Striped Candy

Chapter 3

By Roofles

“Hello." Bruce gave a wave to Tommy, Jeffrey's roommate, as he woke up the next day. The tiger was wearing pink striped boxer shorts and little else as he moved around the kitchen with skilled practice and ease for a man of his size in an unfamiliar place.

“Uh… hi." Tom said looking around at the mix mash mess the tiger had made. There was flour on the counter, sticks of butter were out half-melting. Sugar, baking powder and other strange white powders perfectly measured out next to it. All the burners were turned on the stove and Bruce was stirring the homemade syrup he had made with a wooden spoon.

“Do you want pancakes?" Bruce just asked, turning his back on the human and flipping a few more flapjacks onto a plate. They were beginning to stack towards the ceiling at this point. The tiger showed no sign of slowing down.  

“Uh… give me a second." Tom just said heading down the hallway, without turning his back to the predator, and knocked on Jeffrey's door. He had come home after a long night shift to find a stranger, a tiger in his kitchen and wasn't in the mood to put two and two together.

“I said I do want powder sugar!" Jeffrey shouted from the other side of the bedroom door. It opened the next second and Jeff was greeted by his disgruntled and bewildered roommate. “Oh, hey Tom. What's up?"

“There's a naked tiger guy in our kitchen. Is he with you?" Tom just had to ask as if to clarify he wasn't hallucinating something. It had been a very long night after all.  

“Naked?" Jeffrey sat up at that, that seemed to catch his attention far more than a strange tiger in their home.

“Well he had like boxers on. I guess." Tom frowned, having to think about it. He hadn't gotten a good look. His fight or flight instinct had kicked in and he had half a mind to jump out their third story window after seeing Bruce.

“Oh, dang." Jeffrey just pouted, laying back down. He had his glasses on, laptop in his lap and continued to do his work.

Tom stood there for a couple more seconds. “So… The tiger guy?" He pressed the issue.

“That's Burt." Jeff just waved it off as if this wasn't the first time.

“I thought you said his name was Bruce?" Tom had to think about that, recalling the friend he had never met of Jeff's. The sports fan that happened to like the “Cat Team" like Jeff did.

“Different guy." Jeffrey just shrugged, continuing to type away without looking up at his roommate.

“Right… of course it is." Tom only sighed, shaking his head. “I was cool with you like bringing home a different guy every other weekend… just…" Tom looked back over his shoulder to make sure the tiger wasn't standing behind him. He shuddered at the thought.

“I never slept with him." Jeffrey lowered the laptop down to look over it at his roommate. “Well on him, but not in him." He just chuckled putting his stuff away.

“Why's he's naked?" Tom shook the disturbing thoughts out of his head of Jeff sleeping in, rather than on, the hungry tiger's belly. It made goosebumps form on his arms.

“He's not." Jeff pointed out. “I am." He got up, gesturing down to him making his straight roommate look away.

“Well then… uh, why is he half-naked then?" Tom just focused on the rather large predator in the other room. He was tired, annoyed as it was and wanted to come home to a cold drink and his shows before bed.

“He's a pro-wrestler?" Jeff shrugged walking over to put his bathrobe on, tying up the front and then trying to get out of his room. Tom blocked his path with an arm. His roommate was taller than him, on the skinny side but the look on Tom's face stopped Jeff in his tracks.

“Jeff." Tom warned now, giving him a cold hard look. It felt like he was getting another lecture from his mother; which only made Jeff defensive about all of this. “I get it. You have a thing for big pussy." Jeffrey almost laughed along at that, the two usually joking about his love of big cats. However, the look on Tom's face made it clear that he wasn't joking.

Apparently, there was a line to cross.

“Look, Burt's harmless. Really." Jeffrey just tried to joke it off, to tease about. As the two usually did. Tom wasn't in the mood.

“No, you look! How long have you known that killer?" Tom hissed between clenched teeth. He looked over his shoulder before taking a step closer, lowering his voice now. “Just how long have you known that guy?" Tom just continued to press, grinding his teeth as he hissed the words out between them.

“A week or so…?" Jeffrey asked. He was the one annoyed now by all of this. “And what do you mean killer?" He said hotly, getting angry about this. It had never been an issue before. Jeff had even once brought home a hyena and Tom hadn't found fault with that.  

“Look. You heard the reports! You've seen the news just as I have. How do you know that guy isn't like the rest, huh?" Tom kept looking over his shoulder just to double check. “I just got that TV in there!" He exclaimed loudly turning back around to face Jeff.

“Yeah, yeah. Your Full HD, enriched color Samsung Plus Smart TV of the future. Right."  Jeffrey only rolled his eyes. First to think Burt was a killer and now a thief too? Tom was miles past the line this time. “You aren't implying that Burt would…"

“Look, it has all my apps on it! I just figured out how to use the internet on her!" Tom just argued as if explaining all the reasons why the TV was more valuable than their lives were. “I'm not about to lose all that cause of one of your quick fucks!" Tom wasn't even lowering his voice by this point.  

Jeffrey grumbled at that, rubbing his brow with one hand. “We didn't fuck...."

“Whatever." Tom only shook his head. “Just… I want him out of here before I get up." And the conversation ended at that as his roommate slammed his bedroom door. Jeff heard the clear sound of the lock turning and silence fell in the hallway.

“Damnit, Tom." Jeffrey sighed heading down the hall, unaware of the tiger just around the corner.

Bruce easily made his way back into the kitchen without a sound, each heavy step he took displacing his weight as he padded from the carpet floor to tile. He continued mixing another batch of homemade pancake batter without a single word on the whole thing. His ears were folded back, lip twitching and the tiger's tail wouldn't stop moving as he angrily stirred the mix.  

