The apartment is filled with the faint yellow light of the bulb that shone on the wolf and the snake.
The sweet scent of tea hangs in the air.
On the dining room table, leftovers from the impromptu tea party they had a moment ago still remain.
Now they are sitting next to each other on the couch, the reptile holding the phone with his eyes fixed on the flickering video screen:
He started the car and the engine purred with a low, pleasant sound.
Wolf from the recording laughed as he pressed hard on the accelerator.
The car shot forward with such force that it pressed him against the seat.
I couldn't even hear his screams of elation above the sounds of car engines and burning tires.
- You're so good. -
Praise the reptile with the cell phone screen in front of him, showing the wolf's Social Network with small squares in the lower right corner that showed the amount of videos made over the years.
- How long have you been doing that? -
The video continues with an explanation from the wolf of how to further improve the vehicle setups, and that there was no such thing as a perfect setup, there will always be areas where you can improve.
- From the first time my parents took me to a go-kart track.
Look for older videos and photos.
- Don't even try, I never posted those photos. -
Smile at Snake's pout.
- Is that Pam? -
He enlarges the photo of a young wolf and the panther with a group of pilot friends who were standing in the empty bleachers, smiling in a big hug.
- Yes, there was a trend toward blond fur at that time. -
- How long have you known each other? -
- Since we were sixteen, in a competition, we both want to become professional pilots and since then we have supported each other to accomplish it. -
- Oh... And who are the others? -
- The old group. -
The canine has a sad smile.
- We were all supposed to become great runners, but they gave it up eventually. -
- Why? -
- College, full time jobs, a house, getting married, kids. . . . -
He's counting on his fingers.
- And how can they become professional racers? -
Snake asks, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth despite the candy in his cheek.
- We compete in as many tournaments as we can, we create excellent quality videos showing driving and progress.
Until we find someone who wants to sponsor us. -
He has been making himself known to the world for years and his popularity had grown thanks to his strong skills, appealing charisma and persistent effort.
He maintains a moderate level of popularity, not too high, not too low.
It's a good result for just being a needle in a haystack.
He admits, he once had the idea of robbing a bank and thus gaining fame.
Obviously he never did it.
And you don't plan to.
- I take it, then, that your job is not full-time. -
The reptile speaks.
- And how much does it cost you? Owning that race car seems. . . . Expensive. -
- I paid a little over a million for it. -
The snake's throat makes a very strange noise.
Like someone who felt like a piece of meat was taken from him when he missed his chance to buy a house believing in the false idea that he could pay for it later. . .
He is personally aware that this generation has less opportunity, makes less money and much less can afford to buy property.
- I'm actually still paying for it. -
Corrects the wolf.
The snake now seemed enraptured with the candy in his mouth, switching to the other side of his cheek, over and over again.
I didn't know whether to feel relief that Wolf was still alive today, or depression; at the fact that his life is slowly being stripped of all leeway.
Maybe it was because he looked restless.
The corners of the canine's mouth lifted slightly and his expression ended with a smile.
- I know what you're thinking. -
Wolf's tone was very serious.
It was very different from his usual conversational style, which made the reptile a little nervous.
- I'm dating the alternate version of the Guy with the Guitar.
Who plays for money, and wouldn't even think about a job other than at a place with low hourly wages because he might get caught for his music.
Well, that's true, but I'm not a hopeless case. -
Snake remains seated, unwilling to move.
- I'm going to be twenty-four and I've got my whole life ahead of me.
It's not like I'm going to stay in this situation forever. -
The sentence wolf said suddenly made the sweet taste of the candy turn bitter.
Here it goes again...
She stared at him and said cynically:
- You STILL have time on your side. -
Was he always so direct?
Saying what was on his mind without considering the feelings of others.
- I'll understand if I'm not boyfriend material to you. -
Wolf was already used to this situation, he immediately wrapped his arm around Snake's slender neck and boasted with an air of smugness.
- I know me and I won't change.
If it's a problem, it's best to leave it up to here and find someone whose values are on par. -
Such statements give a sense of helplessness.
But what can you do?
It's something you can't change, and you can't even blame the other party.
But. . . . It's a mature and courageous behavior that you like.
He quietly walked away from the wolf's arm.
- Before I answer I need to know one thing. -
The serious looks on their faces were completely different from the carefree ones of a few minutes ago.
- What are your expectations of this relationship? -
Wolf's expression changes, apparently it took him by surprise.
- I am serious with you.
But we're just getting started, and I have to tell you that your life choices don't matter enough to me to consider it a problem.
Maybe it can change if things get more serious, or maybe not, depending on how we handle it. -
- Well, I... I'll... If things go well... -
The reptile turns up the corner of his mouth in a crooked smile as he sees how the canine lost his confidence of a few moments ago.
The wolf is looking at him.
He erases his embarrassment and arches his back with more confidence.
- Of course I would love to walk you down the aisle someday if all goes very well. -
Wolf smiled with his voice turning heated and looked him over with his eyes.
- With a house and maybe some children. -
- You'd better have a diamond ring when that happens. -
- I'll make a note of it. -
He looked at Wolf's bright smile and with a sigh said:
- I have no problem continuing.
I promise you that when you start to annoy me, or seem boring to me, I will finish with you. -
- Wow, I've never been so confident in a courtship. -
Snake really didn't have the energy to play along anymore, so he concentrated on pulling another candy out of the small colorful box.
