Monday's Child is Fair of Face, Part 2

Story for July, 2017

Universe: High School Days

Tags: Fox, Hyena, Stand Alone

9,666 words

Fun fact, "The Market” which appears in this story was based upon the Crossroads Market Bookstore & Café (http://www.yelp.com/biz/crossroads-market-bookstore-and-cafe-dallas), which used to stand in the middle of the Dallas gayberhood. It has since closed, but I remember being eighteen, and sneaking down to the gay part of town and furtively looking at the porno magazines for the first time.

- Teiran

* * *

Morning usually started with the sound of the alarm clock. Today, it began with the scent of fox instead. Michael stirred, opening his eyes as he breathed in the musky deep smell of a fox. There was pressure on his right arm, and the warmth of another man’s body against his side. Michael opened his eyes as he started to stretch, saw Jessie’s face, and froze. The vulpine’s slender muzzle was resting on his shoulder, the fox’s skinny body pressed up against Michael’s side. He looked like an angel sleeping. The hyena smiled, the corners of his muzzle turning upward as he settled back, holding the sleeping fox close.

Michael stayed like that for several minutes, looking at the fox’s handsome face and remembering the night before. Jessie had certainly proved more flexible than he’d imagined the fox would be, and more pliable than most men. That thought sent blood rushing to his sheath, but Michael knew he couldn’t wake the fox with an erection. At least not yet anyway, nature was calling. The hyena’s blunt broad muzzle rubbed at Jessie’s slender neck, and he kissed the nape of the fox’s neck.

“Wake up beautiful.” Michael said quietly in the fox’s ear. Jessie opened his eyes groggily, and realization dawned when he saw Michael’s smiling face. Jessie blinked as Michael gently pulled his arm out from under the fox and got out of bed. As the big hyena padded to the bathroom he said, “I’m going to make us breakfast. How does that sound?”

“Good,” Jessie mumbled distractedly as he lay back in the strange bed. It was a soft mattress, and the hyena had nice silky sheets that didn’t cling to the fox’s fur. He couldn’t believe he had done it. He’d really gone home with someone who was practically a stranger and… Jessie felt his face grow hot as Michael came out of the restroom and headed out into the hall. It had been an amazing way to lose your virginity, that’s for sure. The way Michael had touched Jessie, the way he’d moved, the way he’d felt inside the fox. Jessie’s traditional morning erection was alive and well at those thoughts. Maybe Michael would be willing to do it again before he had to go to class. Jessie glanced over at the clock and frowned when he saw the time.

In the kitchen, Michael finally had his morning stretch. He popped his back, shifting his body this way and that as the stove warmed up. He set a small pot of water boiling and pulled out a carton of eggs and a fresh lemon from the fridge. Michael began to hum to himself as he pulled the cayenne and white vinegar down from the cupboard. God he felt good. He hadn’t felt this good in ages. His tail was even wagging as he pulled English muffins out and toasted them. He must have needed last night really badly. Michael had avoided the clubs and dating in general for months now because of his ex, and it had been even longer since he’d had sex, especially anything as amazing as that. Even better, Michael had gotten to pop a virgin fox’s cherry. How often does a guy get to do that? “Once per fox, I suppose,” Michael muttered to himself with a grin as he set the skillet on the stove and began to poach four eggs

“Jessie?” Michael called towards the bedroom as the eggs cooked and he whisked the hollandaise sauce gently over the boiling water. ”Come on out, I’m making eggs benedict for breakfast.” The hyena smiled as the sauce thickened perfectly under his gentle whisking and he turned off the stove as he removed the sauce from the heat. He slipped the poached eggs onto the muffins, poured the sauce over them and with a dusting of paprika; the hyena had two steaming plates of eggs benedict ready to eat. The big hyena turned off the burners and smiled as he heard the soft pad falls of someone walking down the hall. Michael turned to smile at his new lover and said, “Perfect timing, breakfast is ready.”

“Ummm, breakfast would be great,” Jessie mumbled sheepishly from the hallway. The red fox was fully clothed, and he slunk crabwise to where his backpack sat on the floor. “But I should really go.” Jessie mumbled as he slung the bag over one shoulder.

“You’re leaving?” The disappointment in the hyena’s voice made Jessie’s ears flick back momentarily.

Jessie blushed deeply. “I’ve got class in an hour, and the bus should take me right to campus.” Jessie stared a bit sheepishly at the totally naked hyena. “I, I would really like to see you again though. Can we do dinner sometime instead? I’d…” The fox’s ears splayed back and he blushed like mad. “I’d really like to see you again, Michael.”

“Sure,” the hyena said, forcing the smile returning to his broad muzzle. “We’ll do dinner instead.” Michael’s mind raced. Was that a real offer? Or was it a pleasant way of getting out the door? He had to know if the fox really wanted to see him again. If he let the fox leave without setting a date, then this was just a polite way of blowing him off. He thought about his week, and cursed himself for making so many plans that suddenly weren’t at all important compared to seeing Jessie again. “How does Thursday sound? Meet me here at seven o’clock?” The hyena wiped his paws on a towel and watched as Jessie’s slim muzzle broke into a huge grin.

“Thursday sounds great.” the fox said eagerly, his tail beginning to wag. But instead of moving towards the door Jessie just stared at him. The fox clearly didn’t want to go, and Michael blushed a bit as Jessie’s eyes roamed over his naked body. Under that hungry gaze, the hyena’s sheathe thickened. Michael often made breakfast naked, but he’d never before had an appreciative audience. “Well, well I should go,” the fox mumbled, turning away blushing, his tail tucked between his legs, and the front of his pants tented badly. After a second’s thought, the hyena’s muzzle broke into a huge grin, and he darted into the bedroom to grab something.

Jessie was just opening the door when Michael came up behind him, his paw reaching out and pushing the door shut, blocking the fox’s exit. Michael put his other arm around the fox, his muzzle pressing against the back of Jessie's neck.

