Author's note: Flippy here, finally. I've been busy with school, family, work... the usual. I finally got some free time. So here's the next of Mixed Feelings.

ooooooo

It's weird, going to the psychologist alongside your boyfriend. I would wait my turn in the waiting room, and we'd hug in passing. My time in there always was spent in the same way.

"So Mr. Bear. How has your temper been holding out?" Asked the counselor at the desk.

"Haven't lost it since what happened to Sniffles," I answered, once again.

"Good, good. And how is your relationship with him going?"

"I feel as strongly for him as ever."

"Has anything changed at all?"

"Well... I'm more defensive of him now. I don't want him to get hurt again."

He smiled as he wrote something down on a notebook.

"Now, tell me again; when was your first 'flip-out?'" The counselor asked me.

I sighed. He asks me that every time.

"I was eleven. Me and my friends were in gym. I was across the room from my friend Splendid. Some jackass thought it would be funny to whip a weight at his head. I saw it fly towards him, and I felt angry. I blanked out and came to a few minutes later. The guy who had thrown the weight was clutching his arm. It was broken. Everyone was staring at me. Later, Splendid told me I had caught the weight and flung it back at the jerk. Splendid still says he owes me. Meh, I'm just glad he was safe."

"So you think it's a defensive instinct?" Asked the man at the desk.

"I guess...," I answered honestly. "But if it wasn't for my medication, I'd probably flip out more."

"Ah. And are you afraid of that happening?"

I didn't answer. I was afraid of admitting that I was.

"Not comfortable with answering?" Asked the counselor.

I shook my head. He tutted sadly and wrote in his notebook.

"This anger... do you personify it in any way?" He asked.

"No," I answered, looking at him strangely.

"You may go."

I stood up and left the room. On the way out I grabbed my camo jacket off the coat rack near the door. Sniffles sat outside in the waiting room. He was surrounded by magazines, all of them looked they had been read. He closed the one in his hands and stood up.

"How'd it go?" He asked.

"Meh, same as usual," I answered. "Same questions, same weird smile."

Sniffles laughed and locked his hand in mine.

"Kinda creepy, isn't it? Let's go, this place is too clean," he said.

We exited onto the sidewalk. The psychiatrist's office was nestled in a group of similar buildings. Main street nearby was busy with people going to work. The day was too nice to catch the bus, so we started walking.

"I don't think I want to go home yet," I said randomly.

"Me neither," Sniffles agreed. "What you want to do?"

I didn't answer for a minute, thinking things over as we walked.

"Want to get lunch? There's a little cafe I've wanted to try."

"Sure, why not."

As we walked, my mind began wondering. I looked Sniffles over. The shadows under his eyes where lighter, and he seemed more alert. His smile was genuine instead of forced due to being tired. I could tell he was sleeping again. The psychologist visits seemed to be working.

"This it?" Sniffles asked, snapping me out of it.

We were at a tiny building on the street corner. Tables where set up outside on the sidewalk. A black sign said the place was "Cafe Noir." I nodded my head and we sat down, waiting for a server.

"So, the doc seems to be helping," I said.

"Yeah, I guess so. I haven't had the dream since that night."

A waiter came up to us to ask for our orders. Sniffles ordered some sandwich with a fancy name and a cup of tea. I ordered the things I recognized the names of, chicken soup and a latte.

"I'll be back in a moment, Monsieur and Monsieur," said the waiter.

He walked off towards another table. I caught Sniffles looking at him as he walked away.

"Like the view?" I asked jokingly.

He laughed.

"I was thinking about how fake his accent sounded," he said. "Besides, why would I stare at another guy when I have a boyfriend like you?

My faced burned. He smiled at the fact he made me blush. The door to the cafe opened up, and a uniformed guy came out. I didn't get a good view of his face, due to it being blocked by a pile of plates. He awkwardly placed cups in front of front of us. He said in a stuttering French accent,

"H-here's your d-drinks, Monsieur et Monsieur."

I looked closer at him, and caught a glimpse of familiar, mask-like sunglasses.

"Lifty?"

He smiled nervously.

"H-hey Flippy, Sniffles," He said, losing the accent.

"Didn't know you worked here," I said. "Or worked at all, actually."

"Shifty was the one who wanted to steal, not me. I always wanted to get a job."

"Tired of being pampered?" Sniffles asked.

"W-well, yes."

A voice yelled out Lifty's name from in the café. Lifty left, apologizing and saying that he had an order. The doors swung shut behind him as he went in. A few minutes later our waiter came out bearing tray with me and Sniffles' food on them. We exchanged the tray for what we owed. My latte was this tiny little thing made mostly out of foam. I took a sip of my soup and pushed it aside. Tasted like pure salt. Sniffles laughed at me.

"Not what you expected?" He asked.

"What was your first clue?" I answered.

Sniffles laughed again.

"Here, sweet things help."

He pushed a bowl of sugar cubes towards me. I popped one into my mouth, and sucked on it till it dissolved.

"Thanks babe."

"Uh-huh."

Sniffles bit into his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. He looked over me, and at my un-finished soup. His eyes glinted the way they did when he had an idea.

