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Ocean Depths (31) By Roofles

Lucas rolled his eyes behind the blind fold over them. The otter had insisted that he wear it on his return. Saying they had a surprise for him. Even though he was able to worm it out of Justin only an hour before. Carlson had devised a devilish plan to get him out of the house to "spend some more quality time with Justin." Which was a load of bs as far Lucas was concerned. He enjoyed the otters company though.

He and Justin were getting along great and he worried that the young otter was becoming more and more attatched to him than his own flesh and blood. Sure they had a lot more in common and for whatever reason Justin tended to listen to him and all but ignored his father. Carlson didn't seem to mind though. Glowing with pride as he watched his two boys leave for the day. Waving them off that very morning before rushing inside to make a dozen last minutes phone calls and changes.

Maybe it was the idea that they were a 'family' now that Lucas felt a bit uneasy. He loved Carlson and cared for Justin. But to have the otter say it really carved it into stone. And with it an unnerving feeling in his stomach. Carlson didn't seem to notice being so busy with the supposeably surprise party for him. And throughout all of breakfast with the young otter he had that uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Maybe it was something he ate or the party that was only a few hours away. Or maybe the fact that one of his old ties to his past resurfacing and coming for a visit. He wasn't sure which one it was but all he could do was get a few tums on the way home.

"I can't believe you found out," Justin groaned with his head in his paws. The webbed fingers gripped his hair as if he were going to pull it out. The reddish brown had a distinct uniqueness to him that set him apart from other otters. His size, matching in his father pawsteps, and with that quality of fur made him stand out in a crowded room as this. The older he got the more he resembled Carlson with his antics though; other than his size he really did resemble his mother. It was his expressions and the way he did things, the twitch of the corner of his muzzle or the drooping of his whiskers, that showed he was Carlson's son. "Don't tell dad. He'd be so upset that he wasn't able to hide it."

"He really tried, huh?" Lucas took another drink from his glass but still that queasy feeling inside stayed. "He's horrible at hiding things. Being so giddy lately and sneaking around. How could I have not figure it out?"

"Well he's giddy 'cause he's happy." Justin frowned a bit. "I thought that was obvious."

"He's always happy though," Lucas laughed. "It's hard to tell when he's more happy about something than just being his goofy self..."

And goofy self Carlson was as he guided him behind the apartments. Opening the gate for him and hushing the whispers of those around who giggiled and tried to keep their muzzles shut. Lucas could only roll his eyes as the younger otter pulled him along with that skip in his step. Reaching up only a little bit Justin pulled the blindfold off. The first thought came to Lucas's mind was how tall the young otter was getting his eyes nearly on his own level - before he pulled back. Furs had a strange habit of getting really close and in others faces. The second was just how over the top this all was.

Behind the apartments was a small backyard that several of the apartments opened out too. Park benches were spread out with several different size and styled barbecue's mixed between them circled around in on themselves. Balloons were tied to each chair. And paper plates were spread out with napkins and plastic forks. A giant bowel of pasta salad was made on the center table, much smaller bowls circled it all of different styled crab salads. Freshly cut tomatoes, onions, sliced pickles and fresh lettuce were neatly stacked in large piles on the table next to the grills. Across from them, on the table next to it, were the hamburgers and hotdog packages and buns. Assorted condiments were next to them and a throng of furry bodies were everywhere in between.

Lucas noticed several of the apartments residence having joined them. An aligator lumbered over to the cooked patties picking up three of the ones with different cheeses and placing them between one buns. A coyote was next to him. The ragged looking dog was chatting it up with the large doberman who was still waving over at him until Lucas returned it. The coyote seemed annoyed that the star player had taken away the large dobermans attention. Axel had his leather straps on, a spiked collar and short shorts. It was a little...gay, excessive and showed way to much fur for a normal group activity to say the least. And looking around he wasn't the only one.

The summer day was warm and the sun was shining brightly in the cloudless blue sky. Nearly all the furry bodies were shirtless, wearing loose shorts that only seemed to get smaller as the furs went on. Carlson had his long tan cargo shorts on, shells clank from the necklace around his neck and a metal band was placed on his tail - a common trinkit for those with large tails. While Carlson's was a simple bronze Lucs had seen one of every color before, sometimes on the same tail. Lucas couldn't see anyone but himself in sandals which made him feel a little awkward. Every fur rather scaley or not walked around as the day they were born. Their bare paws walking in the green grass as they conversed amongst themselves. Some turning away from him while others greeted him warmly with hugs and smiles.

