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It’s raining.
Which isn’t the end of the world, it rains all the time.
However rain in the slender forest was quite different from rain in the human realm.
It fell fast and hard. Drought dry dirt quickly becomes chunky brown sludge that clings to shoes. Within seconds you go from walking regularly to having wretch your foot out of the mud as it sinks into a puddle.
Now, typically, this wasn’t a problem for Jeff and Toby.
However, just their luck, they just so happened to be out on a date when rainfall fell upon them.
Even worse, they were FAR from the mansion. The two boys had started walking and never really stopped. Only hours later did they realize the gloomy sky darkening above them.
There was no point in running back to the manor. The ground was a better slip and slide than anything.
Toby thought they were fucked. Doomed to hide under the heaviest near by tree and try not to let the water topple them over.
Jeff, however, had a solution.
“You know, my cabin is a lot closer than the manor!” Jeff shouted over the deafening rain fall, “Let’s just go there!”
Toby’s expression told Jeff that he hadn’t heard him. He was NOT about to get hypothermia though, so he grabbed Toby’s arm and yanked him along as he ran.
Despite being completely clueless as to what Jeff had said, he allowed himself to be pulled along. He trusted Jeff, and anything was better than just standing around like idiots.
The two boys slipped and tripped a few times, but, eventually, they made it to Jeff’s cabin.
Jeff dragged Toby onto the rickety porch and began fumbling with his pocket.
“I-Is this your c-cabin?” Toby called out, the rain fall was a bit muffled by the roof top but still thunderous no less.
Whether Jeff didn’t hear him or was too distracted to answer, Toby didn’t know. He frantically searched his pockets before finally pulling out a rusty key.
The ebony haired man jammed it into deadbolt; slamming his side against it to get it to open.
Jeff huffed when it finally gave, pulling Toby inside with him. He slammed the door shut, the rain was still audible but much more manageable.
“Goddammit, we’re all muddy and shit,” Jeff murmured as kicked off his sneakers.
“A-At least you have w-wood flooring?” Toby attempted to soothe his lover’s frustration.
Jeff hummed thoughtfully, staring into the living room before turning back to Toby.
The brunette and himself were absolutely drenched. Puddles of muddy water quickly grew under their feet as it dripped from their clothes.
“Let’s just strip here and walk to the shower,” Jeff sighed, already beginning to remove his hoodie, “I don’t wanna drip this shit throughout the house.
“O-Oh! Uh,” Toby’s eyes lingered on Jeff as he stripped, “sure, y-yeah.”
“C’mon,” Jeff laughed, “don’t act all nervous like it’s the first time you’ve seen me naked.”
The brunette felt a flush spreading across his face. He finally ripped his eyes from Jeff’s body and began stripping his own soggy clothes.
Toby had a feeling that, despite the lack of hot water, their shower was going to be rather steamy.
Opening the door to Jeff’s bedroom, Toby found himself frozen in the doorway.
Jeff’s bedroom was not what he expected.
He didn’t know what he expected. But the walls littered with colorful paintings wasn’t it. The large light on the celling appeared out of service, as the wires dangling from it indicated. The only light was the faint glow from the window and a small bedside lamp.
Against the far back wall sat a bed. Covers decorated with husky fur (complimentary of Smile Dog) and pillows.
One, Toby noticed, had his missing t-shirt as a pillow case.
…he didn’t really like that shirt anyway.
The axe murderer made his way over to the bed. As he got closer, he noticed a small bump underneath the burgundy comforter.
Despite its size, Toby hoped it was Smile Dog. Completely ignoring the fact that the dog’s tags could be heard jingling in the kitchen.
He hovered his hand over the spot, expecting it to move or make some kind of noise. Whatever was under the covers tensed but otherwise did not move.
Rationally, he probably should’ve waited for Jeff to return before revealing whatever was under the blanket.
He was feeling curious, though.
Grabbing the corner of the bed spread, Toby slowly peeled it back.
There, tangled up in the sheets, was a strange lump of fur far too small to be Smile Dog.
Toby cautiously pulls the sheets away from it.
