Chapter 2.

Finn clenched his hands against the floor. He'd known he was gay from a young age and Noni's animal characteristics didn't seem to be dulling his hormonal response to an attractive male.

"Is there water?" He asked in a rush.

Noni jumped up and reached a hand down.

"Absolutely! This way." Noni smiled and pulled Finn to his feet. He was just a few inches shorter than Finn and if he noticed the Human boy's twitching shaft, he didn't mention it.

Noni led him to a large, clear dispenser in the corner. The feline grabbed a cup from a table and filled it with water. Finn took it and drank it down. The water tasted faintly of chemicals and he set the cup down with a small frown.

Noni eyed him closely.

"I don't like it either." The feline said. "The water on my world is fresh, straight from mountain springs. It's wonderful to swim in, when the season is warm."

Finn blinked and Noni tilted his head, eyeing him with that same keen observation.

"What surprises you?" The boy asked.

"You like to swim?" Finn asked, then flushed. He'd just assumed Noni would react like an earth cat to water.

"Oh, yes. I was one of the best too." Noni grinned, small fangs poking into his lower lip.

A derisive snort sounded and Finn looked up to see a group of boys in various shades of colorful scales.

"I'd like to see you best a Kua, Noni." One of the boy's said, pink scales shimmering over his face and torso. His long fingers were webbed, and tipped with sharp claws, and slit yellow eyes narrowed on the feline.

"Furry creatures shouldn't brag, when they're so obviously inferior." The scaled boy said haughtily, and his posse of scaled companions all watched Noni and Finn with open contempt.

Noni's ears went flat and he touched Finn's arm, steering him away from the hostile stares.

"That would be Liven. The Kua spend most of their lives in water. They're an isolated race that keep to themselves. In here they stay close to the only source of water they can find. It's sad, really." Noni's ears drooped a little further, then he flicked a look up at Finn. "But that doesn't excuse their behavior. Do you want to sit with me again?"

Finn blinked at this abrupt change of subject.

"Yes." He said simply, and Noni steered him towards a clear spot on some mattresses.

Finn sat and felt exhaustion weigh him down. His limbs were still shaky and his head had started to pound.

A gentle hand smoothed over his back.

"I was the same at first." Noni said softly. "Lie down, it helps."

Finn shifted to lie on the soft blue mattress and turned away from the room. A warm shape settled against his back and Noni's satiny tail wrapped around his waist. Finn closed his eyes and slept.

                              ---------------------------------

A chiming sound woke Finn a while later. He still felt exhausted and his eyes stung. Noni's tail and arm were draped around him, and their legs were intertwined.

A blush burned his cheeks and he tentatively turned his head. Noni blinked at him sleepily, black hair tousled around his dainty face.

"That's the dinner bell. We're being fed." There was a note of irony in the feline's voice and Finn glanced uneasily towards the doors.

"Nothing scary." Noni's hand trailed softly over his jaw.

The food arrived on a large cart and the boys formed a line to make their plates. Noni stayed seated until the queue had shortened considerably, before he pulled Finn to his feet.

The plates were large and clear, and the cutlery was long and curved, in a fashion that was presumably meant for larger hands.

Noni selected a grilled green fish and an assortment of meats. Finn felt a little nauseous to see several dishes of what appeared to be live food.

He carefully aimed for what seemed most familiar and settled on a bowl of colorful looking vegetables, along with some blue cubes, and thin strips of meat.

He tasted the vegetables carefully and was pleasantly surprised by the lightly spiced flavor. The meat was a little dry, but filling, and the blue cubes had a nutty taste with a texture like cheese.

Noni watched Finn's expressions with bright eyes, while he finished his carnivorous plate.

"Good?" The feline asked and Finn nodded.

They finished their meal in companionable silence and placed the empty plates in a stacking pile on the table. A second tray was brought in with some of the sweet and salty drink.

Noni wrinkled his nose at the taste.

"Apparently this is good for us." The feline muttered and forced the drink down.

Finn drained his cup and his eyes immediately drooped.

Noni pulled the Human to his lap and Finn was too weary to feel embarrassed. He pillowed his cheek on the feline's warm thigh and observed the alien boys drowsily.

One bird-like individual was preening his yellow feathers; running them through his beak, and ruffling them, until they lay smooth against his back.

Noni carted his fingers through Finn's hair in a soothing rhythm.

"We are many kinds in here." The feline murmured. "Some of us find the same species and they keep to themselves. Others might find friends from foreign places."

Finn's eyelids felt weighed down and he fought to keep listening.

"Are you the only one of your race in here?" Finn mumbled.

"Yes." He felt the feline move closer and then a soft kiss brushed Finn's nape. "But now I have you."

A black tail flicked beside Finn's cheek and he petted it on reflex. His eyes drifted shut, fingers still burrowed in the soft pelt.

                           -----------------———————————————

Finn woke uncomfortably warm, and made to turn, only to find himself pinned. His eyes flew opened and he stared at the black ear twitching against his cheek.

Unbelievable memories surged in and his eyes travelled down to see Noni curled around him. The feline's face was pressed into his neck and hot breaths dampened his skin.

Finn's heart-rate quickened and he willed his morning wood to recede. The boy sighed against him and Finn squirmed.

Noni lifted his head and smiled blearily.

"Good morning. How do you feel?" Noni mumbled, and brushed a hand through his black hair - ear pushing flat, before it flicked up. He looked searchingly up at Finn, when the Human stayed silent.

