Chapter 2.
Chilla shut the door and sighed out a breath. Kim sighed too, breath peeping out and the headboy smiled down at him.
"The halls can get rowdy, but you get used to it." Chilla assured and stepped into his room.
It was nothing like Kim's shabby quarters back home, where every surface was covered in piles of laundry and filthy dishes. Kim had attempted to clean a few times, only to find the place trashed when he returned home from school.
But Chilla's space was pristine and cool toned, like the boy himself. A tapestry of a snowy mountain hung above a pale oak bed with dark blue sheets. In the light of a large window stood a black desk and shelves, stacked neatly with school supplies. A cove was fashioned into the wall, curving into a dome shape, and shielded by grey curtains.
A boy with long white hair peeked out of the curtains. He was nearly as pale as Chilla, save for the flush of red on both cheeks, as if he'd arrived straight from the cold. His full mouth was a deep red and his eyes were a startling pink with blood red pupils.
The boy spotted Kim and his timid smile froze.
"Yas, this is my new roommate." Chilla said gently and knelt before the albino. Yas stared at Kim with wide red eyes, shoulders hunched beneath his bulky white sweater.
Kim stared right back, clutching the headboy's shirt. Yas' scent shared a touch of Chilla's cool earthiness, but there was something else as well. A mustiness that had his tail twitching painfully and an involuntary chitter escaped.
"He's injured." Chilla continued, still speaking in that soothing tone. "And stressed. I'm going to fetch us some lunch and I need you to watch him a moment."
Yas' red eyes flickered with something like panic.
"You know what he's going through." Chilla said, low voice gaining a firm edge that had Yas swallowing and nodding his head jerkily.
The silver boy smiled and made to pass Kim into the albino's hands. The squirrel squeaked out a protest and scrabbled against his shirt. Chilla frowned down at him, eyes darkening.
"Don't be rude. Yas is a good person." He said and pressed Kim into those pale fingers.
Yas' grip was hesitant and the squirrel easily wriggled free and dove into the cove. A string of lights softly illuminated the space and a wealth of soft pillows and blankets covered every surface. Kim dived beneath the blankets and curled up as small as his injured tail allowed.
"I don't think I can..." A hoarse voice started.
"You'll do fine." Chilla interrupted.
There was a whisper of cloth followed by the unmistakable sound of lips parting. The meaning behind this dimly registered, but with a predator's scent so close Kim's mind easily dismissed it. Light steps moved across the floor and the door closed.
The blankets shifted and Kim shuddered, heart racing.
"...Please come out." Yas croaked.
Kim twitched with nerves but remained in the superficial safety of the blanket. The white haired boy took a shaky breath and spoke again.
"I...I hurt my tail once too. I was attacked. I don't like violence...I don't..." Yas paused and swallowed loudly.
"I don't have many friends..." He finished quietly.
The squirrel opened his eyes and stared blankly at the fabric. Yas' hoarse voice carried a well of vulnerability and his tentative offering cut through Kim's defenses like razors. He hadn't had many friends either. It was hard to open up to people when you were ashamed of your life.
The blankets moved again and the floor creaked as weight pressed onto it.
Kim braced himself, brutally forced down his instincts, and poked his head out. He squeaked softly.
Yas turned from the opening, red eyes wide with surprise.
The two shifters stared at each and the albino wet his lips nervously.
"Can I sit?" Yas whispered.
Kim felt his ears twitch with shame and he nodded quickly. This wasn't his territory and he was inadvertently driving Yas from his hiding place.
Yas moved back inside and carefully settled his thin limbs into the corner, tucking a blanket up to his chin. He wet his lips again and glanced uneasily at Kim.
"I-I've been here for a year now. It's a good school." He mumbled.
Kim watched him, still lying tense beneath the blankets. Yas tucked his chin down and his frothy hair tumbled forward, like two curtains shielding his face. The squirrel understood. Hiding was comfortable and the cove was perfect for it; cozy and soft with no bright lights to showcase his fur.
Yas wasn't prey. Not exactly, but he seemed almost cripplingly shy and Chilla said he was a good person.
Kim cautiously chittered a greeting.
Pink eyes peered at him through long white lashes and Yas licked his red lips.
"Do..do you want to sit here?" The shifter whispered and briefly tapped the blanket beside him.
The squirrel hunched further into the blankets. That was simply asking too much.
Yas looked down, hair sliding forward once more, and clutched the blanket tighter.
Fear battled with guilt and Kim twitched in agitation.
The door opened and the squirrel started. He was going to have a heart attack at this rate.
Chilla's light steps neared and the headboy climbed inside the den. He placed a bowl of nuts, fruits and berries before him and smiled at Kim.
"Are you hungry?" He presented a strawberry between his slim fingers.
Kim's stomach growled urgently and his mouth watered. He hesitantly moved out from the blankets and stretched to reach the berry.
The headboy pulled away at the last moment and placed the fruit in Yas' startled hands.
Kim chittered with stress and scuttled towards the bowl. The silver boy frowned and pushed it away.
"No." Chilla said sternly. "If you're going to share my room you need to get along with all of us."
The squirrel stared wide-eyed and Yas lifted the fruit towards the bowl.
"Maybe this is a little soon..." He mumbled and Chilla caught the albino's hand, silencing him with one hard look.
Chilla pulled Yas forward and held the berry before Kim.
The squirrel's stomach clenched with hunger and he took a fortifying breath before darting forward. He snatched the fruit from those pale fingertips and returned to his blanket, biting into it with gusto.
It was fragrant and juicy, without a trace of pesticides to sour the flavor. He finished it far too soon and licked his paws before looking up eagerly.
