Chapter 6 Temper
Still on the same day, actually.
Larry reached his and his dads flat. Augustinus just finished making a chicken salad and placed it on the table, Larry lay the table and the two foxes sat quiet eating dinner.
"Larry I-" Augustinus was trying to start.
Larry looked up and shot to his father a death glare, "Don't dad. Not yet. Can we chew one another out after chewing this meal."
"Chew one another out?" Augustinus question, "Why did something happen between you and Laverna?"
"Father," Larry warned. "Eat. Up. Then. Talk."
It was silent and Augustinus nodded his head, they finished their meals and Larry cleaned up, before grabbing a bottle of juice and handed his dad a beer.
They sat down in the living room and Larry made sure the lights were on. Augustinus tried to enjoy the beer, but feeling his son's ice-cold stare on him as if he's done something wrong made his throat feel dry.
"Ok son, what's wrong?" Augustinus sighs, "I thought you got along with-"
"DON'T. YOU. DARE. MENTION. THAT. NAME!" Larry sneered at his father. "NOT. ONE. WORD!"
"Ok, now you're being childish, Larry." Augustinus sneers, "Laverna only wanted to get to know you. Nothing out of the-"
"Why did you do it, dad?" Larry barks back, "Why did you introduce her to me? What are you planning?"
"I'm not planning anything." Augustinus tried to defend himself. "I just-"
"You know I'm happy with Benny being my closest and best friend, DAD. Why would I need someone like Laverna?" Larry sneered back. "What are you playing at?"
"I… I…" Augustinus tried to say. But staring into his son's hurt eyes, Augustinus felt so cold as if he'd just plunged into the ocean, his fur was standing up, and he was shaking hard.
That his own son's fury could make him feel so cold was not nice. So Augustinus decided to turn the stake around on his son and tell him the truth, well almost all.
Augustinus sighs and faces his young son, "Larry... please be honest with me... are you gay?"
"What?" Larry shrieks, "What's being gay got anything to do with it?"
"Are you in love with Benny? Yes or no." Augustinus simply states.
"I... I..." Now it was Larry at a loss for words. "Dad that's not up for discussion."
"Then why won't you give Laverna a chance?" Augustinus pointed out. "Or are you in love with Benny? Be honest for once."
"Don't you dare speak to me about honesty, dad!" Larry shouted back again, "You can't even be honest about my own mother."
"SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!" Augustinus screamed back at Larry, his fur getting high. "Stick to the point, Larry. What's going on? Why can't you ever get to like another vixen?"
Larry sighs, his body, and mind shut down as he tried to think what on earth was going on.
Suddenly a knock was on their door, Augustinus headed for the door and glared at the visitor.
Benny had headed to the Wilde's home because he wanted to talk more with Larry bout a few things.
"Good day Augustinus, I was wondering if Larry-" Benny was saying.
"Not now Benny, Larry is grounded for last night. You can go to the training grounds yourself." Augustinus sneers.
Larry quickly got up and ran to his dads side, "Father. Please leave him alone. And yes Benny. Sorry, but dad and I got to talk about a few things."
Benny stared at Larry's face and saw it was twisted into almost pure agony, he knew he stumbled into something important. Benny bows his head down and tries fighting back his own tears.
"Sorry, I didn't realize I stumbled upon a discussion between the two of you. Sorry, I'll go again." Benny trembles a bit.
He quickly turns around and dashes back to his own home.
Larry felt his soul crumble seeing his best friend being hurt, not hanging out with him. He was snapped back to reality as Augustinus slams the door a lot harder shut than was needed.
"That's EXACTLY what I'm talking about, Larry." Augustinus sneers, "And my guess is right. Damn it."
"What guess dad?" Larry shouted back.
"You're in love with Benny." Augustinus sighs, shaking his head, "The way you both talk to one another, the way you always want to be close by him and train with him… right?"
"No dad. Benny is my best friend. The only animal who even wants to work and train with me, the animal I can see who likes me as a friend back and who doesn't PUSH me into anything I don't want!" Larry shouts back.
"Laverna hasn't pushed you into anything though," Augustinus said, "So shouldn't she-"
"She hasn't, but you have." Larry spits back, glaring.
"You're trying to force me to like a vixen and override my friendship to Benny. And I won't have anything of it, father." Larry grabs his coat and dashes for the door, Augustinus grabs him again.
"No, you're not going out." Augustinus shouts, "You're grounded."
