder with a sigh of relief. Had it been at one time Sage would have lost his head being frightened of the Cheetah, but over the time he had come to really like Alex. And though the Cheetah was slender and not nearly as intimidating as Julian could be, for some reason he was able to prove his worth in physical confrontations, always keeping his commanding presence in check through the worst of it. In a sense Alex made Sage feel safe, just like Julian did.
"We can lecture him later about it." Alex said with a charming wink.
"Yeah, you two get going to the store for me. I left some money on the table with a list Sage." Jon said not looking away from what he was doing.
"Right..." Alex said taking just the list. Sage went to take the money but Alex tapped his paw away.
"But..." Sage went to complain but Alex just padded at his back pocket, silently meaning that he was going to cover it. Sage went to detest out loud again but Alex's paw calmly clamped his muzzle shut as he nonchalantly went over the list. Sage blushed as closed his eyes as his shoulders drooped giving up. It wasn't that Jon wasn't thankful when Alex paid for everything on the grocery list the few times he did it a month, but Jon said that this wasn't his oblation anymore being since he was adopted.
"See you old man..." Alex smiled at the list while walking down the hall to the front door. He ruffled the head fur of a very young Tiger that had his nose poking between the bars in the stair case. He had never seen the kid before but Sage saw him do this so naturally... It was like a part of the Foster Home never left him, even after the years of being adopted. Sage knew some how... That he missed the place.
They had gotten into his car, that apparently his parents didn't help him get and they were off down the road toward the middle of town. Sage had asked him were he made his money but the cheetah would always just smile and shake his head. Julian never seemed to ask, which caused Sage to think that Julian already knew.
"Don't ask..." Alex said keeping his gaze on the road. He slipped a cigarette between his lips and shifted gears speeding slightly.
"Don't ask what?" Sage said taken back in surprise.
"When ever I pay for something and you get that look in your eye you ask how I make my money..." He said with a sigh.
"Can you blame me?" Sage asked out of the corner of his eye, stiffening his shoulders and lifting his nose up. "I mean I know the family you were adopted to are more then willing to support you... But..." Sage stopped as he caught a look from Alex. The wolf was caught off guard when Alex's long spotted tail bopped him on his nose like a playful flyswatter.
"Mind your own business hun..." He chuckled. Then flared up his cigarette with a zippo lighter that he seemed to play with when he was a bit nervous.
"W-well..." Sage said with a blush knowing that he was being pesky. But it was really something that he wanted to know. If he could get a similar job it would help out the house a grate deal.
"I have a job, what do you want?" He smiled, but it was a fake smile, Sage knew it well.
"I'm sorry Alex..." Sage said lowering his gaze.
"Dun worry about it..." The Cheetah said under a sigh. "Its just who you are." he laughed as he made a turn into the parking lot.
"Whats that supposed mean?" Sage asked shyly.
"Well, like thinking you love Julian..." He said rather nonchalantly.
"You heard that?!" Sage asked worried.
"Heard what?" Alex asked with a tilt of his head after he had parked.
"W-what I said to Jon, you heard me say that I think..." Sage stopped hoping that maybe he had misheard what came out of Alex's mouth.
"No, its the way you act around him, Sage..." Alex said with a crooked grin. He had no sound of being upset at all. "And..." He looked distantly away for a moment. "The way Julian acts... around you..." he said with a nod. There was a long pause where Sage sat next to Alex in silence, the Cheetah looking at his steering wheel and Wolf looking at his paws in his lap.
"Wait... You told Jon you think you love Julian?" Alex said with a raised brow.
"W-Well... Yeah..." Sage said actually kind of frightened. But what he didn't expect was the cat to explode with laughter, holding his sides and kicking his dashboard and all!
"Oh man! Jon must have flipped!" He said between his laughter. Now Sage was just kind of hurt, blushing hard and wondering what was so funny about it.
"Why are you laughing! We could lose the home if something like that gets out!" Sage yipped, trying to reach over and close the cats mouth from being so loud about it. They wrestled for a bit, but after a while, Sage had tried to force himself on Alex to playfully get his paws around the cats neck and it amounted to Alex defending himself by tickling the Wolf's sides, causing him to giggle and kick back away.
"Yeah, know your place pup..." Alex said as he took the nearly finished cigarette from his dark lips. He opened his door and hopped out flicking it some where or another. Sage sat out of breath for a moment blushing and catching his breath. He let out a long sigh as he fixed his hair and got out. He tired to be a big tuff Wolf all the time with Alex but the Cheetah would always demean him by fighting back in silly ways and treating him like he was a little pup. Sage didn't mind it as much though.
"It won't happen again Harneky..." Jon said as Julian walked through the door, his head hung low and his ears were pasted to his skull. His old friend had given him a good talking too on the ride home, and Julian really only felt bad that he didn't care.
"I hope not... But still between you and me, it was for all the right reasons..." The Airedale said quieter so that only Jon could hear it. "There wasn't any serious damage, but with a temper like that he should watch himself, next time it might happen to some one that isn't made to take a hit like that..." He said as he put on his fedora again. It was his polite way of saying that the conversation was over and that he had to go.
"Alright, you take care of your self Detective..." Jon said as he closed the door with a smile. He turned around and saw Julian already had the tiger cub over his shoulders and was walking about folding laundry trying to act too busy to talk with him. Paster Stevens knew that he had already heard it from Harneky, but he had to reinforce it. "Julian..." The Otter mumbled, the Wolf turned and tried to pass by as if he hadn't heard him. "Julian!" Jon said louder and grabbed Julian's arm. The Wolf stopped and looked Jon in the eyes. It was a sad gaze, and Jon could read it. Julian then put the previously laughing child on the floor and told him to go play with the others.
"What is it Jon..." The Wolf said distantly with out turning to look at the Otter, instead he watched the kid dash toward the back door, the same way he use to himself when he was that small...
"Son... I know why you did what you did..." Jon said sadly, his gaze lowered knowing his older grip on the Wolf's arm was pretty weak in comparison to the tone young teenager. He never really felt how old he was, or how much older he was getting until he got a moment alone with the Wolf. Julian had been there from almost the beginning of the house's existence. He had never been the largest Canine, but always the one with the most heart. "Julian... You can't just pick up a fight with some one..." Jon said.
"Watch me..." Julian retorted in a bored tone.
"If you keep doing this... Then you'll be fighting with everyone, if you pick up a fight that some one else started then people will always come to you when it happens again, they won't learn on their own and you'll keep getting hurt for picking up their slack." Jon said letting go of the Wolf's arm.
"I'll always be there for some one who needs me..." Julian said rather proud, but with enough respect to no sound happy about knocking some one out, honestly it was a first.
"Son, some fights you can't win!" The Otter said coldly.
