Striped Candy

Chapter One

By Roofles

It was lunch time and Bruce popped across the street from his stand to grab something to snack on; not preferring to eat where he worked. Most of the other food truck drivers were cool with him around, if a little on edge. Out of respect and not wanting to stir the melting pot any more than he already had, Bruce decided to just go into a popular fast food chain.

McQuackers. Due to fish being one of the few “ok” meats to eat, Bruce found the place an easy cheap means to get his fix in when he began feeling those hungers pains; unable to put it off any longer. He tried to keep his eating to a minimum in public.

“One Grande meal.” The tiger asked for at the counter. Bruce tried to focus on the clerk in front of him, tunnel vision as he walked into the fast food joint. He was tall, broad shoulder and the shirt he had on clung tightly to his strong build, outlining his chest and sides nicely. His arms were ripping the fabric around the sleeves and when the tiger came into the building everyone took notice.

The only sign Bruce was bothered by all the stares he was getting from the other costumers was his tail lazily drifting back and forth behind him; unlike a canine, a cat’s tail meant the opposite when in motion. He had to keep the tip of the black striped orange tail from flickering back and forth quickly as he stood there.

“That’ll be 18.87, sir.” The deer behind the counter said. His antlers were still coming in. He was only a teenager and Bruce tried not to snarl at the price; it wasn’t this dumb kids problem that it was so expensive.

“Twenty bucks for fast food?” He just grumbled aloud to himself, pulling out his wallet. Bruce also ordered one of the larger meals to sate his deep hunger.

“The meat meals cost more.” The deer just said lazily, eyes half closed as he stared blankly forward. Bruce was sure the teen had gotten high before coming to work this morning, something he wished he did himself today.

“Of course, they do.” Bruce just shook his head, figuring as much. It was close to home and after the day he had, it was the least of his worries. He was trying to stop from drooling able to smell the fried fish wafting in from the back fryers.

Bruce accepted the miscounted change without making a fuss about it, just dropping it into his front pocket as he tucked his wallet away. The tiger turned around, the lumbering cat taking heavy steps to get out of the way. Though heavy, Bruce could sneak up on a trained Navy Seal without being heard as those large paw pads pressed against the ground, toes spreading slightly within the sandals he wore as they evened out the bulk of his weight with each step he took.

“Look mommy!” A young rabbit pointed at him suddenly, making the large predator turn his gaze onto the small creature. His yellow, blue inner ring eyes seemed to glow in the light; he really hated being this hungry. “He’s just like Tigger!”

Bruce smirked at that, recalling the children show he used to watch. He had been called far worse things in his life.

“Get away from him Jenny!” The mother quickly yanked the child painfully by her arm away from the hungry predator. “What have I told you about talking to them…”

His face quickly fell seeing the mother, going blank to keep his anger from showing. The tip of his tail began wagging however. The mother was a large bosomy hare that did not hold her weight well. She had four kids with her and from the look on her face had just as many waiting for them out in the minivan he was sure belong to the rabbit. They did breed like, well, bunnies. Bruce wasn’t sure if that was a social thing or just a rabbit thing.

“Ew, is he planning on eating here? In front of us!” One of his large rounded ears perked up at that, swiveling towards the person who had said it. Before he could see whom it was others began in with them. As if just waiting for someone else to mention what they had been thinking.

“Disgusting.” Someone gagged.

“Is that chicken?” One gasped as if that was of course what he’d order in a place that mostly served sea food.

“Oh my god, I think I’m going to be sick…” Another melodramatic voice said in a loud whisper as if not even trying to hide it from the predator. Bruce was sure that was indeed the case.

“What a savage.” Another chimed in, not even friends with the others. Just wanting to join in on the conversation.

“Belongs in a zoo.” One last person said at the end.

Bruce ignored it all, just enjoying the empty calories he had ordered and got a few minutes later. It was what he expected. Dry and flavorless, flash frozen fish that was dropped in a deep fryer seconds before, possibly even to sit out and later heated up in a microwave. The fries that came with it were soggy and had way too much salt on them as if that’d make up for it.

It was a heart attack waiting to happen and the ravenous tiger just half-swallowed a whole fish fillet as he hungrily ate. Stuffing his face without much of a care to those who saw.  

“E-excuse me, sir?” It was a goat that piped up. Bruce could instantly tell she didn’t work here. And had been one of the people talking about him from before. He was just trying to enjoy his lunch.

“Can’t you see I’m eating?” Bruce just gave a low growl in warning. He didn’t have the luxury to take a full lunch break; when the lunch rush hit, he needed to be back at his truck to optimize his profits for the day.  

