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Part 8

(Alen)

For me, subtitled movies could be tough to follow sometimes once their pace really got going. This one had taken me onto a whole new level, however.

Actors seemed to take every opportunity possible to switch back and forth between Polcian and Vitmaric, requiring me to jump between the action on screen and the text below over and over. No wonder I'd lost all understanding of the plot.

As if that wasn't enough, with the big bedroom door hanging wide open, every Velikan word Jonas said travelled loud and clear from the living room.

"I know it's getting close, Ma," he grumbled. I could hear his pacing about all the way from here. "But we've still got three weeks to get things figured out."

With three different languages to contend with, only two of which I could understand, I decided the one thing for it was to give up on my movie and lie back in bed. Though admittedly, I _did_want to hear more about what was being plotted for independence day.

"I'm not sure," Jonas insisted. "Like I said last time, I need to clear things up here. I'm supposed to be working that weekend."

My shoulders crept up from the mattress. I would have expected clearing things up and dealing with work to have been one and the same.

"I'll have to check with him." Jonas had tried to say that quietly. Not something he'd ever been too good at. "Yeah, I _know_he was keen when you first mentioned it. It's just that he's been so... busy lately."

Busy. Back down to the bed I flopped. No prizes for guessing what he meant by 'busy'. These last couple of weeks had been tough. My mood had been so up and down, head such a noisy mess, that I'd found it hard to pull myself out of it.

Thoughts of Padinica dominated everything, leaving little room for me to drop my guard and let Jonas in. There _were_positive times, mind. Times when I'd think about what got said that day, figuring that whatever had happened in the past should stay there. Other times... well... I'd remember how I used to think the exact same thing with Zoran. Right before some of our very worst run-ins.

Gods above me, why couldn't I get myself straight on this? Why couldn't I suck it up and let these memories go? Let Zoran go. Let _everything_go and just live my fucking life here with Jonas--

"Okay, Ma. I'll let you go..." My ears perked to footsteps drawing nearer, getting louder.

"Speak soon... Goodnight." A shadow hit the doorframe. I jerked my attention back to my movie.

"Tired," Jonas muttered. Maybe to me, maybe to himself. He passed in front of the TV, lifting his shirt. Hips and stomach revealed themselves first. Chest and biceps followed soon after. Watching him undress should've had me clawing at the sheets in anticipation of him climbing into bed next to me. Something else to add to the ever growing list of things I should've been those past few weeks.

"That was Ma." He tossed his shirt aside, reaching to unfasten both the front and back of his shorts. "Wondering if we're still heading home for their party." They dropped to the floor to expose his bright blue boxers. "Sounds like they're putting the final plans together."

"Right," I replied, forcing it from the dryness of my mouth.

Jonas pulled his side of the duvet down to meet mine. The mattress sank hard beneath his sitting, thick tail swaying behind him. "Thought any more about it?"

He slid into bed, forcing everything down even further as he closed in on me. Still I kept over to my side. "A little."

"And?"

"...Maybe."

His sigh rushed on by. "Don't you--"

"Aren't you still trying to figure things out at work? That's what you just told your Ma on the phone."

"I've all but booked the time already." He let himself drop, bouncing me on the mattress. "Honestly... I'd prefer not to go back on my own."

The TV couldn't offer much of a distraction any more. "Maybe your parents will be happier that way."

"And how do you figure that?"

"They'll have you home. Alone. I'm sure they can't wait."

"They can never wait to see me." The bed shook again, Jonas' stomach like a cream-coloured wall as he rolled onto his side. "But they can't wait to see you, either. Ma especially." My ears lifted even higher. "Seriously. She can't stop talking about you. You made a such a great impression."

Perked ears or not, I begged the screen ahead to pull me back in. Not that I could miss the heat of Jonas' second sigh, rumbling out more like a growl.

"Either way, I really do hope you'll come... Just let me know when you decide for sure, okay? Please?"

His desperation jabbed me with every word. Peering up at him, I could see it even clearer in those masked eyes. "Okay."