It was then that no matter where Lucas looked he realized that he was the only human. As he hugged another furry body of someone he didn't even know, the heavy webbed paw on his shoulder and the tickle of a tail as someone passed by... He figured his other human friends must've had mysteriously lost their invitations in the mail. He knew some of the guys had a problem with them but they were still his friends. And that only seemed to deepen the unease building inside of him. Mickey came running up wearing black leather shorts with a salmon colored tank top. "Took your sweet time coming back," he chided giving him a big glomp of a hug.

Lucas hugged the small ferret twirling the smaller male around in his arms before setting him down. "Oh I didn't know you guys were waiting, you had me completly fooled." Lucas smiled as the otter came up to him, Justin giving him a large grin in return. His eyes beaming tossing his arms open and crushing the small ferret between them in a bear hug.

Mickey squeezed out shaking his head. "Not that I mind beind crushed between two guys, but give me a heads up next time." He squeaked as another larger male pushed past him to join the two. The doberman beamed widely staring down at him.

"Well if it isn't the honey biscuit." He said with a southern drawl. The large dog had put on a "bone the chef" apron with a slab of meat on it with a bone through it.

"Nice apron," Lucas replied looking at it as the otter pulled off of him. Those webbed paws from behind still lingered as Carlson scooted closer against his back.

"You seem to be good at cooking meat, mind helping me with the grill?" The dog asked. Lucas wasn't sure why he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah, I've been known to cook meat." Lucas spoke softly and was cut off by the dogs loud booming laugh. A paw slapped him on the back nearly toppling him over before pulling him along with him as he headed back towards the grill. The blunt claws scraped against his choulder as he was roughly pulled away the otter frowning a bit as he watched him go.

"Of course your good at cooking meat. I bet you cook your otter's meat all night long." The dog continued to laugh as Lucas groaned limping along to the grill. "I don't get my meat cooked too oft'n but when I do, I enjoy it." He pressed down on a large hamburger. The juices seeped from the meat sizzling as the dog licked its lips. "Sometimes got to press it hard. Make sure all of it seeps out to where it belong. Other times you don't so when you bite into it your muzzle just gets full of all those juices."

"Horn dog as alway I see." Lucas laughed giving the large dog a slap on the back. The dobeman didn't even flinch as he looked at him with a silly grin.

"You missed our dinner-date," Axel spinning one of the weiners around in circles. The tips of his ears twitching, his stubby tail stopping in mid motion as his eyes fell downcast.

"I was in the hospital. It's not like I asked for that-," Lucas tried to explain feeling bad that he missed out with their small 'date.' Lucas didn't hang out with too many furs outside large groups like this but Axel had grown on him and the two were best of buds - which put him at odds and ends with a lot of his human friends. As Axel was rather vocal with his disdain for "fleshbags, present company excluded of cours'."

"Two double cheeses with three weiners." A jackrabbit cut in with four plates, two in each paw the others resting on his arms. "Make sure my weiners black though. I like the dark meat."

Lucas looked at the rabbit and at the spot he had come from. The other trio of rabbits were yammering along with each other, the jet black one had his large paws kicked up on the table as what appeared to be his boyfriend bounced in his lap. Lucas really was beginning to get some very gay friends.

And it wasn't as if Lucas had a problem with it. But to see so many, so open with it all made him feel uneasy. This would have never happened in his hometown. All this open display of male affection was getting under his skin. It wasn't like it was unnatural or anything but coming from a strict republican christian home - a town - and being here only a year and a half later was still a big jump. Lucas never went to gay bars or gay specific things. He wanted nothing more than to be who he was and be normal at the same time. And here he was now...

A gleam of fur caught the corner of his eyes. A body of dark brown fur that reminded him of home made brown fudge. The strong shoulders and muscular build that showed every curve and muscle through that furry bod. Shirtless and in loose open sided shorts was someone he thought he'd never see again. The golden eyes scanned the bazaar in front of him. Until he spied the only flesh amongst the sea of feathers, scales and fur.

"Luke!" He shouted throwing up his arms. The cougar grinned widely. The black stripe on his muzzle spreading out. A similar black stripes were on the edge of his ears and around the tip of his tail. With a black patch on his shirtless chest that trailed down to his lower regain vanishing into his shorts.

