Author's note:

Okay. You can horny now. *Unbonk!*

Chapter 27: The Heart Does Not Know Species

"I see the enemy holed up on the north side of the street. First building from the left. Second floor. Front bedroom."

"Gotcha, Falco. I'm entering through the back door. You good to cover me when the bullets start flying?"

"Already got my sights on the bastards. You're good to go, Katt."

Falco sat in deep and unmoving concentration. His mind was fully on the reticule lined up to the chest of a man wearing camouflage armour. The guy peered out the window, searching for them. Yet he failed to notice Falco crouched across the street with a sniper rifle. A blue, feathered finger hovered over the trigger. Falco's tendons grew tight in anticipation.

"I'm in position," Katt advised. "Throwing a flash grenade."

A white flash filled the room. Guns roared across the distance. Falco put a bullet into his target, killing him instantly. Katt took out a second soldier at the same time. Deftly, Falco aimed at the final enemy. Blood splattered all over the wall behind them.

"Clear," Falco called.

"Clear," Katt confirmed. "Diffusing the bomb now."

"I'll keep our other friends off your back."

"Please and thank you."

Already seeing movement on the street, Falco turned and shot another soldier trying to run towards the house. His body sprawled across the bitumen like a torn-up ragdoll. A second soldier got past Falco before he could aim again. However, they set off the tripwire that Katt had previously placed inside the front door. Black and orange flashed, leaving behind a trail of smoke and blood. Falco became determined not to let another sneak through.

He need not have worried. Seconds after the tripwire went off, the words 'Blue team wins!' appeared on Falco's screen.

"Yes!" Katt screamed at her gamepad. "Suck it, losers!"

"Nice work, Katt," Falco said. He lowered his own gamepad to smirk across the couch to her. "Maybe you'll find a job with the counterterrorist unit one day."

"Like I'm going to entrust my ass with any other sniper," she waved him off. The slightest hint of a purr rumbled under her tone. "So, what do you say? Wanna go another round?"

"Nah. I'm done with this game." Falco set his pad down and reached for the TV remote. "Wonder what's on tonight."

He flicked through various channels. They saw news broadcasts, cooking shows, and a couple of D-list movies. Falco finally settled on a live basketball game for the Cornerian league. He grabbed another beer from the fridge and settled down to watch.

It was just him and Katt aboard the Great Fox tonight. The rest of the team was off enjoying their shore leave. After the steady stream of jobs taken over the last few weeks, they deserved it. Peppy went home to spend time with Lucy. Meanwhile, Slippy paid his father, Beltino, a visit along with Vixy to discuss their Purgatory-proof satellite project. Falco then dropped Dash off on Zoness so he could see the saner side of his family. That left him alone with Katt in a Zonessian airport hangar.

With nothing in mind but to kick back and relax, the pair hung around the Great Fox's rec room. All they had else to keep them company were video games, pizza boxes, and scattered bottles of booze and soda. Katt shoved a fistful of corn chips into her mouth, crunching loudly. Falco eyed the score onscreen. The Spring Heels were ahead of the Vipers by a wide margin.

"Hey," he said. "Bet you $20 that the Vipers pull a win from this."

"Pfft! You think they can catch up to that lead?" Katt grinned maliciously. "You're on."

The odds were stacked against him, but Falco wasn't too worried. The Vipers had a reputation for playing their best during the second halves of their matches this season. Falco kept his eye on the ball. He argued with Katt about every foul he claimed he saw uncalled. They cheered their teams on; not because they cared about the game, but because there was now money riding on it.

Unfortunately, the Vipers didn't pull off a miracle. The clock ran down with a 32-point lead for the Spring Heels. Falco slapped his hands over his eyes and groaned. Katt sprung to her feet, pumped her fists, and bellowed like a drunken diehard fan. "Yyyyyyyeeeeeessssssss! Not even close, Falco! Pay up, sucker!"

"Yeah, yeah… Settle down." Falco pulled out his phone and wired the credits to her. "You're a bad winner, you know that?"

