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Tensions are building, and Axel makes a bold statement. Hope you all enjoy this little slice of life!\n\n", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Axel and Isaac are back! Tensions are building, and Axel makes a bold statement. Hope you all enjoy this little slice of life!

", "writing": "Axel stood under a hot spray of water as steam filled the bathroom and his lungs, fog mirroring the haze in his mind. It had been a couple of weeks since he and Isaac had taken their first shower together, and since his brothers were safely fostering with another family now, Axel's thoughts kept circling back to how badly he wanted to manhandle the slender fox again. The puma ached to get him alone, to hold his naked body close, to feel the brush of Isaac's fur against him. To caress his cheek, feel his firm chest beneath his fluffy fur, and to wander down to touch him more intimately...\n\n\"[i]Agh![/i] Damn it!\" Of course, it was getting to be early fall, and Isaac's after-school tutoring was picking up again now that Axel was doing better in English. He considered intentionally tanking his grade to spend more time with Isaac, but he knew the fox could tell if he did. There was a track meet next week, and Axel's coach was insisting the puma do more drills and practice for their next game. All this, plus homework, meant that Axel barely had time to see Isaac since that day. The only reliable exceptions were driving to and from school, meals, and when they went to bed, exhausted at night. So today, like every day for the past week, his thoughts gravitated towards Isaac and the things Axel longed to try with him.[i] I want it to be special for him, but... Does he even realize how much I want him?[/i] \"Hah!\" The puma laughed sadly. [i]How could he? It's not like I've had time to talk about it. He probably doesn't even realize I still want him. I'm a terrible boyfriend... I gotta make it up to him somehow. In the meantime, though, I better deal with this...[/i]\n\nEvery morning, his thoughts drifted to Isaac, and every time the thought was enough to make Axel pulse with desire. The puma's thick, sturdy paw wandered south, soapy lather making him slick. Breathing a slow sigh, he closed his eyes, and recalled the feeling of Isaac in the shower with him, and the sounds the fox made when he stroked his hard length. Axel twitched, and he bit his lip, air hissing in through his sharp teeth. \"Fuck... Isaac...\" The puma's free arm came up to rest against the shower wall, and Axel propped his forehead against it, the water running down his face and back. \n\n\"Isaac... [i]Aah![/i]\" \n\nIt took barely any effort these days. Pleasure tingled in his thighs, racing into his stomach as he twitched and spasmed, coating the shower knobs in a sticky mess. Sighing, he stood under the water for a few moments, before shame crept in and he started cleaning things up. [i]I can't believe I did that. Again. I really need to just tell Isaac how I feel. Maybe we're making this a bigger deal than it needs to be? Are we expecting too much? I mean, I've had sex before. Mine wasn't all that exciting, but Isaac is special, and [/i] - \n\nA rapid knock at the door jolted him out of his monologue. \"What's u-up?\" Axel's voice cracked as he shouted.\n\nAxel heard the door creak open a hair and Isaac's voice rang out. \"Hey, I need to shower too and it's getting close to breakfast. Is everything okay?\"\n\n\"Sh- Yeah, sorry, just, ah, takin' my time, hehe...\" Axel laughed awkwardly. \"I'm finishing up now, and I don't have thick fur like yours, I'll be out in about five minutes.\"\n\n\"Great! Thanks babe!\" The door shut again as Axel's heart fluttered. Babe. Heh.\n\nSoon, the boys were in the car, sharing a few precious minutes before school. Axel fidgeted, languishing in the silence that stretched between them. Drumming his fingers on the dashboard, bouncing his leg, he felt a cool sweat moistening his forehead and the small of his back. \"Uh, so, h-hun, how's everything going?\"\n\nIsaac gave Axel a slow smile and laughed shakily. \"Oh, I'm fine. I... just miss spending time with you. Um...\" Isaac tapped a finger on the steering wheel. \"Is everything okay with us? Like, are we okay? Are you, upset with me, or is something going on, or am I... am I not...\" Isaac trailed off as his voice choked up and his eyes grew misty.\n\nThe puma's spine straightened like an iron rod, and he placed a heavy paw on Isaac's trim thigh. \"No! No, everything's fine! I know it's been hard to find time to hang out recently, but I'm not upset or anything. I love you, Isaac. There's nothing going on. Why would you even ask that? Wait... are you okay?\"\n\n\"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. Just emotional, I guess.\" [i]I know what you're doing in the shower. Do you not want to do that with me, too?[/i] Isaac bit his lip and held his tongue. He knew he was being unfair, but he still couldn't help but feel slighted. [i]He seemed so into it when we took that shower together. So why has he been so distant? I know we haven't really had any time alone together, but still...[/i]\n\nThey pulled into the parking lot in silence and sat for a moment after they unbuckled their seat belts. Isaac stammered, \"W-Well, I guess I'll see you later. I... I love you?\" His voice went up at the end, making it sound like a question.\n\nAxel heard that, and his heart dropped in his chest. [i]He's upset... what did I do? What do I do now? Quick, think of something, say something![/i]\n\n\"Love you too.\"\n\n[i]That's pathetic![/i] Axel grimaced as he got out of the car. Isaac's head hung down, and he shuffled his feet towards the school. The puma trudged along behind him, wracking his brain for something, anything he could do to break his fox out of his sadness. At last, something clicked, and he ran up to Isaac and spun him around. \n\n\"Hey! Let's do something this weekend. You and me, together. I... I don't know what yet, but I'll think of something. We'll spend time together, have some fun, it'll be great! I'll show you a real good time. You in?\"\n\nIsaac blinked. [i]Damn. I'm still hurt, but it's not his fault. And he's not even doing anything wrong. I'm just... ugh, I'm just horny.[/i] The fox smiled wanly. \"Yeah, that sounds... great. I - \" \n\nIsaac's eyes went wide as Axel swooped in to lock lips, right on the steps of the school. It was brief, but warm, and tender, and when the puma pulled away Isaac stood stunned. The fox stared at the puma's goofy smile for a moment, then finally laughed giddily. \"Hah! Okay, not that I'm complaining, but I thought you wanted to keep us a secret?\"\n\nAxel rubbed a paw against the back of his head. \"W-Well, I kinda do still. But, uh, you seemed super upset, and I thought this was, well, more important. You've been out of it for a couple of days, and I just wanted to see you smile again. And look!\" The puma caressed Isaac's fluffy cheek. \"You're smiling for me. Just what I wanted.\" \n\nIsaac stared into Axel's eyes and wondered how a face so strong could look at him so softly. A shiver ran through him, and he wrapped his arms around his puma. \"I love you, Axel. I'm sorry, there is something bugging me but... it's stupid.\"\n\nBRRRING!\n\n\"Well, let's talk about it. Maybe later, though, Mr. Lopez is gonna kill us if we're late to class again.\"\n\nThe fox chuckled. \"Hey, I've still got a good boy reputation. You're the delinquent.\"\n\nAxel wrapped his palm against the top of Isaac's head and mussed his hair. \"I guess that means you've got a thing for bad boys, huh? Come on, let's go before I decide we're skipping homeroom.\"\n\nThe two walked down the hallway, joking and laughing, the earlier tension forgotten. They were so absorbed in each other's company that they didn't notice the girl who'd been watching them for the last several minutes. Dusting off her skirt, she walked towards her homeroom class, murmuring to herself. \"Axel Stoneheath's got a thing for the nerd, huh? Interesting...\"\n\n...\n\nLunchtime came around, and Axel was once again waiting for Isaac to arrive at the cafeteria. He felt a tap on his shoulder and spun around excitedly. \"Hey, Isaac - \"\n\nHowever, instead of a handsome fox, there was a short female poodle with curly chocolate fur. She was wearing as provocative an outfit as she could manage: a skirt that came down just low enough to not get sent home, a tight polo shirt, and boots with a bit of a heel on them. It was a definite `popular girl' look; Axel's girlfriends usually wore some variation of it. However, he didn't recognize this girl. Smiling politely, he nodded. \"Ah, sorry, I was waiting for someone. Did you need something?\"\n\n\"Yeah! You're Axel Stoneheath, right?\" The puma nodded quietly. \"Cool! I'm Monae Allweather. I'm a junior, and I just joined the cheer squad this year! But, um...\" She looked away coquettishly and smiled. \"I'm not really part of the `in' crowd yet. So, I'm throwing a party Friday night to boost my cred!\" Looking up triumphantly, she beamed. \"My parents are out of town at some kind of conference, a ton of the cheer team and most of the football team is coming, but you were the last one I needed to invite. And you're popular, all the other cheerleaders, uh... talk about you. Whaddaya say? It'll be a real rager!\"\n\nAxel sighed as she batted her eyelashes at him. \"I don't know, I sorta had plans this weekend - wait! Can I invite someone too?\" Axel's eyes sparkled as he looked excitedly at the poodle. \n\nMonae blinked in surprise. \"Uh, I guess it depends? Who do you want to invite?\"\n\n\"Isaac Talbot.\"\n\n\"Oh, ah, I know him. He's... he's not really very popular. He's actually kind of a social land mine, isn't he?\" Axel opened his mouth, but Monae kept talking. \"But... I guess he saved my butt on with my final essay last semester, so I kinda owe him. And he's pretty cute, in a nerdy way. Is he, like, fun? At all?\"\n\n\"He's just really shy. I think it'd be good for him to get out of his shell and open up. I've been... hanging out with him a lot lately, he's sweet - nice! Heh...\" Axel swallowed hard and hoped he'd covered up well enough.\n\nApparently he had. \"Well, yeah, that's good enough for me. Just make sure he doesn't bring down the vibe. Here, let me get your number so I can text you my address.\" They exchanged information, then Monae flounced off to get lunch. \"Show up around eight! Make sure he dresses for a party, too!\"\n\n\"Got it!\" Axel turned and saw Isaac dodging his way through the crowd, reaching him in just a couple of minutes. \"Damn, you really are wasted on track. You sure you don't want to try out for the team?\"\n\nThe fox chuckled. \"Yeah, yeah. One good hit and you'd have to scrape me off the field with a spatula. Come on, it's spaghetti day, I'm starving!\"\n\nTrays piled high with pasta, they took an isolated table in the back and started eating. Axel paused for a moment to ask, \"So, how would you like to go to a party on Friday?\"\n\nIsaac blinked. \"I... I don't know? I've never been invited to one before. How did you swing that?\"\n\n\"New cheerleader wants a reputation boost, and I told her I wanted to get you out of your shell. Which is true.\" Axel twirled some spaghetti around his fork and chomped it down. \"But I won't make you go. If you want to stay home, I'll stay with you. I promised we'd do something together, and I meant it.\"\n\nThe fox thought for a moment. \"Well, do you want to go?\"\n\nAxel nodded. \"Yeah, I'd really like to go. And I want you to come with. I want to show you my side of things for once.\"\n\n\"Okay. I'll do it for you.\" Isaac's paw reached towards Axel's, but he remembered where he was and flinched back. \"Ah, sorry. I wasn't thinking. Oh!\" \n\nIsaac tensed up and his eyes went wide as he felt something brush against the inside of his calf. He shivered as it rubbed up and down. \"Uh, Axel?\"\n\n\"Shh. Don't react. Just keep eating.\" Axel gave a mischievous grin and wolfed down another portion of pasta. \n\n\"O-Okay...\" Isaac blushed, his ears folding back as a giddy rush of heat flooded his face. He poked his fork into his lunch, but had a hard time focusing on the meal as Axel's foot brushed against him. Taking a bite, he swallowed heavily. \"I-I-I... isn't this awful risky? D-Do you actually enjoy this kind of thing?\" \n\nThe puma chuckled, a deep rumble. \"Yeah. Yeah, I really do. I love getting away with stuff like this.\" Lowering his voice to a bare whisper, he leaned towards Isaac and growled, \"And doing this with you totally, absolutely turns me the fuck on.\"\n\n\"Hah! Oooh...\" Isaac's breath hitched as Axel gently pressed his foot into the fox's crotch.\n\n\"Breathe, you're too obvious. Look at me.\"\n\n\"O-Okay...\" Isaac looked up and - \n\n[i]Oh, fuck.[/i]\n\nAxel finished eating and set his fork down, resting his elbows on the table and his head in his paws. Isaac noticed that the puma's dispassionate look concealed his complete focus on him, as shown by some subtle cues. Axel's icy-blue eyes held his in an intense stare, and he was leaning forward to close some of the distance between the two of them. When he noticed Isaac staring at him, his tongue darted out hungrily to lick his lips, and he chuckled. \"Yeah... I like the way you're looking at me right now, little fox.