Another rock of the bed. "Get yourself over here." His chest and belly shifted to surround me; warmth and scent unavoidable. Unmistakable. "I love you."

I breathed him in, allowing my head to sink into his fur. "I know."

His big, brown paw wrapped itself around me, tugged me even deeper. Jonas' happy grunting sent a tremble through me. Started me doing the same. Maybe I could finally allow myself to enjoy his attention.

I loved Jonas, too. No question. These last few days, I'd got gradually better at letting him get closer. At letting _myself_get closer. I despised myself for pushing him away like I had been. Getting annoyed and being short and snappy all the time... Paving the way for arguments, just like I did with Zoran. Hard as I tried to act normal and happy and trusting of my Jonas, the bad, upsetting thoughts that'd started back in Padinica never left me alone for too long.

Tears streamed like crazy with the length of my yawn, leaking out onto the fur of Jonas' fingers. Sure it was getting late, but all the effort it'd taken to keep myself balanced lately had been exhausting. No matter the time, or the company, more often than not, the only thing I wanted to do once I'd climbed into bed was sleep... Or try at least.

I'd not had myself a restful night since we'd got back from Padinica, but at least the nightmares that forced me bolt upright in the early hours were getting fewer and further between. Small mercies.

"Is this okay?" Jonas wiped my wetness from his fingers, curling himself tighter to check on me. "Not too much?"

"You're fine."

"Okay." His strong arms snugged me back into his pelt, leaving his words muffled in my ears. "Let me know if it is."

This was okay. This was_fine. The question was... were we? What kind of couple avoided the things they had fun doing together the most? Cuddling and affection were one thing, an important, enjoyable thing, but day after day I refused to open myself up to Jonas completely. Let him play his games. Let him pin me down, overpower me without losing my nerve in return. For too long I'd denied myself the pleasure of enjoying and experiencing..._him.

In one way, I saw it as something of a positive. As proof that something beyond physical lust might exist between us. In another, slipping my head past wary fingers still marked by tooth-sized dents, I could clearly see just how much he dreaded the rejection.

One fact remained certain; all this thinking I insisted upon was doing_nothing_ to improve things.

Jonas pushed out his paws to drop me to the mattress. If he'd tried to hide his pouting, he'd not tried hard. The bed moved again, but only from his head falling down onto his pillow.

We both lied there quietly. Together, but not. Jonas did at least look to be taking an interest in the movie I'd been watching. Maybe it would be something that'd help start us chatting--

"Are you watching this?"

"Well," I replied as his paw rushed to grab the larger remote. "No... Not any more."

A press of his thumb brought total silence to the room. I never thought lying in your own bed could be so awkward.

"I've been meaning to mention something," he said, settling down completely. "See what you thought."

Jonas resembled a hillside beside me, his breathing shallow as he stared up at the ceiling. My fur frizzed. I wondered how much further the awkward stakes might increase.

"I've been talking to a friend of mine this last week or so. Catching up and stuff."

"Sounds nice."

"Very. He's living over in Livadar at the moment. In fact... he's gonna be around this weekend, so we figured it'd be good to meet up. Go out for a drink or two. Maybe dinner down at Riki's. Catch up properly."

"Wait, Riki's? You're planning to take him where you work?"

"_You've_never complained," he barked, looking at me sideways. "In fact, I was going to ask if you wanted to come along, too."

I reeled myself in. We'd had far too many run-ins from my talking without thinking lately... Hard as that might be to believe.

"We're meeting up this Saturday. It'd be real nice to have you there with me."

I scratched an itch on my arm, then my chest, wriggling to ease the one in the small of my back; uncomfortable to be in my own fur. That Vitmaric movie would've been a good distraction right about now. "I've had a busy week so far..."

"It's only Tuesday."

"Yeah... We've launched a new vacation package at work. Autumn breaks. The new ad strategy has been a total screw up from the get go, and... I'm just tired. So much work." He gave me a face that asked how many more straws I planned on grasping at. One more at least. "Anyway, won't it be weird to bring your partner to meet an old friend?"

"I don't really see how."

