I should have known better than to go down that alley, but the idea of being late made me shudder. The bar, Fox Heat, now a few paces away thumped with muffled music.

I tossed the used rag in a nearby garbage can with half a mind to keep it since it touched Kosmo… but I’m trying to keep some dignity here.

I regretted it.

I stepped over to Kosmo, who was fiddling with his phone, the box at his feet. How is he not sweating? 

He wore leather everything. Jacket, pants, belt… God, I wonder if his underwear is leather? Is he even wearing underwear? My eyes dropped before I could stop them. Crotch. Then away. Then back again. Then away. Aaand back. Shit. I was staring. At his bulge. At Kosmo’s goddamn bulge. God, I’m so inappropriate… Does he ever struggle to fit it into his pants? While it’s hard, I mean.

“Alrighty, I paid ya.”

I snapped my eyes up, almost flinching. But he was looking at the bar as he slipped his phone away.

Just act normal. Stop. Sinning.

“T-thanks. Uh—s-soooooo…what are the pins for?”

His eyes flicked to me.

“GUYS!!!”

A familiar voice cut in. Venus trotted across the road, high heels clicking. She wore a tight orange dress, brighter than her ginger fur, her squirrel tail bouncing behind her.

She hugged me like we hadn’t seen each other in years, then let me go. Her long ears twitched. “How’d your commission go?”

“Good, just gave this guy the pins.” I nodded at Kosmo.

“Whoa,” Venus squinted at him. “You know she’s my roomie?”

“The one ya stole bread from?”

“Shhh.” She tapped on his chest.

… She knows him?!

“I owe you a drink,” Venus said, turning to me. “You are staying—oh! You have a date tonight!” She studied my face. “But you don’t look excited.”

“I’m kind of being forced into it.” I scratched the back of my head.

“Oh, right.” Venus grabbed my arm. “God, what happened to your hand?”

There was blood, dried blood. It stained my blue fur, and gashes covered my knuckles.

Woah. I had been so distracted.

“Fuckin’ drunk.” Kosmo muttered.

“What?! What drunk?” Venus asked.

“U-uhm.” My ears fell as the walrus’s face appeared in my head, making me wince.

This is just another punishment. I won’t let it get to me.

Venus clicked her cheek. “Let’s get you cleaned up in the bathroom. Come with me.”

Venus pulled me by the elbow toward the bar, but… I didn’t want to leave. What if I don’t get to talk to Kosmo ever again? Can I… just touch him somehow?

“Wait!” I said, trying to sound calm and failing. Venus stopped.

I looked at Kosmo, my heart speeding up.

His eyes were already on me.

“Uh, t-thanks… for saving me.” I smiled.

“Sorry you had to go through all that shit.”

Should I shake his hand? Give him a hug?

Heat filled my face as I reached my fist out and smiled. My heart pounded full force. This is it—I’m going to touch him!

He reached up with his free hand but immediately dropped it. “Probably shouldn’t, don’t want to hurt ya.”

Nononono!

“Oh, right, sorry.” I busted a laugh so awkwardly God would die if he were watching me—because apparently he is. “H-how about a handshake?” My heart was beating on overdrive. The heat spread to the tips of my ears—steam might have been coming out of me if I were a cartoon.

He reached up and gently gripped my hand. A cute grin grew on his lips. I could feel his warmth. His sturdiness. His—

He let go.

I’m never washing this hand again.

I couldn’t help the smile on my face when I turned around. Venus definitely noticed because she gave an eyebrow-raised-smile at me before leading me into the bar.

After we peed, we sprung to the last sink by the wall putting some distance between us and the other furs in the bathroom.

Venus shook her head in disgust after I explained what had happened in the alley. “What a piece of shit!”

“I’m just relieved Kosmo was there,” I scrubbed away the dried blood. “He’s so… strong.”

“Yeah. You’re not allowed in alleys anymore.” Venus ran her fingers through her long ginger hair. It just about reached her butt. “This area can get sketchy. Gotta be careful. I’ll drive you to your car.

“Oh, thank you.” I dried my hands with some paper towel. “Oh… sooo, how do you know… Kosmo?”

“We’ve been friends for years. We kind of ‘embraced-the-suck’ together when we first met and we’ve been close since. He’s a super sweet guy. And, he’s pretty cute, all my friends like him.”

“Cool, cool. Yeah, he’s super nice.” My face started to burn. “He’s um, super cool.”

Just stop talking.

Venus squinted her eyes and smirked. She glanced down at my shoes, then back up to my face, and said, “You’re really not trying to impress this guy at all tonight.”

I couldn’t hide the frown on my face.

“Sai, look. The Fox Light sucks. But you should dress how you want to feel. Which should be confident, not… whatever this is.”

“… This is my comfy sweatshirt.”

“Yeah… for painting. Not for taking on the world.” She paused. “But, I like your new haircut, it’s edgy.”

I patted my newly exposed head-section.“I almost cried when the lady finished shaving it off.” The fur where my hair used to be was soft, and thin, like on the rest of my body. Weird how they can shave some of it yet not all of it.

“Well, it fits your emo-vibe.” 

Venus gave me some more fashion advice, then drove me to my car.

“Text me when you get there, you got this!” she said, out her car window as I got into my four-door.

She drove away after I was locked in.

She’s right.

I got this.