"I haven't lost yet..." Julian chuckled seemingly to himself. "Besides I don't think you know anything about what happened, so please leave it be..." Julian said with a slight smile.
"I wasn't talking about sticking up for Zack..." Jon said stepping in front of him. "I was talking about the fight that his father has with alcohol." Paster Steven added with a nod. "And some battles..." he said a bit more quietly as Julian saw the Otter hold his side, it was done in a way that seemed out of habit.
"Won't heal..."
"Dad..." Julian said gently and put his paw on the Otter's shoulder with a calming smile. "You never raised me to quit... I can take pride in who I am because of you. There's no reason you can't do the same." He added with a good pat to his back and he walked off to grab more clothing from the wash room.
"He called you dad..." The Otter told himself and a tear appeared in his eye. "David..." He mumbled unknowingly.
"Who?" Julian asked as he tossed another shirt in half, then tilted his head and let it hang on his arm again as he put his finger through a hole. "Sage needs to fix this..." He noted distantly.
"What? Oh... Oh... Nothing! Sage will be home soon with Alex, if you guys hang out later just be safe and please... Stay out of trouble..." He said as he exited through the back door to where the kids were playing.
"What was that all about?" Julian questioned out loud with a cocked brow to the door.
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Sage had the cart full as he was going on about the things he was going to cook for dinner. Alex had added a carton of cigarettes and two cases of beer for Julian and himself to the shopping list. Julian never really drank often and neither Alex nor Julian were of legal age to do so. But it was a habit they had some times. Alex saw the cashier and smiled knowing him. He rang them up and there was an odd smile they shared between them. Like they had met before. Sage had never seen the lizard before, so he must have been new to the store.
"Do you know him?" Sage asked innocently as they left, arms full of bags.
"Nope..." Alex chuckled as he left.
"Then why did he ring you up with out an ID for your beer?" Sage questioned with a slight crack in his voice.
"I've seen him around..." Alex mumbled as they got the his car and started loading the bag into the back seat.
"I thought you didn't know him..." Sage said very confused.
"You don't need to know some people to have seen them around. Come on, get in..." He said as he unlocked the door.
"Oh..." Sage said as though he had understood, but he really didn't though.
They were about half way back before Sage spoke up again.
"So you really don't think it strange for my feelings toward Julian?" He asked over the music and a tilt of his head. There was a pause were Alex had that same look on his face, an odd charming smile that kind of made Sage feel strange.
"Listen, Between you and me... I don't care. But just know that I was here first..." Alex said calmly.
"What do you mean?" Sage asked.
"I mean that Julian and I have spilled a lot of blood together. And some were our blood mixed. I think he really lucky to have some one's heart like yours so... Close..." He said as he shifted gears and lit up another cigarette. "But I want you to know Sage, I do love you like a brother, and your a the best friend a guy can ask for. But Julian and my self have a lot of history... And I won't let your feelings come between that..." He said with a distant look on his face.
"W-wait... Do you love Julian too?" Sage asked shocked and a look of panic on his face.
"Calm down pup... We're not in love... I don't know what we are, but..." He trailed off as he shifted again and picked up speed. Sage remained silent as this was the most open Alex had ever been with him about Julian. A Wolf that made his heart melt knowing that he was there at every turn. A boy yes! But some how gender didn't matter to Sage, he just knew... that he wouldn't, couldn't live with out him... "Just know your place, Which is undoubtedly in his heart..." He added under a sigh.
"Dose he... Feel the same way about me?" Sage asked ducking his head slightly trying to hide his blush.
"He hasn't said it out loud hun, but its painfully obvious..." He chuckled.
"Really?" Sage whined as he put his paw over his eyes to desperately hide his embarrassment.
"Yeah... And do me a favor? Make sure if you do pursue that love and it just so happens to get returned..." He paused as he thought about how to put what he was going to say then added. "Make sure none of the younger kids know about it or see it..."
"What do you mean?" Sage asked, he still didn't understand why it was so wrong, not because he was dumb or dense in any sense, but because he felt so natural about loving Julian.
"Monkey see monkey do kind of thing, let them make that kind of choice for them self you know?" Alex said with out delay. He meant this in a way to make sure their love for one another would not effect or influence any of the younger kids at the Home. After all, each and every one of them looked up to Julian and Sage a grate deal.
"I understand..." Sage said now distracted with this thought...
It had been several hours after a wonderful dinner that Sage had made from scratch. Sage had even wrapped Julian's bruised knuckles before with out lecturing him. Julian had been very thankful for this, but still he had noticed that the beautiful Wolf had been some what quiet. He took this as a sign that he didn't approve with his methods of dealing with the situation earlier with Zack's father. The kids were put to bed and Paster Stevens had retired for the night. Sage, Julian, and Alex sat near a fire at the edge of the property overlooking the town with the stars over their head. It was indeed a wonderful night to relax being that there was not much work to do the following day. Saturday nights were their time to relax and not worry about a thing in the world.
"I don't know, he was acting really strange you know?" Julian said, then took a sip of his beer, feeling a tad warm from the few before.
"What do you mean? He always starts acting odd toward the end of summer..." Alex chuckled.
"Yeah but this time it was different, like something was really bothering him..." Julian said distantly looking into the blaze of the fire.
"Its nothing..." Alex said with a smile to the sight of Julian like this. Alex always enjoyed the glow that reflected from Julian's eyes like that, the savage yellow and green caused his blood to boil some times... There was just something so primal about it. And of anyone it was Julian that lived up to his breed. Protective... Constant... And Stable... Reliable and kind to the one's that have effected his life. Alex was always reminded of why the Wolf was his best friend when ever he looked into his eyes. He really was the only one that knew everything about him and never really questioned it too far. Simply accepted him for who he was, and that was even more then his adopted parents could boast about. He loved them very much and they had been nothing less then amazing to him, but his faith... his life and love had always been with the place that had raised him.
"I'm not sure... Its not like Jon to seem so vulnerable... It was kind of unsettling..." Julian said as he brushed his cheek into the top of Sage's head. "You still awake hun?" he added with a content smile.
"Mmmm... Yeah..." Sage smiled with heavy eyes. He yawned and nuzzled into Julian's chest as he was sitting with the Wolf's legs on either side of him. Alex was again reminded of their love that Julian was completely oblivious about. The Cheetah knew it was there as plain as day, but Julian was so easy about it. Loving another boy as it was meant between them could shake the very foundations that the Foster Home was built on, yet he had made no notion about such a bond, had he even noticed how much he loved Sage?
"Something tells me that your about to head off to bed..." Julian chuckled.
"Yeah... don't be all night?" he said as the larger Wolf helped him up.
"I'll come to bed soon, don't worry..." Julian assured. Sage nodded with a pleasant smile and wondered off after saying good night to the both of them.