"I do. He might prefer it if you went alone."

"What, you mean like me going back my parents for their independence day weekend?"

"That's_completely_different."

He huffed out loud. "Is it?"

"It is, and you know it!"

We each took a deep breath. Another run-in to add to the collection.

I managed to swallow my pride enough to give Jonas a glance. Watch him lie there as if chewing on something he'd rather not be. Big as he was, I had a knack for hurting him.

"Look. Alen." The light caught the shimmer of his eyes. "We've not been out together for a while... and I know you like Riki's. Plus, I can't remember the last time _I_went there for something other than work.

"Wouldn't that be normal?" I scooted closer, making sure to put on a smile. "Being your _workplace_and all."

"Probably, but this is different." Jonas' cheeks lifted in return. "My workplace just so happens to be _our_place, too."

"True."

"Besides." He had a think to himself. Another itch prickled my neck. "If it's warm, and if we don't finish up there too late, we could possibly head across to the beach in the evening." His muzzle creased with a grin. "I'll have to remember my trunks."

My ears rose again. As did both my head and shoulders. Not that this damn voice in my head would stop.

"How does that sound?"

'No,' cried my conscience. Then again as I locked my jaw closed. Turning to see Jonas' sweet, gentle face, almost leaning over me in wait of my answer, I couldn't bring myself to put yet more hurt upon it.

"Sounds good," I answered. Firmly. "It all does."

"Great!" His tail swished, paws racing to gather and squeeze me back into his fur. "Thank you."

Wrapped up tight, nose full of my raccoon's scent, my smile came far easier and far more genuinely that time round. It'd been a damn long while coming.

The work days that followed came and went steadily, edging the weekend closer and closer. It'd have been wrong to say I'd been dreading Saturday, nor was it something I'd looked forward to. It was just... something. Something that'd soon arrive, and something I'd have to get myself through.

My conscience might have been something I could ignore and overcome once in awhile, but I couldn't stop it from weighing like an increasingly heavy anchor on my mood; something that hadn't gone unnoticed by neither me, nor Jonas.

"You're quiet today," he said, striding on along the pavement. "Even for you. All good?"

"I'm fine." I peered up from my place behind the white collar of Jonas' favourite yellow shirt. The same shirt he'd changed into after work on the day we met here on the seafront road.

"As long as you are." He'd been grinning and singing almost every word from the moment we'd woke up together that morning. The fur of his paw shimmered in the sunlight as he reached to pet me. He'd got an awful lot more 'touchy' than usual these last couple of days. "Today's gonna be a good day. I know it."

From up here beneath Jonas' muzzle, I got a good view of the crowds making what they could of these last days of summer. Visoka and Maleni alike milled around together, some of the latter down in our walkway, with others riding around in collars and pockets like me. The bars and restaurants lining the street were heaving, as was the beach opposite, loud with what sounded like a party brewing.

We made it to Riki's a minute or two later. A breeze of cool, conditioned air welcoming us in from the heat outside.

"Hey, Jonas." The doe working as the greeter extended our welcome, stepping aside from her podium with a broad smile. I didn't recognise her. She must've been new.

"Heya, Nika." He waved back, taking care of me as he leaned down to share a peck on each cheek. "How are you today?"

"I'm good!" Her ears flicked. "And you?"

"Real good, thank you."

She clasped her paws, smile growing once she spotted me. "Oh, who's this?"

"This is Alen," Jonas replied. "My boyfriend."

"Hey there!" Her eyes lit up, finger reaching towards me. "So you're Alen. I've heard all about you."

I coughed out laugh, taking her fingertip to shake. "All good I hope?"

"Nothing but." She pulled back, still beaming as she looked up to Jonas. "So, would you like a seat? Or will you be going to the bar?"

"A seat, please. In the lounge." He held up a paw before she could turn away. "Is the booth in the back corner free?"

Nika peered back over her shoulder, shifting for a view into the lounge area off to our left. "I think so... Let's go see."

