Fin and Fur 2
x.x Yes, people, orcas are related to dolphins. However, this is a fantasy world, and animals don't think like people, nor do they use our classifications. Who wants to call themselves a little dolphin when they can be a big impressive whale? They're pretty much the top of the food chain. I don't think anyone's going to argue with them.
That said, Part one here. Part zero here.
---
This had to be the height of insanity. There was no other explanation for why Lei found himself perched on a large rock overlooking a small sandy beach rather than hunting for food like he ought to be. Of course, given that the winter was slowly easing into spring and food would be more readily available he wasn't too far out of his mind, but still. It was the principle of it all.
At least he didn't have to worry about his stomach embarrassing him again. He'd surprised a lemming shortly after waking, which should hold him for several more hours yet, and that was more than enough time for Arvik to show up. If he showed up. Lei still wasn't convinced that the big not-fish hadn't just been playing with him.
After all, how interesting could one solitary fox be to a creature of the sea? And one as impressive as Arvik at that. Lei was certain that once the novelty of 'strange furry creature' wore off Arvik would get bored and return to the ocean where he belonged. If he hadn't already.
And that thought was not disappointing, because Lei was not waiting for him. He was just resting for a while and enjoying the view. Or something.
Snarling in irritation, he jumped down off the rock and shifted back to fox form, taking several steps away from the beach before a rich, low voice called out from behind him, "Oh, were you waiting a long time? I'm sorry..."
There was something rather pathetic, Lei thought, in the fact that he'd shifted back to his human shape before he'd even completely turned around. Arvik was standing on the beach, dripping wet and (as per usual) completely naked, and looking a little bit worried.
Lei wondered what it would taste like to lick the seawater off the big not-fish, then firmly shoved that thought out of mind. "I wasn't sure you'd come."
Arvik blinked in surprise. "I told you I would."
"Yes, but..." Lei growled in frustration. "Why are you... here? Surely there must be more interesting things to look at."
Arvik considered. "No, not really." He grinned. "No one I know has anywhere near your fire, or would ever consider attacking something ten times his size alone."
Lei scowled. "I told you, stupid fish, I ran out of options. It was that or die, and I'm not in any big hurry to die."
Why was Arvik coming closer and smiling like that? Shouldn't he be correcting Lei for calling him a fish again? But no, he was smiling and looking down at Lei and Lei had to look up so far just to see his face because Arvik was very big and Lei was rather small (Though until he'd met Arvik he hadn't really thought he was that small. Really, for a fox he was rather average.) and then Arvik's hand came up and pushed Lei's hood down again and-
That really wasn't fair. Arvik should not be able to make all his thoughts scatter with a simple touch, no matter how nice it felt, or how badly he wanted to lean into it to get more of that wonderful sensation. He reminded himself that he probably looked all kinds of foolish and his family would have a fit if they knew he was behaving in such a ridiculous manner, and had almost managed to summon up the willpower to pull away when the infernal fish decided to stroke his ears.
Fortunately Arvik caught him before his knees gave out, but considering that it was the damned fish's fault in the first place Lei wasn't quite feeling charitable enough to be grateful. Rather, he was trying to remember how to growl (and most certainly not making pleased sounds) only with Arvik's arm holding him up he was now pressed entirely too close to that slick, wet skin for his own sanity and the temptation finally proved far too much to resist.
It tasted salty, which wasn't a surprise given that he'd just stepped out of the sea, but good. Different. Not fishy, but nothing familiar either. Interesting. He licked his chosen patch of Arvik-chest again, deciding that it tasted rather pleasant. For a not-fish.
The hand petting his ears faltered as Arvik made an odd sound. "That tickles..." he protested, squirming slightly.
Lei blinked, then grinned. Oh, revenge was his at last. He set about licking all the skin he could reach, amused and pleased when Arvik writhed in reaction. He'd managed to cover most of the top of Arvik's chest when he was abruptly jerked away from that pleasant skin and held at arm's length, Arvik's hands wrapped firmly around his waist and holding him off the ground.
Well now, that wasn't fair. Now he couldn't reach. Though, he noted in smug amusement, Arvik was breathing rather quickly and looking about as flushed as someone who was only two colors could. Lei smiled, pleased.
Arvik blinked, then smiled brightly even as he struggled to catch his breath. "Oh, you can smile!" he exclaimed in delight.