"Don't go just yet." The hyena rumbled. “I want to do something first.” The hyena mumbled as he stepped right up behind the slender fox so their bodies pressed together.

Jessie’s ears flattened and he whined softly as he set his bag down by the door. “Wh… what are you doing?” He could feel the big hyena’s muscles through the back of his shirt as Michael turned him to face the wall. Fingers teased at the edge between the fox’s shirt and the waistband of his pants, and Jessie began to pant as Michael lifted his shirt up, his big paws rubbing at the fox’s back.

“You’ll see, sexy,” Michael panted softly into Jessie’s ear as he crouched slightly behind the fox and ground his crotch up against the fox’s butt, his eyes closing as Jessie's butt ground back against him eagerly. The curve of the fox's bubble butt matched the slight curve of the hyena's stomach, and the fox's body proved once again that it fit with his own just right. Michael marveled at how much of a turn on having that slim perky ass pressing just right against his sheath was. Jessie was clearly turned on by it too, because when Michael’s paw rubbed down his stomach and groped at his crotch, the fox was hard as a rock in his pants.

Michael muttered, “You are so hot, my pretty foxy. I want you one more time before you go, okay?” The hyena said that just as he kissed the side of Jessie’s neck, and the fox groaned a yes softly in acknowledgement. Michael undid the button in the back holding the fox’s pants up, his fingers hooking into the fox’s underwear and pulling Jessie’s pants down in the back, neatly exposing the fox’s fine ass. The hyena's sheath skinned back as the fox ground his bare butt against the hyena’s sheath, Michael’s dick quickly getting hard between those plump cheeks.

Jessie's head pressed back against the bigger hyena's neck as Michael's cock pressed between his cheeks, and the hyena grinned as Jessie's petite body found another way to fit his bigger muscled frame just right. Michael growled in pleasure as his chin rested on top of the fox's head, Jessie’s ears flat as they framed his muzzle. A big paw rubbed the fox's midriff possessively, lifting Jessie's shirt up to tease the fox's white chest as his other paw pushed the back of the fox's short shorts down. “Paws up on the wall handsome,” Michael said playfully, and Jessie whined as he braced himself against the wall, the fox’s butt cheeks cradling Michael’s erection. The hyena didn't wait any longer, he positioned dick with one paw so that the fat head of his cock pressed against the fox's tail hole, and Michael dribbled the lube he’d grabbed from the bedroom onto his cock. The slick lube let the fat head of his cock push in, and the fox’s ass stretched perfectly around the hyena’s dick as Jessie moaned like a wanton little bitch.

The hyena growled, his teeth nipping at the scruff of Jessie's neck as he pulled the fox backwards onto his dick, one paw holding the fox's hip, the other pressed against his chest. Jessie's bubble butt was spread apart by Michael's shaft in one smooth movement until his cheeks came flush with the hyena's crotch, which ground into them to get every last bit of Michael’s penis into Jessie's tight passage.

Michael held Jessie liked that for a moment, pressed up against the wall with the fox’s face pressed against the plaster. The fox moaned and squirmed, his shirt bunching up around his shoulders as he stood very still. Jessie was speared upon the dick inside him, unable or more probably unwilling to move as the fox’s insides adjusted once more to the hyena's length. Michael’s free paw unzipped the fox’s pants and tugged Jessie’s dick out, stroking it a few times so the fox was as hard as he was. Then, Michael fucked him.

It wasn't the same kind of fucking he'd given the fox the night before. That had been the passion of love making, a gentle taking of the fox’s virginity. This was the rough, but equally passionate mating of dominance. Michael thrust his hips, driving his cock deep into Jessie in quick, short thrusts that slammed the lower half his cock in and out of the fox in rapid succession. He wasn’t going slow or holding back, this was about breeding someone and making them your bitch, and the hyena was making absolutely sure Jessie knew he'd been properly bred good and hard. This was the kind of fucking that made a man howl and press against a wall to get away, while at the same time pushing their ass back against the cock invading them, wantonly begging for more. Which was exactly what the fox underneath Michael was doing now.

Hyena and fox panted together for a few minutes as Michael’s dick reamed Jessie’s tail, the thrusts pounding the slender fox up against the wall. Jessie squirmed and his paws skittered across the wall, but he didn’t tell Michael to stop because… because it felt so damn good. He was being taken, roughly and fully, and even if it hurt more then last time that only made the moment hotter. When the hyena’s big strong paw started jerking him off in earnest, Jessie didn’t last long. He tensed up all over, gasped, and shot his load across Michael’s tile floor and wall with a strangled gasp. The hyena growled approvingly as Jessie’s ass spasmed around his dick and the little fox moaned like the bitch he was. As the fox came back down off the sudden high of his orgasm, he pushed himself back against the muscled hyena inside him and whimpered,

“Oh Michael…” with such emotion that it made Michael catch his breath.

The sound of those words was enough to push the hyena over the edge. Michael tensed, his muzzle shut tight as he pushed fully into Jessie, cramming his thick cock all the way into the fox just before he came. The hyena's body pressed against the fox's back as he hugged him around the waist and his cock ground deep inside Jessie, deeper then ever as Michael straightened his legs and lifted Jessie off the ground. The big hyena let out a low rumbling groan as his dick throbbed in the tightness of Jessie's ass, the fox’s weight pushing Jessie down even further on the throbbing dick inside him. Michael pumped his seed deep into the younger man, who clutched at the wall and gasped, his hind paws touching only air now. Michael held himself like that the whole time he was cumming, his cock buried completely inside the fox with the hyena's strong paws on Jessie's slender hips holding him tightly in place. The hyena could feel his dick throbbing in the fox's tight passage, and he had to hold Jessie in place because the fox was squirming on his dick, probably trying to get Michael to fuck him or let him down. Michael held Jessie that way for a long while as he pumped his load into the fox, until the hyena was sure he was done.