We followed her inside, away from the lively bar area. The seats and booths of the mood-lit lounge on the weren't quite so crowded, offering a far more relaxed atmosphere. I guess most people had decided they'd prefer to take in the afternoon sun instead.

"Ah, you're in luck." Nika led us between the last few tables to a booth I'd always remember. Mostly for the right reasons. "Here you go."

"Thank you so much," Jonas sang, right before making a sudden stop. "Oh, before you go. One more thing..."

Again they leaned in towards each other, deliberately quiet with whatever they had to discuss. Even as I shifted for a better view, I couldn't make out their whispering. They must've know my frustration, Nika especially judging by the size of her smile. "Please, take a seat. I'll go find someone to come serve you."

Jonas stepped into the booth, muzzle creasing with his own grin. "Let's get settled."

Just like our first date back in the springtime, Jonas parked himself upon the violet seat fabric, amber mood lighting shining over the booth from above. I took my own position meanwhile, facing him from the Maleni-sized equivalent atop the table.

"So, what d'ya want for a drink?" He reached for the menu, prompting me to do the same. "It's half price on cocktails until six."

"I could go for one of those." Flicking to the back pages, my eyes scanned over all our usual favourites. The Estordorian Sunset, my standard choice. The Royal Punch looked good, as did some new concoction called The Shoreside. This time round, I'd play it safe and fall back on a White Velikan.

"Good choice," he said. "You know what I think of them all, but, I can't ever look past a Sunset that easy."

I smiled up at him, half-chuckling as I realised it'd been Jonas who first recommended it to me here.

"Hi guys."

Another blast from the past came with Franko, Jonas' workmate, arriving with his order pad at the ready.

"Hey man." Jonas reached out clasp paws. "How goes?"

"Busy." He glanced back around to a few of the other customers around us. "But busy's good. Keeps the day going on by."

"I hear you."

"Saying that, we might need to get you up outta that booth if it gets much more crazy round here."

"Yeah, walk on." Jonas snorted. "After last night, I've earned this weekend off."

"Fair shout." Franko dipped his muzzle, buckteeth on display. "Good to see you, Alen."

"You too." I gave him a wave, grabbing and squeezing his finger pad once he offered it out.

"Life treating you well? It's been a while."

"Yeah, mostly." An itch on my neck demanded scratching. "Just been busy... lotta stuff to do."

"Know the feeling only too well, my friend." He cleared his throat, jabbing at his tablet. "So, what can I get you?"

"Think I'm gonna go for an Estordorian Sunset," Jonas replied before turning back to me. "And a White Velikan for you?"

"Please."

"Cool." A few more taps at his screen and Franko was done. "Alright then. I'll go get these made up." He looked to me, then to Jonas, grinning as if he'd heard a joke or something. "I'll leave you two to it."

That big beaver tail bobbed away from the table, following Franko past tables and booths back towards the bar. A sudden press at my elbow made me jump. I turned fast to find Jonas' finger, wider that my forearm itself, resting atop it. Up above, his wide smile pushed at his cheeks, lifting them in that way I just couldn't resist.

"Feeling some deja vu right about now," I said, watching him idly trace his finger over my fur. "Sitting here on a sunny day. Franko getting our drinks."

"Me too." Jonas' eyes narrowed, soft light catching them as he leaned down closer. He took my paw with two fingers, nursing me into turning it over. "Quite the coincidence."

"Isn't it just." The roughness of his pad found the inside of my wrist. It sent a wave coursing right the way through me, cresting into a deep sigh I couldn't contain. It'd been so long since he'd petted me like this. I'd missed it.

---

(Jonas)

Man, I don't think I could've asked for any more. It was still early, sure, and we'd only just got down here to Riki's, but Alen seemed real keen on having a good time.

Might not've been a lot to anyone else looking in, but after these last few weeks, even the fact he'd settled back in his seat, let me rub away at his arm had me glad I'd convinced him to come.

With Franko working on our drinks at the bar, and Martin not due just yet, we had ourselves the chance to enjoy some alone time in our booth.

I started things off gently, asking Alen more about how work had been treating him. He'd told me about being swamped there and how it had him tired, so it seemed as good a starting point as any.