For a while Julian and Alex just sat and watched the fire. Julian could see that Alex was deep in thought as he watched the fire. It was a time that they had that it was just them, the two that had suffered the worst in the heaven that was Sunnyvale... the paradise that was seemingly so far away from so many troubles that effected the world.
"So I heard that you paid for the shopping list again..." Julian said to brake the silence.
"Yeah..." Alex mumbled broken from his trance.
"Where did you get the money to do that?" Julian asked with a raised brow, already knowing the answer.
"How do you think..." Alex said with another swig of his beer.
"Your still selling you body over in the next town then..." Julian said sadly. He stood up and dropped his empty bottle into the fire.
"It pays..." Alex said rather coldly.
"Dammit Alex! You know that I hate to see you treat your self like shit..." Julian growled.
"I don't see why it should bother you..." Alex sighed. "You already have a lot on your plate..." He added not moving from his seat. They would have this argument frequently, and Julian had always been left alone as Alex would end up leaving fed up with his care for the Cheetah.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Julian asked stepping closer.
"Julian... Not tonight... Please..." Alex pleaded, in an honest tone too, he had never done that before, most of the time he would just wave it off and piss Julian off. Something really was bothering his friend and Julian didn't like it.
"Dude... Whats wrong?" Julian asked keeping his balance as he stood right next to Alex. The Cheetah shook his head, his dreadlocks gracefully waved in the wake of the motions of his head. He stood up a bit unstable and put a hand on Julian's shoulder to balance himself.
"I love yeh man..." He chuckled and started his way off. He always said that before he left. Julian was fed up, every one had been acting to strange that day. He didn't feel right, something was wrong and he had to know what.
"Alex!" Julian growled and took an aggressive step toward him. He grabbed the Cheetah wrist and he spun around. They looked one another in the eyes for a moment. Then Alex looked away and sighed. Julian could even see... for the first time since the cat had first been introduced to the house all those years ago, tears in his eyes.
"Whats been going on... I just want to know..." Julian said in his honest tone that he normally had with his dear friend. What he didn't expect was for Alex to put his paw on his cheek keeping his gaze low.
"Julian... Your the only thing that has ever truly cared about me... I mean Sage give's an honest effort but..." He trailed off with a furrowed brow.
"Thats not true, what about Jon!" Julian exclaimed.
"If he loved me... Then why would he give me away..." Alex sulked and pressed his forehead into Julian's chest. The Wolf put his arms around him and rested his chin between Alex's soft ears. He ran his paw through his hair as Alex took in his dear friend's scent. It gave him comfort every time he was around, and now more then most times... he needed it...
"Jon just wanted you to have a better life you know?" Julian whispered.
"A better life huh?" Alex said as his paws found Julian's sides and gripped his shirt. "A better life... With out you? Come on now..." The Cheetah said with a very fake laugh. But there was a comforting purr coming from his chest. Julian had forgotten how much he missed that...
"Alex... Tell me whats really wrong and you know I'll do anything, anything at all to help you..." Julian said as he watched the glow from the town below them, holding his best friend.
"Your such a dummy..." Alex giggled. "You know... Sage really loves you right?" He said pressing the bridge of his nose into Julian's neck blushing brightly in the light of the fire.
"I know, and I love him right back. Just like I love you Alex..." Julian said with a chuckle.
"No dude... I mean he's fallen for you, like wants to be your mate, like he's as gay as I am and he cares..." Alex swallowed hard before finishing... "Half the fucking world that I do for you..." he said as he pressed his face tightly into Julian's chest again.
"I..." was all Julian could utter as he rolled his lip ring with his tongue, he felt a sudden tightness in his heart, his mind was racing and his eyes were darting. He knew Alex was gay, but never once did he stop to think that Alex had feelings from him. And his actions with Sage came crashing into his head like a ton of bricks. He was so dazzled that he didn't know what to do!
"I just... God... I don't want to lose you..." Alex gasped into the Wolf's shirt with his warm tears soaking into the fabric. Suddenly as always, and the reason Julian was so loved by both of them, He shined his brightest with a confident smile.
"Alex... You couldn't lose me if you if you tried..." He said with a soothing voice. Alex looked up to his face and sniffed in to clear his nose. The Cheetah put himself on his tippy toes so that he could kiss Julian, and of this the Wolf didn't move. Their soft lips met and Alex put his arms around Julian's neck. The Wolf closed his eyes and smiled as he heard him purring again. He deepened his embrace to the only one that knew how hard it was being different in the entire town. In truth he loved Alex very much, but was now at a loss for what he should do, On one hand there was a Wolf just in side the house... That loved him dearly, on the other was his best friend that needed him... And on a strange third the respect for the home in which he lived that would cause none of it to be possible. He dismissed everything and just for the moment enjoyed the feeling of Alex's lips against his own. He felt the Cheetah's knees buckled slightly, Julian knew he had too much to drink. But they both fell to their knees in the grass and didn't part their kiss. It was only after Alex had run his tongue along the Wolf's lower lip with a gentle nibble had he parted their kiss.
"Julian..." Alex mumbled as he pressed his head into the Wolf's chest, holding onto his arms that he found so attractive and safe all these years. "Think I can crash here tonight?" He chuckled.
"Angel... You know your always welcome home..." Julian said as he raised and lifted Alex clear off the ground. He cradled him in his arms awkwardly and started toward the door. He knew that Alex was in no condition to drive and it amused him to no end that he mumbled something that made no scene, but after he said it his Purring remained constant. He was out cold as he put him on the sofa and pulled a throw over him like a blanket and tucked him in. He shook himself over and went back outside to put out the fire. Once out side he mumbled. "Shit... What the hell am I going to do!?"
After the fire was out and he took a shower he dried himself off and padded over to Jake's door. He knocked gently and was answered in moments as the Fox had been up watching a movie with a few of the slightly younger kids. They were all piled on his bed like a lump of fur, tails coiled and paws touching. Julian smiled as he entered, the first thing Jake ever bought was that TV with a built in VCR. All of the kids were asleep as his memories seemed to play before his eyes. He took his old seat right on the window sill and Jake handed him his paper bag with his bottle wine in it.
"I shouldn't..." Julian laughed quietly.
"Go for it Alpha Dog... You look like you could use it..." He smiled as he sat next to him, resting his arm on his bent knee that was hugged to his chest. Julian couldn't understand how in one day his life could be thrown upside down like this. But the fox next to him seemed to understand with out asking any questions. He just gave Julian a charming grin and closed his eyes as he rested his chin on his knee.
"I got the feeling that a few things are going to be changing around here man... I don't know why though..." He chuckled, when opened a heavy eye to look toward the bed. Julian traced his gaze and Saw Zack being snuggled by most of the kids on the bed, he too was out cold.
"Heh... Their all tuckered out..." Julian smiled.
