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Part 42 - Last Goodbyes

(Nathan)

"Lights off," Nathan commanded, stepping out from his apartment. He turned to look back through the doorway, looking upon his home of the past two years. It lied empty now; most of its contents sold to help fund his and Alexei's new start.

"This place wasn't so bad, I guess," he muttered to himself, grasping the doorframe. "Expensive, but I've lived in worse places, that's for sure."

"Like where?" Shaun snickered, prompting Nathan to glare back over his shoulder.

"Don't you remember the house we lived in during the final year of university? And I do use the term 'lived' very loosely."

"That's uni; that don't count."

"If you say so," he snorted, adjusting his backpack with one paw while dragging his new travel case with the other.

"Ready, Nate?"

Nathan peered past the red-furred squirrel, looking to Tasha standing a little further down the gleaming, white corridor. "I think so." With a quiet sigh, he grabbed the opportunity for a final glance at the apartment's now barren living area. "Front door, lock."

The automated door glided to a close, securing itself with a gentle clank and electronic whir.

"That'll be the last time you do that for a while," Shaun scoffed, starting off along to where Tasha remained waiting. "You're gonna need to get used to the old fashioned lock-and-key technique over in Bolstrovo."

"They've got voice activated homes and buildings in places," Nathan rebutted, following after his friend's swaying, bushy tail. "Just not everywhere."

"That's something at least."

He rolled his eyes, unbeknown to Shaun. "You make it sound like a backwater." "Didn't say that."

"Take a step outta your Polican comfort zone and you might find out a thing or two--"

"Boys, boys," Tasha cried, jabbing at the elevator's call button. "Give it a rest. Tonight's your last time together in who knows how long."

"He started it," Nathan muttered, smirking to Shaun who returned the gesture.

"Children, the both of you!"

The elevator car gave way to the building's deserted foyer. For one last time, the three friends paced across it, stepping out into the cold, gusting wind of the night awaiting them.

"Your parents seeing you off?" asked Shaun, his long, red head fur almost glistening in the bright lights of the busy city.

"Yeah," Nathan called back, the blond fur atop his own head catching the glow of the brightly-illuminated apartment complexes lining the street. The sound of his trolley's wheels grinding across the pavement punctuated the air, joining with the constant whooshing of city traffic to necessitate raised voices. "They're getting a train down to meet us at the airport."

"What about Luke and Paula?"

He shook his head, turning the corner to follow the street signs guiding them to the local subway station. "Afraid not. They're back at university and couldn't make it here."

"That's too bad," Tasha muttered sympathetically.

"It's okay. We said our goodbyes a couple weeks ago, back at my parents'." Nathan sighed gently, gazing to the blue glow of the sign fastened above the station a short walk ahead. "It'd have been nice to see them again, though."

"All the more reason to make sure you get yourself back here soon!" she cried, beaming until her grin, too, shone through the night.

A short hop on the subway, followed by a connection onto the overground mainline, saw them board the half-empty bullet train that would race them east out of the city and towards the airport.

"And before you say anything, they've got one of these in Bolstrovo, too."

"I ain't said nuffin'!" Shaun squeaked, over dramatising his hurt at Nathan's statement. "Anyway, I know they do. My company helped the engineers there build it a few years back."

"Alright then," he rumbled back, suppressing a laugh. "I'll let you off."

"Are you two gonna be like this all the way to the airport?" Tasha groaned, failing to disguise the humour she too felt.

"I've got about two hours before he leaves us," Shaun snickered, bumping Nathan in the seat next to him. "Don't hold my makin' the most of it against me, yeah!?"

"Gods, you two are insufferable sometimes." She sat back in her own chair, across the table from the others.

"That's why you love us so," Nathan cooed tauntingly, practically bouncing on the blue padding beneath him.

Tasha shook her head, briefly glancing out at the night-coloured hillsides flashing by at high speed. "I guess I can't blame you for being overexcited."

He too followed in turning his focus outside. Seated so that he faced backwards, Nathan had been afforded the chance to see the shining, sprawling metropolis of Arlone being left to slowly sink into the darkened horizon. In that moment, he realised this'd be the last time he'd set eyes upon the capital of his homeland for a long time.

"Last time I saw Nate this overstimulated was back in the first-year dorms at uni," Shaun stated, grinning at Tasha with delight. "We somehow managed to stay up 'til 8am playing Call to Arms with a few of the other guys. He did so many energy drinks that night, he was bitchin' about his dodgy stomach for days--"

"Yeah, thanks for that, Shaun."

