Gris & Dwayne's Voretober 2022: Adventure (Day 15)

Previous Chapter: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/49399207/ or https://aryion.com/g4/view/830745

More lovey-dovey stuff, fuck yeah.

(P.S. The art in the thumbnail is by Seviene!)

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“I mean . . . I wouldn’t say I know that, not quite,” Gris admitted.

Dwayne frowned.  “What makes you say that?”

The human sighed.  “It’s just . . . I don’t know,” he muttered.  “I never fully thought happiness was something I really deserved.  I like having it—who doesn’t?—but I don’t think I ever believed I was meant to keep it.  I thought I was meant to be unhappy in the end, and I didn’t deserve anything other than that because I’m an awful person.”

A realization came to him, and he said it aloud: “Maybe that’s why I never really pursued much treatment for my anxiety—I thought it was my burden to bear for being terrible.”  He shook his head sadly.  “Now a lot of things make sense. . .”

“But you know you’re not really awful,” Dwayne gently rebutted, “don’t you?”

“For the first time, I’m actually starting to really, /truly/ believe that,” Gris admitted.  “Which is kind of a weird feeling.”

“It’s a good feeling though, isn’t it?” his wolf asked, squeezing his hand.

The human nodded.  “Yeah, it is.”  He smiled.  “I feel a bit lighter than I usually do, and . . . I think that feeling might last?  Maybe I’m being optimistic.”

“Optimism is a good thing,” Dwayne reminded him, grinning.

“True. . .”  Gris sighed.  “Though I don’t know exactly where this is going to take me.”

“Well, life /can/ be hard to predict sometimes, especially when big things happen.  But more than anything else, life is an adventure, one you’re well-equipped for.  I think you’re going to some good places, babe, and I want to be by your side for those experiences.”  Dwayne held up Gris’s hand and kissed the back of it.  “I’ll be right here.  I promise.”

The human felt himself tearing up again.  “Thanks, Dwayne,” he said.  “I’m really glad to hear that.”