"Yeah... That kid just can't climb, let me tell you..." He chuckled.
"Jon know he's over for the night?" Julian asked.
"Shit no... But thats fine, kid just want's some time to rest his head..." Jake said distantly.
"I got Alex down stairs on the sofa..." Julian admitted with a drink from the bottle.
"Are you going to bed with Sage soon?" The Fox asked amused as he took the bagged bottle back and poked Julian in the side.
"Nah... I... I Think I need some time to figure things out..." He laughed as their gaze fell to Zack.
"Right..." Jake mumbled as his eyes closed. They would not open again till morning, so Julian took the bottle from his tired paw that was losing it's grip on it and slid it behind the Fox's bed, then fell back to were he was sitting. He looked to the moon and sighed. He closed his eyes that were heavy with drink and his body spent from another day... in this heaven he called home... How ever... This night was not over, not for one life...
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Alex sat up with the rays of moonlight falling through the curtains of the home that he had left so long ago. He draped himself in the throw that Julian had pulled over him for a blanket as he put his paw to his forehead. His eyes were so much better at night, but he knew he was still a bit too drunk to drive. His normally aloof nature came from a very thick wall that he had built around himself to protect himself from moments like this. The familiar scents, and the feeling of being safe in a place that he knew. It had all been taken away from him, he had lost everything once, then again when he was adopted. Sure Julian was right down the road aways, but it wasn't the same. His new room was with out the mixture of their smell, it was with out a friend to hold him on colder nights. Or when the first snow hit, there was no one to share a blanket with a sip of hot coco on their lips. The Cheetah's slowly waving tail caught his attention out of the corner of his eye, he was shocked for a moment to have found a smile on his face and for the moment happy. These memories... were the only things he left here, and as always they made him feel the one thing he wouldn't... couldn't allow in himself to feel. Vulnerable... He touched his paw tips to his lips and remembered the soft feeling of Julian's lips pressed against them. It had not been the first... He could almost even hear his voice.
"Alex! Wait up!" He heard Julian's voice when they were Ten years old... "Your running too fast again! No Fair!"
"Its not that far Julian! Come on!" He could remember himself saying, their laughter echoing through the trees past their pain of a world that didn't understand them. He could remember being tackled by the Wolf in the sunset, the fireflies were just starting to come to life and the buzz of the crickets could be heard by the running stream. He could remember that he had no idea about sex or the wants of others back then. But he could remember the clean smell of the stream, and Julian's eyes meeting his own. Anywhere else they were considered less fortunate, yet there in his arm... was the only home that he wanted. He was his best friend and in this he was richer then any king or queen that ruled over any land...
"Julian?" The Cheetah asked as he propped himself up on his elbows. The Wolf sat up on his knees with a smile still catching his breath.
"Whats up keek?" Julian asked as he looked to the sunset. Keek was the name that he use to call him, and no one else. It was like kitty but simpler. Alex came out of his day dream for just long enough to stand and start his way into the Kitchen.
"Lets run away together..." Alex's words were distant but he could remember them so well, because he meant it.
"Lets walk..." Julian had chuckled.
"Really? Do you mean it?" The Cheetah asked with wide eyes, expecting the Wolf to have teased him about saying such a silly thing.
"Sure, and when we get to where we're going... We can say we did it together!" Julian laughed. "So don't go speeding off on me like that again." he added with a wink.
In reality Alex had found his way to the window overlooking the back yard. Though he gazed to the outside his mind was still deep in memory.
"Hey faggots!" Came the voice of an older kid that lived at the foster home, a lion by the name of Frank. "Jon says you two are too far away from the house, what are you doing out here anyway?" Julian had only smiled back at the kid still hunched over the smaller Cheetah. He had no idea what he had called them and it really showed that he didn't care. Alex on the other hand... Had heard it many times from his father before he disappeared and left the kid at the shelter. Alex could remember tightening his paw around Julian's, it had caught the Wolf's attention because he had looked back to the Cheetah's blue eyes. He had picked up on how much that word had hurt him some how.
"Nothing, we're just running around..." Julian had said back as the lion had approached.
"Looks like you guys were kissing" He laughed. He didn't honestly mean any harm by it, it was just kid stuff, picking on them as always. Its not like Frank had ever gone out of his way to tease them, it had just kind of happened.
"Kissing?" Julian asked with a tilt of his head.
"Yeah... Like when you press your lips to some one else's..." Alex said as he looked away from the lion blushing.
"Why would some one do that?" Julian asked with a smirk.
"Yeah, you'll get cooties of something, come on back to the house eh?" The lion said as he turned away.
"I'm not afraid of cooties..." Julian said with a slight chuckle.
"Your not?" Alex asked still blushing.
"Nope... I'm not afraid of anything..." The Wolf said confidently.
"Oh yeah?" Frank said as he moved closer. "Then I dare you to kiss Alex!" He challenged as he always did with Julian. The Wolf looked back to Alex who was laying on the flat of his back pinned with fear. He had never been kissed before, and the church had taught that it was wrong to kiss another boy. But Alex knew, deep down he knew that he wanted to be kissed. So he said nothing knowing that Julian would give into the lion's challenge.
"Alex..." Julian whispered as he moved his nose closer. The Cheetah could only lift his eyebrows in response. "A-are you afraid of my cooties?" Julian asked, still not quite getting the concept of what it was.
"No..." Alex had whispered gently into Julian's ear. And with that the Wolf had kissed Alex, maybe it was because he was no naive about it, but he had kissed him so calmly with out any hesitance at all. After all... They were best friends right? At that time in their life, what couldn't they do together...
______________________________________________________________________________________
Alex blocked out the aftermath of being called awful things by Frank and him being grossed out, as well as Julian taking the blame for all of it in front of Jon. Alex had come back to reality as he had heard the door upstairs close. He could tell it was from the bathroom, and because the memory of hearing the water running through the pipes came to mind. Alex shook his head as he reached into his pocket. There was a message on his phone. He flipped it open and listened.
"Alex... You have a party of six... Get there pronto or Lynx is gonna have that pretty tail of yours hanging from his wall..." the voice that belonged to a rather large Rhino had said, Then hung up. The message must have been the thing that awakened him, So he still had time to get there...
Alex sighed as he closed his phone and went back down the hall. He folded the throw that was draped around him and put it on the sofa. He exited the house and slumped into his car seat. He took in a deep breath of the night air and forced himself to smile. It wasn't how he felt, but the smile was good enough to even convince himself as he looked himself in the car mirror. And thats what mattered in his line of work... He turned the key and shifted himself into gear. He was off like a bolt of lightning in the dark, alone and convincing himself that he didn't need a thing in the world as always. He was sorry for only thing, complicating things between Sage and Julian. But after all Julian belonged to him... He would always belong to him...
