FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The ship began her decent towards the landing platform, the low hum of her engines and the chatter of soldiers were the only sounds to be heard. Outside the windows, were the lights of the city twinkling like stars in the night sky. Snow-capped buildings in the distance with more snow falling, reminds me of one of those snow globes. The ship's landing gear hits the solid ground of the platform and the doors are opened for us to disembark. I pick up my bag and sling it over my shoulder before stepping out into the crisp, cool air and take a deep breath, damn it was good to be home again.

As we walked down the gantry there was a group of children singing Christmas Carols, dressed in very old fashioned clothing, reminds you of those Christmas cards you get of Carollers from that time...Victorians that's it, waste of good credits. The sound of their voices fell on deaf ears having them splayed against my head due to the cold; I walked to the end of the dock and stood in a line with the other soldiers as we waited to be seen by a group of men in long black coats, most likely admin staff from command. "Name, rank and serial number?" The old badger asked when I stood before him. "Blackivar, Commander, 14729610." The badger didn't look up instead he ran his sausage like fingers through the book in front of him. "Ah you mean Captain, Blackivar, seems you have been promoted whilst you've been away, card number 613 Lieutenant." The badger said as he looked to the Stoat standing with a box of cards in his paws. He reached in and pulled out a green envelope and handed it to me. "Take this to a postal office to receive your wages Captain." "Thanks."

I took the envelope and put it into a pocket inside my coat, I looked around the docks some more before picking my bag back up and started making my way into the city. Promoted huh, wonder what I did to deserve that, heck I often wonder what I did to deserve any of my promotions, I don't think I did anything much different from the other soldiers I served with.

As I walked through the streets, snow crunching and slush sloshing under my paws a few folks patted me on the back telling me things like, "Well done, good to have you home, good job." I have no idea what the media feeds these folks, from what I remember about the war, there wasn't much to congratulate about since the navy did most of the work we just mopped up what was left.

I walked into the postal office and fortunately they weren't closed yet. Walking up to the desk, I brushed some snow from my shoulders, before handing my envelope, over to the mole that sat behind the desk. "Oh another soldier come home eh, have to admit much more have come home than people expected."

I watched the mole potter around his little office, before he took a book from a drawer and came back to the desk; he wrote in the book then turned it to face me. "Just put your signature here and here." He said handing me the pen and pointing with his long claws.

I signed away on the two lines and he disappeared below his desk and came back up with a brown envelope. "There we are your wages all up to date." I took the envelope and slipped it into my coat pocket and walked out the door. "Merry Christmas" I heard from behind me. Merry Christmas indeed, from what I remember there's never anything merry about it, just another day spent at home alone. I continued to walk the streets for a while passing everything from Christmas shoppers to drunks being kicked out of bars. One ended up bumping right into me. "Oh...s...sorry...a...about that." I brushed myself down and walked on ignoring him as he called on behind me. As I turned the next corner to head, towards my home I spotted a rabbit by the looks of it, standing against a wall with next to nothing on. Ice blue hair, white fur and pair of denim short shorts and a black crop top of some sorts, were all that was covering him, at least I was sure it was a him either that or a female with little in the way of breasts.

As I walked past I couldn't help but notice him shiver , it was pretty cold out here and despite how much I don't like Christmas I couldn't let him freeze to death, so I took off my long winter coat and wrapped it around his shoulders. The rabbit flinched and protested but I won out the argument and began to button up the coat when I felt a paw on my shoulder. "You gonna pay for that?" I turned my head to look over my shoulder and saw a Weasel standing in a long white fur coat with a cigar in his lips. "I beg your pardon?" "You interested in the slut?" He asked as he blew smoke from his cigar in my face.

"No I'm not, he was cold so I loaned him my coat, I'm sure even you don't want to lose your customers due to dead employees." I snorted. "Oh a wise guy huh, thinks you know me eh, well we don't need your fucking charity soldier boy, so why don't you take your coat and piss off before you get hurt?" This weasel was so in need of a good punching but I wasn't in the mood for getting into a fight. "Keep the coat." I said to the rabbit as I stood upright and snarled down at the Weasel and walked towards my home. I looked back and saw the rabbit looking at me as the Weasel dragged him away.