Wolf grabbed Snake's tail before he could pull the candy out.
They are pressed tightly against each other, the warm and cold touch spreading across the skin of both.
The reptile's body stiffened and it felt as if a warm current flowed from deep within its chest.
The canine couldn't help but laugh.
He easily saw through it.
- I have a good feeling about this. -
Bastard.
As the snake thought that, the wolf grinned and pulled Snake into a comfortable hug.
- Come on, don't make me look like the Bad Guy, also tell me what your boundaries are so I don't break them.
I'd hate to make you mad, you sure are scary. -
The reptile couldn't help but smile when he heard that.
He leaned on the canine's shoulder who extended his hand cooperatively, gently holding his rings as if they were his waist.
- Sometimes I get called to go to work, I've had to leave appointments many times or not go to birthdays. -
She said hoarsely.
The corner of the wolf's mouth curved in a strange arc like a smile but not a smirk, as if he was mocking.
Snake knows what he's thinking, but it's best to ignore him.
- I also keep gifts and mementos from my ex's. -
The wolf was now left with an uneasy smile, as he thought about the various scenarios his head was inventing.
- Calm down, I have zero contact with them and I'd rather drink chloroform than date them again. -
- Then why do you keep those things? -
- And why shouldn't I? -
- Eeeh Because they belong to your ex. -
- If you choose to ignore or pretend that that time you spent with your exes never existed, you're still giving them a big part in your life anyway.
That's a little too weak for me. -
- . . . I prefer to forget because I have a bad habit of going back to my Ex's. -
- Uhg, well, I don't suffer from that problem. -
- How do you do it? -
- I never forget their bullshit, but, I also like to keep the good times.
Even though they ended badly, they helped me set the standard for what I wanted in a relationship, and I appreciate that. -
He could feel the wolf close to him.
His breathing was light, almost silent.
But it was enough to give him goose bumps.
Wolf smirked, holding Snake's tail he said:
- You're going to give me cavities. -
Turning his head slightly, the tips of Snake's and Wolf's noses met and the fiery breath blew into the other's face.
Wolf advanced, bent his head and gently deposited a kiss at the corner of Snake's mouth.
The reptile's heart skipped a beat.
His foggy eyes opened before slowly closing.
I peck at the edge of its mouth.
At first, the kisses are soft, a probing friction, a careful caress of the lips.
And then, seeing that the snake's body was relaxing, she proceeds to kiss him fully on the lips.
The canine savored his lips for the duration, and then lay down on his back on the couch, with the major lying on his body.
Pushing up, placing her face against his, he gently pressed his lips on the other.
The face is covered in fur, so the kiss was not only a bit warm and wet, but also stinging and numbing.
The wolf opened Snake's lips with the tip of his tongue.
That scorchingly hot tongue darted in, causing the snake to shudder as it made its way in.
He gently stroked the fur, running his tail over its shoulders as he other placed his hand on the nape of the reptile's neck.
He continued to penetrate deeper with his tongue, at different angles and intensities.
He explored her mouth in a gentle but rough manner.
He swirled the slender tongue with his own and sucked hard.
The tip of the viper tongue brushed the roof of her mouth.
Wolf squirmed in the embrace, as if resisting, but his fingers closed even tighter on the snake's body with a broken moan that was forced out.
They give each other a wild kiss, having to watch out for his fangs, but that didn't stop them from tasting each other for a good thirty seconds.
Ding Ding
For a moment, Wolf just wanted to ignore the message.
However, his hand went down to reach for his cell phone and he released his lips, watching Snake widen his big eyes dazedly.
- Excuse me. -
His slack golden eyes couldn't focus, and he gulped for air from lack of oxygen.
- It's okay, it might be something important. -
Her soft, trembling body lay against the wolf's chest for their first intimate encounter.
They sat on the couch, the air, there seemed to be an invisible flame burning.
No one spoke, and Snake could clearly hear that Wolf's breathing seemed to be a little heavier than before, as his fingers moved on his cell phone screen.
He waited anxiously for Wolf to finish and bring his face close again for a hot, heavy kiss that would dissolve all his impatience and restlessness.
- I have to go. -
- Why, work? -
- No, it's a friend who has problems. -
As soon as he finished speaking, he scratched his neck in embarrassment.
- I forgot to tell you that... -
The older man laughed softly, and gently pressed his lip to the top of the wolfhound's cheek.
- Go on. I'm also the kind of friend who would go help them at three o'clock in the morning. -
The wolf kissed his lips, and the tip of his tongue lingered back and forth over the scales, leaving a string of wet spots and warm water.
- We will continue later. -
Promises the younger one lifted the corners of his lips and smiling slightly.
- But first I help you clean up. -
- Don't worry, I'll take care of it. -
Wolf's lips kissed the section of Snake's ear, delicately licking the scales before saying goodbye.
- Fuck Pam.
You'd better sing him the forties for a month and a half for what you just cost me. -
Demanded the wolf and then sent the voicemail.
Snake smiles, I hear his voice behind the door.
He moved forward and leaned forward on the balcony, looking down.
He watches as the black car heads down the road, slowly driving away, until he could no longer see it because of a building blocking his view.
He stepped back to pick up the papers and trash left behind, soaked the dishes in the sink, and wiped the table with a silly grin.