“W-well that’s the thing.” The goat just piped up, somehow finding her courage where everyone else just remained silent on the matter. “We’d all greatly appreciate it if you took your uh… business, elsewhere? Okay? Thanks.” She turned to go.

“No.” Bruce just continued his meal with the gruff, heavy reply as he took another loud snapping bite of a French fries. Slowly chewing it as those blue ringed eyes drifted over towards her.

“Y-you’re s-scaring the children!” Her voice went a bit shrill in tone as she nearly shouted the words as if only now noticing he was a hungry predator and she nothing more than a grass-eater.

“Only thing that’s scaring the children,” Bruce noticed the small bunny from before watching him. Her eyes were wide with wonder and curiosity, without an ounce of fear behind them. “Is you. Dumb bitch.” He added under his breath.

Children didn’t seem to mind him at all. It was their parents that had a stick up their fuzzy bums and many of them, like this goat, felt the need to tell him personally just what a shame it was that he was alive.

“What was that?!” She only said, going on the defensive as if Bruce had interrupted her lunch with all this bullshit.

“I said.” And he placed one large hand on top of the last fish fillet, easily crushing it under his palm as he stood up. “I prefer a nice fresh veal steak to this crap.” He added a good snarl for emphasis on that as he smiled down at the goat. Bruce half expected her to wet herself as he headed out, pushing past her; before she could call the cops on him.

It wouldn’t have been the first time.  

Bruce was already outside, tossing the left overs in the trash as he licked his finger clean. The sand papery tongue easily cleaned the bright pink paw pads and orange fur around them. He sucked on one finger as he crossed the street without looking, his tail drifting behind him like a flag in the breeze.

His other hand was focused on the phone in it, Bruce checking his messages.

 “It’s really good.” It just read. Bruce smiled as that, wiping his drool covered paw off on the side of his pants as he headed over towards the opening in the park.

Bruce owned one of the food trucks that were parked in the lot. People swarmed the area, Parker Street usually was a crowded place. They each rented the space out; taking advantage of the crowd. It was also the major spot within the city where non-humans could just walk around without causing a riot to break out.

The tiger on the other hand still parted the crowd like a shark through a school of minnows as he came through. Something he had come to just expect over the years.  

“Too bad you had to get it from that tiger guy, he scares me.” Bruce replied, talking about himself. The tiger didn’t have too many contacts and those he did, like Jeffrey, he made sure to keep at an arm’s length. The man wasn’t even aware what he was other than his name.

“Really? I thought he had very kind eyes…” Jeff replied quick enough. He usually did. It was Bruce who took his sweet time replying to each text; mostly because his fingers were too large for the phone and he had to use the very tip of his nail to type anything out.

“…Dude, you’re so gay.” Bruce only laughed aloud as he got back to his food truck. He unlocked the door heading inside, the truck shifting at his weight as he entered. The cat placed the phone on the counter, put an apron on and began heating up the stove tops once more. Bruce checked over the supplies to make sure everything was there where he left it.

The lunch rush hit several moments later. A sickening sweet smell filled the air as sugar caramelized, chocolate melted and marshmallows were put on nearly everything. Bruce loved sweets, though he tried to keep from eating too much himself. Baking was just one of his callings in life and he found he could forget the little things when he was behind a stovetop.  It kept him busy enough he didn’t even notice who the next costumer in line was until he spoke up.

“Yes, I’ll have a.” Jeffrey began. The human was wearing a light gray newsboy cap with a pair of black glasses. He had a scarf with a familiar logo on the end of it, of a football team consisting entirely of large jungle cats.  The Sabercats. Bruce had a sticker of them in the window.

“Already paid for.” Bruce just pushed the steaming cup of coffee over the counter and towards him. The tiger turned away even before Jeff could say another word.

“Oh, uh… thank you.” Jeff just said, giving him a decent tip as usual. It had been Bruce that mentioned the place to begin with over text. It hadn’t been long until Jeff began showing up to partake in the “Sweet tiger delights” Bruce had joked about.

The tiger rented the food truck he ran. It was bright pink with colorful frosting letters on the sides reading “Striped Candy.” Bruce had gone to pastry school and had always loved to make sweets. The truck was just his first step he wanted to take in the long road of life. One day he hoped to own his own homemade candy store or pastry shop. The nitty gritty details were still in the works.

The tiger smiled at the idea of being known as the “candy man” rather than the what he was. A large jungle cat, a predator you needed to keep your children away from.

Bruce ears fluttered a bit, heart racing as he kept his cool and just checked on supplies as Jeff left. The tiger long striped tail swayed behind him quickly as he turned around to help the next person in line. That tail ‘poofed’ out as the human from before was still standing there. The end began flickering quickly at the sight of him, the rest of the large tiger remained cool and collected.