"Hey, don't mention it. I know how much you love that memory."

Biting her lip, Tasha began a silent chuckle; succeeding in catching Nathan's eye.

"Oh, don't you start!"

"I'm sorry." She held her paws up, calming herself before looking at Shaun. "I've a feeling the last time he was anything close to that... overstimulated and overexcited was a few weeks back, when the time came to hand in his notice in at work. Trust me, you should have seen the look on our boss' face."

"Really?" Shaun glanced at Nathan with inquisitive eyes. "Okay, I've a feeling this is a story I wanna hear. What d'ya do!?"

"Nothing, really," he replied with a shrug. "I just arrived to work, left my letter of resignation on his desk and waited until he saw it."

"And?"

"And... that's when things got awkward."

"Got that right," Tasha muttered. "He didn't take it well."

"What?" Shaun frowned with confusion. "It got awkward because you quit?"

"It got awkward because I ended up having to tell him just why I was quitting... I really didn't want to. I just wanted to give my notice and be left to work my final four weeks, but gods damn him, Richard wouldn't let it lie. He just had to know why I was leaving."

"You couldn't just tell him you had another job?"

"That'd have been the easy option," Tasha huffed softly, "but Nate doesn't do easy."

"I panicked, okay!? I couldn't think up a good excuse on the spot just like that."

"So, what d'ya say?"

"I said I was moving away; that I'd got sick of living in Arlone, the big city." Nathan held his paws up at Shaun's shake of the head. "It's not like that's a lie!"

"It's a pretty piss poor explanation, though!"

"Anyway... Richard being Richard, he pushed and prodded, asked where I was going. I think he was more pissed at the thought of having to mess around with the recruitment process than anything else. I kept trying to fob him off, but that fuckin' fox just kept going. After a while--"

"After twenty seconds," Tasha snickered. "Ever the even temper you have, Nate--"

"I just told him everything... I told him I'm moving away to Bolstrovo to live with my boyfriend."

Shaun sat back in his seat beside Nathan, arms folded while visibly processing that idea in his head. In the end, he gave a loud snort and a hearty laugh. "Does he know he's Velikan, and the same person you went to visit?"

Nathan's ears perked. He glanced around the tranquil carriage they rode within, seeking to gauge what kind of reaction Shaun's bellowed reply had earned.

The family of bears a few seats back remained unmoved, their focus fixed upon their own conversation. Two rows behind them, a greying brown wolf sat with ears raised to match Nathan's. He tried to remain covert, but the eyes glaring attentively past the tablet PC in his paws gave away his interest.

In that moment, a comforting glow of reassurance brought a defiant grin to Nathan's face. Far too much water had passed under the bridge between himself and Alexei to care about the reaction of others. In the grand scheme of things, any disapproval or distaste for their relationship faded into insignificance when weighed against what they'd endured to remain together. Right now, sat upon this train, all he cared about was getting to the airport and jetting off to be in the arms of his wolf. For good.

"He knows he's Velikan now," Nathan stated loudly, his rebellious smirk helping him to answer both Shaun and the bystander wolf in one fell swoop. "The look on Richard's face was worth it alone."

"Absolutely," Tasha chuckled. "It was certainly something special."

He beamed keenly, forgetting all about any potential eavesdropping. "Somewhere between shock and disgust, all mixed in with a visualisation of his mind collapsing beneath the weight of his fucking sizeist thoughts."

Shaun gave a shrill, impressed whistle, shaking his head slowly. "I guess working those four weeks' notice was pretty tough going."

"On the contrary; Richard barely had a word to say to me after that. I went in, did my work, went home. In fact, I even managed to slip out the door on my last day without so much as a fuss made about my leaving." Nathan's shoulders jolted from his quiet laugh. "Glad really. While there's some things I'm gonna miss from here, home, that damn job's_definitely_ not one of 'em."

The cheerful, excitable chatter continued unabashed for the remainder of their train ride; those forty-five minutes passing as if a fraction of that. Before he knew it, Nathan had arrived at the airport; the last stop before the onward journey that would finally reunite him with his partner.

They paced through the night, travelling from the open air station and into the main terminal. To Nathan, the experience came with a strange, unmistakable sense of familiarity. The polished floor busy with other flyers, the constant flicker of changing information boards and the tall, glass walls that surrounded it all: everything remained the same as it did all those months ago.

