Oh my... I can see a floor!

[texas]

Despite was Rook had told him, Zarek had continue to clean the wolverine's room. In fact he had it mostly done already. It was just that the Tiger was a clean freak. It wasn't OCD bad, it just made him feel at home. He could stay at any place as long as it was clean and feel right as rain. Clean was neutral and neutral was good.

Taking a break the tiger flopped down on the couch with a smile on his face. All his hard work had paid off. Now he could move around the whole area without worrying about tripping over anything. Of course he knew it wouldn't stay like this for long. Oh no, not with how Rook lived, but that was one of the reasons Zarek had started to fall for the Mutt. The two were complete opposites, yet they where some how perfect for one another in an odd, screwed up kind of way.

[Rook]

Rook cared for Zarek, but sometimes he wanted to hit him with a can of tuna, especially when the damn furball turned out to be right, which was, annoyingly often.

He'd ran to his quarry, expecting a short chase, perhaps a tiny scuffle, or maybe a complete surrender, what he did not suspect was a stunning device hidden in said quarry's pocket, activated when Rook had had to slam him against the wall, in a perfectly normal cop-like manner. If he could Rook would always just settle for words, but he supposed there was a reason he'd become an Arc-Angel: he attracted trouble like nere-do-wells attracted teenage girls.

Many, in a short amount of time with typically bad consequences.

Well, some of his fur was singed, he was dirty, and he was tired but in the end the punk had given back the purse and was now sitting in a one-room condo with a burly, yet affectionate cell mate.

Hah! Hah Hah Hah!

Rook wished he could have cleaned himself up a bit before coming back, but there was no solution only bitter revenge! He also felt a bit bad at being in some stranger's house, for surely this could not have been his own.

He blinked a bit, almost blinded by the amount of maroon and white, as well as the light that was being let in, probably killing all those spiders he had worked so hard not to kill.

"Oh wow. I have a floor. And there's a strange man on my couch. Whatever shall I do"?

He leaned against a wall, with an ironic, tired smile, his fur ruffled and dusty, his clothes rumpled and his tail giving a short, half hearted wag.

[texas]

"Well there are lots of fun things you can do with strange men." Zarek said before turning his head and looking at Rook. Seeing he was dirty brought a large smile to his face. Sure the Mutt was a little worst for wear, but the tiger could almost see what happened.

"So I guess that kid did know a little king-fu after all. What did he do? Use you to dust out a chimney?" The tiger broke out into a fit of laughter. It felt nice to have been right when he warned Rook about the kid. Heck Zarek didn't get to get the upper hand on Rook and lot and when he did he was going to use it too his fullest extent.

[Rook]

"So you've told me, again...and again....and again" said Rook trailing off with a smirk, it diddn't get to stay there for very long as the Black Cloud of Perpetual Doom came over his eyes. "No, he used me as a gateway to a career in shock therapy. Minus therapy. I got a little pissed and there was some rolling around..." he shrugged "Nothing to get jealous at though he wasn't awake for the most part of it. Little piss" he growled, muttering other insults to the juvenile under his breathe.

"Kids these days, have no respect for blunt objects. Why the hell would a mugger be carrying a mini-taser? It's almost too ironic. This shit only happens to me you know".

He growled in quick succession, ranting as he removed his iced-over coat and shirt, shivering in his the muscle shirt underneath as he hopped on the couch almost comical quickly.

"Jesus it's cold. The place look's great. Where did you put my nasty pile of blankets by the way"? he asked giving Zarek an almost pleading look.

[texas]

"Well I didn't know you liked to do stuff that way Rook. Unconscious for the most time and blunt objects, may be I don't want to go any farther than making-out with you." Rolling over the back of the couch as he saw Rook make a jump for it Zarek got out of the way just in time.

"Be careful with me. I don't want to get another fake rib, thank you very much." Not replying to the question Zarek walked into the bedroom and brought out the biggest blanket.

"Here you go you big baby." Tossing the blanket over both of them the tiger snuggled closer to his Mutt. "You know. I think that you should consider at least trying to keep this place someone clean. I'm not asking for it to be spotless, just a little more tidy. You know things off to the side of the room inside of right in the middle."

[Rook]

Rook caught the right side of the blanket thankfully, Zarek could call him a crack whore for all he cared, he just needed to be warm. Walking outside all day seemed to have frozen him in places he hadn't known he could be frozen, despite actually being warmer without his sodden, icy jacket, taking it off brought his chill home to him, he felt like someone had reached into his organs and shaken them thoroughly.

Careful to remain under the tiger, so as not to hurt him, he lay on his back on the old, soft black couch, letting Zarek lay half on top of him, Zarek was muscular, but he was more compact than Rook was, whenever Rook made close contact it made him feel like something from the Black Lagoon, with his un-proportionally huge claws, thick muzzle and bulky body with it's hard ridges of muscle clothed in waves of shaggy, course fur, he remembered feeling the same way holding Jamie for the first time, almost as though everyone else were made out of some kind of ceramic and he was the Perpetual Bull in the China Shop of Doom, trying as hard as he could just not to break things and screw everything up, as was his nature.