“Mornin'." Jeffrey greeted his friend as he came into the room, neither mentioning what had happened or realizing Bruce had heard nearly every word. “Something smells good."

“I made pancakes!" Bruce just grinned widely, tail still flickering behind him as he tried to play it all off.  

“That's… that's a lot of pancakes, dude." Jeffrey chuckled looking at the stack.

“It's just some thanks, for letting me stay the night." The tiger only shrugged with heavy shoulders as he turned back to make the next batch. Cooking was a form of meditation for him and it had helped him deal with this in the past too.

“It looks like you're trying to feed a small army here." Jeff only chuckled once more as he took a seat nearby. He wasn't sure where to start on the stack and ended up just poking it with the fork soon offered to him.

“I'm just used to making a lot of food, is all." Bruce flushed under the powder white snow fur on his cheeks. Feeling a mix of things right now. Tigers weren't known for their diplomatic skills and despite his best efforts, Bruce's sharp nails kept springing out of his fingers as he attempted to keep his cool.

“For work?" Jeff inquired, asking friendly enough as the pancakes were divided among the two. Bruce got the lion's share.

“Well there's that sure." Bruce moved around the counter to join Jeff. He left a seat between the two as he went on, giving Jeffrey plenty of space as he ate. “I was the one who ended up cooking for my family after my father bailed out." Bruce only shrugged it off after Jeffrey apologized for that. “It's a common thing really, for male tigers… other big cats too, to sort of just end up leaving after a while. Not sure why." Bruce took a full pancake in his fingers and rolled it together. He slid the whole thing into his drooling muzzle with room for one more. “Not sure if it's some kind of social thing, cultural… or just nature." He snorted at the end, as he took another pancake.

Bruce couldn't help but think about the very things Tom had mentioned. There were always news reports of them doing something or other. Even if it was a harmless rally for equal rights or a bake sale; people took notice and everything ended up getting blown out of proportion.

“No syrup or whip cream? Blasphemous!" Jeffrey snickered as he began adding both to his own stack of pancakes. Bruce had used a gravy boat for the syrup and the metal tin sifter was filled with powder sugar.

“Not much of one for sweets." Bruce just roll one of his shoulders when Jeff offered it to him. The human had even leaned over, closing the distance Bruce had given him without an ounce of fear on that ignorant face. “Got to get to work soon anyways…" he ended up saying instead taking another pancake. The massive tiger ate each one as if they were nothing more than chips to snack on.

Every bite he took would unnerve any sane person. Sharp fangs ripping each piece into shreds, mashing it into an indistinguishable mush to be swallowed away for every. Every powerful swallow the tiger made was lost on the human sitting next to him. Bruce wasn't sure if ignorance was bliss or not on Jeff's part. The human seemed to lack common sense or a survival instinct.

“Again? Don't you even sleep?" Jeffrey teased about his work. Worry slipped into his words, it was written all over Jeff's face as he looked over at the tiger with pleading, apologetic eyes. “You should take it easy, you know. Working so much…"

“Working like a dog." Bruce just snorted, as if that was some kind inside joke in and of itself. It was more of an insult as the tiger shook his large head, chewing on another pancake absent mindedly. “I can sleep when I'm died." One of those sharp nails sprung out of his index finger and Bruce cleanly cut another pancake in half. He was angrily eating now. The subject bothered him just as much as the previous one.

“Still… going to be pushing up daisies before you know it. What's money good for then?" Jeffrey tried to make a joke of it and only ended up making the tiger uncomfortable, pressing a subject he rather avoid all together.

When the two were texting such things never came up. When they did on the rare occasion, Bruce would avoid answering or just not reply until Jeff changed the subject. It was better than admitting the truth, even to himself.

Bruce took a second on that. At first angry about it. Then a smirk passed over his face, a sad look filling his eyes if only for a moment. “Sometimes I think it'd be best if I was dead." The tiger laughed as he got up at that sour note. His plate was nearly empty. The pancakes on the bottom were always the worse.

“Dude…" Jeffrey stood up with him.

“This was fun, really." Bruce apologized about the mess he made in kitchen. “I need to head out… get my truck up and running before the lunch rush." And with a stretch, Bruce put his clothes on from the other night and headed out with only a final wave and not another word.

Jeffrey wasn't sure what to say about that and ended up just texting instead. It hadn't been the first time someone just up and left in the morning after a steamy, hot night. That usually involved a lot more passion, sweat and other bodily fluids. That usually left him empty, feeling nothing about it all. For them. Just that simple carnal, animal lust of a quick night of fun.

Now this, after not doing anything, left him numb inside. A sour taste in his mouth as Jeff headed over to clean up the mess Bruce had left out. He saved some pancakes for his roomie before calling it “good enough" and getting ready himself.  

Jeffrey didn't get a reply until after he had gotten out of the shower, half dressed as he walked into the living room when his phone buzzed. Jeff hadn't knowingly texted the tiger. Only his friend “Bruce" the avid football fanboy that had become a close dear friend even in personal matters; so long as they weren't about him.

“Isn't that just how they are?" It was a message from Bruce, about Burt. The tiger already having gotten to his truck downtown and set up for the day. “Best forget about it. And him." Was the crude reply he had gotten.

“Like, how can I?" Jeff angrily texted back, nearly smashing every key he pressed with a thumb. He let out his breath, taking a moment. “I didn't even get a kiss goodbye."

There was a minute pause before he got a reply. “What?"

