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===
Flynn's power gets knocked out by the storm. Whatever shall he do?! He makes his way across town to spend the night with Syd and Lex, but Syd's still having a hard time dealing with what's already happened...","writing":"\t“Jeez,” Flynn whispered to himself. “Is that wind ever going to let up?” The window panes rattled in reply. “Apparently not.” He turned up the thermostat a little more, rubbing his paws together to warm them up. “Man, the wind just cuts right on through here.” He plonked himself back down on the couch, closing his eyes for a moment, imagining what Syd had told him earlier. He was, to say the least, extremely surprised that he took the plunge and actually fooled around with his little brother.\n\n\tBack in junior high and even high school, Syd was a shykitty. He wasn’t very outgoing or confident and he was still really self-conscious about his height. Getting him in bed took serious work, and getting into his pants was even harder. The husky chuckled to himself as he recalled the look on Syd’s face as he received his first blowjob. He nearly passed out in a boneless, fuzzy heap, his eyes clouded as bliss continued to wash through him in post-orgasmic nirvana. And that blowjob was the key to unlocking Syd’s apparently voracious sexual appetite. It wasn’t long before he was topping Flynn nearly daily.\n\n\tUntil college, anyway. Flynn moved into an apartment across town, and their relationship was going places. Not quite to boyfriends, but well beyond just regular friends. Flynn urged him to move in, but the situation with Syd’s family, with his mom passing away and his dad leaving Lex solely in his care, the big tiger couldn’t just cut and run. He needed to be there, to be strong for Lex.\n\n\tWith whom he was now yiffing, Flynn added mentally. He felt a little jealous, but he wasn’t sure of whom he was jealous. Was he jealous of Lex because of his unrestricted access to his big blue beau? Or was he jealous of Syd because he had a yiffy little brother around the house? “Do I have to pick?” he asked himself ironically.\n\n\tThe windows rattled again and the lights dimmed momentarily. The husky rolled his eyes. The wiring in the apartment was suspect enough; he was fairly sure he was going to lose power if the wind kept up. It was only a matter of time. “Better get some gaming in before that happens, I guess,” he mused, popping Street Fighter into his console. About ten seconds later, just as the CD tray closed, an excessive blast of wind knocked out a power line, the lights cutting out in an instant, and Flynn left with no electronic form of entertainment. \n\n“Fuck.”\n\nHe checked his watch and it was only 8 pm. Way too early to go to bed. He withdrew his iPhone from his pocket and dialed Syd.\n\n“Hello?”\n\n“Guess who?”\n\nSyd laughed. “Is it a blue dog whose power just got knocked out and now he wants to come over and snuggle up with his favorite tiger?”\n\nFlynn whined softly. “How’d you know?”\n\n“I have windows. I can only imagine how bad it is there, what with you being up on a hill and all.”\n\n\t“I know! And it’s not like we’re high priority. I doubt I’ll have any power for days. You’ll let me come over, right?”\n\n\t“Of course, man. But, uh...how are you going to get here? The roads are blocked with so I can’t come pick you up and the taxis and public transit are off the road.”\n\n\t“Legs, of course.”\n\n\t“Flynn, that’ll take an hour! And in this blizzard...are you nuts?”\n\n\t“You have a better idea?”\n\n\t“I’ll come meet you halfway. You have a hopeless sense of direction anyway; you’re probably going to get lost.”\n\n\tFlynn huffed indignantly. “I know where you live!”\n\n\tThe big cat laughed. “I’ve seen you drive without your GPS. Terrifying. I’ll meet you out in front of the strip mall up my way, okay?”\n\n\t“Alrighty. I’ll see you there, kitty.”\n\n\t“See you there. Hey, Flynn?”\n\n\t“Yeah?”\n\n\t“I love you.”\n\n\tFlynn smiled. It always melted his heart when Syd said that. “Love you too, Syd. I’ll see you soon.”\n\n=====\n\n\tUsing the iPhone’s display as a light, Flynn laid out everything he’d need for the trek across town. Coat, gloves, hat, scarf, pants, boots... “That looks like it.” He tossed some clothes into a backpack, figuring he’d be staying at least a night or two. He bundled himself up, shouldering his back pack and snatching his keys off the table. He took a second to text Syd: “On my way, lover. Can’t wait to see you.” The husky smiled and pocketed his phone, stepping out into the harsh winds.\n\n\tThe first thing that struck him was how dark it was outside. The moon shone down some of its borrowed light, but the complete lack of streetlights made the night seem eerie and dangerous. Not like it really mattered. Being a husky, after all, meant that cold and blowing snow weren’t that much of an issue. It was more hot beaches that Flynn had trouble enduring.\n\n\tShielding his eyes with a paw, he trudged down the end of his street. There were no cars anywhere, and it would be a while before the snowplows came to clear his neck of the woods. So he turned right and started the walk toward Syd’s house, humming softly as he went.\n\n=====\n\n\t“Oh cool, Flynn’s coming over?” Lex asked, bouncing around a little. “Maybe he can help me get past that really hard part in a game I’m playing!”\n\n\tSyd smiled as he helped bundle the cub up. “I’m sure he will. When he’s not working, he’s gaming.”\n\n\tThe tigercub thought for a moment. “Oh wait...does that mean that we can’t play around while Flynn’s here?” He flattened his ears at the thought. His big brother had made him feel so good already and he didn’t want to give up the opportunity for more fun, even though having Flynn over would be fun in its own right.\n\n\t“Well,” Syd said as he looped Lex’s scarf around the cub’s neck, “Flynn and I already do that kind of stuff. So...I guess we’ll see what happens.”\n\n\tLex’s eyes nearly rocketed from his head. “Could I watch? Oh wow!” His little imagination went into overdrive as he imagined his big brother and the husky doing all sorts of things with each other.\n\n\tThe big tiger chuckled as he pulled on his gloves. “We’ll see what Flynn wants to do.” He couldn’t imagine Flynn not wanting to have an audience. He looked them both over. “Alrighty, I think we’re ready to head out. You good?”\n\n\tLex nodded and gave a thumbs up through his glove. “Good to go!”\n\n\t“Of we go then,” Syd said. He pushed open the door and they stepped into the howling gale, locking the door behind them. “Alrighty, little dude. Let’s go get us a husky!”\n\n\t“Yay!” Lex cheered as they charged off into the snowy night.\n\n=====\n\nFlynn wasn’t really keeping track of time as he made his way. For the most part, the snow hadn’t accumulated that much yet, but there were some waist-deep snowdrifts he had to forge his way through. Up ahead, he could see that some houses had their lights on. “So not everyone lost their power, then,” he murmured to himself as he trudged. “Lucky them.”\n\nHe blinked as a snowball paffed against the front of his coat. “H-hey! Who threw that?” he called, looking about and crouching down to make himself a smaller target. He flinched as another one got him in the shoulder. Flynn dodged close to a snow bank and started packing one together for a defense. “So that’s how you want it, huh?”\n\nHe ducked out and, seeing a silhouette, threw it. “Yaaaa-!” He got the figure squarely in the face. “Yeah, you want another?” He yelped as he was picked up from behind and tossed into a pillowy soft snowdrift.\n\n“Way to headshot a cub, hero,” a familiar voice laughed.\n\n“Syd?” Flynn called, picking himself up out of the snow bank.\n\nThe big tiger walked over to help Lex up. “You okay little guy?”\n\nLex sputtered and wiped at his mouth. “Bleh, yeah. I thought you said he was bad at throwing snowballs.”\n\n“I am,” Flynn admitted. “Sorry about that, kiddo. You alright?”\n\nThe little tiger nodded. “Yeah, but I’m gonna get you back! When you least expect it, I’ll be there with a million snowballs ready to clobber you.” He grinned, his fangs showing.\n\n“Oh great. Hell hath no fury, huh?” He gave Lex a friendly pat on the head. “Well, let’s go, you guys. It’s not getting a whole lot warmer out here, hm?”\n\n“Right you are,” Syd boomed over a sudden gust of wind.\n\nSo the continued on to Syd’s place. Lex frolicked up ahead as they walked, alternating trying to walk in the footprints he’d left going the other way with flopping in the soft drifts of snow to make snow angels.\n\n“He looks pretty happy to me,” Flynn noted.\n\n“How so?”\n\nFlynn pointed at him. “He’s frolicking around like a nipped kitten. You can’t even see how happy you made him, can you?”\n\n“But, I -”\n\n“Forget what you did on the surface. I mean, yeah, okay, the rules about doing stuff with cubs are kinda nebulous at best.” Flynn shrugged and continued. “But what really happened is that you showed your brother how much you love him, and you’re both happier for it.”\n\nSyd laughed ironically. “I’m actually horribly conflicted and considering turning myself in for what I did. Flynn...I got yiffy with a cub.”\n\nFlynn shrugged again. “You had consensual relations with a minor. But this isn’t about politics here, Syd. It’s about love. You love your little brother and he loves you back. Is it really so bad what you did?”\n\nUp ahead, Lex had climbed a snow bank and was preparing to flop off it into a drift. “Hey, watch me, guys! Watch!” With a delighted squeal, he jumped back, landing in the drift and sending a cloud of powdery snow into the air. He plucked himself up, laughing madly and running at his brother. He jumped up into Syd’s arms. “Did you see?”\n\n“Sure did,” Flynn said, smiling as he clapped the young one on the shoulder. “Probably one of the best back flops I’ve seen this season.”\n\n“Good job, little buddy,” Syd purred, nuzzling him instinctively. “Just don’t hurt yourself.”