Suddenly, Augustinus backhands Larry, giving him a right whack across his head.
Larry stumbles back horrified, he stares at his dad and Augustinus froze over what he just did.
"Wait - Larry I didn't mean- I'm sorry." Augustinus trembles, falling in horror over his own words, his eyes shot wide open.
Larry shakes and bursts out crying, he storms to his room and smashes the door so hard the house shook. Augustinus understood he should let his son calm down again before things get out of hand.
Quickly he sits down and shakes over his entire body, what has he now become?
Outside.
Benny has heard what Larry and Augustinus were talking about.
He sprinted as fast as he could away, even going past his own home before stopping at a food joint.
He sat down and pulled his phone out, quickly texting his sister he was going to be home late because he wanted to think some things through.
'So… Larry is not liking the relationship to Laverna, the other vixen.' Benny begins sighing, 'Larry likes me.'
'But liking me like what? A brother? A friend? Best friend? Or…' Benny thought.
Instantly, his mind shut down. Benny froze over and shook his head, desperately trying to not think of Larry.
How attractive and beautiful he found he looked when wearing his gym clothes, how much he liked the same things as he does. Benny couldn't deny it either, he likes what he sees.
'Would that make us both gay or bisexual?' Benny wonders.
The young rabbit sighs, ever since he left Bunnyburrow behind him, he felt like the Agency was his one true home. No pressure over what he should be or become, no pressure in who likes or mates with whom, no pressure of anything.
'I need to talk with someone about this,' Benny thinks, 'But who?'
He looks up and notices a waitress walking up to him, "Good evening sir, would you be ordering anything?"
Before Benny could reply, he spotted an arctic fox entering the same food joint, he spotted him and straight away walked up to Benny's side and rescue.
"Yes, my friend will have the small mixed salad with no dressing, I'll have a portion of chicken stripes please and two glasses of water please," Little Loco said, taking the free seat opposite of Benny.
He paid straight away for the meal and gave her a tip to shut up before she left behind the counter to prepare their orders.
Benny faces the arctic fox surprised and pulled out his wallet.
"How much do I owe you?" Benny inquires, "I wasn't really here to get food."
"Don't worry about it Benny," Little Loco says, shaking his head, "Augustinus quickly texted me and told me to keep an eye on you. And to discuss some things with you too."
"Thanks?" Benny says surprised, "but what do you mean with discuss? Nothing is wrong."
"Don't lie Benny," Little Loco sighs, "He also told me, ... he thinks you might like Larry as MORE than just a friend. Right?"
"No." Benny quickly said, though he could already feel his ears burning up.
'Bummer, that always happens when I lie,' Benny thinks.
And even Little Loco could see Benny's ears turning red. He chuckles and rolls his eyes.
"You do, don't you. Which is why you wanted to speak to Larry and find out the truth. And your ears are turning red, which means you're lying." Little Loco giggled, "Your sister told me that."
"Hahahah." Benny sighs, his ears returning to normal, "But what should I do? I don't even know IF Larry might like me like that too."
"Admitting to a person one might like them is never easy." Little Loco sighs, "And even if they don't, you should just try to move on. At least you'd have closure then."
Benny blinks and faces the arctic fox, he notices Little Loco shaking and a single tear falling from his eyes.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Benny inquires, looking at the fox.
Little Loco sighs, "Ok… years ago, even before I met Augustinus at the gun store, ... I was once in a relationship as well with another female arctic vixen. We liked one another a lot, and I was going to ask her if she'd be my girlfriend. Her name was Jill Fluff. I believed she liked me too… but as I visited her to finally confess my feelings for her… my home town got attacked by rough animals and my girlfriend died in the slaughter. My heart broke, and I had to bury my first love."
Benny stares shocked at Little Loco, "You never got to tell her you liked her?"
"No, never. And since I lost my first love, I've sworn myself to not like any vixen ever again. Instead, I moved away, found this job, met Augustinus and trained with him, and he's become like a family to me too." Little Loco explains. "And I see Larry like a son I'd never have too. And I feel similar to you, Benny."
Benny chuckles a bit, "Thanks. I like you both too. Just that Augustinus is trying to force me out of his son's life is not very nice. I haven't even done anything to Larry, and yet his dad is already on 180."
"Mph not quite Benny," Little Loco chuckles, "Augustinus is just worried about his son's health..."
"How can I be endangering Larry's health? In fact eating vegetables is good for his health." Benny questions.