Lei blinked, then flushed, scowling and looking away. Really, the stupid not-fish didn't have to act so pleased just because he'd seen Lei smile. Fish really didn't make any sense.
Deep, amused laughter rippled around him. "And now I've gone and offended you again. I seem to be very good at that."
There was solid ground beneath his feet and Lei looked up in time to see Arvik carefully putting his hands behind his back, which wasn't exactly an improvement as it made his chest stick out in a way that made Lei want to lick it again.
Amongst other things.
And didn't that make his cheeks heat.
"Erm." Lei shifted, trying to find someplace that was safe to look at and coming up short. Damned fish. Why did he have to walk around looking so lickable?
Amongst other things.
"How about this," Arvik said, stepping close again and turning Lei around so that he was facing away from the sea. "We don't come on land too often, so why don't you show me what your world is like? And maybe I'll be too busy looking at things to offend you further."
Lei wanted to say no, really he did, but Arvik was smiling at him again and the arm that was casually slung across his shoulder was warm and oddly soothing. Too soothing, too comforting, for belonging to a man - a great big fish - that he barely knew.
"I... if you want..." he found himself saying instead.
The answering smile was even brighter than the one before, and it really wasn't fair that Arvik could do that. Not fair at all.
"Great!" Arvik exclaimed, arm sliding off Lei's shoulders to take his hand and enfold it in Arvik's much larger one. "Where shall we go?"
Distracted by the heat of Arvik's hand, Lei took a moment to force his thoughts back in order. Go. Go where? Much of Lei's homeland looked the same, all sharp mountains and rolling tundra. He supposed he could go see if his favorite patch of flowers had begun to bloom yet, now that the winter was receding.
With that in mind, Lei slowly moved inland, noting that the going was somewhat different on two feet instead of four. He, like most of his kind, tended to travel in fox form in case of predators. Four feet could run much faster than two. And though Arvik had proven himself capable of taking on a polar bear in the water, he wouldn't be able to shift shapes on land, so they were still at the mercy of bears and wolves.
Well, maybe just the bears. Lei suspected that even a wolf pack would hesitate before attacking something as big as Arvik.
It was odd, to see the land he'd grown up in through the eyes of a stranger. True to his word Arvik had seldom left the water, and then he'd never ventured out of sight of the sea. He was like a young kit, fascinated by everything, and made Lei tell him the names of anything he didn't recognize, or specific names when all Arvik knew were the general ones.
When they arrived at the spot where the flowers were supposed to be, Lei was disappointed to note that it was still too early for blooms. He loved to slink into the middle of the flower patch and sprawl there, surrounded by the faint, sweet perfume the blossoms gave off. Arvik, of course, was far too big to be doing that, but he could have at least gotten to smell them.
Distractedly he circled the patch of green, sliding his hand out of Arvik's to poke halfheartedly at the nearest stalks. "Nothing," he muttered to himself.
"What are you looking for?" Arvik asked.
"Flowers," Lei answered, peering but not seeing any telltale splashes of color. "They're bright colored, and smell nice. Hmm..." On a whim, Lei shifted to his fox form and wriggled his way into the plants, sniffing here and there to see if he could pick up even the faintest scent. Maybe there was an early bloom hiding... ah.
Pleased, Lei carefully bit off the tough stalk and picked the shorn stem up in his teeth, making his way back out of the patch and dropping the flower at Arvik's feet before shifting back. The big man knelt to pick it up, his eyes widening.
"Oh, that's lovely... like an anemone... you said it smells?" Arvik held the blossom up to his face, inhaling deeply. "Oh... I like that," he breathed.
Lei wasn't aware that he was smiling until Arvik's eyes flicked to his face and promptly brightened. As soon as he realized what Arvik was smiling about, he flushed and looked away, forcing a scowl to his face. "Quit that," he muttered.
"But I like it when you smile," Arvik said cheerfully, coming up far too close and holding the flower under Lei's nose. "It makes you look breathtaking rather than just beautiful."
Lei opened his mouth, shut it, opened it, then shut it again before flushing hotly and staring down at his feet. Only that gave him a far too excellent view of Arvik's very impressive groin and that certainly wasn't helping matters at all.
