Caspin's mother was stiff as she and her husband began to set the table for their son, nephew, and...guest.
"Another species entirely," She mumbled to herself. Their kind didn't blink twice at same-gender couples. However, they were wary of bonds made outside the species. "From an entirely different planet!" She finished with a frustrated huff as she set the last plate down.
"Eva, if you're going to complain, could you at least do it in complete sentences?" Caspin's father said with a sigh as he started bringing out the food.
The food consisted of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and other intricate meals that could be made from them. Caspin's people, Vulpans, were naturally omnivorous, but didn't eat meat often.
"Don't you bait me, Verlan," She shot him a glare. "What say you about this...this human that our son has brought home?" She questioned.
"He seems nice enough." The man shrugged. "I would say we should give him a chance to show what kind of a person he is. I can't imagine Caspin being interested in someone who wasn't the good sort, not after how he was, and is still, treated at times."
Evangeline flinched at her husband's words, as if he had thrown a bucket of ice water at her. "That's exactly why I'm so worried. He's still treated ruthlessly." Her hands shook as she placed the utensils on the table.
"And did you see how big that fella he brought home is? He’s taller than a Kaynen." Verlan pointed out with a grin. "Do you really think anyone will be hassling our boy with that man standing with him?"
Whenever he tossed logic at Eva, it would grate on her nerves. But, the slight aggravation towards him always tended to snap her out of her funk. She always stepped down afterwards, regardless…at least, for that particular moment. "I suppose so." She conceded.
"Alright, looks like supper's good to go!" Etsu practically purred as he walked past them and took a seat at the table.
"First, go call your cousin and his…boyfriend for supper, Etsu." Verlan instructed with a nod to his nephew.
A petulant pout formed on Etsu's face as he all but stomped all the way back to his cousin's room. That time, he made sure to knock.
"Come on, you lovebirds! Time to chow down on actual food now!" He called.
There was a thud and the rumble of Adrian's deep voice, which was tinged with concern. The door was suddenly opened just wide enough for Caspin to stick his head through. His hair was mussed, he had his shirt on backwards, and he sported a hickey at the base of his throat.
"Sorry, what?" Cas asked breathlessly.
"...food. In the dining room. Jeez." Etsu drawled with a roll of his eyes. For what it was worth, he was actually pretty happy for his cousin. Though it was startling to witness the other Vulpan’s private moments with the human, Caspin seemed rather pleased. "If you two don't come down to eat, your dad will surely starve me, so hurry your butts up."
"Okay, we'll be right...Adrian, stop that...be right there." Caspin quickly shut the door and Etsu heard a gasp and a giggle before he walked away with a smile and a shake of his head.
Etsu had always gotten along with Caspin, and he felt bad for his younger cousin. The kid had gotten a raw deal and everyone knew it. Some people liked to bully Cas or try to take advantage of him because of what he was. There had even been a couple of guys who thought Caspin should put out without even dinner or a date and that the sandy fox should be grateful for the attention. Those seemed to hurt him more than the ones who wanted to beat him up or try to frighten him into shifting into his throwback form so they could humiliate him.
Junior high had been hell for Etsu's cousin.
So, it hadn't surprised the silver and black fox when Cas had chosen a solitary profession that kept him alone most of the time. Etsu couldn't blame him. What did surprise him was that Caspin always came home after his runs, visiting family and his few friends. He also never seemed to show any bitterness or jealousy towards Etsu. The older fox knew he was handsomely colored, but Caspin never held it against him.
The silver markings in his black fur were striking and the coloring continued in the soft locks on his head as well. Black wasn't too unusual, but it was usually paired with white or brown. Silver was rarely seen in any fur variation, especially not black. The lack of bright colors in his coat was made up for in his orange and purple eyes. Etsu had admirers call them hypnotizing and breath-taking. The dark fox had never lacked for friends or people who wanted to be more than friends. At least he'd been able to keep his friends from picking on Caspin. There was only so much he could do, though.
But Cas always had a smile for Etsu, even when the little bland fox was sporting a fat lip from a scuffle. Talking with Caspin was always entertaining, even before he went off into space and came back with amazing stories of aliens and other worlds. They were the closest in age out of all the cousins. Etsu took pride in the fact that he could tackle Caspin like he had that morning and the littler fox wouldn’t shift into his less evolved form. Etsu smiled as he thought of it. Cas knew Etsu well enough to recognize him immediately and trusted him enough not to be frightened or overly startled by his exuberant greetings.
The lovely black and silver fox plopped down in his chair at the table.
"They’ve been called." Etsu said saucily.
Verlan nodded with a grunt and continued slicing the sweetbread. Adrian and Caspin joined them a few minutes later. Etsu noticed Caspin's shirt was fixed and his hair was under control. The alien seemed the same. Big, tall, tan, and muscled as he was…even with those weird ears.