Then Michael carefully crouched down again and whispered for Jessie to tighten up even more as the hyena reached down and gripped the base of his own dick tightly. Michael stroked his fingers up his shaft, milking the last few drops of cum out of his dick and into the fox as he pulled his dick out slowly. Michael grinned at the sight of the thick head of his cock sliding out of Jessie's hole because the fox's tail hole seemed to wink at him as it closed tight behind his dick. There wasn’t even a drop of seed on the outside of the fox's hole when Jessie's tail dropped back over his butt.

Jessie was panting hard; his paws pressed against the wall as Michael pulled the fox's pants back up, tucking the fox's deflating cock back into his underwear. The fox blinked in bewilderment as the hyena zipped him up and hugged him from behind tenderly, big paws rubbing the fox's white chest fur slowly. Then Michael pulled Jessie's rumpled shirt back down, the big hyena's paws lingering on the fox's slim hips as he straightened and tucked the fox's shirt in. Jessie panted, bringing his arms back down and grinning a bit as Michael brushed the fox's head fur back into place and kissed the back of his head tenderly. The fox was once again fully dressed and he was indeed ready to go walk out the door; only now Jessie's butt had a heavy load of hyena cum deep inside it.

"There, you might not have had breakfast, but at least you got stuffed." the hyena muttered quietly into the fox's folded back ear, amusement dripping off every word. "Have a good day okay?"

Jessie laughed a bit at the lame joke, and turned to look back at Michael to see if he was serious. The slim fox tilted his muzzle up towards the hyena’s grinning face, and their eyes met as their noses touched. Jessie tilted his head questioningly, his face coloring as he saw the very serious looking smirk on Michael's muzzle. Emotions flickered across Jessie's face. The fox’s eyes widened in shock at the idea, and then Jessie’s ears flicked back and he tucked his tail between his legs in embarrassment at how turned on the thought made him. Finally a sheepish grin tugged at the corners of the fox's muzzle as he realized the hyena really did want him to go out with a butt full of hyena cum, and that he wanted to do it too.

"Go on," Michael said, his voice on the verge of breaking into a laugh. "You'll miss your bus if you don’t go now." Jessie blushed hard as they kissed tenderly, the hyena's cheek rubbing against Jessie’s own before leaving. “See you Thursday!” Michael called out as he left, and the fox was grinning and walking funny all the way to the bus stop.

* * *

Michael sat at his desk, typing up an email to another columnist who wanted his opinion on something. He had long ago stopped wondering why the doe who wrote the paper’s relationship advice column had so many questions for him about what being gay was like. Now he just thought it was funny every time she sent him a question that should have had an incredibly obvious answer. Especially considering one of her sons was openly gay. He answered even her silliest question because if Michael could prevent her from asking her son these kinds of questions, it was probably worth it. No stag in high school should have to deal with this sort of question.

The hyena’s ear turned as he heard the steady thump of heavy footsteps heading his way, and he sent the email off and turned to face his boss, who was advancing down the row with a determined look in his small eyes. Rhinos shouldn’t be able to narrow their eyes, but Michael’s editor always seemed to convey the motion somehow.

“Dawson, we gotta talk about this,” The rhino blustered as he loomed over the hyena’s chair. Charlie wasn’t actually bigger than Michael was, but the old rhino always talked and acted like he was the biggest guy in the room. His bravado and machismo leaked from every pore of his leathery hide.

“What’s up, Chief?” Michael asked, and the rhino snorted in approval at his nickname. Charlie flourished the paper he was holding, which looked like a printed out email and began to read it to himself. Michael leaned back in his chair and waited, and Charlie worked his jaw as if he were muttering to himself as he read it. The short white stick that jutted out of the corner of Charlie’s mouth traveled from one side of the rhino’s face to the other as he read the paper with all the theatrics of a sergeant reading out a charge sheet. Michael’s eyes followed the stick idly as he waited for his editor to finish reading. This was the song and dance Charlie put people through whenever there was bad news or he wanted someone to do a thankless assignment. It was supposed to impress people, and generally it worked. The rhino was a big guy, he was a senior editor of a major newspaper, and he had an unstoppable attitude about him. There was a lot about Charlie to impress people.

Ten years ago Michael probably would have found Charlie intimidating too, but the effect was completely spoiled for the hyena by that little white stick jutting from Charlie’s mouth that he was forever chewing on. It spoiled Charlie’s gruff nature because Michael knew it was the end of one of the lollipops the rhino was forever sucking on, one of those big round ones that lasted forever and came in thousands of flavors. Kids in high school would come by selling them for fundraises, and the rhino always bought several bags of them. Michael idly wondered how many of the things the rhino went through in a week.

Back before the laws about smoking in the workplace had changed, Charlie had smoked big thick cigars like a chimney stack. After lighting up was banned, the rhino had merely chewed them, until the paper changed hands and the new owners had forced him to stop even that. The two old squirrel ladies who now owned the paper had said it was a disgusting habit, but by then the rhino was hooked. Charlie had spent decades chewing on something while he had worked, and he needed something to chew. The lollipops had been the rhino’s answer. One day Michael would have to comment on the rhino’s ‘oral fixation’, but he was saving that for a day he wanted to fluster the rhino so badly Charlie would have a heart attack.

“Right,” the rhino muttered, handing the paper to Michael briskly. “Well spots, looks like your excuses have run out this time. You’re going to have to review the Venetian this week.”

