Time For A Change Of Pace – Chapter 3 – Dawn of new revelations

The last time we left our duo of new friends they had started their shopping trip after a rather strange meeting on the bus. Both fox and bear were now about half way through the shopping needed, but it had already been an experience to remember. They had breezed through the task so much quicker than it should probably take, or at least it felt it to them because they had been conversing together and having a great laugh. It was a strange experience, but not in a bad way at all.

But they weren’t done yet. First stop was the market, where the bear needed to get some vegetables, spices and other such things. Next was the fish monger, which was the only source of any sea food in the area which was kind of surprising considering that beach wasn’t far off really. Third came the butchers, whose large variety of meats was unrivalled, this sale lost him a nice slab of beef. Finally it was the turn of the more general store, where the bear needed a few various extra bits and pieces to take back home.

When finally finished, most of the shopping centre was rather void of customers, leaving the two males to pad through talking as loud as they liked.  By that point each one was carrying several bags in each paw, but not seeming to notice the weight as they frankly enjoyed each other’s company   and conversation. It was only at the bus stop that they finally set down their bags and sat on the waiting bench for the large vehicle to arrive. It wasn’t due for a couple of minutes yet, but even so that time soon flew by; well at least in the eyes of Nate and Josh it did.

Soon however, the big green bus rounded the corner and the two friends hopped on, each showing their ticket and then sitting close to the front together. The bear’s home was only a few stops away from the shopping centre so it was better to stay close to the door this time. But, despite it being so close; the time seemed to slow for the bus ride home, each of the males slipping into their own thoughts of the fun they’d had today despite it being a less than exciting activity.

However, soon they were both ripped from their thoughts, the bus grinding to a halt at the bear’s stop. Both males got up, each getting the bags they had been carrying earlier which left Josh a little confused for a moment. They each padded off the bus and as it sped off behind Nate, the bear turned to him in wonder “Umm…I know this isn’t your stop, what are you doing?” A gentle blush flashed across the fox’s face as he replied calmly “well I couldn’t let you carry all these bags yourself could I Josh?”

At that, the ursine’s face lit up red too, before he smiled widely and nodded. He turned back towards the pathway and starts off down it with the vulpine in tow “I guess that’s ok…you know you’re such a gentleman my friend haha”. It was Nate’s turn to burn redder now and he just awkwardly smiled as he followed down that path. Oddly silence of voices fell over the scene again, a slight sense of tension creeping over things now. 

After about ten minutes walking, they reached the small town; obviously this was where the bear called home.  It was a quaint little place, only about fifty or so houses in the whole town along with a little corner shop and bar nestled in there as well.  Each building was made of strong looking brick and thick wooden parts that aided structure as well as aesthetics. The streets were not tarmacked like most towns, they were simple flat stone. All of these things together gave the impression that this was a new town, looking barely a century old if even that.

Nate didn’t have much time to look about though, as the two friends turned down a short path to one of the first houses there. The bear smiles gently and unlocks the door, opening it up and allowing them both to pad inside with the shopping. He lets the other male shut the door before leading the fox through to the kitchen, Josh gently placed the bags on the counter “Just put them up here, I’ll sort them later. Ohh do you fancy a drink while you’re here foxy hehe?”

Doing as he was told, the vulpine soon placed his bags carefully on the counter and then gave a gentle nod “If I could, just a juice or something for me please”.  The ursine just nodded and moved to the fridge, opening it and pulling out a carton of fresh orange juice. He quickly poured out a tall glass of the liquid and handed it to the fox before placing the OJ back in the fridge and shutting it gently. 

With a soft smile, the fox took his drink in paw and had a good sip, murring gently at the taste hitting his tongue. Josh’s ears twitched, that sound; the other male’s murr; it was so…so amazing to those rounded hearing devices. He loved how it sounded, the deep low pitch and how it seemed to vibrate through the air perfectly. But, he soon caught himself thinking like that and shook his head to clear it; which in turn earned him a tilted head from his friend “Something the matter Josh?” The bear gulps, he couldn’t tell him what he’d really just been thinking but there was something else he did need to sort out.