Moment's later Alex had pulled up to the bar that's lights were bright and awake as always at two in the morning. The Cheetah had avoided several phone calls from the Rhino just on his way there. Alex walked to the side alleyway were the side entrance was and used his key to get in.
"Your fucking late Alex..." The ugly Rhino growled. Now Alex had seen pretty Rhino's before, but this was not by any means one of them...
"I wasn't on for tonight..." Alex hissed as he threw off his jacket and walked into the main dressing room. The smell of oils and other things filled his nose.
"I'll tell you when your on slut!" The Rhino shouted after him.
"Fuck you Brian, Your a god damn Slut..." Alex shouted back over his shoulder really not in the mood for his antics. He heard the stomping right before a key grip squeezed the breath from Alex. He knew it had been a bad idea to mouth off to the Rhino but some times he just didn't care enough about himself to really take too much caution in it.
"What the hell's gotten into you, If I wanted lip from you I'd zip my pants down..." he said deeply lifting the small cat clear off the ground by his neck and slamming him against the wall holding him there. He unzipped the Cheetah's pants and yanked them right off with his free hand. Alex gasped for air and his paws were gripping the impossibly strong stone like wrist of Brian, who had stripped his lower half with out trouble.
"Your lucky your Lynx's favorite or you'd be damaged goods by now, yeh hear?" He said as he dropped the Cheetah into a miserable ball coughing for air on the cold floor.
"Brian! He didn't mean anything!" Came the voice of Alex's stage partner. It was a Coyote that reminded Alex a lot of Julian, which might have been why he had chosen to work with him. The Coyote hurried to Alex's side putting his paws over him frightened of the Rhino's anger. Alex scoffed, that was the only thing that was different really, Julian would likely take the Rhino with out a second thought and likely be killed on his feet. And that was exactly why he never told the Wolf about this life, to keep him safe... "Are you alright?" He asked braking him from his strange laughter.
"I'll be fine Chris... Don't worry..." The cheetah said putting his finger tips through the canine's hair as they watched the Rhino going off to harass others.
"Its not going to be an easy night..." Chris said as he helped Alex up. There was a look of honest concern on his face. Alex could tell the effects of their job were taking it toll on him. He was already dressed in a black thong and the collar was tightly belted to his neck. Alex moved to his mirror and checked himself over. Again he smiled into the reflection lying to himself once more convincing himself that everything was alright as he got dressed in his matching wear.
"Everything will be alright, as long as your up for this..." Alex giggled.
"For you babe... I'm always up..." He smiled as he held up the chain that would connect them at the collar. Alex turned to him and closed his eyes as he pressed his face into Chris's tone chest, his ears pinning back submissively. The Coyote attached the chain, clasping them through the D rings at either end and took Alex by the hand and led him to the elevator platform around back from where the mirrors were. They knelt on their knees together with their fingers interlocked and their cheeks brushing together. Alex knew this was more for Chris's comfort, its like the Coyote drew in some sort of strength from his touch before they were to be on show or something. The platform raised to the privet room above and they were surrounded by a thick purple drape that unfolded and raised as soon as the slow music started. The room was dimly lit as always and the platform was slightly elevated above the floor. Foreplay was the starting view to the men that gazed on from their seats. Chris worked his paw tips down Alex's back, as the Cheetah's paws were pressed to his partners chest. Alex could already feel the Coyote's arousal building as their bodies began to grind together. He could feel the purr from his chest to the attention he was getting from Chris. Alex leaned back as Chris kissed him and kept his arm around his waist, bracing him there so that the Cheetah could crane his neck back to smile seductively to the onlookers as Chris nuzzled at his throat. Alex brushed his paw tips to the edge of the platform, were the fabric was secretly soaked with lubricant. In a graceful motion to the music, Alex pulled at Chris's thong. He felt the Coyote smile in another kiss as he guided Alex's dry palms down to slip off his garment. Chris's hard on bobbed in place as the garment was removed and Alex slid his paws around the seven inch member, massaging his shaft to spread the lubricant to the rest of his warm package. He could feel Chris tremble as he made these motions. Alex liked to play with Chris some times, often making a barber stripe like twist toward his tip, sending a wave of warm pleasure through out his body. It really was a form of teasing, the Coyote couldn't cum with out proper attention to his knot as Alex had found out. But he also knew that the more he took his time with him, the better and more satisfying the climax would be for him. They both knew each others bodies very well, their workings and everything that made their toes curl. It was something that only a partner in this line of business could read in the other. Alex lost his garment soon after and found Chris holding their shafts together in his paw, tightly sliding his digits up and down. He was breathing heavily through his nose with a murr, as Alex kept his hands behind himself panting out right with his eyes half open. It was the part where Chris kept them hard as the onlookers decided what they were to do.
"Harder..." came a deep voice from the dark surrounding. Instantly Alex felt an intense spike of pleasure as Chris held tighter, actually moving his hips into it. This caused Alex's most sensitive part just under the head of his member to rub up against the Coyote's. Alex responded in kind and kept his back arched so everyone could see.
"Cheetah... Orally please that Cock Hound..." Came another voice, a female's actually. Alex looked up at Chris who had slowed down and saw that he too was blushing hard. It was good that he felt the same way...
Alex pressed his lips to the Coyote's tone stomach, slowly working his way down toward Chris's throbbing and willing erection. He could see as he took his shaft in paw that the Canine's precum had collected at the tip of his pulsing manhood. Alex let his tongue hang out of his mouth showing his barbell piercing. He tapped the bottom of the metal to the bead of pre and lifted his chin letting it trail from his piercing, all the while Chris was putting a gentle knuckle through his braids and murring as Alex let a warm breath roll over his shaft. The Cheetah looked up at Chris with his bright blue eyes as his tongue made contact with the tip of his member causing the Coyote to buckle slightly with anticipation. Alex rolled his tongue around the canine's tip causing his saliva to cause a slick shine in the dark room, Alex never braking eye contact until he allowed Chris's shaft access into his mouth, where he closed his soft lips around it, massaging his shaft up and down in the wake of his slowly bobbing head.
Alex actually really liked Chris's taste, it was warm, salty... but not overpowering. He almost had the ability to wrap his lick around the entire shaft while remaining in his mouth. He felt Chris grab at the back of his neck and he felt him murr deeply as he bucked his hips slightly into his mouth, all the while Alex kept his lips curled over his teeth. The Coyote leaned back as Alex put his free paw to his chest fur and gripped tightly at the fur there to keep him from forming his knot. He found Chris's member pulsing at the rate of his heart, he was hoping some one would speak up, he knew that Chris couldn't go on like this. And once his knot formed he was always guilty about going right for it.
