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Warm Up - 1

It had been a month since that whole incident with the flash, or 'the Great Flash' as how the universal media had put it. Or how 'universe' was now 'Universe'. Capitalized because they were no longer the only one as it turned out.

Arthur thought of his home, if Inylsen would change their ways to it. Doubtful, though, knowing how tight knit their control of information was. Worse so were the citizens who only wanted the status quo.

He forced out those thoughts tonight, focused only on the handsome jackal resting up his body. Whose cute face, his muzzle would twitch when he stroked his cheek. Gentle lavender fragrance that he used in his soap because it pleased him.

They were on their bed, naked except for the blanket draped over their messied lower bodies. It was Arthur's turn to host his partner, who enjoyed his own home despite the smaller space it had. It was just a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small foyer littered with their clothes as they hurriedly went in. The only room that had its light on, slight orange seeping into the bedroom, whereas the window opposite of it had a light blue to it, an artificial light from Earth's underground skies.

A contrast of two colors never meant to be, yet everything in Arthur's heart, mind, and one would even say 'soul', internally shouted otherwise against the false three-sun God. Inylsen was never the center, and his love was not there at all. But outside of him,, he only spoke a subtle tone, "I love you, Tuck."

And every time the jackal wiggled, purring the response 'I love you too' under his breath, warm against his fur. He held the deer tighter, the same paws that brushed his side making him tingle. The same that had happened last month yet nuanced with something tender.

Arthur sighed and wept, satisfied and conflictive between vindicated joy and the longing sadness. It was a repetition once more. Tuck was here and that was all that should matter, and he held back tears of trying to rescue the same people who forsook him. Did he want to be right? Or did he simply want to not be alone?

Then a sudden touch, his jackal's fingers wiping the tears of his damp gray muzzle. The whimpering stopped, only the coos and rustling of fur against fur. Even the occasional honk of a car somewhere further down.

Arthur heard his own heart beat, felt it wanting to leap out of its chest. And when Tuck, half-awake, rolled over on his body, he could feel his heart beating too. And he felt it while his hand stroked his back.

"I'm still here, Art." Tuck muffled, nuzzling against his chest.

Arthur gazed down, seeing the subtle smile as he did. And he smiled too, "I know." But the honest deer that he was, that same admission that led him to this spoke over, "I'm still worried about failing to save my people."

"Listen, Arty," Tuck bumped their noses, eyes seeing onto each other. "I'm with you every step of the way, and as best I could alright?"

Arthur saw what Tuck saw; him, tearing up much more. It was heartwarming, leaving him to smile no matter how many times he said it. Even if the guilt of having him repeat it got to him, and the amount of times he swore to never do it again. A chuckle escaped his lips, hugging his partner tighter. "Yeah. You will. You have."

"I'm happy that you get to do what you want though," Tuck said. "And I'm happy that I get to be a part of that experience." He pecked his lips and slinked back down to rubbing his cheek against the deer's chest.

"Yeah," Arthur realized the result or consequence of his liberty. From fleeing his world in disgrace, to venting it out onto a lynx, and going to Earth because he felt it was the best choice to make. That was all him- no advisors, no supposed prophecies, and no slaves. The work he chose, the guy he wanted, and even as far back when choosing to advance Inylsen. It was all him. He would do more, and he would never regret it.