“What?” Bruce snarled, asking the question. His heart leaping into his throat, had he been caught? “Did I forget something?” He added on as if that’s why he was upset about Jeff sticking around. His tail continued to move quickly behind him.

“Did you uh… see the person who ordered this drink?” Jeff brushed a strand of his brown hair behind one ear; it was mostly hidden underneath the cap he was wearing. Those eyes seemed to be amplify by the glasses he wore. The tiger’s tail only moved faster seeing it.

Bruce took a moment on that. “Can’t recall.” He just said, looking past him now and shoutingloudly “Next!” Jeff just nodded at that, disheartened by it, and walked over to the side table that always seemed to be vacant; it was the closet one to the stand.

Jeffrey already had his phone out, sending a text. “You didn’t stick around, again.” The human pocketed it after taking a seat. It buzzed the next second.

“I had to rush.” The message he got just replied.

“I see. Well, have a good day then.” Jeff just set his phone on the table, taking a breath of the steamy beverage.  A chocolate coffee mix dubbed “Join the Darkside Coffee.” It had three kinds of chocolate, each darker than the last. There was a good dose of homemade whip cream on top with shaved flakes of chocolate over it with a dash of cinnamon.

Jeff’s phone buzzed the next second and he looked over at the message on the lock screen. “Is it good?” It only read.

“It’s sort of… spicy.” Jeff just chuckled, replying with a finger as he took another drink. He was sure one of the chocolates was Mexican; there was an added spice to it that changed the entire taste of the coffee.  

“Is that a yes or no?” The next text only asked. Jeff could practically hear the annoyance in Bruce’s voice.

“Yes. It’s delicious.” Jeff just rolled his eyes, laughing lightly as he replied. To anyone else around he must’ve looked odd laughing like that. To the tiger nearby, it was a joyous remarkable sight. Anyone who enjoyed his sweets made Bruce feel as if getting up that morning was worth it.

Jeff wasn’t like Bruce at all. Where the tiger was stoic and impassive; Jeff was an energetic, bright eyed guy that wore his heart on his sleeves or at least his face. Every thought and emotion crossed it like a canvas, displaying it for the world to see.

“I’m glad.” Bruce tail swayed behind him as he put the phone down and continued the next order, his bright yellow eyes drifting over towards the human sitting nearby.

It had been several months now since the two had begun talking with each other. They had met on a fantasy football forum. Both talking about the same thing, The Sabercats. A popular team that was owned by and every player was a breed of large cats like Bruce.

There was a pub downtown that showed the games and Jeffrey had offered more than once to meet up sometime and watch the games. Bruce politely refused each time. Claiming he had to work, which was mostly true.

When the app they were using kept crashing, it was Jeffrey who suggested they finally swap numbers. Bruce didn’t think much of it at first and was beginning to regret the decision too. After months of knowing each other, being in the same city on top of it, Jeff wanted to meet up with the guy he’d never seen before.

Bruce didn’t want to send a pic. And wasn’t about too anytime soon either. He enjoyed texting with the human late into the evening. They both had the same since of humor and anyone that liked the Sabers was cool in Bruce’s book. It was easier this way; the second Jeff found out he was a tiger, well things would go downhill quickly from there.

Bruce could already see it now.

Jeff would act cool about it at first, as if it didn’t bother him. The text would slow down until days would pass and the two wouldn’t even say hello to one another. Until eventually he was going to just cut Bruce altogether out of his life. It hadn’t been the first time, nor would it be the last. Bruce had just come to accept that. And he couldn’t even blame the human for it.

Carnivores had a long history of ups and downs. Being on top of the world one half-century and then nearly wiped out the next. While most CEO’s were carnivores of some kind, as well as world leaders; the majority in the world are herbivores or omnivores. Even in recent years as societies became more civilized, the numbers have roughly remained the same. Creating a majority over the minority where Bruce fell into. At least he wasn’t an insectivore, he still had some dignity. He had enough worries of his own.

And it was easy to single out and hate someone that ancestors used to eat yours.  

The media only made things worse for them. It was good for ratings, the popular thing to do was to single them out to be the bad guys. When one of them did something wrong, it could easily be seen as if they all were the same due to being few in numbers. What with several being pack animals of some kind on top of it. Wolves in packs, lions in prides. However, as a tiger, Bruce had never felt that need too.

And thus, he was alone in life. Not even his own to fall back on.