\"\n\n\"A-A-Ah! Ah, l-lunch is gonna be over soon. I need to, um, calm down... Ooh!\" \n\nAxel pressed his foot against him one more time and withdrew it, dragging it along Isaac's leg before retreating to his side of the table. Winking at him, the puma pointed at Isaac's tray. \"You barely ate half your lunch. Such a waste.\"\n\nIsaac glared at him. \"I was a bit distracted, asshole.\" Then, he mouthed, `Love you', and started scarfing down his now-cold food.\n\n\"You, too.\" Axel said aloud, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. The bell rang, and they stood up together. \"Want me to walk you to your next... Oh, shit! Haha, wow!\"\n\n\"What's up? Wait...\" Isaac felt a cool, sticky sensation where Axel had been rubbing earlier, looked down, and saw a wet spot on the front of his jeans. \"Shit! Axel, what do I do?!\"\n\n\"Nothing? Chill. We're teenagers, nobody's gonna dare question it.\" Axel walked beside the fox and leaned over. \"Besides,\" he whispered, \"didn't you have fun?\"\n\nIsaac grumbled. \"That's... that's beside the point.\"\n\n\"Haah, I knew it!\" The puma punched him in the shoulder, causing Isaac to smile and look away, blushing. \"I bet nobody even notices it. Let's get you to chem.\"\n\n...\n\nThe rest of the week passed uneventfully, except for Axel's growing boldness at school. He took every opportunity he could to tease the poor fox, who was too proud to admit that he was loving every minute. That Friday, Axel drove them home after school to practice what he'd been learning from Isaac's dad. He trundled slowly down side streets until they got to their house. Isaac switched with him to park the car in the garage, and they went to shower and get changed for the party. Axel showered while Isaac combed his hair and brushed his teeth at the sink nearby.\n\n\"So, where are your parents? Shouldn't they have been home by now?\" Axel said, calling through the shower curtain.\n\nIsaac replied, \"Oh, yeah, they said they're going to be out of town for the next week. Dad's working from home anyway, and Mom barely runs the diner anymore, so they went to stay with cousin Andrea. You know, the one that just had a baby?\"\n\n\"Dude, you have so many cousins, I can't keep track of them all. I don't know how you do it.\" Axel shut off the water and opened the curtain, reaching for his towel. \"Hey, can you pass me the... pfft!\"\n\nAxel caught Isaac staring slack-jawed at him. The puma was dripping wet, fur slicked down to his burly body. Axel gave Isaac a smug grin and flexed his thick biceps. \"You like what you see, little fox? You could shower with me next time, you know. Get real close to me. I know you like that... oh! Heh... hey there?\"\n\nAxel's eyes went wide, and he blushed as Isaac stepped forward and traced a finger along the puma's still-wet chest, pushing a claw through the fur and against the skin below. The fox held Axel's gaze with his own, and the larger boy saw Isaac's eyes filled with a passionate sensuality that made his spine tingle and his knees weak. \"Uh, w-whatcha doin' there, pipsqueak?\"\n\n\"Pipsqueak? That's a throwback. You haven't called me that since Junior year. But if you're trying to bully me, I can play that game...\" Isaac kicked Axel's towel up off the floor and caught it in his paw, then tossed it over the puma's head. Giving the muscular cat's nipple a tweak, he retreated to their bedroom. \"Hurry up, meathead, we need to go soon!\" he teased.\n\n\"Mea - I'm making straight A's!\" Axel chortled as he took down the towel and caught sight of his retreating boyfriend. [i]God, I love it when he wears those briefs. That ass...[/i]\n\n\"I know! And you're welcome!\" Isaac's tail flicked up and waved about as he cackled and left the puma's view.\n\n[i]Oh man, when did he get so confident? Him teasing me is... that's... so hot.[/i] Axel rubbed the towel through his short yet thick fur, moving down, and twitched when he noticed he was getting hard, halfway there and leaking. He bit his lip and gave himself a little rub. [i]Hah. Isaac, you have no idea how much you drive me crazy. I can't wait any longer. This weekend... Everything's falling into place. You better be ready, little fox, because I'm gonna... I'm gonna...[/i] Axel swallowed hard, a dark pit forming in his stomach. [i]Oh no. What exactly am I gonna do with him? Will he want to go... all the way? What's all the way for gay guys? Shit, we have condoms - thanks, Mr. Talbot - but won't we need lube? They're giving me an allowance, maybe I could buy some?[/i] \n\nHis thoughts raced as he pulled his boxers on and walked to the room. [i]Play it cool, just ask him. Ask him if he has lube. Oh, my God...[/i] Axel turned the corner. \"Hey, um, Isaac, do you, er, have any... uhhh - \"\n\nThe puma stopped and stared at Isaac. He'd pulled on a tight white t-shirt that hugged his body, and was wearing a gold-hued chain with a small, dark green-brown stone that matched the fox's hazel eyes. Layered on top of that was a hunter green button-up, sleeves rolled up and only half-buttoned to expose his slender chest. He'd artfully, messily tucked the shirt into a pair of light jeans with a brown belt that accented the stone in the necklace. \n\nAxel's jaw worked soundlessly as he took in the sight. [i]He's beautiful. He could be a model. Damn, do I take a picture? I gotta take a picture. Why can't I move? [/i]\n\n\"A-Axel? Is everything okay? Do I look all right? This was the only thing I could think of, cousin Sherry helped me pick this out for if I ever went to a party. Is this not good enough?\"\n\n[i]It's perfect. You're stunning. It's gorgeous. It's sexy as fuck. You're gonna be the hottest person there, and when we get home, I'm going to tear all that off you with my teeth. You...[/i] \"You look fine.\" [i]What the fuck?! Idiot![/i]\n\nIsaac relaxed a bit. \"Oh, good. I was worried, I haven't worn these since I bought them. I must have gained some weight since then, they're a little bit tight honestly.\"\n\n\"Uh-huh...\" Axel nodded, unable to tear his stare away. \"They're, um, definitely tight...\"\n\n\"Oh, is it too much? I might have something else, let me look.\" The fox sashayed over to the closet and started rummaging around.\n\nHe jumped with a start when Axel's brawny arms suddenly wrapped around his chest and pulled him backward. The puma growled in his ear, \"Don't you dare.\"\n\nIsaac looked up at Axel. \"But I don't want people to think my clothes don't fit. Why... oh! Uh, Ax? You, uh...\" Isaac felt something poking against his jeans, just beneath his tail, and the fox glanced up to meet Axel's gaze.\n\n\"Yeah. I know. And I promise you now, we are going to do something about it later. But, yeah, no. You... you should leave those on.\" Axel trembled as he held Isaac close. The handsome cat was panting, and he licked his lips as he stared transfixed by his lover's starry eyes. Then, just as suddenly, he let Isaac go. \"S-Shit, I... sorry. I'll get dressed, we need to go soon.\"\n\n\"W-We, uh, wait, we could stay here. We don't have t-to go anywhere...\" Isaac turned and shifted uncomfortably as he bulged against the tight fabric of his jeans.\n\n\"Nah, it's bad manners to say you'll show up, and then not. But beside that... I kinda, er, well... I want to show you off?\"\n\n\"Y-You do? You know that nobody knows we're dating, right?\"\n\n\"Yeah, but like, I kinda want to see other people looking at you the way I do tonight.\"\n\n\"That's... you want people to give me fuck-me eyes?\"\n\nAxel blinked, then guffawed. \"Hah! I've never heard that before. But yeah. I think you're gonna get a ton of attention tonight. And I want you to have fun with it. Besides, I know you're not into girls, and the only other gay guy at school knows I'd grind him into a paste if he tried to snag you. So, to be clear...\" Axel leaned into Isaac's face and grabbed his chin. \"You've got three years of high school parties to make up for, and if there's one thing that can make you popular, it's flirting with all the popular girls. So get out there and. Break. Some. Hearts.\" The puma placed his paw behind Isaac's head and pulled him in for a long, passionate, and slightly wet kiss.\n\n...\n\nAxel insisted on practicing night driving with Isaac as an excuse to drive him to the party. The fox agreed Axel needed the practice, pretending not to see straight through the puma's `ruse'. Much to their surprise, they only had to travel about 10 minutes to reach Monae's house.\n\nAs they pulled up, Isaac rubbed his paws against his thighs, bouncing a knee. \"A-Are you sure I should be here? I don't know what I'm doing, what if I embarrass myself? Oh no, what if I'm boring?! Ahh...\" The fox's ears folded down, and he buried his face in his paws. \"I'm not ready for this!\"\n\n\"Babe, look at me. Hey, come on, I mean it. Look at me.\" Isaac slowly turned his head, and looked at Axel, his eyes calm and reassuring. The puma stroked his cheek and kissed him under the cover of the night. \"Trust me, you're not boring. And I'll be there the whole time, so you have nothing to worry about. Now come on. Let's knock `em dead!\" Axel gave Isaac a fist bump, then pulled him into a hug. \n\nFeeling better, Isaac pulled away and stepped out of the car onto the sidewalk. Axel soon joined him, and they walked up to a two-story, colonial-style home that had Monae's house number on the front. Loud, thumping music pounded through the door, and Isaac's heart fluttered in time to the beat. [i]I'm going to my first party... with Axel. What do I even do here? Should I have brought something? No, Axel would've said something. Just be cool! Be cool...[/i] The fox's thoughts raced as Axel pressed on the doorbell. \n\nIsaac didn't hear the doorbell ring, but someone must have, because mere moments later, the front door opened, and a wave of music and chatter assaulted the boys' ears. Monae, dressed in a crop top and a skirt that Isaac thought was absurdly short, beamed up at them. \"Hey, you two made it! Isaac, long time no see! Get in here, we're just getting started.\" The poodle bounced her way down the hall with Axel and Isaac in tow. Escorting them to the kitchen, she gestured around the room. \n\n\"There's chips and dip, and soda if you're lame. There's beer in the fridge, help yourselves. I've got to play hostess, so get comfortable. Stay out of the bedrooms, bathrooms are there - \" she pointed across the room, \" - there's one down the hallway and one upstairs. Find me if you need anything. Oh, and Isaac?\" The fox blinked and met her eyes, catching the poodle eyeing him up and down as she licked her lips. \"You, ah, you clean up real nice. Try not to let him get into too much trouble, okay Axel?\"\n\nThe puma smirked. \"Hey, I'm trying to get him to loosen up, remember? If he can even cause trouble, it'll be a miracle.\" \n\n\"Looking like that? He's trouble already.\" Monae winked at the boys, then flounced off to court a tall young stallion that Axel recognized as one of the boys from the basketball team. \n\nIsaac hugged his arm to his side and fidgeted around. Shouting slightly to be heard over the music, he looked up at Axel. \"O-Okay, this is, um... this is a lot. What do we do now?\" \n\n\"Well, I'm driving. And you're freaking out. Uh...\" Axel watched as Isaac's tail twitched and flicked behind him. \"You know what? You're having a beer.\"\n\n\"What?! We're eighteen! I can't have alcohol yet!\" the fox protested, but Axel was already opening the refrigerator.\n\nPulling out a can, he cracked it open and handed it to Isaac. \"Dude, I do this all the time. One beer isn't gonna hurt you, it's just to relax you a bit. Just try it, I promise it'll help.\"\n\n\"Okay...\" Isaac eyed the can, beads of condensation forming on it, and then gave a tentative sip. Axel laughed as the fox made a sour face. \"Ugh! That's so bitter!\"\n\n\"It'll grow on ya. Come on, lets go sit down.\" Axel grabbed a can of soda and led Isaac to the living room. Crossing his legs, Axel took a seat on the floor, and Isaac did the same. A pair of girls, a pine marten and a calico cat, were sitting on the couch across from them, along with a male golden lab who was wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the wrestling team's mascot. \n\nThe calico lit up as the boys sat down. \"Axel! I'm so glad you're here, I've been dying for some conversation.\" The labrador flinched and pouted as she continued. \"Ooh, and you have to introduce me to your friend!\" The cat glanced over at Isaac and winked, causing the fox to blush and take a long swig of his beer.\n\nAxel smiled. \"Yeah! Chelsea, Mina, this is Isaac. Isaac, Chelsea and Mina.\" Axel pointed at the calico, then the marten, respectively. \"They're on the cheer team, I've known them for a couple years now.\"\n\nMina gasped and put two fingers to her mouth. \"Wait! You're Isaac? Isaac Talbot?\"\n\nIsaac fidgeted, taking another sip of beer. \"Um... yes?\"\n\n\"Oh my God! I didn't even recognize you! Don't you usually wear glasses? And you're dressed... uh... well, you look great!\" The marten leaned closer to him and rested her elbows on her knees. \"You should dress like this more often; you're a real hidden gem, aren't you?\"\n\nIsaac glanced at Axel, who winked and gave him a slight nod. Taking a deep breath, he smiled at Mina. \"Thanks! That's a real compliment coming from a girl as pretty as you. I like your, um... hair?