Hi. So their first part is the most romantically inclined bit, I'm thinking of whacking some action in later - combat action to be clear, nobody panic - and a bit if drama too. If anyone aside from sub ACTUALLY reads this...I'm just writing, mmmkay? Messing with characters. It's not like I'm baring my heart and soul to the whole internet here, I'm just writing a story.
TFF STORY: Cherry Blossom~
Instalment One.
Small pink heart shaped cherry blossoms littered the ground outside. It was warm out there. The sun was peeking slowly from above the mountains to the east of town.
Inside, the sweet music of a great JRPG was filling the otherwise cool room with a different kind of warmth. It wasn't the only kind of warmth being felt in the small apartment that morning.
Outside the bedroom, the adjacent bathroom tapped methodically as a leaking tap added to the ambient music. It was a clean bathroom - each tile somehow gleamed. The grout between them was smooth and all one colour. The medicine cabinet with mirrored doors was well arranged. Two toothbrushes sat in a cup on the sink. They were both blue.
There were dirty clothes piled in the corner and a few magazines of assorted genre by the toilet. There was also a light novel and a manga on the top.
The kitchen was disorganised - two bowls, tea and coffee cups, cutlery and a plate sat unwashed in the sink - both occupants had been too tired after their game to wash up. They both had the day off today, so they figured to hell with it; game time. A newspaper sat on the counter. It was unclear whether it was there to clean a spill or it just wasn't thrown away.
The meagre living room with the tiny glass coffee table was littered with theology and mythology books, papers and miscellaneous other stationery. A wad of cash was the result of all the High School books being returned. A red dress lay draped over the relatively new folding couch-bed.
The bedroom was occupied by clothes for both genders, bags, a few Japanese figma, trading and play arts figures. Three cafe uniforms hung on the door, two male and one female. Apparently ten people were under the duna on the bed.
The mess of nine orange fox tails belonged to Aaron Blade. The bright blue one belonged to Animus.
Animus' paw tightened on Aaron's bare chest as he slept. Aaron glanced down at it, awake. He smiled. Behind it were mixed feelings.
They lived together, Aaron and Animus. Aaron remembered how they had met - Aaron had walked into the High School filled with delinquents and waited for a class to finish to ask for directions. Then he had caught the girly looking Animus staring at him. Then they had talked. That led to both a friendship and a cafe job for the fox; some guy had left the cafe before Aaron had come to town. By then it had become clear that Animus was set upon by fate, Aaron took it upon himself to protect Animus, he had broken the legs of a LION and chained that lion to a tree for the bright blue wolf - and more. More things Animus didn't even know about let alone link to Aaron. By then it was obvious Animus was gay, but Aaron had taken awhile longer to see how Animus had a romantic interest in the cruel fox.
Aaron had been conflicted after that realisation, oh yes. In love with his Destroyer? Unheard of! And a guy at that!
But...he discovered that he wanted to reciprocate those feelings Animus had. And so here he was, waking up in his boxers with the man he loved. The Fox's smile turned pained. Even now Aaron was afraid of his sexuality. Always uncertain and relying on others...
Aaron sighed and eased himself out from under his blue wolfy lover's arm. He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed the grit from his eyes. He stood up and shuffled to the bathroom. He relieved himself and ambled to the kitchen to make himself a coffee and a cup of tea for Animus. For Ani...
Animus woke slowly up as the kettle thundered away in the kitchen. He smiled and stretched as the roaring of boiling water died down. He stood up and staggered to the sofa. He sat and smiled sleepily at Aaron as the fox sat down and passed him his drink.
"Ohayou," Aaron mumbled the informal Japanese 'good morning'.
"Ohayou!" Animus laughed. Aaron's thing for using Japanese traditions was a really cute quirk. They often greeted each other in Japanese in the morning, before they went to bed or if one of them was doing a shop run. Living with a 'weeaboo nerd son of a - ' wasn't that bad. The odd element of Japanese cuisine that dropped into Animus' life whenever Aaron cooked was always new and exciting to try. It was usually really nice too!