I sighed and opened my door, the house was dark and cold, I walked over to the fireplace and got a fire started first before I turned on the lights. I walked up to my room and started the fire in there too and took the dust covers off all of the furniture in the house. Heading back downstairs I went to the front door and opened the mailbox, only to have a ton of letters fall out of it. I sorted them into neat piles and set them atop of the desk I had sat next to a chair that I kept near the fireplace. I found one from my housekeeper informing me that my wage payments to them had stopped and they could no longer work for me, guess that explained the cold house.

After I had finished with the post I looked around in the cupboards in my kitchen and found them completely empty. Sighing I pulled my other coat on and went back out into the snow, I walked around several stores getting things when I bumped into an old friend. "Midnight." "Oh Sabre, how is it going?" I asked and shook paws with the Alsatian "Yeah not too bad thanks, just home from tour huh?" "Yeah pretty much, a lot has changed in six years." Sabre nodded and cocked his head a little, "You fancy a quick pint and a chat?" "Uh yeah, sure just let me drop this lot off first yeah?" "Heck let me give you a paw." He chuckled and took some bags from me.

We walked back to my place passing by where I'd seen the rabbit earlier, except he wasn't there this time. "Something wrong?" Sabre asked me "Nah, not really, just thought I'd maybe see someone on the way back here that's all?" "Oh, you mean the rabbit; yeah he's always hanging around out here selling himself I think" Sabre replied with little to no tone in his voice. "You don't approve?" "Well it's just like you said mate, a lot has changed in six years, personally I think it's sad that a kid has to do that line of work." "Like ours is any better?" I quipped "Perhaps not but at least its clean living." I nodded in agreement as I opened the door to my home again and we put the groceries away in the cupboards.

Once the kitchen was once again well stocked, I joined Sabre for a few drinks and we talked about the days we served together in the military. Sabre like myself had been a career soldier except he found the one thing that I couldn't, love. He fell in love with a pilot, a Husky by the name of Rusty, the pair got married the same year they met and within a few more years the pair took early retirement and set up a family.

"So how is the family?" I asked as I downed the rest of my Whiskey. "Oh fine, Rusty is babysitting tonight, I swear the kids are so hyped up about Santa coming, I don't mind telling you Midnight but this year it's been really hard. Finding decent work and money these past few weeks hasn't been good for an old soldier." "I'm sure between you both you'll make it work." I say trying to be reassuring "Yeah well...Rusty has been offered a job that would tie us over for a good few months except it means he wouldn't be home for Christmas and that would just kill the kids." I nodded, "What kind of job is it?" "It's a long haul flight with four or five stops between Christmas eve and Boxing Day." "Damn that sucks."

"How about you, you still in?" Sabre asked looking into his drink. "Not for much longer, my retirement begins in a weeks' time." "Fine thing to get out when you can." Sabre said as he downed his drink. "Got time for another?" "Yeah why not, guess we should celebrate your retirement."

After a few more drinks with Sabre he walked me half way to my home. "I'll see you around Midnight." "Sure thing Sabre, you and Rusty take care yeah?" "Will you be joining us for Christmas?" "Uh, well maybe, I'll see what I'm up to."

I started walking back to my home when I heard someone shouting as I rounded the corner only, there was no one around. Shrugging it off I went home and made myself a cup of coffee before sitting down in front of the fireplace. I must have dozed off though because the next thing I knew someone was knocking on my front door. I looked up at the clock and noticed that it was three in the morning. Getting up I took my service pistol from the bureau drawer and went to the door. Opening the door I saw the rabbit from before except he was covered in snow, bruises, scratches and blood. Looking around I looked for the Weasel, it didn't take a genius to figure out who had done it.

Seeing no one else around and no footprints to follow I wrapped the rabbit in my long coat and carried him inside. I laid him down upon my couch and got a cloth and some warm water in a bowl, I started cleaning up some of the cuts and blood from his nose and ear where it seemed like there was a piercing missing. He groaned and moved a little, I stopped and waited to see if he would wake up but he didn't so I continued to work on him.