"It's true," Arvik said softly, his hands coming up to cup Lei's face and tip his head up so that Lei was looking into his gentle eyes. They were the deepest blue Lei had ever seen, like the sky right before night fell or the sea on a calm day. Deep and warm and oddly uncertain for someone as confident as Arvik tended to be, and much closer than Lei remembered them being and... and...
And Arvik was kissing him, softly, just the faintest touch of lips to his as the man held his face ever so gently - so gently that Lei could pull away if he wished, but at the first caress of those lips against his he'd frozen in place and couldn't move if he wanted to.
As swiftly as it had happened, it ended, Arvik pulling back as his hands fell away, that uncertainty spreading to his entire face and not just his endless eyes. "Lei...?" he asked, hesitantly.
Lei swallowed. "I... you... you kissed me."
Arvik nodded slowly. "Yes... should I not have?"
It felt like his brain was frozen. Was this what snow sickness felt like? "You're a fish."
"Whale," Arvik corrected, the last vestiges of his smile dying from his eyes, leaving them achingly empty. "Is that so terrible?"
"I..." Lei swallowed again. "I don't know. I..." He shook his head, trying to remember how to think clearly. "I need to go... somewhere... think... I can't think around you, you're too distracting."
Arvik reached out for him, but before he could touch him Lei shifted to his fox form, bolting across the tundra as fast as his legs could carry him. Behind him he could hear Arvik's startled cry, the sheer fear in it making him falter.
"Lei, wait..." Arvik sounded utterly miserable. "I don't know how to get back to the sea. There are no echoes... If I stay on land too long, I'll die."
As much as he wanted to run, to flee from Arvik's overwhelming presence, he couldn't ignore that. He owed Arvik his life; he wouldn't be the one responsible for Arvik's death.
Circling back around, making certain to stay several lengths ahead of Arvik, he retraced the winding path around the mountain and glaciers until the glimmer of the sea was once more in sight. There he stopped, tail curled around himself protectively, though it couldn't do anything to protect him from his own confusion.
Arvik paused, the panic washing out of him with the sight of his home, then knelt a short distance from Lei. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to upset you. I only wanted..." He smiled, though it was only a vague shadow of the smiles that Lei was used to seeing. "You are very brave, and very beautiful, Lei."
Standing, Arvik turned away and made his way back to the sea. Lei watched him go, watched him turn around and look back just at the water's edge, then he was gone.
To Part Three
That said, Part one here. Part zero here.
---
This had to be the height of insanity. There was no other explanation for why Lei found himself perched on a large rock overlooking a small sandy beach rather than hunting for food like he ought to be. Of course, given that the winter was slowly easing into spring and food would be more readily available he wasn't too far out of his mind, but still. It was the principle of it all.
At least he didn't have to worry about his stomach embarrassing him again. He'd surprised a lemming shortly after waking, which should hold him for several more hours yet, and that was more than enough time for Arvik to show up. If he showed up. Lei still wasn't convinced that the big not-fish hadn't just been playing with him.
After all, how interesting could one solitary fox be to a creature of the sea? And one as impressive as Arvik at that. Lei was certain that once the novelty of 'strange furry creature' wore off Arvik would get bored and return to the ocean where he belonged. If he hadn't already.
And that thought was not disappointing, because Lei was not waiting for him. He was just resting for a while and enjoying the view. Or something.
Snarling in irritation, he jumped down off the rock and shifted back to fox form, taking several steps away from the beach before a rich, low voice called out from behind him, "Oh, were you waiting a long time? I'm sorry..."
There was something rather pathetic, Lei thought, in the fact that he'd shifted back to his human shape before he'd even completely turned around. Arvik was standing on the beach, dripping wet and (as per usual) completely naked, and looking a little bit worried.
Lei wondered what it would taste like to lick the seawater off the big not-fish, then firmly shoved that thought out of mind. "I wasn't sure you'd come."
Arvik blinked in surprise. "I told you I would."
"Yes, but..." Lei growled in frustration. "Why are you... here? Surely there must be more interesting things to look at."
Arvik considered. "No, not really." He grinned. "No one I know has anywhere near your fire, or would ever consider attacking something ten times his size alone."
Lei scowled. "I told you, stupid fish, I ran out of options. It was that or die, and I'm not in any big hurry to die."