\"\n\n\"Oh, please! I barely even had time to get ready tonight. But... you like it?\" Mina smiled coyly and looked away, smiling shyly. \n\nIsaac continued to talk to Mina as Axel and Chelsea gossiped. At some point, Mina got up to grab a beer, and when she returned, she brought one for Isaac, too. Unsure how to say no, the fox accepted it, holding on to it until the labrador - whose name Isaac overheard was Dale - convinced them to play a game of `Never Have I Ever'.\n\n\"How do you play?\" Isaac asked.\n\nAxel replied, \"Someone starts by saying something they've never done, like... never have I ever gone camping, or something. If you have done the thing, you take a drink! It's great for getting to know people, and uh... getting drunk. Heh.\" The puma blushed and rubbed a paw against the back of his neck.\n\n\"Oh! Well then, who's going to start?\" Isaac cracked open his beer and glanced around.\n\n\"I'll start, and we'll go around to my left, so that you can see how it works. Sound good, kid?\" Dale puffed out his chest, glancing at the girls next to him to see if they were looking at him.\n\nThey weren't. \"Sure, sure, let's go already!\" Mina had grabbed a couple of extra beers and set them in between the group. \"Grab a new one if you run out!\"\n\nThe labrador pouted again. \"Aw... okay, uh, never have I ever... cheated on a test.\"\n\n Mina and Chelsea both took sips of their drinks. Dale cocked an eyebrow at Axel and said, \"Really? Football star like you never once cheated on a test?\"\n\n\"Dude, I don't need to cheat. I'm pretty smart!\" The puma straightened his back and posed. \n\n\"Huh. Didn't expect that. Okay, Mina, you're up.\"\n\n\"Okay! Never have I ever dated a girl!\"\n\nDale and Axel both took sips of their drinks. Then, after a brief pause, so did Chelsea. Mina smiled and gasped. \"Chels! You never told me that!\"\n\n\"It wasn't a big deal, and besides, she was awful. Anyway! Never have I ever dated two people at the same time.\"\n\nThey went around the circle, asking questions and drinking. They soon stopped going in order and dissolved into asking randomly. Once Axel finished his soda, he indulged in the beer Mina had brought. Isaac was two drinks in and working on his third, as he felt an unfamiliar buzz in his head. He was smiling and laughing, and his good mood seemed to be infectious; even Dale was grinning and talking to the fox animatedly.\n\n\"Okay, okay, I got a good one. Never have I ever... tongue-kissed a guy!\" Mina laughed.\n\nChelsea groaned and rolled her eyes. \"Girl, you're just trying to get me drunk now.\" She took a long pull from her now-warm beer and grimaced. \"I never should've told you about Tim, he was... shit, Dale?!\"\n\nThe labrador took a deep breath, then chugged the rest of his nearly full drink. Looking away, he sighed. \"I, uh... well, the game's no fair if you lie, right? Yeah...\"\n\n Isaac and Axel glanced at each other, then over at the girls. Chelsea blinked a few times, then burst out laughing. \"Hah! And I thought you were boring! Maybe you're all right after all. So are you like, gay then? `Cause you were hitting on my girl Mina pretty hardcore.\"\n\n\"I'm, uh, bi. And drunk. Sooo drunk. God, I can't believe I just came out over a drinking game.\" Dale groaned and buried his head in his paws. \"Ugh, just shoot me or something. Geez, this is embarrassing...\"\n\nIsaac reached over and drunkenly patted the labrador's knee. \"Hey, man, don't stress about it so much. I think it's really brave of you to come out, even if it's in a bit of a weird situation.\"\n\n\"Thanks...\" Dale mumbled. \"Uh, I gotta... go to the bathroom.\" He suddenly stood up, wobbling on his feet and falling back onto the couch. \n\n\"H-Hey! Careful! Do you need a hand?\" Isaac stood up and offered the lab his paw.\n\n\"Oh, um, sure. Thanks.\" He let Isaac pull him to his feet. \"Damn, you've got soft paws... Sorry!\" Dale yanked his paw free of the fox's grasp, stumbling back a step.\n\nIsaac wrapped the lab's arm around his shoulders and his own arm snaked around the dog's waist. \"Dude, you're going to fall over again. Let's go get you to the bathroom.\" They stumbled off as Monae plopped down on the now vacant couch.\n\n\"Well, they're awful close, aren't they?\" The poodle smiled and watched as Isaac shoved Dale into the bathroom and slid the door shut for him. \"I bet they'd make a cute couple, yeah?\"\n\nAxel blinked. \"I... I don't think Isaac swings that way.\"\n\nMina scoffed. \"Oh, no, he's totally gay. I kept leaning over and he didn't even glance at my tits. And these things are great!\" She hefted her ample bosom in her paws, causing Monae and Chelsea to cackle. \n\nAxel looked away, blushing. \"T-That doesn't mean he's gay. He's just a really nice guy, he's not like the other guys, he's - \"\n\n\"Gay. Yeah, we said that. It's cool, though, maybe it'll get Dale off our backs.\" Chelsea finished her beer and set the empty can on the coffee table. \"Ooh, you know what we should do?! We should play Truth or Dare!\" \n\n\"Yeah! That's a great idea!\" Monae beamed, then glanced down the hallway. \"Looks like they're coming back, too. Come on, girls, you ready to play matchmaker?\"\n\nAxel felt a twisting, nauseous feeling in his stomach. \"I don't think this is a good idea, guys...\"\n\n\"What's not a good *hic* idea?\" Isaac settled next to Axel again, with Dale glaring at Monae. \n\n\"We're playing Truth or Dare now! Dale, come on, sit. There's space next to Isaac!\" The poodle gestured at the floor.\n\n\"F-Fine...\" the labrador blushed, floppy ears splaying back, and he sat next to the fox as instructed. \n\n\"Good! Now, let's get started! I've got a bottle; I'll spin it and whoever it lands on gets to pick truth or dare. If you refuse, take a drink!\" Monae spun the bottle, and it landed on Chelsea. \n\n\"Truth.\"\n\n\"Fuck, Marry, Kill between Axel, Isaac, and Dale.\"\n\nChelsea laughed. \"Oh, wow. Okay, fuck Axel, because he's super hot but like, everyone's slept with him. Kill Dale; sorry! Someone had to go, no hard feelings. And that leaves... Marry Isaac! Because you're super nice and smart. And you're pretty hot, too, I guess.\" Leaving all three boys flustered, she spun the bottle and watched raptly as it landed on...\n\nDale!\n\nOh no, here we go... Axel braced himself. \n\n\"Dale, truth or dare?\"\n\nSwaying slightly, he gave the calico a cocky grin. \"Dare!\" \n\n\"Sit next to the hottest person here and cuddle them until you go again.\"\n\nDale flushed beet red beneath his fur. \"But, uh... that's really awkward. I'm pretty drunk already, though, I don't wanna drink more. Um. W-Well, I guess it's... sorry, man. It's, er, it's just for the dare, all right?\" Shaking, Dale reached out an arm and snaked it around Isaac's shoulders, awkwardly pulling him over and pressing him against his side.\n\n\"Hah, I knew it!\" Monae laughed. \"You've got a crush on Isaac!\"\n\n\"S-Shut up! I said it's just for the dare!\" \n\nIsaac glanced at Axel, who looked progressively more concerned with every moment. He almost didn't hear the bottle spinning on the table.\n\n\"A-Axel! Oh, okay, um... truth or dare?\"\n\nThe puma shook himself to snap out of his stupor. \"Oh! Ah, dare, I guess?\"\n\n\"I dare you to kiss the ugliest girl here.\"\n\nAxel took a long pull from his drink. \"Well, that was quick.\"\n\n\"Good answer,\" the girls spoke in unison. Axel spun the bottle, and it twirled and twirled...\n\nThe game drew on, with the girls always leading Isaac and Dale together, either getting them to complement each other with truths or get physical with dares. After several rounds, Monae spun the bottle, and it landed on Axel.\n\n\"Dare.\"\n\nMonae grinned mischievously. \"Play 7 Minutes in Heaven with your crush!\"\n\nAxel gulped. He looked at Isaac, who was currently laying his head in Dale's lap as the lab stroked his fuzzy ears. I can't... I don't want to do this, but I can't stand this anymore. \n\nMina and Chelsea gasped as Axel scooped Isaac off the floor and held him in his arms. Dale's eyes went wide, and Isaac flailed in his grasp. \"Axel!\" the fox cried. \"W-W-What are you doing?!\"\n\n\"What I should've done a long time ago.\" The puma glanced at Monae. \"Uh, where...?\"\n\n\"Oh, by the stairs, the coat closet's like, totally empty. It'll be tight, but I'm sure that's not gonna be a problem. Right, boys?\" The other three sat speechless as Monae smirked. \n\n\"T-Thanks. See ya in a few minutes, I guess.\" Axel carried Isaac to the hallway closet and tucked him into it, then shut them in.\n\nIsaac was breathing rapidly and trembling. \"Axel! Did you just - you just came out! To everyone!\"\n\n\"Yeah, I-I know...\" Axel leaned against the wall, legs intermingled with Isaac's in the small space. \"I just... they were trying to set you up with Dale, and I got so jealous, I... I couldn't take it anymore. I could do something about it and I took it. Sorry, hun...\"\n\n\"No! No, it's fine, I'm just... I think I'm drunk. And I wasn't sure I was ready to come out either, but now they're going to know, and I was already an outcast, and I just wanted to be popular... We're screwed.\"\n\n\"Mmm... not yet you're not.\" Axel leaned over and licked Isaac's neck, causing the fox to shudder. \"If you'd told me you wanted to be screwed I'd have brought a condom with me.\"\n\n\"A-Axel! Is now really the time to - oooh, fuck-fuck-fuck...\" The puma licked and nibbled on Isaac's neck, slipping a paw behind the fox's head and pulling his fur. Isaac's muzzle tilted towards the ceiling, exposing his long, delicate neck, and even more sensitive skin for Axel to excite. The puma gently bit down, growling, as Isaac's tail thrashed and twitched behind him. Isaac moaned softly, trying (and failing) to be discreet, and he wrapped his arms around Axel's neck, pulling him closer...\n\n...\n\nSeveral minutes later, they emerged from the closet with their shirts mussed and wrinkly, Isaac's shirt completely untucked and unbuttoned, and their hair tousled and frizzy. Monae was alone on the couch, and Dale had tipped over and passed out on the floor. The boys sat next to Monae, with Axel in the middle and Isaac at the end. Isaac tilted to rest his head on Axel's shoulder, and the puma ruffled Isaac's hair.\n\n\"So, it looks like you guys had a good time.\" The poodle smirked and stuck her tongue out at Axel. \n\n\"Oh, uh... Yeah. Don't worry, we didn't, um... we just made out. A lot.\"\n\n\"I really wouldn't have cared if you did, honestly. So, are you two going to be official at school now?\"\n\n\"Er, yeah, I-I think so. How did you figure us out?\"\n\nMonae shrugged. \"I saw you kiss Isaac Wednesday morning. Even before that, it was kinda obvious. The way you look at him is, well, intense.\" Axel flushed and looked away, and the poodle hastily added, \"Not that I have a problem with it! Seriously, it's not as big a deal for me as you'd expect. My little brother's gay, and I would protect him with my life.\"\n\n\"Well, that's a relief, I guess. Still, the rest of the school might not be as, ah, accepting.\"\n\n\"I think you'll be surprised. But! I need to kick you out; if you're all right to drive, that is. Gotta start cleaning up.\"\n\n\"I only had two drinks, and that was a while ago. I'm fine. You sure you don't need help cleaning up?\" Axel had wrapped his arm around Isaac's shoulders and pulled him close. He rubbed up and down the fox's arm as Isaac leaned against him and made appreciative chirping sounds. \n\nMonae cocked an eyebrow at him. \"Your boyfriend is like, gone gone. Get him home and get him some water. Otherwise his hangover is gonna be legendary.\"\n\nThe puma chuckled and helped Isaac to his feet. Saying their goodbyes as they walked towards the door, Axel helped his tipsy boyfriend into the car, buckled him in, and then drove them home. They each got a glass of water, chugged it, then bumbled up the stairs. After getting undressed, they fell into bed together. Isaac nuzzled against Axel's chest as the big cat purred loudly.\n\n\"I had fun. Didjoo have fun?\" Isaac slurred loudly.\n\n\"I did. Thank you for coming with me, little fox.\" Axel kissed the top of Isaac's head.\n\n\"Heh... We came out tonight. Does that mean I can hold your hand at school now? I r-really wanna hold your hand at school.\" The fox squeezed the beefy puma and cuddled as close as he could get.\n\nAxel thought for a minute, then reached over and turned off the light.\n\n...\n\n\"Yeah. You can hold my hand whenever you want. Sound good?\"\n\n...\n\n\"Isaac? Does that sound good?\"\n\nA gentle snore from the fox told Axel that it was time to sleep. Chuckling, he pulled Isaac close and shut his eyes. [i]Heh. He's gonna have such a hangover...[/i]\n\n...\n\n[i]Zzz...\n[/i]\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Axel stood under a hot spray of water as steam filled the bathroom and his lungs, fog mirroring the haze in his mind. It had been a couple of weeks since he and Isaac had taken their first shower together, and since his brothers were safely fostering with another family now, Axel's thoughts kept circling back to how badly he wanted to manhandle the slender fox again. The puma ached to get him alone, to hold his naked body close, to feel the brush of Isaac's fur against him. To caress his cheek, feel his firm chest beneath his fluffy fur, and to wander down to touch him more intimately...