“Or a good fuck out of it, either." Jeff just went on, half-joking about it now with his friend.

It took Bruce several moments to figure out that Jeff thought he was talking to Bruce, the sports fan guy he had met months ago online and not Burt the tiger that had spent the night. Bruce was already regretting it as he toyed with his own response to that. He focused on his work instead, flipping another crepe over.

It wasn't long until that nagging feeling in the back of his head made the tiger end up sending a reply.

“Not sure if you could handle such tiger ass." Bruce ended up smirking as he sent it. Smug as he gave his ego a much-needed stroke.

“I would bite his fat ass until it submitted to me." Was Jeff's crude reply he gave in return. Bruce ears fluttered at that as that burning blush took his cheeks once more. “I should march my ass right down there." Bruce whimpered at the idea, begging him not too silently. “And demand he spray me with his hot tiger foam."

“…On the coffee, right?" Bruce prayed he meant.

“That too." Jeff did laugh feeling a bit better about it all in a way. Able to vent, to joke about it and just wake up from it all.

Bruce just wasn't sure when he began being Jeff's “Bro" about all this. While he was at work no less.

“Dude, I told you it'd be best if you didn't go. He is a tiger." Bruce frowned a bit as he set his phone down on that. It was raining today and there wasn't much traffic in the way of customers. It gave him plenty of time to dwell on all this unfortunately. He wanted to distract himself with his work but after reorganizing his truck for the third time he decided to just call it.

“Whoa, come on. Don't go there." Jeffrey came to the tiger's defense. “Don't lump him in with the rest like that."

“Just saying." Bruce frowned at the reply, resting back against the counter as he thought it over. His finger hovering over the send button. “That's just how tigers are…" Bruce sent it more for himself than for Jeff's sake. He re-read the text several times, letting it sink it.

It was the easiest way to justify how he felt about this all. Why he did stupid shit like this. To be able to deal with it in his own way.

“If you're going to be like this, I'm just going to head out." Jeffrey put his coat on with a deep frown of his own, worrying about it all.

“What? Where are you heading?" Bruce quickly asked, the tiger standing up in his truck. Looking around as if trying to find the nearest exit.

“Where else?" Was the only thing Jeff sent before locking up his apartment and grabbing the earliest bus.  

And within the hour Jeffrey ended up showing up at the tiger's food truck out near Parker Street.

The downpour of rain hadn't let up and Jeffrey was soaked by the time he got under the cover. The human's dark brown hair was clinging to his head as he wiped his glasses off underneath, ignoring the tiger frowning down at him from inside.

“What do you want?" Bruce grumbled heavily. Jeffrey had come up but hadn't said a thing for a couple of minutes as if just looking over the menu. Bruce hated when costumers did that, not even moving out of the way for others. Not like there was anyone else out in this downpour. No one stupid enough would be caught in this storm brewing. 

“Usually when someone comes to a place like this," Jeff put his glasses back on, looking up at Bruce finally. “It's to order something. Sort of how a business works."

“Well then order." Bruce half-growled, gripping the counter tightly getting frustrated about this. About him. About himself. All of it.  

“Some customer service you got!" Jeff just shot back. “There goes your tip!" Jeff said needlessly loud as if talking to the imaginary customers in line behind him.

The tiger's tail tip began to flicker quickly. “You never tip anyways!" Bruce just pointed out, sticking a single clawed digit at the human. The tiger quickly withdrew his hand, holding it with his other and looking away.

Jeff paused at that, losing some steam over this all.  “Well I always tip twenty percent for anything I pay for…"

Bruce was the one to pause at that. He dragged a heavy hand down over his face with a low groan as it added up. “And you never pay for anything here…. Have you?" Bruce shook his head.

“Don't blame me on that!" Jeff flushed, looking away. He had marched his butt all the way down here in the cold and rain to yell at him and now was having trouble coming up with any reason too. Standing out here like this. The wind blew, rattling the trees nearby. He shivered.

“Just go home." Bruce sighed looking at the human. Cold, wet, small, tiny. Furless. Fragile. His heart went out to the smaller species out there. Never once had he ever had trouble with such things as weather; maybe if it got too hot. “You're going to catch a cold."

“You're not my mother." Jeff just hotly replied, steam practically rising off him as he got up on his tippy toes to look over the outside counter and at the tiger. Trying to get on even footing and failing. “I came here to order something anyways! Not to see you."

“Is that so?" Bruce snorted, shaking his head. His tail began to sway slowly behind him as the tiger rested against the counter with great amusement. “Fine then… Hi there! What can I get for you today my good sir? We pride ourselves on customer service here after all!" He said in a fake voice, matching the smile on his white muzzle as he gave a very toothy smile to the human; much like a hungry predator would give a small duckling that strayed away from its mother.

“Well…" Jeff took a second on that wondering if he was even really in the mood to eat. He turned around to look at the table he normally sat at. The metal table was soaking wet and wasn't exactly inviting in the cold, rain and wind. There was so few people out today. An emptiness to this place just seemed unnatural. It was usually bustling with life.  

“It's on the house." Bruce just said motioning at the menu in the window. “Whatever you want…" The tiger's ears splayed out as he watched Jeff mulling it over. The human was still shivering, slightly flushed in the cheeks and the tiger couldn't watch any longer.

Bruce vanished from the window and soon appeared at the end of the truck. He motioned over to him, giving him a shout to get his “furless ass in here!"

Jeff didn't thank him as he quickly headed inside the truck, shivering still as Bruce shut the door behind him. The sound of the lock echoed in the cramp tin can of a food truck. The silence was nearly deafening. The human wasn't even looking at him. Instead looking around the truck. It seemed larger from the outside, like a cage built to hold the fearsome tiger that owned it.