"Want to go to the ice cream shop after this?" He asked. "I feel bad you paid for both yours and mine, and you didn't eat anything."

"It's up to you," I answered.

Sniffles gulped down the last of the tea and crammed the sandwich into his mouth. With a few chews he swallowed it all.

"We're going," He said with a grin.

With a sudden burst of strength he pulled me out of my seat. Sniffles laughed at my shocked reaction as he tugged on my arm. I started laughing too. He stopped tugging and he allowed me to walk beside him. I wrapped my arm around him and he leaned up against me as we walked. I knew the town like the back of my hand, but I allowed him to direct where we walked. As we strolled, we talked about random things; our friends and families, new movies and even teachers at school. I could open up to him and share my views without doubting them, something I wasn't able to do with anyone before.

As we walked through the park to get to the shop, we heard music playing and decided to go look for it. Some people where playing jazz at the gazebo. Me and Sniffles paused to listen. They started a particularly catchy number. Couples stepped out onto the open area in front of the gazebo and started to dance. Sniffles started to nod his head to the beat. An idea occurred to me. I left his side and stepped onto the makeshift dance floor. I offered him my hand.

"Do you want to dance?" I asked him.

Sniffles grabbed the hand, and I moved him into a spin. Most people would consider it wrong to dance with a guy. People on the sidelines gave us dirty looks, but turned away when they noticed neither me or Sniffles paid attention. I didn't care. This felt too right for me to. We moved among the couples, willingly allowing each other to move about the group. None of the lovers cared about us. They were as lost in each other as me and Sniffles were.

The music stopped, and both the crowds and the couples applauded. Me and Sniffles walked off, laughing and smiling broadly. We continued on our way towards the ice cream shop. I never felt in this good of a mood before. My stomach growled, shocking me and Sniffles. For few seconds there was silence, but we burst out laughing again.

"Yeah, I'm definitely buying you something," Sniffles said.

We pushed open the door to the small, brightly decorated shop. The smell of sweets and baking foods filled the air, making my stomach feel emptier. An old lady at the counter asked for our order.

"A sundae with chocolate ice cream, a banana, and a cherry on top," Sniffles said. "That's what you normally get, right Flippy?"

I nodded my head. The lady typed the order in on a cash register.

"Anything else?" Asked the woman.

"No thank you," Sniffles answered.

"Your purchase is $1.95."

Sniffles pulled out his wallet and paid her. She tucked the money in the register, and went out of view to get the sundae. She came out a few minutes later with a bowl nearly overflowing with ice cream. She handed it to Sniffles.

"You guys a couple?" The woman asked suddenly, catching me and Sniffles by surprise.

"Yeah," I answered. "You can tell?"

She cracked into a smile.

"You remind me of me and my wife, when we were younger," She said.

"Oh, how long have you been together?" I asked.

"Twenty-four years."

"Oh wow," Sniffles exclaimed. "Congrats."

"Thank you. It was nice meeting you boys, but it seems we're holding up the line."

I looked over my shoulder and saw a line of disgruntled customers had formed behind us.

"Sorry," I said to them. "Nice meeting you, Mrs.…"

"Woods."

"Hope to see you again."

"You too."

Sniffles and moved off and sat down at a booth. He handed me the sundae and the spoon, and I dug in. Occasionally I would offer him a bite, which he took gratefully. We were silent except for the occasional clink of the spoon against the bowl.

"What time is it?" I asked. It seemed like we had been gone for a long time.

Sniffles pushed the sleeve of his lab coat up. A steel grey watch sat on his wrist.

"Wow, it's already seven."

"At night?" I asked, surprised.

"Yep."

"It's strange; I don't want to go home yet."

"Me either."

I looked out the window of the shop. The sun had just started to go down.

"Want to go watch the sun set?" I asked. "I know, cliché, but it looks nice."

"Sure. Back to the park?"

"You read my mind."

We managed to get back to the park in time. We sat on the grass, watching the sun sink slowly down. The sky was lit up in dozens of colors, giving a dazzling display before the sun vanished. Stars blinked into existence, lighting up the sky with tiny dots of light.

I turned to look at Sniffles. He had lain out on his back to look at the stars. He shifted uncomfortably on the grass. He looked at me sheepishly.

"Think there might be a rock somewhere in the grass," he said.

I scooted closer to him and lifted his head up. I moved again and I placed it on my lap. It shocked him, but he snuggled down into it. I lay back as well, putting my hands behind my head.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Sniffles asked me.

"Yeah."

"I know some of the constellations. See the big dipper?"

"Uh-huh."

"Some cultures called that the big bear."

"So, it's a 'bear' like me, huh?"

"Yep, and the little dipper is called the little bear. The Roams called them Ursa Major and Ursa Minor."

"Ursa, huh? My mom's last husband was an Ursa."

"Oh."

"You know Sniffles?"

"Yeah?"

"It's been nice, actually spending some time with you."

"I know. Life's been filled with so much drama recently. I wish it would all just go away."

"I don't care about the drama. All I care about is you."

"I love you Flippy."

"Love you too."