The albino held a shelled hazelnut between his fingers. It was still green, as if just plucked from the tree. Kim surged forward and Chilla moved lightning fast, snatching up the squirrel and pressing him into Yas' arms.
Those white fingers trembled around him and Kim squealed and writhed - causing shards of agony to pierce through his tail.
"Hold him properly! He's hurting!" Chilla ordered.
Yas' hands firmed and pressed Kim against a plush sweater.
Danger!
Danger!
Danger!
Kim was incoherent with fear and his heart thundered.
Yas began humming softly. The tune was slightly off-key and fragile with uncertainty, but after a long moment his voice strengthened, becoming steadier and deeper.
Gentle fingertips eased over the squirrel's spine and the nuts enticing scent neared. Kim's nose twitched and the shell pressed against his mouth.
His stomach growled insistently and he gripped it with both paws, rotating the shell as he bit mechanically. The hard surface fell away and the flesh was fresh and sweet, heavenly compared to the dried brown hazelnuts from the supermarket.
A piece of carrot was presented to him next and he gulped it down. Before long his stomach bulged and he sagged in those immovable hands.
That disturbing, musky scent was everywhere, but it was an innate fact that food represented safety and Kim's exhausted eyes drifted shut. He faintly heard Chilla whisper.
"See? You did fine."
"...Thanks." Yas husked.
———————————————-
Kim dreamt he was a child again, sleeping in his mother's arms. It hadn't happened often and she usually stank of booze and cigarettes. But in those rare moments Kim had felt wanted and safe.
When his father left, her affection dwindled entirely. Then the lunches stopped and the clean clothes. Men started coming and going.
The dream took a dark turn and he opened his eyes with a squeak. He was tucked beneath a smooth chin and icy white locks brushed over his fur.
Yas' unnerving scent clouded his senses, but something strange had happened during the night. His heart wasn't racing.
The albino's breathing changed and Kim knew he was awake. He stretched his front paws and settled deeper into the curve of Yas' neck.
The door opened and closed, but the body against him didn't tense. So neither did Kim.
"Yas?" A bright voice called and the curtains to the cove parted in a ray of sunshine. A cherubic face with honey blonde curls ducked inside.
"Honey, it's almost noon." The boy stilled when he noticed Kim and his large brown eyes widened.
"Oh." The boy said, voice softening and knelt down until he was level with the squirrel. The scents of fresh grass and sun warmed fur filled the small space.
"Hi, sweetie. You're just like a little puff aren't you?" The boy's heart shaped mouth curved, revealing two slightly pronounced front teeth, and his tanned fingers reached out to stroke softly down Kim's spine.
The squirrel only tensed slightly. Yas' pulse against him was steady and the blonde had a gentle feel to him. In fact, he seemed familiar.
The boy snuggled in beside them and curled his arms around the albino.
"Who cares if it's noon." He whispered and kissed Yas' jaw. The white haired boy stiffened.
"And sunny." The blonde kissed Yas' slim neck, lips inches from Kim's tail.
"And warm." He stretched above Kim and pressed that heart shaped mouth to Yas' red lips.
"Cassius..." Yas whispered and drew back slightly. "He's new." Two burning spots of red had gathered in the albino's cheeks.
Cassius smiled down at Kim and stroked his head.
"So? He's a sweetheart. Otherwise he wouldn't be here with you." The blonde reasoned, smoothing the white strands away from Yas' face and pressing into him.
"Not now." Yas mumbled, even as his red mouth parted against Cass' demanding lips.
"Mmm." Cassius hummed and his hips started grinding against the albino.
Kim squeaked. His animal form didn't find this behavior abnormal, but he wasn't in heat and the sight only brought discomfort. He pressed into the blankets and carefully moved out between them.
"Ah!" Yas drew back and his pink eyes focused blearily on Kim. "Y-you said it was sunny? Let's go."
Cassius' hips eased somewhat and he blinked wide eyed at Yas.
"Really? You'll go? A bunch of us are heading to the lake." He grinned happily and mouthed down Yas' neck. "But it can wait."
Kim pushed out the entrance and squeaked against the flood of light. His fur lit up like a fire hydrant and he crouched uncertainly by the opening.
The door opened and Chilla stepped into the room wearing a lavender t-shirt and black sweatpants. He blinked at Kim in surprise before the hisses and moans registered.
"Cassius!" The headboy barked and stormed forward.
Kim chittered in alarm and hurriedly ducked back into the cove, followed closely by Chilla.
The blonde looked up, curls disheveled and mouth swollen. Chilla shot him an icy look.
"Control yourself! You're unforgivably rude." Chilla snapped.
Cassius flushed and hastily lifted off the albino. Yas looked dazed, white hands curled on either side of him and red hickeys blooming on his pale skin.
"I leave for twenty minutes and you're going at it! He's injured!" Chilla gestured to the squirrel huddled in the corner.
Cassius cringed and shot Kim an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry." The blonde mumbled. "I can't help it. I'm horny all the..."
"Stop!" Chilla pressed his fingers briefly between his eyes and took a breath. "He needs to master transformation. That's your area, Cass. You can help him today."
Cassius bit his lip.
"Actually, I was thinking of heading to the..." He trailed off at Chilla's hard stare and turned towards Kim.
"Come on, sweetheart! We're hanging out today." Cassius smiled warmly and lifted Kim gently against his chest.
"No guests or loud noises. Bring him back around four." Chilla ordered.
Cassius hastily nodded and leaned in to press a swift kiss against Chilla's pink mouth.
"See you!" Cassius stepped out, with Kim tucked against his arm, and briskly exited the room. Just before the door closed Kim heard Chilla mutter.
"...rabbits."
A/N: Next update will be tomorrow night ^^
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