After that, we moved on to topics more fitting to a day off. We spoke about his parents back in Lucica and what they'd been up to. His friends there, and those here, too. In fact, it brought the conversation round full-circle to him asking about me more about my friends and family. Again, to someone on the outside, that kinda thing would've sounded like common courtesy. To me? I was just happy to have Alen give a little in return. Get involved in a conversation and offer more than one or two words at a time. Even better than all that; not once did he object to me keeping up my petting.

As great as this'd all been, things weren't perfect. Alen would never be the loudest, most open and outgoing otter, but even so, something told me he was holding back. Still dealing with something he'd prefer to keep bottled up inside.

I wanted badly to try and get inside his head. Open him up, pry him out and really get down to what was bothering him so much. Gods know how hard _that_could be at the best of times. On the other hand, I really didn't wanna rock the boat too much. Little steps; that's what I figured. At some point, he'd tell me what he needed to all by himself. In the meantime, I'd keep up my petting, hold onto my smile, and onto hope.

"What time is your friend due?"

That hit me outta nowhere. We'd been so busy up chatting, I'd actually started to forget we were expecting company. "He told me a little before four a couple days back. That's when the train he's aiming for is due in." I pulled out my phone. "So shouldn't be too much after-- Oh..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's ten-past-four already." Damn, we really _had_got caught up with each other. Not the worst thing on reflection. "Guess he'll be here in a little bit, then."

"Alright." Alen's head dipped towards his empty glass. He still looked to be enjoying my stroking at least, not objecting to my finger moving further up his arm.

"Want another drink?"

"What about your friend?"

"Ah, if he gets here before we get them, I'll go add to the order. Franko won't mind." I ran a soft claw through his fur, smiling. "No case for you waiting around with an empty glass."

"Okay, sure."

"Another White Velikan?"

The smile he gave back sent my ears lifting. "Please."

"Think I'll join you with one of those, actually." I got even more daring with my petting, but stopped short of stroking under his muzzle. We'd made good progress so far, but no sense in overdoing it. Little steps, I reminded myself as I squeezed out from the booth. "Won't be long."

I gave him a swish of my tail, leaving him in his little seat. The bright chatter from at the other tables around us, along with the bouncy, upbeat music pumping out over the speakers put a happy, cheerful vibe into the air. Kept my tail swaying all the way up to the bar. The afternoon had gone so well so far, but it'd only get better once Martin got here, no doubt in my mind. We'd be able to talk about old times. The fun times. Show Alen how things _really_were when I was younger. I couldn't wait!

Things hadn't died down here on the other side of the lounge. Groups mingled all around with their drink, making it tough to even see the bar, let alone get to it. The dining area wasn't much calmer either, with those sitting there doing their bit to up to the constant roar of noise here. Days like this were a bitch to work through, and the guys and girls working both Visoka and Maleni serving areas couldn't hide their agreement with me.

"Hey, Jonas," Franko called, spotting me slipping between a pack of wolves to reach the closest end of bar. "Man, sorry."

"For what?"

"Not getting back down there--" He raised a hand to a skunk tapping his currency card against the woodwork. "Be right with you."

"Don't worry. It's fine." I watched him spin and slide back to the spirit shelf, grabbing a bottle of orange liqueur and some shot glasses. "I wasn't expecting one-to-one service."

"Lucky." He sidestepped another, equally rushed colleague of ours, making it back to a waiting set of glasses part filled with energy drink. "'Cos ain't no way you'd be getting it today."

I let Franko do his thing for a minute, serving drinks to the skunk and his friends milling around him. Customers finally satisfied, he looked to me with a puff of his cheeks. "I know exactly how you feel."

"Wanna come 'round here and give us a hand?"

"Not on your life! I earned this day off." We shared a grin. "Gotta thank you for helping me out today, and for being cool with it."

"It's nothing." He spun his bottle opener on a finger. "I'm working anyway." Another pause for him to crack open a couple bottles of imported beer for Katia, our vixen coworker to serve some business-looking lion along the bar. "Everything good with you and Alen?"