His phone buzzed again as Bruce flipped another crepe into a laid-out wrapper on the counter. He scooped a good size amount of ice cream onto it before rolling it neatly into a cone shape. Another scoop of a different flavor on top, sprinkled with shaved stripes of rich dark chocolate and topped with whip cream. The maraschino cherry he added on the tip of that was of his own blend he made himself before patting dry so it didn’t bleed out over the cakes he used them for. He passed it to the person over the counter who was more focused on the delicious treat than on the man handing it to her.

And that was why Bruce loved doing this job… Food could bring people together and as long as the dish was delicious, they could see past the chef making it.

“What’s you dream?” The text read. Bruce snorted at that knowing full well what it was he wanted to do with his life. The reason he worked so much. It was the only way he could manage to see it someday.

“To rule the world. My thumb over the big red button.” The tiger joked instead. He wasn’t one to send a picture of himself, let alone talk anything close to home. Bruce preferred to keep things impersonal. It was easier that way. “That’s what I call my dick by the way.” Bruce decided to add with a loud laugh, he turned around to help the next person in line.

Busy days like this weren’t so bad when he had someone to keep him company during.

“One penis to rule over them all, or something like that?” Jeff just replied. “Come on now,” he added himself. “Really. What’s your dream?”

After the next costumer, did Bruce have the time too reply. “What’s yours?” He redirected, not about to say anything himself.

Jeff only shook his head at that figuring as much. For as long as he’d known the tiger, Bruce hadn’t been one to ever talk about himself. On one hand Jeff liked that, most of the others guys he knew could only talk about themselves. Still he found his curiosity getting the best of him these days. “Mine?” He decided to tell Bruce instead. Maybe then he’d feel obligated to answer a single question Jeff asked him.

Where Bruce was impersonal, Jeff would have to be the open one. “It’s been the same every single day since I was a kid…. To meet the Sabers someday.”

“How lame.” Bruce would later reply to that getting swamped with several more group costumers. “At least it wasn’t something too sappy.”

“Yes, I’ve gone to the dark side. Black hair, emo haircut. Listening to angsty teen music while talking endlessly about pain and suffering.”   Jeff laughed at the idea.

Bruce looked over at him once more, as if to make sure that wasn’t the case. The tiger wasn’t about to deal with that. Jeff was still at the side table, reading a book now. Openly in the middle of the park. Bruce frowned a bit at that; the human looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“No, you’re more hipster than emo.” Bruce just typed before setting his phone down as if to confirm it with himself more so than with Jeff.

“Is that better or worse?” Jeffrey just asked with a smile on his face.

Bruce didn’t reply to that. “Are you still at the park?” The tiger not wanting to get caught spying on his friend.

“Waiting for you to get off work.” Jeffrey just typed back.

“That isn’t a safe area for a human to be in.” Bruce frowned a bit, toying with sending it or not. He decided to change it a bit before sending it. “Isn’t that area unsafe for us?” The tiger decided, never saying he wasn’t a tiger and yet always implying he was human too.

Their odd “Fetish,” as Jeff had put it of large jungle cat sports team was what had gotten them talking in the first place. It was best if the human still thought his friend was an odd ball human too than the thing he “Fapped too” just the other night. Bruce was sure it was a joke but still felt his face burning read after reading it.  

“It’s the middle of the day.” Jeff only replied. “Besides, I doubt anyone would care today about some lone human out and about.” He only added.

It was Valentine’s day and couples packed the sidewalk along Parker Street and the park. It was a lovely day out and there wasn’t any reason for people not to be out and about on the holiday. Let alone waste their time on some random, lone human. Bruce had to work, it being one of his biggest times of the year for his business.

“I heard there’s a gang in that area.” Bruce just replied acting ignorant to the ones all the non-humans knew about. The cops weren’t going to deal with the wolves who prowled the streets causing mischief and mayhem for anyone dumb enough to cross their path. The Nighthowlers gave the rest of the predators in town a bad name.

A bunch of cowards as Bruce saw it, forced to group together to mess with even an old lady. Otherwise they’d tuck tail and run for it; a loud bark for a little bite. If he ever crossed paths with one…

“It’s crowded out today.” Jeff just replied. “They wouldn’t do anything until later tonight. You’d know if you were here.” He added.

Bruce looked at the text for a few second with a deep frown on his black lipped muzzle. It was only after the fifth time someone rang the bell on the counter that he was snapped out of his funk. He had burnt the crepe and had to start fresh, assuring the person he’d put extra ice cream on it to make up for the delay.

It was one of the first times Jeffrey had seemed annoyed with him. If the cat kept pushing it, he might lose his text buddy without even needing to meet him. The two had been friends for a while now; if only online. They never voice chatted or did anything else. It was only a matter of time until Jeff wanted something more from him…

The human had been overly patient with him. Even after refusing to meet up for coffee, or to see a movie together. Even after refusing it all Jeff had asked the very next day if he wanted to see a football game with him, having “won” the tickets during an office raffle. Bruce ended up declining again, even if he truly did want to see it.