\n\n“I won’t, Syd,” the cub promised, giving his big brother a kiss on the cheek before he scampered off to find another bank to jump from.\n\nFlynn looked at his tall tiger, his eyes speaking volumes.\n\n“Oh, shut up with your eyes, you perv,” Syd sighed, eyes rolling. “Not everything between us two is going to boil down to yiff.”\n\nFlynn held up his paws defensively. “I didn’t say that. But I’m guess that he probably asked if you’d have to stop with me coming over.” He snickered. “You don’t even have to ask: I already know he did.”\n\nSyd harrumphed. “And how did you know that?”\n\n“Because he looked right at me when he kissed you, like he was showing it off.” Flynn gave the tiger a playful punch on the arm. “You really have to relax about this whole thing. What’s done is done: no regrets, okay?”\n\n“I...I dunno, man. I mean, I guess.” Syd rubbed at the back of his head, terribly conflicted.\n\n“If you feel that conflicted about it,” Flynn said, stooping down to pack a snowball, “I could always take him into protective custody.” He grinned devilishly.\n\nSyd had to laugh at that one. “Okay, well one, you can barely feed yourself. And two, your dick would be in him before bedtime. You think I’d really trust him with you after what I just told you?”\n\n“Hah! Probably not,” Flynn mused, tossing the snowball and catching it. “So, if he asks me questions, how do you want me to answer? Because I can guarantee you he’s full of them.” They looked on up ahead, watching Lex flop into yet another snowdrift before leaping up and pouncing around some more.\n\nSyd smiled. “I...I don’t know. I guess try and be educational without being graphic. But,” he said crisply, cutting off Flynn’s next sentence with a tap on the nose, “absolutely no demonstration. He’s young and curious; he’ll really do anything, especially if it feels good.”\n\n“Dude, seriously, I’ll be-”\n\n“Promise me.”\n\n“You think I’d-”\n\n“Yes,” Syd said pointedly, “you would, or you’d agree already.”\n\n“Oh,” Flynn huffed softly. “I...well, you got me there. I guess I was kinda hoping...y’know, help educate a young mind. We’re pretty much a couple, Syd. Y’know, if things go with us where they’re headed, it’s not a long shot to imagine us in the same house, both taking care of him.”\n\n“You just want to fuck him, and you’re sick for thinking it,” Syd growled accusingly. “You should be ashamed of how you’re thinking about it so much.”\n\n“Oh yeah? I should be ashamed? Or is it just you thinking that you should be?” Flynn retaliated hotly, crushing the snowball in his paw. “You’re so conflicted. You’re trying to make yourself come to a decision faster than you’re ready to. What happened was huge, man. It’ll take days before you finally really register what happened.”\n\nSyd turned and shoved the dog back, staring him down. “Don’t you fucking start to tell me what I’m feeling! You don’t know the weight of responsibility it is to raise a cub. And what it feels like to hold their life and safety in your paws and then make a totally selfish decision and know that what you did could mess them up.”\n\n“You’re being a retard. You don’t know that you messed him up.”\n\n“I’ll tell you what I do know,” Syd growled, getting up in Flynn’s face. “You can stay the night tonight, but tomorrow morning, you are walking back. I don’t want you anywhere near him. You’re going to screw up my little brother even worse than I did, and I can’t let you do that.”\n\n“Why don’t you let him decide? He’s old enough to know the difference between love and...and whatever you think it is you’ve done to him.”\n\n“I’m his guardian. I’m the one who makes that decision. Me!” he bellowed. “Not you. So stop acting like you know anything about the situation and back the fuck off me.”\n\n“Are you guys fighting?” a small voice asked. Lex was looking up at them, his eyes worried. It reminded him so much of when Syd and their father clashed and how angry Syd could get always scared him.\n\n“We’re not fighting,” Flynn began softly. “We’re-”\n\n“Shut up,” Syd interrupted. “Don’t talk to him.” He grabbed Lex by the arm and started to pull him along. “Yes, we’re fighting. You’re not allowed to talk to Flynn. He’s staying the night, and then he’s gone for good. In the morning.”\n\n“B-but why?” Lex asked, trying to pull his arm free. “Oww! You’re hurting me, Syd! Let go.”\n\nSyd looked over his shoulder at Flynn, his glare full of venom. “Because he’s sick and dangerous, Lex. Everyone would be better if they stayed away from furs like him.”\n\nLex wriggled free, taking a few steps back. “Syd, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”\n\n“Just shut up and come on,” he commanded, picking up Lex and carrying him back up the road.\n\nFlynn sighed softly, stifling back a few tears and trudged along about twenty paces behind, feeling thoroughly defeated and degraded.\n\n=====\n\n\tIt wasn’t much longer before they arrived back at Syd’s place. Everyone was in a sour mood: Lex for being manhandled the whole way; Flynn for being shouted at; and Syd for...well, Syd couldn’t figure out why he was feeling so badly. His internal conflict was tearing him apart and his moral compass was spinning. That one seemingly spontaneous act suddenly turned his life upside down.\n\n\tThe fact that he’d enjoyed what he did made him sick to his stomach. He basically used his little brother for sexual pleasure. How much more disgusting could you get?\n\n\t“You’re on the couch,” Syd barked tersely as they started to take off their outdoor gear. “Blanket’s in the closet. Stay away from Lex.”\n\n\t“Yeah...thank you,” Flynn replied sadly, dropping his backpack morosely. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Everything was going so well, they were spending nights more and more often, Lex was accepting him as someone to look up to. Everything was on track. And now it was all thrown into disarray because of something that he didn’t even think was a problem.\n\n\tLex just stood there, silently, looking apologetic and uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Flynn.”\n\n\t“Don’t speak to him, Lex,” Syd growled.\n\n\t“Stop it, Syd!” Lex yelled. “You’re being mean for no reason. Flynn’s your friend, and he’s my friend, too. I won’t let you-”\n\n\t“Let me?” Syd shouted back. “It’s not up to you what you’re allowed to do, and it’s not up to you what I’m allowed to do, either. Now you listen-”\n\n\t“No!” the cub shouted, stomping a footpaw. “You listen to me for once.” Syd was shocked into silence. “Flynn’s my friend, and I won’t let you be mad at him and tell me that I should be too without telling me why.” He walked and stood over by the husky and hugged him around the legs. “So tell me why.”\n\n\t“Listen to your brother, Lex,” Flynn murmured softly. “He’s the one who’s in charge here.”\n\n\tThe cub shook his head adamantly. “Not unless he tells me what’s going on. I think I know, though. It’s about what we did, isn’t it?” Syd was totally silent. His big brother’s silence was like a punch to the stomach. “You...you don’t even love me at all, do you?” he whispered, tears already starting to flow. “You regret it and you hate me. You don’t even want me around or to have friends do you?”\n\n\t“Lex...I...”\n\n\t“Shut up!” he screeched. “All you do is say one thing and then do something else. It’s confusing, and you keep making me mad!” The little tiger was seething with rage. “You...you...you don’t get to go around and tell everyone what they get to do. It’s not how it works.”\n\n\t“But I’m your br-”\n\n\t“You’re my brother! You don’t own me, Syd!”\n\n\tSyd growled. “Lex, get into your room, now.”\n\n\t“FUCK YOU!” Lex shouted fiercely. With a ferocious growl, he ran past Syd, swiping at his big brother’s paws with his claws and out the front door into the night.\n\n\t“Lex...Lex!! C-come back!” Syd just stood there, staring out into the night.\n\n\tAbsolutely stunned with the tiger’s reaction, Flynn growled and pushed his shoulder. “You’re an idiot, Syd. You stay here, go pump some iron and chill the fuck out. I think you’ve done more than enough damage to two relationships for one night.”\n\n\tSyd glowered at him. “I didn’t-”\n\n\t“If you think for a second you didn’t do anything wrong, you should spend the next hour or so staring yourself down in the mirror. Because you done fucked up, kitty kitty.”\n\n\t“I...” Syd faltered. “I...didn’t-”\n\n\tFlynn put his gloves back on. “You did, and you’re so stressed and freaked out that your first instinct was to fight with me rather than go out into the storm to look for your little brother, who’s all alone outside, crying and running away. And, I don’t know if you noticed, but he doesn’t have his coat or hat on.” He pulled his hat back on and shook his head, grabbing up Lex’s hat, scarf and gloves. “Get your head straight, man. I’m going to go find Lex.” Without another word, he followed Lex’s exit, closing the door behind him.\n\n\tSyd was silent for a few minutes, just watching the snow dance through the air on the other side of the window. It took a moment before he noticed his own reflection gazing emptily back at him. “I’m...such a colossal fuckup...”\n\n=====\n\n\tEven for a dog with such horrible outdoor skills, it was easy for Flynn to follow the fleeing cub’s tracks down the road. They were zigzagging left and right, indications of the cub’s disrupted emotional state. Something caught his nose and he trotted up a few yards to see a dark, steaming pool of vomit. It nearly broke Flynn’s heart to see the cub in such distress and he knew he had to find him soon. Without any winter wear, he knew the cub would succumb to the elements pretty quickly.\n\n\tHe followed the tracks further, turning the corner. He saw Lex lying in the middle of the road, and he felt his blood suddenly turn to ice. “Oh fuck...fuck...Lex!” He ran up and practically jumped on the cub. “Are you okay? Lex...Lex!” He gripped the cub’s shoulders and shook him gently. “Wake up!”