Unlike last time however, Nathan didn't stand alone in the terminal, nor did his nerves strain his senses as he fought hard to keep his plans hidden from his parents. Now, he stood among friends, smiling uncontrollably beneath the departure boards while eagerly awaiting the arrival of his mother and father.

"How you feeling, Nate?" Tasha peered up to the huge clock hanging upon the wall above the building's main entrance. "It's half-past-eight; two and a half hours until you jet off."

"I'm good. Looking forward to it!" Nathan blurted enthusiastically. "Can't wait to get through those gates and be on my way to Bolstrovo."

"Oh, well. Fuck you, too," Shaun spat, smirking with an overblown tone of annoyance. "Just fly off and forget all about us."

"Hey, I didn't mean it like that! You know I'm gonna miss you guys."

"No." He folded his arms and looked away, still pouring the dramatics thickly. "You've gone and offended me now."

"Stop being a dick," Nathan huffed, playfully shoving him by the shoulder.

"And now with the assault!" Shaun let himself stumble, almost taking out a less-than-happy fox passing by with his big, bushy tail. "Some friend you are."

"Whatever." He looked back to Tasha with a grin. "It is gonna be weird to know I'm nearly three thousand miles away from you guys, though."

"So, don't think of it that way. Instead, think of us as being at the other end a phone call, or a simple plane journey away."

"True." His grin flashed brighter. "As long as the airlines keep flights cheap... All things being well, I should be able to make it back once a year at least."

"Make sure you do."

"Yeah, Nate," Shaun stated, upping the sincerity in his voice. "Seriously... It's gonna be weird not eating lunch together any more."

"It will be." A touch of sadness grew into Nathan's smile. For the first time in the entire journey, one that had begun three months ago, the drawbacks to venturing off to Bolstrovo truly started to hit home.

"Nathan!"

He glanced over to the terminal's side entrance; the source of the familiar cry. Walking towards him, his mother's beaming, brown-bordered white face shone through the crowd. His father paced beside her, yellow eyes bright with a warmth that had been so absent during their last picture phone conversation here. "Mum! Dad!"

"It's good to see you again," his mother replied, spreading her arms long before she neared.

"You too," he answered, not at all embarrassed in doing the same. They hugged gently, leaving his father to watch on with a contented smile.

"We've missed you," she stated softly, a measure of sorrow to her otherwise happy words.

"Same here, really." Nathan stepped back once they ended their embrace. "Thanks for coming down here. I know it's a long train ride."

"You think we'd let you slip away without saying goodbye in person?" his father gruffed. "We won't let you off that easily."

"Fair enough." He couldn't stop from grinning; the ease of the back and forth between himself and his parents something unimaginable until after his return from Velika. "I wouldn't have wanted to leave without one, either."

"Oh, is that Shaun!?" his mother squeaked, padding over to the squirrel before Nathan could respond. "I haven't seen you since you both graduated. How are you!?"

"Hi, Mrs. Frost," Shaun replied, giving a short wave.

"Now, you know better than that."

"Sorry... Anne," he chuckled, right after receiving a quick hug of his own. "I'm doin' good, thanks."

"Staying out of trouble?" Nathan's father rumbled, smiling as he offered a handshake.

"Always, Mr. Frost." Shaun grasped his black-flashed, white paw and shook it firmly. "I mean... Colin."

"Mum, Dad. This is Tasha. She's a friend and workmate... well, former workmate."

"Hi there," the lioness stated with a wave, her words even brighter than her beaming smile.

"Hello, Tasha," his father replied, dipping his muzzle politely.

"It's a pleasure," his mother added, returning the wave before offering up a third hug.

With reunions and introductions complete, they all took a slow walk together, weaving through the crowd of travellers and airport staff. They all took the opportunity to speak further during their short trek, catching up on events in both recent and more distant memory.

A comforting contentment radiated from Nathan's chest, spreading only further as they sat themselves down within a small waiting area close to the security gate. To have four of the people he most cared about here, willing to put aside their own time to be here and see him off on his adventure gave him a great sense of worth. Knowing, then, that he planned to leave them all in order to devote himself to a fifth sent a quick flash of guilt surging through him.

Sitting comfortably, relatively relaxed as the rush around them continued, Nathan spent the next half-hour speaking freely with his friends and family. All manner of topics came and went, one such being a retread over the nature of his departure from work.