It had been their team after all playing.

It wasn’t like the cat was a loner or some emo-fag. Bruce was just afraid, afraid he’d lose his last real contact if Jeffrey ever met him. Not wanting to waste a good thing they had between them. It seemed like he couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer however.

“Look, I enjoy texting with you and everything… I just wish we could at least meet up or something.” Jeff frowned at the text before deleting it, unsure how he wanted to say it. He was tired of guys playing games, always putting things off and pretending as if they just had other things to do rather than to hang out with him. If they didn’t like him or want to be friends anymore they should at least have the balls to say so.

Jeffrey was just tired of playing these games, he wasn’t a high school kid anymore. And this day only made things worse. Valentine’s day. One of his most hated of holidays; always seeming to be single on it.  

With the heart-shaped pink, red, and white balloons out. With couples everywhere in sight holding hands and kissing, nuzzling and nosing at each other. It was so sickening that Jeff wanted to hurl; if he wasn’t so jealous, he’d might have.

“I’m working all day today.” Bruce finally sent a short reply after a five-minute delay. He was waiting for Jeff to just get up and leave; only when the human began too did the tiger finally force himself to send the text. “How about this weekend?”

Jeff took a moment on that, thinking it over. It wasn’t the first-time Bruce had suggested a time to meet only for him to chicken out at the last minute. Jeffrey just thought Bruce was another flaky guy. Unable to really commit to something.

“There’s a game this Sunday at that bar you mention...” Bruce soon followed up with. “It’s against their rival team. Should be interesting. It might be crowded. I’ll be there if you want to grab a drink or something...”

Jeff toyed with that idea for a couple of seconds before replying. “And you’ll be there?”

“The beer won’t drink itself.” The tiger just said frowning deeply at the text. By this time next week, he was sure he wouldn’t be hearing from Jeff again.

“Sure! Won’t it be crowded though?” Jeff quickly sent the text back, eyes sparkling and a big grin on his face. Bruce just frowned at that seeing him over the crowd. The lone human sitting apart from the rest of the crowd; something the tiger was all too familiar with.

Surrounded by people and yet, complete alone.

“It’s cool. I know the owner…” Bruce only sighed heavily, setting the phone down as he got a single text in reply and watched Jeff head off.

“Cool. I’ll see you there!”

The rest of the day seemed to drag on for the tiger as he forced himself to finish it off. Wanting nothing more than to curl up into a large orange, black stiped ball on the cool floor and forget it all.  

Several days later, an hour before noon on Sunday did Bruce walk into the bar on the far side of Parker Street. It was known as the Cat’s Cradle and there was a large sign out front with the words made to look like yarn. A cat paw was swiping at the letter’s underneath.

It was a small old place, mostly brick with a fireplace inside. The owner of the place, a large black panther, had grown up and took the place over after his father got too old too. Basche was a man of few words and was already getting into his late forties. He ran the place like a drill sergeant and his off-putting personality usually left the place empty.

Only on a day like this was it packed full of cats of all sizes and breeds as the games played on the large flat screen TVs set up along the walls. It was rowdy today and Bruce had half a mind to cancel this whole thing.

“Hey.” Bruce waved to the bartender. Basche just gave him a frown in reply. “Have you uh… seen a human come in?”

“Upstairs.” Basche just said, the corner of his mouth flashed a sharp fang. “What do you want?” He asked coming off as if the idea of taking his order, doing his job, was somehow an insult to himself; Bruce knew the panther was just like that.

“Give us the special with a large order of poutine.” Bruce just said walking right behind the counter and pushing the kitchen door open. “Also, whatever’s on tap for me.”

“Right.” Basche just put it on Bruce’s tab as the tiger headed into the kitchen to greet the leopard at the grill.

They exchanged few words as the jungle cat prepared the dish for himself and his friend. It would be nice to share a meal before Jeff cut him out of his life. If him being a tiger wasn’t enough; seeing Bruce eat in front of him would be. Most found it repulsive and even offensive when they did, let alone a hungry predator.

“The special, huh?” The yellow, black spotted cat next to him looked over. Arnie eyes were blazed up and the dreadlock feline just gave him a goofy smile, nodding several times. “Right on man. That’s like the best thing here.”

“Yup.” Bruce just rolled his eyes, unable to believe Basche replaced him with this feline.