There was a small tv set up in the corner. A radio was next to it. There were even smaller things here and there of what he assumed to be Bruce's personal items. There was a Sabers banner hanging up in the corner and a photo of the tiger underneath it. It was the thing that caught his eye. Jeff was already reaching over before Bruce could stop him.

“Brother?" Jeff just asked placing the photo back exactly as he had found it, still looking at it. There was a whole team of players in there. From the looks of it a college team. Bruce was up front, kneeling next to another rather large tiger.

“What? No. You think all tigers look alike?" Bruce feigned anger about it, chuckling lightly after.

“He has the same three stripes on the end of his tail as you do." Jeff just pointed out with a shrug. “Also, his crown is off. Which I'm sure is hereditary."

“Crown?" Bruce had to ask, lifting up a white fur eyebrow as Jeff turned around to face him. Having another person here in the back of his truck made things seem far smaller than they were. And the tiger tried not to let it show, that he had actually invited someone into his personal space like this. It was a first.

Jeff motioned at the top of Bruce's head. “The stripes. In, I think it's China… the stripes almost form the character for emperor. Or was it king?" Jeff just shrugged it off, resting against the counter. Then seemed to recall that he was still mad at the tiger. “Why did you leave this morning?"

“I had to work?" Bruce just replied, looking at himself in the mirror. He touched the stripes on his head trying to figure out what the fuck Jeff had been talking about. He had so many stripes on his body it was hard to keep track of them all; the fact a human noticed these things was a bit alarming.

“No, I mean the whole…" Jeff tried to think how to phrase it. “Did you get up on the bad side of bed or what?"

Bruce just looked over at him. Jeff had stood up, moving a bit closer and here in the back like this that left very little room between the two. The tiger tried to remain calm, his fur beginning to stand up a bit as his tail straightened out behind him. Enclosed spaces like this had never bothered him before.

“Just, needed to go to work... Was all." Bruce just ended with, scratching the back of his neck with one hand and trying to calm down. He felt far warmer than he was.

“Yes. Because customers are just booming today." Jeff motioned out at the rain. As if on que thunder cracked above making him tense. “Uh… exactly my point." Jeff moved towards the door. Bruce didn't budge. “Excuse me!" He glared at the tiger, trying to get past.

“The hell you think you're going?" Bruce started, growling low as he took a step forward. The whole truck shifted at his weight as he jabbed one clawless finger against Jeff's chest. “You think you can just come into a tiger's den an then leave as you please?"

Jeff flushed at that, mumbling a bit.

“Didn't you invite me in?"

Bruce stopped at that. “Oh, right. Still." The tiger just eased up offering a shrug. He crossed his arm and just stood like an unpassable wall of orange striped fur blocking the only exit. “I wasn't kidding about you catching your death out there."

“You said cold." Jeff pointed out. He looked behind him and frowned. “There's only one exit? Isn't that like a safety hazard?"

“Oh, now you're the safety police huh?" Bruce just snorted at the very idea. Jeff just wondered if there was such a thing. “Look, you humans are like just waiting to kick the bucket. One little cold here and before you know it, six feet under." Bruce rolled his eyes.

“Aren't all police safety police? I mean isn't it like their job…?" Jeff just wondered aloud, not even listening to what Bruce was talking about. The tiger just frowned at that. It was hard to argue with someone who wasn't paying attention.

Then Jeff sneezed.

“Damnit." Bruce only cursed as he moved over and began forcefully taking Jeff's jacket off. The human squirmed but didn't stop him.

“H-hey, got to buy me dinner first." Jeff just flushed as the tiger tossed the soaking wet coat to the side. He bent over giving Jeff a good view of his rear end, if it wasn't for the tail tickling his nose he might've grabbed it; though other lewd thoughts ran through his mind. Jeff sneezed again.

“Strip." Bruce just said, frowning at the look Jeff gave him as the tiger got back up.

“Just… be gentle. It's my first time." Jeff said in an overly girly voice getting the cloths Bruce had dug out for him thrown in his face. Jeff grunted at that looking them over.

“Put them on before you catch your death. Of cold." The tiger's tail tip began flickering quickly as he folded his arms. The look on his face told Jeff he wasn't joking and the human ended up just obeying.

Peeling the soaking wet shirt off his body, it clung to his shoulder and he ended up just dropping it in a dripping ball on the counter. Bruce just frowned at that; at least he didn't have customers today. Jeff put the oversized shirt on, it hung down below his belt.

“Uh… thanks." Jeff said in a soft voice, flushed in the face.

“You shouldn't have come out today." Bruce just grumbled, looking away. His tail was still flickering. The human bothered him more than someone should.

“I'm sorry…" Jeff said honestly, looking away. That soft tone made the predators ears perk up. “Didn't realize I'd be this much of a nuisance."

Bruce felt guilty now about it and figured that's exactly what Jeff was going for. He sighed, shaking his head. The two of them had known each other for some time. Texting constantly back and forth. Still, in an enclosed space like this Bruce just… wasn't used to it. This kind of face to face conversation.

“It's fine." Bruce conceded on the whole thing. “And I'm sorry about this morning. Just had things on my mind is all." The tiger paused at that, looking outside. The rain continued to batter the roof of the truck. “I might just close down… not like anyone's out in this mess…" He flicked a switch turning the open sign off and began to close up shop.

“Do you need help?" Jeff just tried to make amends for all this. It was sort of his fault.

