It's Ma' Laughin' Place

"GODDAGNABIT, someone get these thangs out!"

"Uh-huh, just hold still like."

Ping

"YOWCH! THE HELL, CAREFUL BACK THERE, JACKASS!"

Brer Bear snorted at Brer Fox's tone and picked another thorn that had gotten stuck in his bum, the vulpine giving another overdramatic reaction as he pounded the ground. The duo had yet again tried to nab Brer Rabbit, and as expected, had come up short due to what was expected at that point; miscommunication, the overly confident Brer Fox lacking forethought, Brer Bear's slow reaction time, and the two of them once again being tricked by the rabbit's craftiness. This had resulted in the two of them getting entangled in a thorny bush by the bayou, and Brer Fox was especially not taking it well, given his mood was already sour from the loss.

"I swear, one of dese days, I'mma grab that dang ole rabbit by his neck and stick his lil head above a fia'place!" Brer Fox shouted, digging his claws into the dirt road.

"Yeah, yeah, and then we'll roast his insides ova' the fia'", replied Brer Bear, "I can just taste that meal."

"Well, we would be eatin' right now if yo' fatass didn't screw everythin' up, AGAIN!", retorted Brer Fox, "I swear, I dunno why I even keep you around, yo' as useful as a cotton picka' milkin' a-YOWCH!"

"I'mma throw you inta' that swamp fa' the gators to snack on", Brer Bear grunted, having removed another prickle, "I'm sick a' you raisin' yo' voice at me everytime somethin' goes wrong."

"Cuz it's YO DAMN FAULT most of the time!" Brer Fox shouted, "Ya' can't even swing that dang club right, some use it-GUH!"

Brer Fox didn't get to finish his sentence as Brer Bear whacked it over his head, sending the vulpine to the ground feeling dazed.

"How's that fa' usin' right?" Brer Bear snarled, "If you think ya' so smart like, why don't you nab that dang rabbit ya'self?"

"I could if I wanted!", snorted Brer Fox, rubbing his head, "in fact, I reckon I could skin that lil bastard without havin' to lug yo' behind!"

Brer Fox felt his neck being grabbed by the tall brown bruin and pushed right up to his face.

"I wager you can't", Brer Bear snarked, huffing into Brer Fox's face.

"Try me", Brer Fox growled as the two stared intently at one another. This carried on for some time before Brer Bear relented, unceremoniously dropping Brer Fox to the ground.

"OOF! Now whatchu gon do that fa…" Brer Fox trailed off as he noticed Brer Bear walking away without saying a word. The vulpine just say there as he watched his taller cohort continue down the path before picking himself up. "Yeah, well, we'll see who's laughin' on the other side of the Briar Patch when I nab ma prize!"

In spite of his fiery tenacity, Brer Fox couldn't help but feel odd at the events that had transpired. Just what was Brer Bear up to given his departure? Then again, the dark orange fox decided not to press on the matter, he had bigger fish to fry, or more fitting, rabbits.

Several days later, Brer Fox was limping back to his abode, his fur covered in black stains.

"Guuuuuuuugh, that dang gum tar trick got played right back on me…" The vulpine lamented, trying to wipe the residue off himself. It had been several days since Brer Fox had seen Brer Bear, and since Brer Rabbit had still managed to get to him, he figured the bruin hadn't had better luck.

"I knew that idjet couldn't pull anythin' off without me, leave me in the dust, will he, what a joke, I'll show…well, I WILL show 'im…once I get this damn gunk off meh…and recova' from this limp…" Brer Fox murmured as he tried to withhold his disbelief, finally arriving at his cottage with a groan up the steps. He flung the door open and tossed aside the stick he'd been using to prop himself up, fumbling onto the nearest chair.

"OHHO, OW, gaaaaah, ma' back…damn, this huuuuuuurts…" The fox whined as he tried to make himself comfortable. The musky hot air outside from the beating Southern sun wasn't helping matters either, even if it was dusk. Brer Fox felt his stomach gurgle and frowned, knowing he had nothing to eat for dinner.

"Aaaaaaaaah, it's just not fair, I'm soooooo hungry…" The vulpine moaned as he slumped on his seat. It was quiet for a few minutes until there was a knock at the door. Brer Fox stretched his back out and slowly made his way over to the door, opening it to find Brer Bear on the other side.

"Ah, great…whadda you want?" scowled the fox, putting a hand on his hip.

"Yer hurt, aren'tcha?" The bear replied, his tone opposite of the hostility in the fox's.

"Naaaaaaaah, I'm as fit as a fiddle!", Brer Fox said with sarcasm, "now lemme grovel in peace."

Brer Fox tried to shut the door, but Brer Bear put his foot in it and was able to push back against the more slender male. The fox landed right on his bum as the bear continued to make his way through the house.