Little Loco shakes his head, "I don't mean his health body wise, but mind. You might know you and Larry are reaching your early teens, right? And Augustinus knows once February hits for Larry, then he's going to reach his first 'mating' season. Augustinus is so worried about Larry that he won't ever reach normal foxes mating standards. But he's instead trying other things not too normal to him."
Benny didn't even need to know anything further. His face turned to pure horror and he felt sick.
"And all because of me?" Benny asks, trying not to throw up, "I don't even LIKE him like that. But just strict friends. Doing THAT, gah it's not bear thinking."
"I'm not saying you both WOULD ever go that far, you care so much about the other THAT won't ever come to standards with you two. What I mean is Larry might never like a female more than you and might never go through with it." Little Loco said. "He'd seclude himself from all possible relationships because you are more than enough for him."
Benny grins, his whole unhappy face melted like ice, and he felt pure happiness shoot through his little body.
'Good, cause I do like him like that too. And who cares if we are or are not straight. We are very good friends and like a family.' Benny grins, 'Augustinus can try all he wants, I won't hurt Larry like that.'
Their meal came and both consumed it together, it was quite tasty.
Benny shot through his head's the thoughts over and over again, he's got no idea how he can persuade Augustinus to stop meddling in his and Larry's hearts, they both were like the brother the other never had and vice versa. He was sure of it.
Back with Augustinus.
Augustinus and Larry haven't spoken since he gave him the whack, the older fox was still sitting in his living room and still feeling shocked over what he did. How could he dare let himself get so emotionally high over Larry liking Benny that he'd turn to physical abuse on his son.
'I should just disappear for good. I've done the worst I could have ever done. I'm a monster now.' Augustinus thought, shaking hard. 'How on earth can I ever make up for it?'
Larry was in his bedroom, he hasn't budged from there but was still shaking.
He was holding a photo of Benny he had exchanged with him and held it close to his heart as if it were his lifeline.
'I really do like Benny. He's like a brother I've never had, and I know he likes and respects me too. Dad please just get over it.' Larry trembles, shaking.
The young fox curls up once more and hugs the photo as hard as he can, before placing it on his night table next to his dads.
Augustinus was still feeling awful, but then he had an idea.
'I got to make it up to him, and I know how.' Augustinus grins.
He quickly grabs his phone and texts Little Loco before getting up and leaving the apartment.
At the door, he looked up to Larry's bedroom, "Larry. I got to go out for a bit. You're staying here, and I expect you to not destroy this flat!"
He just got a mumbling response, and he nods, he left the apartment and locks the door.
Outside.
Augustinus walks away from his home he shares with Larry and meets up with Little Loco again. The arctic fox looks at his friend a little hurt and sighs.
"So, what's now your plan, Mr Wilde?" Little Loco inquires, "Larry and Benny are both crushed by you trying to stop him."
Augustinus flinches and looks down, "I know. I got to make it up to them both, even though I'd like nothing more than for Benny to let my son go and vice versa. And I know just the thing to apologize to them both."
Little Loco blinks, Augustinus walks with him into town and came upon a legally selling gun store called: All shooter.
The two entered it and a racoon faced them both.
"Why, if it isn't my two favourite shooters: Mr Augustinus Wilde and Little Loco. What brings you to my humble store?" The raccoon smiles.
"Hello Bang, I'd like to purchase two Glock 19's please," Augustinus smiles, "With bullets."
"I know you know how to store them well, Mr Wilde. I'll just get them." Bang smiles.
As the raccoon disappeared to the back where his gun safe was, Little Loco stared at Augustinus very surprised.
True, Larry and Benny don't officially own a gun yet, but are still in training to know how to use them.
"Mr Wilde, are you insane? They are still too young to own-" Little Loco panicked.
"Larry and Benny are both 18 years old now, Little Loco," Augustinus said, "It's bout time the two-step up in the Agency, and you know we need guns for our protection and our job. Plus, the two did like it as we had the shooting round."
"Yes, but still…" Little Loco said a bit worried. Bang then returned with the two requested guns and bullets.
"These are our newest models we've got, each costing $500 and another $100 for the bullets." Bang said, presenting them the guns.
Augustinus nodded his head, he paid the $1200 and carefully packed them in two locked money boxes. He thanked him and he and Little Loco left the store.