The next seconds seemed to pass as if time itself had slowed down. The cougar very tactlessly trying to push his way through the crowd apologizing over and over again as all grace that his kind were rumored to possess became nothing but a myth. Lucas couldn't help but laugh as the cat nearly tripped over a lawn chair catching himself at the last second against the aligator. Who didn't seem like he even noticed as he munched down his fifth burger. And in one final table hop was next to the two - before being cut off by an otter.

"Luke, I got a salmon!" Carlson said with a large grin on his face showering off the fish in his paws.

"Oh, that's cool Owen." Lucas said turning his attention back to he cougar who was panting slightly leaning against one of the grill...before jumping back shaking his paw that was smoking.

"Ow, ow, ow." Joey blew on it before finding one of the coolers nearby and sticking his whole arm under the icey water and letting out a deep purr. Bent double he leaned against it his ass high in the air getting several stares from the nearby furs.

"Owen, you remember my friend I told you about." Lucas said walking over and grabbing a handful of the cats side. "Looking good, Joe." He spoke and Carlson ears drooped at the smile that crossed his face. He didn't nearly seem as happy with this whole thing than he was now seeing this...cat.

"You didn't mention he was a fur," the otter spoke softly narrowing his eyes at the cat. He handed the large salmon to Axel who looked down at the fish a bit confused.

"What am I suppose to do with this."

"You cook it," Carlson nearly snarled before turning back to the two putting on a happy face as he took his place next to Lucas who was sitting at the side of cooler now.

"Your an insult to your kind." Lucas laughed, teasing the cat somemore who drooped his ears with a goofy grin.

"I told you they took away my liscense." The cougar finally pulled his arm out looking at it before frowning a bit more. He hated water. Why did he do this.

"Liscense?" Carlson asked leaning against Lucas a bit who shrugged his paw off.

"Cougar," Lucas and Joey said at the same time both looking at each other before laughing a bit. The inside joke lost on the otter who frowned a bit as the cougar placed a paw on his side, gripping it a bit as he turned to sit on the edge of the cooler before jumping up and wiping his butt off.

"My ass is wet," he blurted out whining a bit as he wrung his tail out.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Lucas shrugged getting up. "Owen this is Joey an old friend. Joey this is Owen, my boyfriend."

"His mate," Carlson corrected taking the cougars paw disgruntedly and squeezing it tightly. Joey matched the grip lowering his brow a bit.

"Let's grab a table. Introduce you to Justin." Lucas said looking around for the otter who was in the back playing with a raccoon. The two were the only young furs and that made Lucas feel a bit better watcing the ferret carrying around several glasses of frothy beer to his table. He trusted Justin but was worried about his friend and soon found himself excusing himself from the two as he headed over to check on them.

Lucas examined the glasses in their paws even before he spoke. "Hey bud, how's the party going."

"Luke." Justin visible brightened up before turning to the raccon. "Roddy this is Luke, my dad's fuckbuddy I told you about." Lucas winced at that.

The raccon continued to stare sipping the lemonade in his paw. "Don't worry, he's coo'." The raccoon uncurled his tail before giving him a punch on his chest nearly making Lucas keel over.

"So your the fuckbuddy, been wondering why'd he get a hume." The raccoon was nearly as tall as Lucas even being several years younger. "Not bad." The striped masked face turned towards the otter who nudged him. "I'd do him if the situation was right.

"Pansexual bastard," Justin said laughing a bit. Punching him once more a bit harder this time.

"So you kids alright then."

"He's good with the kid." Joey said back at where Lucas had left them taking a beer from the cooler and popping it open. He offered one to the otter who snatched his own from the icy water.

"He's great with the kid." Carlson grumbled. "My kid. We're going to get more kids in fact. A dozen. A whole romp of otters."

"I think he'd look better with a pride of cougars." Joey said taking a drink. Carlson match his drink with two of his own only making the cougar to take another drink before they both chugged the rest of the cans down crushing it in their paws and picking up another one.

"A bitter batter of webbed paws is much cuter than the blundering of some oof," Carlson laughed a bit picturing a bunch of graceless cats.

"Heavy webbed tails, it'd only weigh you down - like a ball and chain." Joey snidely replied waving friendly to Lucas who was pulled back by the younger otter who had been wanting to tell him about another game.

The remark wasn't lost by Carlson. "At least I'm not some 'old' past memory pulled up from the rotting past hell he escaped from."

"He called me." Joey said if putting his foot down. "There was obviously something he was missing from his past here."