I rolled him over and slowly started washing his butt; however when I parted his cheeks to get between them, well I don't know what happened. I guess he must have woken up because the only thing I remember is waking up on the floor with a bloody nose. I wiped my nose on my sleeve and looked over at the couch where the rabbit was curled up in the corner holding his knees close to his chest. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I thought that maybe...." "It's fine, that's some kick you've got, guess I shouldn't be surprised."

I stood up slowly and wiped my nose again, "Well since you're awake, means you can wash yourself now, come on, shower's this way." I helped the rabbit up from the couch and led him to the bathroom. The shower I had was made up of three marble walls with jet nozzles all at different heights and angles to ensure that water covered you in all directions. "Wow, this is a really fancy looking place." "It's comfortable." "You don't like it?" "It suits my needs." "You don't really talk very much do you?" "Not really, no, I'll get you some clothes you can wear although they will probably be a bit big on you." The rabbit nodded and stepped into the shower which turned on automatically.

I closed the door and allowed him some privacy as I searched through my drawers for some clothes I could lend him. I found a T-shirt and a pair of shorts that would have to do; everything else I had would drown him. I walked past the shower room but couldn't hear the shower running; I looked into the bathroom and noticed my guest was no longer there. When I went back downstairs I noticed the rabbit standing in front of my log fireplace with the towel wrapped around him. "Ah, there you are." "Sorry, did you want me to wait for you in the shower room?" "No no, I just thought I would be finished before you were, uh here these are for you, they will be a bit big but they should do for now." I said as I handed over the clothes.

He looked up at me and smiled slightly and then tilted his head to one side as if waiting for me to do something. "I'll let you dry off and get those on and will see about some food, I'm sure you must be hungry, even a little." I took myself to the kitchen and set about making a meal that I figured would be suitable for a young rabbit, carrots and the likes.

Soon enough he had dressed himself and had joined me in the kitchen as I finished chopping up some more vegetables. Sure enough the clothes I had picked out were a few sizes too big but they covered him at least, also I couldn't shake this idea that he looked cute like that. "This is most likely very stereotypical but I do hope you enjoy it." I said as I laid the bowl down before him.

"It's more than enough, thank you." He smiled and picked up a fork and began to eat. I myself pulled some cooked chicken from the fridge and popped a few pieces into my mouth before making my way back into the lounge. I sat down in my chair and yawned and started going through the rest of my post. As I opened another envelope I became aware of the rabbit's presence and looked up. "Finished?" He smiled and nodded before letting out a deep yawn. "You must be exhausted, come on let's get you into bed." Upon saying that the rabbit froze up and I looked at him with a sort of curiosity. That was until it hit me. "Oh, right no, I uhm, what I mean is, a bed for you to sleep in, just you." The rabbit seemed to settle once more and I held out a paw to lead him to his room.

He gingerly took my paw as I led him upstairs and took him to one of the many spare rooms, when I opened the door there was an icy chill in the room. Shaking my head I turned around and took him to my own room. When I opened my own door we were greeted by a blast of warm air that was much more appealing. I stepped inside first and pulled back the duvet cover and gestured for the rabbit to get in. He looked around the room as he stepped into it before he stopped before the bed. "Wait, this, this is your room." I nodded "It is what of it?" "I can't take you room, your bed, it wouldn't be right." He said as he stepped back a step. "You are my guest and I will choose where you sleep, now please, get in."

He looked at me with a curious look on his face, like he was wondering where this was going or what the catch was going to be. However no sooner did his head touch the pillow he let out a deep yawn and was fast asleep. I pulled the covers over him and picked up a quilt from the closet, I would sleep on the couch tonight and make sure there was a fire lit in the spare room tomorrow. As I passed one of the mirrors in the room I caught myself smiling and couldn't think as to why.

The next morning my nose twitched as my senses filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and toast. I opened one eye and saw the rabbit standing beside me holding a silver tray and a huge smile on his face. I think I smiled back and sat up as he sat the tray down, "I just wanted to do something for you, to say thank you for last night and to say sorry about keeping you from your own bed." "Don't worry about it, but thank you." He smiled again and pottered back through into the kitchen, I brought the coffee up to my lips when my nose twitched again. "Did you put something into the coffee?" "Mhmm, cinnamon, it's really good, makes coffee taste great." He chimed from the kitchen.