"Your boss actually blanked you for your final weeks working there?" His father growled, clearly puzzled in the seat to the left of him.

"Yeah, he did. Apart from making sure I'd prepared a short guide for the new starter... I barely spoke to him."

"What about if he needed something doing?"

"He'd e-mail me. Every time."

"Pathetic."

"You're telling me! It's all because of his attitude towards Velikans. The fact that I have one for a boyfriend..." Nathan hesitated; the ease of their conversing helping him to forget just who he'd been speaking with. He looked up into his father's lupine yellow eyes, wondering at that moment if he'd find an expression of annoyance, or disapproval glaring back. To his relief, Nathan found only patient curiosity. "He... didn't approve of my relationship with Alex."

"Who cares what he thought. It's none of his business."

"Well... I seem to recall you weren't exactly happy with the news when I first told you."

"Sorry?" His father's voice gained an edge to it.

"When we spoke together... just after I got back home--"

"Me and your mother came round to the idea, didn't we!?"

"I never said you didn't! I was just saying that--"

"Besides, that was different--"

"Your father and I," Nathan's mother interjected from the seat to his right. "We were still upset about you running off like you did. It was a shock to find out how you felt about Alex, but after you hung up, after me and your father spoke about it, it didn't take long for us to accept it... to realise it wasn't a problem to us."

The conversation fell flat, sparked back to life only after Tasha rose from bench opposite them. "Just gonna go get a drink. Anyone want one?"

Nathan and his parents shook their heads. Shaun on the other hand accepted, but only after receiving a piercing glare from the lioness. "Oh... right, yeah. I'll come with."

"We'll be back in a bit, Nate."

With his friends gone, Nathan found himself alone with only his parents and the looming threat of the talk to follow accompanying him. "I didn't run off, Mum."

"You were going to fly off without telling us anything," his father groaned, "and when we did find out, you lied to us about just where you were off to."

"I thought we'd gone over this--"

"I thought so, too--"

"I'm sorry!" Nathan yelped, loud enough for a few passersby to perk their ears. "I've not said it, but I'm sorry about doing that... about how I've been towards you these last few months... years, I really_am." He took a moment, looking to the floor between his legs while working up the courage to continue. "My trip to Velika... things happened there that made me realise just how much of a little... just how nasty and inconsiderate I've been to you both. I _hate myself for all that time spent brushing you off, pretending you don't exist. In the end, it became habit; a habit that started for reasons I'm not even sure I can remember..."

"Oh, Nathan," his mother tentatively filled the silence, smiling sadly. "I've always said that job changed you for the worse. The moodiness, the stress: it was all from what you were dealing with down here in Arlone."

"That's no excuse for how I've acted, though," he mumbled back, muzzle still finding the floor. "I moved here to get a good job, to get space... not because I wanted to have nothing to do with you."

Nathan's father threw an arm around his shoulder, causing the younger husky to jump in surprise. "It's good that you can recognise that at least." His arm constricted a little tighter. "Still, your mother and I constantly checking up on your probably didn't help... Vicious cycles, I suppose. You were stressed from work, which made us worry when we _did_speak. We tried to find out more, which in turn upset you even more and pushed you even further away."

"Maybe." He looked up to his father, finding little problem in hugging him for the first time in as long as he could remember. "I'm still sorry for it--"

"It's okay, Nathan... You're my son, and I love you. That's the only thing that matters to me."

He drifted off into his thoughts, finding a previously unimaginable solace within the tenderness of his father's hold. At the same time, annoyance flowed freely, leaving him unable to stop loathing that fact that this long-overdue breakthrough with his parents had come so soon before his departure to Bolstrovo.

'Why now? Why when I'm about to fly thousands of miles away?'

'Maybe it's this leaving that was needed? Maybe this is what's saved your relationship with them?'

"Yeah, well at least you've escaped!" Nathan quickly returned from his musing, surprised to find Shaun grinning from the bench he and Tasha had previously been sat upon. "I ain't met the guy, but that Richard sounds like a proper nightmare; one that Tash has still gotta deal with!"

"I'll be fine," the lioness replied, also back in her seat. "I can deal with him. Might be a little tougher with Nate off with Alex in Padinica, though. It used to be him getting in trouble with his mouth that saved the rest of us."

"That I can believe," Nathan's father snickered, loosening then releasing him from his grasp. "That mouth of yours has always got you into trouble, Nathan. One day it'll cause something major."