\n\n\tThe cub opened his eyes, too cold and worn out to even shiver anymore. “I...fell...”\n\n\tFlynn gathered him closely, opening his jacket to take the cub inside. “Come here, let’s get you warmed up and take you back.”\n\n\tLex tried to disengage, pushing himself away. “I...don’t want to. He’s...ashamed of...”\n\n\t“Well, it looks like I’m the only one with a sensible head right now. Sorry kiddo, but you don’t get to make that decision.” He plonked the cub’s hat on and looped around his scarf. “C’mon,” he said softly, hoisting him up. “Let’s get you back and warmed up.” He took off his own coat and wrapped it around the tiger before picking him up in his arms. “That’ll hold you.” He looked down and saw that Lex was just barely conscious. “Better hurry, I guess.”\n\n\tHe ran as fast as he could manage, talking to Lex the whole time, keeping him awake. “Oh yeah?” he was saying as he got back onto Syd and Lex’s street. “Well I’ve got a hard one for ya. What’s seven times twelve?”\n\n\t“Seven twelves are...84,” Lex mumbled, finding it harder and harder to concentrate.\n\n\t“And what’s the capital of India?” he asked, mounting the steps.\n\n\t“Delhi...” he whispered weakly, struggling to keep his eyes open.\n\n\t“You’re a champ, little dude. We made it back. C’mon,” he bustled inside into the bathroom and started to draw a warm bath. “C’mon,” he said again, tapping the cub’s cheeks to keep him awake. “Just another minute and I’ll warm you up. You can do it. What’s the fifth planet from the sun?”\n\n\t“J...” Lex tried to get a deep breath. “J...J...upi...ter...”\n\n\t“Good job, kiddo. Let’s get you in here.” He tested the water with his paw. It was warm, but not too hot. He didn’t want to throw the cub even further into shock. He gently lowered him in, clothes and all. He saw the tiger cub flinch, the warm water seeming scalding hot by comparison.\n\n\t“W...what’s...going on?” a shaky voice at the doorway murmured.\n\n\tFlynn looked over his shoulder. Syd looked like a wreck. His eyes were hazy and he was gripping the doorframe for support, his stance unsteady.\n\n\t“You...you...” Flynn was furious. He stood up and glared at Syd. “Your brother was out in the cold...he could have died and...you started drinking?”\n\n\t“I...”\n\n\t“Get out of my sight,” Flynn hissed with rage. “You get back into your room and you don’t move a muscle until I get in there to deal with you. And don’t you dream about drinking anything else. I want you to be sober as a judge when I have time to deal with you.”\n\n\tSyd blinked blearily, as if he didn’t understand what was happening. “H...have a nice bath. Sorry for...interrupting,” he slurred, staggering down the hall and into his room.\n\n\tHaving no time to waste on being furious, Flynn knelt down next to the bath tub, taking Lex’s paws in his and rubbing them. “How do you feel, kiddo? Talk to me. Let’s do some more times tables.”\n\n\t“I...can’t...think...”\n\n\t“Yeah you can,” Flynn urged. “How about three times seven?”\n\n\tLex took a deep breath, shuddering. “T...twenty...one...”\n\n\t“Right you are. You keep that brain of yours ticking. Now think really hard.” He gently patted Lex’s face. “Really hard, okay? Concentrate. Tell me the alphabet backwards. You can do it.”\n\n\tLex nodded, looking almost pained as he struggled with it. “Z...Y...um...X...”\n\n\t“Keep going, little guy!” Flynn dashed out of the bathroom, grabbing the kettle from the kitchen and some hot chocolate mix. When he got back, Lex was still reciting, his voice starting to sound a little stronger. “R...uh...Q...”\n\n\t“What comes next?” Flynn asked, filling the kettle up from the sink and plugging it in.\n\n\t“S...no...backwards, right...um....P...O...” He opened his eyes slowly. “N...M...” The letters started to come a little faster. “Flynn?”\n\n\t“What is it?” Flynn asked taking the cub’s paw in his.\n\n\t“What...what happened?” He gave a soft whimper. “I’m...scared...I can’t feel my pawfeet.”\n\n\t“I know you can’t, little guy. You got too cold, so we’re warming you up. Do you think you can handle some hot chocolate?” He killed the kettle and started to mix some. “It’s nice and warm, it’ll help.”\n\n\tLex started to cry as his brain slowly began to replay everything that happened. “How come...how come Syd didn’t...come after me?”\n\n\t“Hush little guy,” Flynn murmured, stroking the cub’s ears. “For now, you just worry about feeling better, and I’ll make everything okay between you and Syd. Okay?”\n\n\tThe cub swallowed hard, shuddering softly, his body starting to shiver again. “I...I can try...” He shifted in the bathtub, moving his legs a little. “I can...I can feel my pawfeet again.” Struggling he sat up a little. “I’d like that hot chocolate now, please.”\n\n\tFlynn handed it over. “Take your time. Drink nice and slow, okay? Take it nice and easy.” He watched closely as Lex slowly drank. “How’s that?”\n\n\t“Warm,” Lex noted, slurping some more down. He managed a wan smile. “Thanks.”\n\n\t“I care about you, Lex. I can’t stand the idea of...” The dog choked on the words. “I...just want you to be happy and safe.”\n\n\tLex nodded. “I know...umm...” He shifted a little in his wet clothes. “Can I just take a regular bath now? The clothes feel...kinda weird.”\n\n\t“Sure thing, little guy,” the husky said, taking the mug and setting it aside. “Let me help you.”\n\n=====\n\n\tIt was nearly 2am before Flynn was fully content with Lex’s recovery. Lex had insisted that he was okay, but never one to take chances, Flynn insisted that he soak in warm water until Lex was actually warm to the touch. “Alright, my little pickled tiger. I think you’re good. How do you feel?”\n\n\tHe yawned, up so late past his bedtime. “Warm, but sleepy.”\n\n\t“I’m going to be spending the night in your bed with you, okay? It’s just to make sure you’re alright.” He smiled wryly. “Despite what your brother thinks of me right now, I really do just care.”\n\n\tLex leaned in and gave Flynn a gentle kiss on the cheek. “I know, Flynn.”\n\n\t“Okay good. Stand up and let’s get you dried off,” he said, pulling the plug on the tub and letting the water drain. Lex stood up, water dripping off him, his fur totally waterlogged. “Arms out,” Flynn instructed.\n\n\tLex gave a little laugh and nodded. “Yes, sir!” He did so, not feeling at all weird about being naked in front of the dog. “Aren’t you going to...I dunno, look at me?”\n\n\t“Look at you?” Flynn asked, drying off the cub’s shoulders before moving to his chest.\n\n\t“Well yeah...I mean, I’m naked. I kinda got the feeling that...well...I dunno. Maybe you wanted to?” He turned so Flynn could more easily dry his front.\n\n\tFlynn chuckled softly. “Why look when I can touch?” he said with a soft chuckle, giving the tiger’s cubbish package a playful squeeze. Lex squeaked, his tail flicking. “See? No big deal.”\n\n\tLex blushed deeply. “I...I can’t believe you just did that!”\n\n\t“Well, believe it,” Flynn advised as he dried off the cub’s thighs and behind, “because I’m about to dry you there.” He very deliberately placed his paw on the cub’s crotch and began to gently rub and massage, drying him off bit by bit.\n\n\t“Nfff,” the kitten huffed, ears flat. He gripped Flynn around the wrists, holding his paws tightly against his crotch as he rubbed up against the soft towel.\n\n\tFlynn murred gently. “Why don’t we save that for bed time, cutie? Bathrooms aren’t too cuddly a place to play around in.”\n\n\tLex huffed and pouted. “But it feels good,” he whimpered.\n\n\tFlynn winked at him and licked his cheek. “I promise, it feels better if it’s my maw.”\n\n\tThe cub’s eyes snapped open. “You...you what?”\n\n\tFlynn stepped back. “There, all dry.” He grinned, noticing the cub’s prominently growing erection. “Now I know you’re feeling better.” Lex just blushed and covered up with his paws.\n\n=====\n\n\tNot five minutes later, Flynn had Lex pajama’d and in bed asleep. After the exhausting ordeal and the cub’s not insignificant brush with death, it was no surprise that he was asleep in no time, promise of playing around or no. The dog softly stroked down Lex’s back and shoulders, humming softly and soothingly to ease him to sleep. He smiled as he felt the kitten relax and eventually slip away into dreamland. After today, if anyone deserved some quality sleep, it was Lex.\n\n\tFlynn finished humming the tune and gently came in to kiss Lex on the cheek. “Sleep well, little guy,” he murmured softly, his voice catching in his throat. “It’ll all be better in the morning.” He gave the tiger’s headfur a gentle tousle and got up, clicking the nightlight on and closing the door to the cub’s room.\n\n\tBreathing deeply, Flynn prepared himself for the confrontation he was getting ready to have. Something was definitely wrong with Syd. He was never the kind of fur to be so completely paralyzed by anything when the right decision was there, plain as day in front of him. Lex was a happy, healthy cub, made only happier by his brother’s interest in him. It was so obvious!\n\n\tFlynn opened the door of Syd’s room to see him sitting on the bed, sullen and defeated. He’d obviously been crying, and only someone who was sobering up from a few too many could look so disastrously awful. He averted his eyes, aware of the gravity of what had happened. At that very moment, he wished so very much that he could dissolve into nothing.\n\n\t“Flynn...I-”\n\n\t“Shut up!” Flynn barked, slapping the tiger sharply. “I didn’t say you could talk yet.” He was seething. He could feel his blood pressure skyrocketing. “Do you have the slightest idea what nearly happened here tonight? What would have happened if I wasn’t here? Has that entered your head?”\n\n\tThe tiger looked up. “Please, Flynn, let me-”\n\n\tFlynn slapped him again. “Don’t say anything!” he snarled, flecks of spit landing on the startled tiger’s face. “You haven’t earned the right to have an opinion on the matter. Your little brother, who loves you - no wait, idolizes you - nearly died tonight. Do you even understand what that means?”