A basket of fries were soon sprinkled with fresh cheese curds and then thick gravy was poured over the whole thing. The poutine was a special mix that Bruce had come up with. The shredded dill pickle only enhanced the assorted spices he added into the gravy; you weren’t even able to taste them and yet it seemed to bring out everything else in it.

He set it to the side as the tiger skillfully began working on the next basket.

While the special was a large stuffed pretzel with shredded crab inside, topped with five different cheeses and quickly melted with a small blowtorch. It was extremely rich and fattening, something Bruce usually didn’t enjoy. If it was going to be their final meal however, he figured he might as well go the whole ten yards and spoil himself.

The tiger got a text but ignored it as he took the two dishes out and headed up the side stairs to the second floor. The area was far less crowded as the space was usually used for diners than for the bar goers’ downstairs. There weren’t taps up here and that seemed to be the main reason it was half-empty; unable to just get a quick refill during the game.

“He better not have bailed, again.” Jeff frowned looking up and over at the only TV upstairs. The game was still starting up and he might just stick around and watch it here. It was strange being here. A human in a place like this was practically unheard of. Let alone for the fact it was packed full of large predatory cats; oddly, something Jeff had always greatly enjoyed.

Bruce instantly picked the human out of the small crowd and stopped at the top of the stairs, mulling over whether if he should go over there or not. The tiger just finally gave a deep heavy sigh and padded his way over, tail swaying behind him as he went.

This was going to be it…

Jeff wasn’t even aware of the tiger until Bruce put down the baskets before him. The tiger turned around after and was planning on heading back down to get their drinks when a voice stopped him.

“Oh hey,” Jeffrey said spinning around on the chair to see who it was. “You’re the dude from the food truck down off Parker Street.” The human eyes lit up as he recognized the large tiger instantly.

One of Bruce’s ears flicked at that, being recognized like this. They had met several times before.

“You sure you’re not thinking of another large orange black striped feline?” Bruce just asked, quirking an eyebrow. Teasing the human and at the same time pointing out maybe he thought all tigers looked alike.

“I’d recognize those eyes anywhere.” Jeff just said, cheeks going red as he laughed the next second. A few of the other cats upstairs looked over at him at that, annoyance written all over their face as the human’s very presence ruined their weekend. Him talking just seemed to make it clear he wasn’t about to leave anytime soon. “Plus, you’re stripes don’t match.”

“Excuse me?” Bruce just asked folding his arms over his heavy chest and looking at the human now as he faced him, towering over him like a lumbering wall of orange, black striped furred muscle.

“Well I mean you’re tail stripes don’t,” Jeffrey pointed at it then blushed a bit more. “Not to be rude, sorry. Just the last three stripes are far closer than…. normal.” Jeff gave a half-smile after.

“That’s odd.” Bruce pointed out looking down at his tail. The stripes on it were more full and close together than that of other tigers.

“I know, my friend, whom I’m waiting for…” Jeff explained as if Bruce had asked. “Told me about it.”

Bruce had to rack his brain, recalling the incident. “Is that so…”

“Ah, yeah. Sorry. I’m still waiting for him.” Jeffrey rubbed one arm, turning around to look at the food. “Did he order this?”

“I was just told to bring these up here.” Bruce winced at the lie he had just ended up blurting out.

“Does that mean he’s not coming, again…” Jeff fidgeted with his phone, as if planning to text him. He didn’t and Bruce let out his breath, not wanting the human to notice his phone buzz in reply.

Bruce only shrugged. “What do you want to drink…” The tiger asked, trying to keep this casual. It was really the first time the two had talk-talk instead of just exchanging pleasantries.  

“So, you DO work here too?” Jeff teased with a playful smile on his face, he had to push his glasses up a bit as he looked up into that whiskered face.

“Something like that, yeah.”  Bruce grunted in reply, keeping his face blank as usual. His tail began moving behind him however.

“I’ll have whatever cider is on tap.” Jeff just shrugged. “Might as well get drunk, right?”

Bruce didn’t reply as he headed back downstairs and ordered the drinks. He took them from the panther who just gave him another look.

“Oh, shut up.” Bruce growled before going back upstairs to join the human.

“The games starting.” Jeffrey had sent the text, Bruce having turned off his phone minutes later. “You have to work during the game?” The human ended up asking Bruce. “That sucks.”

“Not today, no.” Bruce just said standing nearby with half a mind just to walk out.

“Well I doubt I can eat all this myself,” Jeffrey motioned over the large portions of food. He picked up a gravy soaked fry and took a bite. “Care to join me until my friend shows up?” Jeff offered just looking over at the screen, not thinking too much about it.

Bruce took a moment on that, then shrugged. Not exactly how he had planned it to go. “Hard to turn down free food,” the large tiger took the seat not next to the human but the one next to that. Giving them both plenty of space. Jeff moved the food between them without offense to it.