Little Loco felt sick inside himself, he wouldn't deny it that he too saw Larry and Benny loving the first several shooting rounds and would surely become good with the fire arms, but would it really be enough for Augustinus to mend the enormous rift he's caused between the two and him?
Augustinus picked up his phone and speed dialled Benny's mobile number.
"Hello Benny?- Here's Augustinus, can you please meet me and Little Loco at my home in five minutes?- I got a surprise for you and my son.- Ok thank you, see you." Augustinus said into his phone.
"You're nuts, you are." Little Loco chuckled.
The two friends headed back to his flat.
Back with Larry.
Larry was sitting in his room, he felt absolutely awful, he was missing Benny a lot, he wanted to crush his dads head in with a rolling pin out of absolute fury.
Ok so what if he might be gay? What's it to him?
Suddenly a knock rosé Larry from his sitting position, the young fox looked confused to the door and heard the knock again.
"What's going on?" Larry asked.
"Larry, are you in? If yes, can you please let me in?" Benny's voice rings through the door.
Larry shakes his head and runs to the door at the speed of light. He opened it and Benny smiles and waves.
"Benny? Why have you come back? I thought dad didn't want you here?" Larry questioned, "And I'm sorry I didn't stand up for you. I didn't mean-"
"Larry, calm down," Benny said, "Your father has rung me up and asked me to be here again. For whatever reason, I don't know, but it seems important to him."
'Dad what are you up to?' Larry asked, looking very confused.
He nods and lets his best friend in, knowing his dad might be back any minute now, Larry heads to the kitchen and makes a pot of tea and sets the table. Just then the door was opened again and Augustinus and Little Loco both entered the flat too.
Benny almost jumped out of his skin as he saw the other fox back in the room again.
"Mr Wilde sir, I returned just as you asked, but why? I thought you weren't happy with me being here with Larry?" Benny instantly asks as if he was shot out of a pistol.
Augustinus raises a paw, whiles Little Loco placed the two parcels on the table.
"Benny Squint, calm down, I did ask you to be here for a reason." Augustinus smiles.
Larry instinctively stood next to his best friend and glared at his dad, "Father… is this somehow to hurt me and Benny further? I won't stand for it if you'd dare hurt him again."
"No, no no." Augustinus said, shaking his head, "I promise you two, it's not to hurt or harm either of you."
The tea was shared out and Augustinus handed the two parcels to Larry and Benny.
"I bought these two presents for you Larry and you Benny. Please accept them as my apology to you two for my cruel behaviour in wanting to separate you two. I just need to learn to accept the new development of my son, even if it's a little hard." Augustinus said.
Larry and Benny faced one another confused and carefully unwrapped the parcels. It was the two guns and bullets that Augustinus bought.
Benny's eyes were as wide as saucepans, "No way. A Glock 19? Are you kidding me?"
"I got the same one, just in blue and yours is gray Benny," Larry beams, "Dad you're nuts you are."
Augustinus chuckles a bit, "I know I am. Just both of you promise me to always lock is away safely and ONLY shoot at it on the shooting training ground. NEVER at another animal ever."
"We promise," Benny and Larry beam, very happy.
Augustinus nods, whiles Larry heads into his room to set with Little Loco his new gun safe up, Augustinus kneels in front of Benny and faces the rabbit for the first time square in the eyes.
"I'm entrusting my son to you, Benny. Please never hurt him, harm him but protect him with all you have. I might have to fight my own demons of jealousy about my son liking you a lot more than he'd ever like a female, so please see him as your own brother. Promise?" Augustinus begs, facing Benny square in the eye.
Benny blinks, "D... does it mean I can be with him?"
"Yes. I'm allowing you both to be friends." Augustinus sighs, "I can't keep fighting against my own son, and I can see he really likes you. Promise?"
"I promise, Augustinus, thank you. I promise you I'll never leave Larry's side and be the greatest and loyalist friend he's ever had." Benny beams.
Augustinus smiles, Benny places the gun down, runs to Larry and throws himself at him with a tight embrace and quickly explains what he and Augustinus discussed, Larry's face was as wide and happy as could ever be, and they hugged and cuddled hard.
Benny quickly headed home and set his own gun safe up, and explained to his sister what happened.
That evening, Augustinus tucked his son to bed and was happy he saw a huge smile back on his son's face.
Even though he'd like to bite his tail for it, Augustinus knows he can't fight against his son's own happiness.
Quanktumspirit: "Finally finished. This took forever. Please comment, follow and favour."