He gave the fox a soft look, an apologetic flatten of his ears as he replied “yeah, it’s just…I wanted to say sorry about that awkward hug on the bus yesterday…I don’t know what came over me honestly”. Nate simply smiled at that “It’s fine dude…I actually kinda…enjoyed it” As he said that last part, his blush from earlier returned and he had to turn away a little in embarrassment. The bear simply blinked at the response, hardly believing what he just heard. No one ever said they enjoyed his hugs before, anyone he’d hugged before usually just complained about the amount of heat he made or told him never to touch them again.

A smile plastered itself on the ursine’s face and he looks down a little into the vulpine’s face a little “well…I’m glad you liked it then Nate”. All at once the bear’s mind burst into a hive of activity, could this fox be the guy he was looking for, was he even orientated the same way, would he even want a bear as more than a friend? All these questions and at least a hundred more bounced around in his head, stealing all his thought processes and causing him to miss what the fox spoke next, only realizing he’d not heard by seeing those lips move some in a speech like way. He cleared his mind and simply needed to hear what was said asking politely “pardon?”

Nate simply gulps and readies himself to repeat himself, he HAD kind of just blurted something out but this time he needed to make it clear “I-I wouldn’t even say no to more hugs Josh…” As soon as he heard that, the bear’s jaw dropped and he looked at the shy fox before cracking a wide smile and flashing red as he padded up to him “How about another now then?” Matching the ursine’s blush, the vulpine nodded but made it his business to slip his arms around to hug the bear first this time.

Disbelief melted away as soon as it came and a low churr came from Josh’s throat, looking down on the fox and soon hugging him back. It was a warm, more than pleasant feeling that surrounded both males now, each pushing their chest forward gently. In an odd move however, Nate found himself nuzzling his cheek into that fuzzy bear chest; not even sure why he did it but enjoying the feeling nonetheless. Josh was making the fox feel so safe, so protected, so invulnerable to anything else and it was resonating back too so both of the males felt it. 

They were stood there, just hugging for a few minutes before they finally broke apart and just smiled at each other with only a slight bit of red on each of their faces. However, the time became apparent to them both and the fox knew he had to get back to the bus stop now or he’d never make it home tonight. As tempting as it was to just stay there, he didn’t want to intrude and soon he made his way to the door; closely followed by Josh. Soon they both stood outside, each looking at the other gently.

Suddenly, the fox remembered something, reaching for his phone in his pocket “can I have your number this time? I had a lot of fun with you these past two days.” He felt awkward for asking but it paid off this time, as he was soon punching the number in and saving it to his phone as the bear relayed his number for the male. As soon as it was saved, the vulpine puts away the phone again and looks up at the bear “cool, I’ll give you a text later so you get mine too…well I guess this is goodbye for tonight ehh?” 

A sudden wash of bravery came over Josh and he steps up to the fox gently “there’s one more thing first Nate…” The foxes ears perked and he tilted his head at the ursine’s words confused “ohh? What’s that then?” Moving even closer the bear makes his move, that hot breath rolling over the lips of the other saying simply “this…” Then, he took the plunge, pressing his lips together with the fox’s own pair gently in a soft kiss. With wide eyes, the vulpine soon found himself pressing back gently, a murr slipping out from him at that tender embrace. 

However, it soon ended and the kiss was broken, leaving Josh to quickly nuzzle at the fox with a hard blush before padding back inside “see you around Nate” Just like that, the vulpine was left stood there, mouth slightly agape at what just happened only this time there was no doubt he’d enjoyed it. It took him a minute or two to realize he had to move, turning and heading back the way he’d came from not daring to touch his lips for fear of wiping off the taste of the bear’s…