A passing elbow brushed my back. "Why?"

He shrugged. "He's usually right there with you in your seat is all. Things still not good?"

"Wouldn't go that far. Just... still a couple things hanging over us."

"Like what?"

"Sure you got time to hear it?" I snorted, looking round to the crowd behind me. "Plenty people waiting for service."

"Hey, I'm serving you, aren't I?" He gestured me closer, calling out a "What you havin'" loud enough for all to hear.

"Uh, two White Velikans; one Visoka, one Mal--"

"Yeah, yeah. In a minute." He waved me off, smirking. "I wanna hear about what's hanging over you first."

Since Franko had gone to all this effort, both with serving me, and getting us some room to talk, I figured there was no use in holding out. Besides, it's not like I had anything awful to hide.

He went about gathering the ingredients for our drinks, bringing them back to the bar before leaning over the side of it. Below us, just shy of waist-height at the end of a wall-fastened walkway, sat the Maleni-sized bar area.

"Hey, Juro. Can I get a White Velikan up here, please?"

Juro, our little husky coworker, peering up to us, as did a couple of Maleni customers sitting at their equally crowded bar. He smiled, giving us both a solid thumbs up. "No problem."

"Thanks, man." Franko turned back to me. "Alright. So what's the deal?"

I leaned forward, took a breath and went right on ahead with bringing him up to speed. I told him about Toni being his dumb self, revealing a few things about me to Alen and getting him all upset. Franko, taking his sweet time in making up our drinks, pressed me on that. I left it as hanging as 'dumb shit I'd done back at school', and focused instead on explaining all the things I'd been doing since to try and make things right. That included what I'd organised for this afternoon.

"Sounds like you've been busy," Franko said, slowly adding liqueur to my glass.

"You're not wrong."

"Well, man... Whatever it is that's got him upset with you, I hope you guys can get it fixed."

"Thanks." I huffed. "Hope so, too."

"What time's your friend getting here? Will he find you all the way out back?"

I grabbed my phone from my pocket, caring less than a little about the bear I knocked with my elbow. He'd been getting closer and closer throughout. Fuck him. "His train should've got in twenty minutes ago. Told me he was gonna message me when he got here, so I could go meet him at the door. Not heard shit, though."

"C'mon, that's not all that long." Liqueur poured, he reached for the cream. "He might've got held up or something. Gods know it wouldn't be the first time a train's been late."

"Maybe." I squeezed my phone. It'd have been easy to toss it at the bar. "He'd have said something, though. Surely?"

"Well have _you_tried getting in touch--?"

"Look." That bear behind me forced himself to the bar, slamming his own elbow into my side in the process. "How long's it take to pour a drink?"

"Not much longer," Franko answered, rushing the cream into my glass. "Be right with you."

"Been waiting ages to get served here." Again came his his elbow, catching me in a painfully awkward spot above my hip. "It's a damn joke--"

"Hey!" Something snapped. I stood upright and spun, jabbing his muzzle with mine. "Watch who you're hitting!"

Up went his hands. Back went his head. "Yeah... alright." He stepped away, not keeping his eyes level with mine for long. "Just hurry it up."

I turned back to the bar to see the cream had stopped pouring. Franko just stood there, smirking, head back from his shoulders just like that bear. "Damn. That told him."

"Lucky I'm not working."

"It is. Funny, though." He looked down at my phone. "Try giving the guy a call. Can't hurt."

"Think I might do that now."

"Cool, but... Your friend might be keeping you waiting, but if you're trying to get back into Alen's good books, don't go doing the same to him."

I wiped my brow, sighing hard at the lifeless screen of my phone. "You're right. One thing at a time."

"Want me to bring these over when I'm done?"

"That'd be good. Thanks."

"Don't sweat it--"

"Franko," Katia called, a few more bottles of expensive beer in her hands while even more business-dressed folk looked on. "Can I grab your opener again please?"

"Sure." He and I shared another thumbs up; my cue to get back to Alen.