I wrinkled my nose but took a sip, my taste buds exploded as the flavour river danced on my tongue. I wouldn't admit it but it did taste fantastic.

"It's not bad, listen I've to go out and do some errands, do not open the door to anyone unless I say so, alright?"

"You're keeping me here?" he asked as he poked his head round the corner from the kitchen. "For the time being, it's for your protection, not to keep you hostage, you can walk out that door anytime you like." He nodded and went back into the kitchen. After finishing off the coffee and taking a few bites from the toast I headed out. A few days passed by just like this, the routine changing very little, I learnt that his name was Jesse and that he'd become homeless a few years ago. That was also when he met up with the weasel I'd met the first time I came across Jesse. Nothing really changed as we spent time together, well maybe except for my getting used to being around him and having company. He was cute there was no denying that, heck I even had dreams about him leaving my room and joining me in the spare one.

He would come in and crawl under the covers and put his arms around me and beg me not to leave him. I can't deny that the thought of him being alone as I was tugged at my heart strings but could I honestly allow myself to fall for him, could he possibly, truly understand me, heck could he even put up with me. I guess time would tell, we talked quite frequently about all kinds of things, our conversations were usually brief, but suitable for my needs. It was good to have him around and he did make really good coffee.

One night when it was particularly cold he cuddled himself into my side and pulled a quilt around himself. I looked down at him but kept my arms folded against my chest and just continued to watch what was on the television that night. As he fell asleep he started to nuzzle my arm and mumble in his sleep. "Please...mmh...hold me....just once." I did consider putting my arm around him but at the same time, he was a guest in my home, not my friend or even my lover. The afternoon of the following day whilst Jesse was asleep on the couch and I was going over my retirement papers, someone started hammering on my door.

I got up from my chair and answered the door opening it up to that same weasel from before. "I here you have something that belongs to me." He said as he smoked away on some really cheap cigar. "Not to my knowledge." I replied looking down at him. "Don't play dumb with me soldier boy, I mean the rabbit slut I want him back." "Really...you miss your little play toy, your little punching bag?" "Don't screw with me man I know he's here." "Oh he's here alright but he does not belong to you." I growled.

"Oh so you've had him too huh?" He asked snidely "Don't insult me you spineless little creep." "You know if you're fucking him, you're racking up quite a bill and I can't have you tapping him for free, so...if you won't hand him back, I'll just have to come in and take him." He pulled out a small switch blade and pointed it towards me. This guy was a complete joke, he spent all his time talking when he could have stabbed me already and been inside.

With one quick movement I grabbed the wrist of his paw with the knife in it and twisted his whole arm around and up his back where with another quick twist I broke his wrist and watched the blade fall from his paw as he screamed aloud. "You bastard, you bastard you broke my arm." "Two pieces of advice, one never draw a blade unless you truly intend to use it and two never use force unless you are sure you will win." I let go and kicked him down the steps to the snow on the pavement. "Now get lost and I don't want to see your snivelling little face here again do you understand?" "You'll regret this soldier boy; I'll get him back just you watch." I did watch, I watched him scurry away into the dark and turned around to see Jesse standing before me with tears streaming down his face.

I stepped forwards but he turned and ran upstairs, I sighed and stayed downstairs until it was time for bed. I popped my head into my own room and found he wasn't sleeping in my bed, I figured it was easier for me to take the spare room and leave him to continue sleeping in my room. When I went to the spare room I found him asleep in the bed, I sighed and went back to my own room and lay down. My only problem, I couldn't sleep, no matter what position I slept in I couldn't get to sleep. The next morning I couldn't stop yawning and I couldn't find Jesse either, after making myself a coffee, it was nowhere near as good as the coffee that Jesse would make. After drinking the coffee and getting something to eat I decided to go out for a walk and came across Sabre and Rusty with their kids. "Hey you guys." "Midnight, you're up awful early." Rusty smiled as he picked up one of his kids. "Yeah, been getting up early the past few days actually." "Did you find what you were looking for that night?" Sabre asked "Uhm yeah you could say that." "Oh yeah, come on then spill, you got someone special have you?" Rusty quizzed

"Midnight's got a thing for that bunny we used to pass by." Sabre smirked "Really, well I guess there's no acquiring for taste." "Rusty, that's mean!" Sabre quipped. "Look, it's not like that I just, he was at my door, he was hurt, and I took him in." Rusty smiled and patted me on the shoulder, "You don't need to explain yourself bud whatever makes you happy." We laughed and I stayed with them for the rest of the day, we visited a few places and did some Christmas shopping for their kids with some help from my wallet. Not that I minded, I wasn't going to spend much of it and it wasn't like I had anyone to spend it on. I maybe wasn't keen on Christmas but I wouldn't see Rusty and Sabre's kids go without presents.