"Agh! Damn it!" Of course, it was getting to be early fall, and Isaac's after-school tutoring was picking up again now that Axel was doing better in English. He considered intentionally tanking his grade to spend more time with Isaac, but he knew the fox could tell if he did. There was a track meet next week, and Axel's coach was insisting the puma do more drills and practice for their next game. All this, plus homework, meant that Axel barely had time to see Isaac since that day. The only reliable exceptions were driving to and from school, meals, and when they went to bed, exhausted at night. So today, like every day for the past week, his thoughts gravitated towards Isaac and the things Axel longed to try with him. I want it to be special for him, but... Does he even realize how much I want him? "Hah!" The puma laughed sadly. How could he? It's not like I've had time to talk about it. He probably doesn't even realize I still want him. I'm a terrible boyfriend... I gotta make it up to him somehow. In the meantime, though, I better deal with this...

Every morning, his thoughts drifted to Isaac, and every time the thought was enough to make Axel pulse with desire. The puma's thick, sturdy paw wandered south, soapy lather making him slick. Breathing a slow sigh, he closed his eyes, and recalled the feeling of Isaac in the shower with him, and the sounds the fox made when he stroked his hard length. Axel twitched, and he bit his lip, air hissing in through his sharp teeth. "Fuck... Isaac..." The puma's free arm came up to rest against the shower wall, and Axel propped his forehead against it, the water running down his face and back.