“Those switches behind you? Turn them off." And Jeff did. It only took five minutes for them to get everything packed up and away in the freezers and cleaned up. “AS much as it sucks to lose business… I'm glad you visited me." The tiger was working the coffee machine before turning it off. The feline wasn't looking over at him.

“Sure, dude. What are friends for?" Jeff just said taking a seat on what he assumed to be a step stool. Though he didn't know why Bruce would need such a thing, the tiger already had to bend his head a bit not to bump it on the ceiling of the truck.

Bruce was busy working his magic fingers before turning around and handing Jeff a steaming cup of coffee. The foam on the top was white with a dash of something orange. Bruce had skillfully colored it further creating several long black stripes along the back and even made up a tiger face at the very top.

“I call it… Tiger Foam Latte Surprise." He just grinned toothily, waiting for Jeff to take a sip of it. Only after did he ask if he enjoyed it or not.

“It's really damn good." Jeff chuckled, a bit flushed in the cheek thinking nothing about the name. “Thanks."

“Been thinking about adding that to the menu just…" Bruce rubbed the back of his neck, resting against the counter. “Didn't really have a name for it, yet." Bruce wasn't too surprised that Jeff didn't make the connection between the two of them. Of Bruce and Burt. As a society people simply assumed when someone was talking about another they were that person species too. Otherwise they would say it, not to point it out but to more distinguish and identify the other person.

“I'm jealous. I wish I could make something like this." Jeff took another drink, holding it in both hands to warm himself up. Jeff wasn't wearing his pants. They were hanging up near the exit to dry. It wasn't often that Jeff sat around half-naked without any expectation for something more.

“It's nothing." Bruce flushed underneath his white cheeks at the compliment. “I'm glad you enjoy it…" A few moments passed as the two listen to the sound of the rain fall. “Why did you come all the way out here anyways?"

“To see you?" Jeff just shrugged.

“Yeah, but… why?" Bruce look to one side letting out a heavy sigh.

“Cause, dude. You're my friend." Jeff just shook his head with a laugh. “As simple as that."

“Yeah, but... why?" Bruce only pressed. It wasn't as if he didn't enjoy Jeff's company. It was just odd to see someone who wasn't about to shit their pants in fear of him. To go out of their way like this. There had been others but they had all been after the tiger's ass; once they found out Bruce wasn't interested, they stopped their pursuit seeking other tail.

“Well…" Jeff paused. “Frankly? 'Cause you're the only real GUY friend I have..." Bruce quirked an eyebrow at that. “All my friends are sissy little fags or, well, girlfriends. I don't really have any guy-guy friends. No one to go see sports with… to just grab a beer… Someone who I can enjoy for them and not the prissy little drama queen they choose to be. That just…"

Bruce waited. “Just like what?"

Jeff sighed. “Look, I don't got a problem with girly fag guys. Really I don't. I just… I have no physical attraction to them at all! And it's like, sometimes I feel they act that way because that's what they THINK people want them to act like. And not who they are…"

Bruce just nodded at that. Though, the tiger wanted to point out most people did that. Pretending to be someone they weren't.

“And when I met you? It was just… it was just nice. A refreshing change from it all. A cool headed, level guy that liked to eat, not on some new-fad diet or suddenly vegan for no reason other than to tell people that they were…. That like, wanted to just…" Jeff flushed a bit not wanting to add anything else. “Who I thought enjoyed my company for a change…"

Bruce ears fell at that, his shoulders slouching. “Jeff. I didn't mean to make you think that."

“No, no. It's cool. Really." He tried to laugh it off, wiping away the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. Jeff hated being the emotional one. “It's cool. It's fine…" He didn't even convince himself.

The truck creaked as Bruce moved over, kneeling down in front of his friend and wiping away a tear with the back of one of his oversized hands.

“I'm sorry." Bruce just said with a soft heavy voice.

“You didn't do nothing. It's just me." Jeff shook his head, not looking into that face.

Bruce awkwardly scooted closer, having to place one leg to Jeff's side before giving him a big hug. He began a low, deep rumbling growl as he tried to nuzzle the side of Jeff's face with his snout.

“Uh… are you mad?" Jeff only asked as he was held forcefully. Bruce clearly wasn't used to touchy-feely things which only made this awkward and uncomfortable.

Bruce pulled back. “I was trying to purr… for you…" The tiger flushed, looking away. “I'm really bad at comforting others." He just added.

Jeff only laughed at that and hugged the tiger's broad chest much to Bruce's surprise this time. “I think you do a great job." And he didn't let go.

Bruce ended up sitting on his rear end holding his friend in the back of his food truck and gave a heavy sigh. The inside of his round ears began to burn as he felt Jeff hand trace over his chest, gripping his shirt soon after. It was the heavy breath his human friend let out that made the fur on the back of his neck stand up.

Jeff shivered in the tiger's heavy arms and it made that stripe tail begin to move once more. Swaying behind him slowly, the only sign the tiger was agitated by any of this.

“Are you still cold?" Bruce only asked, easing up on his grip and moving back to look down at the human laying against him.

“I'm good." Jeff didn't look up at him. Just at that strong warm chest in front of him. He could feel Bruce's heart beat underneath. Even underneath the shirt that clung to his chest, the tiger's fur was warm to the touch. “Thanks… for the shirt."

Jeff gave him a reassuring smile. And Bruce returned it, by giving the human's cheek a soft lick. That tongue was rough to the touch and scratched over the fuzz on his face. Jeff blushed profusely at that.

“Uh…" Was all he managed to say in return.

Bruce looked at him, then flustered. “W-was that not ok?" The tiger hesitated, pulling back.