Why was Arvik coming closer and smiling like that? Shouldn't he be correcting Lei for calling him a fish again? But no, he was smiling and looking down at Lei and Lei had to look up so far just to see his face because Arvik was very big and Lei was rather small (Though until he'd met Arvik he hadn't really thought he was that small. Really, for a fox he was rather average.) and then Arvik's hand came up and pushed Lei's hood down again and-
That really wasn't fair. Arvik should not be able to make all his thoughts scatter with a simple touch, no matter how nice it felt, or how badly he wanted to lean into it to get more of that wonderful sensation. He reminded himself that he probably looked all kinds of foolish and his family would have a fit if they knew he was behaving in such a ridiculous manner, and had almost managed to summon up the willpower to pull away when the infernal fish decided to stroke his ears.
Fortunately Arvik caught him before his knees gave out, but considering that it was the damned fish's fault in the first place Lei wasn't quite feeling charitable enough to be grateful. Rather, he was trying to remember how to growl (and most certainly not making pleased sounds) only with Arvik's arm holding him up he was now pressed entirely too close to that slick, wet skin for his own sanity and the temptation finally proved far too much to resist.
It tasted salty, which wasn't a surprise given that he'd just stepped out of the sea, but good. Different. Not fishy, but nothing familiar either. Interesting. He licked his chosen patch of Arvik-chest again, deciding that it tasted rather pleasant. For a not-fish.
The hand petting his ears faltered as Arvik made an odd sound. "That tickles..." he protested, squirming slightly.
Lei blinked, then grinned. Oh, revenge was his at last. He set about licking all the skin he could reach, amused and pleased when Arvik writhed in reaction. He'd managed to cover most of the top of Arvik's chest when he was abruptly jerked away from that pleasant skin and held at arm's length, Arvik's hands wrapped firmly around his waist and holding him off the ground.
Well now, that wasn't fair. Now he couldn't reach. Though, he noted in smug amusement, Arvik was breathing rather quickly and looking about as flushed as someone who was only two colors could. Lei smiled, pleased.
Arvik blinked, then smiled brightly even as he struggled to catch his breath. "Oh, you can smile!" he exclaimed in delight.
Lei blinked, then flushed, scowling and looking away. Really, the stupid not-fish didn't have to act so pleased just because he'd seen Lei smile. Fish really didn't make any sense.
Deep, amused laughter rippled around him. "And now I've gone and offended you again. I seem to be very good at that."
There was solid ground beneath his feet and Lei looked up in time to see Arvik carefully putting his hands behind his back, which wasn't exactly an improvement as it made his chest stick out in a way that made Lei want to lick it again.
Amongst other things.
And didn't that make his cheeks heat.
"Erm." Lei shifted, trying to find someplace that was safe to look at and coming up short. Damned fish. Why did he have to walk around looking so lickable?
Amongst other things.
"How about this," Arvik said, stepping close again and turning Lei around so that he was facing away from the sea. "We don't come on land too often, so why don't you show me what your world is like? And maybe I'll be too busy looking at things to offend you further."
Lei wanted to say no, really he did, but Arvik was smiling at him again and the arm that was casually slung across his shoulder was warm and oddly soothing. Too soothing, too comforting, for belonging to a man - a great big fish - that he barely knew.
"I... if you want..." he found himself saying instead.
The answering smile was even brighter than the one before, and it really wasn't fair that Arvik could do that. Not fair at all.
"Great!" Arvik exclaimed, arm sliding off Lei's shoulders to take his hand and enfold it in Arvik's much larger one. "Where shall we go?"
Distracted by the heat of Arvik's hand, Lei took a moment to force his thoughts back in order. Go. Go where? Much of Lei's homeland looked the same, all sharp mountains and rolling tundra. He supposed he could go see if his favorite patch of flowers had begun to bloom yet, now that the winter was receding.
With that in mind, Lei slowly moved inland, noting that the going was somewhat different on two feet instead of four. He, like most of his kind, tended to travel in fox form in case of predators. Four feet could run much faster than two. And though Arvik had proven himself capable of taking on a polar bear in the water, he wouldn't be able to shift shapes on land, so they were still at the mercy of bears and wolves.
Well, maybe just the bears. Lei suspected that even a wolf pack would hesitate before attacking something as big as Arvik.