As well as my chat with Franko had gone, pushy bear aside, I found it tough to hide my annoyance over how things weren't exactly going to plan. Slinking and squeezing back into our booth, Alen was quick to spot it.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah... Yeah," I dropped down into my seat, letting my phone skitter across the table.

Alen watched it go, stopping not far from his seat. "Not heard from your friend?"

"Not yet." Again, it was hard going not to snatch up my phone and force it back into my pocket. I managed, though, choosing instead to slide it back towards me and call up my FriendHive app. "Sorry. I'm gonna just message him fast. See if he's okay... Still up for this."

"That's fine." I rubbed the fur between my ears, soon starting to tug at it. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah." My old phone hit a slow patch; reason enough to smash my finger down at the screen. The whole table shook. As did Alen's.

"Woah." He grabbed his empty glass to stop it rocking, other hand squeezing his seat's cushion. Instant regret.

"Sorry!" I reached out to help him, settling it with a gentler tap of my finger. "My bad."

"It's alright. I had it." He didn't try to slip away from me and my paw, even as it hung barely a hair's width from his muzzle. "Honest."

Crisis averted, I tried to sigh out the pressure in my chest. "I _am_okay. Getting a bit bothered is all."

"Why's that?"

"Martin. He should be here." I batted my phone aside. Fuck the message. "Afternoon's barely begun, and already things are going off the rails."

"I wouldn't go that far." Alen sat up straighter. "This has been nice so far."

"I'm glad." That helped me more than my sighing. "As long as you're enjoying yourself."

"I am," he said, firmer, smile growing.

"Sorry it took a while." Franko swooped around to our table. Setting down his tray, he handed me my drink before picking up the second, smaller glass. "Here you go."

"Thank you." Alen took it from between his thumb and finger, flashing his teeth while eyes sparkled. I'd not seen that in a long time.

"You've cheered up," Franko said quietly, dropping us some paper napkins while smirking my way. "Are my drinks _that_good?"

I slapped my currency card to the tabletop reader, snorting. "Almost as good as mine."

"Oh, man. Really?" He slapped a hand to his forehead. "My standards have slipped _that_bad?"

I heard Alen's snicker, his little shoulders bouncing as he laughed into his fist. "Oh, come on, don't take his side."

Those buck teeth took centre stage of Franko's grin. "Don't go blaming him. He knows a good drink when he tastes it."

"I do." Alen raised his glass to take a sip, tiny rudder slapping his seat.

"Fine." I threw my arms together, crossing them. "Gang up on me."

Watching Alen lap at his drink, cheerful, Franko could have said anything to me; playing or not. "Thanks, man." I held a fist out to him, giving a nod.

"It's nothing." He bumped back, slapping me on the shoulder before picking up his tray. "Enjoy."

All that good spirit, all that positivity that Franko brought to the table; I couldn't have asked for more from him. I mean, he'd done nothing out of the ordinary. He served us drinks, had a joke or two, and just generally acted himself. But normality is exactly what I wanted after these last few weeks.

Life being life, what was given could always be taken away. Another half hour passed us by, our chatting and drinks flowing freely. One thing remained missing, though. Martin.

"Where is he?" I moaned, fist bouncing on the table. Our second round of drinks were long gone, and still I'd had no signs of life from this damn phone of mine.

"Jonas..." I looked up to find Alen bobbing up and down, empty glass skittering on his table.

"Sorry." That helped settle my fist, but not the rest of me. A swipe at my phone's screen took me from the empty message box and back to its clock. "Not long 'til five."

"And I'm still having a good time."

"I'm glad." I stopped from growling out, limiting myself to loud, rumbling groan. "I really am."

"Well hey, look..." Alen shifted forward, leaning on his table. "Maybe, if he doesn't come, we can just go ahead and order."

"Maybe." My phone clattered down to the table, hand following it. I lifted the other to my eyes, rubbing them. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go." I couldn't keep the whine from my voice. "This isn't fair."