"Aww. Don't pout, Falco. At least we had some fun along the way." Katt shifted onto her knees. She loomed over Falco, giving him a grand view down her yellow tank top. His gaze drifted into her cleavage. "Like what you see?"

Quickly, Falco looked up to her face. A bad move, for he found Katt smirking. Falco turned over to the television. Alas, he wasn't safe from her mirth. "Hey, don't be shy. I don't mind if you peek a little. There's no one else around."

"Knock it off, Katt," Falco muttered irritably. He was glad that birds don't blush in embarrassment.

Katt fell back onto her rear. She huffed at him. "Come on, Falco! I know that you're interested in me. I've caught you checking me out dozens of times already. Newsflash, Blue: you're not as subtle as you think you are."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Falco frowned.

"Yes, you do. This has been going on since we were teens. I've never made it a secret that I like you too, Falco; but whenever I invite you to do something about it, you completely turn the other way."

"Have you ever considered the possibility that maybe I don't like you back like that?" Falco argued.

Katt jabbed an accusatory finger. "Then how do you explain yesterday when you were staring at my ass in the gym? I saw you in the mirror."

'Shit!' Falco's feathers stood on end. Unfortunately, such a reaction told Katt that he knew he fucked up. "I wasn't staring," he protested. Yet the crackle in his pitch felt unconvincing.

Katt sighed. "Falco, can we please cut the bullshit and talk about this honestly? I genuinely get the feeling that you want me, but it's like something keeps holding you back. It feels like you're ashamed of being around me."

"I'm not ashamed!" Falco said quickly.

"Then tell me what's really going on."

What's really going on… Those words took Falco back to when they hunted down that scammer, Billson. The last thing that he planned on doing that day was telling Katt about how he messed up on saving Fox. Falco buried that shame so that no one would see it tearing him apart. After Katt wormed the truth from him, the sickness in his chest stopped hurting as badly. It made Falco realise that he probably should have talked about what happened to someone a lot sooner. Maybe this was the chance to deal with something else clawing inside of him. Something that's been pestering him for a long time.

"Look…" he started, testing the waters. "Say, hypothetically, that there was something between us. What the heck would we even do about it?"

Katt blinked. "What do you mean?"

"It's not like we'd be able to start a family together. We're not even in the same genus! Where the hell would a relationship even go from there?"

"Okay, first off: I'm not looking to have kids. I'm way too young for that." Falco raised a brow at her, for Katt was closer to 30 than he was. "And second: hypothetically, you don't have to be in the same species to raise a kid. Adoption is a thing, remember?" Katt leaned back onto the couch's armrest. "Is that what you're worried about; what might happen in the future?"

"Well… No, not really…" Falco admitted. Katt's expression became pressing. Now she expected him to give a better reason. He sighed. "Why is it that you like me so much?"

"Other than the fact you're the toughest and coolest guy I know who can tear a bike through the backstreets?" Falco's chest started to swell. "I've known you for as long as I can remember, Falco. I've seen you at your best and your worst. We've been through a lot together, and I trust you to have my back when things get dicey."

"Even when I ran out on the gang?" he lifted a brow. That day wasn't his proudest memory.

"You were half-right about a few things," Katt smiled. "We couldn't have spent our whole lives as the Hot Rodders. I certainly wouldn't have become the woman I am today if I kept leaning on you like I used to."

That was true. Falco wasn't about to admit it, but Katt had changed a great deal by the next time they ran into each other. She carried herself with a newfound independence that made it hard for Falco to recognise her. "Doesn't it bother you I'm not a cat like you?"

"Actually, I'm quite glad that you're not."

Falco blinked. "Really?"

Katt nodded. "Does it matter to you that I'm not a bird?"

"Well, no…" Falco struggled to think about how to best phrase his next words. "Look… You know that there aren't that many mixed-species relationships around, right? They're not exactly… well thought of."

"Do you think that interspecies is a bad thing?" Katt didn't ask the question with any obvious judgement. However, it did sound like his answer was about to become crucial to this conversation.