"Isaac... Aah!"

It took barely any effort these days. Pleasure tingled in his thighs, racing into his stomach as he twitched and spasmed, coating the shower knobs in a sticky mess. Sighing, he stood under the water for a few moments, before shame crept in and he started cleaning things up. I can't believe I did that. Again. I really need to just tell Isaac how I feel. Maybe we're making this a bigger deal than it needs to be? Are we expecting too much? I mean, I've had sex before. Mine wasn't all that exciting, but Isaac is special, and -

A rapid knock at the door jolted him out of his monologue. "What's u-up?" Axel's voice cracked as he shouted.

Axel heard the door creak open a hair and Isaac's voice rang out. "Hey, I need to shower too and it's getting close to breakfast. Is everything okay?"

"Sh- Yeah, sorry, just, ah, takin' my time, hehe..." Axel laughed awkwardly. "I'm finishing up now, and I don't have thick fur like yours, I'll be out in about five minutes."

"Great! Thanks babe!" The door shut again as Axel's heart fluttered. Babe. Heh.

Soon, the boys were in the car, sharing a few precious minutes before school. Axel fidgeted, languishing in the silence that stretched between them. Drumming his fingers on the dashboard, bouncing his leg, he felt a cool sweat moistening his forehead and the small of his back. "Uh, so, h-hun, how's everything going?"

Isaac gave Axel a slow smile and laughed shakily. "Oh, I'm fine. I... just miss spending time with you. Um..." Isaac tapped a finger on the steering wheel. "Is everything okay with us? Like, are we okay? Are you, upset with me, or is something going on, or am I... am I not..." Isaac trailed off as his voice choked up and his eyes grew misty.

The puma's spine straightened like an iron rod, and he placed a heavy paw on Isaac's trim thigh. "No! No, everything's fine! I know it's been hard to find time to hang out recently, but I'm not upset or anything. I love you, Isaac. There's nothing going on. Why would you even ask that? Wait... are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. Just emotional, I guess." I know what you're doing in the shower. Do you not want to do that with me, too? Isaac bit his lip and held his tongue. He knew he was being unfair, but he still couldn't help but feel slighted. He seemed so into it when we took that shower together. So why has he been so distant? I know we haven't really had any time alone together, but still...

They pulled into the parking lot in silence and sat for a moment after they unbuckled their seat belts. Isaac stammered, "W-Well, I guess I'll see you later. I... I love you?" His voice went up at the end, making it sound like a question.

Axel heard that, and his heart dropped in his chest. He's upset... what did I do? What do I do now? Quick, think of something, say something!

"Love you too."

That's pathetic! Axel grimaced as he got out of the car. Isaac's head hung down, and he shuffled his feet towards the school. The puma trudged along behind him, wracking his brain for something, anything he could do to break his fox out of his sadness. At last, something clicked, and he ran up to Isaac and spun him around.

"Hey! Let's do something this weekend. You and me, together. I... I don't know what yet, but I'll think of something. We'll spend time together, have some fun, it'll be great! I'll show you a real good time. You in?"

Isaac blinked. Damn. I'm still hurt, but it's not his fault. And he's not even doing anything wrong. I'm just... ugh, I'm just horny. The fox smiled wanly. "Yeah, that sounds... great. I  - "

Isaac's eyes went wide as Axel swooped in to lock lips, right on the steps of the school. It was brief, but warm, and tender, and when the puma pulled away Isaac stood stunned. The fox stared at the puma's goofy smile for a moment, then finally laughed giddily. "Hah! Okay, not that I'm complaining, but I thought you wanted to keep us a secret?"

Axel rubbed a paw against the back of his head. "W-Well, I kinda do still. But, uh, you seemed super upset, and I thought this was, well, more important. You've been out of it for a couple of days, and I just wanted to see you smile again. And look!" The puma caressed Isaac's fluffy cheek. "You're smiling for me. Just what I wanted."

Isaac stared into Axel's eyes and wondered how a face so strong could look at him so softly. A shiver ran through him, and he wrapped his arms around his puma. "I love you, Axel. I'm sorry, there is something bugging me but... it's stupid."

BRRRING!

"Well, let's talk about it. Maybe later, though, Mr. Lopez is gonna kill us if we're late to class again."

The fox chuckled. "Hey, I've still got a good boy reputation. You're the delinquent."

Axel wrapped his palm against the top of Isaac's head and mussed his hair. "I guess that means you've got a thing for bad boys, huh? Come on, let's go before I decide we're skipping homeroom."

The two walked down the hallway, joking and laughing, the earlier tension forgotten. They were so absorbed in each other's company that they didn't notice the girl who'd been watching them for the last several minutes. Dusting off her skirt, she walked towards her homeroom class, murmuring to herself. "Axel Stoneheath's got a thing for the nerd, huh? Interesting..."

...

Lunchtime came around, and Axel was once again waiting for Isaac to arrive at the cafeteria. He felt a tap on his shoulder and spun around excitedly. "Hey, Isaac  - "

However, instead of a handsome fox, there was a short female poodle with curly chocolate fur. She was wearing as provocative an outfit as she could manage: a skirt that came down just low enough to not get sent home, a tight polo shirt, and boots with a bit of a heel on them. It was a definite `popular girl' look; Axel's girlfriends usually wore some variation of it. However, he didn't recognize this girl. Smiling politely, he nodded. "Ah, sorry, I was waiting for someone. Did you need something?"

"Yeah! You're Axel Stoneheath, right?" The puma nodded quietly. "Cool! I'm Monae Allweather. I'm a junior, and I just joined the cheer squad this year! But, um..." She looked away coquettishly and smiled. "I'm not really part of the `in' crowd yet. So, I'm throwing a party Friday night to boost my cred!" Looking up triumphantly, she beamed. "My parents are out of town at some kind of conference, a ton of the cheer team and most of the football team is coming, but you were the last one I needed to invite. And you're popular, all the other cheerleaders, uh... talk about you. Whaddaya say? It'll be a real rager!"