“Just not expected, was all." Jeff chuckled lightly, still flushed in the face.

“Should I have said something first?" Bruce frowned a bit, thinking it all over. “I haven't really done this before."

Jeff had to chuckle at that. He felt it best if he didn't tease the tiger about it. The predatory cat could still claw his face off without even trying and as close as he was now…

“I just… followed my instincts." Bruce muttered, not looking at him now. His grip eased up and the tiger scooted back a bit. Jeff sat between the tiger's legs and just watched that face for several seconds.

“You have good instincts then." Jeff just shrugged it off, not about to admit how strange it had been. “For me. I mean. Just like go with it around me. With others? Probably best not to do such around, well, others…."

Bruce just chuckled at that. “Well, no shit." The tiger shook his head. “I've learned that by now." His voice was bitter and there was a deep growl to it, his hands clenching into fists as Bruce looked to the side. He sighed, letting out another heavy breath and his frustration with it. “I'm not… used to this. Any of this."

“I got that by now." Jeff smirked but made sure to keep it light hearted.

“Even as a kitten, I just…" Bruce shook his head, bowing it down a bit as he picked up one of Jeff's hands. It was enclosed within the tiger's and the warm pink paw pads were soft to the touch. “I've been different, I guess. And it's been rather difficult over the years."

“How so?" Jeff just asked.

“Well… the way I've always seen it as something along the lines that I was a late bloomer. One that never bloomed." Bruce snorted with a heavy laugh. “Just never got into it. My friends used to get on me about hooking up with all the girls that came on to me." Bruce chuckled at the very idea. “Then they thought I was gay. Because you have to be one or the other." The tiger shook his head. “I've learned to play it off. To just go along with it, locker room talk and all that shit."

“Been there." Jeff nodded knowing the feeling. Not that he was in Bruce's sandals but rather with being gay. Most guys had a problem with it. As if afraid Jeff would try to hit on them or something. For his own sake and safety at times Jeff kept it to himself. He came off as straight and never had to worry about it if he didn't say anything. “Well I mean just playing along. Faking it. Talking the talk and playing it off."

“I suppose someone like you would understand." Bruce quickly added on. “Being gay today is still tough." Jeff just nodded taking no offense to it at all. It was interesting talking like this with the tiger, so open together about things.

“Guys just… tease each other about it. All the damn time." Jeff shook his head. “And don't get me started on how supposedly straight guys talk more about dicks and balls than gay men do." He added with a laugh. Bruce just quirked an eyebrow at that. “Well, specifically their own. They are like obsessed with it." Jeff only smirked. “Most of them I've found out seem to be… lacking in that category anyways."

“Slut." Bruce smirked back, his tail swaying behind him on the floor. The tiger easily wrapped his legs around the human, pushing his feet together behind Jeff as Bruce rested on his arms a bit. “Straight. Gay. Asexual. You'll just check out anyone, huh?"

Jeff didn't deny that. He checked his pulse. “Well, I AM still alive." He just shrugged. “Once I found out they're straight or whatever," he added with another smirk. “I back off. I'm not about to be one of those guys… chasing anything in hopes of getting some tail." Bruce lifted an eyebrow at the expression.

“Tail, huh?" Bruce didn't 'guy talk' often. He was mostly a loner and though he had good friends he usually kept them at an arm's length. Preferring to text over talking face to face.

“Humans have tail envy." Jeff laughed. The rain continued overhead in the dim silence that followed. The tiger was just staring at him now with those large opal eyes. Unlike a normal feline, the pupils weren't slits but round and open like a human. That alone made Jeff flush once more in his cheeks.

“I don't know how you humans do it." Bruce finally blinked looking to one side. “Furless. Clawless. Tailless… I've never understood how you guys ended up on top."

“I prefer to bot though." Jeff teased, Bruce only rolled his eyes at that. “Very carefully, that's how." Jeff only explained vaguely. “I'd top for you though, big guy." And that made the tiger laugh. That heavy growl of a sound that filled the back of his food truck.

“I have done it before, you know." Bruce suddenly said. “I'm no virgin, just so you know."

“Yes. Because that's what I was wondering about this whole time." Jeff chuckled. The tiger ears splayed out. Jeff could only assume he said such things because of the guy talk they just had, how most men mark their success in life by how many people they have slept with. “Who? If you don't mind me being nosy."

Bruce thought that over. He stared off to the side. “An old friend." Was the only answer Jeff got. He let the subject drop. And the two continued to talk.

“My life revolves around my job… and I don't mind that." Bruce shrugged when the question came up. He kept it simple and light and Jeff didn't push further. “I love my job. It's not as… rewarding as I'd like it to be but it's what I chose to do. And in the end that's good enough for me."

“You're a remarkable chef. You create things that bring a smile to anyone who gets a taste of them." Jeff got angry about it, that Bruce didn't realize just how good his pastries were. The tiger knew, he had just been trying to come off as humble. It was nice to hear none the less. “I wish I could do what you do! I'm stuck in an office filing reports all day." Jeff shook his head. “Wish I could do what you do." He said once more, letting it trail off.

“It's hard work." Bruce said seriously. His voice stern. “I'm on my feet from dawn til dusk working. Preparing everything. Making sure the shipments arrive on time and they don't try to swindle me. Giving me old produce or overcharging." The tiger frowned himself now. “Dealing with health inspectors and, hell, the public isn't fun either. It also kills my social life."

Jeff nodded along listening to everything he had to say. At the end, the human took one of the tiger's large hands in both of his. It was heavier than he thought it would be. Jeff stroked over the orange fur on top. “I think you're doing fine in that department."