\n\n\tAfraid to answer, Syd nodded, trembling.\n\n\t“He ran away from you because you were being a total crazy psycho, out into the snow with just regular clothes on. Out into the cold. And you were too busy figuring out how you felt about something you both wanted to get out there and look for him.” Flynn put his fingers to his temples, breathing deeply and pressing in, trying to relieve some of the stress. “He probably got about fifty feet before he collapsed and threw up. And then he kept running. He ran three streets away Syd, crying his eyes out because of you!”\n\n\tQuite done with slapping, Flynn punched Syd across the mouth, but it still elicited no reaction. “You’re a fucking idiot. You talk about responsibility. You talk about how you have to take care of your little brother and provide for him, and how much you put into it. But if that was the case, none of this would’ve happened. You spend all this time trying to be as unlike your father as you can be, and look what happens: you’re the same negligent, useless deadbeat that he was.”\n\n\tSyd’s head jerked up, his eyes burning. “I’m not-” His head snapped to the side as Flynn punched him again.\n\n\t“If you actually cared about Lex, you wouldn’t have any space in your brain right now to think about yourself.” Flynn glared at him, rubbing his knuckles. “If I was more of a brawler, I’d punch you some more. But I can see you’re actually listening to me now.”\n\n\tSyd was breathing heavily, a paw gently massaging my jaw. “You wanna know what’s going on here? Why I don’t have space in my brain for the idea of fucking my little brother like you do?”\n\n\t“Syd, I love you.” That sentence resonated for a moment. “If there’s something wrong, I’d hope you’d tell me.”\n\n\tThe tiger laughed heartlessly, an ugly, barking noise. “Yeah, ‘something wrong’,” he said, doing air quotes. “No harm in telling you. You’re going to tell Cub Protective Services about what happened with Lex and they’re going to take him away. And you’re going to leave, too, after what happened. If I’m going to be alone, I may as well give everyone a reason to run away.”\n\n\tFlynn sat next to him, holding the tiger’s big paws in his. “I won’t run away. I want to work this out for all of us. We can take care of Syd together.”\n\n\tSyd looked at him with sad, haunted eyes. “It was...” He swallowed hard, closing his eyes. The effort it took to say it was almost killing him. “It...it was...dad...” He slumped forward and started to cry, his massive shoulders shuddering as the flood of emotion finally overran his defenses.\n\n\tUnderstanding suddenly dawned and Flynn clung to him tightly, stroking his shoulders comfortingly. “Syd...I...I never knew. I never even thought-”\n\n\tThe tiger shook his head. “Don’t...don’t say it.” He took a few deep breaths. “I’m the one who should say it. I’ve let it rule my life for so long.” His lip trembled, but the tiger’s eyes were fierce.\n\n\tResting a paw on the side of his face, Flynn tilted Syd’s head down, pulling him in close until their foreheads were touching. “It’s okay, I’m not leaving you.”\n\n\tSyd closed his eyes, taking a deep shuddering breath. “It was almost every night,” he breathed. “He’d come in...and come over to my bed and...I’d...” He breathed again. “I’d pretend to be asleep.” He pressed hard against Flynn. “I thought...he was lonely because mom was gone. That if he felt better, it was okay and it didn’t matter how I felt.”\n\n\tFlynn hugged him softly. “Syd...that’s very brave of you. You kept him from doing the same to Lex.”\n\n\t“You...you really think so?” he asked brokenly, tears trickling down his face. “That...that’d actually give what happened some meaning.”\n\n\tThe dog nodded. “I do. Your dad had problems and he was taking them out on you. And all this time, you were taking it upon yourself to protect Lex from that.” Flynn wiped away a few of the tiger’s tears. “That’s probably the noblest thing you could ever do.”\n\n\t“I...I guess so,” Syd conceded, slowly starting to feel a little better.\n\n\tFlynn pulled back and smiled. He always found it funny how such huge problems could be fixed almost instantly by just talking about them. Syd would need a long time of talking about it before he overcame the abuse, but it was a start. And maybe now he could see the difference between how his dad was with him, and how different it was from how he felt about Lex. “Do you realize now?”\n\n\tSyd nodded slowly. “Lex...it’s different with him. I can see how it’s different.” He looked into Flynn’s eyes. “Do you think he’ll ever forgive me for being such an idiot?”\n\n\tFlynn kissed him softly. “Of course he will. He idolizes you, Syd.” He rubbed over the big kitty’s ears. “I don’t think you could do anything that’d make him stop loving you.”\n\n\tThe tiger nodded, drying his eyes in his sleeve. “Ugh, I’m a wreck.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe this all happened. I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened if you weren’t...” He took the dog’s paws in his. “Will you forgive me?”\n\n\tThe blue husky smiled. “I already have. You were a big idiot. A huge one, in fact. But you’re my huge idiot.”\n\n\t“Thanks...I think.”\n\n\tFlynn stood up and tugged on Syd’s paw. “C’mon, come kiss him good night.”\n\n\tSyd trembled as he got up and followed, opening the door to his little brother’s nightlit room. It was totally silent in there, save for the deep, but gentle breathing of the sleeping cub. “Are you sure he’s okay?” he whispered fearfully.\n\n\tFlynn nodded silently. “Maybe take him to the doctor this week to make sure he’s okay. But he’s strong and healthy, Syd. He’s fine. Go on; go see him!”\n\n\tSyd shuffled forward and knelt by the bed, reaching forward to hold one of Lex’s paws. “Lex,” he whispered softly. He kissed the paw and moved closer. “I’m...I’m so sorry...” Already at the edge of emotional collapse, it didn’t take much for Syd to start crying again. He sobbed quietly, trying his hardest to remain silent so he wouldn’t disturb his brother.\n\n\tHe twitched as he felt something trail across his face. “Syd...it’s okay...”\n\n\t“Lex?” he breathed softly.\n\n\t“Big bro,” the cub breathed sleepily, his free paw stroking Syd’s muzzle. “Are you okay? You’re not still fighting with Flynn, are you?”\n\n\tSyd swallowed and shook his head, almost beyond words. “I...” He coughed to try and clear his throat. “Everything’s okay now. Flynn’s staying. I love you, I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m glad we did what we did. I’m glad we can be that close. Please...forgive me...”\n\n\tLex threw back the covers and leaned forward, hugging his big brother tightly. “Don’t cry, Syd.” He yawned hugely. “Will you snuggle with me tonight, big bro?”\n\n\tSyd nodded, he tears abating as he stroked the cub’s head. “Of course, Lex. I’ll stay with-”\n\n\t“Flynn, too.”\n\n\t“U-uh,” Flynn stammered. “I think I should leave you two some space to sort everything out.” He started to back out the door.\n\n\t“No.” Lex spoke up a bit. “You promised you would, remember?” His voice trailed off, totally exhausted.\n\n\tThe dog chuckled softly. “That I did.” He steps closer, smiling. “Besides, we’ll be nice and warm in case we lose power,” he added pragmatically, laying a paw on Syd’s shoulder.\n\n\t“I think we should use my bed,” Syd suggests. “Way comfier for all three of us. What do you think, Lex?”\n\n\tThe cub didn’t respond, already having slipped back into dreamland. Syd smiled softly and picked him up in his arms. “Let’s go, little buddy.” As he carried him out of the room, he stopped to give Flynn a gentle kiss. “You too.”\n\n\tFlynn smiled. “You bet.” Humming softly, he plucked Lex’s nightlight from the socket and followed behind his big kitty. He plugged it back in a socket in Syd’s room, watching as the big tiger tenderly laid the cub in bed, softly bathed in the light’s muted glow.\n\nSyd looked over at Flynn. “You really saved the day, y’know.” He gently stroked Lex’s ears, softly sitting on the bed and petting the cub lightly. “If you weren’t here...”\n\n“Don’t,” Flynn asserted, coming closer as he shed his clothes. “That’s just going to get you tangled up emotionally again. The important thing is that I am here, and I’m not going anywhere.” He slipped into bed behind the cub, pulling him close to his chest and murring. “Mm...oh I like this,” he murmured as he gently scritched Lex’s back.\n\nSyd smiled as he, too, disrobed, getting down into his underwear before also slipping into bed and pulling the covers up over them. He shimmied closer to them, kissing Lex’s head. The cub slowly, sleepily wrapped his arms and legs around his big brother, cuddling against his chest. “Everything feels so normal...all three of us together...”\n\nFlynn gently kissed Syd on the muzzle. “Yeah,” he murmurs, yawning softly. “I think it’s time for us all to get some sleep though, huh?”\n\nSyd nods, returning the kiss before settling in, pulling Flynn close as well, Lex wedged securely between them. “Definitely.”\n\nThey lay in silence for a moment, listening to the slow, measured breathing of the little tiger between them.\n\n“Hey Flynn?”\n\n“Yeah?”\n\n“Take your hand of Lex’s butt, please.”\n\n“Awww...” Flynn whined guiltily, slipping his paw over to Syd’s instead.\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"\t“Jeez,” Flynn whispered to himself. “Is that wind ever going to let up?” The window panes rattled in reply. “Apparently not.” He turned up the thermostat a little more, rubbing his paws together to warm them up. “Man, the wind just cuts right on through here.” He plonked himself back down on the couch, closing his eyes for a moment, imagining what Syd had told him earlier. He was, to say the least, extremely surprised that he took the plunge and actually fooled around with his little brother.