Is that…a possum? Does Jeff know this is here? How hasn’t Smile Dog slaughtered this thing yet? Does it have rabies? Is it dead? It looks dead.
Many questions flood Toby’s mind as he stared at the creature. It was curled in on its self and its mouth was wide open, forming a feral smile not unlike Smile Dogs.
Had Smile Dog brought this in? Perhaps hiding it as a surprise for her poor, unsuspecting owner?
“U-Uh, Jeff?” Toby hesitantly called out, “there’s a p-possum in your bed.”
Jeff rounded the corner with furrowed brows and a hairbrush in hand. His face smoothed out once he caught sight of the bed.
“Yeah that Poe,” Jeff stared as if it was obvious, “she’s my saber tooth death mouse.”
Toby turned around and eyed her like she had personally offended him. Jeff laughed and strolled over to the bed. The brush was tossed aside, clattering against the hardwood floor.
“Why do you have a p-possum?” Toby’s eye remained on Poe, “how h-hasn’t Smile eaten her y-yet?”
“Because unlike you,” Jeff picked Poe up and held her like a baby, “Smile sees her as family.”
Jeff’s hand came up as he made a ‘talk to the hand’ motion.
Now that Jeff was in the room, the possum appeared more…alive? Not as stiff, closed mouth, and subtly sniffing Jeff’s hair.
The scared roadkill he had found now looks more like a well loved vintage stuffed animal.
“Where, u-uh, where did you f-find that?” Toby kept a cautious eye on the possum occupying his boyfriend’s arms.
“I found HER,” Jeff leaned towards Toby slightly, “during a bad rainstorm. Kinda like this one, funny enough.”
The brunette said nothing, still eyeing her suspiciously
“Oh c’mon,” Jeff’s gaze fell to Poe as he cooed to her, “what’s so bad about her?”
“Well, I m-mean, what if she has rabies?,” Toby huffed and crossed his arms.
“She doesn’t have rabies,” Jeff sounded like a mother reassuring her child there was no monster in the closet, “plus, it’s actually rare for possums to get rabies.”
“W-What? But they’re k-kinda the poster child of r-rapid animals.”
“Her body temperature is too low to house rabies,” Jeff rolled his eyes, “if anyone has rabies in this house I’m more worried it’s you.”
It was then Toby noticed the drool dripping down his chin. He sheepishly brought his sleeve up to wipe it.
“I s-see your point,” Toby mumbled.
“Come sit,” Jeff gestured to the bed as he took a seat on the edge.
Toby knew it was more of a demand than a request. So, he hesitantly sat next to his boyfriend and Poe.
Her pink noes twitched as she began sniffing the air. She then firmly pressed it against Toby’s shoulder, who shuttered at the cold and wet sensation.
Poe continued sniffing Toby’s arm down. Once she felt it was thoroughly inspected, she lighted brushed her tongue across his skin. Head butting the spot she had licked to spread it around
“…w-what’s she doing?” Toby slowly asked
“She’s slubbing you,” Jeff smiled, bringing a frail hand up to scratch her back.
Toby turned to look at him, eyes concerned and brows furrowed.
“-that’s a good thing!” Jeff reassured, “it means she likes you.”
“O-Oh,” Toby sighed, watching the cuddly creature slobber and rub against his bare arm.
Later that night, the boys were cuddled up under the covers of Jeff’s bed.
As were Smile Dog and Poe
Jeff was draped across Toby’s chest, fast asleep. Smile Dog found Toby’s covered legs to be the perfect spot to sleep on. And Poe found the crook of Jeff’s neck to be suitable for her sleep.
Her face was tucked under Jeff’s jaw and the rest of her body was sprawled out across Toby’s clavicle.
And her tail. God that tail. The hairless wiggly worm it was. That was placed on the side of Toby’s face, occasionally stroking his cheek like a tender lover.
Maybe if he closed his eyes hard enough he could imagine it was Jeff’s finger gently touching his face.
The rain continued to boom outside the of the warm cabin. And despite; being crushed by a fluffy mutated malamute, pinned down by his boyfriend, AND having a face full of possum butt,
He supposed it was better than freezing in the rain.