Rook had been told in the past, that he was handsome and brave by others, but often he wondered how they could stand to look at him, after getting to see him better, see how clumsy and out of balance he was when he wasn't killing things. Kill kill kill, he'd give anything just for a space to occupy his body when he wasn't maiming, breaking or hurting something, and perhaps it was asking too much of the tiger, but he wanted Zarek to be the one to spend that time with, for how long or to what extent he diddn't know, he only had that vague, through strong idea.

Zarek certainly diddn't feel like a statue of any kind, and Rook was intensely happy with that, as he lay his head, pillowed on a corner of the blanket they were both wrapped in his hands slipping over Zarek's chest and stomach naturally and laying them there criss-crossed, he felt Zarek's warm neck fur on his face and closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the softness, and the clean, masculine smell of the tiger.

His ragged tail rested on Zarek's thigh, it hadn't taken him long at all to grow accumulated to the tiger's touch. And it wasn't so much of a secret that he loved it.

It made him feel like a person, and the fact that the tiger liked to be touch back gave him almost as much pleasure as giving Jamie a new toy.

Why did he keep coming back to that? Ah the life of a father.

He wasn't grabbing the tiger and 'sweeping him off his feet' , but he had come to realize what a damnably attractive creature the man was in general, the way his fur felt, his expressions, and above all the warmth of him, in both his body and his voice, he was beginning to notice other things too, but it embarrassed him too much to work them into rational thoughts.

Well, like it or not it was soon called to his attention as Zarek mentioned their plans earlier, hey, it was a lot easier to be confident over the phone. He actually wasn't adverse though, the idea diddn't seem dramatic, it seemed natural enough, just unfamiliar. Uncharted territory.

"Hm. Making out. That was on our to-do list then, wasn't it"?

he said thoughtfully with some kind of distant, ironic amusement as he tapped his claws lightly on Zarek's belly, making tiny creases in the folds of his shirts.

He twitched a whisker "I thought neat freaks liked everything to be centered. Anyway, Jamie has been harassing me all these years to get my shit together, I suppose I will have to oblige in some small way, I can't bear two people doing it, especially when one is my partner, and the other my daughter . I have a limited amount of sanity and it's reserved for my job". He straightened a little under Zarek "By the way how do you turn the ringer on a cell phone to "vibrate"? He hated to ask Zarek, knowing he'd tease him for not knowing, hed' tried to avoid it, but he'd had bad luck in his asking, the old lady he'd asked earlier had been equally clueless.

Well he was only in his forties, he could learn! He'd taken to the computer like a fish to water after all. Well, not the internet, but his word processor was his Bitch.

Too bad he was also a sodomite himself, to irony, he had some of the most advanced pieces of combative equipment in the last decade, on his fingers and he had no idea how to operate his cell phone beyond calling and answering.

[texas]

Zarek snuggled close to Rook his head tucking between the Mutt's chin and shoulder. Closing his eyes he let himself just enjoy the moment. Listening to his... boyfriend's? breathing the tiger began to muse over what he should call the wolverine. In their relationship he really didn't know what to call Rook. Nothing seemed to fit what they had.

"I'll show you latter. Right now I am comfortable and I would rather not move." Keeping his eyes closed he moved closer to Rook and took the man's paw. "As for our to-do list, that can be forgotten. I'm not going to push you into anything you don't want to do. Anyway, like I said before, I am comfortable how I am right now. We could warm you up however."

Tilting his head up he placed a kiss on Rook's lips. Moving his paw up he tangled it is his.... lover's? (No still not right) hair. To Zarek kissing Rook was one of the most addicting things in the world. He had been proud to say that he had never taken any drug before in his life, but since the wolverine had caved in and started let things move to higher levels the tiger was sure that the man should be illegal.

[Rook]

The sharp jaw, rigid muscles, and thin lips of a man, even man like Zarek, had first discouraged him, he supposed there'd always been a thrill to it, but the guilt and shock of it had almost overshadowed it completely, but now Rook couldn't remember enjoying a kiss as much as he enjoyed this one, and the others that had preceded it. He felt the tiger's warmth transfer to him, both by their huddled bodies, and maws now met Ridiculously, he felt drops of condensation on his fur, it was damp now, very slightly so it could barely be noticed, but the tiny droplets of ice that had clung to it were beginning to dissapear.

And usually it was this way, with Zarek's fingers in his hair and on his neck sometimes cradling it gently like now, and sometimes with unexpected fierceness he had yet to actually see on his face. He sincerely hoped he wouldn't, but it was rather a ticking time bomb.

Ah well, it stood to reason that if he could be pissy and grumpy all the time that there would be times when Zarek was too, except it would be a surprise attack, rather then a regular comfortable state of being as it was for the wolverine hybrid [Mutt]

As for their plans? Rook wasn't sure he wanted them to be brushed aside, of course it was one thing to imagine it, another to do it, but he was doubtful someone like Zarek would always be satisfied with Hallmark esque kisses, sweet and deliciously faltering , as they were.

Grown men weren't satisfied with cartoon movies, except the ones they could jack off to, Rook found himself recalling the 'Men are Evil' speeches he had given Jamie before letting her get out of his car, for middle school.

and two men together?