Axel sighed as she batted her eyelashes at him. "I don't know, I sorta had plans this weekend  -  wait! Can I invite someone too?" Axel's eyes sparkled as he looked excitedly at the poodle.

Monae blinked in surprise. "Uh, I guess it depends? Who do you want to invite?"

"Isaac Talbot."

"Oh, ah, I know him. He's... he's not really very popular. He's actually kind of a social land mine, isn't he?" Axel opened his mouth, but Monae kept talking. "But... I guess he saved my butt on with my final essay last semester, so I kinda owe him. And he's pretty cute, in a nerdy way. Is he, like, fun? At all?"

"He's just really shy. I think it'd be good for him to get out of his shell and open up. I've been... hanging out with him a lot lately, he's sweet - nice! Heh..." Axel swallowed hard and hoped he'd covered up well enough.

Apparently he had. "Well, yeah, that's good enough for me. Just make sure he doesn't bring down the vibe. Here, let me get your number so I can text you my address." They exchanged information, then Monae flounced off to get lunch. "Show up around eight! Make sure he dresses for a party, too!"

"Got it!" Axel turned and saw Isaac dodging his way through the crowd, reaching him in just a couple of minutes. "Damn, you really are wasted on track. You sure you don't want to try out for the team?"

The fox chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. One good hit and you'd have to scrape me off the field with a spatula. Come on, it's spaghetti day, I'm starving!"

Trays piled high with pasta, they took an isolated table in the back and started eating. Axel paused for a moment to ask, "So, how would you like to go to a party on Friday?"

Isaac blinked. "I... I don't know? I've never been invited to one before. How did you swing that?"

"New cheerleader wants a reputation boost, and I told her I wanted to get you out of your shell. Which is true." Axel twirled some spaghetti around his fork and chomped it down. "But I won't make you go. If you want to stay home, I'll stay with you. I promised we'd do something together, and I meant it."

The fox thought for a moment. "Well, do you want to go?"

Axel nodded. "Yeah, I'd really like to go. And I want you to come with. I want to show you my side of things for once."

"Okay. I'll do it for you." Isaac's paw reached towards Axel's, but he remembered where he was and flinched back. "Ah, sorry. I wasn't thinking. Oh!"

Isaac tensed up and his eyes went wide as he felt something brush against the inside of his calf. He shivered as it rubbed up and down. "Uh, Axel?"

"Shh. Don't react. Just keep eating." Axel gave a mischievous grin and wolfed down another portion of pasta.

"O-Okay..." Isaac blushed, his ears folding back as a giddy rush of heat flooded his face. He poked his fork into his lunch, but had a hard time focusing on the meal as Axel's foot brushed against him. Taking a bite, he swallowed heavily. "I-I-I... isn't this awful risky? D-Do you actually enjoy this kind of thing?"

The puma chuckled, a deep rumble. "Yeah. Yeah, I really do. I love getting away with stuff like this." Lowering his voice to a bare whisper, he leaned towards Isaac and growled, "And doing this with you totally, absolutely turns me the fuck on."

"Hah! Oooh..." Isaac's breath hitched as Axel gently pressed his foot into the fox's crotch.

"Breathe, you're too obvious. Look at me."

"O-Okay..." Isaac looked up and  -  

Oh, fuck.

Axel finished eating and set his fork down, resting his elbows on the table and his head in his paws. Isaac noticed that the puma's dispassionate look concealed his complete focus on him, as shown by some subtle cues. Axel's icy-blue eyes held his in an intense stare, and he was leaning forward to close some of the distance between the two of them. When he noticed Isaac staring at him, his tongue darted out hungrily to lick his lips, and he chuckled. "Yeah... I like the way you're looking at me right now, little fox."

"A-A-Ah! Ah, l-lunch is gonna be over soon. I need to, um, calm down... Ooh!"

Axel pressed his foot against him one more time and withdrew it, dragging it along Isaac's leg before retreating to his side of the table. Winking at him, the puma pointed at Isaac's tray. "You barely ate half your lunch. Such a waste."

Isaac glared at him. "I was a bit distracted, asshole." Then, he mouthed, `Love you', and started scarfing down his now-cold food.

"You, too." Axel said aloud, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. The bell rang, and they stood up together. "Want me to walk you to your next... Oh, shit! Haha, wow!"

"What's up? Wait..." Isaac felt a cool, sticky sensation where Axel had been rubbing earlier, looked down, and saw a wet spot on the front of his jeans. "Shit! Axel, what do I do?!"

"Nothing? Chill. We're teenagers, nobody's gonna dare question it." Axel walked beside the fox and leaned over. "Besides," he whispered, "didn't you have fun?"

Isaac grumbled. "That's... that's beside the point."

"Haah, I knew it!" The puma punched him in the shoulder, causing Isaac to smile and look away, blushing. "I bet nobody even notices it. Let's get you to chem."

...

The rest of the week passed uneventfully, except for Axel's growing boldness at school. He took every opportunity he could to tease the poor fox, who was too proud to admit that he was loving every minute. That Friday, Axel drove them home after school to practice what he'd been learning from Isaac's dad. He trundled slowly down side streets until they got to their house. Isaac switched with him to park the car in the garage, and they went to shower and get changed for the party. Axel showered while Isaac combed his hair and brushed his teeth at the sink nearby.

"So, where are your parents? Shouldn't they have been home by now?" Axel said, calling through the shower curtain.

Isaac replied, "Oh, yeah, they said they're going to be out of town for the next week. Dad's working from home anyway, and Mom barely runs the diner anymore, so they went to stay with cousin Andrea. You know, the one that just had a baby?"

"Dude, you have so many cousins, I can't keep track of them all. I don't know how you do it." Axel shut off the water and opened the curtain, reaching for his towel. "Hey, can you pass me the... pfft!"

Axel caught Isaac staring slack-jawed at him. The puma was dripping wet, fur slicked down to his burly body. Axel gave Isaac a smug grin and flexed his thick biceps. "You like what you see, little fox? You could shower with me next time, you know. Get real close to me. I know you like that... oh! Heh... hey there?"

Axel's eyes went wide, and he blushed as Isaac stepped forward and traced a finger along the puma's still-wet chest, pushing a claw through the fur and against the skin below. The fox held Axel's gaze with his own, and the larger boy saw Isaac's eyes filled with a passionate sensuality that made his spine tingle and his knees weak. "Uh, w-whatcha doin' there, pipsqueak?"

"Pipsqueak? That's a throwback. You haven't called me that since Junior year. But if you're trying to bully me, I can play that game..." Isaac kicked Axel's towel up off the floor and caught it in his paw, then tossed it over the puma's head. Giving the muscular cat's nipple a tweak, he retreated to their bedroom. "Hurry up, meathead, we need to go soon!" he teased.

"Mea  -  I'm making straight A's!" Axel chortled as he took down the towel and caught sight of his retreating boyfriend. God, I love it when he wears those briefs. That ass...

"I know! And you're welcome!" Isaac's tail flicked up and waved about as he cackled and left the puma's view.

Oh man, when did he get so confident? Him teasing me is... that's... so hot. Axel rubbed the towel through his short yet thick fur, moving down, and twitched when he noticed he was getting hard, halfway there and leaking. He bit his lip and gave himself a little rub. Hah. Isaac, you have no idea how much you drive me crazy. I can't wait any longer. This weekend... Everything's falling into place. You better be ready, little fox, because I'm gonna... I'm gonna... Axel swallowed hard, a dark pit forming in his stomach. Oh no. What exactly am I gonna do with him? Will he want to go... all the way? What's all the way for gay guys? Shit, we have condoms  -  thanks, Mr. Talbot  -  but won't we need lube? They're giving me an allowance, maybe I could buy some?

His thoughts raced as he pulled his boxers on and walked to the room. Play it cool, just ask him. Ask him if he has lube. Oh, my God... Axel turned the corner. "Hey, um, Isaac, do you, er, have any... uhhh  - "

The puma stopped and stared at Isaac. He'd pulled on a tight white t-shirt that hugged his body, and was wearing a gold-hued chain with a small, dark green-brown stone that matched the fox's hazel eyes. Layered on top of that was a hunter green button-up, sleeves rolled up and only half-buttoned to expose his slender chest. He'd artfully, messily tucked the shirt into a pair of light jeans with a brown belt that accented the stone in the necklace.

Axel's jaw worked soundlessly as he took in the sight. He's beautiful. He could be a model. Damn, do I take a picture? I gotta take a picture. Why can't I move?

"A-Axel? Is everything okay? Do I look all right? This was the only thing I could think of, cousin Sherry helped me pick this out for if I ever went to a party. Is this not good enough?"

It's perfect. You're stunning. It's gorgeous. It's sexy as fuck. You're gonna be the hottest person there, and when we get home, I'm going to tear all that off you with my teeth. You... "You look fine." What the fuck?! Idiot!

Isaac relaxed a bit. "Oh, good. I was worried, I haven't worn these since I bought them. I must have gained some weight since then, they're a little bit tight honestly."

"Uh-huh..." Axel nodded, unable to tear his stare away. "They're, um, definitely tight..."