"He gets all the love an affection he man could want...and then some," Carlson mumbled growling afterwards as he continued. "With a stable loving - extended - family," he gestured around him. "A good job that keeps him busy while I can pay any of the heavy bills. We go out every weekened and he never - ever - has to be alone with me. What have you done for him in the past year and half."

"I didn't even know where he lived. He just left and-," Joey growled lowly.

"So you don't even know where he was. Until he called you. I was there to pick up the pieces glue them back and keep them shut this whole time. While you were twiddling your thumbs." Carlson took a steady breath to ease himself down. The smell he was getting from the cougar was getting his fur riled. His apperance and the way he acted around Lucas was all too obvious to the otter. Waltzing in here out of the blue like this. "Lucas hasn't even mentioned you once. And he tells me everything." He pressed the issue before laughing a bit. "When he's having a bad day at work. The people he met. What he had for lunch down to the small piece of pie he took from his co-workers lunch. And not once has he ever mentioned you."

The cougars ears fell back as his jowls lifted a bit. "Watch it water weasel. I'm just here to see Luke. Not like I haven't got my own life. Four kids, divorced and I don't need some water skipper telling me - Luke, you get us a table?" The cougar clapped his paws together as the human joined them the young otter tagging behind.

"Yeah, Rod's holding one for us. Had to fight off a queen to get it." Justin laughed his eyes narrowing on the cougar. Standing behind Lucas the human couldn't tell that his hackles were raised a bit.

"Good. Let's grab some weiners and joined the striped-dog." The cougar slapped his paws together.

"Uh...Joe, watch the language around the kid." Lucas said friendly but stern. "We'll join the 'coon-dog, soon. Justin what do you want, I'll get it for you." Lucas turned towards the otter who instantly cheered up his hackles slowly falling back.

"I'll have a hamburger. Onions and the works, no pickles. Roddie will have the same - no mayo he's allergic." Justin beamed happily, clapping his paws. "I'll have a budlight and Roddie-,"

"Will have a woopin' too if you keep going," Lucas laughed messing up his hair getting a silly smile. "Ok, now get back to your friend. Don't want to keep you waiting."

"No way, your going to mess up our food. I'm coming with you." The otter pulled his arm, catching him off guard with the strength of it. Lucas waved over his shoulder at the two as he was dragged off again - realizing again how little control over his life he had. Yet that uneasy feeling inside was already beginning to fade he had a smile on his face as he followed the younger otter pulling his arm.

"He's good. Happy with a lot of friends. What did you expect when you came here." Carlson asked leaning against one of the tables placing the beer on the tip of his nose and trying to keep it balanced like a trained seal.

"I'm just here to see an old friend." Joey shrugged casually his eyes watching the human heading off towards the doberman again. His fur stood on end just looking at that dog and how close the two seemed to be really put a pickle in this situation for him as the two began talking as the otter with them started making a tray of food for them all.

"Scared?" Carlson asked trying to keep it casual as well but the smile on his face said otherwise. He really was enjoying watching the cat now.

"Ha, not likely...who's the dog?" Joey asked again looking at the large mutt who was nosey Lucas neck as the small human pushed him off. "How do you put up with him? All over him...like that."

"He's a beefcake. Into them too. Lucas too scrawny to curl his toes though I bet you on the other hand..." Carlson looked him up and down. "It's easy to spot really. People do it all the time that sexual attraction wanting to fuck other people's mates." He growled lowly. "When you know what to look for you can see it coming a mile away."

"I don't know what your talking about. That tail of yours is weighing your brain down." He laughed yet the tip of his whiskers seemed to curl as he lowered his ears glaring at him coldly. "Lucas has only ever been a friend."

The way his tail curled and him throwing back his shoulders were enough to tell Carlson how much he was getting under his fur. How his words only seemed to confirm his words further boiling his blood. The smell coming from him when he was with Lucas or how his eyes lingered, always seeming to look at him when Lucas wasn't watching. Those golden eyes watching him as if trying to undress him right there and then. Carlson wasn't sure what happened in the past with them and it didn't really matter. The past was the past. They weren't there and he was his future not this random cat in front of him.

"Look. We just got off on the wrong foot here. If we talk things out I'm sure we can work something out." Again the cougar was casual with a soft smile but what his face lied his ears and tail gave away.

"I don't share. And if I did a threesome it wouldn't be with you...I wonder if Axel would be into that then again he'd have too bottom. So may-," Carlson mumbled a bit making a few mental notes before turning his attention back to the cat. "I'm not telling you to leave. You can stay. We'll have you over for dessert and you and Lucas can catch up. But after it's all said and done. You will be leaving and I'll be crawling into bed. The horny otter that I am. Getting on top of him, sliding between his buns and mating with my man."