"I never really thought about that stuff much," Falco shrugged. "But… back when we were still in school… Mouser, Bowser, and I used to talk about girls on occasion. One time I told them that this tigress I saw looked cute, and the guys gave me grief over it. Said it was freaky that I had the hots for someone outside of my species. I've heard the same stuff from other people over the years, so I figured that meant mixed-species relationships just weren't cool."

As expected, Katt wasn't impressed. "Falco," she said calmly, "Mouser and Bowser were idiots. They still are. If I had known they were saying shit like that to you, I'd have clocked them both in the face for it." Falco didn't need to imagine. He had seen Katt's wrath in action. To this day, she was the only person he knew who could cow a full-grown alligator with nothing but their fist.

"Just because interspecies relationships have a bad rep, it doesn't mean they're wrong," Katt continued. "It used to be the same story with mixed breeds and gay couples back in the day, but you see that everywhere now. So, I'm not going to let some bigoted assholes decide who I can and can't date."

All that Falco could do was stare at Katt. "So, what do we do now?"

"That depends," she answered. "Do you like me back? Honest answers only."

Pondering for a moment, Falco could only sigh. "I don't know. Maybe? I've never really let myself think about it."

"Well, there's one way to find out." Katt opened her arms wide to him. "Come here. "

"Say what?!"

"Come here. Show me some affection." Katt flicked her wrists towards her. "If you like me, you'll find out for sure this way. If you don't, then that's all there is to it, and we'll never speak of this again."

Falco weighed the wisdom of it as he gazed into Katt's beckoning stare. Cautiously, he moved closer and wrapped his arms around Katt. He held her for several seconds. It… actually felt kind of nice.

Unfortunately, Katt wasn't satisfied. "Nuh-uh! A hug's not going to cut it, Falco! Give me something more than that."

"What do you expect me to do then? I can't exactly kiss you with a beak."

"Then just do what birds normally do with each other."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

Katt pulled away so that Falco could see her face. "I'm sure," she said with an intensity that made his heart race.

"O-okay…" he gulped. He raised his beak to Katt's ear. Falco could smell strawberries from the shampoo that she used. "Here I go…"

Gently, Falco combed the tip of his beak through Katt's hair. A single stroke set his nerves alight. Once more and again, Falco continued to preen her. With soft nips, he worked out the little tangles he found. "How's that feel?"

"Mhmm…" Katt moaned softly. She pulled him closer. "Keep going."

Her pleasure washed a deep calm over Falco. He closed his eyes as he worked. The scent wafting into his nostrils lulled him into a lush garden. He lightly scratched Katt's scalp. Tremors tickled his beak as she began to purr. It was like a soft melody in his ears. Falco fell into a spell, broken only when Katt reached alongside his neck and licked with her scratchy tongue.

"Uhagh!" he cried out in alarm.

"Oh, fuck!" Katt exclaimed, pulling away. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Falco responded tightly. "Just… wasn't expecting that."

Katt's ears flattened. "Sorry. Got carried away there. Guess the grooming set off the wrong instincts."

Falco smoothed the feathers that she ruffled. "It's a good thing that birds aren't big on making out, eh?"

"Neither are cats," Katt chuckled. "So? How was that? How do you feel?"

Staring into her sapphire eyes, Falco reflected on his steady heartrate. "Pretty good, actually," he said. "That was… awesome."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Katt smiled. "So, honest answer. How do you feel about me now?"

Falco pulled her back towards him. "How about we do that again and check for sure?"

Katt giggled. "Oh? If you feel you need to."

And he did. Placing the tip of his beak back into her hair, Falco worked on combing a spot he missed next to Katt's right ear. She kissed his lower neck. Just above the collarbone. The touch of her lips stirred a surge of want in Falco lower down. But when Katt placed her hand on the inside of his thigh, panic jolted through him. He quickly caught her wrist. Falco pulled away as Katt looked up with a startled expression.

"Too much?" she asked.