"Oh, is it too much? I might have something else, let me look." The fox sashayed over to the closet and started rummaging around.

He jumped with a start when Axel's brawny arms suddenly wrapped around his chest and pulled him backward. The puma growled in his ear, "Don't you dare."

Isaac looked up at Axel. "But I don't want people to think my clothes don't fit. Why... oh! Uh, Ax? You, uh..." Isaac felt something poking against his jeans, just beneath his tail, and the fox glanced up to meet Axel's gaze.

"Yeah. I know. And I promise you now, we are going to do something about it later. But, yeah, no. You... you should leave those on." Axel trembled as he held Isaac close. The handsome cat was panting, and he licked his lips as he stared transfixed by his lover's starry eyes. Then, just as suddenly, he let Isaac go. "S-Shit, I... sorry. I'll get dressed, we need to go soon."

"W-We, uh, wait, we could stay here. We don't have t-to go anywhere..." Isaac turned and shifted uncomfortably as he bulged against the tight fabric of his jeans.

"Nah, it's bad manners to say you'll show up, and then not. But beside that... I kinda, er, well... I want to show you off?"

"Y-You do? You know that nobody knows we're dating, right?"

"Yeah, but like, I kinda want to see other people looking at you the way I do tonight."

"That's... you want people to give me fuck-me eyes?"

Axel blinked, then guffawed. "Hah! I've never heard that before. But yeah. I think you're gonna get a ton of attention tonight. And I want you to have fun with it. Besides, I know you're not into girls, and the only other gay guy at school knows I'd grind him into a paste if he tried to snag you. So, to be clear..." Axel leaned into Isaac's face and grabbed his chin. "You've got three years of high school parties to make up for, and if there's one thing that can make you popular, it's flirting with all the popular girls. So get out there and. Break. Some. Hearts." The puma placed his paw behind Isaac's head and pulled him in for a long, passionate, and slightly wet kiss.

...

Axel insisted on practicing night driving with Isaac as an excuse to drive him to the party. The fox agreed Axel needed the practice, pretending not to see straight through the puma's `ruse'. Much to their surprise, they only had to travel about 10 minutes to reach Monae's house.

As they pulled up, Isaac rubbed his paws against his thighs, bouncing a knee. "A-Are you sure I should be here? I don't know what I'm doing, what if I embarrass myself? Oh no, what if I'm boring?! Ahh..." The fox's ears folded down, and he buried his face in his paws. "I'm not ready for this!"

"Babe, look at me. Hey, come on, I mean it. Look at me." Isaac slowly turned his head, and looked at Axel, his eyes calm and reassuring. The puma stroked his cheek and kissed him under the cover of the night. "Trust me, you're not boring. And I'll be there the whole time, so you have nothing to worry about. Now come on. Let's knock `em dead!" Axel gave Isaac a fist bump, then pulled him into a hug.

Feeling better, Isaac pulled away and stepped out of the car onto the sidewalk. Axel soon joined him, and they walked up to a two-story, colonial-style home that had Monae's house number on the front. Loud, thumping music pounded through the door, and Isaac's heart fluttered in time to the beat. I'm going to my first party... with Axel. What do I even do here? Should I have brought something? No, Axel would've said something. Just be cool! Be cool... The fox's thoughts raced as Axel pressed on the doorbell.

Isaac didn't hear the doorbell ring, but someone must have, because mere moments later, the front door opened, and a wave of music and chatter assaulted the boys' ears. Monae, dressed in a crop top and a skirt that Isaac thought was absurdly short, beamed up at them. "Hey, you two made it! Isaac, long time no see! Get in here, we're just getting started." The poodle bounced her way down the hall with Axel and Isaac in tow. Escorting them to the kitchen, she gestured around the room.

"There's chips and dip, and soda if you're lame. There's beer in the fridge, help yourselves. I've got to play hostess, so get comfortable. Stay out of the bedrooms, bathrooms are there  - " she pointed across the room, " -  there's one down the hallway and one upstairs. Find me if you need anything. Oh, and Isaac?" The fox blinked and met her eyes, catching the poodle eyeing him up and down as she licked her lips. "You, ah, you clean up real nice. Try not to let him get into too much trouble, okay Axel?"

The puma smirked. "Hey, I'm trying to get him to loosen up, remember? If he can even cause trouble, it'll be a miracle."

"Looking like that? He's trouble already." Monae winked at the boys, then flounced off to court a tall young stallion that Axel recognized as one of the boys from the basketball team.

Isaac hugged his arm to his side and fidgeted around. Shouting slightly to be heard over the music, he looked up at Axel. "O-Okay, this is, um... this is a lot. What do we do now?"

"Well, I'm driving. And you're freaking out. Uh..." Axel watched as Isaac's tail twitched and flicked behind him. "You know what? You're having a beer."

"What?! We're eighteen! I can't have alcohol yet!" the fox protested, but Axel was already opening the refrigerator.

Pulling out a can, he cracked it open and handed it to Isaac. "Dude, I do this all the time. One beer isn't gonna hurt you, it's just to relax you a bit. Just try it, I promise it'll help."

"Okay..." Isaac eyed the can, beads of condensation forming on it, and then gave a tentative sip. Axel laughed as the fox made a sour face. "Ugh! That's so bitter!"

"It'll grow on ya. Come on, lets go sit down." Axel grabbed a can of soda and led Isaac to the living room. Crossing his legs, Axel took a seat on the floor, and Isaac did the same. A pair of girls, a pine marten and a calico cat, were sitting on the couch across from them, along with a male golden lab who was wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the wrestling team's mascot.

The calico lit up as the boys sat down. "Axel! I'm so glad you're here, I've been dying for some conversation." The labrador flinched and pouted as she continued. "Ooh, and you have to introduce me to your friend!" The cat glanced over at Isaac and winked, causing the fox to blush and take a long swig of his beer.

Axel smiled. "Yeah! Chelsea, Mina, this is Isaac. Isaac, Chelsea and Mina." Axel pointed at the calico, then the marten, respectively. "They're on the cheer team, I've known them for a couple years now."

Mina gasped and put two fingers to her mouth. "Wait! You're Isaac? Isaac Talbot?"

Isaac fidgeted, taking another sip of beer. "Um... yes?"

"Oh my God! I didn't even recognize you! Don't you usually wear glasses? And you're dressed... uh... well, you look great!" The marten leaned closer to him and rested her elbows on her knees. "You should dress like this more often; you're a real hidden gem, aren't you?"

Isaac glanced at Axel, who winked and gave him a slight nod. Taking a deep breath, he smiled at Mina. "Thanks! That's a real compliment coming from a girl as pretty as you. I like your, um... hair?"

"Oh, please! I barely even had time to get ready tonight. But... you like it?" Mina smiled coyly and looked away, smiling shyly.

Isaac continued to talk to Mina as Axel and Chelsea gossiped. At some point, Mina got up to grab a beer, and when she returned, she brought one for Isaac, too. Unsure how to say no, the fox accepted it, holding on to it until the labrador  -  whose name Isaac overheard was Dale  -  convinced them to play a game of `Never Have I Ever'.

"How do you play?" Isaac asked.

Axel replied, "Someone starts by saying something they've never done, like... never have I ever gone camping, or something. If you have done the thing, you take a drink! It's great for getting to know people, and uh... getting drunk. Heh." The puma blushed and rubbed a paw against the back of his neck.

"Oh! Well then, who's going to start?" Isaac cracked open his beer and glanced around.

"I'll start, and we'll go around to my left, so that you can see how it works. Sound good, kid?" Dale puffed out his chest, glancing at the girls next to him to see if they were looking at him.

They weren't. "Sure, sure, let's go already!" Mina had grabbed a couple of extra beers and set them in between the group. "Grab a new one if you run out!"

The labrador pouted again. "Aw... okay, uh, never have I ever... cheated on a test."

 Mina and Chelsea both took sips of their drinks. Dale cocked an eyebrow at Axel and said, "Really? Football star like you never once cheated on a test?"

"Dude, I don't need to cheat. I'm pretty smart!" The puma straightened his back and posed.

"Huh. Didn't expect that. Okay, Mina, you're up."

"Okay! Never have I ever dated a girl!"

Dale and Axel both took sips of their drinks. Then, after a brief pause, so did Chelsea. Mina smiled and gasped. "Chels! You never told me that!"

"It wasn't a big deal, and besides, she was awful. Anyway! Never have I ever dated two people at the same time."

They went around the circle, asking questions and drinking. They soon stopped going in order and dissolved into asking randomly. Once Axel finished his soda, he indulged in the beer Mina had brought. Isaac was two drinks in and working on his third, as he felt an unfamiliar buzz in his head. He was smiling and laughing, and his good mood seemed to be infectious; even Dale was grinning and talking to the fox animatedly.

"Okay, okay, I got a good one. Never have I ever... tongue-kissed a guy!" Mina laughed.

Chelsea groaned and rolled her eyes. "Girl, you're just trying to get me drunk now." She took a long pull from her now-warm beer and grimaced. "I never should've told you about Tim, he was... shit, Dale?!"

The labrador took a deep breath, then chugged the rest of his nearly full drink. Looking away, he sighed. "I, uh... well, the game's no fair if you lie, right? Yeah..."