Michael’s shoulders sagged a bit as he took the email from the rhino. He didn’t bother to look at it before saying, “Charlie, you know why I can’t review the Venetian. It’s where…”

“Yah, yah, yah I know all that. I know your… boy works there as a chef. But the owners don’t care.” The rhino snorted and shifted his feet, clearly uncomfortable. Charlie had never said anything, but Michael knew the big rhino was uncomfortable about him being gay. It was the way he flushed and sputtered every time it came up that gave it away. “The Venetian had a full page ad in the Culture section all of last month and you ain’t never reviewed 'em. Somebody’s gone and said something that got up one of the owner’s noses, and they want to see the place reviewed.” Michael rolled his eyes and glared up at the rhino.

The two squirrels who owned the Chronicle often got, as Charlie put it, “a bee in their bonnets” over something one of their society friends told them. More than once the old girls had sent the paper’s investigative reporting staff off on wild goose chases after corruption or bribery scandals. At least they accepted the results when their reporters couldn’t turn up even a sniff of wrongdoing. This time they had a point of course, but it was still galling that the two old biddies were getting involved in his life. The big hyena sighed, narrowing his eyes and squaring his shoulders as he sat up a bit straighter. Still, maybe it was time to face the music on this one. He couldn’t avoid reviewing the place forever.

“Look,” Charlie said gruffly, “I know you two ain’t together no more, so you don’t have any more excuses. The bosses want the place reviewed. I want the place reviewed, and you’ve put me off since the day they opened. I don’t want a puff piece or a snog-fest neither; I want one of your reviews. Tear em apart if they deserve it, or smother them in syrup if they deserve that. Use it to get back in your ex’s britches or light his pants on fire, I don’t care.” The white lollipop stick traversed the rhino’s muzzle again. Michael took some satisfaction with the nervous look that flashed Charlie’s face when he realized that the hyena’s eyes had followed the lollipop.

“Just do it,” the rhino snorted dramatically, and turned to stamp away, the gray of his cheeks tinted a slight pink that almost spoiled his dramatic exit.

Michael sighed slightly at the rhino’s retreating back. “Alright Charlie, I’ll make the reservation.” He spun his chair back to face his desk and picked up his phone to make the call.

* * *

Thursday evening came, and Michael stood in the waiting area of the Venetian restaurant in a nice button up shirt and sport coat that was a bit downscale for the restaurant’s accepted dress code. It was now fifteen after eight, which meant that Jessie was officially running late, but that was alright. It gave Michael the opportunity to observe the greeters without being conspicuous, and he’d stationed himself so that he wouldn’t be spotted by one of the roving managers who were checking up on the diners. Several times in the past, a manager of some fancy restaurant had recognized him on his first visit, and Michael felt that tended to ruin the review. He always visited a restaurant several times before writing up one of his reviews, and the first time was always in secret. Otherwise he would never get a feel for how normal people were treated.

Of course, Michael had been to the Venetian a dozen times before, but never as a reviewer. When he was still dating Parker, he’d come by for a late meal and then drive the wolf home after his shift. Parker liked that because he could sleep on the drive, and Michael hadn’t liked the idea of the wolf driving home half asleep after an eleven hour shift.

“Michael, there you are,” Jessie called out to him and the fox came over, almost bouncing as he walked. Jessie was dressed down even more than he was, in just a polo shirt and slacks, but the fox’s tail was swishing back and forth excitedly. For a moment Michel forgot about watching the restaurant and smiled brightly at the red fox.

“I’m sorry I’m so late,” the red fox said in a flustered sort of way. “The buses around here are a nightmare.” Jessie grinned up at him, slightly out of breath as he stood beside the better dressed and much taller hyena.

“Don’t worry about it. They’ve still got our table saved I’m sure.” Michael patted the shorter fox on the shoulder as Jessie gave him a hug that was far to intimate to be a hug between friends.

“They better have for you,” Jessie said smugly, and he looked confused when he saw the warning look the hyena gave him as the hostess came up to them.

“If you’ll follow me gentlemen,” the ewe said with a very pleasant smile. That was a good sign, Michael thought as she glanced between the two of them. Not even a hint of hesitation about seating a gay couple. He followed the young woman through the romantically lit restaurant, glancing about at the décor and layout of the place. She seated them near the back of the place, and Michael was a bit dismayed when she showed them to a small, intimate booth for two located near the kitchen. Normally he loved to be near the kitchen, it was shocking how much you could tell about a place just by watching the waiters coming and going, but there was a greater chance someone would recognize him now from the days he came here regularly. At least the Venetian got points for style; the entrance to the kitchen was thoroughly disguised so that it was impossible to see into the back area. They even had a small fan on the door to keep the scents of the kitchen from drifting out into the main dining room.

The hostess left and Jessie leaned forward to whisper, “Okay, what was with the glare of doom back there?” The fox smiled a bit as he said it, so he wasn’t upset.

Michael grinned back at him. “They don’t know who I am. Or at least they shouldn’t remember me. So don’t let on I’m here for any reason other than a romantic date with a handsome young man.” The inside of Jessie’s ears turned pink as he blushed, and Michael reached a paw across the small table to cover Jessie’s. “Sorry I had to make our date into a working meal. I didn’t want to be distracted tonight.” The wag in Jessie’s tail made Michael smile. “Hopefully nobody will recognize me and we can just enjoy…”

“Michael!” A cheerful voice cried, making the hyena cringe. “Well I’ll be its good to see you back here finally.” Michael’s face fell, and he suppressed a groan. Their waiter had arrived in the form of a smartly dressed and slightly portly badger. The badger had a very formal white shirt and black trousers which matched up neatly with his black and white fur. Everything about him shouted helpfulness, from his pad of paper at the ready to the neatly folded white towel on his belt. The dark blue bow tie he wore was the only color on him, and even that was coordinated to match his eyes. The badger stood beside their table with a grin a mile wide as he looked at the hyena knowingly. “Who’s your new friend, Michael?”

Michael forced himself to smile at the badger. “This is Jessie. Jessie, this is Roland.”