I left them after around eight o'clock I think; when I approached my home I could see lights twinkling from the window. I got into the house and found Jesse standing in front of a Christmas tree and was putting ornaments upon it. The rest of the house was also decorated, he must have heard me because he jumped and turned around to look at me.

"Uhm what have you done?" I asked "I thought, since it was so close to..." He said as he put down another bauble "You don't like Christmas do you?" "No, I don't." "Why not?" "Why, because it's the only holiday where I feel truly alone." "Yeah but, I'm here." "It's not quite the same." "You mean because I'm a whore and who could love a whore right?" "Love?"

Jesse dropped the box of baubles and ran out of the door in a flood of tears. "Jesse, Jesse wait!" I chased after him but I quickly lost him amongst the crowds, cursing I slammed my paw into a wall with a loud thud. Letting out a sigh I marched myself home and flopped down into my chair, I looked up at the tree and then down at the coffee table and saw a steaming cup of coffee. The smell of cinnamon wafted from the mug and I growled in disappointment in myself. I got up out of the chair and went to bed; maybe he'd be back in the morning.

That night was one of the worst of my life, I spent hours tossing and turning again trying to get to sleep and when I finally did I was plagued with weird dreams and nightmares. In one of them I was sat upon the couch with Jesse, the fireplace was lit, there was a Christmas tree and a few young bunnies running around, opening presents, taking their stockings down from the fireplace and sharing their treats. I can't deny but it was a good feeling, the next was a nightmare, all of that happiness melted away and all I could feel was anger and despair as I watched the Weasel drag Jesse from home to hotel to motel making him sleep with all sorts of men, all of them horrid and harsh.

I sat upright in a sweat and panted; I threw the covers off of myself and ran through to the spare room. He wasn't there, I ran downstairs, the tree was still up and unfinished; there was no smell of coffee, no smell of Cinnamon and no smell of rabbit. I rested my back against the kitchen doorframe and sighed before I looked over at the tree and remembered how happy Jesse seemed when he was decorating it.

My memories carried on as I looked over at the couch and the times Jesse had snuggled against me and I had just simply ignored him. I felt a tension around my heart that I couldn't explain, I stepped forwards and picked up the box of baubles and placed one onto the tree and felt the tension lessen slightly. I finished decorating the tree and stood back to look at what I had done, the tension on my heart loosened some more. I needed some advice, grabbing my coat I went out and took myself to Sabre and Rusty's place.

"Midnight, this is a bit early for you." Sabre said as he answered the door with one of his pups in his arms. "I need some advice." "What about, your little rabbit friend?" Sabre teased a little "I think it's much more than that." Sabre's face softened more than normal and stood aside to let me in. "Rusty sweetie put the kettle on." "Ok, sit down and tell me everything."

I explained everything to Sabre, how we'd met, the nights on the couch, the Weasel when he turned up and the whole incident with the tree. "Oh Midnight you daft mutt, is it not clear that he really likes you, you save him, you give him a place to stay and then despite how you went about it, you stand up for him and he wants to make you happy, Midnight, he loves you." Rusty nodded too as he agreed with Sabre "Dude you need to get out there and you need to find him." "Did you finish the tree?" Sabre quizzed "Why do you ask?" "Just answer the question, did you finish the tree?" "Yes, I had like images of Jesse standing there doing it himself and I don't know what happened I just started feeling this tightness in my chest." Rusty giggled slightly and I growled at him. "Oh come on buddy, it's obvious you're in love with him too."

