Faller, check Deviant, as my e-mail is there. Send me an e-mail (anything will do, I just need your email.), so we can start working on The Tasso Chapters! I will share a google doc with you, which is where all the chapters will be done.

The Tasso Chapters

Chapter 2

"Accept Yourself"

Written By: SmilingDolphins and FairlyOddFaller

Vulperne looked down at his phone.

9:45 PM

Crodut was right. You could, in fact, see the cafe from the meeting spot. Probably because it was right across the street, in a small park. Vulperne sat on a bench, his ears listening for the sound of approaching footsteps, his nose sniffing for the scent of another animal.

What am I doing? I try so hard to hide it from everyone, then this hands….dumb lynx comes along and just flips everything. Why do I have to be this way! Why can't I just be a normal, female-loving, hybrid male?

Vulperne checked his phone again.

9:50 PM

He sighed. He looked across the street to the cafe. Above the quaint little shop, the windows of a loft apartment were lit. No doubt Simon and Lily were enjoying themselves.

It must be nice to have someone to-

He immediately pushed those thoughts from his mind.

Looking back, he can't believe that no one figured it out. Especially Jack. He was scared shitless when he heard Jack was gay. He had almost requested a different dorm. But, it turns out, Jack seemed clueless about him. He could have known, but maybe Vulperne just wasn't his type. He certainly never felt any extra feelings towards the hare.

You're feeling some extra feelings now. Just not for Jack. His brain said. Vulperne groaned again, and leaned forward, putting his head in his hands. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out. The caller ID said Delphin, and Vulperne slid the green answer button across the screen.

"Hey."

"Hey, V. Just wanted to let you know, your room is number 2 at the Foxtrot Motel. Im in number 1 if you need anything. Where are you anyway?"

"Oh, Im just… meeting someone. I should be there soon. It probably won't last long."

"Alright, man. See you later."

"Bye."

Vulperne ended the call. He looked at the clock on his phone again.

10:00 PM

"Hey." A familiar voice said. Vulperne looked up to see Crodut standing there. He had exchanged his busboy outfit for a tight-fitting black t-shirt, and a normal pair of denim jeans. Vulperne couldn't help but draw his eyes to the abs and muscles of the lynx, which his shirt highlighted with gusto. The wind shifted, and Vulperne caught his scent. He also detected a little bit of cologne. His heart beat a little faster. Vulperne cleared his throat.

"Um, hello."

Crodut gestured to the bench Vulperne was sitting on. His tail covered the other seat. "May I?"

Vulperne looked down at his fluffy red appendage.

"Oh, yeah, sure." Vulperne moved the tail to the other side of him, letting it hang off the side of the park bench. Crodut sat down, and put his hands behind his head, before leaning back and crossing his legs.

"So why do you hide it?"

"Hide what?" The lynx looked over at him and rolled his eyes.

"The fact that you're gay, dummy. Honestly, I brought you out here so we could talk, without you playing dumb."

"What makes you think I'm gay?"

"Oh my god. So, are you really going to sit there, and tell me you are NOT gay? Don't kid yourself. Now say it. Tell me what you are. What you really are." The lynx stared at Vulperne, a serious look on his face as his bright yellow eyes bored into Vulperne. The hybrid looked around nervously, biting his lip.

"Fine! Alright, I'll say it! I'm gay! I always have been! I like men and not women! I'm a freak of nature, twice over. There, happy?" At the last comment, Vulperne slumped and looked down. He felt both terrible and relieved at the same time. It felt good to tell someone, but now when that someone was actively pursuing him. He could hear Crodut's soft breathing beside him.

"Vulpes, look at me. Now." Vulperne lifted his head and his dejected gaze met Crodut's annoyed one.

"You are not a freak of nature. You are a handsome, smart, hybrid, who just happens to be gay. And there is NOTHING wrong with that. Just..." Crodut leaned in closer. Vulperne felt his body heat up as the lynx's face stopped a few inches away from his own. Crodut's eyes filled his vision, and he felt paralyzed by their yellow glow. " Just accept yourself for WHO...YOU...ARE. And I promise you...life will be better."

The lynx leaned back, which disappointed Vulperne a bit. Then he got angry at himself for being disappointed. Then he got angry at himself for being angry at himself after Crodut just told him to accept himself for who he is. Crodut watched him as his face went through different expressions. But the face finally settled on an expression, and it was the one Crodut wanted to see. It was determination.

My name is Vulperne Nuncio Tasso. I am a red fox and red wolf hybrid. And I am a gay male! Vulperne shouted internally.

Vulperne looked over at Crodut. He reached over, grabbed the lynx's muzzle, and brought it forward to meet his own. The lynx's eyes widened, but they closed as Vulperne held the kiss. Vulperne curled his own tail around the lynx, pulling their bodies closer. After a few seconds, the hybrid pulled away but kept his hands on Crodut's muzzle. Both of them were breathing heavily as they stared into each other's eyes. Vulperne repeated his internal declaration out loud.

"My name is Vulperne Nuncio Tasso. I am a red fox and red wolf hybrid. And I...am...gay."

This time it was Crodut who leaned forward and kissed the hybrid. When he pulled back, he lightly touched Vulperne's cheek.

"It's nice to meet you Vulperne. What do you say we go be gay...together?"

Unbeknownst to the couple, multiple sets of eyes were on the two of them. Two of them came from the loft above the Sangelui Cafe. Simon and Lily stared wide-eyed at the two mammals in shock.

"I can't believe it. I...I never would have guessed Vulperne was gay! Why didn't he tell us?" Simon said. Lily turned to her husband.

"Maybe he was afraid of what you would think of him. He already has it tough enough as a hybrid. But a young gay man? He would have constantly worried about being made fun of, losing friends, and all of the other problems that can come with being gay."

Simon looked down at Lily and wrapped her in his arms.

"Do you think we should say anything?" He asked. Lily tilted her head in thought for a moment, then answered.

"No. He needs to be the one to instigate a conversation about it. I'm sure he will eventually."

Simon looked out of the window to Vulperne and Crodut, who had stood up and were walking away together, chatting as they disappeared into the darkness. He looked back down at Lily and nodded.

"You're right. We'll let him tell us. But, right now, I'm hungry, and I do believe I have a nasty craving for skunk-in-the-bed-right-now à la mode!"

The third set of eyes came from Alina, who was locking up the cafe, getting ready to go home. She smiled as she turned off the lights and locked the door behind her.

Took him long enough to find another boy. She thought. Crodut has always been open with his sexuality with everyone, so of course, she knew he was attracted to the hybrid who had walked in with Simon and Lily. He had only had a few boyfriends during his life, with most of them ending on a sour note, for different reasons. She chuckled to herself as she stepped into her old red pick-up truck, which was parked right in front of Crodut's own pick-up, which was the newest model. Crodut saved up for the last two years to get it. Alina turned the key and the engine came to life. She drove down the street and began to head home, where her husband, Luca, and her two teenage daughters, Sorina and Doina, were no doubt waiting for her. She couldn't wait to tell them the news.

Oh my. It looks like the new couple might run into some problems soon. Welcome to The Tasso Chapters! The Hybrid Chronicles is officially complete, but, we will be seeing more of Simon and Lily in The Tasso Chapters, and eventually, The Porpoise Files, which will be Delphin and Pulchra's story/adventure, covering Delphin's journey from a simple agent to the director of the M.O.I.A, and the greatest spy who ever lived. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to check your Deviant chat FOF, and make sure you check your email once I have it!

I love y'all! Stay safe! :Dolphins, out!