"I… ah…" Falco stammered. He was still too freaked out by what she had almost touched. She sent his heart pumping at Mach speed for the wrong reasons.

Katt raised her hands apologetically. "Falco, I am so sorry! I shouldn't have gone that far without asking." Her ears flattened in worry. "Are you okay?"

With a few breaths, Falco managed to settle his nerves. "I'm fine," he murmured. Shaken a little too much, he turned his body away from Katt. He laid both hands atop his lap.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah… It's fine…"

Anxiously, Falco looked towards Katt. She bit her lip. He felt just as guilty as she probably did. They had a good thing going on just now. But then he suddenly ruined it, and Falco didn't have the guts to tell her why.

Katt scooted away. The space she gave him became lonely. "If you want to take it slowly, that's okay," she murmured to her knees. "Just… tell me if I'm pushing a boundary."

Falco shook his head. "No. It's fine, Katt. I'm sorry for freaking out there." He sighed. "It's just…" But he couldn't manage the words. Falco watched Katt curling up into herself. He knew he needed to tell her what was really going on. It terrified him, but it had to be done. "If we're going to go any further with this… there's something I think you should know about me."

Katt stiffened. "Oh my god. You have an STD, don't you?"

"What?! No!" Falco furiously waved his arms. "Where the hell did you get that idea?!" Katt only shrugged. He groaned loudly. "Look… It's not a disease… But it is kind of medical."

The longer that Falco stalled, the worse the pressure built up within. "You know how guys in most bird species don't have dicks?"

"Wait! You mean men in your species don't have them?!" Katt exclaimed.

Falco gawped at her. "You didn't know that?" he asked incredulously.

"I got sex ed for mammals, dingus!" she snapped. "I don't know shit about birds!"

"You've been thirsting after me for years and you never thought to check?"

"I wasn't 'thirsting after you,' you pig! I just assumed that you were built the same way down there!" Katt gave a harsh sigh. "Getting back on topic: If you don't have a penis, then what do you have in your pants? Or am I still not supposed to ask?"

Falco wrung his hands. "It's… complicated. I'm not supposed to have a penis, but… I actually do."

He couldn't bear to watch Katt's brain fry through her eyes. "Wait, what?" she said. "You've lost me."

"Most birds have this gene that activates before they're born. It stops males from growing a penis, so they'd develop a cloaca instead. But for some reason, my gene didn't turn on. It's like a… disorder. I ended up being born with a dick and, ever since, I've always felt embarrassed about it."

Katt's stare drifted towards the ceiling. She blinked several times. Her pupils went out of focus. "Wow," she said. "Sorry. I'm just trying to process this. First you made it sound like you didn't have a dick, and now you're telling me that you do. Where exactly is the problem here?"

Falco's legs tightened against each other. It felt like he was shredding his armour away piece by piece and setting himself up to hurt. "I have a hard time just talking about this. Telling people about what I've got… it makes me feel like a circus freak."

"But aren't there rumours that you've slept with a whole bunch of women over the years?"

"I made those stories up. Thought if people knew I was still a virgin, they'd wonder what was wrong with me," Falco hung his head in admission. "I've only ever shown what I've got downstairs to a few people. The only women who've seen it are my mom and maybe a few nurses from when I hatched." God, saying that made him sound even more of a loser.

Yet, for some reason, Katt wasn't laughing at him or showing any sign of disgust. "Who else knows?"

"Fox and Slippy know. They helped me hide it at the Academy so I could use the showers. Peppy's seen it once, but he's never asked about it. That's pretty much it. My old man walked out on Mom after I was born, so I'm not gonna bother counting him." Falco looked Katt fully in the eye. "Please do me a favour and promise you won't tell anyone about this?"

"Hey," she smiled. "Secret's safe with me." Falco immediately felt relief. However, her grin turned wicked. "Can I see it?"

Falco stiffened. "Excuse me?!"

"If we're going to be in a relationship, I'm probably going to see it eventually." Katt bounced on her seat. "So? Can I?"

Falco scrambled into the armrest behind him. "Wha…?! Right now?!"