I smiled softly as I left their home and went home; I got my personal side arm from its cabinet and strapped it inside a holster to my side, pulled the collar up on my long coat and stepped out. I walked around for what felt like hours until I came across a group of hookers standing outside a club. "I'm looking for a rabbit." "We'll sir I'm sure we can find you one, one way or another." A slender Collie said. "I'm looking for one called Jesse, a Weasel was his pimp if you want." "Oh you mean Dave, yeah he owns Jesse." Replied a blue Panther. "Where can I find them?" I demanded "Oh looking for something specific are we?" They all teased. "Please, do not tease me, I am not in the mood for any games, I want to know where they are and I want to know now!"

"The City Hotel, you'll find them at the City Hotel." Without another word I ran further into the city and found the City Hotel. "Evening soldier." The doorman said as I passed him by. I marched up to the reception desk and growled at the Doe behind it. "I'm looking for a Weasel and a Rabbit." "Well sir, we don't have any of those but we do have rooms." The Doe replied. "Let's get serious, I am looking for a Weasel and a Rabbit who may have checked in here." "Uhm no, no Weasel and Rabbit, there was a rather important looking Horse and Rabbit came in here thought." "Both males?" I quizzed her. "Well I uhm, I'm not too sure I can release that kind of information." "Don't test me miss, were they both male and what room number?" "Well yes they were both male but I can't say which room number, it's against company policy." "Fine I'll make this easy for you." I growled as I reached over her desk and grabbed the keyboard and turned the computer screen to face me. "Sir!" The Doe protested as she stood up. "Sit down!" I barked.

"Room 205, thanks for your assistance." I growled as I tossed the keyboard back at her and stormed towards the elevator where three porters tried to grab me. I spotted them and grabbed the one on my right by the shoulder and threw him across myself and into the other two before stepping into the lift and pressed the button for the 6th floor. "Come on" I mutter as the elevator takes its time to get to the 6th floor. When the doors open I waste no time in finding room 205, I sort my coat and pull my weapon from its holster and cock it before putting it back and knocking on the door. "Go away!" I heard coming from the other side of the door. I knocked again. "I said I didn't want to be disturbed." Came another reply. I knocked once more. "What did I just say?" The horse opened the door and groaned before my fist connected with his jaw. "Room service!" I snarled as I kicked the equine back into the room, the large male went tumbling backwards and fell on his ass.

I strode into the room and stepped over the half-dressed horse. "Jesse?" I called into the room. "Midnight?" I heard from the bedroom. I wasted no time in going into the bedroom and found Jesse inside the bed with the bedcovers wrapped around himself. "Are you alright?" I asked as I walked towards him. "Why do you care?" Jesse grumbled as he looked down "Jesse..." "Don't Jesse me, why do you care if I'm alright or not?" "I...it's because...I miss you, I'm sorry, I didn't realise how much I would miss your company, how much I appreciate you." "His eyes softened and his ears flattened against his head. "Just come out with it you silly dog." "I...I love you Jesse, I don't know why it's taken me so long to notice it, to say it."

My ears perked when I heard something move behind us and I looked back to see the horse getting back on his feet and rubbing his nose. "How dare you." He grumbled as he stood up to his full height. "This one is not for sale." "I beg to differ mutt, I paid good money for this slut." "Say that again..." I growled. "I beg your pardon?" "I said...say that...again." "What about paying good money for this slut?" "Yeah that's all I needed." I growled I stepped forwards squaring up to the horse when he landed one good punch to my jaw and then another to my stomach. I dropped to the ground and coughed before looking up at the equine. "My turn." I smirked as I swept his legs out from under him and let him fall back against the floor and stood one foot upon his chest, drew my pistol and pointed it towards his head.

"Midnight what are you doing?" Jesse squeaked. "Midnight...as in Commander Midnight, as in Midnight Blackivar?" " As a matter of fact it's Captain Blackivar these days and I know who you are too, Lieutenant Liborne. You're an absolute disgrace to the uniform, now then, you are going to get your clothes and you are going to walk out of here and you will get to leave with your life intact. Also I won't speak a word of this when it comes to your next promotion do we understand one another?" I growled as I ground my footpaw into his chest.