"Hey, whatchu think yer doin', I didn't let ya' in!" Brer Fox called out, but Brer Bear didn't take any notice, causing the fox to give an unamused expression. At this point, he didn't have the energy to argue with the bruin, so reluctantly, he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.

It was a few minutes before Brer Fox felt the room shake as a continuous banging was heard coming from the other room, accompanied by the sound of boiling water.

"What on Earth…?" The vulpine murmured as he tried to stand up before the ground shook again. Brer Fox huffed as he lifted himself off the chair and flounced over to the kitchen.

"Alright, ya' great big lug, what in the Sam Hell are ya…" Brer Fox trailed off as he saw what appeared to be the crushed-up remains of carrots and potatoes on the table, looking over to his right where he saw Brer Bear stirring the pot with a big wooden spoon.

"Just what are you doin'?", Brer Fox deadpanned.

"Well, you ain't in the best a' shape, and I hears that soup's the cure ta' makin' someone feel better", replied Brer Bear

"Yeah, sure, whateva' yer servin', I ain't touchin' that by the skin of ma' tee-FMH!" Brer Fox was once again cut off by having a spoonful of soup shoved in his mouth.

"Now, now, ya' gotta eat somethin', I knows ya' hungry", Brer Bear cooed rather smugly. Brer Fox hated how right the bruin was, feeling his hunger pangs settle.

"Well, ya' ain't gotta shove stuff in ma' mouth…that said…" The fox smacked his lips at the taste, "I guess this ain't the worst thing I've tasted…still could use some meat…"

"Aw, yer one ta' find somethin' in anythang, aren'tcha? Well, maybe movin' you somewhere more comfortable like'll make ya' forget all yer woes", Brer Bear replied as he picked up the fox, catching him completely off-guard.

"Hey, hey! Whatchu' doin', fool, put me down!", cried Brer Fox, but the larger male took no notice, carrying the vulpine all the way up to his cot and laying him down like a child.

"There, ain't that better?" smiled Brer Bear as he patted the smaller male on his head.

"Errrmrprpmhmhm", Brer Fox mumbled under his breath, though his expression faltered as he looked up at the bruin, "Fine, I guess I feel a little betta'...don't know why ya'd bother."

"Why wouldn't I?" Brer Bear asked innocently.

"Ya' kiddin', does that drunk mind a' yours even remember what happened several days ago?" Brer Fox quizzed.

"Maybe, though what's stoppin' me from helping a poor hothead like ya'self?" The bear replied cheekily.

"Why YOU…" The fox was about to give his cohort a verbal lashing, but caught himself as he calmed down, "...I guess you ain't as much of a pain as I said you were…ehhhhhhhhhh, I guess this is the part where I say I'm soooooosss, I'm sorrrrrrrrrse, I'm serrrrrrrrrrrrrr…"

"Apology accepted, you lil bugger", said Brer Bear, picking up Brer Fox right up from the cot in a big bear bug, practically squeezing the smaller male.

"ACK, I need ta' BREATHE", the vulpine cried out, causing the bruin to lessen his grip, "thank ya'...haaaaaaaaaa, what am I gon' do with you?"

"Well, ya' put up with me for a long time, why stop now?" Brer Bear replied, giving an affectionate rub to Brer Fox's nose, causing the latter to blush.

"He-Hey, whatchu do that fo'...?" The fox asked rather flustered.

"Well, I's think yer's cute when you look like that, I mean, you're a sight when you're in one a' dem flamin' moods, but like this, where I's can catch ya' off guard…" The bear grinned, barely leaving any space between the two briars' faces.

"Y-You cheeky lil…" Brer Fox stammered before his expression straightened, "ya' don't know the first thang about bein' caught off-guard." He emphasized as he grabbed the back of the bear's head and fiercely meshed their lips together. To say Brer Bear was taken by surprise would be an understatement, especially as Brer Fox pulled away and gave him a smug look.

"Mmmmmmmm, that's niiiiiiiiiice…" Brer Bear murred with giddy delight.

"You ain't the smartest man I've eva' seen…but damn it, there's just somethin' about you that I can't get ova'", replied Brer Fox, "guess that's what pulls us togetha'..."

"Yeah…not that I mind a' course, even with yo' hothead", Brer Bear smiled as he hugged the fox once more, this time, the latter reacted with pleasure as he rubbed against the larger male's fluffy chest.

"Hmmmmmm…ya' know, I's heard of a laughin' place around here…maybe you've heard of it…" Brer Fox said slyly.

"Oh, tell me about it…" Brer Bear quizzed, holding the fox's paw.

"Well, it starts down low…lower…lower…" Brer Fox cooed as he and Brer Bear lowered themselves onto the cot. The bed creaked under the weight, the only sound that could be heard apart from the crickets outside. As the fox moved about on the bear's body, while the two were bound to come up with another futile plan to nab a certain someone sooner or later, at the moment, no one else was more important to them than each other.