"Maybe..." He fell quiet, thinking back to Yuri, his gang, the abduction and the fire. "I'll just have to be more careful in future."

"We all know where he gets it from," his mother chided. "Don't we, Colin?"

"Sorry?"

"I seem to recall only this evening you getting into a full-blown argument at the train station back in Alvestoft."

"They tried to charge us seventy-five marks for two weekend return tickets! I merely told that helpdesk worker their systems were wrong and that it should be fifty."

"By shouting at the top of your voice and threatening to go to his manager."

"Worked, didn't it?"

Nathan tuned his parents' conversation out, heart sinking ever so slightly over the electronic clock hanging above the terminal's entrance. '21:08' glowed in green, informing him of the difficult task he now had to face.

"Mum, Dad, guys... I should start thinking about heading through security."

"Already?" his mother whined with folded ears. "It feels like we've only just got here."

"Afraid so... and yeah, it's flown by."

"Come here." Without another word, she threw her arms around Nathan and squeezed him tight. "You make sure you take care of yourself over there, okay!?"

"I will, Mum." He hugged back, feeling his heart drop like a stone all over again. "Y-You take care, too."

"We never really did get to have too many of those weekend visits from you, did we?"

Nathan suppressed a whimper, his chest tightening terribly. "No... not as many as I'd have liked. I'm sorry, I'd have come back home more, but with all the preparation work and saving up for the move, I--"

"It's okay." His mother stepped away, fighting back her tears. "I enjoyed the ones we did have, especially with Luke and Paula being back on their summer holiday. It was wonderful to have you _all_back staying, and to have you home for your birthday was especially nice."

"It was." That memory succeeded in raising Nathan's spirits, winning from him the beginnings of a smile. "Seeing you all again, going out for a family meal and just talking... I never realised how much I missed that. For an otherwise unremarkable twenty-fourth birthday, it was pretty special."

"You just make sure you keep in touch this time, okay?" His father grunted, smiling as he stepped forward to approach. "No silent treatment like when you left for Arlone."

"You won't have to worry about that." Nathan extended a paw, anticipating a handshake. After their first, he found himself only partially surprised when his father pushed his arm aside and pulled him into another warm hug.

"I'd better not, else I'll be on the first plane over there to give you what for!"

"Alright," Nathan chuckled back, squeezing firmly. "You should though. I mean, you should all come over to visit sometime. You can meet Alex, too! Trust me, after a week or two, you'll wonder why you were ever nervous about him." He peered past his father's shoulder, over to his friends watching on. "That goes for you also."

"That sounds like fun," Tasha replied approvingly.

"Can I not and say that I did?" Shaun retorted, only half-hiding his smirk.

"No," Nathan snorted. "In fact, you can be the first to come."

"Oh... great."

"We'll come visit you, Nathan," his father beamed, ending their embrace with noticable effort. "You get yourself back home when you can, too."

"I will, I promise." He looked to his mother, happy that those words appeared to offer her some semblance of comfort despite the circumstances.

Begrudgingly, Nathan diverted his gaze up to the departure boards one more time; another nagging reminder that the time had come to leave. "Right... I'll be going." He gave each of them one final hug goodbye. That even included Shaun, for what was probably the first they'd shared since they'd known each other.

"Don't enjoy this too much, Nate. You've got a flight to catch."

Nathan rolled his eyes, offering the smiling squirrel a parting punch on the shoulder. His friends and family followed him out of the waiting area, watching on as he walked confidently towards the security area with belongings in tow.

Those purposeful steps belied a rising sense of hesitance however. While they might have looked strong, each stride he planted came as if he felt the ground could be whisked from under him at any second.

Passing the barriers that separated the public area and security hall, Nathan finally dropped his charade. He turned back with watering eyes, uncaring of the other passengers trickling past him and continuing round the corner to the waiting security agents. "Take care of yourselves! ...I'm gonna miss you all!"

His mother, father, Tasha and Shaun: each of them offered a smile and wave in return. Shaun also shouted something in reply, though Nathan had to cup his ear to indicate he'd not heard it.

"I said we'll miss you, too! Go and get on that damn plane, soppy!"

He grinned and nodded, using the thought of his waiting wolf to pull him around the corner and out of view of his loved ones. 'This is it... Bolstrovo or bust.'

From the time spent between the exhaustive security checks and the eventual walk to his gate, the entire process felt downright surreal. To Nathan, it'd been as if he'd watched someone else negotiate it, stuck thinking all the while about the gravity of what was about to be embarked upon.