It was odd, to see the land he'd grown up in through the eyes of a stranger. True to his word Arvik had seldom left the water, and then he'd never ventured out of sight of the sea. He was like a young kit, fascinated by everything, and made Lei tell him the names of anything he didn't recognize, or specific names when all Arvik knew were the general ones.
When they arrived at the spot where the flowers were supposed to be, Lei was disappointed to note that it was still too early for blooms. He loved to slink into the middle of the flower patch and sprawl there, surrounded by the faint, sweet perfume the blossoms gave off. Arvik, of course, was far too big to be doing that, but he could have at least gotten to smell them.
Distractedly he circled the patch of green, sliding his hand out of Arvik's to poke halfheartedly at the nearest stalks. "Nothing," he muttered to himself.
"What are you looking for?" Arvik asked.
"Flowers," Lei answered, peering but not seeing any telltale splashes of color. "They're bright colored, and smell nice. Hmm..." On a whim, Lei shifted to his fox form and wriggled his way into the plants, sniffing here and there to see if he could pick up even the faintest scent. Maybe there was an early bloom hiding... ah.
Pleased, Lei carefully bit off the tough stalk and picked the shorn stem up in his teeth, making his way back out of the patch and dropping the flower at Arvik's feet before shifting back. The big man knelt to pick it up, his eyes widening.
"Oh, that's lovely... like an anemone... you said it smells?" Arvik held the blossom up to his face, inhaling deeply. "Oh... I like that," he breathed.
Lei wasn't aware that he was smiling until Arvik's eyes flicked to his face and promptly brightened. As soon as he realized what Arvik was smiling about, he flushed and looked away, forcing a scowl to his face. "Quit that," he muttered.
"But I like it when you smile," Arvik said cheerfully, coming up far too close and holding the flower under Lei's nose. "It makes you look breathtaking rather than just beautiful."
Lei opened his mouth, shut it, opened it, then shut it again before flushing hotly and staring down at his feet. Only that gave him a far too excellent view of Arvik's very impressive groin and that certainly wasn't helping matters at all.
"It's true," Arvik said softly, his hands coming up to cup Lei's face and tip his head up so that Lei was looking into his gentle eyes. They were the deepest blue Lei had ever seen, like the sky right before night fell or the sea on a calm day. Deep and warm and oddly uncertain for someone as confident as Arvik tended to be, and much closer than Lei remembered them being and... and...
And Arvik was kissing him, softly, just the faintest touch of lips to his as the man held his face ever so gently - so gently that Lei could pull away if he wished, but at the first caress of those lips against his he'd frozen in place and couldn't move if he wanted to.
As swiftly as it had happened, it ended, Arvik pulling back as his hands fell away, that uncertainty spreading to his entire face and not just his endless eyes. "Lei...?" he asked, hesitantly.
Lei swallowed. "I... you... you kissed me."
Arvik nodded slowly. "Yes... should I not have?"
It felt like his brain was frozen. Was this what snow sickness felt like? "You're a fish."
"Whale," Arvik corrected, the last vestiges of his smile dying from his eyes, leaving them achingly empty. "Is that so terrible?"
"I..." Lei swallowed again. "I don't know. I..." He shook his head, trying to remember how to think clearly. "I need to go... somewhere... think... I can't think around you, you're too distracting."
Arvik reached out for him, but before he could touch him Lei shifted to his fox form, bolting across the tundra as fast as his legs could carry him. Behind him he could hear Arvik's startled cry, the sheer fear in it making him falter.
"Lei, wait..." Arvik sounded utterly miserable. "I don't know how to get back to the sea. There are no echoes... If I stay on land too long, I'll die."
As much as he wanted to run, to flee from Arvik's overwhelming presence, he couldn't ignore that. He owed Arvik his life; he wouldn't be the one responsible for Arvik's death.
Circling back around, making certain to stay several lengths ahead of Arvik, he retraced the winding path around the mountain and glaciers until the glimmer of the sea was once more in sight. There he stopped, tail curled around himself protectively, though it couldn't do anything to protect him from his own confusion.
Arvik paused, the panic washing out of him with the sight of his home, then knelt a short distance from Lei. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to upset you. I only wanted..." He smiled, though it was only a vague shadow of the smiles that Lei was used to seeing. "You are very brave, and very beautiful, Lei."
Standing, Arvik turned away and made his way back to the sea. Lei watched him go, watched him turn around and look back just at the water's edge, then he was gone.
To Part Three