Each word only seemed to raise Joey's fur. His jowls raising and eyes flaring. The tip of his tail moving like a blur. "Funny, water boy. I'm just here for a friendly social call. Apaprently you couldn't satisfy him enough, so he called me. Mate or not," He jabbed a finger at him. "I don't appreciate the way you talk about him. Old fuck buddy and all." The cougar laughed at the look that came across Carlson's face. The otter mind was still trying to wrap around it before the cougar continued. "Why do you think it was that Lucas left our home town? Or did he not tell you?"

The otter growled with his hackles raised but kept his tongue.

"His dad pulled a gun on me. While I was ontop of him, in his bedroom. Naked." Joey said flatly. His ears were back and the side of his muzzle quivered. The tip of his tail thrashed back and forth as his eyes lowered into a cold glare. A devious smile crossed his face as the cat went on. "Grinding the hell out of him until he wasn't able to do anything but call my name. No matter how quiet we tried to be he just. Couldn't. Help. Himself. Anyways, I'm going to go keep my old fuck buddy company. We have a lot of catching up to do. And I've learned a lot more positions I want to try."

Lucas was busy talking to Axel while working the food over with the otter and raccoon who were keeping busy filtering through the condiments.

"I hate relish." The raccoon whined loudly. He reminded Lucas of that one femmie fat kid he had in during middle school. Loud, always whiney and far too girly for any mans good. "That better be light mayo. I don't do regular. Do we have any diet pepsi. I dislike coke."

Justin just moved the relish aside, grabbed the light mayo that had long since been open leaving the regular one untouched and handed him a diet coke. "Deal with it," he said before the raccoon could protest. Lucas figured he handled the situation rather well. At the same time Justin was wishing he had brought the cheetah along instead.

"You sure it was a good thing to bring an Ex over with Carlson as your boy toy?" Axel asked when the younger otter was out of earshot. He was looking over Lucas at the two.

"Joey? He's fine. And not really an ex, per say. Hes more like...an intimate friend, like you." That caught the dogs attention who grin widely but his eyes lingered on the two behind him. "Not like that," Lucas rolled his eyes pushing him fruitlessly. He wiped his hand off on his pants before turning around to see what had Axel so intrigued.

Carlson was rolling around with another fur. Both of whom were uttering profanities as they scratched, bit and punched whatever they could of the other. One of the tables were knocked over as the otter was pushed back into it before ducking underneath the swing of the other fur. Carlson tackled him hard in the chest and knocked him back against another table. Lucas covered his face with a groan as he heard Justin shout, "Get him dad! Give that old cougar what for!"

The forming crowd seemed to be cheering the same thing. "Carlson! Carlson! Get him you slimey river dog! Drown him in the kitty pool! Go for the catnip!"

"Do you want me to-," Axel asked bending down a bit so they were more on eye level. The dogs tail was wagging though as he continued to watch the show.

"No. I got this." Lucas rolled his shoulders as he headed towards the forming ring of furs. "Justin go sit down with your friend. I'm going to kill your father."

"Sure thing Luke." Justin said before yelling another cheer for his dad not even pretending like he was going to leave.

Joey swiped with his paw his claws safely hidden away which was common for any fight. No horns, no claws, no death. If blood was drawn other than from pummeling the police would have to take a step in. Otherwise fighting was rather common in several groups. It usually was just a way for them to show boat, a display of dominance or win the favor of their friends, family and sometimes loved ones. Trying to be alpha or top dog or whatever group it was in - the leader of the hierarchy. The boss. The big man. Leader or what not. Some cultures fought to get the woman or man they wanted while others fought to keep the ones they had from someone swooping in to try to steal it. Sometimes it was to win honor amongst their family or pack, pride or other group they were a part of. Several clubs, frat groups and social clubs required such a thing to simple be recognized let alone join.

Humans were one group that had stayed out of the whole affair. While most humans bought, won or seduced the chosen sex they wanted with flowers, dinners or with some sexual display of vanity (several bird species did this as well); furs could be a bit less subtle about it. And the otter was no exception as he took the cougar out with a strong right hook, bringing up a knee into his chest, picking him up and slamming him onto his back like some pro wrestler before climbing up on one of the tables about to dive bomb the stunned cat.