The horse groaned and nodded before I allowed him to get up and watched him leave. "Midnight?" I turned around and looked at Jesse who seemed relieved but upset. "Yes." "Well I uhm, appreciate the save but did you have to be so, harsh with him, I mean you wouldn't really have shot him would you?" I nodded. "Of course I would have, Jesse I'm not just pretending to have these feelings and I'm not jealous, I'm mad, mad that anyone would dare treat you this way." "Why, surely you were going to do the same thing weren't you?" "Actually no, initially I didn't have any interest of that kind in you. If I did I would far rather it was on your terms, not on mine and mine alone."

"You really don't care about my past?" "Your past is maybe what you had to do in order to stay alive but you don't need to live like that any longer." "But I..." "Get yourself dressed and then follow me." I said flatly. I looked back to where the horse had crawled out of the room and left via the door as I waited for Jesse to get himself dressed. I won't deny I took a few sneaky peeks when he wasn't paying attention. As I did so, I wondered about how I could have been so blind and insensitive, no matter I was soon about to make up for it all. "I'm ready." "Good, let's get going then." I said leading the way outside, when we hit the cold wind outside I took off my heavy coat and handed it down to Jesse. "But..." "You need it far more than I do Jesse." I said and smiled as I put the coat around him.

We walked into the shopping centre of the city and I started going from store to store picking things up and occasionally checking Jesse's size for reference. "Uh Midnight, what exactly are you buying that you need my sizes?" "uh uh, not telling until Christmas day." I smiled "But...I thought..." "I was wrong about that too, now come on help me pick out a nice big chicken, uhm you're ok with chicken right?" I smiled when Jesse nodded and took him by the paw into the grocery store, his face must have been a picture from the number of ladies who occasionally awed at the sight of his paw in mine.

As we were making our way out of the centre we stopped by a cart selling mince meat pies and mulled wine next to a group of carollers. "I'll have two of each please." I said and paid the Polar Bear manning the cart. "Midnight, you've spent so much already." Jesse protested when I handed him the pie and the glass. "Listen I've got much more where that came from and if I cant spend it to help make someone special happy, then what is the point in keeping it?" I smiled as Jesse seemed dumbfounded but my smile quickly faded when I saw him drop his glass of wine. I looked over my shoulder and heard a few screams and saw people running as the Weasel approached me with a gun drawn.

"You interfering asshole, do you have any idea how much you've just cost me." "To be honest I couldn't really give a care, I've got what I want." "You're right about that." I heard him cock the hammer on the pistol and I jumped putting myself around Jesse when I heard the shot, followed by a thump and then the searing pain from my shoulder.

I dropped down to one knee as Jesse clung to me. "Midnight...midnight are you ok?" "Run...just run...I'll be fine but I need you to run.." "Don't die one me now!" "I wont, now go.." He let go of me and albeit reluctantly he started to run, I heard the weasel getting closer and despite the pain in my shoulder I drew my own pistol. I turned over and tried to get off a shot but the Weasel was already on me and kicked it from my paw. "I told you that you would pay, didn't I, such a shame, I could have used a guy like you." He pointed his pistol at me and I took the chance to sweep his legs out from under him. The pistol went off and I heard glass shatter, the pistol landed somewhere in the snow but it didn't matter. I grabbed hold of the Weasel and with my good arm I stuck a good few punches into his face.

By this time the cops had shown up and prised me off the parasite, they called an ambulance and got me patched up. Jesse came with since he'd come back after the police showed up and gave a statement getting me about 50% off the hook with an assault charge. "Are you always this courageous." "Only when I really have to be." "Earlier in the hotel room, you said something to the horse about promotion, is that because you did stuff like this?" "I did what needed to be done, how they chose to thank me was down to them."

Jesse smiled and shook his head slightly at my modesty before he sat himself facing me in my lap and pressed his very soft and gentle lips to mine. "How's that for a thank you?" "Hmm first time anyone has ever thanked me that way." After being patched up at the hospital we took a taxi home, when we got inside Jesse walked towards the spare room but stopped when I cleared my throat. "Why don't you spend the night with me tonight, it is really cold and I didn't get any logs for the fires." His eyes seemed to sparkle when he smiled and quickly bounced into the room and dove under the covers giggling.