'I'm leaving everything I know behind... I'm moving to Padinica... I'm going to be living with Bolstrovans, big and small... I'm going to live with Alex... with Alex.'

Mind and body reunited just in time for him to give a small smile, padding to the end of the connection bridge and stepping aboard the plane that would jet him off to his new home. To his new life.

A combination of excitement, nervousness and discomfort from the economy section seating ensured Nathan spent only a fraction of his flight sleeping. Even when he could drift off, that same eager anticipation found its way into his dreams, making for anything but a restful slumber.

Fortunately, that same restlessness easily overcame his resulting fatigue. Operating on barely two hours sleep, Nathan somehow managed to stumble his way through a final set of immigration checks that lasted almost double that within a cramped, unpleasant airport office. Even with an encyclopedia of paperwork accompanying him, the Bolstrovan agents that stood as that final, oppressive obstacle seemed obligated to ask what felt like every question imaginable. They took particular interest in his occupation history, and pressed relentlessly into just what role he'd be playing within a carpentry shop setting up business in a sleepy, seaside town. Despite being exhausted, grouchy and tried to the very limit of his patience, Nathan managed to maintain a polite facade throughout his answering, knowing just how much rested on appeasing them.

Finally, after an eternity and then some, that glorious green stamp of approval slammed down upon his immigration documentation. He'd done it at last; Nathan had earned the right to live here in Bolstrovo, together with his wolf.

A seven hour flight, coupled with his inquisition and a four hour time difference meant that after setting off from Linvendia at eleven in the evening, Nathan wouldn't make the short journey to the harbour terminal until two the following afternoon.

The underground shuttle, the glass corridor flanked by the sprawling docks and the equally huge city of Sturanja: like so much that came before, it prompted an almost disorientating level of deja vu. One thing that would change however would be the route taken once inside the terminal building. Instead of staying in the Polcian-sized waiting section, his newfound status as a Bolstrovan citizen allowed him to pass by a series of security-restricted doors and seemingly seldom trod walkways.

In next to no time at all, Nathan found himself holding the guard rail of a balcony set up upon a large mezzanine, looking out in awe at the sight before him.

He'd seen the Bolstrovan terminal area before, from the observation deck high above during his journey back home from Velika. Unlike back then however, Nathan hadn't stood close enough to touch those of a similar stature passing by, riding the expansive series of automated walkways that carried them safely to all points of the immense hall. He hadn't stood low enough to be waist-height with the crowd of giant-sized Bolstrovans striding along, nor had he stood near enough to experience the gentle rumble generated by their continual footfalls.

Nathan watched on with unerring interest, witnessing dozens, if not hundreds of large and small Bolstrovans alike going about their business.

"I can't believe it," he gasped, reaching up with both paws to grab a clump of his sandy blonde head fur in unbridled glee. "I've done it... I'm here!"

"Welcome to Bolstrovo," a voice chuckled from behind, accent thick with what resembled something between Velikan and Nathan's own. He spun on his heels, catching a glimpse of a grinning grey wolf riding by on the automatic pathway.

"T-Thanks--"

"I hope you enjoy your stay," a similarly accented voice added, this time coming from above. He glanced upwards, finding a huge otter padding by with an equally happy smile.

"-Nikolai?-" the wolf called. "-Podnyat menya, pazhalsta.-"

"-Ladna, Ferenc,-" the otter replied, coming to a halt before crouching down beside the balcony. "Excuse me, friend."

"No problem." Nathan stood fast as a giant pair of webbed paws passed him by, delicately lifting the smaller wolf from the walkway.

"-Spasiba, Niko.-" To his shock, Nathan watched on as the two friends, or rather, partners, shared a quick yet loving kiss beside him. His amazement remained long after the larger Bolstrovan had carefully placed his little wolf into his shirt pocket, and long after he'd risen back to his full height and strode off to join the bustling crowd.

Nathan eventually snapped back from his stunned stupor, reminded of the final and literally biggest piece missing from the puzzle that was his new life here. "Alex!"

He dug his phone from his pocket with such pace that it almost tumbled from his paw. Composing himself, Nathan rushed to find if he'd received any sign of contact. 'Nothing...'

'He did say he expected to be here closer to three... so, that's only an hour or so to wait.'