\tBack in junior high and even high school, Syd was a shykitty. He wasn’t very outgoing or confident and he was still really self-conscious about his height. Getting him in bed took serious work, and getting into his pants was even harder. The husky chuckled to himself as he recalled the look on Syd’s face as he received his first blowjob. He nearly passed out in a boneless, fuzzy heap, his eyes clouded as bliss continued to wash through him in post-orgasmic nirvana. And that blowjob was the key to unlocking Syd’s apparently voracious sexual appetite. It wasn’t long before he was topping Flynn nearly daily.
\tUntil college, anyway. Flynn moved into an apartment across town, and their relationship was going places. Not quite to boyfriends, but well beyond just regular friends. Flynn urged him to move in, but the situation with Syd’s family, with his mom passing away and his dad leaving Lex solely in his care, the big tiger couldn’t just cut and run. He needed to be there, to be strong for Lex.
\tWith whom he was now yiffing, Flynn added mentally. He felt a little jealous, but he wasn’t sure of whom he was jealous. Was he jealous of Lex because of his unrestricted access to his big blue beau? Or was he jealous of Syd because he had a yiffy little brother around the house? “Do I have to pick?” he asked himself ironically.
\tThe windows rattled again and the lights dimmed momentarily. The husky rolled his eyes. The wiring in the apartment was suspect enough; he was fairly sure he was going to lose power if the wind kept up. It was only a matter of time. “Better get some gaming in before that happens, I guess,” he mused, popping Street Fighter into his console. About ten seconds later, just as the CD tray closed, an excessive blast of wind knocked out a power line, the lights cutting out in an instant, and Flynn left with no electronic form of entertainment.
“Fuck.”
He checked his watch and it was only 8 pm. Way too early to go to bed. He withdrew his iPhone from his pocket and dialed Syd.
“Hello?”
“Guess who?”
Syd laughed. “Is it a blue dog whose power just got knocked out and now he wants to come over and snuggle up with his favorite tiger?”
Flynn whined softly. “How’d you know?”
“I have windows. I can only imagine how bad it is there, what with you being up on a hill and all.”
\t“I know! And it’s not like we’re high priority. I doubt I’ll have any power for days. You’ll let me come over, right?”
\t“Of course, man. But, uh...how are you going to get here? The roads are blocked with so I can’t come pick you up and the taxis and public transit are off the road.”
\t“Legs, of course.”
\t“Flynn, that’ll take an hour! And in this blizzard...are you nuts?”
\t“You have a better idea?”
\t“I’ll come meet you halfway. You have a hopeless sense of direction anyway; you’re probably going to get lost.”
\tFlynn huffed indignantly. “I know where you live!”
\tThe big cat laughed. “I’ve seen you drive without your GPS. Terrifying. I’ll meet you out in front of the strip mall up my way, okay?”
\t“Alrighty. I’ll see you there, kitty.”
\t“See you there. Hey, Flynn?”
\t“Yeah?”
\t“I love you.”
\tFlynn smiled. It always melted his heart when Syd said that. “Love you too, Syd. I’ll see you soon.”
=====
\tUsing the iPhone’s display as a light, Flynn laid out everything he’d need for the trek across town. Coat, gloves, hat, scarf, pants, boots... “That looks like it.” He tossed some clothes into a backpack, figuring he’d be staying at least a night or two. He bundled himself up, shouldering his back pack and snatching his keys off the table. He took a second to text Syd: “On my way, lover. Can’t wait to see you.” The husky smiled and pocketed his phone, stepping out into the harsh winds.
\tThe first thing that struck him was how dark it was outside. The moon shone down some of its borrowed light, but the complete lack of streetlights made the night seem eerie and dangerous. Not like it really mattered. Being a husky, after all, meant that cold and blowing snow weren’t that much of an issue. It was more hot beaches that Flynn had trouble enduring.
\tShielding his eyes with a paw, he trudged down the end of his street. There were no cars anywhere, and it would be a while before the snowplows came to clear his neck of the woods. So he turned right and started the walk toward Syd’s house, humming softly as he went.
=====
\t“Oh cool, Flynn’s coming over?” Lex asked, bouncing around a little. “Maybe he can help me get past that really hard part in a game I’m playing!”
\tSyd smiled as he helped bundle the cub up. “I’m sure he will. When he’s not working, he’s gaming.”
\tThe tigercub thought for a moment. “Oh wait...does that mean that we can’t play around while Flynn’s here?” He flattened his ears at the thought. His big brother had made him feel so good already and he didn’t want to give up the opportunity for more fun, even though having Flynn over would be fun in its own right.
\t“Well,” Syd said as he looped Lex’s scarf around the cub’s neck, “Flynn and I already do that kind of stuff. So...I guess we’ll see what happens.”
\tLex’s eyes nearly rocketed from his head. “Could I watch? Oh wow!” His little imagination went into overdrive as he imagined his big brother and the husky doing all sorts of things with each other.
\tThe big tiger chuckled as he pulled on his gloves. “We’ll see what Flynn wants to do.” He couldn’t imagine Flynn not wanting to have an audience. He looked them both over. “Alrighty, I think we’re ready to head out. You good?”
\tLex nodded and gave a thumbs up through his glove. “Good to go!”
\t“Of we go then,” Syd said. He pushed open the door and they stepped into the howling gale, locking the door behind them. “Alrighty, little dude. Let’s go get us a husky!”
\t“Yay!” Lex cheered as they charged off into the snowy night.
=====
Flynn wasn’t really keeping track of time as he made his way. For the most part, the snow hadn’t accumulated that much yet, but there were some waist-deep snowdrifts he had to forge his way through. Up ahead, he could see that some houses had their lights on. “So not everyone lost their power, then,” he murmured to himself as he trudged. “Lucky them.”
He blinked as a snowball paffed against the front of his coat. “H-hey! Who threw that?” he called, looking about and crouching down to make himself a smaller target. He flinched as another one got him in the shoulder. Flynn dodged close to a snow bank and started packing one together for a defense. “So that’s how you want it, huh?”
He ducked out and, seeing a silhouette, threw it. “Yaaaa-!” He got the figure squarely in the face. “Yeah, you want another?” He yelped as he was picked up from behind and tossed into a pillowy soft snowdrift.
“Way to headshot a cub, hero,” a familiar voice laughed.
“Syd?” Flynn called, picking himself up out of the snow bank.
The big tiger walked over to help Lex up. “You okay little guy?”
Lex sputtered and wiped at his mouth. “Bleh, yeah. I thought you said he was bad at throwing snowballs.”
“I am,” Flynn admitted. “Sorry about that, kiddo. You alright?”
The little tiger nodded. “Yeah, but I’m gonna get you back! When you least expect it, I’ll be there with a million snowballs ready to clobber you.” He grinned, his fangs showing.
“Oh great. Hell hath no fury, huh?” He gave Lex a friendly pat on the head. “Well, let’s go, you guys. It’s not getting a whole lot warmer out here, hm?”
“Right you are,” Syd boomed over a sudden gust of wind.
So the continued on to Syd’s place. Lex frolicked up ahead as they walked, alternating trying to walk in the footprints he’d left going the other way with flopping in the soft drifts of snow to make snow angels.
“He looks pretty happy to me,” Flynn noted.
“How so?”
Flynn pointed at him. “He’s frolicking around like a nipped kitten. You can’t even see how happy you made him, can you?”
“But, I -”
“Forget what you did on the surface. I mean, yeah, okay, the rules about doing stuff with cubs are kinda nebulous at best.” Flynn shrugged and continued. “But what really happened is that you showed your brother how much you love him, and you’re both happier for it.”
Syd laughed ironically. “I’m actually horribly conflicted and considering turning myself in for what I did. Flynn...I got yiffy with a cub.”
Flynn shrugged again. “You had consensual relations with a minor. But this isn’t about politics here, Syd. It’s about love. You love your little brother and he loves you back. Is it really so bad what you did?”