"What is it?" Noni shifted and his slender leg brushed Finn's erection. Finn shut his eyes tight in humiliation and there was a moment of pained silence.

"Oh." Noni finally said. He curled his hands over Finn's shoulders and lifted, until their eyes were level.

"Is it me? Or is it biology." Noni asked.

"Both." Finn said quietly, feeling so ashamed he wished the floor would swallow him whole. He opened his eyes and reluctantly met those clear blue orbs, surrounded by sooty lashes.

Noni brushed the back of his hand lightly over Finn's cheek and smiled gently.

"I'm glad you like me," the feline said, "but my people are naturally tactile. We crave physical contact, but it's not always sexual." Black ears drooped and he whispered. "But I won't touch you, if you don't want me to."

Finn felt his shame reach unbearable levels, while Noni spoke, and his eyes had fixed on a point below the feline's elbow. At that final sentence he forced his chin up and Noni watched him with wide, solemn eyes.

The feline must have been lonely to attach so desperately to another species. Finn's hard-on was thankfully fading and it gave him the courage to speak.

"It's ok." He said. "I'm sorry about my..." His throat closed and he couldn't finish the sentence.

Noni's hands delved into Finn's curls and he butted their heads hard together.

"I'm so glad! Don't be sorry. I'm not offended. Let me show you the showers."

Dazed from the abrupt topic change, Finn accepted a hand-up and walked beside the feline.

The showers were in an adjoining room and the faucets were large squares that ran water when you stepped beneath them. One brown furred boy, with rounded ears, barely touched the water before leaving. The scaled Kua, however, were pressed beneath the stream - faces turned up blissfully.

Noni ran to an empty faucet and sighed as the water hit - ears pressed tight to his scalp. Dispensers in the walls provided a watery soap, that barely foamed, but cleaned efficiently.

Afterwards, they stepped onto a crate blowing warm air and the brunet frowned at his smooth skin.

"What is it?" Noni asked, squeezing the water from his tail.

"They removed my body hair, but everyone else seems to have theirs." Finn said and the feline ran his hand down the Human's smooth arm.

"Before I came here I was covered in fur." Noni said. "Now I'm practically bare." He lowered his face and his ears swept back. "It's shameful."

In the breeze of the dryer Finn could see the downy pale hairs covering Noni's white skin. They were barely noticeable and fine as spider silk.

Finn brushed a hand down the feline's arm and marveled at the velvet softness against his fingers.

"I like it." He said simply and Noni glanced up warily. Slit eyes searched Finn's for a moment, before Noni's ears swivelled forward.

"Thank you." The feline moved closer and tucked his head beneath Finn's chin, fitting his slim arms around the Human's waist.

Finn closed his eyes, feeling lightheaded and a little surreal. He ran his hand down the thicker pelt on Noni's back and let his cheek brush against one satiny ear. Noni pushed his cool nose against the Human's neck and produced a deep purr. It felt nice. Comfortable.

Several boys stepped past them and Finn opened his eyes. A few glanced their way, but no one seemed to mind their behavior. Several boys were even more physical than they were. Finn's eyes widened and he hurriedly looked away.

"What?" Noni's head shifted beneath his chin to watch the boys. "This isn't common where you're from?" He asked curiously.

"Not exactly." Finn said quietly.

Noni dropped his head to Finn's shoulder and smiled up at him, white fang poking into his pink lip.

"But you're so affectionate. I could tell straight away." The feline said.

Finn's hand was itching to run over Noni's soft ears and he had to agree.

"I'd only just arrived. How could you tell?" He asked, forcing his hand to remain where it was on the feline's back.

"I'm an excellent judge of character." Noni grinned and stepped back - swishing his tail free of the last drops of water.

"Let's go." He caught Finn's hand and they wandered back into the hall.

"What can we do around here?" Finn wondered, looking around at the large, but sparsely furnished space.

Noni shrugged and tugged him into a cushioned corner.

"There isn't much to do." The feline guided him down and climbed onto his lap. "Sleep, eat. Some of the newer ones exercise but most are losing their energy. No one seems to gain weight." Noni leaned back against Finn's chest and closed his eyes.

"Is everyone calm? Do they ever fight?" Finn scanned the hall, noting the young aliens vast physical differences. There was bound to be discord now and then.

The feline tilted his head and blinked up at him.

"I was aggressive at first." Noni whispered. "The Kua used to be unbearable. There's something about this place. Perhaps the water or the food? It makes you calm. Tired."

The feline twisted and folded his arms across the Human's chest. "But you don't seem to need it. Have you ever been angry?"

Finn quirked a smile.

"Sure. I have bad days too." He answered.

The feline grinned and smoothed his fingers across Finn's nape, claws scratching lightly.

"I meant violent. Aggressive?" Noni clarified.

Finn leaned back and tried to think of such a time. Finally he shook his head.

"As a child I had tantrums, but no. I don't like to fight."

Noni dropped his chin against Finn's shoulder and smiled into his skin.

At that moment the doors opened, and a couple of blue aliens entered, with the purple boy between them. The Ytra's head hung low and his crystal eyes were unfocused and empty. Noni gasped and his body straightened.

"He's one of mine." The feline whispered, watching the newcomer with wide eyes. Finn felt a burst of apprehension and struggled not to fold his arms tight around Noni's shoulders.

"One of your race?" He asked instead and the feline nodded, tail swishing.

The blue aliens attached a bracelet to the purple boy's arm and guided him towards the mattresses.

A couple of boys neared the newcomer curiously - but Noni jumped up and pushed past them.

Finn stayed seated and his gut churned with unease.