Unfazed, he gathered his belongings and stepped aboard the closest of two automatic walkways running in opposite directions. With no particular destination in mind, Nathan instead felt determined to fill the wait with an in-depth tour around the massive terminal hall and its multitude of scaled-down, elevated paths.

Steadying himself upon the rolling floor, moving off towards what appeared to be a parade of stores and food outlets set within the far wall, he spared a moment to hammer out a message for his absent partner.

'I've arrived in Bolstrovo! Got through immigration... eventually. Can't wait to see you again :) x'

Nathan's phone disappeared back into his pocket, though his heart racing excitement remained uncontainable, evidenced by the constant rapping of tail against trolley. 'Just an hour... one hour... That's all!'

The scent of age wafted from Nathan's coffee cup, long since finished with as it sat discarded atop the table in front of him. A crumpled sandwich container rested alongside it, now emptied save for a few crumbs and excess relish.

'Damn it,' he muttered, settled atop the near-empty, raised section of a coffee shop specially reserved for its smaller clientele. The novelty of the numerous giants roaming the main area of the store stood a long way from his mind by this point, his phone's clock giving the time as approaching five in the afternoon. 'It's been three hours... where is he?'

For the fifth time in as many minutes, Nathan checked his message inbox, desperately searching for some trace of contact from Alexei. Yet again, agonisingly, he wound up disappointed.

'Am sitting in a coffee shop at harbour - near to main entrance.'

Nathan paused for a moment, wondering in which direction to go with his message. He didn't want to come off impatient. After all, his wolf's own journey here wasn't all that straightforward.

'Been a while. Only so many times you can ride the paths round the terminal lol.'

Still, the wait he'd been subjected to had proved excruciating. It wasn't too much to know how much longer he'd have to hold out, was it?

'Is all okay? Was expecting u two hours ago... Please txt back x'

As much as he tried, Nathan just couldn't hold back the dark thoughts massing within.

'He's gonna be here... He's probably just having problems in immigration, just like you did--'

'What if he's got cold feet? What if he couldn't leave Velika behind?'

'Give it time. Be patient--'

'What if it was too hard for him to start all over again, with me?'

'Don't panic--'

'What if I'm here all by myself!?'

"Gods above," Nathan rumbled, standing up fast enough to almost knock his chair over. He ignored the curious glare from the tigress at the next table, as well as any attention he might have won from those towering above him in the main section. Grabbing his backpack, then his trolley, Nathan stormed out of the Polcian-sized doorway, not wishing to wait around for his emotions to truly emerge.

Back on the walkways, riding overground and underground around the now achingly familiar concourse hall, Nathan couldn't stop focusing on the dwindling number of people here compared with when he'd first arrived. Those that did remain walked and rode around purposefully, assured of their destinations in comparison to his own aimless wandering. The dagger it drove sank almost as deep into his chest as Alexei's absence.

'Please, gods, don't let this be happening... Don't say he's backed out.'

He covered his mouth, feeling physically capable of vomiting at any given moment.

'I don't know what I'll do if... if...'

"Fuck." Nathan stepped off the walkway, thoughts stopping the moment his tears started. "This is too much."

The huge, plate glass window he'd stopped beside offered him a perfect picture of a husky visibly torn asunder by the storming sensations of despair and dejection. He forced his eyeline further, to the ferry port sitting empty before a seemingly endless sea. The sun meanwhile dipped precariously, threatening the horizon with the arrival of darkest night.

'Have moved. Near big windows at back of hall...'

Nathan tried find the words he wanted to continue, but couldn't only muster the ones rattling noisiest around his head.

'Please txt me back! It's almost six. I'm starting to worry :('

He kept his glare to the world outside the window, hoping to mask his sorrow from any and all passersby. The dipping tail, folded ears and sagging shoulders however would betray him; they would tell the world of a person lost amid a sea as infinite as that standing before him.

A gentle buzz upon the outside of his thigh caused Nathan's ears to perk, a mere split-second before he realised its origin. "Alex!?"

Yet again, his paw dipped into his pocket, grabbing his phone before working the menu in record time to retrieve the waiting message.

'I am so very sorry. There is a problem :('

Nathan's knees almost buckled, such was the gravity of those nine simple words presented before him. Alone, they would be unremarkable. Together, they possessed the power to snatch the living soul from his weak, trembling form.

'No... He's left me all alone here. I-I can't...'

He threw a paw his muzzle, unable to catch the squeal of pain that slipped on by. "What's he done? Why isn't... What problem?"