Up ahead, Lex had climbed a snow bank and was preparing to flop off it into a drift. “Hey, watch me, guys! Watch!” With a delighted squeal, he jumped back, landing in the drift and sending a cloud of powdery snow into the air. He plucked himself up, laughing madly and running at his brother. He jumped up into Syd’s arms. “Did you see?”
“Sure did,” Flynn said, smiling as he clapped the young one on the shoulder. “Probably one of the best back flops I’ve seen this season.”
“Good job, little buddy,” Syd purred, nuzzling him instinctively. “Just don’t hurt yourself.”
“I won’t, Syd,” the cub promised, giving his big brother a kiss on the cheek before he scampered off to find another bank to jump from.
Flynn looked at his tall tiger, his eyes speaking volumes.
“Oh, shut up with your eyes, you perv,” Syd sighed, eyes rolling. “Not everything between us two is going to boil down to yiff.”
Flynn held up his paws defensively. “I didn’t say that. But I’m guess that he probably asked if you’d have to stop with me coming over.” He snickered. “You don’t even have to ask: I already know he did.”
Syd harrumphed. “And how did you know that?”
“Because he looked right at me when he kissed you, like he was showing it off.” Flynn gave the tiger a playful punch on the arm. “You really have to relax about this whole thing. What’s done is done: no regrets, okay?”
“I...I dunno, man. I mean, I guess.” Syd rubbed at the back of his head, terribly conflicted.
“If you feel that conflicted about it,” Flynn said, stooping down to pack a snowball, “I could always take him into protective custody.” He grinned devilishly.
Syd had to laugh at that one. “Okay, well one, you can barely feed yourself. And two, your dick would be in him before bedtime. You think I’d really trust him with you after what I just told you?”
“Hah! Probably not,” Flynn mused, tossing the snowball and catching it. “So, if he asks me questions, how do you want me to answer? Because I can guarantee you he’s full of them.” They looked on up ahead, watching Lex flop into yet another snowdrift before leaping up and pouncing around some more.
Syd smiled. “I...I don’t know. I guess try and be educational without being graphic. But,” he said crisply, cutting off Flynn’s next sentence with a tap on the nose, “absolutely no demonstration. He’s young and curious; he’ll really do anything, especially if it feels good.”
“Dude, seriously, I’ll be-”
“Promise me.”
“You think I’d-”
“Yes,” Syd said pointedly, “you would, or you’d agree already.”
“Oh,” Flynn huffed softly. “I...well, you got me there. I guess I was kinda hoping...y’know, help educate a young mind. We’re pretty much a couple, Syd. Y’know, if things go with us where they’re headed, it’s not a long shot to imagine us in the same house, both taking care of him.”
“You just want to fuck him, and you’re sick for thinking it,” Syd growled accusingly. “You should be ashamed of how you’re thinking about it so much.”
“Oh yeah? I should be ashamed? Or is it just you thinking that you should be?” Flynn retaliated hotly, crushing the snowball in his paw. “You’re so conflicted. You’re trying to make yourself come to a decision faster than you’re ready to. What happened was huge, man. It’ll take days before you finally really register what happened.”
Syd turned and shoved the dog back, staring him down. “Don’t you fucking start to tell me what I’m feeling! You don’t know the weight of responsibility it is to raise a cub. And what it feels like to hold their life and safety in your paws and then make a totally selfish decision and know that what you did could mess them up.”
“You’re being a retard. You don’t know that you messed him up.”
“I’ll tell you what I do know,” Syd growled, getting up in Flynn’s face. “You can stay the night tonight, but tomorrow morning, you are walking back. I don’t want you anywhere near him. You’re going to screw up my little brother even worse than I did, and I can’t let you do that.”
“Why don’t you let him decide? He’s old enough to know the difference between love and...and whatever you think it is you’ve done to him.”
“I’m his guardian. I’m the one who makes that decision. Me!” he bellowed. “Not you. So stop acting like you know anything about the situation and back the fuck off me.”
“Are you guys fighting?” a small voice asked. Lex was looking up at them, his eyes worried. It reminded him so much of when Syd and their father clashed and how angry Syd could get always scared him.
“We’re not fighting,” Flynn began softly. “We’re-”
“Shut up,” Syd interrupted. “Don’t talk to him.” He grabbed Lex by the arm and started to pull him along. “Yes, we’re fighting. You’re not allowed to talk to Flynn. He’s staying the night, and then he’s gone for good. In the morning.”
“B-but why?” Lex asked, trying to pull his arm free. “Oww! You’re hurting me, Syd! Let go.”
Syd looked over his shoulder at Flynn, his glare full of venom. “Because he’s sick and dangerous, Lex. Everyone would be better if they stayed away from furs like him.”
Lex wriggled free, taking a few steps back. “Syd, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
“Just shut up and come on,” he commanded, picking up Lex and carrying him back up the road.
Flynn sighed softly, stifling back a few tears and trudged along about twenty paces behind, feeling thoroughly defeated and degraded.
=====
\tIt wasn’t much longer before they arrived back at Syd’s place. Everyone was in a sour mood: Lex for being manhandled the whole way; Flynn for being shouted at; and Syd for...well, Syd couldn’t figure out why he was feeling so badly. His internal conflict was tearing him apart and his moral compass was spinning. That one seemingly spontaneous act suddenly turned his life upside down.
\tThe fact that he’d enjoyed what he did made him sick to his stomach. He basically used his little brother for sexual pleasure. How much more disgusting could you get?
\t“You’re on the couch,” Syd barked tersely as they started to take off their outdoor gear. “Blanket’s in the closet. Stay away from Lex.”
\t“Yeah...thank you,” Flynn replied sadly, dropping his backpack morosely. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Everything was going so well, they were spending nights more and more often, Lex was accepting him as someone to look up to. Everything was on track. And now it was all thrown into disarray because of something that he didn’t even think was a problem.
\tLex just stood there, silently, looking apologetic and uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Flynn.”
\t“Don’t speak to him, Lex,” Syd growled.
\t“Stop it, Syd!” Lex yelled. “You’re being mean for no reason. Flynn’s your friend, and he’s my friend, too. I won’t let you-”
\t“Let me?” Syd shouted back. “It’s not up to you what you’re allowed to do, and it’s not up to you what I’m allowed to do, either. Now you listen-”
\t“No!” the cub shouted, stomping a footpaw. “You listen to me for once.” Syd was shocked into silence. “Flynn’s my friend, and I won’t let you be mad at him and tell me that I should be too without telling me why.” He walked and stood over by the husky and hugged him around the legs. “So tell me why.”
\t“Listen to your brother, Lex,” Flynn murmured softly. “He’s the one who’s in charge here.”
\tThe cub shook his head adamantly. “Not unless he tells me what’s going on. I think I know, though. It’s about what we did, isn’t it?” Syd was totally silent. His big brother’s silence was like a punch to the stomach. “You...you don’t even love me at all, do you?” he whispered, tears already starting to flow. “You regret it and you hate me. You don’t even want me around or to have friends do you?”
\t“Lex...I...”
\t“Shut up!” he screeched. “All you do is say one thing and then do something else. It’s confusing, and you keep making me mad!” The little tiger was seething with rage. “You...you...you don’t get to go around and tell everyone what they get to do. It’s not how it works.”
\t“But I’m your br-”
\t“You’re my brother! You don’t own me, Syd!”
\tSyd growled. “Lex, get into your room, now.”
\t“FUCK YOU!” Lex shouted fiercely. With a ferocious growl, he ran past Syd, swiping at his big brother’s paws with his claws and out the front door into the night.
\t“Lex...Lex!! C-come back!” Syd just stood there, staring out into the night.
\tAbsolutely stunned with the tiger’s reaction, Flynn growled and pushed his shoulder. “You’re an idiot, Syd. You stay here, go pump some iron and chill the fuck out. I think you’ve done more than enough damage to two relationships for one night.”
\tSyd glowered at him. “I didn’t-”
\t“If you think for a second you didn’t do anything wrong, you should spend the next hour or so staring yourself down in the mirror. Because you done fucked up, kitty kitty.”
\t“I...” Syd faltered. “I...didn’t-”
\tFlynn put his gloves back on. “You did, and you’re so stressed and freaked out that your first instinct was to fight with me rather than go out into the storm to look for your little brother, who’s all alone outside, crying and running away. And, I don’t know if you noticed, but he doesn’t have his coat or hat on.” He pulled his hat back on and shook his head, grabbing up Lex’s hat, scarf and gloves. “Get your head straight, man. I’m going to go find Lex.” Without another word, he followed Lex’s exit, closing the door behind him.
\tSyd was silent for a few minutes, just watching the snow dance through the air on the other side of the window. It took a moment before he noticed his own reflection gazing emptily back at him. “I’m...such a colossal fuckup...”
=====
\tEven for a dog with such horrible outdoor skills, it was easy for Flynn to follow the fleeing cub’s tracks down the road. They were zigzagging left and right, indications of the cub’s disrupted emotional state. Something caught his nose and he trotted up a few yards to see a dark, steaming pool of vomit. It nearly broke Flynn’s heart to see the cub in such distress and he knew he had to find him soon. Without any winter wear, he knew the cub would succumb to the elements pretty quickly.
