Ocean Depths. Chapter 34.
#36 of Ocean Depths
Ocean Depths Chapter 34 By Roofles
November 1st. A day that the snow always seems to fall as if the soft gray clouds high above had a calender of their own. Fat white snowflakes began drifting down onto the world below connecting the sky and earth on this cold day.
Lucas was sure the stars were out as he pushed his hands further into the faux fur coat he wore. The outside was wool and the collar was some polifiber blend that was popular with today's hippies, safe for the environment and all. The inside was what was nice. Toasty and warm the furry enterior of the coat was in fact real fur donated by some fur or other much like one would donate hair for a wig. It was originally made for furs that didn't have a winter coat or those with medical issues.
The man didn't even know of this until a week before when the otter gave it to him as a gift. And why, Lucas had asked, was he just giving a gift. Because "there is no reason to give something to the one you love. You just do." So feeling guilty Lucas agreed to wear it on this day out, and he couldn't lie. It was comfortable and fashionable even if the trend was more Fur associated than what he was familiar with.
He chose a pair of loose slacks to wear with it. Dark grayish blue that went well with the gray coat that buttoned up just off to the left side of the center of his chest. Woolen gloves were on both hands a far more Christmas theme style to the rest of what he wore. At least he wouldn't get hypothermia, he thought blowing into his cold hands once more, rubbing them together and properly shoving into his pockets. The man wish this coat had a hood, the fuzzy collar warming his neck was beginning to collect the ice crystals falling from above.
His breath was clearly visible in front of his face as he pulled out his arm once more to check the time on his watch. Fashionably late he assumed, Lucas wasn't even sure why they had come in separate vehicles into the middle of the park.
Only a few brave souls were out this cold November night. Mostly furs (all of which were endowed with their own natural protection from the cold) who went about their business in silent peace. A few nodded at him after seeing the jacket he wore. Lucas only then remembered that most of the money from the jacket went to fund programs and research on illnesses only known to effect Furs. Such as fur loss.
So he smiled and nodded back before turning away and waiting for his late otter.
The water fountain stood proudly in this central spot he found himself in. On one side was a large wall with names carved into it of old lost soldiers. Ontop of the wall of marbled stone was a statue of man and fur together, united against those who sought only enslavement of the other and of those who refused to unite as a whole. The fountain itself was just several carved koi fish out of the very marble stone to match the Wall of Heroes. One of the few things this town had going for it, and one of the few tourist attraction.
A pair of red panda's camera flashed brightly catching Lucas off guard who blinked trying to get his vision back. Rubbing an eye they pointed at him smiling and motioning for him to move back against the wall. Even before he took a step or managed to say he rather not several more flashes went off and he was blinded as the two short red panda's made their way to visit something else.
Rubbing one eye then the other Lucas looked down at his watch. Dots popped in front of his eyes making it hard to see the exact time. Wishing he had bought a digital one he put it away, though a smile crossed his face. The watch had belonged to the otter's father actually and he couldn't have possibly refused that. Lucas looked up at the sky high above lost in thought about his life and where it had come before it drifted down the central walk way.
And sure enough there the otter was.
At the end of the walkway, next to the benches and trash can a large scruffy otter stood. Standing a proud 6'4 and a decent 240, a reasonable weight for someone with a large rudder of a tail protruding from their rear end. The tail tip dragged along the ground as the otter took a few steps forward looking off to one side and the to the other marveling at the snow covered trees surrounding them.
His curly dark blonde hair was in a mess as usual like a tangled jungle. Two beady round ears poked their heads up above the mess to rest on the side of the otters large head. With sapphire blue eyes Carlson turned to look at him, a smile on his large muzzle. The softer dark brown lips moving upwards into a charming smile that fit his fuzzy whiskered cheeks and lighter brown tone chin. That creamy brown ran down his chin and neck as if he had spilled coffee creamer down it. His fur was naturally brown with an almost auburn tone to it that were like the sandy dunes at sunset.
Around the otter's neck was a red and black sweater, draping down over a similar jacket Lucas wore without the fuzzy collar however. It looked off however in the baggy brown shorts the otter loved to wear. And for once the otter seemed to have the right mind in wearing foot wear. Sandals but still. Most would find it off putting but Lucas just smiled at his silly otter who would make such sacrifices for personal comfort and taste.
"You look good." Lucas offered softly in the night air his words foggy up in front of his face. He could see others had come along to view the wall, to take seats on the bench with newspapers and what not but his focus was on the soul man in front of him and if everything else crumbled away into dust, he wouldn't have minded.
"Of course." Carlson smiled broadly, chuckling loudly and then clearing his throat obvious to only Lucas that something was bothering him.
"You alright?" Lucas asked softly reaching out to rub his arm and offer his support. "You seem...tense." He added feeling that muscular arm tighten at his touch.
Carlson had been hitting the gym a lot recently. However he still had that belly as if he had just recently gorged himself on a rather large meal of shrimp and fish.
"You know how much I care for you." Carlson started before clearing his throat again. "How you are my sun and moon and earth and stars."
Lucas raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "You mentioned that once or twice. Usually after sex." He added only seemingly now aware of his voice echoing in this place. He flushed a bit remember how the otter would cuddle up next to him afterwards, curling his chest hairs amongst a dull claw as Carlson would just paw at his chest lovingly.