"Get it in deeper..." Came the deeper voice from before. Alex had barely heard it before he found Chris pushing his head down further, nearly reaching the back of his throat. It was fine though, Alex had no gag reflex really... at least he could suppress it better then most could. He opened his mouth wide then clamped down again with his lips as he felt the Canine's tip sliding along his curved tongue and reaching the tighter end of his throat. Alex cupped his balls as he got a large gulp of saliva and pre when Chris had given him a moment to take a breath. The Cheetah took in a large breath through his nose drawing in the Coyote's scent. The rich earthy aroma mixed with Chris's frustration made Alex feel weak at the knees that he was supporting himself on.
"Enough..." Came a new voice. Alex knew it well too... "Turn him around..." It said. But he had not said who... Alex already knew what he was in for because the voice was a regular.
"P-Please redefine..." Chris panted as it was custom to ask just in case. Alex would have smiled at his jitter in voice due to his efforts on the dick in his mouth, but his mind was elsewhere.
"I mean for you, to hold the Cheetah from behind dear Coyote..." The voice responded with a slight chuckle. As demanded Alex parted his mouth from his partners wet and hard cock and turned his body with a measured twist. On beat Chris pressed his body against Alex's keen body holding him gently at the throat with one paw, nibbling him at the nape of his neck. It was payback, Chris knew that it drove him over the edge. His other paw was around the Cheetah's throbbing eight inches, brushing up and down his lubricated shaft, keeping away from his most sensitive areas until later. Alex reached behind himself of either side and held on to him pressing his butt against the erection behind him. There was no reason that Alex Shouldered the Coyote's chin forward over his neck, other then to get him away from it. But to keep the show he reached up and kept an arm curled over the back of Chris's neck and kissed him tenderly on his throat as his muzzle was now over his shoulder.
"Penetrate him..." Came the same voice that Alex knew so well. It was a request that was common from him. Alex felt a quick squeeze around his neck twice. It was a silent code from Chris to ask if he was alright with it. There were a few things they did like this that were unnoticeable if done right, and a form of communication only between them that he was thankful for. Alex grazed the Coyote's skin with his claws, not enough to leave marks but enough for him to feel. It was him saying that it was alright. With his consent Alex felt the Canine hilt his hard shaft to his tail hole and with how wet and lubricated it was already, smeared there for a proper amount of assistance for entry. Alex relaxed as much as he could while closing his eyes in the Coyote's embrace.
For a moment he could pretend that Chris was Julian. The Coyote knew that he did this from brutal honesty, but it made the experience for Alex easier... And Chris not only knew this... but respected his feelings for it...
It was then that he felt the Canine's tip press through his soft wall, causing the Cheetah to let out a weak gasp of pain, mixed with desire and pleasure as it pushed further in. chris pulled out slightly and felt that the entry was smooth and slick, so he pressed in further. It was another thing Alex loved working with Chris for, he could tell it something was painful or if it was being done right. He was talented unlike some of the mishaps that often happened. But it was then that Alex's favorite part came. He felt his insides being pressed and his prostate being simulated yes, but it was the sensation of his butt being brought to the hansom Canine's hips. He had mounted him properly, still working Alex's shaft and pressing his lips passionately to the cats exposed throat as Alex had lifted his chin. He held on so tightly to Alex that it was like a castle's wall on either side of him, holding him in place. It wasn't until that moment, even after all the times they had worked together that Alex felt... Protected by those arms. Of all the times they had sex like this in front of people, and some times off to the side to keep in practice, Alex had never actually felt any form of emotion in his embrace, and for once his mind didn't drift to the thought of Julian. It was a moment that lasted a blink an eye before the words were spoken.
"Now fuck him like a bitch..." The voice said. The words were disrespectful and demeaning to Alex, but it was expected in his line of work...
He felt himself forced forward, his chest pressed to the stage's floor and his paws in front of him, there wasn't much to do from here, it was up to Chris who had his grip on the back of the cheetah's neck, and the other right above his tail, pressing their hips together and pulling away, then crashing his hips back to Alex's butt spiking his arousal back into the Cheetah's sensitive insides. There was an unnatural grace when Chris was in control, every time it happened he seemed to preform as though he longed for it. Alex could head the moan from one of the onlookers, he was finishing himself off early it seemed. That was one down...
"Stop... Turn him over... Look him in the eyes..." Came the female voice again. On command Chris reached over from behind and grabbed the submissive Cheetah's wrists and pulled out just enough to turn Alex's lower half. The cat was just flexible enough to get his legs around Chris's waist with out parting his shaft from his tail hole. He lifted his rear up, causing Chris to gasp as he entered him again. Alex kept his eyes half open panting to the sensation ravaging his body as Chris pressed in hard. Alex tangled his thighs around him with a smile as he felt the Coyote's knot forming. But what Alex didn't expect was for Chris to whisper into his ear.
"Let me be your wolf..." He said only loud enough for Alex to hear. Shockingly his eyes were of the same color, and Alex could even tell that it tore him apart when he had to remind him that he wasn't Julian. Alex could almost feel the sacrifice he had made by saying that. He was trying to BE Julian to please him, it was something that he had never done before... Alex felt him thrust harder in and saw his ears pin back. The Cheetah let out a gasp as he felt his erection tighten to the feeling. There were a few moments that passed in this manner. But then something again new came to their normal performance.
"Thats enough... Tie him Coyote..." Came the voice that Alex knew well. Chris paused from a moment looking Alex deeply in the eyes.
"Excuse me sir..." Chris responded through his panting.
"I understand that it will cost me extra, just do it..." He said coldly. Chris had let go of Alex's left wrist for a response from him. The Cheetah knew it was going to hurt, but he wanted to make back that money from shopping with Sage. His paw lifted with a shaking pace and grazed Chris's chest as though a passionate touch from a lover. He knew that Tieing Chris would hurt the Coyote more due to bonding with him like this, but it was worth it... For the both of them... Chris lifted himself up higher now thrusting down on the Cheetah. Alex's insides hurt but he felt his fingers intertwined now by the Coyote's. Two other moan's were sounded and they knew they were done, that was three down...
"Chris... Cum for me..." Alex pleaded just loud enough for him to hear between his heavy breathing. Chris kissed Alex so hard that it hurt in just the right way. To bring his mind off of his Knot slamming down onto Alex's open warmth.
His knot had swelled and was having trouble getting in. As soon as their kiss broke Julian forced his rear upward on the downward thrust. The Coyote's knot slipped in with enough frication to make Chris's gaze go dizzy and he was nothing more then intoxicated by the feeling blazing through out his body. It wouldn't be long now, even as Alex heard two others lose their load from the shadows. That left one... And Alex knew who it was... Lynx... Alabaster Lynx... His boss...