Katt pressed a nail to her lip. "We could. Though I think it'd be better if we did this somewhere less…" Her eyes flicked towards the empty foil packets and pizza boxes. "…cluttered."

Something the size of an egg caught in Falco's throat. "Uhhhh…"

Standing, Katt walked past him. Her tail brushed underneath Falco's beak. The velvet rope ran along his feathers. It wound him tighter. "Come along if you wanna," Katt purred. "Maybe if I like what I see, I'll let you stick it in me."

Falco watched her go with his heart hammering like crazy. It shimmied up his throat into his head as a tightness formed inside his pants. Katt stopped at the door. Her expectant smirk and a waggle of her hips made Falco's throat turn dry. He glanced briefly to the television, which aired commentary after the game, then back to Katt. Falco snatched the remote and hit the power button. He then jogged after Katt.

He followed her back to her room. It was far tidier than Falco's. A small mirror stood on the desk next to a kit of beauty products. The only loose item on the floor was a purple bass guitar standing in the corner. Falco closed the door behind him. Katt stood at the foot of her bed, turning to Falco with an eager flick of her tail. "Well?" she prompted.

"Yeah, hold on," he grimaced. Falco grabbed his belt. "This is a huge deal for me. Okay?"

Katt dialled it down some. "I know. Sorry. When you're ready."

Swallowing, Falco undid his buckle. That alone sent his nervous system into overdrive. Before he did anything else, Falco looked carefully into Katt's gaze. "Promise you won't laugh?"

She frowned softly. "I'm not going to laugh. Promise." However, Katt smirked. "Though it is kind of funny seeing you act all bashful for once. It's so unlike you."

"Katt, I'm being serious right now," Falco deadpanned.

"Right! Right! Sorry. Being serious starting… now!"

Falco's breathing became short and fast. His hands gripped both ends of his belt. Here it was. The moment of truth. He licked the inside of his beak. Slowly… cautiously… inch by inch… Falco tugged the belt free from the loops of his jeans. As soon as the whole thing was off, Falco let it drop to the floor. Then, again carefully, he undid his zipper and the button afterwards. Falco looked to Katt one more time, holding his pants up high. She nodded calmly. Taking in a deep breath, Falco pulled the jeans down his legs. His briefs followed shortly after.

There at last, his shame hung freely. The blood rushing through Falco found its way down, making him hard. Falco tensed as Katt gawped at it. She crouched down to his crotch and ran one finger just millimetres from the skin.

"Holy cow. It's shaped like a corkscrew."

"Yeah… Like a duck's," Falco replied stiffly.

"Wow…" Katt glanced between his legs. "No balls though?"

"That's normal. The testes are internal."

"Ohhh…"

"I always thought that it's weird how mammal guys have those parts dangling off their bodies."

"Well, now I think it's weird that most birds don't have dicks. I mean, how the hell are you supposed to knock a girl up if you can't nut inside her?" Katt then looked up at Falco. "Can I touch it?"

Falco tensed anew. He scrutinised Katt's expression. However, all he could see in her eyes was… He wouldn't call it 'innocence.' There was nothing about this situation that could be considered innocent. What Falco saw was more like sincere curiosity. Katt wanted to explore. She wanted to understand. He trusted her so far and hadn't been burned yet, so Falco relaxed. "Go ahead."

Gently, Katt ran the tip of her finger along his fleshy coil. It grew swiftly at her touch. A thousand bolts of lightning coursed through Falco. His lungs caught. A maddening pleasure seized his brain. Falco let out a staggered, shuddering sigh.

Katt giggled. "Aww. It's all worked up. How cute." She sat up on the bed and started taking her shoes off. Before Falco could process what she was doing, Katt stood up and tore her shorts and knickers off in one move. "Welp, you kept your end of the deal. Time to keep mine."

Falco's beak dropped. "What?"