Carlson folded his ears back taking a breath, holding it and then let it out. "And you know how much you mean to Justin. And how much he likes you as well."
"I've noticed." Lucas nodded wondering if this was about him coaching Justin's soccer team.
"And that every day only seems to get better and better as our lives, together." He said the word and held it closing his eyes before opening them. "Together only grow closer to one another."
Lucas took a step closer. "Carlson....Owen are you alright?" Lucas asked seeing the tears in his eyes and using his first name.
Carlson nodded, taking a step back and keeping Lucas an arms length apart with a webbed fingered hand. "Perfect." The otter smiled, chuckled and just beamed at the smaller man. "My life is perfect." He said just taking a moment to look into Lucas's eyes. Holding them in his own remember always his goatee faced, side burns and slightly tan complexion. "And that's all thanks to you."
Carlson nearly choked on the words having to take another breath as the tears began to fall. "You made my life perfect." He said and at the same time there was a rustle off to the side.
Lucas could see from t he corner of his eye the man on the bench put down the paper. Axon smiled from behind it leaning back on the bench and giving him a friendly wave and a massive large grin.
On the other side, next to the wall, Justin and his uncle turned towards them with a wave of their own. Tye was in a business suit as usual and Justin was in, from the looks of it, a recently bought suit of his own. They almost looked like father in son showing the same family resemblence.
Behind them he spotted a snow leopard and his other coworker. On the side was a hyena and a mongoose (or weasel, or stout he wasn't sure) whom of which he was sure worked with Carlson.
"Owen," Lucas said turning back before flushing brightly and swallowing the rest of his words.
One hand was taken in the otters two. And with it the larger male had gotten down on one knee looking up at him with those teary sapphire sphere's that would put the ocean itself to shame. "And I have everything I want in my life thanks to you." He went on trying to hold it together but at the same time clearly wanting to break down into tears. "And all I can say is that I will do everything I can from now and forever on to make you smile. To make you happy. To keep your toes warm during these cold nights. To wipe your nose when your sick and to be a shoulder to cry on when your blue. All I can offer you is myself. My heart and soul, my body and mind. I give to you. And all I ask..."
He fumbled around in his pocket nearly dropping the small box before grasping it tightly in his webbed fingers. Taking a choking breath, nearly sobbing as tears soaked his furry cheeks. "Will you be mine?" He offered meekly, in a soft whisper of a voice as he popped the box open and a golden ring with a small nugget of a diamond on top.
"I had to take a loan out on the place, and my car, and my work...and had to sell a kidney." Carlson joked, laughing a bit at the silence that followed. "I know it isn't much." Lucas would argue that however. "But it is all I can offer you for now. Until I win the lottery and lavish you with gifts and presents for the rest of time." He grinned widely trying to play it off but was beginning to shake and not from the cold.
"Carlson." Was the first words Lucas said unsure of what to do. It was as if it were a dream and he had no control over himself. "I..." He shivered a bit from the cold looking down into those ocean pools looking up at him. "I do?" He offered in nothing more than a silent whimper of a voice.
"Your not suppose to say that just yet." Carlson chuckled tears now flowing nonstop.
"I don't know how to do this!" Lucas snapped back getting down on a knee. "I'm suppose to offer you...or something." He fumbled with his own words only aware of the tears on his own face as a paw webbed them off.
Lucas swallowed feeling his heart beginning to pound loudly in his chest, and looked up into that face. "I do." He said again. "I do, Carlson. Always."
The otter didn't speak. Just nodded and took his hand once more to open it up and, taking the ring, slid it onto his finger. And then hugged him. So tightly that Lucas could feel the otter's thick downy fur under the coat he was wearing. There was a gurgled voice from the otter but Lucas couldn't make out the words as the large lug of a man began to cry.
Lucas just smiled, hugging him back and listened to the frenzy pounding of the otters heart. He knew how hard this must've been for him, how long had he been planning this, afraid to ask for fear of what would happen. And now the otter could only but cry as he hugged him tightly mumbled and choking on his own words as his face wouldn't stop smiling.
"Well?" A voice popped up from the side. The large doberman walked over tucking his hands in the leather jacket he wore. "You hitched yet or what?" He asked eying the sobbing otter.
"Yes, yes we are." Lucas answered after Carlson tried but failed only sobbing louder.
Lucas managed to stand back up but the otter clung to him, wiping his running nose on the jacket he wore...and then burst into more tears hugging him. Lucas patted his back. "We are." He said with a roll of his eyes. "Ignore him." He offered.
"Well let this old dog see!" Axon barked happily moving closer to see the ring.
The others soon joined and discussions were planned about wedding dates, about how they should celebrate and what was going to happen now. And all Lucas thought was that...in the end of things? Nothing was really going to change. It was already so obvious who he had thought of, had dreamt of staying with and seeing his future with that such things weren't even really a question.
Five years now where do you see yourself? "With Carlson." Lucas would answer.
Ten? "With a big dumb otter."
Fifteen. "With a big dumb otter and probably a bunch of little dumb otters."
Twenty? Thirty? Forty? "With a big, dumb, silly, loveable, flirtatious, cute, handsome, lug of a man, that makes my heart quicken and finishes my sentences; that smells like my own cloths, that is always warm and cuddly, that has the biggest smile and the largest heart, and eyes deeper than any ocean. Now and forever."