"Enough." Lucas shouted grabbing the scruff of the cat who yowled out but became rather submissive afterwards. "What the hell is going on here? You know what. I don't care. It stops now!"

"But-but-but he started it!" Joey yowled again loudly and full of childhood whine. Lucas expected that of the otter but Carlson was still huffing his chest out with his fur raised, waiting for the second Lucas let the cougar go to pounce on him once more or rather dive bomb him.

"Carlson. Inside. Now." Lucas glared at the otter who fell back sheepishly fiddling his thumbs.

"He was the one, I just was, your honor was at stake!" He tried to explain but Lucas pointed towards the back door.

"Now." He said again with such bitter disdain that the closet furs stepped back and the cougar covered his eyes still with Lucas holding the scruff of his neck like a mother would a cub. He watched the otter go. Carlson sunk low to the ground with his ears down, his tail trailing on the ground behind him.

"The hell you think you were doing?" Lucas asked letting the cougar go. The cat instantly sat up and shook himself as if he had just fallen into a pool of water. He had his shoulder back and he looked somewhat threatening but his jowls were down and no fur was raised.

"He flipped out and attacked me. That's what! I didn't do a damn thing."

"Right. He tends to do that. Now go...go get some beer or something and enjoy yourself." Lucas sighed trying to calm himself down a bit. He felt exhausted and he still had to scold the otter. "I'm going to go talk to Carlson and when I get back, I'm going to tan your hide!" Lucas glared at the cougar who shirked back.

"I didn't do anything." Joey raised his hands as if Lucas pulled a gun on him.

"Carlson's an idiot. A dope. But he doesn't do something like this without provocation." Lucas shook his head and sighed heading back inside. The crowd of furs parted and he heard various things about who actual "wore the pants in their relationship" and "damn if that wasn't hot" or "I had five bucks on the cat." He pushed it to the back of his mind as he closed the glass door to their apartment not even looking at the otter who was sitting on one of the counter stools.

Carlson was too big for the stool and it only made it him look silly sitting there. His head was down and his tail was curled under the chair as his legs were tucked into his body.

"He was saying stuff about you and I just snapped." Carlson looked at him but meeting those eyes he looked back at the counter. "And with him showing up, you didn't tell me and I just...did something stupid. I'm sorry. It just with my family if there was ever someone disgracing you you would teach them a lesson. I didn't want to follow in my dads footsteps but here I am now."

Lucas sighed and shook his head. "Don't blaim this on genetics or something like that. Here," He touched the otters face who winced away. "Your eyes going to be a bit swollen and you'll have a few bruises I'm sure. No one will be able to see it under that fur of your though," Lucas walked around the counter pulling out a bag of peas from the freezer and tossing it to him. "You need to control that temper of yours. I didn't think otters were so...aggressive."

"Well most aren't. Some can be. But we're still individuals even with our species normal behavior." Carlson was still looking at the fine polished blue marbel counter, tracing a paw through the grooves. "I don't like him. The cat. Why did he come anyways?"

"I asked him. That's why." Lucas leaned against the counter looking at him. Carlson looked up to meet those eyes but folded before them and stared back at the grooves he was tracing with a dull claw. "I don't have any contact with anyone from home. And I wanted to see an old friend."

"I know. It's just...you could have told me and stuff." The otter mumbled looking at the wall now.

"True. But you would've gone all over protective on me and a guy needs his space sometimes, hun." Lucas watched the otter carefully noting the twitching of his ears and the drooping of his whiskers.

"I know. I wouldn't have done that. He's your friend. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want to meet him and such." Carlson pouted. "I mean then I wouldn't have needed to kick his ass." He opened his webbed paw and placed the tuft of fur on the table. "He might want that back."

"Sure," Lucas laughed lightly. "I'll quickly put it on ice. And we'll rush him to the hospital." The otters ears perked up and a smile crossed his face but he didn't say a word. "Look, love." Lucas touched his good cheek. Petting the soft fur and whiskers on that muzzle and tipping his chin up so he had to meet his eyes though he stubbornly refused at first. "I love you. No man, woman or other will ever take me away. I'm here to stay even if every 'ex' I have in my life shows up at our doorstep. So please try and be nice to Joey. He can be a handful for sure but he's a good guy."

The otter grumbled and so Lucas kissed his nose softly making his ears fold back. "Fine. No more beating up ex lovers. If he talks about him riding you like a steer, then theres no promise."

"Deal...wait he said what?"