 Isaac and Axel glanced at each other, then over at the girls. Chelsea blinked a few times, then burst out laughing. "Hah! And I thought you were boring! Maybe you're all right after all. So are you like, gay then? `Cause you were hitting on my girl Mina pretty hardcore."

"I'm, uh, bi. And drunk. Sooo drunk. God, I can't believe I just came out over a drinking game." Dale groaned and buried his head in his paws. "Ugh, just shoot me or something. Geez, this is embarrassing..."

Isaac reached over and drunkenly patted the labrador's knee. "Hey, man, don't stress about it so much. I think it's really brave of you to come out, even if it's in a bit of a weird situation."

"Thanks..." Dale mumbled. "Uh, I gotta... go to the bathroom." He suddenly stood up, wobbling on his feet and falling back onto the couch.

"H-Hey! Careful! Do you need a hand?" Isaac stood up and offered the lab his paw.

"Oh, um, sure. Thanks." He let Isaac pull him to his feet. "Damn, you've got soft paws... Sorry!" Dale yanked his paw free of the fox's grasp, stumbling back a step.

Isaac wrapped the lab's arm around his shoulders and his own arm snaked around the dog's waist. "Dude, you're going to fall over again. Let's go get you to the bathroom." They stumbled off as Monae plopped down on the now vacant couch.

"Well, they're awful close, aren't they?" The poodle smiled and watched as Isaac shoved Dale into the bathroom and slid the door shut for him. "I bet they'd make a cute couple, yeah?"

Axel blinked. "I... I don't think Isaac swings that way."

Mina scoffed. "Oh, no, he's totally gay. I kept leaning over and he didn't even glance at my tits. And these things are great!" She hefted her ample bosom in her paws, causing Monae and Chelsea to cackle.

Axel looked away, blushing. "T-That doesn't mean he's gay. He's just a really nice guy, he's not like the other guys, he's  - "

"Gay. Yeah, we said that. It's cool, though, maybe it'll get Dale off our backs." Chelsea finished her beer and set the empty can on the coffee table. "Ooh, you know what we should do?! We should play Truth or Dare!"

"Yeah! That's a great idea!" Monae beamed, then glanced down the hallway. "Looks like they're coming back, too. Come on, girls, you ready to play matchmaker?"

Axel felt a twisting, nauseous feeling in his stomach. "I don't think this is a good idea, guys..."

"What's not a good *hic* idea?" Isaac settled next to Axel again, with Dale glaring at Monae.

"We're playing Truth or Dare now! Dale, come on, sit. There's space next to Isaac!" The poodle gestured at the floor.

"F-Fine..." the labrador blushed, floppy ears splaying back, and he sat next to the fox as instructed.

"Good! Now, let's get started! I've got a bottle; I'll spin it and whoever it lands on gets to pick truth or dare. If you refuse, take a drink!" Monae spun the bottle, and it landed on Chelsea.

"Truth."

"Fuck, Marry, Kill between Axel, Isaac, and Dale."

Chelsea laughed. "Oh, wow. Okay, fuck Axel, because he's super hot but like, everyone's slept with him. Kill Dale; sorry! Someone had to go, no hard feelings. And that leaves... Marry Isaac! Because you're super nice and smart. And you're pretty hot, too, I guess." Leaving all three boys flustered, she spun the bottle and watched raptly as it landed on...

Dale!

Oh no, here we go... Axel braced himself.

"Dale, truth or dare?"

Swaying slightly, he gave the calico a cocky grin. "Dare!"

"Sit next to the hottest person here and cuddle them until you go again."

Dale flushed beet red beneath his fur. "But, uh... that's really awkward. I'm pretty drunk already, though, I don't wanna drink more. Um. W-Well, I guess it's... sorry, man. It's, er, it's just for the dare, all right?" Shaking, Dale reached out an arm and snaked it around Isaac's shoulders, awkwardly pulling him over and pressing him against his side.

"Hah, I knew it!" Monae laughed. "You've got a crush on Isaac!"

"S-Shut up! I said it's just for the dare!"

Isaac glanced at Axel, who looked progressively more concerned with every moment. He almost didn't hear the bottle spinning on the table.

"A-Axel! Oh, okay, um... truth or dare?"

The puma shook himself to snap out of his stupor. "Oh! Ah, dare, I guess?"

"I dare you to kiss the ugliest girl here."

Axel took a long pull from his drink. "Well, that was quick."

"Good answer," the girls spoke in unison. Axel spun the bottle, and it twirled and twirled...

The game drew on, with the girls always leading Isaac and Dale together, either getting them to complement each other with truths or get physical with dares. After several rounds, Monae spun the bottle, and it landed on Axel.

"Dare."

Monae grinned mischievously. "Play 7 Minutes in Heaven with your crush!"

Axel gulped. He looked at Isaac, who was currently laying his head in Dale's lap as the lab stroked his fuzzy ears. I can't... I don't want to do this, but I can't stand this anymore.

Mina and Chelsea gasped as Axel scooped Isaac off the floor and held him in his arms. Dale's eyes went wide, and Isaac flailed in his grasp. "Axel!" the fox cried. "W-W-What are you doing?!"

"What I should've done a long time ago." The puma glanced at Monae. "Uh, where...?"

"Oh, by the stairs, the coat closet's like, totally empty. It'll be tight, but I'm sure that's not gonna be a problem. Right, boys?" The other three sat speechless as Monae smirked.

"T-Thanks. See ya in a few minutes, I guess." Axel carried Isaac to the hallway closet and tucked him into it, then shut them in.

Isaac was breathing rapidly and trembling. "Axel! Did you just  -  you just came out! To everyone!"

"Yeah, I-I know..." Axel leaned against the wall, legs intermingled with Isaac's in the small space. "I just... they were trying to set you up with Dale, and I got so jealous, I... I couldn't take it anymore. I could do something about it and I took it. Sorry, hun..."

"No! No, it's fine, I'm just... I think I'm drunk. And I wasn't sure I was ready to come out either, but now they're going to know, and I was already an outcast, and I just wanted to be popular... We're screwed."

"Mmm... not yet you're not." Axel leaned over and licked Isaac's neck, causing the fox to shudder. "If you'd told me you wanted to be screwed I'd have brought a condom with me."

"A-Axel! Is now really the time to  -  oooh, fuck-fuck-fuck..."  The puma licked and nibbled on Isaac's neck, slipping a paw behind the fox's head and pulling his fur. Isaac's muzzle tilted towards the ceiling, exposing his long, delicate neck, and even more sensitive skin for Axel to excite. The puma gently bit down, growling, as Isaac's tail thrashed and twitched behind him. Isaac moaned softly, trying (and failing) to be discreet, and he wrapped his arms around Axel's neck, pulling him closer...

...

Several minutes later, they emerged from the closet with their shirts mussed and wrinkly, Isaac's shirt completely untucked and unbuttoned, and their hair tousled and frizzy. Monae was alone on the couch, and Dale had tipped over and passed out on the floor. The boys sat next to Monae, with Axel in the middle and Isaac at the end. Isaac tilted to rest his head on Axel's shoulder, and the puma ruffled Isaac's hair.

"So, it looks like you guys had a good time." The poodle smirked and stuck her tongue out at Axel.

"Oh, uh... Yeah. Don't worry, we didn't, um... we just made out. A lot."

"I really wouldn't have cared if you did, honestly. So, are you two going to be official at school now?"

"Er, yeah, I-I think so. How did you figure us out?"

Monae shrugged. "I saw you kiss Isaac Wednesday morning. Even before that, it was kinda obvious. The way you look at him is, well, intense." Axel flushed and looked away, and the poodle hastily added, "Not that I have a problem with it! Seriously, it's not as big a deal for me as you'd expect. My little brother's gay, and I would protect him with my life."

"Well, that's a relief, I guess. Still, the rest of the school might not be as, ah, accepting."

"I think you'll be surprised. But! I need to kick you out; if you're all right to drive, that is. Gotta start cleaning up."

"I only had two drinks, and that was a while ago. I'm fine. You sure you don't need help cleaning up?" Axel had wrapped his arm around Isaac's shoulders and pulled him close. He rubbed up and down the fox's arm as Isaac leaned against him and made appreciative chirping sounds.

Monae cocked an eyebrow at him. "Your boyfriend is like, gone gone. Get him home and get him some water. Otherwise his hangover is gonna be legendary."

The puma chuckled and helped Isaac to his feet. Saying their goodbyes as they walked towards the door, Axel helped his tipsy boyfriend into the car, buckled him in, and then drove them home. They each got a glass of water, chugged it, then bumbled up the stairs. After getting undressed, they fell into bed together. Isaac nuzzled against Axel's chest as the big cat purred loudly.

"I had fun. Didjoo have fun?" Isaac slurred loudly.

"I did. Thank you for coming with me, little fox." Axel kissed the top of Isaac's head.

"Heh... We came out tonight. Does that mean I can hold your hand at school now? I r-really wanna hold your hand at school." The fox squeezed the beefy puma and cuddled as close as he could get.

Axel thought for a minute, then reached over and turned off the light.

...

"Yeah. You can hold my hand whenever you want. Sound good?"

...

"Isaac? Does that sound good?"

A gentle snore from the fox told Axel that it was time to sleep. Chuckling, he pulled Isaac close and shut his eyes. Heh. He's gonna have such a hangover...

...

Zzz...

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