Bruce took a moment watching as the human touched his hand so gently like this. His nails slid out of each finger then withdrew just as quickly.

“Such large hands create such small, delicate things…" Jeff was thinking of the toppings Bruce created on some of his pastries. Simple things from vines to flowers to letters and even whole pictures. “Works of art really. Something I could never do, I'm far too clumsy." Jeff let go. “Sorry." He added feeling silly for holding his hand.

“Funny." Bruce just noted. “I'm jealous of you." Jeff just gave him a look as Bruce turned one of his hands over to look at. “These things weren't meant for creating things…" And the claws sprung out suddenly. They withdrew just as quickly. Bruce didn't say anything more.

“Nature verse nurture, huh?" Jeff held Bruce's hand once more with his. “I think your hands are very gentle too, Burt." And the tiger's ears laid back at that.

“You can say that because you don't know what they've done…" Bruce said darkly still staring down at his hand. Jeff placed his in Bruce's and the tiger looked up at him.

“What we've done in this past is in the past, Burt." Bruce's ears flicked at the name. “People change. For good or for bad. It's your choice who you choose to become and this." Jeff motioned around them. “I think is wonderful. It's simple. But you make people happy with what you serve."

Bruce paused at that. “Even I can change, huh?"

“Only if you want too." Jeff just lifted up that large hand and touched his cheek to those warm pink paw pads. That flushed filled his face once more as he felt one of Bruce's finger pet over it. “Sorry."

Bruce didn't seem to mind as he looked at his friend once more with those eyes. “You're an idiot." The tiger withdrew his hand and turned away. “You don't know what I'm capable of."

Jeff frowned at that, annoyed by the insult. “Like what?" The human just said heatedly wanting to pick a fight once more.

Bruce looked over at him at that. A single nail sprung from the tip of the tiger's index finger and he just reached over to trace the back of it along Jeff's throat. “Like this… for instance."

Jeff caught Bruce's wrist and just glared at the tiger. “Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you will. Anyone can hurt another person. That's not new or unique or special… that's just ordinary." And Jeff let go of his wrist. “People do it to each other each and every damn fucking single day. Without claws. Or fangs." He added and then shook his head, holding Bruce's hand once more. “Even if you had hurt someone before… doesn't mean you'll just do it again. To them. Or to me." Jeff looked up at him.

“And if I do?" Bruce just asked, his voice soft.

“You won't." Jeff just said more optimistic than he felt. He couldn't deny it even to himself. Those hands were strong. One could easily hold his face in its bone crushing grip easily. With those nails… with Bruce's size. Jeff wouldn't be able to even… “Because I trust you." Jeff forced himself to say. To smile and look at this tiger sitting before him.

Bruce snorted at that. He laughed, that heavy sound as he shook his head. And Jeff found himself in another strong hug as the tiger nuzzled the side of Jeff's face with that broad snout.

The tiger let go.

“Always this friendly?" Jeff only asked flushed in the face. He giggled lightly and brushed a strand of damp hair out of his face.

“Nope. Never." Bruce admitted with a heavy shrug. “I don't got too many friends as it is…"

“And I don't got any real guy friends, so it's a win win, huh?" Jeff gave a playful wink at that, pushing the tiger's chest with one hand. It lingered there, feeling that thick fur underneath Bruce's shirt before withdrawing it quickly. “Admittedly. A bit more… friendly, than most guys are." The human chuckled brushing his hair back with a hand once more.

Bruce scooted a fraction of an inch closer. The gesture wasn't lost on Jeff however, whenever the large tiger moved the human took notice. As such, he took great notice as Bruce reached over with one of those oversized, paw padded hands and with a single sausage finger brushed the strand of hair out of Jeff's face. He took a timid breath at that, watching the tiger ever more closely. His eyes searching for anything more behind those black stripes.

“You need a haircut, ya' damn hippie." Bruce just said finally starting to get up. One of his beady ears perked, listening for the rain. “It seems to be subsiding. I'll walk you home."

Jeff only sighed at that, getting up as well. He had to admit there wasn't anything here. Just wishful thinking and he'd have to look elsewhere as the two exited the vehicle out the back and onto the rain soaked walkway.

“Rain or shine, this area is still lovely." Jeff just said, speaking up to break the silence as he stuffed both hands into his coat pockets. “It's nice to have a reason to come out to this part," he added looking over at the tiger.

“Seems out of the way." Bruce just said breaking the mood. “Coming all the way out here for some coffee."

“I'd come anywhere for you." Jeff only retorted. Bruce just rolled his eyes at that. The human shivered in the cold, hugging himself tightly. The tiger only grumbled at that, wrapping one large arm around him and pulling Jeff close against his side.

“I usually don't carry an umbrella." Bruce said almost in apology as he tried to get his coat over Jeff's head. He ended up just taking it off and draping it over the human instead.

“I'm fine, seriously." Jeff just grumbled as he held onto it. It was warm and had the tiger's faint musk to it. He wasn't sure if he was flushing because of that or the cold as they continued.

“Where'd you park?" Bruce just asked.

“I don't drive." Jeff just said.

The tiger frowned at that. “Just, give me a second then." The tiger left him heading back to his truck. It wasn't long before Bruce came back to join him. “Ok, my place is just around the corner." He pointed down one of the streets.

“Your… place?" Jeff had to ask, trying not to read anymore into that.

“I'm off for the rest of the day." Bruce looked up into the clouds, not even minding the rain that continued to fall. His pink, black outlined nose twitched. “It's going to storm tonight. Unless you want to weather that alone, you're stuck with me."