"The problem is that I kept my little husky waiting for far too long."

Nathan about-turned with such force that he began to stumble, grabbing the handle of his trolley for support at the final second. A gloriously warm breeze awaited him; his wolf's gentle breathing and sweet smile offering more comfort than he could have ever realised.

"Alex!" Nathan screamed, almost choking on the lump in his throat. His pulse raced, paws tremored, tail wagged and tears flowed. "It's you! Y-You're here!"

"It is, and I am," Alexei chuckled, bending down to lean gently upon the raised balcony. His growing, lupine grin more than displayed his delight in setting eyes upon his little husky again. "I am sorry about that message. I saw you standing here, staring out of window."

"You... what?" Nathan's breathing quickened, wave after pleasant wave of relief now accompanied by a rising tide of anger. "It was a joke?"

"I... could not resist it."

"A joke!?" His words wavered, barely passing his tearful whimpering as he dashed over towards the mezzanine edge. "Do you have any idea...?" He grabbed Alexei's huge muzzle, cuffing his nose with a hint more force than might be deemed playful. "You fucking... I was worried you wouldn't be coming!"

"W-What?" Alexei gasped, snuffling at the soft strike with ears perked upright.

"You heard!"

"Oh, Nate." He expertly grabbed Nathan's arm between thumb and finger, causing him not a single ounce of pain in cutting off a second slap. "You worry so very much."

"Worry? What was I supposed to think? I... I really thought you'd changed your mind."

"I would not... could not do that to you." Alexei gathered him into his palm with the softest of touches, nuzzling away with unreserved affection. "As tough as it is to leave things behind, to move forwards... I would never leave you." He gently licked Nathan's nose, then again, right before kissing him lovingly on the muzzle tip. "I am sorry."

"You better be, you... jerk."

Alexei laughed loudly, lapping the tears from his husky's face before cuddling him firmly into the cozy, white-grey fur of his neck. "I cannot find the words to say how very much I have missed you, Nate."

"You took the words right out of my mouth, hon," Nathan rumbled back, voice suppressed by the thick fur all around him. "There were times... I thought I'd never see you again... I thought I'd never be able to touch or to smell or..." He looked up to Alexei's eyes, those incredible jewels of gold peering back almost instantly after. Without another word needed, they brought their muzzles together, sharing a kiss so close, so tender and so spectacular that it could have stopped the world turning.

"This is something we will never have to worry about again."

Nathan opened his eyes to find nothing but the warm, loving gaze of his partner; a sight that he'd have happily spent eternity savouring and still yearned for more. He reached out to stroke Alexei's fur, smiling at the white of his paw sinking to join with that of his wolf's muzzle. "What did happen? Why are you so late?"

"Immigration," Alexei grumbled, but didn't pull away. "They had so many questions about the new shop, about my old shop and about the insurance claim. Over five hours they held me for, and they would not let me message you. I am sorry for this."

"Not your fault." Nathan pecked his lips again, rumbling at the intoxicating, lupine taste and scent. "All that matters now is that you're here now."

For the first time since hearing his sweetly accented words, he turned from his lover to peer around the practically deserted harbour terminal. "So... What do we do now?"

Alexei gathered up his husky's belongings in his free paw, pulling him away from the sight of the desolate, lonely sea outside soon after. "We do whatever we wish." His tail wagged forcefully, clattering loudly against a low wall standing beside him. "Whatever it is, we will do it... together."

"That sounds good to me, Alex." Nathan replied, biting down on his lip and smiling with enough pleasure to almost start him crying all over again. "In fact, that sounds perfect."

"To me, also." Alexei beamed, pulling the zipper of his jacket down before clasping his beloved husky to his chest.

The exit doors shone out like a beacon, bright enough to leave everything else around them wallowing in the shade. As they drew nearer, more and more of not only the city, but also the pathway off to their new life together became clearer. Nathan could sense the uncontrollable, excited trembling of his paws, joining in unison with that of his partner.

He settled back into the reassuring heat of the chestruff enveloping him, exorcising the tension of the day, the weeks, the months with a deep, long drawn-out sigh.

"This is it, Nate." Alexei placed his paw upon the handle of the revolving door, looking downwards with an infectious, childlike grin. "Are you ready?"

"Always, Alex." Nathan basked in the irrepressible joy his wonderful wolf exuded, nuzzling at the barrier of white holding him safe and secure. "Let's go."