“Drinks and food during a Sabers game, what more could you ask for?” Jeffrey just shrugged in reply. He took a long drink of the cider.

“Few humans are into the Sabers.” Bruce brought up as he had the very first day they met. 

“True.” Jeffrey just gave a one shoulder shrug. “I just always have. Since I was a kid.” He took another drink. “Wow, this is really… different.”

“It’s Basil Mint cider.” Bruce explained. “It’s what the special on tap was for the day.”

“Nice. It’s real strong but it’s smooth too, the mint gives it a nice finish.” Jeffrey took a bite from the stuff crab pretzel before washing it down with another drink as the teams lined up. “Great to wash this down with; now this is rich!” And Jeff smiled at that.

Bruce tail swayed at the sound an his bright eyes drifted down from the screen to look at the human still looking up and watching it with great enthusiasm.

“Favorite player, go.” Jeffrey suddenly asked, looking over at him as there was a slight delay after the first play.

“Congo.” Bruce just said the first one that came to mind. It was the tiger on the team.

“Hah, figures. Everyone seems to like him.” Jeff nodded, recalling that his text friend had said the same thing but not making the connection. He looked over towards the stairs as if expecting him to come up them that second. “I like Reggie.”

“The lion?” Bruce snorted, shaking his head. “No taste.”

“Hey, come on now. He’s got a good arm on him!” Jeffrey tried to defend his player. The lion had a black mane, dark brown fur and gorgeous eyes. Jeffrey even had his poster up on his wall.

“He also seems to be going for the world record of interception passes.” Bruce chuckled heavily, a gruff sound as one pearly white claw extended from the fleshy fold of his finger tip to stab a fry. He brought it up and with a bristle cat tongue slurped it into his muzzle. Soon followed by flicking it into the wide mouth beer glass made specially for that purpose

Jeffrey watched the TV, a little too aware of the large jungle cat next to him doing it.

“So, h-he’s had a few bad games.” Jeff just tried to defend the lion, ignoring as the large feline chewed a cheese curd he stuffed into it the next second. “The flight across country really took it out of him.”

“If you listen to such rumors, sure.” Bruce only chuckled once more, his ears drooping down a bit as he placed a large arm on the counter and turned towards the TV and Jeff now. Bruce placed one leg down on the ground and the other underneath the stool between the two. Being large was it’s own constraint, making it hard to get comfortable without getting up into someone else’s space. “I’m also sure he paid them off to get people off his back for a while.”

Jeff looked over at him before back at the food, taking a few bites.

“You’re just jealous he’s on TV.” Jeff just ended up saying, sticking up his nose like a snob.  

“Right.” Bruce snorted, shaking his head as he relaxed back and took a few more drinks of the beer.

“Like you could do better.” Jeffrey only brought up instead, something he had told Bruce through text while having nearly the exact same conversation they were having now.

“I’d do better even if I didn’t throw the ball.” Bruce only laughed taking another fry skewered on one of the tiger’s hidden claws.

The two continued to chat while the game played out, Jeffrey noticeably reacting when the team fumbled or when the lion in the back was sacked. Hard. Forced to be taken out of the game for the last two quarters.

“Now they stand a chance,” Bruce just chuckled as Jeffrey got another drink from the large tiger who had gone downstairs to get refills.

“Too soon, dude.” Jeffrey only bowed his head in a moment of silence for the fallen player as if he’d been killed. Then laughed as the drinks began to get to him. They weren’t too strong but the glasses were made for someone of Bruce’s size in mind, not the smaller human who could barely finish his first, let alone start on the second.  

“Ten bucks say they make the comeback now.” Bruce just replied with a smug look on his face as Jeffrey laughed once more, a giggling sound as he tried to hold his liquor. The tiger watching in great amusement as he took another lapping drink of his own glass; his eyes softening as he watched the human.

“No fair. I always root for the team. Even during the cold winter of 2013.” And the two took a moment silence for the year without a single win. “A true fan does until the very end. Plan to get that carved into my tombstone.” And he giggled once more a soft sound that made his whole body move with the motion, his cheeks blushing a soft pink.

Bruce just chuckled along. “Most guys give up on the team after they lose a single game…” It had been one thing Bruce had been waiting for Jeffrey to do the second the team lost.

“I plan on getting a tattoo of the team actually.” Jeff just shrugged at the look he got at that. “I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, it just seemed to make since.”

“Something I still don’t understand.” Bruce felt the need to finally point out. “How does a human like you get interested in a team of cats.”

“I have a fetish.” Jeff offered with a laugh, he just shook his head after. “I think it’s cause my gram gram used to turn the games on when she babysat us as a kid.”