That night sharing a bed with Jesse had to be the most peaceful night's sleep I have ever had in my entire life. No worries, no stress, no nightmares just bliss and a cute rabbit snuggled in at my side. The next morning I woke up to find the bed was empty, I rubbed my eyes and checked again, sure enough Jesse wasn't there, perhaps it had all been a dream? "Ow!" Nope there's the pain from the bullet so that part was very real. It was whilst I nursed my shoulder that my ears twitched to the sound of giggling children and movement downstairs, then that scent hit my nose like a freight train, Cinnamon.

I turned my head and there on the bedside was a mug of steaming hot coffee and an envelope. I sat up and opened up the envelope and found a thank you card inside. I sat the open card in my lap and took a sip from the mug of coffee.

"Dear Midnight, thank you so much for everything, there are few people in this world who would do what you have done for me, you've given me hope, joy and in a small way love too. I've enjoyed staying with you but because you won't allow me to repay you, the way I would normally repay someone, I find it hard to think of what I could do to show you my gratitude, so meet me downstairs when you're ready."

I blinked and closed the card before looking up to see a new bathrobe on the chair next to a lit fire place. The seemed a little odd since I hadn't bought any firewood last night or took the time to light a fire. Getting up I put on the new bath robe and made my way slowly downstairs where the smell of cooking was unmistakable. When I reached the bottom step I was almost knocked over by two young Huskies who apologised as they ran past me. "Sorry uncle Midnight." They called out I walked into the kitchen and saw Rusty standing over my stove looking very hot and busy. "Midnight how many times get out of my kitchen when I'm cooking." "Uhm I hate to bust your bubble fly boy but I think you'll find this is my kitchen." "OUT!" He growled and pointed with his paw. "Ok, ok no need to get so...wait what are you even doing here?" "Ah let me explain that bit." Sabre mused as he put his paws on my shoulders and walked me away from the kitchen and towards the lounge.

"You see Midnight, last night someone happened to be testing out one of the electrical stores brand new video cameras and caught your heroic act and sent it into the news agency who've been talking about it all day. Anyways you know how we're early risers so we caught it first thing in the morning and made our way here. Also we saw you defend your little bunny boy so...ta da."

I was always bemused when Sabre spoke at speed but as I looked into the lounge I saw Jesse standing next to the tree in a very cute little Santa outfit, most likely fitted for a girl but he pulled it off amazingly. He looked up with those dazzling blue eyes and held up a present in his little paws. "Merry Christmas, Midnight." I looked back over my shoulder at Sabre, "You set this us didn't you?" "Actually the outfit was Rusty's idea but the rest is mostly me, the other half is your little Bunny's brain child."

I stepped forwards after handing Sabre the mug of coffee and placed my paws over Jesse's and held onto the present with him. He smiled and the pair of us began opening up the wrapping paper and took the lid from the box to find mistletoe in the box. I sighed and laughed as did Jesse when we both looked at Sabre. "What I'm a classic romantic." Chuckling I took hold of the mistletoe and held it above our heads before I kissed those soft lips once again. "I actually have a present just for you, well two actually..." I said as I fished around in the pockets of the bath robe and produced a small parcel and handed it to Jesse. "Here, Merry...Christmas, that still feel a little weird by the way."

Jesse beamed and tore into the wrapping before lifting the lid on the box and looked up at me in disbelief and then back down at the box. "This...isn't some kind of joke is it?" He stammered. Putting my arms back around his lithe waist I shook my head. "No Jesse, that is a key to this front door, I want you to stay with me but I also want you to come and go as you please." "Midnight...I...I don't know what to say..." "Thank you will do..." I smiled. Jesse practically pounced me and I groaned slightly as it hurt my shoulder a little. "I'm sorry." "It's fine, it's fine, I'm glad you're happy, I just have one more gift, just for you." "You do?" I nodded "I will waive any sense of repayment you think you owe me if you will answer me one simple question." "Uhm ok, I think." He fumbled around with his outfit seeming very nervous about the question. "Jesse...will you...be my mate?" Jesse just stopped dead and starred at me, I began to worry, wondering if perhaps I'd over stepped some sort of line. "Midnight....yes...yes a thousand times yes..." He threw himself at me once again and cried into my shoulder. I gritted my teeth at the slight twinge of pain but held him there none the less. "From now until the rest of our lives Jesse, this will always be your home and I will always be here for you. "

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