“And it is my extreme pleasure to be your waiter this evening.” Roland said with a slight bow at the waist to the fox. “So are you finally going to be reviewing us then, you devil? I figured we were free from your pen forever after you and Parker split up.”

Michael’s smile was fixed as he said, “Seemed like enough time had passed.” Why, of everyone who worked here, did it have to be Roland serving them tonight? The hyena tried not to show it, but he would have been quite happy to see the ground open up and swallow the badger whole right now. Roland was one of the few people who actually knew a lot about him at the Venetian, because the badger made a point of learning everything about anyone who came to the restaurant more than once. Besides being inquisitive, he was also relentlessly pleasant and helpful, especially when saying exactly the worst thing possible. The hyena grinned at Roland and tried to convey that the badger should shut his trap. Roland’s eyes darted back and forth between the hyena and fox.

“Ooooh, I gotcha,” the badger said with an exaggerated wink, and Michael nearly growled at the badger. Jessie stifled a laugh as Michael blushed in embarrassment, half covering his face to avoid the badger’s enthusiastic grin. “Well, what can I get you gentlemen to drink? A nice red wine to start the meal off right, or a martini perhaps? I mix the best in the house.” Michael shook his head and flicked his ears back, opening his menu so he could hide behind it. The plastic menu barely concealed the bulky hyena as the badger brought his note pad up eagerly.

“I’ll have a long island if you don’t mind.” Michael muttered in annoyance as he avoided looking at Roland’s grin.

“A Coke for me,” Jessie said a bit sheepishly as Roland turned his bright smile on the fox.

“Excellent choices, I’ll leave you two to decide, but I highly suggest the filet mignon tonight.” The badger nodded and smiled at them before he turned away, and Jessie was concealing his grin as the hyena hunched forward, staring at the menu so hard the paper should have caught fire.

“I’m sorry about that,” Michael said after a minute, turning the page as he scanned the menu for something he hadn’t eaten before.

They sat in slightly uncomfortable silence for a moment before Jessie said solemnly, “It’s alright. He seemed nice.”

“Yes I suppose he is.” Michael sighed a bit, “Not how I wanted you to find out about my ex working here. He isn’t in the kitchen tonight though. I made sure of that before making the reservations.”

Jessie shrugged a little as he opened his menu, “Everybody has old flames. At least now I know where you got the recipes for your column. I’ll have to come up with some good ones for you.”

Michael looked up at the fox, his ears turning forwarding in surprise. Jessie’s slender muzzle was curled into a devious grin as it peeked over his menu at the hyena, and he looked like he was on the verge of giggling. The big hyena’s muzzle twitched as he suppressed a smile, and when Jessie laughed the hyena joined him. The tension broken, the two of them settled down some as they discussed the menu, and Michael had forgiven the badger by the time Roland had returned to the table with their drinks.

Jessie ordered a plate of sizzling parmesan chicken at the badger’s suggestion, and Michael went with the steak au poivre with a port and ginger sauce because it was one of the Venetian’s signature meals. Once Roland had swept away with their orders, the two men smiled at each other over the tiny candle and their drinks. Jessie’s smile turned into a blush as the moments passed and Michael continued to stare at him attentively. The hyena’s eyes had a sparkle to them in the candlelight as they wandered across the fox’s face.

“You look beautiful tonight,” Michael said softly, and there was smugness to the hyena’s smile that made the fox’s face flush at the compliment. There was such a sultry overtone to the hyena’s words that Jessie could almost hear the dirty thoughts Michael was having about him. “How has your week been?” The hyena said a bit knowingly, “You make it to your class alright after we said goodbye?”

“Yes.” Jessie’s ears flicked back, and he grinned weakly as his face flushed even more. “It was an alright week.” He was never going to tell the hyena how incredibly turned on getting on the bus with a tail full of spunk had made him. Jessie was pretty sure that Michael would take that as cue to do it again.

Not that he’d minded being pushed against the wall and humped by the hyena, but Jessie didn’t want to sit through another class squirming like that again. Another bus ride might be fun, but he didn’t remember a thing from the lecture. All he had been able to think about was Michael’s seed leaking from his clenched tail. The red fox coughed and changed the subject, “Have you been alright? I guess your boss is why we came here tonight.” Michael nodded once, his smile dimming a bit.

“Yes, I’m really sorry about this.” Michael said quietly, “This isn’t how I wanted our second date to go.”

“It’s going pretty well so far.” Jessie said with a smile, his paw slipping into Michael’s, and the hyena grinned as he squeezed the fox’s paw.

Their food came quickly, Jessie’s arriving sizzling and spitting on a skillet set in a wood plate, and Michael’s steak was perfectly presented with a loaded baked potato for a side dish and some seasoned vegetables. Roland bowed again and talked excitedly about the steak, hovering to make sure it was cooked correctly. After the badger was gone they ate together with gusto, the intoxicating scent of their food putting an end to their conversation for a while.

Halfway through his chicken Jessie asked, “So? What do you think? Are they going to get a good review for that steak?” The fox’s tail twitched a bit in the aisle as he wagged his tail.

Michael smiled slightly. “Yes, they are. I guess I’ll have to forgive them for the manager who is hovering like a rescue chopper over there behind that fern. She’s been watching us since Roland took our orders.” Michael surreptitiously pointed her out with his fork, and when Jessie glanced over at her, the calico cat in a smart pants suit panicked and ducked down behind the potted plant. They both giggled, because while she had done a good job of hiding herself, her long sleek tail was still visible. They broke into laughter as the tail almost sheepishly slipped around the potted plant and vanished from sight. Their feet gently touched under the table, Jessie’s paw rubbing against the hyena’s ankle.

“How’s your chicken?” The hyena said casually, trying not to blush.