Another huff, another moan. I tried my hardest not to put on too much of a display in front of Alen. The last thing I wanted to do was insult him, make him think his company wasn't good enough. That wasn't the way to make him feel better towards me--

Something small pressed the top of my hand, squeezing. I pulled the other away from eyes, finding Alen leaning down out from his booth. His little fingers stroked my fur, sweeping it with his soft webbing. He smiled up at me. A real, cheerful smile. It'd been so long...

I leaned forward, ears flicking hard. Taking all the care in the world, I reached out for him, curling my fingers around behind his back.

Alen didn't object, resist, anything. He carried on his stroking, allowing me space to do the same. I placed a finger pad to the back of his head, another to his neck, giving a delicate rub.

He let out a moan, pressing back. His teeth glistened with his smile. That little hand squeezed tighter, claws tickling my skin. I stroked slower, firmer, working lower...

My phone buzzed, rattling across the table. I jolted in shock, ears shooting upright. The screen flashed on, showing me the FriendHive notification in the corner.

"Is that him?"

"Guessing so." I balanced my urge to reach back and find out for certain, pulling away from Alen as gently as possible. "He's the only one that's been contacting me on this thing so far."

A tap and a swipe brought up my inbox, revealing what I'd been hoping for; a new message from Martin.

"What's it say?"

One more press to open it up. My ears didn't stay up much longer. "Ah... Damn."

"Train troubles?"

I could tell that _he_could tell that wasn't it. "He's not coming."

Alen ducked from the clap of my phone falling back to the table. "He say why?"

"He says 'Something's come up. Can't make it today. Maybe meet some other time.'"

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"No reason given--?"

"Nothing at all," I groaned. "Not even a 'sorry' over keeping me waiting." The table shook from my elbows driving down into it, then again as I threw my face into my hands. "Damn it."

"Hey," Alen called softly. "It's not worth getting this worked up about. There'll be other chances for you guys to meet up."

"You think?" I huffed back. "That's if he even wants to."

"Why do you say that?" He waited on my reply. I decided against it. "Alright... if for some reason this guy's stood you up because he's not interested in seeing you, then it's his loss. Not yours."

I almost managed a smile behind my hands, glad to remember what it was like to have my supportive little otter back again.

"Don't you think?"

Lowering my arms, I could see him smiling up at me, head slightly cocked. Like he'd forgot all about what'd got him upset these last few weeks.

"You're right, I know..." Even with the screen back to black, seeing my phone in front of me left a bad taste. I snatched it off the table and forced it back into my pocket. "It's just that I was real keen on you meeting him."

"Why?" He scoffed. "Is he a film star or something?"

"As if." That forced a snicker from me, too. "He's works in a bank, if I remember his FriendHive profile right. Never would have imagined that back in Padinica."

"Glamourous." Alen sat back, rubbing his neck. "So he's an old school friend of yours?"

"Well..." I weighed that question up with my hands in front of me. "Yeah."

"You don't sound so sure."

"Yeah, yeah." My turn to rub and scratch at myself. "He was."

"Is there more to it than that?" suddenly my seat got uncomfortable. "He's not an old boyfriend, is he?"

"No! Like I'd want to introduce you to an ex."

"Good point." Back came his smile. "Sounds like he was a good friend at least. Sorry I couldn't meet him."

With the wheels of my plan well and truly off, a firm, increasingly loud voice in my head told me I'd be better off dropping this whole thing. Maybe the past should stay in the past, just like it should've back home in Padinica.

Sitting here, I watched Alen swipe a finger at his empty glass and lick at the residue. He'd grown so relaxed. Open. Talkative. Happy, even. Maybe it was the drink doing it, but that voice in my head got hold of even more ammunition. Told me to leave things be and enjoy the moment. To not fuck it up.

I wanted more than a moment, though. Sure he seemed all cheerful and contented here at Riki's, but who could say it'd last? Would the weeks of him building walls to keep himself hidden behind just end here? Had he just upped and forgotten everything Toni had told him about what happened back at school? Not a chance in hell.

If I couldn't rely on Martin telling things how there were, showing Alen my real past in the hopes he'd move on with me into the future... I'd have to face up to it and tell him my damn self...