\tHe followed the tracks further, turning the corner. He saw Lex lying in the middle of the road, and he felt his blood suddenly turn to ice. “Oh fuck...fuck...Lex!” He ran up and practically jumped on the cub. “Are you okay? Lex...Lex!” He gripped the cub’s shoulders and shook him gently. “Wake up!”
\tThe cub opened his eyes, too cold and worn out to even shiver anymore. “I...fell...”
\tFlynn gathered him closely, opening his jacket to take the cub inside. “Come here, let’s get you warmed up and take you back.”
\tLex tried to disengage, pushing himself away. “I...don’t want to. He’s...ashamed of...”
\t“Well, it looks like I’m the only one with a sensible head right now. Sorry kiddo, but you don’t get to make that decision.” He plonked the cub’s hat on and looped around his scarf. “C’mon,” he said softly, hoisting him up. “Let’s get you back and warmed up.” He took off his own coat and wrapped it around the tiger before picking him up in his arms. “That’ll hold you.” He looked down and saw that Lex was just barely conscious. “Better hurry, I guess.”
\tHe ran as fast as he could manage, talking to Lex the whole time, keeping him awake. “Oh yeah?” he was saying as he got back onto Syd and Lex’s street. “Well I’ve got a hard one for ya. What’s seven times twelve?”
\t“Seven twelves are...84,” Lex mumbled, finding it harder and harder to concentrate.
\t“And what’s the capital of India?” he asked, mounting the steps.
\t“Delhi...” he whispered weakly, struggling to keep his eyes open.
\t“You’re a champ, little dude. We made it back. C’mon,” he bustled inside into the bathroom and started to draw a warm bath. “C’mon,” he said again, tapping the cub’s cheeks to keep him awake. “Just another minute and I’ll warm you up. You can do it. What’s the fifth planet from the sun?”
\t“J...” Lex tried to get a deep breath. “J...J...upi...ter...”
\t“Good job, kiddo. Let’s get you in here.” He tested the water with his paw. It was warm, but not too hot. He didn’t want to throw the cub even further into shock. He gently lowered him in, clothes and all. He saw the tiger cub flinch, the warm water seeming scalding hot by comparison.
\t“W...what’s...going on?” a shaky voice at the doorway murmured.
\tFlynn looked over his shoulder. Syd looked like a wreck. His eyes were hazy and he was gripping the doorframe for support, his stance unsteady.
\t“You...you...” Flynn was furious. He stood up and glared at Syd. “Your brother was out in the cold...he could have died and...you started drinking?”
\t“I...”
\t“Get out of my sight,” Flynn hissed with rage. “You get back into your room and you don’t move a muscle until I get in there to deal with you. And don’t you dream about drinking anything else. I want you to be sober as a judge when I have time to deal with you.”
\tSyd blinked blearily, as if he didn’t understand what was happening. “H...have a nice bath. Sorry for...interrupting,” he slurred, staggering down the hall and into his room.
\tHaving no time to waste on being furious, Flynn knelt down next to the bath tub, taking Lex’s paws in his and rubbing them. “How do you feel, kiddo? Talk to me. Let’s do some more times tables.”
\t“I...can’t...think...”
\t“Yeah you can,” Flynn urged. “How about three times seven?”
\tLex took a deep breath, shuddering. “T...twenty...one...”
\t“Right you are. You keep that brain of yours ticking. Now think really hard.” He gently patted Lex’s face. “Really hard, okay? Concentrate. Tell me the alphabet backwards. You can do it.”
\tLex nodded, looking almost pained as he struggled with it. “Z...Y...um...X...”
\t“Keep going, little guy!” Flynn dashed out of the bathroom, grabbing the kettle from the kitchen and some hot chocolate mix. When he got back, Lex was still reciting, his voice starting to sound a little stronger. “R...uh...Q...”
\t“What comes next?” Flynn asked, filling the kettle up from the sink and plugging it in.
\t“S...no...backwards, right...um....P...O...” He opened his eyes slowly. “N...M...” The letters started to come a little faster. “Flynn?”
\t“What is it?” Flynn asked taking the cub’s paw in his.
\t“What...what happened?” He gave a soft whimper. “I’m...scared...I can’t feel my pawfeet.”
\t“I know you can’t, little guy. You got too cold, so we’re warming you up. Do you think you can handle some hot chocolate?” He killed the kettle and started to mix some. “It’s nice and warm, it’ll help.”
\tLex started to cry as his brain slowly began to replay everything that happened. “How come...how come Syd didn’t...come after me?”
\t“Hush little guy,” Flynn murmured, stroking the cub’s ears. “For now, you just worry about feeling better, and I’ll make everything okay between you and Syd. Okay?”
\tThe cub swallowed hard, shuddering softly, his body starting to shiver again. “I...I can try...” He shifted in the bathtub, moving his legs a little. “I can...I can feel my pawfeet again.” Struggling he sat up a little. “I’d like that hot chocolate now, please.”
\tFlynn handed it over. “Take your time. Drink nice and slow, okay? Take it nice and easy.” He watched closely as Lex slowly drank. “How’s that?”
\t“Warm,” Lex noted, slurping some more down. He managed a wan smile. “Thanks.”
\t“I care about you, Lex. I can’t stand the idea of...” The dog choked on the words. “I...just want you to be happy and safe.”
\tLex nodded. “I know...umm...” He shifted a little in his wet clothes. “Can I just take a regular bath now? The clothes feel...kinda weird.”
\t“Sure thing, little guy,” the husky said, taking the mug and setting it aside. “Let me help you.”
=====
\tIt was nearly 2am before Flynn was fully content with Lex’s recovery. Lex had insisted that he was okay, but never one to take chances, Flynn insisted that he soak in warm water until Lex was actually warm to the touch. “Alright, my little pickled tiger. I think you’re good. How do you feel?”
\tHe yawned, up so late past his bedtime. “Warm, but sleepy.”
\t“I’m going to be spending the night in your bed with you, okay? It’s just to make sure you’re alright.” He smiled wryly. “Despite what your brother thinks of me right now, I really do just care.”
\tLex leaned in and gave Flynn a gentle kiss on the cheek. “I know, Flynn.”
\t“Okay good. Stand up and let’s get you dried off,” he said, pulling the plug on the tub and letting the water drain. Lex stood up, water dripping off him, his fur totally waterlogged. “Arms out,” Flynn instructed.
\tLex gave a little laugh and nodded. “Yes, sir!” He did so, not feeling at all weird about being naked in front of the dog. “Aren’t you going to...I dunno, look at me?”
\t“Look at you?” Flynn asked, drying off the cub’s shoulders before moving to his chest.
\t“Well yeah...I mean, I’m naked. I kinda got the feeling that...well...I dunno. Maybe you wanted to?” He turned so Flynn could more easily dry his front.
\tFlynn chuckled softly. “Why look when I can touch?” he said with a soft chuckle, giving the tiger’s cubbish package a playful squeeze. Lex squeaked, his tail flicking. “See? No big deal.”
\tLex blushed deeply. “I...I can’t believe you just did that!”
\t“Well, believe it,” Flynn advised as he dried off the cub’s thighs and behind, “because I’m about to dry you there.” He very deliberately placed his paw on the cub’s crotch and began to gently rub and massage, drying him off bit by bit.
\t“Nfff,” the kitten huffed, ears flat. He gripped Flynn around the wrists, holding his paws tightly against his crotch as he rubbed up against the soft towel.
\tFlynn murred gently. “Why don’t we save that for bed time, cutie? Bathrooms aren’t too cuddly a place to play around in.”
\tLex huffed and pouted. “But it feels good,” he whimpered.
\tFlynn winked at him and licked his cheek. “I promise, it feels better if it’s my maw.”
\tThe cub’s eyes snapped open. “You...you what?”
\tFlynn stepped back. “There, all dry.” He grinned, noticing the cub’s prominently growing erection. “Now I know you’re feeling better.” Lex just blushed and covered up with his paws.
=====
\tNot five minutes later, Flynn had Lex pajama’d and in bed asleep. After the exhausting ordeal and the cub’s not insignificant brush with death, it was no surprise that he was asleep in no time, promise of playing around or no. The dog softly stroked down Lex’s back and shoulders, humming softly and soothingly to ease him to sleep. He smiled as he felt the kitten relax and eventually slip away into dreamland. After today, if anyone deserved some quality sleep, it was Lex.
\tFlynn finished humming the tune and gently came in to kiss Lex on the cheek. “Sleep well, little guy,” he murmured softly, his voice catching in his throat. “It’ll all be better in the morning.” He gave the tiger’s headfur a gentle tousle and got up, clicking the nightlight on and closing the door to the cub’s room.
\tBreathing deeply, Flynn prepared himself for the confrontation he was getting ready to have. Something was definitely wrong with Syd. He was never the kind of fur to be so completely paralyzed by anything when the right decision was there, plain as day in front of him. Lex was a happy, healthy cub, made only happier by his brother’s interest in him. It was so obvious!
\tFlynn opened the door of Syd’s room to see him sitting on the bed, sullen and defeated. He’d obviously been crying, and only someone who was sobering up from a few too many could look so disastrously awful. He averted his eyes, aware of the gravity of what had happened. At that very moment, he wished so very much that he could dissolve into nothing.