Jessie’s face became serious for a moment, and he chewed thoughtfully on his chicken before swallowing. “It’s been well grilled. Nice and moist but not falling apart. The spices are good, and they did a great job with the cheese. I really like how some is melted and some is caramelized. I’m not sure about their cream sauce, a bit too heavy on the garlic, but it’s very good overall.” Michael had to stifle his laugh at the look of concentration on Jessie’s face. The fox had really thought about that answer because he knew it would probably be part of the review.

“Well, I’ve never known a fox who didn’t like good chicken,” the hyena quipped happily.

Jessie grinned at that, and Michael smiled back as the fox took a bite to eat, when once again Roland appeared suddenly beside their table. With a growl he snagged the fork out of the fox's paw, threw it down onto the plate, and grabbed the whole thing off the table in one angry motion.

"Hey!" Jessie said in surprise as the badger gathered everything up and stalked away, growling like a freight train.

"What the hell?" Jessie said in surprise, staring at the hyena sitting across from him. Michael’s expression started off as open mouthed shock, before it darkened like a summer thunderstorm. The badger was coming back, his hackles raised as he cursed and muttered under his breathe.

"Roland, what do you think you're doing..." Michael started to say, as the badger grabbed his plate too.

"Parker is in the kitchen tonight." The badger said, angry enough to spit nails. "He got called in because Ryan was sick. Damn bastard spiked your date's food, and he probably spiked yours too."

"What?" Michael said in shock, and he looked at Jessie, the hyena's face now full of worry. "What did he put in it?"

“I have no idea, but he’s gloating a lot. I’m so sorry about this Michael, Jessie, this, this,” the badger stopped speaking, his muzzle curled back as he descended spitting into incoherent rage. Roland spun on his heels, and carried Michael’s steak away towards the kitchen, his short tail stuck out from his body and his fur puffed out. The badger’s growling was turning heads now, as nearby patrons craned their necks to see what was going on. From the kitchen came a distant crash and the sound of breaking crockery, and there was the sound of someone yelling at the top of their lungs.

Michael looked at Jessie, who had a pale look on his face. The calico cat manager was racing up to their table, her calm expression unable to hide the scent of fear that rolled off her. “Come on; let’s get you to an ER.” Michael said as he stood up, “We aren’t paying for this after all.” The hyena didn’t even have to look at the woman to know that she had nodded in agreement as Jessie took Michael’s proffered paw.

The fox stood up to follow the hyena, wobbled a bit, and hiccupped. Michael stopped when he saw the fox’s tail bottle bushed out as if he’d stuck his finger in an electrical socket, and Jessie swallowed carefully before saying, “I don’t think…” Michael’s eyes widened as the slim fox’s body gave a jerk like he’d hiccupped again, but this time the red fox quickly covered his muzzle. Eyes wide and tail between his legs, Jessie ran past the stunned hyena and manager and towards the restrooms.

Michael rocked back on his heels as the fox barreled past, and the big hyena gave a little growl as he looked at the manager. Her expression was one of pure, total bewilderment and fear, and Michael took off after the fox.

Michael reached the restroom just after the door swung closed, but when he pushed on it, it was locked from the inside. He called out, “Jessie? Are you in there?” the only answer was the sound of someone being extremely ill. His fists clenched, the hyena turned and growling headed for the kitchens.

* * *

Michael came back to the little hallway where the restrooms were located, still shaking with rage. He’d never been so upset in his entire life, and in a way he was glad that Jessie hadn’t been around to see him screaming at Parker like that. He’d very nearly hit the wolf he was so angry with him.

Selfish, stubborn, self-absorbed Parker, Michael would have never imagined the wolf would do something as stupid as poison someone’s meal. When Michael had found the wolf in the kitchens, Parker was already covered in food stains because Roland had thrown the hyena’s steak at him. Along with, it appeared, anything else the badger had been able to grab before the kitchen staff had gotten hold of Roland and wrestled him away from Parker.

Michael had shouted at Parker too, demanding to know what he’d done to Jessie. He’d berated him, said terrible things to him, and the hyena would have felt bad about the things he had said if the wolf had shown even a hint of remorse. Instead, Parker had laughed. He was proud of it, the idiot.

The hyena had barked at the manager some because being angry at Parker was clearly pointless, but there hadn’t been much point in doing that either. She was completely on Michael’s side, and Parker had been fired on the spot as he smugly told the hyena what he’d spiked the fox’s food with right in front of her. The other chefs had escorted Parker out the back, and Michael went back to check on Jessie again.

Tapping on the door, Michael called out, “Jessie? Jessie, are you alright?”

There was the sound of movement, and someone leaned heavily on the other side of the door before the fox’s voice called out wearily, “No, not really.”

“I’m so, so sorry,” the hyena swallowed, staring at the flat wood grain of the men’s room door. “Can I come in?” he asked hesitantly.

“No, no I don’t think that’d be a good idea.” The fox muttered, “I didn’t quite make it to the sink before I lost it. It’s… a bit of a mess in here.”

Michael winced, his paws balling up into fists. Jessie sounded so pitiful, and it was entirely his fault. He was the one who brought the fox here, he was the reason Parker had done this.

“If… if you’ve stopped being sick you should be alright. Parker told me what he put in your food. It should just make you feel sick for an hour or so.” Michael sighed and pressed the top of his head against the door, his breath coming slow, ragged as he tried to control his anger and shame.

“You must hate me,” the hyena said eventually.

“Not you,” The fox said with a weak chuckle, his head tapping lightly on the other side of the door as he leaned his back against it. “But I hope your ex got fired.”

“He did.” Michael said sharply, a bit of the hyena’s anger seeping into the words. “The manager says whatever you need is yours.” The hyena worked his jaw, searching for words that would express how badly he felt. All he could say was, “I, I’m just so sorry Jessie.”

“It’s not your fault, Michael. Really it’s not.” There was a hesitant pause before the fox said, “Um, Roland said he was going to get me some clean clothes. Is he out there?”