Rook had been out of touch for a while, with his inner Asshole Guy, but he couldn't expect Zarek not to want sex just because he was cowardly and squeamish.

He knew Zarek cared about him, hell even loved him, and he truly did back, it was the fact that Zarek was a male, and that he hadn't in so long, that was getting his tail in a twist . He just needed time, his biggest fear in it all wasn't that Zarek would hurt him, but that Zarek would become bored of him.

But he could take steps. He broke for a minute, one had to breathe, it wouldn't do to go turning purple over a kiss.

If he diddn't have all this shit on his mind he would have snickered at the thought. Instead he turned his eyes on the tiger and smiled a little.

"Maybe I need a little push" he said, his voice dropping an octave.

[texas]

“A push?” Zarek really hadn’t been thinking much when he had been kissing Rook. His whole mind had gone blank except for the deep need he felt to keep this to the other man’s level and making sure he did not move to fast. Now that the wolverine had sprung this on him he had to try his hardest not to just go all the way with him right then.

Taking in a deep breath the tiger let it out his nose slowly. He could do this. It was just like any other time. Well not like any other time. Other times he would not have to worry about the person running away if they felt too uncomfortable, and if they did it really didn’t matter. Now though, this was a whole different Pack arena.

“If you need a push then I’ll give you one.” With a slight shove the tiger had pressed Rook the rest of the way into the couch and was now laying him one arm next to Rook’s head holding him up. A new fire blazed in his eyes as he looked down to his prey. It would be so easy to just get what he wanted, but then he knew that the man would never trust him again.

“How is that for a push?” Chuckling Zarek nipped Rook’s shoulder while letting his paw run on the man’s chest.

“Now I want you to hold still and just let this happen. Trust me I’m not going to do anything you won’t like.” Retracting his claws the tiger let his hand travel down from his lover’s chest leaving hot red marks which his tongue followed down after and cooled off.

((Now you can let your dirty little minds do whatever you want because that is as much as I am writing about THAT.))

[Rook]

(Teehee, I'll be a little more suggestive, but you won't find any porn here either. Sorry to disappoint the peoples!)

Rook felt the flush that was heating his face spread further across his body as the other man fixed him into this position, and Rook was shocked to find that he could not protest, not even a fraction of him wanted to protest. He wanted Zarek to touch him, and keep touching him untill he said he could stop.

It was almost like someone who'd lost a leg complaining that it still hurt, Rook felt no real fear, only guilt.

"Zarek..."

But as things really got moving Rook felt a momentary lapse of sanity, he diddn't even know who Zarek was for a few seconds, his life was so very dependent on his sense of smell, the difference in his tiger's scent confused him, becoming more earthy and so strong it made his head blurry, but he still could not speak.

If he had, what the hell would he have said?

It was a rather embarrassing thing to consider, the small noises he was making occasionally in the back of his throat were bad enough.

This was all rather like having hot and cold flashes, except it was with emotions, it was not slow and romantic,---well it was. .sort of....but....only half the time, it was also very competitive and very frusterating, the scent of Zarek's distinct maleness was driving him crazy.

And the way those narrow eyes looked, flashing, feline and arrogant as sin, enraged him somehow, it struck a cord somewhere deep that someone could dare to have so much control over him, The Killer, on the other hand if Zarek stopped he...oh god almighty...., in fact, he felt that if the tiger stopped Rook would break his neck.

The wind outside had taken a turn for the worst and was lashing against the windows of the mini apartment complex, though the sound was quiet and far away, much in the back of their minds,

Well, he was very warm now.

[texas]

Stretching up and snuggling close to Rook, Zarek buried his face into the wolverine's stomach. A smile was on his lips when he felt how warm they where both now.

"Well, that helped get rid of the chill, now didn't it?" He chuckled a little. "I didn't kill you either. One small step for Zarek, one giant leap for Rook." The tiger joked around with his partner.

He had to say it was very nice to be with someone now. Just floating from one person to another was never as nice as being with one person that you found yourself in love with. Zarek was going to keep the part of being in love to himself for a while. He wasn't sure how ready for that Rook was right then.

[Rook]

"Yes you did" Rook accused, tired now, struggling to stay awake, one hand stroking the tiger's head fur, and the other slowly coming round massage the space between his shoulders with his rough frostbitten pads and the smooth backs of his claws, his gray eyes still as stone, as ever, but now were dull with tiredness, and contentment, his body relaxed finally, not twitching, fidgeting, ducking and weaving as it did it's tortured hang man's dance of paranoia, everyday of every year.

Was he finally back? No. not completely, but he was getting there, a little dose of sanity and affection in a very cold place, kind of like a glass of smooth, warm coffee in the midst of a blizzard.

"Little death. Much nicer than I could-- remember. Sad but true"

Though there was no one else in the room, Rook lowered his voice, so even if there had been, Zarek would be the only person to catch his soft mutter "Thank you, Zarek".

Rook felt a familiar feeling, a possessive affection and a subtle kind of pain, but unlike Zarek, he could not name nor recognize it, perhaps he was afraid to. Look what had happened last time.

Whether he was ready or not? That was to be seen.