“Us?” Bruce just inquired, getting a bit curious himself despite his efforts not too.

“My siblings and I.” Jeffrey took a moment before going on. “She just figured we’d be ok with whatever was on; she was going a bit… senile at the time.” Jeff laughed lightly before going quiet for a few moments. “Then I just sort of kept watching them since.”

Bruce just shrugged along and they watched until the end of the game. Jeffrey toyed with his phone during the last inning and ended up sending another text out.

“You owe me ten bucks.” Jeffrey pointed out as he headed down the stairs ahead of Bruce. The tiger had to catch him from slipping at the end. He even followed him into the bathroom after, seeing the look a few of the other felines were giving the misplaced human.

“I owe you nothing.” Bruce just said at the urinal next to the human. Some of the other cats inside the bathroom bared fangs, hackles rising at the sight of the human; a few even gave low growls in warning. Their annoyances didn’t go any further as the tiger presence kept them at bay. Bruce made sure to mention it later to Jeff not to come here alone.

“They lost. I blame you. Jinxing ‘em.” Jeffrey just said, sneaking a peek at the tiger next to him as he emptied his bladder. The human was met with a skeptical look, Bruce’s fly wasn’t down and the tiger was just standing there as if only to take up the space next to Jeff; cornering the human into the corner so no one could get to him without going through the tiger.  

“See something you like?” Bruce inquired with a smirk.

“Unfortunately, no.”  Jeff laughed, shook twice and then zipped up. Using the same hand to slap Bruce on the back who cringed.

“Wash your hands.” Bruce snagged the back of Jeff’s shirt and half threw the human towards the sink. Bruce used the one next to it. “Disgusting.”

“And here I thought you were going to lick yourself clean.” Jeffrey teased, washing his hands for a third time and still unsure if he washed them. He laughed, shaking his head and looked over at the tiger. “Too much?”

“Slightly.” Bruce said honestly. “I take hygiene very seriously.”

“I see.” Jeffrey paused at that, then snickered and shook his head.

“What?”

“Just figured you’d be a big dirty leather bound type of kitty.” Jeffrey giggled before shaking his head once more to clear his thoughts. “What was in that drink?”

“Booze. A lot of booze.” Bruce snorted helping him out.

“I figured it’d be catnip.” Jeff said a bit too loud getting even more attention than he was already.

“Right, time for us to get.” Bruce rolled his eyes, hoisting Jeffrey up over one shoulder and carrying him out. Trying not to meet any of the other cats’ eyes.   

The tiger set him down outside out of the way as he double checked to make sure Jeffrey would be ok.

“Yeah, fine just a bit too much to drink.” Jeff laughed. He was texting again. The look on Bruce’s face asked the question enough. “Texting Bruce, the guy I mentioned before; was supposed to meet me here today. Douche forgot.”

“Is that so?” The tiger just quirked an eyebrow not saying anything more.

“He’s a great guy, don’t get me wrong!” Jeffrey quickly explained, then rolled his eyes. “I swear there is no one more shy in the entire world than him though! My guess is he’s some five-hundred-pound dude in his mom’s basement… Or maybe one of the Sabers themselves!” Jeff eyes sparkled at the idea of talking to one.

Bruce flicked an ear at that. “Never met him, huh?”

“No, but you have!” Jeffrey only now seemed to recall. “The guy who buys me the drinks. Is he tall? Handsome? Have a nice ass?”

Bruce snorted at that. “If I recall correctly, he looked more like the Unabomber to me.” And Jeff gave another laugh at that.

“I figured he’d might be, damn…” He chewed that over, mulling on the thought.

“Is that a problem?” Bruce voice softened as he rested one arm against the wall and leaned over the human who was looking down at his phone.

“I have tickets to the Sabers game…” Jeffrey said, pausing for a moment. “Was going to invite him, or try too anyways. Again.” And then the human just shrugged it off. “How about you come instead?”

And Bruce folded his ears back at that, the tip of his tail quickly flickering back and forth. “Well uh… I…”

“No, no your right. I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that.” Jeffrey apologized.

“No, it’s cool. I just figured you’d like to go with someone… else…” Bruce rubbed the back of his thick neck looking off to the side.

“Well Bruce isn’t responding, so I’ll have to offer you the leftover invite.” Jeff just offered with a weak smile. “Want to see the Sabers in person?”

“Sounds fun.” Bruce just agreed, standing there in person and unable to hide behind a phone any longer.

“Great, it’s a date then!” Jeff teased.

“Wait, what?” Bruce only called after as he ended up having to chase the human down, unsure what he had gotten himself into.