Michael glanced towards the back entrance to the kitchens, where the badger was standing sheepishly holding a spare white button up shirt and a pair of black slacks. Roland waved one paw weakly at the hyena, who sighed as he took the folded clothes from the badger. “Yes, he’s here; want me to bring them in?”

“Um,” the fox said hesitantly, and Michael stared hard at the wood of the door as the fox’s pause dragged on. “I, I really don’t want you to see me like this Michael.” Jessie said, his voice wavering. “I’m really a mess. I should probably take a cab home anyways. You don’t want me sitting in your car right now…”

Michael winced at the sheer amount of embarrassment in the fox’s voice. “I… alright just… call me when you get home Jessie. Please? Promise you’ll call me back after this. I won’t leave unless I can see you again, even if it’s just to apologize face to face one last time.”

“Michael,” the fox said almost sweetly, the door muffling the tones of his voice. “I’ll call you, I promise.”

“Okay then,” the hyena said a bit wistfully, his paws leaving the door as he sighed.

The big hyena stared at the bathroom door for a moment, and then turned and walked away. He walked pass Roland, who was holding the clean pair of clothes over his chest almost protectively. ‘I’m so sorry,’ the badger mouthed, and Michael just waved his apologies away.

“Not your fault,” the hyena said sadly as he left the restaurant.

* * *

Michael lay on his back, paws folded across his chest as he stared at the ceiling of his bedroom, trying to will himself to sleep. It was Sunday night, and he should really get some sleep if he was going to be any use tomorrow at work. The covers of his bed were pooled on the floor and the muscled hyena was naked as he watched his fan oscillate slowly above him, but sleep simply was not going to happen. So he lay there in the same blank daze he had been in since Friday, waiting for his phone to ring. It rested on his night stand silently just like it had done all weekend long.

Jessie hadn’t called.

Of course the fox hadn’t called, Michael scolded himself mentally. All weekend he had hoped in vain that Jessie would call. The hyena had barely been two feet from his mobile phone the whole time so he wouldn’t miss the call if it came, but it had been a fool’s hope.

Michael had kept his phone on his desk all day at work Friday, deflecting Charlie’s questions about the Venetian as the rhino breathed down his neck about a review he could not possibly write now. That was a real shame too; because if it hadn’t been for Parker’s stunt he would have given the Venetian a very good review. The meal had been excellent and the service amazing. However annoying Roland’s cheerfulness could be he was an excellent waiter. Michael had sheepishly gone out for lunch at another restaurant so he could review them instead, and gone home early so he wouldn’t have to tell the rhino that the Venetian review would have to wait. Then, Michael had spent the next two days in a fog, waiting for a call he knew would never come.

Michael wasn’t surprised. Who in their right mind would want to go out with a guy whose crazy ex-boyfriend poisoned their food? The fox had just been letting him down easy when he’d promised to call, and really Michael couldn’t blame Jessie for that. It still hurt though. He’d genuinely liked the fox, and the thought of losing him because of Parker made his stomach churn.

The big hyena had stayed inside by himself the whole weekend, going outside only twice to visit a new restaurant to sample their breakfast and dinner menus. He’d spent the rest of the time lifting weights in the hopes that he could wear himself out and sleep properly, but it hadn’t worked. All he could think about was Jessie.

Muscles twitching from being over worked, Michael shifted positions in bed, trying to get comfortable. He wanted to sleep. He wanted to just pass out and forget everything that had happened this week. Forget he’d even met a handsome young fox and then lost him just as quickly, but he couldn’t. Michael kept seeing Jessie’s face in his mind, kept remembering the red fox’s strong musky scent, and he definitely couldn’t forget the feeling of Jessie’s slender vulpine body underneath his own as they had made love. All of that was gone now thanks to Parker.

Anger flooded Michael as he thought about Parker, his chest tight with shame as he remembered the wolf’s laughing face back at the restaurant. He had been so happy he’d ruined Michael’s chances to move on. He’d won too, ruining the hyena’s chances with Jessie, and Michael was consumed with shame over what had happened to the poor fox.

With a growl, the hyena rolled out of bed and stomped into his bathroom. He wasn’t going to put up with this. He didn’t have to sit here feeling lonely and ashamed because of Parker. He lived two blocks from the heart of the gay club scene; the hyena didn’t have to be alone tonight or any other night. Hell, he’d picked up Jessie easily enough, Michael could find someone else. Parker wanted the hyena to be alone, and Michael wasn’t going to let the damn wolf dictate how he lived or who he loved.

Michael got dressed, brushing his fur and putting on the tight black t-shirt that showed off his muscles, left his phone behind in his apartment, and walked to the Crossroads neighborhood brimming with angry resentment.

* * *

Three hours and ten drinks later, Michael didn’t feel any of that. In fact, he felt downright good again. The club he’d chosen was a good one. Good music, good drinks, and a good looking crowd too. He’d danced for almost two hours, stopping between songs to gulp down ice water and tease the go-go dancers and other patrons who were bold enough to hit on him. Michael even whipped off his shirt when a skinny and good looking horse had dared him too, tucking it into his belt as he danced through the pulsing crowd and forgot his troubles. He went to the restroom with a big grin on his face, amused by the sidelong glances his body got and the sounds of people getting to know each other in the back stalls. Once he was done, Michael headed for one of the club’s many bars to get another drink, and his good mood popped like a balloon.

Across the island setup that formed this bar, was Jessie. The slim fox was standing with his back to Michael, and he was laughing at the two wolves in football jerseys who were with him. And the two wolves were definitely ‘with’ him. The bigger canines were standing too close and being way too friendly with the fox to be strangers. One of them even had his arm around Jessie’s shoulders, and the fox laughed and batted playfully at them as they bought him another drink. The fox giggled as one of the wolves kissed his neck. Jessie was blushing; his ears back as he other wolf groped him a bit. Michael could just imagine the fox spit roasted between the two wolves.