She pulled her top over her head and threw it across the floor. Her breasts hung freely with no bra. Hands on her hips, Katt smirked with a hungry glint in her eye. "I said I'd let you stick it in me, didn't I?" She raised her right hand to fondle her chest. "Well, Falco? Do you wanna get undressed or would you rather do it as you are?"

Neither option passed through Falco's head as he remained stuck in shock. He could see Katt. All of her. Yet he wasn't sure that if he touched her, she'd be real. He never genuinely anticipated that things would escalate to this point. It scared him enough to run, but Falco stayed rooted. Katt was the first woman who had ever shown a positive interest in his downstairs mishap. What if he never got this chance again? a small, selfish voice in his head asked.

Less like an ass, Falco reflected. He had given Katt his trust. Not just with this, but with a lot of other shit he had been dealing with since she joined the team. She opened him up. She listened to him. She helped him feel more comfortable with those sensitive parts of himself. Deep down, Falco was grateful to Katt. He wanted to thank her for it. Making up for lost time, Falco shed his clothes off. This would be the start of how he'd repay her.

At last, they stood together. Not a stitch of clothing between them. Falco felt exposed but safe. Katt peered into his eyes. Her hand came to rest over his heart. She leaned in and kissed him on the tip of his beak. Falco shivered. He took hold of her waist. Pulling Katt in, he nipped little kisses of his own into her fringe. Her arms wrapped around him. Her chest pressed against his. A euphoria filled Falco that threatened to rupture him. He didn't want to let Katt go.

However, she had other ideas. Better ones, he'd realise. Katt pulled away and crawled backwards over the bed. Her head barely raised over the pillow, she spread herself out, revealing parts of her that Falco never dared imagine he'd get to see. Her smile was magnetic.

"Come on, Falco. Come play with your kitten." God, the way that she said that was so hot!

Like a clumsy teenager, Falco clambered over to her. They haven't even done anything yet and he was already panting. Their eyes met again. There became an intensity that surpassed everything else that Falco felt that night.

Katt cupped the side of his face. Tenderness filled her smile. "Ready when you are," she told him.

In that moment, everything clicked into place. Falco's goal laid itself out before him. Love her. Cherish her. Take the chance to make this into something more. Holding his breath, Falco pressed his tip against Katt's moist folds and pushed inward.

Katt's gasp was instantaneous. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her entire body seized as Falco moved deeper within. He could feel the heat and wetness squeezing his length. Katt suddenly gripped Falco's shoulders. Her legs wrapped behind him, cutting off his escape. Not that he had planned to.

"Oh, God!" Katt moaned. "It feels bigger on the inside!"

Once again, Falco was glad that he couldn't blush visibly. A new kind of pride filled his chest. He started to pump into Katt. Her breath shuddered against his neck. Falco picked up a steady pace, though Katt's ankles tucked behind his backside gave him precious, little room to work with. He used what limited brainpower he still had to think of how else he could please her.

Falco remembered videos of mammal women. A lot of them he'd seen liked having their boobs groped during sex. He decided to try it with Katt. Gentle, so he wouldn't make a dumbass out of himself, he closed his fingers around one of Katt's mounds. Her white chest fur was soft and fluffy in his palm. Katt moaned again. Falco could feel her warmth. He gave her breast a bigger squeeze. Katt's back arched into him. Her hand flew to her unattended side, kneading it alongside Falco's.

"Oooooohhh! Falcoooooo!" she yowled. Encouraged, Falco quickened his thrusts. He felt her purring tickle his hand.

Pressure built up inside him. Unable to hold it back, Falco let it all out in one final push. A constrained groan tore through his throat as he rode the dwindling waves of his orgasm. Feeling spent, he gazed down upon Katt as her pupils slowly regained focus.

"How was that?" he risked asking.

Katt panted shallow breaths. "That was okay for your first time." A part of Falco sank that he didn't receive a standing ovation. However, Katt nuzzled into his neck. "But I know with more practice, you'll be amazing soon." He floated a little bit higher.

After a few minutes to recover, Katt rolled Falco onto his back. "Now let me show you what I can do."