"Cum Chris... As hard as you fucking can..." He demanded. On beat Alex felt the body that was attached to him tense up. He could feel the knot pulling at his insides with every humping motion, it was what Chris wanted... And Needed... He let out a howl as Alex could feel his partners member pulsed twice... Then let the hot seed flood his insides... Once... Twice... Then a third time... the forth wave wouldn't have been felt if Alex had not had him inside himself. He could feel that the white seed had flooded from his tail hole and was dripping on the stage below. Alex lay with out breath as Chris tried desperately to catch his breath over him. It was then the bell rang meaning their session was over. Alex felt almost disappointed that he had not gotten his finish in the end, but it was the way things were. The figures raised from their seats, approached the stage and tossed their tips against the two that remained connected at the hips. Alex saw that Chris's eyes were shut tight as his body was flooded with the afterglow of his climax. He brushed his palms along his strong arms to try and help calm him. Alex couldn't remember when the Coyote had cum so hard... He felt some reward in this... Pleasing Chris always made him happy... He could feel his purring in his chest as the Coyote opened his eyes with a panting smile. The curtains closed after the patrons had left and intently Chris lifted Alex's body up and fell to the flat of his back allowing Alex to rest on top of him.
"W...Was I an alright Wolf?" Chris chuckled as the platform started to descend and he propped himself up on his elbows.
"That was all you babe..." Alex winked as he sighed to the sight of his own erection.
"Not so rewarding for you huh..." Chris mumbled.
"Its fine... I'll get mine some time tomorrow I'm sure..." He giggled as he played with Chris's ears.
"Thats feels good..." He smiled as there was a murr that emitted from his throat. The elevator landed and there was noting to hide them from the view of others in the dressing room.
"That sucks..." One of the other performers chuckled as they passed.
"Yeah... gonna be stuck here for a while..." Chris sighed as Alex was now working his fingers along his chest. Finding a few tight muscles and stretching them as best he could. The only way Alex could get away from him with out a grate deal of pain or possible damage was to calm him down some first.
"I don't know... I wouldn't mind being tied to Alex..." The others partner smiled.
"Thanks hun..." Alex giggled in slight embarrassment.
"Lynx is here, you might want to clear the stage quickly..." Came a softer voice. It was a tiny white house cat that had a horse as a paired partner.
"I don't know how you do it..." Chris laughed to him as they passed.
"Very carefully..." The horse smiled and brushed his nose against the cats cheek. They smiled to each other in kind of a loving way. Alex became amused by that.
"Ready?" Chris asked bumping his hips up reminding Alex that he was there.
"Ouch hey... Yeah... Ready?" Alex said as he closed his eyes and grit his teeth. They tried to pull apart but Chris let out a yelp of pain and Alex fell back down. "Dammit..." Alex sighed.
"Wonderful job you two... Very hot..." Came Lynx's voice as he entered. The Panther was as dashing as he was intelligent. He really was a master mind, he could pour honey into some ones ear and make them work for him. On top of that he was masterful at underground advertising.
"You! This is all your fault!" Alex playfully hissed as he pointed at the Panther.
"Mmmmm Yes... And as always... So is this..." He responded as he collected the tips that the patrons had thrown on them like two spent whores. He counted it in less time it took to crack one's neck and pulled it in half handing a share to each Chris and Alex. Chris just shook his head and folded it in his paw remaining on his elbows. Alex took it between his lips and purred loudly for his boss.
"Good Kitty..." Lynx smiled and patted him on the head.
"So why the early end?" Alex asked after he put his half to the side, that the Panther had added a big bonus too for the each of them.
"They were new... and like any drug, dear Alex... You will never get the same feeling as the first time, but you'll always come back for more when hungry..." Lynx gave a smile that could charm an officer of the law from his own wallet and he left going about his business in the dressing room, paying out the other performers.
"Ever wonder if he wished he had been born a Lynx?" Chris snickered. Alex's ears pinned back with a smug smile and he stuffed Chris's portion of the bonus into his mouth...
Alex and Chris had cleaned up and dressed in their normal wear, The Coyote had let his head fur hang and he looked a lot more like a starving artist or collage student then a midnight slut. His gray shirt was baggy and torn at the shoulder. His Black pants had bits of paint on them and were worn down quiet a bit. They made their way to the back parking lot. Alex was about to get into his car after saying good bye to Chris when he saw the Coyote standing at his car thinking deep in thought.
"What is it?" Alex smiled as he tossed his jacket into his car.
"Nothing... Just..." Was all he said and he trailed off. Alex kind of leaned against his car and crossed his arms. He knew exactly what was going on. Chris had knotted him again, and it had gotten him thinking stupid things like love again. Alex didn't have a problem with it happening, he just felt bad. The Cheetah never could see himself in an actual loving relationship, not after the way he had treated his body. It was true that he Loved Julian with all his heart. But he constantly had to dismiss it as a silly thought. Each time he felt himself die a bit inside, but at the very least he could function in public for those efforts.
"Hey Chris... Lets get something to eat..." Alex said with a charming grin.
"Really?" Chris asked as he tilted his head. Last time he had asked Alex had turned him down, but after the work that night he knew his partner needed some mental maintenance. It was care that only Alex could give him, being that he was the object of his affection.
"Yeah, get in..." The Cheetah giggled as he waved his headfur from out in front of his eyes. Chris seemed to have the color flushed back into his face as he tossed his bag into his car and locked it. As he approached Alex put his paw up to stop him. "Its not a date..." He winked. "We're just getting a bite to eat..." The Coyote smiled gently and nodded to his bright blue eyes. They got in and went.
As Alex drove along there was an awkward silence, normally Chris was alive and chatting away about school or things that were going on. Alex would sit and listen on the way to their favorite diner and be delighted by some of the things he had to say. But something was off.
"Whats going on Chris?" Alex asked braking the silence while lighting a cigarette that he had between his dark lips.
"When you purr... It tickles my knot..." Chris said with a grin and a look from out of the corner of his eye as he leaned against the door to his side, resting his chin on his knuckles. Alex laughed with a slight shiver to the memory.
"Yeah... I got wrecked tonight... I Think Lynx was punishing me for being late." Alex said with an exhale of smoke through his window. They stopped at a traffic light and Alex offered the Coyote a smoke from his pack being that he normally would join him. He must have been out, it really was a bad habit but it helped them relax. Chris took one and leaned over to Alex who turned his head to allow him to lit his cigarette on the lit one resting in the Cheetah's mouth. If viewed it would have looked like a tender moment, but neither of them thought much of it. Their body language was trained to be passionate with one or another, and it was out of force of habit that they moved in this way with each other. Chris leaned back into his seat and crossed his legs exhaling deeply from his first drag.
"Alabaster Lynx never finishes at our show... Think he straight?" Chris chuckled.
"Professional edict... I assure you..." Alex said distantly remembering some of the things the Panther had done to him and trying to block them out. He was relentless in the sack and was renowned for it...