They drank their things in silence for a bit. Aaron had commented that their routine made them seem like a married couple. It had been a throw-away observation but Animus had nonetheless blushed. It had got him thinking though. Marriage...would he and Aaron actually try for marriage one day? Oh it was too much to think abouuuut~!
"What's with you?" Aaron mumbled to Animus. Ani removed his paws from his cheeks and stopped shaking his head with delight.
"Nothing!" Animus squeaked embarrassedly as he went back to his tea.
*Cute...* Aaron thought. He glanced away and angsted at the corner by the door. He too was thinking about their routines and more importantly how they were due for some new ones. After all...
"We graduated." Aaron smiled at Animus.
"Huh? Y-yeah! We did!"
They both had exceptional exit grades. Aaron wasn't surprised. His incredibly cruel means of protecting his boyf - his...friend...had dissuaded a lot of furs when it came to harming Animus in any way. This meant Animus had access to more study time and less time having to patch up both wounds and self-esteem.
Aaron wasn't up for the whole discussion involving both of their futures just yet. He wanted them both to go to university and get some really great jobs. But he also just wanted to settle and work things out. Then again...Aaron knew he spent way too much time working his emotions out and not enough time doing things for them both.
Speaking of doing things for Animus...
Aaron abruptly stood up and went to their room. He rummaged around in his most embarrassing possession - a Kingdom Hearts chest he had commissioned some guy over the internet - and brought out a parcel he had received in the mail. Aaron took it back to the living room and plonked it on the coffee table by a mythology book Ani had been reading and had just then returned to.
"That package you never opened?" Animus asked curiously.
*He's reading about...nine tailed fox myths?* Aaron wondered. He smiled slightly at the first time he had told Animus about the myths surrounding his kind. They had just met, and were going to the cafe for the first time...
"Yeah." Aaron said as he scratched his nose. He always did that when he was uncomfortable. Generally when he wasn't sure his to feel or act. Animus felt glad he knew about his love's quirks. What boyfriend would he be if he DIDN'T know? "I uh...I got it for you. As a kind of...you know. A graduation present. I mean it's not like...ugh, just open it!"
*It's not like either of our parents will be able to do it for us anyway.* Aaron glowered at the floor.
"Oh, Aaron I love it!" Animus squeaked happily and stood, wrapping his arms around Aaron's neck and holding him tightly. In his hand was the boxed Halo 4 Promethean Knight figure Aaron had purchased a month or so ago.
"Well I know you're a huge halo fanboy." Aaron smiled and hugged Animus back. "I figured it was time to start your figure collection."
Animus giggled and let go of Aaron. He inspected his new collectible with an almost childlike zeal. His tail was slightly curled and wagging like there was no tomorrow. Then it slowed as Animus looked up with a guilty expression.
"Oh, Aaron...I didn't get anything for you..."
"Like it matters." Aaron flicked an ear and sat back down on the sofa.
"It does matter though!" Animus insisted. "After all, you're my..."
He trailed off. He wanted to say it, but Aaron still wasn't sure. He was trying, but he still seemed afraid of his emotions.
"Y-y-your...b-boyfriend...I get it..." Aaron mumbled, looking away and rubbing his arm. He only rubbed his arm like that if he was really conflicted.
"What?" Animus asked, sounding hopeful.
"I said I get it, stupid!"
"Okay! Okay...it's okay Aaron." Silence fell between them both for a long twenty minutes. Then Aaron said:
"A-Ani? I...I'm...sorry. I know by now you must be sick of me apologising for every thing that passes between us...but I...I've never been great with dealing with how I feel. But...everything I do, sharing a bed with you, living with you, everything, it...it's not just empty habit. It's not just trying to pacify you. I...I want to lo-love...you. No, rather I DO love you... I guess I just haven't wrapped my head around the fact that I'm...gay. You know, I just...I just keep asking myself what my parents would think, what my damn inscrutable master thinks, I..."