Michael finished his drink in one go, scowling at his reflection in the metal topped bar. So Jessie was happy. Good, right? The fox should be happy. He was a sweet guy, he deserved to be happy. Michael was happy. He’d been having a blast dancing, and he could go right on doing so, couldn’t he. The hyena set the tumbler down and turned away from the fox, heading to the door. There were other bars, other clubs and other men out there. He wasn’t going to feel sorry for himself. Michael reached the door leading to the clubs outer lobby and the outside world, when his ear twitched. In the noise of the club, he had heard something, but he couldn’t tell what it was in the sea of music and noise. It didn’t matter anyways. Michael let the door close behind him, heading for the outside door.

“Michael!” Jessie smacked into his side like a battering ram, and the big hyena nearly fell over. The big hyena’s arm flew out and caught the wall, keeping him from falling as he looked down in shock at the fox now hugging his waist.

“Jessie?” The hyena said in surprise as he steadied himself.

“Oh my god I’m so glad I finally found you!” Jessie exclaimed, still hugging the hyena’s side tightly. The red fox’s long bushy tail was wagging back and forth almost frantically. “I’ve been looking for you all night long.”

“Yah I guess you did, but…” the hyena laughed a bit as he steadied the fox, who had straightened up and tottered a few steps to the side. Jessie wasn’t just a bit tipsy, he was seriously drunk. “Why didn’t you just call me?”

The fox’s ears splayed backwards and he looked incredibly embarrassed as a stupid grin spread across his muzzle. “I couldn’t! I washed my phone in the pocket of my pants. It was totally ruined. I lost your phone number, your apartment number…” then Jessie playfully thumped his paw against Michael’s chest, which ended up making the fox stagger backwards. “All the stupid buildings in your complex look the same!”

Michael laughed, putting an arm around Jessie to keep the fox from falling down. Jessie folded the arm around himself and leaned against Michael, the fox’s face coming to rest against the hyena’s bare chest, and the hyena blushed when Jessie nuzzled against his pectoral muscles like they were a pillow. Michael grinned, his anger melting away completely as he held the fox close.

“What made you think I would be here?” The hyena asked, unsure what to say to someone so drunk.

Jessie’s head lolled to one side as he leaned against the big hyena, his eyes half lidded. Looking up at him like that, Jessie was the cutest fox Michael had ever seen, and it felt good to hold the younger man against his side.

“I asked the barista at the Market where you’d be.” The fox mumbled. “But I didn’t want to wait till Monday to find yah. He said you sometimes went dancing here, but you weren’t here Friday or Saturday…” Jessie yawned hugely, his muzzle opening so wide he would have fallen backwards if he hadn’t been in Michael’s arms. “And then those wolves started buying me drinks…” Jessie’s eyes closed, and he clung to Michael almost comically. Michael laughed, gently hugging the fox to him.

“God you’re a silly fox.”

“Maybe,” Jessie hiccupped, his muzzle waving back and forth as he smiled up at Michael. “But I found yah,” the fox’s words slurred a bit, and he leaned heavily against the hyena.

“Yes you did.” The hyena muttered happily, “Why don’t I take you home?” Michael whispered, and Jessie grinned as they kissed briefly.

* * *

Monday morning, Michael sat in the Crossroads market, staring at his open laptop and trying to think. The big hyena shifted about, leaning back to get comfortable on the small chair as he wrote his review, but he ended up just slouching in his chair and staring at the screen. He’d gotten the introduction finished, but the words were all just formality. The story had no sparkle, and nothing he did seemed to help his mind think something up. He was simply too distracted thinking about other things.

Last night had turned out much stranger than he’d imagined it would be. By the time he and Jessie had walked halfway back to Michael’s apartment the fox was dead on his paws. After practically falling asleep while leaning on Michael, the hyena had kissed the fox tenderly and offered to drive him home. Jessie didn’t want to, he wanted to ‘stay with you again’, as he kept saying in a slightly slurred way, but Michael pointed out the fox was much too drunk to say ‘yes’, much less handle what the hyena wanted to do to him. Jessie had blushed and protested, but in the end Michael had driven the fox back to his dorm. They did make out for a while once Michael had helped the fox to his room, because the fox’s dorm mate was off somewhere else partying, and Jessie had fallen asleep in Michael’s arms before anything happened. So Michael had written down his phone number on several pieces of paper, and carefully remembered what the fox’s dorm number was before leaving. Sleep had come easily once the hyena got home.

Now it was Monday morning and he was sitting in the Crossroads Market again, and he was feeling the effects of a late night of drinking, sadly without debauchery. Staring blankly at the screen, listening to the fan spin slowly overhead, Michael almost missed it when his phone beeped.

The hyena pulled the phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. The little symbol for a text message blinked at him, and he hit the button to read it.

‘Could we go out again tonight? I can’t wait to see the review, but this time let’s eat dinner at your place. You promised me eggs benedict for breakfast.’ – Jessie

“Oh sugar,” Bill said as he set a fresh steaming, spicy latte down beside Michael. “You look like you’ve lost ten years when you smile like that.” The rottie playfully patted the hyena’s face, and Michael twitched an ear as he blushed a bit. “What could make you smile that bright on a gloomy Monday morning?”

Michael glanced up at the smirking Rottweiler, and he was indeed smiling brightly. “Oh nothing special, just the promise of seeing a certain handsome fox again.”

“Oh ho, that is good news. I guess your date at the Venetian went well?” Bill said with a grin.

“Well, not exactly…” Michael said with a smirk, and he sipped his Chai latte with a twinkle in his eyes. Then, he deleted what he’d written and started to review the Venetian and his date with Jessie. He put in everything, the good parts as well as the bad. He wanted to be fair after all, and his readers loved when a review had a happy ending.