Adrian was rather eager to eat their food. "I hope you don't mind too terribly if I mimic the way you eat." He told Caspin. "I wouldn't want to eat any of this the wrong way." He would have suggested that the fox be the one to feed him himself, but he didn't want to embarrass him any further in front of his family.
"Please, don't be self-conscious, Adrian." Verlan said as he sat at the head of the table. "And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I hope our food is to your liking."
Evangeline was quiet during supper, but it was certainly a start. At the very least, she wasn’t actively saying anything that she shouldn’t.
Etsu was the first to finish up. "That was good. Thank you!" He told his uncle and aunt as he stood up to set his dishes on a conveyer belt that automatically washed and sanitized them. "I think I'm going to get ready to hit the sack." He added with a nearly musical yawn. "Night, everyone!"
“So, we’ll hang out tomorrow, Etsu?” Caspin asked hopefully.
The dark-haired fox beamed at his cousin. "All day, Cas. As much as you can handle my talking your ears off." He admitted.
"And maybe we can show Adrian the sights!" Caspin actually clapped with excitement, unable to contain himself.
"I would certainly appreciate it," Adrian added.
"Sounds like a plan," Etsu agreed. "Until tomorrow, then, you two. Don’t forget to keep your door locked." He concluded as he walked over to his room.
"Well, did Vulpan food agree with you, Adrian?" Verlan asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, it was all very good. I can't thank you both enough." Adrian replied. "And thank you, once again, for allowing me to stay under your roof."
Evangeline took the remaining plates and utensils and tossed them on the belt before turning her full attention on the two young men. "I'm not happy about the idea of you giving anyone a tour." She stated. "In any case, the three of you better make sure to have eyes in the back of your head at all times."
"I'm not a kid anymore." Caspin said with a roll of his eyes. "I don’t know what you're worried about anyway. I wouldn't even be out alone." The fox crossed his arms, feet tapping on the floor. "Even if I was alone, I've traveled across the universe, Mom. I've dealt with drunken Morians, grumpy Vorans, and handsy Phryxans. I can take care of myself!"
Caspin’s mom walked right over and twisted one of Caspin's ears without mercy. "I don't care how big you are, you are my baby. You will always be my baby, and it never hurts to be extra cautious. Especially with those violent Kaynen around!"
Caspin yowled at the grip on his sensitive lobe. There was a telltale pop before Evangeline was holding a little tan fox in the air by one ear, Cas's clothes falling onto his chair and the floor. The little fox yipped, small paws kicking the air.
Evangeline immediately held her son in her arms and gently squished him to her chest. "You'd do well to remember that. If anything were to happen to you, I just don't know what I'd do!" The last came out as a half-sob.
"Eva, love," Verlan said with a sigh. "You're smothering the boy...literally."
The woman let out a sniffle and finally placed her son down before wiping away her tears. "Just, keep safe, won't you?" She pleaded as she took hold of her husband's hand and the two of them headed over to their own room.
Adrian reached over to gently press a hand to the side of the fox's face. "Are you ok?"
Cas whined, his sore ear flicking back and forth. The sandy-colored fox hopped onto Adrian's lap and burrowed under the hem of the man's shirt. Cas curled up against Adrian's six-pack, hiding in utter humiliation.
"Oh, Cas, it's ok." Adrian insisted as he walked them over to their room. He kept rubbing the fox in warm circles through his shirt while holding him up with the other hand. "She really loves you, you know?"
Adrian heard a little sigh from under his shirt. Cas nuzzled against the bigger man's warm skin. Adrian was amazed again at just how soft Caspin's fur was. A girlfriend of one of his teammates had a pet chinchilla at a party, once. Adrian had spent half the night hanging out with the cute gray rodent instead of drinking and screwing around like everyone else. The tall man had thought he'd never touch fur that was softer than that chinchilla's...until Caspin. It was smoother than velvet. Sometimes he just wanted to sit and pet Caspin when he was in this form. He wondered if Cas would mind.
The fox finally came out from his warm hiding spot after Adrian had been sitting on the bed for a few minutes. Wide green eyes gazed up at the soccer player. Cas purred softly and licked Adrian's hand.
The man smiled at his partner. "I adore you, you know? Even like this." He said in a soft voice as he continued to gently pet him. "I'm happy just sitting here with you and sliding my hands over your soft fur."
Adrian stretched out on the bed after kicking off his pants, reaching up to flick off the light. Cas moved about uncertainly, still in his fox form. Adrian rolled on his side and stretched his arm out beside him, making a space the perfect size for a small fox. The man's smile was gentle as he beckoned Caspin with a wiggle of his fingers. Cas gave a little yip and trotted across the bed to curl up next to his warm lover. Adrian stroked his fingers through exquisitely soft, sandy fur. Caspin let out a deep sigh, letting go of his tension. The pair closed their eyes, drifting as Adrian continued petting Cas. The strokes grew slower and slower as they drifted off. A while later, while they slept, Caspin shifted back to his human form. Adrian adjusted his position without waking either of them to cuddle the smaller man closer.
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