Aaron sighed. He was clutching his arm like it was about to fall off. "I want this. I really do. And I know you're doing your best to help me. One day I'll...I'll be ready to...to properly...k-kiss you."
Aaron bit his lip and focused on his breathing. He wasn't trembling though. But he felt like he was. He felt like he was letting Animus down by being so afraid of his emotions. Animus put his Knight gently down by the book on fox mythology and sat right next to Aaron. The wolf didn't hug the fox, but he did lean gently on Aaron. Aaron unconsciously wrapped a few of his tails around Animus.
"It's fine, Aaron. It really is! I understand, and I'm happy with what we have, really!"
*You mean that too...you're so stupid...* Aaron thought gently. Then he twitched.
"What's wrong?" Animus asked.
"W-well...we should both probably tell our parents how we did...and then I need to tell my...family and master."
"Huh? Are we going to stay in your hometown again? Yay!"
"Why are you so excited...at any rate we need to check into work and get time off. Plus we have the midday shifts today. The new guy, Erebus, is working this morning. Hmmm."
"What do we do until then?" Animus asked, clutching the bottom of his shirt and wagging his tail.
"Why not play with your Knight? I'll watch." Aaron offered, leaning on a fist and putting on that sly fox curling smile that recently melted Animus' heart more than usual.
"Be serious!" Animus demanded playfully.
"I was. You're adorable at play." Aaron said evenly.
"I-I'm not...stop saying stuff like that...!" Animus looked away. "And besides I don't wanna open it in case..."
"The collector's curse." Aaron grinned. "Why not play with some Knights in the actual game? We can co-OP the campaign in legendary."
"But we sucked so bad on heroic!" Animus half laughed, half whined. Then a thought struck him. "Well...we didn't. I'm pretty good! But if you get all determined to beat it...we won't get to work."
It was true: Aaron never rage quit. He only got scarier...plus the two of then were quite good at halo but Animus was the better player; he played halo solo, on hard. Aaron on the other hand was the master of difficult mode JRPG's.
"I promise to agreeable. Come on...or we can it's through on easy."
"Aaron, don't challenge yourself. We have work this afternoon." Animus said as sternly as far as Animus had a 'stern' setting.
"Ugh, fine. We'll d**k around on heroic."
"Yay!" Animus cheered and messed around with the TV and gaming consoles. It was decided. Animus crawled around to Aaron and handed the nine tailed fox his controller. Aaron took it and leaned over onto Animus' legs as the wolf curled up by the left arm of the sofa. Ani looked at Aaron. Aaron leaned tentatively up and extended his nose.
"Hm?" Animus mumbled as he turned his head to properly face Aaron. Was Aaron about to try and...and...?
Aaron parted his lips a little and reached behind Animus' head. Animus leaned in. He was starting to get excited. Aaron was trembling. As their noses neared, Aaron jerked back, quickly covering his movements up by scratching the sensitive spot behind animus' hears. Ani blinked and murred softly at Aaron's touch.
*Not ready yet, hon?* Animus thought. *Its okay. You're trying.*
Aaron glared at the floor.
*WHY CAN'T I DO IT!? I want to! But I'm...still afraid. I need to stop thinking about other people! I just...it's just me and him. Just me and him. I...love him. I don't doubt that. I need...to focus. On Ani, for Ani. That's it...*
"Menu!" Animus said helpfully. Aaron snapped out of his stupor and focused on the game.
"Skip the cutscenes?" He asked the wolf he was using as a pillow.
"Yeah," Animus said with his gaming face on. It was a cute focus face in Aaron's opinion. Despite how much Animus disliked being called 'cute' or 'adorable' he really was. His demeanour and his face was just -
"Oh god!" Aaron jumped as the first volley of action flew in his direction.
"Keep up!" Animus laughed.
"Get rekd~!" Aaron snapped at the TV.
...