"How many have you been with?" Chris asked with a raised brow. It was a new question but it wasn't anything other then wondering how safe he was with Alex, it made sense that they only worked with one partner for each others safety. And the fact that he asked that showed that yes, he could be silly at times but he also wasn't in fact stupid.
"Relax... Alabaster broke me in, as far as that your the only one..." Alex sighed with a slight wince to another memory of the Panther not caring to finish Alex, and telling him to do it himself. Chris picked up on this and nodded, he knew that he didn't really want to talk about it anymore. There was another moment of silence as the music gently played from the car stereo.
"Alex..." The Coyote spoke up. "Can I just ask why it wouldn't be alright for us to be together?" He asked in a tone that was not demeaning to himself. He never sounded pesky or annoying about it. But Alex knew the question was coming.
"We agreed that we wouldn't be like every one else there, We can't find true love from a porn house Chris..." Alex explained.
"I... I know... But we're different wouldn't you think? I mean we are the best show to date... Least the best paid..." he laughed. Alex could tell that he was adequately suppressing his emotions just from his voice. It was comforting to know he had his head in check while asking the question like an adult.
"Chris... If I trust my body with anyone it's you, but say that we did come to love each other. What would happen if we had a bad brake up or something?" Alex asked with out taking his eyes off the road.
"What if we didn't..." Chris asked with a taunting grin.
"Then I'd want to quit and not have my love on display for every one to see like some sort of freak side show... Chris we've been over this hun..." Alex said as he turned the corner shifting gears perfectly.
"Yeah... But its a nice thought..." Chris said with a warm smile to the road ahead of them.
"Yeah..." Alex agreed as he pulled into the parking lot to the diner and parked.
"Listen babe... I know I'm an idiot for falling for you, but can you honestly blame me?" He said with an honest tone of confidence.
"No angel... I don't blame you..." Alex sighed. It happened to everyone at the club, With so much intimacy shared between them, who wouldn't fall for the one they were with all the time. Alex had to even admit it to himself that life would not be the same with out the Coyote. He had to mentally smack himself at that moment, he had to keep his head in check just as much as his partner did.
"Lets get something to eat..." Chris mumbled braking Alex from his thoughts, which he was thankful for. They did this a lot for each other it seemed...
They entered the diner and took their normal seats. They didn't even look at the menu as they knew what they wanted. They knew the waitress pretty well too. Alex could remember when her ex-boy friend had shown up and harassed her while serving them. The Cheetah giggled to the memory as Chris had gotten up and forcefully removed the jerk from the place. She was so thankful that she had wanted to cover their bill. But being that both Chris and Alex lived on tips they refused knowing what it was like. There was a bit of drama when she had asked for the Coyotes number, and he out right had to explain why it wouldn't work out between them. She was a sweetheart though, and didn't take it too hard.
"I'll be back with your orders you two..." She said with a playful wink. Alex just grinned to the paper from his straw that he was playing with. Chris just shook his head with a chuckle.
"Alex... I know your not with me or anything... But I had gotten you something..." Chris said with a smile and a tilt of his head.
"In the event that you coaxed me into being your mate?" Alex asked slyly.
"Actually..." Chris paused as he was fiddling with something under the table. "It's kind of my way of saying thanks you know?" He blushed really hard for it too...
"Thanks for what?" Alex asked with a raised brow as he rested his elbows on the table starting to become amused by the Coyote's antics.
"Just for being you I guess, Can I give you something for that?" He asked looking out the window to the street lights yonder.
"Sure..." Alex sighed showing his amusement with his tail that was swaying behind him like a graceful pendulum.
"Close your eyes..." He said as he leaned forward and poked the Cheetah's leg with his foot.
"Fine..." Alex mumbled not so sure if a gift was a good idea. He felt something small around his neck and a set of warm lips pressed against his own. Alex didn't pull back or even show any care to do so. It was a sweet gesture that didn't make Alex feel uncomfortable even in public. When he opened his eyes he saw that there was a sliver lace around his neck and a strange ring looped through by the necklace. It didn't look that expensive but Alex knew exactly what it was.
"Chris... Isn't this your ring?" Alex asked confused and getting put off guard by the gesture.
"Yeah... I'm not calling you mine or anything, just you know... while we're working together... Your mine..." he smiled.
"Hun I... Damn it..." Alex mumbled blushing. "Don't fucking lose this..." Alex growled as he reached into his pocket and fished out a small silver stud.
"Whats this?" Chris asked as he looked at it between his fingers.
"Its... Julian's first stud that pierced his lip... And when we're out of work at the club I want that back... and Don't go getting your lip pierced with it or anything weird like that..." Alex cut himself off from saying anything more. He felt obligated to give something of equal value back, and talking so much like that made the Coyote smile knowing that he had become flustered. The ring it self that now lay around his neck belonged to Chris's mother that had passed away a year ago...
"Deal..." Chris said with a calm blush.
"Jerk..." Alex said with a playful swat at his nose.
"Did you just kiss that dude?" A trucker behind them asked.
"Mind your coffee friend..." Chris said still in his laughter with a lift of his drink.
"Fags..." He mumbled and asked for the check. Those words really had lost all meaning to the two of them so they went on as usual.
The two left the Diner full and tired. They went their separate ways after checking their schedule for their next night together. Alex turned up his music as he sped toward the Foster Home, He didn't want Julian to suspect anything and he sure as hell didn't want to go home. He loved the parents that adopted him sure, but he still smelt a bit like Chris. It was about five in the morning when he got there and he snuck his way into the driveway with his lights off and music low. He got into the warm house and padded his way into the bathroom where he showered and cleaned himself up, trimming a few longer bits of fur and making sure everything was perfect for the next morning. But... He was so tired that he forgot that he was put to bed down stairs. Instead out of force of habit he walked right into Julian's room as it had at one time been his own as well. It was the scent that hit him so hard above all else. The mixture of Sage's scent and the Wolf that he loved so much. His ears pinned back and he felt his heart sink. He found it hard to keep his eyes open, it really was the first time he had seen the room since first meeting Sage, and even then he had only gotten a glimpse of it. Completely exhausted from his ordeals of the night he found his knees buckling and his eyes burning with tears. He could see Sage alone, sleeping peacefully. But Julian was no were in sight, it kind of worried him. His memories of the night before came crashing back. The kiss that he had given him... Had he messed another thing up in his life? Had he caused Julian to have a troubled night after all the nights that the Wolf had brought to him of utter sanctuary? He shook his head and closed the door slowly. As he turned to go back down stairs he bumped right into some one...
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Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed Chapter Two in "Why We're So Different." More will be done soon, Thank you so much for reading and as always, vote and comment and all that. I'd love for a PM or two to help me tighten up my spelling and grammar. <^(-)^> <3