“Or are you stuck with me?" Jeff chuckled as he accompanied Bruce down the street. “Now I think I'm willingly going to a tiger's den."

“It's homely." Bruce said as if in its defense. “I don't have any nosy roommates either." There was a clear undertone to it and guilt sunk into Jeff's stomach.

Jeff flushed at that. “I'm sorry… I didn't know you heard all that." He apologized.

“You're fine." Bruce just said not even seeming to mind. “That other human that…" And his lip twitched, a flash of fangs showing before the tiger was calm once more. A blank, bland, almost bored expression rested over the tiger's face. How he normally looked. Non-threatening.

“Well if you do end up like having him for dinner, just please don't tell me about it." Jeff only laughed as the two stood on a street corner waiting for the walk sign.

“Deal." Bruce just grinned as they headed to his home.

“It is a nice place," Jeff said friendly enough. It was small. Very small. There was a single room with a kitchen in it. A bed was placed in the main room and there was a door to the far side that Bruce explained was the bathroom if he needed it. “It's… quaint."

“Homely. I prefer the term homely." Bruce said giving him a single look and that was that.

“Well you don't need much else other than a kitchen."

“Yeah, but doing caterings makes things rather challenging." The tiger just shrugged taking his shirt off and tossing it over onto a pile of old cloths. The large feline stretched and Jeff wasn't ashamed to say he watched every second of it.

“Catering?" Jeff only asked after Bruce took a seat on the edge of the bed.

“Yeah. It's just a side project really. Something I do to help get some extra funds." He shrugged.

“Well. If you ever need a hand, I could help out maybe sometime." Jeff offered friendly enough as he took the tiger's jacket off and set it on a nearby chair. “An extra pair of paws, goes a long way." He added with a wink.

Bruce snorted at that. “At least you try?" The tiger said, referencing the paws remark.

“It's the thought that counts." Jeff just admitted. He shivered a bit and the tiger scooted over at that, patting the bed.

“Look. It's clear nothing going to happen here. I know you want me to maul you but it's not gonna happen. Sorry. I just ate." The tiger only teased sticking the tip of his tongue out between his sharp teeth. “If you like though, I'll carry you home. So you don't die half-way there."

“From a cold, right?" Jeff only laughed.

Bruce shrugged and scooted back. “It isn't much… but it's home." He finally said, talking about his place.

“It's nice, really." Jeff didn't point out the smell to it. “Got all the essentials." He teased sitting on the bed and feeling the sheets. They were probably the nicest thing in the place. Like silk.

“A big bed? Slut." Bruce teased. “The heater doesn't work, if you want to just slip on in. The TV doesn't have much but the Sabers game should be on in an hour or so…" The tiger tried to be a gracious host, even offering something to eat or drink as well.

“My day off and I have to spend it with you." Jeff suddenly said, shaking his head. The tiger's tail twitched at that. “Sabers game? Big bed? Free food and drink? What more could a guy ask for!" And he laughed moving over. “Uh…" Jeff stopped, his hand resting on Bruce's thigh. The tiger didn't even seem to notice. “What if the power goes out?"

“I'm self-heating." Bruce flexed. “And I can see in the dark. You'll just have to rely on me. All helpless and meek, like a little lost lamb in a tiger's den." There was a twinkle in the feline's eye that Jeff missed.

“You really don't mind me crashing then?" Jeff just asked as Bruce turned the simple TV on.

“You aren't crashing. You aren't moving in. You are over here until the rain stops and after the game." Bruce rolled his eyes and gave a gruff chuff, a heavy breath of air exhaled out quickly. “Relax. I don't have friends over… well, ever." The tiger grumbled a bit not, getting embarrassed.

“OH, well then sure." And Jeff just began on the game. “I totally forgot about it! I usually keep track on my calendar and everything, don't know how it slipped by me." And that's how the rest of the day went.

“You know." Bruce was laying on his back, both arms behind his head, legs crossed as he stared down over his white fur chest and at the TV. “If you're willing to offer your paws for this old tiger…"

“Not that old." Jeff only laughed, lying next to him under the sheets. “Got a catering event coming up?"

“Well," Bruce sat up a little turning to his side to face the smaller male. “See. I work a lot. And I do mean a whole lot. On my feet all day."

“Yes, and your point would be what exactly?" Jeff dared to ask seeing a look in those eyes he hadn't before.

“And I don't got the money to hire someone to help me with these needs…" Bruce grinned.

Jeff swallowed, eyes widening a little. “Yes?"

And the tiger turned around quickly before Jeff knew it, he had both of Bruce's feet right up In his face. “I need someone to rub these for me!" And the tiger just laughed, a booming sound in the small apartment. “Man, you should have seen the look on your face. Played you like a fiddle."

“A fiddle?" Jeff pushed one of those large paws down. “Isn't that the gayest of the instruments?"

“You're the gayest of the instruments." Bruce only frowned, his ears quickly splaying out as Jeff rubbed his thumb over one of Bruce's tired paws. “Uh…"

“I usually get hired out as a whore. Make a good buck or two. I'll have to charge more for massages than a quickie." Jeff just said working one of Bruce's paws now with both hands. The tiger's tail began moving at that.

“Will uh… free coffee due?" Bruce offered, curling his toes at the feel. It had been a very long time since he had anyone rub any part of him.

“I demand biscotti's too. Each day." Jeff just glared at him as worked over one of Bruce's toes. The tiger murred deeply at that.

“I think something can be arrange." Bruce only grinned and the deal was made with a paw shake.