She bucked her hips up and down, pulling Falco's screw out almost to the tip and plunging back onto his base. Falco placed his hands upon her thighs. He tried to push up into her, but Katt pinned her weight onto him through her palms. Devilishly, she shook her head. Her message was clear. This was her performance alone. He was her audience to simply lie back and enjoy every second of it.

Unlike Falco's first attempt, Katt moved slower and more deliberately. And after having just came, his body was enduring much longer. The pace maddened Falco. Yet he loved it at the same time. Now that he understood his place, Katt's hands began roaming across Falco's chest. Gentle palms ran over his pectorals. Slender fingers traced the lines of his abs. Falco sighed and melted into the bedsheets. He often dreamed about what it would be like to mate with a woman, but nothing like how Katt was doing it with him now.

He couldn't measure how much time passed. Katt suddenly increased her speed and clenched her walls onto Falco. She was done, though Falco realised that he wasn't quite there yet. Before he could say anything about it, Katt pulled herself up and laid next to his legs. She grabbed Falco's cock and resumed pumping it with her hand. Her fingers became slick with her own juices mixed with his. There was no slow rhythm this time. Katt jerked him off hard and fast until Falco squirted into her waiting mouth.

He felt like every organ near his groin shrivelled up and forcibly ejected through it. But Lord Almighty, it felt great! Falco sank fully onto the bed as Katt crawled up beside him. An arm and a leg draped over him. Katt settled her cheek into a comfortable spot around Falco's shoulder.

"So, how was that?" she purred.

Falco swallowed to wet his throat. "You did a lot better than me," he croaked.

"Good," Katt relished. They laid together for several minutes, basking in the pleasure they gave each other. "Say, you remember what we were talking about earlier? There's one great thing about interspecies relationships that makes them better than same-species."

Falco craned his head to see her face. "And what's that?"

Katt grinned at him. "We don't need to use protection."

Snorting loudly, Falco scratched her behind the ears. Katt pressed into his touch in delight. She then relaxed onto his chest again. Falco stroked the fur of her back with an absent mind. "Hey, Katt…?" he said suddenly. "Thanks for putting up with me over the years. And… sorry for making you wait for so long."

Her fingertips glided over his feathers. "Don't worry about it," she smiled. "That doesn't matter right now."

Falco exhaled, unsatisfied. He didn't exactly feel 100 percent deserving of her care. "Could you promise me one thing though?" Katt asked.

He ran his fingers through her hair. "What's that?"

"Talk to me about how you feel each day." She looked him in the eye. "You've got a bad habit of bottling things up that you shouldn't. It makes me worry about you."

Falco had been about to rebuke that he was fine and there was nothing more to worry over. However, Katt didn't give him that chance. "Over the last year, I've watched you fall into a really bad place. You hide whatever big problems are bothering you and pretend like nothing's there. Then little problems get under your skin. They make you angry and you end up doing things that you wouldn't normally. It scares me that I never know how far you'll go before you finally calm down."

That talk they had in the car in Corbal City… It became all that Falco could think about in the present moment. Katt made it crystal clear that day that he pushed her to the end of her tether. Sometimes he wondered how his life would have played out if he hadn't let go of his rage for five minutes. Katt had every right to worry about him. Falco knew now that deep down that he was, and in some way will always continue to be, an idiot. She deserved better than that.

"Talking's not really my strong suit," he said. "But… I promise I'll try."

Katt brightened a little as she kissed his beak. "Thank you."

They laid peacefully for another few minutes. After that, the faint chill of the air conditioning started to get to Falco. He disturbed Katt long enough for them both to crawl underneath the blankets. Falco pulled them up over her shoulders. She quickly went back to using him as a pillow.

As soon as the lights turned off via voice command, Falco concentrated on Katt's slow, even breaths and the fluffy pressure against his left side. He felt lighter than he had in a very long time, even before the incident in Balven. And all he needed to do was take a chance with the one girl who stood by him no matter what stupid shit he did.

He was an idiot. But damn if he wasn't the luckiest one alive.