\t“Flynn...I-”
\t“Shut up!” Flynn barked, slapping the tiger sharply. “I didn’t say you could talk yet.” He was seething. He could feel his blood pressure skyrocketing. “Do you have the slightest idea what nearly happened here tonight? What would have happened if I wasn’t here? Has that entered your head?”
\tThe tiger looked up. “Please, Flynn, let me-”
\tFlynn slapped him again. “Don’t say anything!” he snarled, flecks of spit landing on the startled tiger’s face. “You haven’t earned the right to have an opinion on the matter. Your little brother, who loves you - no wait, idolizes you - nearly died tonight. Do you even understand what that means?”
\tAfraid to answer, Syd nodded, trembling.
\t“He ran away from you because you were being a total crazy psycho, out into the snow with just regular clothes on. Out into the cold. And you were too busy figuring out how you felt about something you both wanted to get out there and look for him.” Flynn put his fingers to his temples, breathing deeply and pressing in, trying to relieve some of the stress. “He probably got about fifty feet before he collapsed and threw up. And then he kept running. He ran three streets away Syd, crying his eyes out because of you!”
\tQuite done with slapping, Flynn punched Syd across the mouth, but it still elicited no reaction. “You’re a fucking idiot. You talk about responsibility. You talk about how you have to take care of your little brother and provide for him, and how much you put into it. But if that was the case, none of this would’ve happened. You spend all this time trying to be as unlike your father as you can be, and look what happens: you’re the same negligent, useless deadbeat that he was.”
\tSyd’s head jerked up, his eyes burning. “I’m not-” His head snapped to the side as Flynn punched him again.
\t“If you actually cared about Lex, you wouldn’t have any space in your brain right now to think about yourself.” Flynn glared at him, rubbing his knuckles. “If I was more of a brawler, I’d punch you some more. But I can see you’re actually listening to me now.”
\tSyd was breathing heavily, a paw gently massaging my jaw. “You wanna know what’s going on here? Why I don’t have space in my brain for the idea of fucking my little brother like you do?”
\t“Syd, I love you.” That sentence resonated for a moment. “If there’s something wrong, I’d hope you’d tell me.”
\tThe tiger laughed heartlessly, an ugly, barking noise. “Yeah, ‘something wrong’,” he said, doing air quotes. “No harm in telling you. You’re going to tell Cub Protective Services about what happened with Lex and they’re going to take him away. And you’re going to leave, too, after what happened. If I’m going to be alone, I may as well give everyone a reason to run away.”
\tFlynn sat next to him, holding the tiger’s big paws in his. “I won’t run away. I want to work this out for all of us. We can take care of Syd together.”
\tSyd looked at him with sad, haunted eyes. “It was...” He swallowed hard, closing his eyes. The effort it took to say it was almost killing him. “It...it was...dad...” He slumped forward and started to cry, his massive shoulders shuddering as the flood of emotion finally overran his defenses.
\tUnderstanding suddenly dawned and Flynn clung to him tightly, stroking his shoulders comfortingly. “Syd...I...I never knew. I never even thought-”
\tThe tiger shook his head. “Don’t...don’t say it.” He took a few deep breaths. “I’m the one who should say it. I’ve let it rule my life for so long.” His lip trembled, but the tiger’s eyes were fierce.
\tResting a paw on the side of his face, Flynn tilted Syd’s head down, pulling him in close until their foreheads were touching. “It’s okay, I’m not leaving you.”
\tSyd closed his eyes, taking a deep shuddering breath. “It was almost every night,” he breathed. “He’d come in...and come over to my bed and...I’d...” He breathed again. “I’d pretend to be asleep.” He pressed hard against Flynn. “I thought...he was lonely because mom was gone. That if he felt better, it was okay and it didn’t matter how I felt.”
\tFlynn hugged him softly. “Syd...that’s very brave of you. You kept him from doing the same to Lex.”
\t“You...you really think so?” he asked brokenly, tears trickling down his face. “That...that’d actually give what happened some meaning.”
\tThe dog nodded. “I do. Your dad had problems and he was taking them out on you. And all this time, you were taking it upon yourself to protect Lex from that.” Flynn wiped away a few of the tiger’s tears. “That’s probably the noblest thing you could ever do.”
\t“I...I guess so,” Syd conceded, slowly starting to feel a little better.
\tFlynn pulled back and smiled. He always found it funny how such huge problems could be fixed almost instantly by just talking about them. Syd would need a long time of talking about it before he overcame the abuse, but it was a start. And maybe now he could see the difference between how his dad was with him, and how different it was from how he felt about Lex. “Do you realize now?”
\tSyd nodded slowly. “Lex...it’s different with him. I can see how it’s different.” He looked into Flynn’s eyes. “Do you think he’ll ever forgive me for being such an idiot?”
\tFlynn kissed him softly. “Of course he will. He idolizes you, Syd.” He rubbed over the big kitty’s ears. “I don’t think you could do anything that’d make him stop loving you.”
\tThe tiger nodded, drying his eyes in his sleeve. “Ugh, I’m a wreck.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe this all happened. I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened if you weren’t...” He took the dog’s paws in his. “Will you forgive me?”
\tThe blue husky smiled. “I already have. You were a big idiot. A huge one, in fact. But you’re my huge idiot.”
\t“Thanks...I think.”
\tFlynn stood up and tugged on Syd’s paw. “C’mon, come kiss him good night.”
\tSyd trembled as he got up and followed, opening the door to his little brother’s nightlit room. It was totally silent in there, save for the deep, but gentle breathing of the sleeping cub. “Are you sure he’s okay?” he whispered fearfully.
\tFlynn nodded silently. “Maybe take him to the doctor this week to make sure he’s okay. But he’s strong and healthy, Syd. He’s fine. Go on; go see him!”
\tSyd shuffled forward and knelt by the bed, reaching forward to hold one of Lex’s paws. “Lex,” he whispered softly. He kissed the paw and moved closer. “I’m...I’m so sorry...” Already at the edge of emotional collapse, it didn’t take much for Syd to start crying again. He sobbed quietly, trying his hardest to remain silent so he wouldn’t disturb his brother.
\tHe twitched as he felt something trail across his face. “Syd...it’s okay...”
\t“Lex?” he breathed softly.
\t“Big bro,” the cub breathed sleepily, his free paw stroking Syd’s muzzle. “Are you okay? You’re not still fighting with Flynn, are you?”
\tSyd swallowed and shook his head, almost beyond words. “I...” He coughed to try and clear his throat. “Everything’s okay now. Flynn’s staying. I love you, I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m glad we did what we did. I’m glad we can be that close. Please...forgive me...”
\tLex threw back the covers and leaned forward, hugging his big brother tightly. “Don’t cry, Syd.” He yawned hugely. “Will you snuggle with me tonight, big bro?”
\tSyd nodded, he tears abating as he stroked the cub’s head. “Of course, Lex. I’ll stay with-”
\t“Flynn, too.”
\t“U-uh,” Flynn stammered. “I think I should leave you two some space to sort everything out.” He started to back out the door.
\t“No.” Lex spoke up a bit. “You promised you would, remember?” His voice trailed off, totally exhausted.
\tThe dog chuckled softly. “That I did.” He steps closer, smiling. “Besides, we’ll be nice and warm in case we lose power,” he added pragmatically, laying a paw on Syd’s shoulder.
\t“I think we should use my bed,” Syd suggests. “Way comfier for all three of us. What do you think, Lex?”
\tThe cub didn’t respond, already having slipped back into dreamland. Syd smiled softly and picked him up in his arms. “Let’s go, little buddy.” As he carried him out of the room, he stopped to give Flynn a gentle kiss. “You too.”
\tFlynn smiled. “You bet.” Humming softly, he plucked Lex’s nightlight from the socket and followed behind his big kitty. He plugged it back in a socket in Syd’s room, watching as the big tiger tenderly laid the cub in bed, softly bathed in the light’s muted glow.
Syd looked over at Flynn. “You really saved the day, y’know.” He gently stroked Lex’s ears, softly sitting on the bed and petting the cub lightly. “If you weren’t here...”
“Don’t,” Flynn asserted, coming closer as he shed his clothes. “That’s just going to get you tangled up emotionally again. The important thing is that I am here, and I’m not going anywhere.” He slipped into bed behind the cub, pulling him close to his chest and murring. “Mm...oh I like this,” he murmured as he gently scritched Lex’s back.
Syd smiled as he, too, disrobed, getting down into his underwear before also slipping into bed and pulling the covers up over them. He shimmied closer to them, kissing Lex’s head. The cub slowly, sleepily wrapped his arms and legs around his big brother, cuddling against his chest. “Everything feels so normal...all three of us together...”
Flynn gently kissed Syd on the muzzle. “Yeah,” he murmurs, yawning softly. “I think it’s time for us all to get some sleep though, huh?”
Syd nods, returning the kiss before settling in, pulling Flynn close as well, Lex wedged securely between them. “Definitely.”
They lay in silence for a moment, listening to the slow, measured breathing of the little tiger between them.
“Hey Flynn?”
“Yeah?”
“Take your hand of Lex’s butt, please.”
“Awww...” Flynn whined guiltily, slipping his paw over to Syd’s instead.
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